Students of the Sandema Senior high School in the Bulsa District of the upper East Region are living in abandoned structures described by authorities as “death trap”. With a student population of 1,962 and 83 staff made up of teaching and none teaching, the School which offers all six courses: Home Economics, Visual Arts, General Arts, Agriculture, Science and Business lacks the needed infrastructure to propel learning. The Assistant Headmaster of the School, Mr. Kingsley Azantilow who took this reporter round the school lamented about the condition of the school. He expressed grave concern over the lack of accommodation for staff, access roads, fence for the school, limited classrooms among others. “Of the 83 staff, the school accommodates only 16 teachers, we have only 42 classrooms requiring 24 more to meet the growing demands,” he said. He said the lack of fence wall exposes it to all kinds of setbacks including armed robbery, animals feeding on the scho...

Outspoken Northern Regional Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Daniel Bugri Naabu has taken a swipe at some Members of Parliament in the region, describing them as “errand boys”. He claimed majority of MPs in the Northern Region who have been in the House for ages, still lack the parliamentary antics to lobby for projects for their constituencies. He insinuated, “Our NDC Parliamentarians, they go and buy food and serve the rest of our Parliamentarians in this country: if I am not telling the truth the NDC MP is here go and ask him[referring to Thomas Nassah, MP for Gushegu].” The NPP Northern Regional Chairman was addressing a large gathering on the occasion of the annual Linujil (Yam Festival) celebrated by the chiefs and people of Bunbong-Naayili, predominantly a Konkomba farming settlement in the Yendi Municipality. He challenged the MPs in the region to let the voices of their constituents who are virtually poor be heard on the floor of...

A woman woke up one morning and said to her husband: "I had the most vivid dream last night. In that dream you bought me a really expensive diamond ring for my birthday. I've never had a dream like that before. What do you think it means?" "You'll know tonight, darling," he said. Hardly able to contain her excitement all day, she eagerly awaited her husband's arrival home from work. Sure enough, he was carrying a small, beautifully wrapped Meaning package, which he then handed to her. Thrilled, she opened it... and found a book entitled The meanings of Dreams.

It is not everything about migration that is negative, and if people get to know the success story of some migrants, they would change their views on the issue. Female head porters, popularly called ‘Kayaye,’ often migrate from the northern parts of the country to urban cities in search for job opportunities or improved income activities with the hope of raising enough capital to invest in less labour-intensive ventures. Most of these Kayayees are the “saviours” of their immediate families back home as the survival of their relatives wholly depend on the incomes they make through menial jobs. Aisha, a 45-year- old, is a former Kayaye who migrated from the Northern Region to Accra at the age of 18. She came down in the company of her two friends when she dropped out from school because her parents could not afford her school fees. Aisha came from a very poor family who could hardly provide three square meals and the only way out was for her, the eldest child a...

The ongoing nationwide street naming exercise is progressing in the Northern Region as the Tolon District and Tamale Metropolitan Assemblies have successfully completed the exercise ahead of the deadline. This is in compliance with President John Mahama’s directive asking all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to name their streets for easy identification. In Tolon, some of the named streets include Palace, Yepelgu, Dimabi, the Assembly, Beyom palace, Kukuonayili, Naa Damba, J.S Kaleem and Fehini Streets. Tolon District Chief Executive, Seidu Abubakari who was very instrumental in the whole exercise named two streets in Nyankpala community after two illustrious sons of the area. One was named after the late Naa J.S Kaleem for his immense contribution towards the development of education in Northern Ghana. The other one was named in honour of the late Naa Roland W. Damba. The DCE, Seidu Abubakari eulogized the late Naa Roland W. Damba for being one of the revered...

Panic is spreading across an African community after reports that two Ebola victims have risen from the dead. The victims, both females in their 40s and 60s, died of the deadly virus in separate communities in Nimba County, Liberia. But according to reports in a local newspaper, the pair have reportedly been resurrected and are now walking among the living, causing panic and fear among locals. The New Dawn Nimba County said the late Dorris Quoi of Hope Village Community and the second victim identified as Ma Kebeh, in her late 60s, were about to be taken for burial when they rose from the dead. Ma Kebeh had been indoors for two nights without food and medication before her alleged death. Nimba County has recently reported unusual news of Ebola cases, including one about a native doctor from the county, who claimed that he could cure infected victims, dying of the virus himself last week. Since the Ebola outbreak in Nimba County, this is the first incident of dead victims resurrec...

