Straight News

  The founder and Executive Director of Rita Humanitarian Aid Foundation, Rita Yaaloonaa has eulogized the Wogu Development Association, WODA, describing it as "unique and enviable" in the whole of Daffiama, Bussie, Issa.  She made the comments while speaking at this year's WODA annual meeting held of the 31st December, 2021. The Director cum gender activist observed that the youth of Wogu is well organized by the development Association, the reason the community is able to initiate community development projects without relying on politicians. She said that uniqueness must be emulated by other communities in the district to propel development. Introducing the Foundation to the hundreds of people that gathered at the event, she assured the community of the Foundation's support in contributing to improve education, lives of the vulnerable, disability groups and farmers. The director also used the platform to announce a special sponsorship package to the best BECE femal...

  The Member of Parliament for Daffiama, Bussie, Issa, Hon Sebastian Sandaare has supported the Wogu Development Association, a community development group with 100 bags of cement to support a community project initiated by the Association. He also fulfilled his promise to provide a brand new laptop to facilitate the teaching and learning for ICT in the ICT center that was constructed by the Association. The MP also donated a cash amount of Five Hundred Ghana Cedis to support the program. Speaking at the annual durbar of the Association at Wogu on the 31st of December, 2021, he praised the Association for its bold steps in championing the development needs of the community and reiterated his commitment to working with the Association to ensure development.  "I have also taken notice of the problems at our Health facility and I will see what I can do ensure the health needs of the people" he added.  The Wogu Development Association is one of the most formidable interest gr...

  The member of parliament for the Dafffiama-Bussie-Issa constituency, Hon Dr Sebastian Sandaare has entreated his constituents and the general public to get vaccinated against the deadly covid-19 and continue to observe all the protocols. The law maker made this appeal when addressing the general assembly meeting of the Dafffiama-Bussie-Issa District national students union held on the 29th December, 2021. The medical doctor cum law maker said he has taken his jab some months ago and since has not seen any side effects of the covid-19 vaccines. "If it is that you will die or become importent, it will definitely happens, so the vaccines is safe and has no side effects", Hon Dr Sandaare added. He however entreated all to continue observing the protocols such as wearing the nose mask, social distancing, regular uses of hand sanitizer and many other measures been elaborated by the Ghana Health service. Filed by Isaac Langu

  Pulbaa is a community in the Daffiama Bussie Issa District in the upper West region. This years durbar which is organised by the youth of Pulbaa is geared towards unity and peace among others, that will bring development to the community. This years durbar is the first in the history of Pulbaa. The gathering was duly inaugurated as an annual event. The Youth Development Association has constituted various communities to works towards making it a bigger annual festival.  Hon Isaac Vinakuba who was speaking to the youth talked on Education among the youth because Education they say is the key to success and the youth of Pulbaa by all standard should be encouraged. He therefore encouraged parents to force their wards to school for the betterment of tomorrow and also parents should not relent to provide for their children when they are in need. He particularly urged Parents and traditional leaders to teach their children the history of Pulbaa.  He added that, knowing the hi...

  As I sat back to reflect solemnly on the ending year and the birth of my Lord Jesus Christ, something struck me as my memory switched to the needy in society, orphans, the poor, the vulnerable among others.    I picked my phone, scrolled through pictures I took during my usual rounds in the Nandom municipality. A sight of one of the pictures I took pushed me to start writing this article. Indeed, this certainly is my last article of the year ending 2021. It is heart touching. I believe strongly that the new year coming 2022 will resolve this problem.  Some time in December 2021, I was at Naapaal on my assignment. While I waited for some people at the community’s church, I saw about twenty-five (25) children playing in an open space. Some of those children were in school uniforms.  I asked some of them who were playing football whether or not they were students. They responded affirmatively. The next thing that came to mind was the school. So, I asked where the...

The Regional Chairman for the National Democratic Congress, Alhaji Abdul Nasir, popularly known as heavywait chairman Bunas, has donated massively to the people of Wogu in the Upper West Region.  He donated 100 pieces of dual desks to improve teaching and learning by making students comfortable in class. He has also donated 30bags of cement to help a community project initiated by the Development Association. The NDC regional chairman for the Upper West Region had his hey life in Wogu, his uncle village and has always participated in their community programs. Speaking at the annual durbar of the Wogu Development Association held on the 31st December, 2021, he admonished the youth to eschew needless partisan interests when it comes to community development. According to him, unity of purpose is what can propel community development. He further pledged his continuous support for any activity undertaken by the Association.

