VISIONARY BULUK DONATES TO INSTITUTIONS IN BUILSA NORTH AND BUILSA SOUTH.

Visionary Buluk with Management and Staff of Sandema Hospital.

Visionary Buluk a non- profit organization aimed at making positive impact in the areas of Climate change, Youth Empowerment and social protection have made a donation of six walkers, a pair of crutches and a wheel chair with its accessories to the Sandema Hospital in the Builsa North Municipality of the Upper East Region.

The CEO of Visionary Buluk Mr. Alaazy Ernest who handed over the items to the Municipal public Health Nurse said it was the part of the group’s contribution to the health of the people in the Municipality saying, the best way to achieve economic growth is when people are healthy and able to contribute meaningfully to the development of the communities they live in as “Health is Wealth”.

He added that the group will continue to do more in the areas of Climate change, Youth Empowerment and Social protection as these are the priority areas of the organization saying “if the people are not healthy, then the aim of the organization would not be achieved hence the donation.

The Municipal public health nurse Madam Pognaab Awonalim Comfort who received the items on behalf of the Municipal Health Director thanked Visionary Buluk for the donation and promised to put the items to good use.

She used the opportunity to appeal to philanthropic organizations and well-meaning Builsa’s to emulate visionary Buluk by supporting the health sector to complement government’s efforts.

 The group also presented a number of balls, a pump and a set of cones to Wiaga United, a football team based in Wiaga a suburb of Sandema.

Visionary Buluk with members of  Wiaga United. 

The group went on to donate balls and a set of cones to the Fumbisi pro- League in Fumbisi the Builsa South District capital.

At Fumbisi, the District Chief Executive for the Builsa South District Mr. Daniel Kwame Gariba, receiving the items on behalf of the district said, Fumbisi pro league is one of its kind in the Upper East Region saying the donation of the football kits will further boost the morale of the participating teams thereby making the league more competitive and interesting.

Mr. Alaazy(Rt) handing over Football kits to Builsa South DCE (Lt).

Mr Alaazy Ernest CEO of Vissionary Buluk promised to assist the Builsa South league with a set of jersey to be given to the wining team.

Adding that, He also promised to deliver sets of Jerseys to the Wiaga United not later than a week.

Abakisi Derrick-Noiyeng Radio.

A man’s life has three different versions.

"Terram in terram, cinerem in cinerem, pulverem in pulverem”.

When we receive the news of a dead friend, our first reaction usually is a shock followed by ”What happened to him?” And then we say things like, “I spoke with him just yesterday.” Or “Death is cruel.” Humans are never short of words when they hear the news of someone’s death. That was exactly the case when friends and family heard the news of the death of Adam.

During his requiem mass, the first person to read a tribute was the wife. She said; “Adam was a good husband, a father and a quiet companion. He didn’t say a lot but did a lot to show love for humanity and his family. He would be missed…this vacuum he had left in my heart would be difficult to fill.”

She cried and could barely utter the final words of her tribute to her loving husband.

Her daughter was next to ascend the altar. Her’s was simple; “Dad was a good man. I’m going to miss the times I’ve shared with him. His words of caution and his unconditional love.”

She cried too. She walked closer to the casket, bowed and uttered some discreet words meant to be the final goodbye.

The next person to give a tribute was Adam’s younger brother. The priest called out his name when it got to his turn but he was nowhere to be found. They screamed his name several times but he didn’t appear.

“What next?” The priest asked. The widow signaled him to continue with the requiem. But before he could continue, he saw a hand up from behind the pews—a worried-looking woman, dressed in white cloth matched with a white headscarf. She signaled the priest to allow her to say something. The priest asked her; “Are you a family?” She nodded her head and started walking towards the altar.

When she got closer to Adam’s casket, she removed her headscarf, placed it on the casket and made a bow to the Jesus crucifixion. She placed the tip of her index finger on the casket and drew a line as she walked past the casket up to the altar. Everybody was silent.

Nobody knew her name and from the way she was dressed, she looked out of place. White cloth to a funeral where everybody was expected to wear black or red? But everyone was silent, waiting for her to say what was it that she wanted to say.

She looked through the faces gathered there and cleared her throat; “Adam…how could I ever miss your funeral but something tells me I’m at the wrong funeral ground so I want to be sure, is this the funeral mass for Adam Bebuna?” The congregation chorused, “Yeah it is.”