Joy News has uncovered activities of a group of fraudsters  using the National Service postings to steal millions of Ghana cedis from state coffers. Fred Smith, who uncovered the activities of the gang, reported it has a network of people within the National Service Secretariat to help enlist ghost organizations on the service programme. At the end of the month, one Alhaji, who is said to be the gang leader, gave personnel he criminally assisted to do their services only half of their service allowance while he and his cohorts share the remaining half. Alhaji operated from his bedroom at Manhean, an outskirt of Tema and boasts of very strong connections at the service secretariat. Fred said Alhaji could manipulate national service postings at will, when his victims express readiness to pay for his services. Alhaji was heard on record claiming he could ensure that personnel got postings to their choice of organization. He did this by giving out the pin codes of personnel to bo...

Luck eluded a suspect­ed motorbike snatcher over the weekend, when he failed to escape with a new Sukida motorbike he had stolen at a wedding recep­tion in Bolgatanga. The suspect, believed to be in his early 30s, was only identified by some persons at the wedding reception as "Sharp Man" and suspected to be a member of a gang of thieves who go round steal­ing motorbikes in the Bolgatanga Municipality. According to some guests at the wedding reception, they saw the sus­pect standing by the motor­bike, but did not suspect he was a thief because he was smartly dressed. Even though the suspect succeeded in breaking the security lock and discon­necting the alarm on the motorbike, he couldn't bolt away with his booty because someone saw him and raised an alarm as he was pushing the bike towards the exit of the reception venue. Before the police officers who were at the reception to grace their colleague's wed­ding could come to his aid, some civilian gu...

Inmates of some prisons in the country have not eaten meat from soup served them for close to a year while others take porridge, popularly called ‘koko’, without sugar. This is because the daily feeding allowance of Ghc1.80p a day per inmate is woefully inadequate. The Interior Minister, Mr. Mark Owen Woyongo, disclosed this yesterday during his maiden visit to the Ghana Prisons Service Headquarters in Accra. He wondered what Ghc1.80p could buy, let alone feed somebody three times a day, saying though the current financial situation of the government is not stable, he believed something could be done about the situation. Mr. Woyongo said a recent visit to the Navrongo Central Prison in the Upper East Region revealed the plight of inmates of prisons. Apart from the insanitary condition that bedeviled the prison, the minister said there was overcrowding, which posed a serious challenge not only to the inmates, but also the officers who man the facility. The minister desc...

President John Mahama has called for an immediate end to open defecation which is believed to have played a significant role in the spread of cholera in parts of the country. He said the outbreak of cholera will be difficult to manage if the people fail to play their part to complement government’s efforts. He is asking Ghanaians to be responsible for their health and surroundings in order to break the spread of the cholera disease. Over 1,000 cases have been reported at health facilities in seven out of the ten regions with more 100 deaths recorded within the last three months since the outbreak was first reported in Accra. Speaking at the inauguration of the newly refurbished and expanded Iran clinic in Accra, Tuesday, the president said it is time Ghanaians saw the need to keep their environment clean and also stopped haphazard defecation. “Sanitation facilities are provided [but] people won’t use them and some people prefer to go and do their business (defecate) outside, somet...

One person is reported dead in an elephant attack at a town in the Garu Tempane District of the Upper East region. The animals numbering about eight are said to have attacked Nate township on Friday morning, and destroyed farms in the area. The Presiding Member of the Garu Tempane District Assembly, Mr Dahamani Alaal, confirming the story told Graphic Online that police personnel have been deployed to the town to drive the animals away. The elephants are said to have strayed into the area and initially did not disturb anyone. According to reports, residents gathered and were watching the animals whilst some took pictures. Two people on a motorbike, who passed by them (elephants), according to reports, scared the elephants with the noise from the bike that resulted in the attack. They first attacked the two on the motorbike and killed the pillion rider. The rider however escaped. An eyewitness earlier told Accra-based radio station, Joy FM that they woke up Friday morning to dis...