  The Daffiama, Bussie, Issa district student Union has honoured their Member of Parliament, Hon Sebastian Sandaare for his contribution to education in the district. The honour was given him at this year's Student Union Assembly meeting held at Daffiama Senior High School on the 29th December, 2021. The Member of Parliament has been consistent in the support of students in the district. He has since been sponsoring the activities of the Students Union even before he became the Member of Parliament. This year's program which included quiz competition for basic schools in the district was sponsored by the lawmaker.  The students described the contribution of the Member of Parliament as the one which shall "remain in the good history of the district". Speaking at the event, the Member of Parliament admonished students to prioritize education over letting themselves being used by politicians to denigrate others. He said, that can be destructive to their carriers.  He als...

   Accept my seasonal greetings and well wishes as we gradually bid farewell to the year of our Lord 2021, the year of many uncertainties and atrocities. Many people are celebrating not because they have acquired lot of wealth not because they have bought new cars or build new houses but because in the eve of a deadly pandemic which has claimed over 5 million lives worldwide yet ours have been spared by the Almighty so you have every right to celebrate and thank Him for such kind gesture.  It is undoubtedly the season of love and affection where we must share not only with family and friends but with the needy, poor and vulnerable people in the society. In light of this permit me to wish each and everyone well and may the good Lord continue to bless and protect us as we are ushered into 2022 and strive to build a Nation . Amen. I have a dream hearing this many might have thought is the famous speech by Martin Luther King Jr no is not and by far no where close to it yet is...

    A PRESS CONFERENCE BY A CROSS SECTION OF UPPER WEST YOUTH. STOP THE ORCHESTRATED AND REHEARSED VILE, BASELESS AND PROPAGANDIST ATTACKS ON THE RIGHT H9N SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT. Our Friends from the media, Sons and Daughters of the Upper West Regon here present, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, we welcome you to today’s press encounter. This media conference is necessitated by the unending vile, baseless, targeted and well-orchestrated propaganda by the underperforming government of the NPP intended to heap non-existent blame on the indefatigable Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin to cover for its shame. Ladies and Gentlemen, the near-miraculous ascension of this illustrious son of the Upper West Region to the enviable position of Speaker of Parliament is still fresh in our minds as this feat chalked will for a very long time put the name of the Upper West Region on the global annals of history. The circumstances surrounding his victory on the mid...

  An entertainment pundit and presenter at Radio Progress has lambasted organizers of the famous Grass to Grace Album launch for their inability to prepare a befitting stage for the show. He described the situation as shameful as many patronized the show only to see a poorly prepared stage without carpet, proper lightning and decoration. Even though he has applauded wisdom music for having launched one of the best albums, he could not understand how such a big show would be characterised with such defects. He added that no big artist like Samini or Wiyaala will accept to perform on such a shameful stage. He therefore urges on Gally to sit his team down to do a better job next time, describing the planning as poor and must be made known. The fearless pundit, believes that the organizers should have invested more into the stage, considering that Gally is a top artist in the region. Dasana is seen in Facebook live video blaming the organizers for the embarrassment the show has brought...

  The ceremony was attended by people from all over the Upper West Region and beyond yesterday at the Daffiama Roman Catholic church premises. Hon Bright Yelviel Baligi was the special guest of honor at the event. He used the occasion to call on the present generation to go back into the cultural heritage of tradition and charter a path projecting the legacies that seem to be slipping away from grips. The Upper West Council of State representatives, Prof Daniel Bagah, who was Chairman for the ceremony used the occasion to edge on the foundation not to relent on their efforts in projecting the festival and assured them of his readiness to support them anyway possible. The paramount chief of the Daffiama traditional area and president of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs Lawyer Naa Dikumwin Domalee II was present at the ceremony with his sub chiefs and other dignitaries including the DCE for the Lambussie, Hon. Naluri George, the principal of Wa Technical Institute Mr Saaka Ada...

  While Christmas is celebrated across the globe, the youth of Sombo has added their bit by adding colour to it. They have done this by turning 27th, December as an annual sports festival to enable sports men and women celebrate their talents. This sports festival was initiated by the Old Sports men and women association two years ago. The event has seen some growth and patronage by both adults and the youth in and around the Sombo enclave.  The intent behind institutionalising this sports festival is not only to build and nurture talents but to also use same as a vehicle in promoting unity among the teeming youth. This year's sports festival witnessed a massive patronage from the Chief and Elders of Sombo, Assembly Members, Development Committee Chairman, the clergy within the jurisdiction and a score of distinguished opinion leaders. The euphoria depicted a bright future for the event and has the potential of making Sombo a hub of sports talents in the Upper West Region. ...

