SOUTH AFRICA 2010 has so far seen some ingenious football from both top-rated teams and underdogs. However, it has not been all about the football.
In some cases, ghost ‘traitors’ have been blamed, spirits sought after, players attacking coaches, referees accused of stealing goals and handsome players exciting female soccer fans.
There have been goal-scoring opportunities that have been squandered in a manner that has probably made Ghanaians, who used to malign Asamoah Gyan, rewrite their notes about the player.
As for the Jabulani, much has been written about it and so not anymore.
Traitors and bad spirits
So far, some teams at the tournament have struggled to shine and the devil has been blamed for their woes.
While France thought there was a traitor in the team, the Nigerians felt there was a spirit that needed to be exorcised.
In the France camp, Captain Patrice Evra was said to have blamed the team’s poor showing on a traitor among the squad, who allegedly spilled the beans when Anelka had a fracas with Coach Raymond Domenech.
“The problem of France is not Anelka, but the traitor among us,” he was quoted as saying. “We must eliminate the traitor from the group because he wants to hurt the team,” he further stated.
But if you know how France qualified for South Africa 2010, you would probably understand why they performed below par. Is it Irelands’ ghosts chasing them?
For Nigeria, it may be ex-Coach Shuaibu Amodu’s angry spirit hunting them.
Handsome players
This is the most interesting subject, though less talked about. Like David Beckham, some players at the ongoing Mundial appear more qualified to be used as cover faces for beauty magazines other than playing football.
They are handsome, sexy and less aggressive. The lucky names mentioned so far include Germany’s Mesut Ozil, Ghana’s Dede Ayew, Netherlands’ Sneider and Brazil’s Kaka and Maicon.
Another player who attracted some positive comments from some ladies who were watching Ghana and Germany’s game is Kevin-Prince Boateng’s half brother, Jerome Boateng, who caps for Germany. “He is tall, attractive and lovely,” one lady commented.
‘Unattractive’ players
One cannot mention handsome players without talking about those who appear unattractive. Indeed, there are some players whose physical appearance gives them a somewhat ‘hrrr’ face and these players cannot pass without comments being made about them.
So far, Argentina’s Carlos Tevez seems the number one victim of this classification. His serious-looking, non-smiling face, usually portraying himself like a hungry tiger hunting for its prey. Kader Keita has also been described in unpalatable words.
Tallest players
Some believe that height plays no part in the game of soccer but these people are mistaken. Aside skills and strength, the height of a player can give him or her some advantages over others, especially when competing for balls in the air.
England’s Peter Crouch and Czech Republic’s Jan Koller were the notable tall guys during Germany 2006. While Koller measured 2.02m, Crouch stood at 2.01m. Once again, Crouch is among the tallest players who participated in the tournament in South Africa. However, Serbia’s Nikola Îigiç is 0.01m taller than him.
Many of the other tall players, such as Germany’s Per Mertesacker, range between 1.80m and 2.0m.
Shortest players
Many people think that Argentina’s Lionel Messi is the shortest player at the Mundial currently but this is flawed. England’s Shaun Wright-Phillips measures 1.66m, while Messi’s is 1.69m. Germany’s Philip Lahm measures 1.70m.
And don’t be deceived into thinking that short players may be disadvantaged. Just as tall players have an advantage in the air, so do the short players have an advantage on the ground and they are actually the most gifted.
Their low centre of gravity gives them the opportunity to control and juggle with the ball and also turn and accelerate quickly.
Mysterious hairstyles and dressing
Another interesting part of the ongoing tournament is the types of hairstyles and dressing put up by some of the players. Indeed, as for hairstyles, nothing new. Brazilian Ronaldo and his famous crazy triangular tuft haircut at the 2002 World Cup gained much attention.
So the hairdos of Kevin-Prince Boateng and many others, with the dreadlocks, appeared to have passed with less comment. It is, however, John Paintsil’s one and a half sleeves that could not pass without comment.
The player prefers to go onto the pitch with one long sleeve for his right and a short sleeve on his left side. Reuters’ Timothy Collings said Paintsil’s dressing had “sparked the mystery of the missing sleeve.”
Play-acting players
Some players at the tournament have earned the unenviable reputation of exaggerating injuries. Brazil’s Luis Fabiano and teammate, Lucio, have been blacklisted for such actions. Luckily, Ivorian star Didier Drogba, who has been noted as very skilful in pretences, has exhibited very less of this trait at the Mundial.