The National Hajj Committee chairman is urging prospective pilgrims to pay realistic charges as thousands prepare for this year’s journey to Mecca. The call, according to Alhaji Ibrahim Rauf Tanko, follows recent depreciation of the Cedi against the dollar. He told Joy News Evans Mensah that it has negatively impacted on the cost of travel to Mecca. The Committee had set a flat rate of GHc9,900 for all prospective pilgrims based on the dollar exchange rate more than four months ago. But the continued depreciation of the Cedi has eroded the value causing losses to the Hajj committee. Therefore, Alhaji Tanko called on well-meaning Moslems to support the Islamic course.

Police: Where do you live? Small boy: With my parents. Police: Where do your parents live? Small boy: With me. Police: And where do you all live? Small boy: Together Police: Where is Your Home? Small boy: Beside my neighbors' house. Police: Where is your neighbors' house? Small boy: If I tell you, you will not believe me. Police: Tell us? Small boy: Next to my house...

President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday announced that Government would build three new airports to augment the existing ones and make air travel accessible to all Ghanaians. The new airports, he said, would be sited at Ho, Bolgatanga, and Cape Coast. President Mahama said this when he broke the grounds for the commencement of work on the expansion project of the Tamale Airport into an international airport as part of his two-day official visit to the Northern Region. Phase one of the expansion programme would include installation of Aeronautical Ground Lightening and would be able to accommodate Boeing 747 up to Boeing 800 series of aircraft. The $100 million project would also extend and expand the runway up to 4,000 metres with additional aprons and perimeter road and security fence. The programme was also attended by ministers of state, paramount chiefs from the region, members of Parliament and members of the Diplomatic Corps. President Mahama said with globalisation it was...

The Institute for Continuing Education and Interdisciplinary Research (ICEIR) of the University for Development Studies (UDS ) is to mount research-based programmes leading to the award of degrees in Master and Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies. Professor Seidu Al-hassan, the Director of ICEIR, who announced this, appealed for the expansion of existing infrastructure at the university and improved human resources to support teaching and learning at the Institute. He said the institute was also coordinating a research process that would lead to the preparation of a Northern Savannah Human Development Report on behalf of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office in Accra. Prof. Al-hassan said that at the opening ceremony of the Annual Interdisciplinary Conference organised by the institute at the Tamale campus of the UDS. He stated further that plans were also underway to expand the research scope of the institute to cover culture and development so as to...

After failing early this year to confirm or deny reports that he is eyeing the National Chairman post of the National Democratic Congress, shrewd Northern politician and vice Chairman of the ruling party, Alhaji Hudu Yahaya, has confirmed to The Al-Hajj plans to stake claim to the coveted post when nomination opens later this year. According to astute political strategist who once steered the affairs of the NDC as General Secretary, his decision to add to the number of party stalwarts vying for the post is to strengthen the party and positioned it not only for winning the 2016 elections but future elections. In an exclusive interview with The Al-Hajj, Alhaji Hudu Yahaya, who in May this year was evasive on whether he will challenge incumbent Chairman Dr Kwabena Adjei, stated that he has firmed up on plans to avail himself for the task. “I’ve concluded consultations and I can now confirm to you that I’ll put myself up for election when nominations open later this yea...

The Ministry of Education has recommended a drastic reduction in the aggregate of courses of study at basic schools to not more than five subjects, Deputy Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed. According to Mr. Ablakwa, the Ministry considers the current curricular at the basic level to be “too high." Basic Education in Ghana, which is free and compulsory, lasts 11 years. Pupils between age 4-15-years are mandated to learn at least 10- in some cases 12- subjects at that level. These include: English Language, Ghanaian Language and Culture, Social Studies, Integrated Science, Mathematics, Basic, Design and Technology, Information and Communication Technology, French (optional), Religious and Moral Education. However, speaking on Ghana Connect on Joy FM, Friday, Mr. Ablakwa said the curricular is undergoing a thorough review in order to cut down on the number of subjects to at most five. A public announcement to that effect is likely to be made latest by the end of Sept...

