The Informer


3rd edition – 11th of December 2008


Editorial

Courage Agrompah and Innocent Akorli

The 3rd edition of The Informer presents many fun facts for you and reporting on the 2008 Presidential Election and very funny jokes written by our own sports reporter!

Due to the Holidays and vacations we also will go on break! Hopefully we will be back with more information on February or March! Wait for us and visit us on the website www.theinformer-ghana.blogspot.com !


GHANA 2008!

There will be a 2nd round

By James Hogba

It was declared by the General Chairman at the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Kodjo Afari-Gyan that the polls results were not enough to declare a winner. There were eight candidates in total, but none of them gathered the majority of votes for the presidential position.
Since they had most of the votes, the candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo- Dankwah Akuffo Addo, and Professor Atta Mills’ National Democratic Congress (NDC) will participate on the runoff, scheduled for the 28th of December. Then, one of them will be elected president.
Dr. Afari-Gyan stated that the ruling party (NPP) leaded the first poll with 4,159,439 votes, which is equivalent to 49.13% of the total. The NDC follows it with 47.92%.
He also declared that the results for the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akwatia, in the Eastern Region and Asutifi, in the south were not yet decided.


Important facts!

Environmental degradation

BY Lydia Komla

It is the gradual process by which the natural states or the quality of the environment deteriorates or gets destroyed through the activities of man or other natural phenomena. This is happening in such a way that natural environmental resources are not enough to support plants and animals life.

CAUSES ?

Indiscriminate cutting of trees
Bush fires
Construction of roads and houses
Mining activities
Use of chemicals
Pollution of the atmosphere
Sand winning/quarrelling

SOLLUTION ?

There should be adequate education.
There should be practice of a forestation.

RSH FACTS!!!
By the Informer Team


DO YOU KNOW…

… what is Candidiasis?

Candidiasis is a fungal infection, like a mycosis. The fungus lives controlled in many people, but when it starts multiplying it can cause discomfort and sometimes, more serious symptoms.
The fungus can multiply when the body is not very healthy or when there is a change in the body system. For example, girls can have a change of the acidity (PH) of the vagina and then the fungus starts multiplying.
BUT! Candidiasis can also be spread through sex! Kissing and oral sex as well!
Candiasis can make the person feel pain when urinating, burning and itching on the intimate parts, and sometimes a thick, white discharge that is usually odorless, although it might smell like bread or yeast.
The treatment is very simple and quick. So, if you have any of these symptoms go look for a doctor or nurse!

… that there are many youth friendly websites for RSH?

Yes! There are websites with games, fun facts and videos to help youth better understand their bodies and reproductive and sexual needs, wishes and concerns!
Take a look at these here!
www.teenwire.com

Is a nice website with plenty information for young people! They talk about relationships, parenting, abortion, diseases, … and the fears and joys of growing up!

www.auntiestella.org

This has a lot of information for young people, specially those who are from or live in African countries!

www.hormonefactory.org


It has a fun programme on how hormones work in our bodies!

www.theworldstarts.org

It is a fun website that helps us understand how RSH works for us young people living in Africa. They have games and stories!

….that HIV

is the name for Human Immunodeficiency Virus! And that Aids is a syndrome that roughly means a collection of different symptoms.

Entertainment


The choir of Apostles Revelation Society Church turns three

By Afeke Eric Setsoafia

The Corinthians Choir of Apostles Revelation Society (ARS) Church celebrated three years of service last Sunday, the 11th of December, at the church premises in Ho. The choir which was founded on 13th November, 2005 by Rev. Gershon Doe Gakpetor has 30 members, including 16 males and 14 females. The church which is located behind the electoral commission was filled with hundreds of members of the congregation and well-wishers.

The regional superintendent minister (RSM), Rev. G.D. Gakpetor who preached the days sermon from Psalm 105:1-3, said if not for the special grace of God, the choir could have collapsed some time ago. “For that reason everybody should be happy about the celebration,” claimed Rev. Gakpetor.