Brazil’s Kaka was said to have been a victim of play-acting when Kader Kieta of Cote d’lvoire exaggerated a shove.
Paradoxes
Christopher Opoku of Metro TV, Ghana, couched it succinctly when he described the ongoing World Cup as obiara nye obiara World Cup, literally meaning “everybody is a ‘nobody’.”
What Chris implied was that no team has been guaranteed a win at the tournament irrespective of its muscles, history and rating. No wonder Italy and France, the defending Champions and runners-up respectively, have been forced to take an early shower.
Many who christened Brazil’s group as the ‘Group of Death’ may have to revise their notes, since Group ‘D’ has turned out to be the one in which each of the teams had an equal opportunity of progressing to the next stage.
Ghana beat Serbia, who in turn, beat Germany and the latter returns to beat Ghana. Germany mauls Australia, who gathers courage to draw against Ghana and went on to disgrace the Serbians who defeated Germany. No logic, it is simply football!
Incredible goal misses
The biggest miss in the tournament has so far been that of Ayigbeni. In one of the most interesting games at the ongoing Mundial, when Nigeria locked horns with South Korea, Nigeria’s lead striker, Yakubu Ayigbeni found himself with a wide open net and, inexplicably, missed it off the side of his foot.
There he stood, shocked, bewildered and ashamed. It was the chance to put Nigeria through to the next stage, but he squandered it. Though Ayigbeni’s wastefulness has been the most evident, there have been equally gift-wrapped chances that have been squandered by highly rated players.
In Ghana’s match against Germany, two clear opportunities were wasted by Thomas Muller and Kwadwo Asamoah. Emile Heskey of England has been one of the noted squanderers of chances, shooting out of target in the most unassumable ways.
And in a penalty where Germany was given the opportunity to equalise against Serbia, Lucas Podolski, Germany’s guaranteed spot kick scorer, fired outside the net.
Big teams embarrassment
Italy and France would probably be biting their nails and wishing they had not even gone to South Africa, in the first place. These two, current cup holders and the first runners-up, have been embarrassed in a manner they had never dream about.
While Italy managed to draw two games and lost to no less a side than Slovakia, their compatriots drew once and lost the remaining to a determined Mexico and the high-spirited host nation.
Spain, Germany, England and Denmark equally had their turns. Spain were made to eat humble pie baked by Switzerland, Germany bowed down unwillingly to Serbia and England could not put a goal through the net in their game against Algeria, despite the presence of Rooney, Gerrard and Lampard. As for Denmark, they could not outwit a leisurely-playing Japanese side, even with potent striker in the person of Nicklas Bendtner.
Refereeing follies
Some refereeing at the 2010 Mundial has been incredibly amazing. Referees and their assistants have judged clean goals as offside goals and punished players for no crime.
The United States of America seem to have been the team to have suffered worst from this sort of bad refereeing. No wonder the USA team captain, Landon Donovan, expressed disgust over referee Koman Coulibaly’s decision to rule out their goal in their match against Slovenia. “I don't know how they stole that third goal from us,” he was quoted as saying.
As if not enough, in their game against Algeria, Clint Dempsey of the USA scored to put his team in front, but his goal was ruled out, once again on the same grounds of offside.
It was the same show of poor refereeing in Italy’s game against Slovakia and many other games. The exit of Brazil’s Kaka during his team’s match against Cote d’lvoire was, similarly, blamed by some sports writers on poor officiating.
Yahoo sports Martin Rogers, for instance, criticised French referee Stephane Lannoy for his decision to yellow card Kaka, even though, in Rogers’ view, Keita was not looking where he was going and collided heavily with the Brazilian midfielder.
“Kaka merely held his ground for the inevitable contact and the incident in no way warranted a free kick, let alone a yellow card,” Rogers analysed.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
NR HIT BY FLOODS
Story: Nurudeen Salifu, Tamale.
PARTS of the Northern Region have been hit by severe rainstorms that have caused damage to some properties and led to the displacement of some families.
The worst hit districts have been the West and East Mamprusi, West and East Gonja, Gusheigu and Bole. The Tamale metropolis was the latest to have been affected.
The Northern Regional Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Alhaji Abdulai Mahama Silimboma told the Daily Graphic in an interview, that so far the storms have caused havoc to some public and private properties.
He mentioned schools and residential facilities as some of the worst affected.
