TANOBOASE SACRED GROVE A TOURISM POTENIAL IN BRONG AHAFO REGION

From Michael Sarpong Mfum, Tanoboase

The Tano Sacred Grove in the Techiman Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region is one of the leading tourists in the region but unknown to most tourists.

The Grove, a Community Based-Ecotourism Project (CBEP) was started in 1996. With the help of the Ghana Association for the Conservation of Nature (GACON), the Tanoboase community began the development of the Groove as an eco-tourism site. In the year 2001, Tanoboase was selected as one of the 14 eco-tourism sites nation-wide to be developed under the CBEP.

The fund for the project was provided by United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The implementation of the CBEP has been a collaborative effort between the Nature Conservation Research Centre, Ghana Tourist Board, US Peace Corps Ghana, SNV Netherlands Development Organization and the project communities.

The project is to develop community-owned and operated eco-tourism activities at environmental sensitive rural destination, which will serve as income generating opportunities by conserving local ecosystem rather than through unsustainable exploitation.

                                               Some tourists at Tanoboase Sacred Grove

In Tanoboase, a tourism management team comprised of local community members is directing the project at the ground level.

The grove is nestled within a semi-deciduous forest, and encloses a cluster striking sandstone rock formation.

As one hikes along the natural trails, one will observe a variety of plants, trees, birds and butterfly species. A lucky visitor may also spot antelopes, baboons and monkeys, once rare but whose population is increasing by the day. There is a bat colony as well. A climb up to the sandstone rocks leads to a panoramic overlook of what was used during the Ashanti-Bono wars. The grove tour could last approximately one to four hours.

One interesting attraction at the grove is the stone that has carved itself into a shape of a tortoise. Tanoboase sacred grove is the site of one the earliest Bono settlements. Taakora, the highest of the Akan gods on earth, dwells at the source of the Tano River. When the inhabitants of Tanoboase discovered the god, the grove became a place of sanctity and worship and remained so ever since.

The Tano shrine, residing in a brass pan, is currently kept Tanoboase town but it is carried to the grove annually by a fetish for consultation.  The grove is also the site of the annual Apo Festival, which is the time of spiritual cleansing, held April and May every year. Discover the history, tradition and natural beauty of the first settling place of the Bono people.

PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES NEED HELP-PROF. ALLOTEY

From: Michael Sarpong Mfum,Fiapre

A renowned scientist Prof. Francis Kofi Ampanyin Allotey is calling on government to support Private Universities in the country so they can help in producing the human resource base of the country.

Prof. Allotey made the appeal at 16^th Matriculation and 8^th congregation of the Catholic University College of Ghana at Fiapre where 679 students graduated with various Degrees and Diplomas with 414 also matriculating.

Professor F.K.A. Allotey

Prof. F.K.A. Allotey who was a guest speaker at the ceremony called for financial support for private Universities in the country.

“ In view of the financial difficulties that private Universities in their infant stages face in this country , it will even be more helpful if the National Accreditation Board and the National Council for Tertiary Education can impress upon government and its agencies as such the GETFund and the Scholarship Secretariat to offer scholarships and bursaries to academic in private Universities like the Catholic University College of Ghana to pursue PhD programmes locally and abroad,” Prof. Allotey noted.

Vice Chancellor of Catholic University College of Ghana, Professor James Hawkins Ephraim said the University would continue to contribute her quota to the development of the country have been in existence for ten years.

“In this 10^th Anniversary, our goal is to attract qualified and seasoned staff that will assist in the consolidation of the academic and administrative processes at the University. The achievement of this objective shall mark the beginning of our quest to become an autonomous institution,” Prof. Ephraim disclosed.

He also noted that the University of Ghana is considering two programmes of the University BSc. Banking, Finance, MA Religious Studies, and Pastoral Ministry for affiliation.

Prof. Ephraim called on the new graduates to show to the world what they have learnt from the University. He also called on the matriculants to be studious, discipline and dress decently.

The Most Rev. Philip Naameh, Catholic Archbishop of Tamale and the Chairman of the Governing Council of the University,  launched the 10th anniversary of the University which would celebrated under the theme: “Ten Years of Holistic Catholic Education -The Experience of the Catholic University College of Ghana.”

He called on all the past students of the institution to come on board to make the celebration a success.

Archbishop Naameh expressed appreciation to the CUCG affiliate and mentor institutions, the University of Ghana and the University of Cape Coast, for mentoring the university to its current status.

ANTI-CORRUPTION CRUSADER APPEALS TO PREZ MAHAMA

From: Michael Sarpong Mfum, Odumase

An-corruption Crusader and Human Rights Activist, Raphael Godlove Ahenu Jr, has called on President Mahama to use his influence to put pressure  on Parliament to ensure speedy passage of the Right To Inform Bill if the President really want to fight corruption and lead transparency and accountable government.