He said that teenage pregnancy is a common issue in Ghana and urged all members of the choir to be careful in their practices. Rev. Gakpetor also asked attendants to plant the seed of unity, love, and forgiveness for every person, regardless of their status and condition.

After the sermon the president of the choir, Mr. Isaac Setsoafia read all the achievements made by the choir. An appeal was made for purchasing of musical instruments and at the end of the programme, an amount of GHc 1,100.00 was made available to the choir.

Music is the joy of life

By Ike Nkutie

90% of mankind testified that music is a term of singing, and dancing. In an interview with a local musician Mia Israe Magenta, from Tegdi, in the Volta Region makes us understand why.

“Music is the joy! I may say I was born with it. I started singing at the age two years. While singing I used to play my own manufactured Milk and Milo Tin drum,” said Magenta, remembering that that was great entertainment for people who surrounded him.

He tells that at primary level, he was appointed as morning devotion leader and at junior high school, he was elected as culture, music and dance prefect. “Amazingly at second circle level I was again adjudged school prefect. Through all this my leisure times were for music. For God has really been on my side,” explained the musician.

Magenta came out with his first album entitled Makafuie that means he will praise the lord with the help of supreme singer. Three years have passed since the first album.
“All this by God through his people and thus my pride,” finishes the musician who has a long career ahead of him.

JOKES!

At the spot
By Hayi Dickson

A customer at a drinking spot said to the waiter “please bring me the same sort of the drink that man is taking”, pointing to the man sitting beside him. After taking a sip of the drink he said back angrily to the waiter: “hey waiter! Is this the drink that man is taking and laughing on top. Did I ask of Quinine?”
The waiter replied, that it was the same drink that he was taking.
“Congratulations and well done sir”, said the customer to the other man.


WHAT’S WRONG WITH ME
By Hayi Dickson

A man in a commercial vehicle (TROTRO) travelling from Kumasi to Dunkwa witnessed what he believe was bringing illegal cargo. He saw the driver of his vehicle giving money to a policeman at a barrier. He said impolitely, “even with the positive change our drivers still bribe”. He confined “these policemen are so corrupt that one can trust them for fast a moment”.
Unknown for him there was a policeman sitting just behind him in the trotro. In an inform, the policeman topped him on “Oga, you say what?”
Then after realizing the one who tapped him was a policeman, he said cowardly: “but what at all is wrong with me, that any time I get booze I hate nonsense”.
You are not boozed ‘’ the man replied back.
“Officer, please I boozed I mean it .I’m boozed serious, serious”.

The Informer

2nd Edition, 27th of November 2008
A PRODUCT OF LADY VOLTA RESOURCE CENTRE

Editorial

by Ike Nkutie
With determination, one purpose, perseverance, and god on our side, we are able to come out with the second edition of The Informer.
This edition includes stories about girl-child education, an interview with the Chairman / Secretary of the National Democratic Convention (NDC, V.R.), opinions on contraception, sports stories about upcoming matches, frequent road accidents, peer pressure, abortion, school drop outs, another interview with the Convention People’s Party Chairman, Ho (CPP, V.R.), and many, many more.
Enjoy reading interesting stories. There are more to come!


Opinion

WHAT THE INFORMER THINKS ON IMPORTANT MATTERS


Girl-Child Education is fundamental for the growth of the country
By Regina Agbeko

In the past girl-child education was not regarded because of this reason: our grandparents thought that if they send a girl to school, she will only come back to be a servant for a man and work in the kitchen. Since that time, girl child education is not taken seriously. But one Ghanaian president said, “If you educate a boy, you educate a single soul, but if you educate a girl, you educate the whole nation.” With this saying girl-child education is now regarded seriously.
With the help of the Forum for Africa Woman Education (FAWE), which is giving opportunity to girls in Ghana and all of Africa to have access to education, girl-child education now helps girls to do what the boys are also doing. As the saying goes, “What boys can do, girls can also do even better.”
If a girl attends school properly to become a better woman in the future, she will help her children in the house by teaching them things concerning school and also helping them do their homework. Education makes girls not feel isolated but rather stand firm in a group of boys because she will also try to compete with them. When a girl is well educated you will see that there is discipline in her future home.