She was silent—for close to a minute, she kept looking through the congregation as though she had lost her words. She cleared her throat again and begun; “Adam was a loving husband? I see. Adam was a quiet companion. How did I miss that? I met Adam in 1992 at the market square. He was a new teacher in our village. He looked flashy and considerate. When he said he loved me I said I loved him too. The proudest moment of my life was when I took Adam home and introduced him to my parents. They loved him instantly. He was a teacher and teachers were honorable. 

Four months later, I was carrying his baby. Three months after I gave birth to Efe, Adam disappeared. That was the last time I heard of him. He made me a mother and then disappeared with his fatherhood.”

Now the church was quiet. The priest was restless and didn’t know what to do. The tears in the eyes of the widow dried up immediately. Her sorrows turned to “What-the-fuck-is-going-on-here.” The church members had already started murmuring among themselves. ”Adam was the catechist of this parish. How could he?”

The woman continued; “I heard the glowing tribute from his daughter. I heard her say how she was going to miss the times she’d shared with her father. How I wish my little girl Efe could also say the same but she can’t and you know why. She had a father who was busy being a loving father to someone who wasn’t her. 

I’m sorry to rain on your parade. Adam wasn’t the Adam you thought you knew. He destroyed my life. He brought shame to my household. He made my daughter fatherless. How dare he deserve all these glowing tributes you are showering on his dead body?”

She broke down and started wailing. At this point, the church got divided. Those who believed her story were full of sympathy. Those who didn’t believe her story started casting aspersions. And then there was the widow who didn’t know how to feel about the whole thing.

The woman was ushered out for the requiem to continue. The priest stood in front of the congregation and said; “A man’s life has three different versions—the version you know, the version he wants you to know and the version only himself and his creator know. Adam is dead and gone. If what this woman said be true, let the angels bear witness and let only God be the judge.”

At the graveside, the priest picked some piece of sand from the earth, threw it onto Adam’s casket and said, “We therefore commit his body to the ground; terram in terram, cinerem in cinerem, pulverem in pulverem” The choir sang their final hymns and left the graveside. 

The widow stood at the feet of the grave and silently prayed; “Adam, indeed a man’s life has three versions. The version between you and your creator came out today. It’s sad you didn’t get to know the version between me and my creator but let me tell you. Adwoa isn’t your daughter. Her father is the priest who prayed for your soul today. I hope you forgive me because wholeheartedly, I forgive you too. Let’s make it easier for the almighty to forgive us. Farewell.”

Abakisi Derrick-NoiyengRadio.

FISTRAD VOCATIONAL SCHOOL PASS OUT 34 STUDENTS IN WEAVING, DRESS MAKING AND EMBROIDERY.

The Foundation for Integrated and Strategic development FISTRAD in the Builsa North Municipality of the Upper East Region has on the 29th of December,2020 passed out 34 of their students who underwent a three years training program in weaving and dress making at the School.

The students during the three years training were also taken through arithmetic and entrepreneurial skills to equip them manage their shops effectively after the training.

Mr Richard Alando, the executive director of FISTRAD and Radio Builsa speaking at the passing out ceremony admonished the graduates to be truthful, hardworking and attach seriousness to their work to bring glory to their alma mater.

He appealed to husbands of the graduates, families and the Municipal Assembly to assist the graduates start up their trade.

He added that, the Vocational training School has been recognised by the National Accreditation board and awards NAVTI Certificates to all students who goes through training at the centre.

He hence encouraged the youth of the area to take advantage of the training at the school to improve their lot.

He further appealed to the Municipal Assembly and the Mp to assist the centre give skills training to the youth in the area to help reduce the high unemployment rate in the Municipality.

The Municipal Rural Enterprise Development Project Director Mr Akeeda Roger who chaired the function encouraged the graduates to team up with the Rural Enterprise Development Project and the Business Development Centre for assistance to start their trade.

Some of the graduates this outlet spoke to expressed gratitude to the management and staff of the Vocational school for taking them through knowledge acquisition aimed at shaping their future.

Derrick Abakisi-Noiyeng Radio.

FISTRAD VOCATIONAL SCHOOL PASS OUT 34 STUDENTS IN WEAVING AND DRESS MAKING.

The Foundation for Integrated and Strategic development FISTRAD in the Builsa North Municipality of the Upper East Region has on the 29th of December,2020 passed out 34 of their students who underwent a three years training program in weaving,dress making and embroidery at the School.