“Some of them have had their walls collapsed, whiles the roofs have been ripped off,” he narrated.
Alhaji Silimboma said NADMO needed some more logistics to support the victims of the disaster since the one in store was currently inadequate.
“For the immediate relief, we would need foodstuffs, but later building materials and other items would also be needed,” he explained.
The co-ordinator said some of those displaced by the destruction were perching with family relations, until they are able to rebuild their homes and move back.
Meanwhile, there is still uncertainty over whether the rains that have flowed incessantly in the southern sector could replicate itself in the north.
According to the NADMO co-ordinator, the rains would peak between August and October this year, which raises the possibilities of excessive rains that could lead to floods.
He said the meteorological department had not been very forthcoming about forecasts regarding the rainfall pattern and noted that the signs in south could be the danger signs of things to come.
“The fear we have is that excessive rains in neighbouring Burkina Faso could equally have dire consequences for communities in the north, due to the possible outflow of major dams,” Alhaji Silimboma stated.
The disaster of 2007 is still fresh in the minds of many residents in the region, following the level of devastation it caused.
Figures collated by the NADMO indicated that 20 people died in the floods whiles 9, 707 houses, 22 health facilities, 18 school structures and 1, 499.1km of roads were destroyed. Also, over 220, 000 people were displaced.
PARTS of the Northern Region have been hit by severe rainstorms that have caused damage to some properties and led to the displacement of some families.
The worst hit districts have been the West and East Mamprusi, West and East Gonja, Gusheigu and Bole. The Tamale metropolis was the latest to have been affected.
The Northern Regional Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Alhaji Abdulai Mahama Silimboma told the Daily Graphic in an interview, that so far the storms have caused havoc to some public and private properties.
He mentioned schools and residential facilities as some of the worst affected.
“Some of them have had their walls collapsed, whiles the roofs have been ripped off,” he narrated.
Alhaji Silimboma said NADMO needed some more logistics to support the victims of the disaster since the one in store was currently inadequate.
“For the immediate relief, we would need foodstuffs, but later building materials and other items would also be needed,” he explained.
The co-ordinator said some of those displaced by the destruction were perching with family relations, until they are able to rebuild their homes and move back.
Meanwhile, there is still uncertainty over whether the rains that have flowed incessantly in the southern sector could replicate itself in the north.
According to the NADMO co-ordinator, the rains would peak between August and October this year, which raises the possibilities of excessive rains that could lead to floods.
He said the meteorological department had not been very forthcoming about forecasts regarding the rainfall pattern and noted that the signs in south could be the danger signs of things to come.
“The fear we have is that excessive rains in neighbouring Burkina Faso could equally have dire consequences for communities in the north, due to the possible outflow of major dams,” Alhaji Silimboma stated.
The disaster of 2007 is still fresh in the minds of many residents in the region, following the level of devastation it caused.
Figures collated by the NADMO indicated that 20 people died in the floods whiles 9, 707 houses, 22 health facilities, 18 school structures and 1, 499.1km of roads were destroyed. Also, over 220, 000 people were displaced.
FEEL IT, GHANA IS HERE
AT the ongoing World Cup, one of the placards that have caught my attention a good deal has been the one that read: “Feel it, Ghana is here.” No wonder I have chosen this as the title for my article.
What is it about that Ghana football, to the extent that it was expected to charm football fans in South Africa? What different thing does the Black Stars bring to bear on the tournament that make them not just add up to the numbers, but stand out.
As I pondered over these questions, the answers kept flowing count by count.
Firstly, Ghana has the historical background of being first in many endeavours. We were the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence. We have been among the first in the world to practice matured democracy and to give credence to several internationally-recognised rights.
Also, when the first Black president of the United States of America was sworn into office, Ghana was the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa that he visited, leaving out his own native land Kenya.
In football history, Ghana was the first to win the African Cup three times, before other nations followed suit.
Recently, we became the first African country to win the World Under-20 Cup and also on an African soil. Just some few days ago, it again became only the second African country to qualify for the round-16 stage of the 2010 World Cup consecutively and also the third in Africa to qualify for the quarter finals.
History beckons us once again as we seek to become the first in Africa to progress to the semi-finals or even better.
Secondly, apart from the historical context, Ghana’s recent achievements have given indications that it could do wonders when given the opportunity.
In 2006, we put up a horrible performance at the African Cup, but went to World’s Mundial and progressed to the second round, farther than our colleagues who had than better at the African Cup could go.