Abortion: rights and wrongs
By Remember Dzramedo

Pregnancy may not always be good news. If you find yourself with an unplanned pregnancy the situation can be very upsetting.
Abortion is a procedure to terminate unwanted pregnancy. The contents of the woman’s uterus are extracted or the woman is given medication to induce an abortion.
Abortion remains a contentious issue for many, but it is a personal decision for women. In most countries in Africa it is illegal to have an abortion and in some countries it is allowed only under certain conditions, for example, on medical grounds and when the life of the mother is in danger.
Some people believe myths that the following actions will bring on a spontaneous abortion or miscarriage: drinking herbal teas or large amounts of alcohol, exercising excessively, jumping up and down, taking hormones, inserting objects or herbs into the vagina, or having very hot baths. These are not methods of terminating a pregnancy and can damage your health.
For your own sake, it is important to act quickly and decide whether or not you want to have an abortion. This is a personal choice. If an abortion is performed in unsafe conditions, the risks to a woman’s health are significant and can be fatal. The procedure may damage the reproductive organs, cause sterility, peritonitis, and or other serious medical conditions.



We need to stop the road accidents
By Dickson Hayi

Road accident is described at the bad occurrences that suddenly happen to drivers, passengers, pedestrians or animals on the road, which normally leads to premature death and causes lost to property.
There are many causes of road accidents, but, mostly is because of people are over speeding. Most drivers apply over-speeding in their driving especially during occasions like festival such as Christmas, Easter, Yam festival and many more.
Some people take in alcohol that intoxicates them. Others have accidents while overtaking, dozing, sleeping, being disturbed by passengers or not recognizing road signs and traffic lights.
Road accidents cause harmful effect on humans, including loss of life, deformities and spoilage of goods and properties.
Deaths eventually result in shortage of human resources, including skills, knowledge and technical know how.
As a solution to road accidents, I recommend that drivers should avoid over-speeding and over-loading. The principle that state ‘if you drink, don’t drive. If you drive, don’t drink’ should strictly be observed.
The government should re-build all bad roads in the rural and urban areas to improve upon road and transport. The potholes should be filled and rough roads should be made smooth. Drivers in collaboration with vehicle owners should maintain their vehicles and ensure proper daily healthy conditions of their cars.
Let the authorities of roads and transports help us to say a very big ‘NO’ to road accidents and pre-mature death! We must face and fight road accidents!


School drop out: let’s face it!
By Courage Agrompah

We all know how important education is in a person’s life. It is what heklps people to acquire knowledge, skills and perception. But, unfourtunatelly, Ghana is facing more and more dropouts. And why is that?
It is sometimes possible that a person may drop out from school because of finantial problems and broken homes. It is very hard for the families to pay for their children school fees.
People also drop out of school due to peer pressure. Girls get unwanted pregnancies and boys are badly influenced by colleagues.
It is also common to see children develop the habit of being lazy. Instead of going to school, they go out for games. For example, a child may feel that is too hard to stop playing a game to go to school punctually, then he or she will be punished for being late and will not want to go back again.
I’m writing to all parents and friends to support the needy to go to school and stay in school. They will need help to develop habits of good behavior. Education is the key to success, so let us help them.


