Assemblies urged to support anti-bushfire committees

Sunyani (B/A), Dec. 15, GNA - The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Nana Kwadwo Seinti, has urged District Chief Executives in the region to support anti-bush fire committees in their areas with the necessary logistics to enable them to operate effectively. He also urged them to assist fire volunteer squads to function efficiently.

The Regional Minister was addressing a meeting of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) at the Residency at Sunyani. Nana Seinti noted that the dry season had set in and that the RCC and other stakeholders, including the Regional Bush-fire Prevention Committee had started series of meetings aimed at adopting a strategy for the prevention of the menace.

He warned that this year the patrol teams would be mandated to arrest persons who would start any bushfire and appealed to the courts to deal expeditiously with people brought before them for committing bush-fire offences.

Nana Seinti expressed satisfaction that the crime rate in the region this year, as compared to last year had reduced considerably. In 2002 there were 32 murder cases in the region but only 22 were recorded this year, while 21 robbery cases last year tumbled to seven this year and the 174 rape and defilement cases registered last year reduced to 76 this year.

The Region recorded 3,632 stealing cases this year as against 4,739 last year, 5,650 assault cases this year as against 6,880 last year and 611 fraud cases as against 761 last year.

Police registered 578 cases of causing damage this year, as against 675 cases last year, while 32 narcotic cases of last year reduced to 28 this year.

A total of 467 accidents involving vehicles were recorded as at the end of September this year, lower than last year's of 561. In all, 119 lives were lost and 549 people sustained injuries.

Nana Seinti said a tour by the Regional Prisons Committee revealed that the three prison establishments in the region - Sunyani, Duayaw-Nkwanta and Kenyasi were faced with many problems.

Nana Seinti said there was shortage of accommodation for both officers and inmates, "but the situation is more depressing for the inmates as they have to contend with congestion, lack of logistics, potable water, bedding, inadequate beds and some of the inmates have had to sleep on the bare floor."

He disclosed that the Kenyasi Prisons lacked electricity. To ease the congestion at the three establishments, Nana Seinti said plans were afoot to establish two more prison camps at Yeji and Wenchi so that some of their inmates could be transferred there.

"It is also being suggested to the Judicial Service to consider imposing non-custodial sentences on first-time offenders and for minor offences, so that minor offenders can be sentenced to do community work under supervision."

He noted that the request by almost all towns along the trunk roads in the region for speed ramps and rumble strips to lower the speed of recalcitrant drivers was a major problem for the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA).

Nana Seinti emphasized that the Ministry of Roads and Transport was essentially against the request, especially on the trunk roads, as it would lead to early deterioration of the roads.

Besides, visitors to the region have complained about the practice saying the ramps rather created inconvenience to road users, he said. Alternatively, in addressing the request Nana Seinti suggested to the law enforcement agencies to draw up a comprehensive plan to police the roads and enforce the speed limits through major settlements on the highways to check over-speeding by drivers.

On the health sector, the Regional Minister said the region had gained some remarkable achievements this year and mentioned the completion of the ultra-modern New Regional Hospital at Sunyani.

The establishment of a new Community Health Nurses Training School at Tanoso in the Tano District is also part of the good achievements of the region in its health planning for the people.

He said the rapid turnover of auxiliary personnel particularly, the nurses had necessitated the training of health aides to carry out non-professional duties so that the professionals could concentrate on their duties.

Nana Seinti said 56 students were enrolled in July this year and were undergoing six-months' training at the Regional Hospital in Sunyani and would be posted to the various districts that sponsored them after the training on December 19.

The next batch of students would be enrolled in the first quarter of 2004, he announced and urged District Assemblies to sponsor more candidates to help reduce the acute shortage of health staff in the region.

On HIV/AIDS, Nana Seinti said the cumulative cases in the Region from 1986 to June 2003 were 8,052. Out of the 6,494 blood donors screened during the period, 236 were HIV positive, giving a prevalence rate of 3.6 percent for the region.

He expressed the hope that the Health Directorate, with the support of all district assemblies, would work tirelessly for the equitable distribution of health personnel and health facilities in the region for the improved health of the people.