In 2010, we went to Angola with a makeshift side, without several key players, but we emerged victorious over some well assembled teams, including Nigeria and Angola. We even progressed to the finals and became runners-up.
Once again, we went to South Africa without Michael Essien, our key midfielder, but have so far proved to be key contenders, irrespective of our weaknesses.
So in view of these, it was not surprising that on the first edition of the World Cup on the African soil, Ghana is expected to be the first to carry the hopes of Africa. It is expected to salvage Africa’s pride and shame her detractors.
The question that arises, therefore, is: “Is Ghana really living up to expectation.”
So far, so excellent is the obvious. Qualifying for the Quarter-finals is enough proof that Ghana has fought had. We may not have had the big stars, but we have those who are willing to labour and bring forth results.
Several reasons account for Ghana’s progress so far. These include, but not limited to, our telepathic play, individual brilliance, team spirit, tactics and good omen.
Telepathic play
It is undisputed that teams like Barcelona, Manchester United and Arsenal have been the great teams they are due to the telepathy between and among some players. There is some kind of understanding that makes players to find one another on the pitch and predict their next moves.
I am referring here to that understanding between players like Xavi, Iniesta and Messi for Barcelona, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Rooney for Manchester United and Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie for Arsenal. When players feature simultaneously, their team’s play is enhanced because they know where to pass the ball to the other, when and which manner.
It is this telepathy that has suddenly characterised the Black Stars play in South Africa. If we observe critically, back in Angola we had a Black Stars team that was highly-spirited, but less telepathic. Dede Ayew and Kwadwo Asamoah may have played all the football, but with little communication. It was one of individual efforts.
The story has so far been different in South Africa. The trio of Dede Ayew, Kwadwo Asamoah and Kevin-Prince Boateng have formed a great partnership in the Ghanaian field that has produced excellent results for the Stars team. Each one who picks the ball knows where to locate the other and this is how they build from the back to the middle and to the front, where the final delivery is made, mostly to Gyan.
Again, the understanding that has flourished between Boateng and Annan has been superb. It is simple, Annan picks from the central defenders, delivers to Boateng, who then finds his usually partners. And when Annan makes the offensive move, then Boateng stays behind. How wonderful!
Individual brilliance
I mentioned earlier that Ghana does not have the Messis, Ronaldos and Kakas, but the truth of the matter is that, each player in the Stars team has the character traits of these players in them. It is only when they are willing and prepared to bring out these traits that they would reach their full potential.
So far, Asamoah Gyan, Boateng and Ayew have sought to bring out this thing that is them. It is not surprising that Abedi Pele was reported to have said, before the tournament, that there would be a revelation in the stars team. What he meant simply was that, somebody was going to go the great length to bring the best in him to bear on the game.
When these players produced these glimpses of individual brilliance, we saw the results. Ayew created three of Ghana’s goals. Asamoah scored all three of those goals. Boateng solely exploited and utilised his chance to produce his best, in the form of a goal in Ghana’s match against USA. As for Richard Kingson and Kwadwo Asamoah, they have more in them than they have showed.
Team spirit
There seem to be a burning desire in the Stars team for victory. It has largely been enhanced by the rejuvenated confidence of some of the players and the new stakes brought on board by the new kid, Boateng, who is determined to make a point.
The boys go onto the field determined to flaw the opponent and prove their worth. Apart from pride for their country, their desired has been boosted much more by the bigger mantle of carrying the hopes of millions of Africans.
Luckily, not many of them have showcased their desire to achieve personal glories. Probably, it has become clear to players that team work helps each player to realise his potential. After all, Gyan cannot score if Boateng decides not to give him the balls and vice versa.
Tactics
I would shy away from discussing much about tactics, since it is reserved for the technical experts. But from a layman’s point of view, Ghana’s 5-4-1 formation, particularly used against the USA, has proved effective.
It may appear ineffective when we need a goal, but the truth is that when you meet a team that has more offensive prowess than your team, your first priority is to assembly the men who could contain these offences, before thinking of options for offence.
Good omen
Some may not agree, but luck plays a role in success, especially when the opportunity is opened to one who is already prepared. The truth is that Ghana’s opponents have so far been tough, but who knows how tougher it could have been if we were to face Brazil, Argentina, South Korea and Uruguay.