The students during the three years training were also taken through arithmetic and entrepreneurial skills to equip them manage their shops effectively after the training.

Mr Richard Alando, the executive director of FISTRAD and Radio Builsa speaking at the passing out ceremony admonished the graduates to be truthful, hardworking and attach seriousness to their work to bring glory to their alma mater.

He appealed to husbands of the graduates, families and the Municipal Assembly to assist the graduates start up their trade.

He added that, the Vocational training School has been recognised by the National Accreditation board and awards NAVTI Certificates to all students who goes through training at the centre.

He hence encouraged the youth of the area to take advantage of the training at the school to improve their lot.

He further appealed to the Municipal Assembly and the Mp to assist the centre give skills training to the youth in the area to help reduce the high unemployment rate in the Municipality.

The Municipal Rural Enterprise Development Project Director Mr Akeeda Roger who chaired the function encouraged the graduates to team up with the Rural Enterprise Development Project and the Business Advisory Centre for assistance to start their trade.

Some of the graduates this outlet spoke to expressed gratitude to the management and staff of the Vocational school for taking them through knowledge acquisition aimed at shaping their future.

Derrick Abakisi-Noiyeng Radio.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN HOPE CENTRE DONATES TO TEENAGE MOTHERS AND FOUR HEALTH FACILITIES IN BUILSA SOUTH.

The International Women’s Hope Centre an NGO operating in the Upper East Region of Ghana has donated assorted baby items to 147 teenage mothers and gallons of liquid soap to four health facilities in the Builsa South district of the Upper East Region.

The beneficiary health facilities include the Kanjarga Health Center, Dogninga Health Center, Gbedema Health Center and the Fumbisi Health Center which all received gallons of liquid soap to assist health workers in these health facilities practice proper hand hygiene in the mist of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The director of International Women’s Hope Centre Madam Gladys Anayem in handing over the baby items to the teenage mothers at separate events at Kanjarga, Dogninga, Fumbisi, and Gbedema all in the Builsa South district encouraged the teenage mothers to further their education or learn a trade to improve their lot.

She added that, babies are gifts from God and for that matter should be catered for.

She advised the teenage mothers to abstain from sex until marriage as this could lead them to having unplanned babies and other related sexually transmitted diseases.

She thanked the president of the International Women’s Hope Centre madam Gladys Adochim, Relationship Under Construction, Heartbeat International and the founder of Onpoint Education Miss Mary Akuamoah Boateng for their support to the organization.

Madam Anyekumkase Leticia a Midwife at the Fumbisi Health Centre was grateful to the International Women’s Hope Centre for the donation to the health facility saying, the donation will go a long way to assist the facility in the practice of proper hand hygiene and laundry activities.

The beneficiary teenage mothers expressed gratitude to the International Women’s Hope Centre for the donation and keeping their hope alive when some of their parents had lost hope in them for getting pregnant at an early age.

They added that, the counseling given to them by Madam Gladys Anayem has uplifted their moral to work hard in becoming responsible adults in the society.

Derrick Abakisi-Noiyeng Radio 

NCCE IN BUILSA NORTH RE-ACTIVATE INTER PARTY DIALOGUE COMMITTEE AHEAD OF DECEMBER POLLS.

     Mr Jeffrey Adda NCCE Director.

The Builsa North Municipal Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has reactivated its Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) to act as buffer zone to stem suspicions and anxiety among political parties in the constituency as the country heads to polls on December 7th.

The reactivated five-member Committee include Reverend Father Sabastian Aduku, Catholic Priest of the Christ the King Catholic Church in Sandema as Chairman, Mr Alikali Kunate, a representative of the Municipal Chief Imam as the Deputy Chairman and  Mr Jeffery Adda  the Municipal Director of the NCCE, as Secretary.

The rest are Mr Adeenze Robert of the Builsa North Municipal Elections Office as Treasurer, while Mr Rierselle Akanbon of the Builsa North Municipal Directorate of CHRAJ is the Organiser.

Addressing participants at the programme, Mr Jeffery Adda said credible and peaceful elections were critical components of democracy and good governance.

He noted that elections in most developing countries, especially in Africa, had unfortunately brought in their wake violence resulting in untold hardships, stress, and wanton destruction of lives and property.

He said Ghana was among the few countries in Africa that made significant progress with regards to free and fair elections since its return to constitutional rule.