Azumah Resources Limited has on Sunday 19th December 2021 organized its 2021 edition of Azumah Soccer tournament with which Nadowli football team emerged champions after a competitive struggle with Kaleo football team in the finals. The final game, which went between Nadowli and Kaleo ended in a 0 - 0 draw which therefore called for penalties in order to get the winner. Kaleo in the penalties lost to Nadowli after the keeper of the Nadowli team Derbile Augustine popularly known as Obour, saved two of their balls. The match ended in a 4 - 2 penalty shoot out against Kaleo. Six selected communities thus, Nadowli, Kaleo, Jang/Tibani, Serikpereh/Goli, Charikpong and Papu participated in the 2021 Azumah Soccer tournament hosted in Nadowli, the district capital of Nadowli-Kaleo. The seriousness attached to the games by the players is a clear indication of willingness and enthusiasm towards the soccer galla organized by the exploration company, Azumah. The grounds were also crowded with nume...

   20 year old lady, Mabel Pande, from Yaga a suburb of Babile who participated in the 7th edition of Tour de Charikpong, a community cycling fan programme, organized by Azumah Resources Limited which took place in Nadowli on the 18th of December 2021 has been crowned female winner in the cycling race.  A total of 129 individuals from eight selected communities participated in the cycling race with which 75 of them are males and the remaining 54 being females. Mabel Pande came first among the 54 females who participated in the race. Talking to StraightNews, the Junior High School one student Mabel, expressed her excitement over her victory in the competition. She received a 43 inches flat screen television and a special award of fridge from the organizers, Azumah Resources Limited. Others who participated in the cycling race and triumphed equally received numerous awards. The second person among the ladies received a fridge whilst the third lady received a 32 inches flat...

  Tour de Charikpong is an annual community cycling fan organize by Azumah Resources Limited, an exploration company in Nadowli, the district capital of Nadowli-Kaleo. This community cycling fan known as Tour de Charikpong has been in exitance since 2014 and this year 2021 is its 7th edition. It is an event where energetic males and females are given the opportunity to exhibit their abilities in riding bicycles. The program is geared towards unifying youth of the Nadowli-Kaleo district and it's catchment areas to improve the health standard of the people. Also it serves as a source of entertainment among youth. This year's Tour de Charikpong, Which comes of on the 18th of December 2021 had a population of 129 individuals from 8 selected communities participating in the competition with which 75 of them are males and the remaining 54 being females.  The 2021 edition of Tour de Charikpong race, commenced at Yaga a suburb of Babile in the Jirapa municipality to Nadowli which cove...

  Government plans to pilot a six-year secondary education system beginning in 2023. “In 2023 when we open those schools, you are going to see how we are going to see six years [of] quality secondary education,” the Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, said to the press on Tuesday. This system will be piloted at 15 sites and is envisioned to be more efficient and cost-effective. “We have 13,000 Junior High Schools. If these reforms go on as planned, we are going to reduce to about 2,500,” Dr. Adutwum said. “In all medium-sized communities and towns, we are going to change the space by ensuring we do an amalgamation and bring together all the Junior High Schools, put them under the same management in the same building. When you bring 12 schools together and put them under one umbrella; you have one headmaster, you can get a school bus for them, you can get a pickup for the headmaster. You can have an office manager. You have a more efficient organization.” Dr. Adutwum has long ...

   Honourable Gervase Dogkotenga, the Assembly member for Nyenni Electoral Area in Jirapa in the Upper West Region of Ghana has stated that Honourable Lawyer Nicholas Soyiri, the MCE for Jirapa Municipal is a young man who has the development of Jirapa at heart. According to the outspoken Assembly member, Honourable Lawyer Nicholas Soyiri has cut down the cost of the renovation of his official bungalow including his office from over Gh¢50,000.00 to Gh¢16,000.00. Speaking on Gangaa Fm's Jirapa in Focus program, he said "we have a young man who is ready to work. If he was a bad person, he would have been staying in a hotel. But when he came to Jirapa, he has not been staying at Nambeg [Where he comes from]. He is staying in his uncle's house. He has remained humble and calm. Instead of staying in hotel for us to be paying him plenty money, he chooses to stay in his own house and eats  TZ from in his own house" He added that " when they wanted to renovate his reside...