IT’S POLITICS

CPP wants to repeat Obama’s victory
By Eric Afeke Setsoafia

According to the Volta Region administration officer of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Mr. Albert Klu, the party has a higher chance to win the upcoming Presidential and Parliamentary Elections than in 2004.
He remembered that in 2000, when President Bush won the election in the United States of America (USA), he substituted the democratic in the office. The conservative New Patriotic Party (NPP) was very happy that another elephant (republicans symbol) had won. “But this time, with Obama’s election, the elephant has been defeated in America and it will also be defeated here in Ghana. Like Obama for the USA, the CPP is the change agent the country needs”, stated Mr. Klu.
In evidence for the growing support for the CPP, the administration officer explained that after the presidential debate on the television and radio stations, a large number of people commended the presidential candidate Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom. “He was at the top of the others. He excelled in all the issues brought before him,” celebrated.
But, Mr. Klu said that people need to do more that just express their positive feelings on the CPP candidate. “The best of it all is for all the eligible voters should go to vote on December 7th. They must exercise their rights very well and translate their sentiments into votes for the CPP Presidential and parliamentary candidates.”
Mr. Klu also called on all registered voters around to change their mind and throw their weigh solidly behind the red cockerel. “Voting massively for CPP is the way to achieve a great change for the country,” guaranteed.
He expressed the hope that the exemplary disposition of the two contestants in the north-american election is replicated in Ghana, when defeated candidates will congratulate and work with the victorious one.

One-touch victory for the NDC
By Edem Dogbe

On the 7th of December, Ghana will go to the polls to decide the best man to occupy the highest office of the land. Ghana will choose its president. The political turmoil has been great so far and it is sure to increase specially since there is less than two weeks left to the election.
In an exclusive interview with members from the regional secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the party is sure of being the winner. According to the NDC members, due to the current economic hardship that Ghanaians are going through, there is a need for change in government. The general secretary of Volta Region is very optimistic that the NDC has what it takes to lead Ghana from its current economic crisis.
The NDC urges the electorate to positively conduct themselves and have a violence-free election.

SPORTS!

A football match between St Propers’ College and Christian High School
By Dickson Hayi

The first round of the Ho Football Championship ended and the score line is still the same 1 – 1. It was a tough match but both team passed through it easily.
“It is not easy to draw with someone who is in my own home ground”, says the captain of St. Prospers’ College nicknamed Crazy. He added that the lack of some of the players made it difficult for them to carry the day. At the previous match, they scored two goals but one was not accepted. “We are going to be tough for at our next home match. It will be tough for the Christian High School”, Crazy promised to his opponents.
The captain of Christian High School made it clear that was only because of the injury of some of their players, they draw with Prosco School. “The amazing part of it was that our coach too was not around before the match,” explains.
He said that the next game will be very tough because they will do every thing to win and nothing will stop them from carrying the day.
“Come to the Ho Sport Stadium and see the real game,” said the captain of Prosco, promising that there is where they will walk on their opponents.

SOCIAL BASKET!

For the Informer’s gossiper, Gossip is a hobby
By James Hogba

“It is my hobby gossiping,” says Mr. Courage Afashime, who is popularly known as Mr. Gossiper of the Informer.
Mr. Gossiper says his main objection on why he gossips is the fact that he have interest what people do. “Hmm! It is not precisely my will to gossip but very happy been a gossiper,” Mr. Gossiper said.
He added that, It is not precisely his hobby been a gossiper but since he have interest in what people do it is nothing but his main hobby.
“I am very happy if people gossip about the fact but when false rumors are been gossiped about me, it pains me a lot so I will take all necessary actions to prove it right.” He said.
He said he will like to advice all these who gossip to gossip framely only on the fact not rumors that will take them to hell.
“I am busy writing some gossip,” he concluded.

Peer Pressure is at risk: keeping out deviant behavior
By Delali Ahiatrojeh

An expert in teenage relationship, Mr. Akoto explains that peer pressure is an act of influencing a person to do something he or she is not willing to do. “That is, forcing somebody to engage him or herself into some bad habits, where by encouraging a person in to a bad practice or deviant behavior. By so doing, that person is now tends to become master in that form of act”, ponders.
According to him, minority groups in villages and towns engage themselves into this forms of acts, like robbing people, bribing, dealings cocaine, smoking weed and tobacco, which will cause a lot of harm to their internal and external lives.
Mr. Akoto points that when people do not have good homes or sufficient food, or when they are often in bad health, or in a state of ignorance because of lack of education, they become unhappy, and unhappiness is often followed by discontent. “So what they will do is to join minority groups, practice bad habits and become armed robbers, weed smokers or cocaine dealers just to satisfy themselves”, says.
The expert thinks that the government should do something to help Ghanaian youth to become better educated, more healthy and prosperous.
Mr. Akoto says that his advice for the youth today is that they should undergo better education. “If they can not make it through education too, learn a job and make it in life.”