Production time at the Handmade Guild, a factory that produces soap and shea butter products in the Sanerigu District in the Northern Region, is an “all-hands-on-deck affair.” The ever busy factory is owned by the PagSung Shea nut Pickers and Shea butter Processors Association, which has a membership of 1600 from about 70 communities. Members pay GH¢5 for the running of the association. The association was founded and incorporated in October 2008. Under the able leadership of Safia Alhassan, the association, established in 2006, received support from Africa 2000 network, a UNDP integrated poverty reduction programme. Ms Alhassan, a 54-year-old Home Economics teacher who also doubles as the President of the association, said under the programme, trainers from Japan took some of the women through soap making using local raw materials - shea nuts and shea butter. With their newly acquired skills, the trained women produced soap and pomade for sale and also trained ot...

Forty four out of 45 illegal miners standing trial in a Tamale Circuit Court have been granted bail. They are to reappear in court for the trial to continue on September 22, 2014. They were charged on three counts; entering the country through unapproved routes, failing to appear before immigration officer and engaging in illegal employment. All of them pleaded guilty for failing to appear before immigration officer whilst some pleaded guilty for passing through unapproved routes. Two of them who possessed passports but engaged in illegal employment were convicted upon pleading guilty and they were fined GHC 600 penalty each. One of them who instantly paid the fine was granted bail whereas the other person is still in prison pending payment. The Presiding Judge, His Honour Senyo Amedehe in his wisdom discharged one of them identified as a minor. Representative of the Attorney Generals Department in court pleaded with the learned Judge to discharge the minor. Both Guinean and M...

As the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) conducts its internal elections across the country, a youth group calling itself John for John Movement in Tamale has launched a crusade against all old party executives seeking re-election. Of particular mentioned are the Northern Regional NDC executives whom the group implored party delegates to reject them at the polls. Secretary to the group, Salifu A. Baba in a Citi News interview described the Chief Sofo Azorka led team as self seeking politicians. He alleged that their inefficiency contributed to the seven seats the party lost to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the 2012 general elections. He supported the NDC founder, Jerry John Rawlings’ call on the delegates to elect into office competent leaders or risk losing the 2016 general elections. “We support our party’s founder Dr. Jerry John Rawlings call for delegates to elect leaders with integrity at the constituency, regional and national levels to retain ...

One of Islam’s most revered holy sites – the tomb of the Prophet Mohamed – could be destroyed and his body removed to an anonymous grave under plans which threaten to spark discord across the Muslim world. The controversial proposals are part of a consultation document by a leading Saudi academic which has been circulated among the supervisors of al-Masjid al-Nabawi mosque in Medina, where the remains of the Prophet are housed under the Green Dome, visited by millions of pilgrims and venerated as Islam’s second-holiest site. The formal custodian of the mosque is Saudi Arabia’s ageing monarch King Abdullah. The plans, brought to light by another Saudi academic who has exposed and criticised the destruction of holy places and artefacts in Mecca – the holiest site in the Muslim world – call for the destruction of chambers around the Prophet’s grave which are particularly venerated by Shia Muslims. The 61-page document also calls for the re...

Feuding factions in the Bawku chieftaincy conflict are reluctant to surrender their weapons and blame their intransigence on their lack of confidence in the security agencies. A member of the Manprusi clan Mohammed Tahiru Nambe told Joy News , “I am afraid it is not going to be applicable to the Bawku situation. It is because of mistrust and loss of confidence in the security agencies that is why people, a lot of people have weapons.” Recurrent gun violence in the Bawku area has claimed scores of lives in the past decade with its resultant destruction of property running into millions of cedis. In recent times, three people lost their lives after violent clashes. Government last Wednesday offered a month’s amnesty for residents possessing illegal weapons to turn them in and receive cash incentives. Interior Minister Mark Woyongo believes the move was part of measures to bring solution to the chieftaincy crisis between the Manprusi and the Kusasis. Mr. Woyongo, wh...