Aside this, the climate at the moment provides a rife environment for the stars to succeed. Globally, it is a time, when smaller nations are trying to reshape global football competition and reinforce Christopher Opoku’s description of the tournament as ‘obiara n nye obiara’, which largely implies that no team is bigger than the other.
It is also a time when Africa needs to make a mark, whiles Ghana needs to be portrayed as Africa’s weapon for this endeavour or better still, become the ‘gateway to football in Africa.’
All these things sum up to create the right atmosphere for the stars to succeed.
Threats
Ghana could progress very far in the ongoing Mundial, except for some few hiccups that may derail progress. Aside meeting more tactically and skill-gifted teams, certain actions of our players could stab us in our back.
Complacency is one of those. John Paintsil appears to be the main culprit here. He delays in releasing the ball and when he has to clear the ball outright from the Ghana’s 18-yard area, he hesitates, probably over rating his ability to protect the ball.
The search for personal glory is another. The beginning of the death of team cohesion is the beginning of doom for the team. When players begin to seek personal glory at the team’s expense, they disrupt play, waste chances and create disunity and enmity in the team.
The last is about concentration. The goals we have conceded so far could be blamed on the lack of concentration. Our players seem to lose concentration when they are in the lead. They begin to celebrate even before victory is handed to them.
In the absence of these, one remains hopeful that the Black Stars could deliver beyond expectations.
What is it about that Ghana football, to the extent that it was expected to charm football fans in South Africa? What different thing does the Black Stars bring to bear on the tournament that make them not just add up to the numbers, but stand out.
As I pondered over these questions, the answers kept flowing count by count.
Firstly, Ghana has the historical background of being first in many endeavours. We were the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence. We have been among the first in the world to practice matured democracy and to give credence to several internationally-recognised rights.
Also, when the first Black president of the United States of America was sworn into office, Ghana was the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa that he visited, leaving out his own native land Kenya.
In football history, Ghana was the first to win the African Cup three times, before other nations followed suit.
Recently, we became the first African country to win the World Under-20 Cup and also on an African soil. Just some few days ago, it again became only the second African country to qualify for the round-16 stage of the 2010 World Cup consecutively and also the third in Africa to qualify for the quarter finals.
History beckons us once again as we seek to become the first in Africa to progress to the semi-finals or even better.
Secondly, apart from the historical context, Ghana’s recent achievements have given indications that it could do wonders when given the opportunity.
In 2006, we put up a horrible performance at the African Cup, but went to World’s Mundial and progressed to the second round, farther than our colleagues who had than better at the African Cup could go.
In 2010, we went to Angola with a makeshift side, without several key players, but we emerged victorious over some well assembled teams, including Nigeria and Angola. We even progressed to the finals and became runners-up.
Once again, we went to South Africa without Michael Essien, our key midfielder, but have so far proved to be key contenders, irrespective of our weaknesses.
So in view of these, it was not surprising that on the first edition of the World Cup on the African soil, Ghana is expected to be the first to carry the hopes of Africa. It is expected to salvage Africa’s pride and shame her detractors.
The question that arises, therefore, is: “Is Ghana really living up to expectation.”
So far, so excellent is the obvious. Qualifying for the Quarter-finals is enough proof that Ghana has fought had. We may not have had the big stars, but we have those who are willing to labour and bring forth results.
Several reasons account for Ghana’s progress so far. These include, but not limited to, our telepathic play, individual brilliance, team spirit, tactics and good omen.
Telepathic play
It is undisputed that teams like Barcelona, Manchester United and Arsenal have been the great teams they are due to the telepathy between and among some players. There is some kind of understanding that makes players to find one another on the pitch and predict their next moves.
I am referring here to that understanding between players like Xavi, Iniesta and Messi for Barcelona, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Rooney for Manchester United and Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie for Arsenal. When players feature simultaneously, their team’s play is enhanced because they know where to pass the ball to the other, when and which manner.
It is this telepathy that has suddenly characterised the Black Stars play in South Africa. If we observe critically, back in Angola we had a Black Stars team that was highly-spirited, but less telepathic. Dede Ayew and Kwadwo Asamoah may have played all the football, but with little communication. It was one of individual efforts.
The story has so far been different in South Africa. The trio of Dede Ayew, Kwadwo Asamoah and Kevin-Prince Boateng have formed a great partnership in the Ghanaian field that has produced excellent results for the Stars team. Each one who picks the ball knows where to locate the other and this is how they build from the back to the middle and to the front, where the final delivery is made, mostly to Gyan.