“Ghana has chalked an impressive record of success, an unprecedented enjoyment of uninterrupted stable democratic rule. As a result, Ghana has been internationally acclaimed as one of the beacons of democratic governance not only in West Africa, but the African Continent as a whole,” He said.

Mr Adda said Ghanaians had, over the years, continued to uphold the supremacy of the Constitution, the rule of law, free, vibrant and liberalised media landscape and the promotion of democracy in general.

“As a result of Ghana’s record, there is the dire need to deepen and consolidate these democratic tenets and credentials. Ghana’s situation, therefore, provides enough justification for the re-activation of the IPDCs that will act as a buffer zone in the constituency to stem the tide of unnecessary suspicions and anxiety among political parties,” He said.

The IPDC is a platform that offers opportunity for the NCCE and its major stakeholders to engage with the electorate on issues concerning the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

The purpose of the IPDCs, as stated in the Sustainable Development Goal-16, is to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development.

On its operational areas, Mr Adda said the Committee would monitor breaches of the rules and regulations regarding the electoral process investigate cases of abuse and resolve petty conflicts or misunderstandings that may affect the process.

The MCE for Builsa North Mr David Amoabil Afoko who before becoming an MCE was the NPP chairman for the Builsa North Constituency recounted the success story of the committee during the 2016 elections.

“If you have ever witness war you would never hope for war, war does not bring development and the sad part is that it is the children who suffer the most when there’s war. Imagine there’s war and you need water to drink and there’s no water in your room’’

He said, peace was very critical to the socio-economic development of every society hence the many engagements of stakeholders in the electoral process over the week and the previous week with the aim of sustaining peace before, during and after the December polls.

Mr P .P. Apaabey Baba, Regional Director of the NCCE, said he was very excited to see the re-activation of the Committee in the District adding that the Committee performed very creditably during the 2016 elections  and pledged the Regional Directorates support to the committee.

Reverend Father Sebastian Adoku, on his part, urged leadership of the various political parties to ensure that the elections were conducted peacefully devoid of conflicts.

He advised the youth not to allow themselves to be used as instruments to cause mayhem. He charged politician to go beyond preaching peace to practicing peace. Saying ‘’ I condemn the acts of vandalism and politicians who are highly educated sinking so low to engage in extreme jubilation whenever their parties win an election thereby making mockery of the losing party’’ I condemn it in no uncertainty he added

The NPP constituency Chairman Mr Albert Atuga and Mr Amwani Anyewon Vitus representative of the Independent candidate pledged to ensure peaceful and violent- free elections.

Derrick Abakisi-Noiyeng Radio. 

VISIONARY BULUK KICK STARTS VIOLENCE FREE ELECTION CAMPAIGN AND FACEMASK DISTRIBUTION IN TWO BUILSA DISTRICTS.

Visionary Buluk a non-governmental organization in collaboration with Oiltanking and the European Union have kick started a peaceful election campaign and the distribution of facemask to market women, drivers, queen mothers and media practitioners in the two Builsa Districts of the Upper East Region to help protect the constituence against the Covid-19 pandemic and ensure peace before, during and after the 2020 general polls.

In a presentation of over 1500 facemask and peaceful election stickers to the targeted groups at separate events, Mr Evans Adeba a member of Visionary Buluk called on all and soundry especially the youth not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to foment trouble as we go into the elections saying ‘’ they will use you to cause trouble, just for a chicken change and after they win power they enjoy with only their families forgetting people like you "the youth" contributed to their success’’

He added that people should not lose sight of the Covid-19 pandemic as the disease still prevails and people continue getting infected with the disease on daily basis. 

He called on the constituents to protect themselves as they go out to exercise their civic responsibility in the December polls.

The queen mother of Sandema Poknaab Atebalie Azantilow was grateful to Vissionary buluk and their conterparts for the initiative and called on all especially trotro drivers and their mates to give helping hands to the elderly who come to them for their services.

She said, the lorry station is the first point of call for anyone leaving or coming into the district hence the need for drivers and their mates to protect themselves against the covid-19 pandemic.

She called on Mothers to instil discipline in their children and causion them to refrain from fomenting trouble as we go into the elections.

The team later went round the Sandema market square distributing the facemask to market women plying their trade in the market.

They also had a Radio engagement at Radio Builsa a local Radio station operating in the Builsa North District of the Upper East Region.

Derrick Abakisi-Noiyeng Radio