The all - time leading scorer in the African Cup of Nations, Samuel Eto'o has been elected the president of the national football federation of Cameroon (FECAFOOT) with 43 votes. The 40 year old Eto'o who holds a record four (4) times Africa's best player award beat his incumbent challenger Seidou Mbombo who garnered 31 votes to lead the Cameroon football body, less than a month for his country to host the continental showpiece (Africa Cup of Nations - 9th Jan. to 6th Feb. 2022). Samuel Eto'o who retired from international football in 2014 will be remembered with fond memories when he played for the Spanish giants Barcelona, winning two European Champions League titles, scoring in both finals. With a new blood at the helm, one of the world's best strikers of his time, Eto'o who scored 18 goals in the African Nations Cup finals, 56 goals (all time leading scorer) for his nation Cameroon, will lead a FECAFOOT plagued by leadership struggles. With his nomadic exper...

  The member of Parliament for Nadowli-Kaleo constituency, in a quest to foster unity among his constituents, organized a volleyball galla which took place on Saturday 11th December 2021 in Nadowli, the district capital with which Nadowli Spring Fingers volleyball club emerged winners of the tournament. Seven selected communities participated in the tournament. The communities included, Nadowli, Kaleo, Sombo, Sankana, Charikpong, Nanville and Takpo. After the tournament, Nadowli Spring Fingers were crowned champions. The positions after the tournament are as follows, Nadowli         1st Sankana         2nd Kaleo              3rd Sombo           4th Takpo             5th Charikpong    6th Nanville          7th Awards Nadowli Spring Fingers being the overall winners won a gold trophy, gold medals, a vo...

The honourable member of Parliament for the Nadowli-Kaleo constituency, Hon. Anthony Mwinkaara Sumah has organized a volleyball tournament in his constituency on the 11th of December 2021. The maiden euphoria which took place in Nadowli, the district capital, had seven communities across the district competing in the tournament. The competing communities include, Nadowli, Nanville, Takpo, Charikpong, Sombo, Sankana and Kaleo. In opening the tournament, the Law Maker in his speech articulated that, the tournament is geared towards promoting unity among youth in the constituency. He said besides promoting unity, there are also numerous health benefits as far as exercising is concerned. Hon. Anthony M. Sumah also established the fact that they wish to form a concrete volleyball team that will represent the constituency for tournaments outside the district when the need arises. And so all the players must put up their best, he added. He also stated that, when the team is formed, he will s...

  The Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu is among a total of eight Ministers expected to attend upon the House next week to respond to thirty four parliamentary questions in relation to the performance of their respective Ministries.   Prominent among them is the Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul who will explain to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (North Tongu), the nature of steps the Ministry has initiated to purchase a new Presidential Jet as announced by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Mr. Eugene Arhin on 27th September, 2021 and the policy justification for the purchase.   He will similarly answer a question by Ernest Norgbey (MP, Ashaiman) the outcome, so far, of the investigation into the killing of one Mr. Eric Ofosu by a military officer in March 2020 during the Covid-19 lockdown in the Ashaiman Constituency.   Dominic Nitiwul will further furnish Isaac Ashai Odanten (Tema East) with administrative and econ...

The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has reiterated the need for the government to resource his office to enable him to deliver effectively as required by law. According to him, there should be hope that Ghana is taking concrete steps to fight corruption. Mr. Agyebeng while addressing a gathering at an event to mark the International Anti-Corruption Day Thursday in Accra disclosed that though he has taken steps to operationalize his office, there is the need for the government to provide the needed resources. “Upon my assumption of office on 5 August 2021 as the second Special Prosecutor of the Republic, I noticed that the OSP had not been operationalized and it was without its own staff and necessary resources. The fight against corruption had, in effect, been thrown in reverse for three (3) years,” he disclosed. He continued that “I look forward to the provision of adequate funding and the necessary material resources as stipulated in Articles 6 and 36 of the Convention to carry o...

The NPP parliamentary candidate for the Wa central constituency in the 2020 elections has openly confessed that the NPP is a party of internal mafia.  She made the statement on her Facebook wall. Her statement which is without details, make many give various interpretations.  Many believe that the philanthropist is demonstrating her frustration and disappointment in her party perhaps because of her inability to secure victory in the last parliamentary elections. Indeed, it is obvious that the Wa central NPP suffered some internal wranglings, a key contributing factor to the inability of its parliamentary candidate in the constituency to garner victory. What do you also have to say about Hajia's recent post?