Again, the understanding that has flourished between Boateng and Annan has been superb. It is simple, Annan picks from the central defenders, delivers to Boateng, who then finds his usually partners. And when Annan makes the offensive move, then Boateng stays behind. How wonderful!
Individual brilliance
I mentioned earlier that Ghana does not have the Messis, Ronaldos and Kakas, but the truth of the matter is that, each player in the Stars team has the character traits of these players in them. It is only when they are willing and prepared to bring out these traits that they would reach their full potential.
So far, Asamoah Gyan, Boateng and Ayew have sought to bring out this thing that is them. It is not surprising that Abedi Pele was reported to have said, before the tournament, that there would be a revelation in the stars team. What he meant simply was that, somebody was going to go the great length to bring the best in him to bear on the game.
When these players produced these glimpses of individual brilliance, we saw the results. Ayew created three of Ghana’s goals. Asamoah scored all three of those goals. Boateng solely exploited and utilised his chance to produce his best, in the form of a goal in Ghana’s match against USA. As for Richard Kingson and Kwadwo Asamoah, they have more in them than they have showed.
Team spirit
There seem to be a burning desire in the Stars team for victory. It has largely been enhanced by the rejuvenated confidence of some of the players and the new stakes brought on board by the new kid, Boateng, who is determined to make a point.
The boys go onto the field determined to flaw the opponent and prove their worth. Apart from pride for their country, their desired has been boosted much more by the bigger mantle of carrying the hopes of millions of Africans.
Luckily, not many of them have showcased their desire to achieve personal glories. Probably, it has become clear to players that team work helps each player to realise his potential. After all, Gyan cannot score if Boateng decides not to give him the balls and vice versa.
Tactics
I would shy away from discussing much about tactics, since it is reserved for the technical experts. But from a layman’s point of view, Ghana’s 5-4-1 formation, particularly used against the USA, has proved effective.
It may appear ineffective when we need a goal, but the truth is that when you meet a team that has more offensive prowess than your team, your first priority is to assembly the men who could contain these offences, before thinking of options for offence.
Good omen
Some may not agree, but luck plays a role in success, especially when the opportunity is opened to one who is already prepared. The truth is that Ghana’s opponents have so far been tough, but who knows how tougher it could have been if we were to face Brazil, Argentina, South Korea and Uruguay.
Aside this, the climate at the moment provides a rife environment for the stars to succeed. Globally, it is a time, when smaller nations are trying to reshape global football competition and reinforce Christopher Opoku’s description of the tournament as ‘obiara n nye obiara’, which largely implies that no team is bigger than the other.
It is also a time when Africa needs to make a mark, whiles Ghana needs to be portrayed as Africa’s weapon for this endeavour or better still, become the ‘gateway to football in Africa.’
All these things sum up to create the right atmosphere for the stars to succeed.
Threats
Ghana could progress very far in the ongoing Mundial, except for some few hiccups that may derail progress. Aside meeting more tactically and skill-gifted teams, certain actions of our players could stab us in our back.
Complacency is one of those. John Paintsil appears to be the main culprit here. He delays in releasing the ball and when he has to clear the ball outright from the Ghana’s 18-yard area, he hesitates, probably over rating his ability to protect the ball.
The search for personal glory is another. The beginning of the death of team cohesion is the beginning of doom for the team. When players begin to seek personal glory at the team’s expense, they disrupt play, waste chances and create disunity and enmity in the team.
The last is about concentration. The goals we have conceded so far could be blamed on the lack of concentration. Our players seem to lose concentration when they are in the lead. They begin to celebrate even before victory is handed to them.
In the absence of these, one remains hopeful that the Black Stars could deliver beyond expectations.
Friday, June 25, 2010
1.3M EUROS FOR AGRIC DEVELOPMENT IN 7 DISTRICTS (MIRROR, PAGE 35, JUNE 26, 2010)
From Nurudeen Salifu, Lito.
THE European Commission (EC) has provided 1.3 million Euros to support the implementation of the Northern Ghana Food Security Resilience Project in seven districts in the Upper West and Northern regions.
Under the project, about 10,000 small-scale farmers would be provided with improved seeds, tractor services, chemicals, planting materials and agriculture extension services to enable them plough several acres of rice, maize and other staple crops.
The 20-month project, which was launched at the weekend at Lito in the Central Gonja district of the Northern Region, is being implemented by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA).