According to him, President Mahama effort of fighting corruption in Ghana would be a mirage if he fails to ensure that the right to information bill is passed into law, adding RTI lays the foundation upon which to build good governance and check irregularity and corruption in public life and also promote grassroots participation in decision making processes.

                                                    Mr. Raphael Godlove Ahenu Jr.

Mr. Ahenu Jr. was speaking at a Focal Group Discussion on the Right To Information Bill at Odumase, theDistrict Capital of the Sunyani District in the Brong-Ahafo region. The Brong-Ahafo Network of NGOs (BANGO) organized the event in collaboration with the Coalition on the Right To Information Ghana.

About 25 participants attended the discussion, which aimed at empowering the grassroots and the media to advocate for the passage of the Ghana’s Right to Information Bill, which was drafted in since 2002.

Mr. Ahenu Jr. who is the Secretary of BANGO noted that Ghana's choice of democratic governance entails active participation by all in the governance of the country. In this participatory democracy, he said the Right to Information (RTI) is particularly relevant and it is only when those who are to participate in governance are well informed that they can contribute meaningfully to governance.

Mr. Ahenu Jr who also the founder and CEO of Global Media Foundation said  this can only be achieved if they have access to the relevant information and also ensures that there is available to the individual the requisite data or information to enable him or her to demand accountability from public office holders.

                                                    President John Dramani Mahama

The Programmes Director of Human Care and Maintenance Foundation, Collins Osei  said it is a fact that realization of the importance of the RTI and the desire to ensure that there is transparency in governance, constitute the foundation for empowering the citizenry to contribute to the good governance and the rapid development and progress of a country. 

He said it is widely said and known that information is power and power is access to information, adding that access to information strengthens democracy, good governance, transparency, accountability, economic growth and development, poverty reduction and fighting corruption. 

Mr.  Osei said although , Ghana has made great stride in its economic growth become the faster growing economy in the world in 2011, the country is yet to pass the RTI Bills into law.

The Chairman of the Brong-Ahafo Network of NGOs, Gabriel Bernakuu in a brief statement appealed to Parliament to ensure the speedy passage of the bill to help fight corruption and promote accountable governance.

CHRAJ RESCUES GIRL FORCED INTO MARRIAGE

From: Michael Sarpong Mfum, Bechem

The Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) in the Tano South District of the Bring Ahafo Region has rescued a 14-year-old girl, who was forced to marry a 50-year-old, Musah Maabongba at Breme a farming community in the district.

Musah Maabongba and his brother who brought the young girl are currently in the grips of the Bechem Police pending investigation.

In an interview with Owusu Bediako Appah the Tano South District Director of CHRAJ was happy his outfit has been able to send the girl to her parents.

“On that day I received a call from someone resident at Breme which is a farming community that a young girl has been forced into marriage. I quickly called on the District Police Commander, Boss of the Social welfare we rushed to the place and realized what the caller told me is true, we rescue the girl and also arrested the supposed husband Musah Maabongba and his brother Mesuam Maabongba,” Mr. Appah recounted.

Mr. Appah said this is the third time his outfit has rescued a young girl forced into married since he came to the district in 2008.

“We realized the girl is from Gbindiri in Bunkprugu Yunyoo of the Northern region. We sent her to her hometown whiles the Bechem Police are still investigating the incident,” He added.

He also called on residents of the Tano South District to report the abuse of girls in their communities to CHRAJ or the nearest police station in the district to ensure a speedy rescuing of these innocent girls.

RESIDENTS BLAME ASSEMBLY FOR FILTH

By Michael Sarpong Mfum

Some residents of the Sunyani Municipality are blaming the municipal Assembly for the increasing filth because of not providing dustbins at vantage points in the city.

Checks conducted on the streets of Sunyani points to the fact that there is not a single dustbin on the streets where people can put their polythene bags after taking their water.

The residents are therefore blaming the Municipal Assembly for not providing dustbins which has resulted in the increase in filth especially polythene bags in gutters. Residents have not option than to throw polythene bags at any available space they come across.

Mr. Precious Semevo, a broadcast Journalist with Sunyani based radio station Sky FM said Sunyani is losing her status as the cleanest regional capital in the country because of the absence  dustbins which has compel the residents to litter the streets.

He therefore appealed to the Municipal Assembly as a matter of urgency to provide dustbins at vantage points to reduce the increasing filth in the once cleanest city in Ghana.

Though the streets of Sunyani look nice, the gutters are choked with polythene bags especially with water sachet bags.

Municipal Environmental Officer, Mr. Simon Opoku in an interview said the Assembly has to redraw the dustbins from vantage points because some residents were misusing the dustbins.