?????DID YOU KNOW????

What is Contraception?
By Prince Agrompa

Contraception or birth control is the term used for prevention of pregnancy. Both man and women can use contraceptives ritually but the periodicity varies according to the chosen method. 64% of reproductive age women use reversible methods, such as condom and the birth control pill.
The remaining group relies on female sterilization on their partner’s vasectomy.
Apart from unwanted pregnancy, the male and female condom prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Fortunately contraceptive related risks generally are minimal even for women with medical conditions.


Entertainment


Brussel Sprouts
By Regina Agbeko

I’m like a tightened fist
Holding back all my anger.
Trying to stay closed
And trying not to open and explode with anger.
I can’t hold my leaves closed any longer.
I’m exploding
My leaves are opening. I feel like a rocketship
That just took off for Mars.
My outside leaves are green,
But my inner-self is yellow with fur.
Now that I have been rid of my anger,
I can return to the field and start all over again.

Just a Dream
By Laura Seden Dogbey

The headmaster of my school hardly enters any class unless there is trouble. It was a bright morning. We were in class when Mr. John Smith, our headmaster, entered the room with a sheet of paper in his hand.
“What could it be?” I wondered. In the next second I guessed all was okay until all of a sudden my heart started pounding and I felt a cold chill down my body. In fact, my teeth began to chatter because the word “mercy” was not in his dictionary.
Mr. Smith began to mention names from the paper he was holding: Robert Mensah, Jackson Haxtin, and Laura Bush. “Oh my God that’s my name,” I thought. Upon hearing my name I took a trip down memory lane about what I had done last week. Then the headmaster started to speak. “Well, my students, contrary to your expectations this isn’t bad news at all. I am rather proud to announce that these three students have won a two year scholarship to study in any university of their choice in Britain for stealing the show at the National Theatre last Saturday. They also have the chance to visit the Queen of Britain,” he said.
Wow! “Did I hear him right?” I wondered. At that moment my heart leapt for joy that knew no bounds. I couldn’t wait to tell my folks at home. Just then I felt a tap on my shoulder. “Laura, wake up!” It was my roommate. I opened my eyes only to realize that I had been dreaming.

How Ananse Decided to Keep Away All Wisdom from Mankind
By Remember Dzramedo

Once upon a time there was a village called Nyansakrom. It was in that village when Nana Nyankopon created heaven and earth, he kept all wisdom. Nana Nyankopon put wisdom in a beautiful pot and kept it in a certain cave. Meanwhile, it was only the king and his subjects who knew where that treasure of wisdom was kept.
On great occasions like festivals, the king and his subjects, including some elders of the village, normally visited the place where wisdom was kept. The substance in that pot was in powdered form. The only blessing the king could give to his people during those festivals was the substance in that pot. When the king and his entourage returned from the place he just sprinkled the substance in the powdered form on all the people at the village and asked Nana Nyankopon to fill them with wisdom.
Kwaku Ananse was one of the subjects of the king and he didn't like that the king was doing to his people by giving them the wisdom. Ananse was a very selfish being who wanted to keep everything that belonged to everyone to himself. Okonore, who was the wife of Ananse, knew her husband was very crafty and full of tricks in all his adventures.
Okonore noticed that at times her husband Anase used to sit quietly brooding over something he wanted to do. So Okonore asked, “Why are you so quiet, my lord?” Ananse replied, “Nothing, my love.”
To be continued…



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