While the EC is funding 90 per cent of the project, ADRA-United Kingdom will bear the remaining 10 per cent.
The beneficiary districts are the Bole, Sawla/Tuna/Kalba, West Gonja and Central Gonja in the Northern Region and the Nadowli, Wa East and Wa Municipality in the Upper West Region.
Launching the project, the Head of Corporation of the EC’s delegation to Ghana, Mr Kurt Cornelis, said the EC was willing to provide more funds for the development of agriculture in Ghana so as to boost food supply and improve food security.
He said even though agriculture was the main stay of the country’s economy, yields were very low because farmers lacked the capacity to produce on a large-scale and in accordance with market demands in terms of quality.
Mr Cornelis said the EC and ADRA would therefore, work towards addressing these setbacks so as to enable the country boost its production and realise its full agricultural potential.
The support, he noted, was part of a global effort by the EC to combat hunger by supporting farmers in developing countries to up their production.
Explaining further, the Country Director of ADRA, Dr William Yaw Brown, noted that the project would also facilitate the sale of the expected farm produce by fostering the linkage between the farmers and prospective buyers.
He said one of the banes of agriculture in Ghana was the lack of available and reliable markets for the produce of farmers in most rural parts and this was why there was the need to create this linkage.
Dr Brown again mentioned that the project would introduce the farmers to improved agricultural technologies for better yields, adding that 14 agricultural extension agents had been recruited to assist those working with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA).
He also noted that the cost of inputs would be recovered in kind from the beneficiary farmers after this year’s farming season and used to provide inputs support for them during next year’s season.
“When the project exits in August 2011, the funds will be left with the farmer groups to be managed as a revolving fund, which will be monitored by the MOFA, ADRA and other collaborating local NGOs,” Dr Brown added.
Speaking on behalf of the Northern Regional Minister, the District Chief Executive for Central Gonja, Mr Issifu Sualisu Be-Awuribe, commended the EC and ADRA for their intervention, noting that it would complement the government’s efforts in increasing local food production.
He said the project would also increase the incomes of farmers and enable them educate their children and alleviate their suffering.
The DCE pledged the government’s support towards the success of the project and called on the beneficiaries to accept the project as their own so as to rip maximum benefits from it.
THE European Commission (EC) has provided 1.3 million Euros to support the implementation of the Northern Ghana Food Security Resilience Project in seven districts in the Upper West and Northern regions.
Under the project, about 10,000 small-scale farmers would be provided with improved seeds, tractor services, chemicals, planting materials and agriculture extension services to enable them plough several acres of rice, maize and other staple crops.
The 20-month project, which was launched at the weekend at Lito in the Central Gonja district of the Northern Region, is being implemented by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA).
While the EC is funding 90 per cent of the project, ADRA-United Kingdom will bear the remaining 10 per cent.
The beneficiary districts are the Bole, Sawla/Tuna/Kalba, West Gonja and Central Gonja in the Northern Region and the Nadowli, Wa East and Wa Municipality in the Upper West Region.
Launching the project, the Head of Corporation of the EC’s delegation to Ghana, Mr Kurt Cornelis, said the EC was willing to provide more funds for the development of agriculture in Ghana so as to boost food supply and improve food security.
He said even though agriculture was the main stay of the country’s economy, yields were very low because farmers lacked the capacity to produce on a large-scale and in accordance with market demands in terms of quality.
Mr Cornelis said the EC and ADRA would therefore, work towards addressing these setbacks so as to enable the country boost its production and realise its full agricultural potential.
The support, he noted, was part of a global effort by the EC to combat hunger by supporting farmers in developing countries to up their production.
Explaining further, the Country Director of ADRA, Dr William Yaw Brown, noted that the project would also facilitate the sale of the expected farm produce by fostering the linkage between the farmers and prospective buyers.
He said one of the banes of agriculture in Ghana was the lack of available and reliable markets for the produce of farmers in most rural parts and this was why there was the need to create this linkage.
Dr Brown again mentioned that the project would introduce the farmers to improved agricultural technologies for better yields, adding that 14 agricultural extension agents had been recruited to assist those working with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA).
He also noted that the cost of inputs would be recovered in kind from the beneficiary farmers after this year’s farming season and used to provide inputs support for them during next year’s season.
“When the project exits in August 2011, the funds will be left with the farmer groups to be managed as a revolving fund, which will be monitored by the MOFA, ADRA and other collaborating local NGOs,” Dr Brown added.