“Before I assumed office as the Municipal environmental Officer, the assembly had provided dustbins at every corner of Sunyani, but people were abusing these dustbins, some residents were depositing human excreta into them as well as household refuse, which these dustbins were not meant for, we  therefore embarked on a massive education on the numerous  radio stations in Sunyani to educate the residents not to deposit their household refuse and human excreta  into the dustbins but they did not heed to our advise we therefore redraw the dustbins. Zoomlion Ghana Limited also came in to support but later they also redraw their dustbins,” Mr. Opoku disclosed.

Mr. Opoku noted that the assembly has realized that the redrawing of the dustbins did not help the situation.

 A gutter in Sunyani

“We have realized that the redrawing of the dustbins has not helped, we have therefore decided to bring back the dustbins, this time around we are going to persecute people who litter the streets and also misuse the dustbins, we are not going to spare anyone who did not comply to the assembly’s directive on how to keep the city clean,” Mr. Opoku added.

MOST BASIC SCHOOLS IN SUNYANI HAVE NO LIBRARIES

From Michael Sarpong Mfum

Most basic schools in Sunyani Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region do not have libraries though the education act mandates all basic schools to have libraries.

Schools visited, which do not have libraries, include; Stadium Primary and J.H.S., Nyamaa Primary and J.H.S., Ridge Experimental ‘B’ and ‘A’, St Anthony Padua Basic Schools and St.  Patrick’s RC Basic Schools.

The rest of the schools are Atronie Methodist Basic Schools, High Street J.H.S. ‘A’ and ‘B’, St. Anslem Anglican J.H.S., Police Experimental Primary and J.H.S., Boahenkorko Primary and J.H.S. and Atuahenekrom Primary and J.H.S.

Mrs. Grace Asiedu an English Teacher at Nyamaa J.H.S. said the absence of library in her school is becoming an obstacle in inculcating reading habits into her pupils.

She called on the Municipal Assembly to build at least one room to be used as the library in the school; I believe this will go a long way to help in inculcating reading habits among pupils.

The Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the Ghana Library Board, Frederick Noble Baada in an interview said the Municipal Education Office and the Municipal are guilty of not playing their role to ensure that basic schools have libraries.

“It is surprising that the Municipal Education Office and the Assembly who should know better by ensuring that all basic schools have libraries are not doing their work,” Mr. Baada disclosed.

He called on the Municipal Education Office and the Municipal Assembly to be up and doing to ensure that all schools in the municipality have libraries to help develop the reading habits among pupils.

Mr. Baada also disclosed that his outfit has put in place strategies to encourage young girls in the municipality to patronize the library, which is yielding positive results. He said boys are also encouraged to borrow books from the library.

NKRANKROM RESIDENTS TO CHASE OUT POLITICIANS WITH STONES

From: Michael  Sarpong Mfum ,Nkrankrom B/A

Residents of Nkrankrom, a farming community in the Sunyani Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region have renewed their call to stop any Politician from campaigning for votes in their community.

Nkrankrom has a population of about 1,000 who are predominately farmers. The youth in the community say they will chase out any politician who comes to the community to canvass for vote with stones. According to them, efforts by opinion leaders in the community to get electricity to the area have fell on deaf ears.

What greets any visitor who visits the community is a signpost who reads 'No light no vote.' The aggrieved residents say they have been without electricity and other social amenities for so many years but successive governments have done little to better their living conditions.

                                     Hayford Kwabena Kumah, Assemblyman Nkrankrom

Hayford Kwabena Kumah the Assemblyman for Nkrankrom Electoral area in an interview with XYZ News said all appeals made to the appropriate authority the Sunyani Municipal Assembly has fallen on death ears.

“We have made several appeals to the Municipal Assembly to extend the national electricity grid has not yielded any positive results. The Municipal Chief Executive, Akwasi Oppong Ababio promised us in 2010 and 2011 that we would get electricity here, but as I talk to you today, there is no light as you can see. We also informed our MP Akwasi Ameyaw Cheremeh about the situation, he told us he would check from the Minister of Energy, Dr. Oti Adjei on when Nkrankrom would be connected to the national grid, upon his return, the MP told us the Energy Minister said we would be connect in 2020, this is unbelievable so we want to know from the minster if it is true,” he disclosed.

According to Mr. Kumah, the community lost an opportunity of getting an ICT Centre for the basic school in the community.

“An NGO wanted to bring an ICT Centre into the community but because of the absence of electricity, the ICT Centre was sent to the people of Atuahenekrom. The clinic built about seven years ago is not functioning because of the absence of electricity. This is to the politicians, we would allow any politician whether NDC, NPP, CPP or PPP, they have lied to us over the years so we don’t need them here,” Mr. Kumah added.