Behind closed doors – in places where the religious police cannot listen in – residents of Mecca are beginning to refer to their city as Las Vegas, and the moniker is not a compliment. Over the past 10 years the holiest site in Islam has undergone a huge transformation, one that has divided opinion among Muslims all over the world. Once a dusty desert town struggling to cope with the ever-increasing number of pilgrims arriving for the annual Hajj, the city now soars above its surroundings with a glittering array of skyscrapers, shopping malls and luxury hotels. To the al-Saud monarchy, Mecca is their vision of the future – a steel and concrete metropolis built on the proceeds of enormous oil wealth that showcases their national pride. Yet growing numbers of citizens, particularly those living in the two holy cities of Mecca and Medina, have looked on aghast as the nation's archaeological heritage is trampled under a construction mania backed by hardline clerics who...

THE PARAMOUNT Chief of Buipe Traditional Area, Buipewura Abdulai Mahama Jinapor II has called on the government to show serious commitment in its investigations into the gruesome murder of the Paramount Chief of Bimbilla (Overlord of Nanumba Traditional Area), Naa Dasana Dawuni Andani II, and two others. The Bimbilla Naa was assassinated at his palace on June 19, 2014, alongside two of his brothers by some unknown gunmen shortly after evening Moslem prayer. The killers of the chief were reportedly dressed in police uniforms. Four other persons, including a four month old baby, were severely injured and were rushed to the Tamale Teaching Hospital. The Buipewura is urging the government to arrest and prosecute the killers of the Chief to serve as deterrent to those who had similar intentions to attack any chief in the region. Speaking in an interview with newsmen in Tamale, Buipewura Jinapor II raised serious concern about the breakdown of law and order, especially among the youth of ...

The Interior Ministry has assured chiefs in the three regions of the north that it will protect them against any attempt on their lives. This follows the murder of some chiefs in those regions over chieftaincy disputes which led to frequent communal clashes. The paramount chief of Buipe, Abdulai Mahama Jinapor II in adesperate appeal said many of the chiefs  in that part of the country feel insecure.  The security services have so far failed to track down the killers of the late overlord of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Yakubu Andani II and the Bimbilla chief, Naa Dasana Abdulai Andani II. The Deputy Interior Minister, James Agalga told Citi News the Buipewura has legitimate concerns but he assured him that the government “is on top of national security and will continue to do everything within its power to protect the chiefs of this country.” He recalled that after the murder of the Yaa Naa, people raised concerns about the nature of investigations which were carried out le...

The National Service Scheme (NSS) has de­bunked news making rounds that there will be no postings this year due to the Ebola scare. Consequently, the NSS at a press conference yesterday an­nounced that postings will be released at 6pm today. Graduates have been de­ployed to government priority areas such as agriculture, edu­cation, health, local govern­ment, military, co-operatives and any other areas deemed necessary. Sectors for postings will in­clude education, with a total 36,825; 3,157 of this number will be deployed to the tertiary education level to support training institutions in faculty work, research and administra­tion. The health sector also re­ceived 2,685 persons to sup­port health delivery, especially in clinics, hospitals, immunisa­tion centres and the National Health Insurance Scheme, making 4% of the total num­ber. The scheme continued its support to the private sector to meet their human resource re­qui...

Peace, unity, reconciliation and forgiveness are what we should stand to acknowledge through wisdom, kindness, liberty, justice, fairness, love: and work to overcome the negative through the creation of a positive mindset that would lead us to a positive environment. We knew that there is more power in unity than in division, more to love than in hate. It is my wish that if there is any website/page we must host about Islam, that website/page must be for peace and unity. Not for senseless arguments. Why are we not bothered about issues that matter to our collective welfare, but our different ASSOCIATIONS and interests. If we read the Islamic history and the development of Islamic Jurisprudence, we will realize that the four Ahle Sunnat Imams of Islamic Jurisprudence, Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Malik, Imam Shafi'e and Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal (May Allah shower His mercy upon them) had very high respect and love for the family of Prophet (Peace be upon him). They learnt Islamic Jurisprude...