  DJ SHARON, also called the Children's President is a popular DJ and radio presenter in the Upper West Region. He gained his fame through his well packed entertainment programs on Tumpaani 88.5mhz, a renowned radio station located in the capital of the Nadowli Kaleo District. Indeed, he has the bragging right of FOKLEX Media award as the best drive time presenter for 2021.  Many a youth think that it is enough to be a popular DJ but DJ Sharon disagrees as he works much behind the scene to complement his income. It is worth noting that, Sharon is a radio technician, an IT guru, designer, soundz owner and a business man. His versatility and hard work, is perhaps the reason why he carries so much influence in the media space. His life should inspire the youth who are into entertainment, to complement their work with jobs that can complement their income. Merely spinning around, may make you famous but not necessarily rich, in our part of the world. Find another job!

  A great friendship is irreplaceable — it can inspire you to grow into a better version of yourself. If you have a friend who motivates you, return the favor and be their number one cheerleader with one of these motivational friendship quotes. “Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It’s not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.” — Muhammad Ali “Don’t make friends who are comfortable to be with. Make friends who will force you to lever yourself up.” — Thomas J. Watson “The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.” — Elisabeth Foley “Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” — Anais Nin “Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.” — Tennessee Williams “They may forget what you said...

  Denis Andaban, who is popularly known in the Upper West region and beyond as “The Village Boy From DBI” establishes that Ras Badingu deserves support from the people of Upper West region. Ibrahim Moomin Bandigu, known in the music fraternity as Ras Badingu is a musician from the Upper West region of Ghana. Ras Badingu is one of the super fabulous musicians in Ghana today who started from the local level and now in the national level. On a Facebook post sighted by StraightNews, The Village Boy From DBI questions why people of the Upper West region do not value their own. He cited Wiyaala as an example where people of the Upper West region turned blind eye to her when she was striving hard to triumph in her musical career but have now started raining praises at her after her triumph. The communicator, also discloses the fact that Badingu is one among the many artists in Upper West who uses his creativity to promote culture and tourism in the region however, stakeholders seem to ha...

  As part of the policies and programmes of Press On Charity Foundation, the team on Monday 6th December 2021 donated sets of uniform to some Needy students of Nadowli R/C Primary “A”. Press On Charity Foundation which is a non-beneficiary organization in Nadowli, the capital of Nadowli-Kaleo district aims at supporting students who are challenged with various problems serving as stumbling blocks to the full realization of their educational goals, just as their logo goes “Your Kindness is Someone’s Hope”. The team has on several occasions involved in charity activities and among them was “Operation Fix The Button” on which they patched torn uniforms of students as well as fixed the buttons for those who had theirs removed. Some of those students who had their uniforms completely deteriorated were identified and promised to be given new sets of uniform. In executing their promise to those needy students, the Foundation on Monday 6th December 2021 donated six sets of uniform to six s...

The 2020 Running mate of the NDC, Prof Naana Opoku-Agyemang, paid a two-day private visit to the Northern region.  As part of her philanthropic works, she visited the Gushegu 'witches camp' to interact with them. The women, numbering about 125, were very happy to see Prof Naana as they danced and sang to welcome her. She joined in the dance.  Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang presented some food items and clothing to the women and advised all and sundry not to turn their backs on these people, but rather take good care of them and show them love.  She advised those who pursue and harass them, branding them as “witches” to remember that these women were once active members of the society and that they deserve to spend their old age in dignity.  Later in the day, Prof Naana made a stop over at Sang in the Mion district, where she inspected work in progress towards digging a borehole for the community.   The second day saw Prof Naana visit the children’s wards of the...

  The Minority has reiterated its position on the imposition of E-levy. The minority has been consistent in resisting the levy both in the house of parliament and in the media space. The levy is described by the minority as " regressive, punitive and draconian" and insist that same must be suspended. In the latest twist of events by some section of the Ghanaian media, the minority  through its leader has shifted position. The minority has however issued a statement through its chief whip to demystify the media twist by emphasizing that the position of their side remains unchanged.  Read below, the full statement issued on 03/12/2021. PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release  03/12/21 THE POSITION OF THE NDC CAUCUS IN PARLIAMENT ON THE 1.75% E-LEVY PROPOSED BY GOVERNMENT IN THE 2022 BUDGET STATEMENT. The NDC Caucus in Parliament wishes to assure Ghanaians that it will continue to use every legitimate and lawful channel to resist  the 1.75% E-Levy government is seeking...