Speaking on behalf of the Northern Regional Minister, the District Chief Executive for Central Gonja, Mr Issifu Sualisu Be-Awuribe, commended the EC and ADRA for their intervention, noting that it would complement the government’s efforts in increasing local food production.
He said the project would also increase the incomes of farmers and enable them educate their children and alleviate their suffering.
The DCE pledged the government’s support towards the success of the project and called on the beneficiaries to accept the project as their own so as to rip maximum benefits from it.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
SOUTH AFRICA 2010...Jabulani nightmares, paradoxes and emerging tactics (PAGE 19, JUNE 23, 2010)
BY the end of the ongoing World Cup finals in South Africa, football mathematicians throughout the globe would have revised their notes. The results of some of the matches have so far defied logic, leaving people with their mouths open.
If any one had predicted that Switzerland would beat Spain, then he or she would probably have been the queer one. Even the Swiss had little hope that they could draw or even defeat the star-studded Spanish national team. But it happened.
And talking of tactics, it is early days yet, but one can deduce that South Africa 2010 has ushered in a new dawn in football tactics, the era of defensive-attack (not entirely new).
The days when teams played sweet, offensive, ball-juggling football (the Maradona and Pele days) are getting over. It is now the days when the Mourinho (Special One) football is beginning to take charge.
Before I launch into these and many more, let me first ask this question: What is wrong with the 2010 World Cup ball? The Jabulani, they call it (which means “to celebrate” in Isizulu, a South African language), seems the nightmare of goal keepers, at least for England’s Robert Green and Algeria’s Faouzi Chaochi.
According to FIFA, the Jabulani was created to “lend the ball a unique appearance in African spirit. Like the outer facade of Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium, individual design elements capture the colourfulness of South Africa.” That is undisputed.
But, is it true that it is the most stable and accurate Adidas ball ever?
And how about the German international and Chelsea midfielder, Michael Ballack describing the Jabulani as the ball that does exactly “what I want it to?”
With all these qualities, the question is: “Does it help the game?” Of what use is a ball that has all the good qualities, but is difficult to direct and catch on the field of play?
I suspect it is the Jabulani that has prevented us from witnessing beautiful long-shot goals, except for the few from the likes of Diego Forlan of Uruguay and Siphiwe Tshabalala of the Bafana Bafana.
The ball spins so much so that long shots always veer off the target as it gets to the goal post. If not for the Jabulani, we should have seen beautiful long-shot goals unleashed from the likes of Kwadwo Asamoah, Taye Taiwo, Steven Gerrard, Wesley Sneijder, Lucas Podolski and Frank Lampard.
The question I am left pondering over is why FIFA should always ask for the manufacturing of a new type of match ball during each edition of the World Cup. Is it so necessary? Inventions are welcome but too much of it becomes a disservice.
And talking of paradoxes, can one explain why Australia should lose heavily to Germany and yet manage to draw against a powerful team such as Ghana. Meanwhile, the German team that mauled the Australians could not beat the Serbian team, which Ghana had overshadowed. Wonders, right?
What about the New Zealanders, managing to break through the tight defence wall of the Italians. What went wrong?
Now, back to tactics. When Jose Mourinho used to coach Chelsea in the English Premiership, many a Chelsea fan hated the style of game he introduced into the millionaire’s team – stay behind, capture the midfield and exploit the fast break when the opportunity comes.
With this type of tactics, Chelsea would play little football and frustrate the opponent because they won’t come at you, and yet they won’t allow you to also play your game.
In spite of the defensive tendencies of this game style, Mourinho won the English premiership for two consecutive times, while the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal, with all their sweet, fluid football, were left bemused.
It did not end there as Mourinho took the same style to Italy and won the Seria ‘A’ two times in a row and capped it with a Champions league Cup, where teams such as Barcelona were left to weep and eat humble pie.
Today, it is this type of game which is bringing glory to many teams considered unentertaining and not up to scratch. Ghana’s Serbian coach, Milovan Rajevac, has employed this tactics skilfully enough to lead the Black Stars to victory against many powerful teams at the African Cup and currently at the World Cup.
South Africa 2010 has witnessed a lot of this tactics in many games, most of which ended in draws or victory for the underdogs.
North Korea used it to frustrate Brazil, Ghana used it against the Serbs, Nigeria used it to frustrate Argentina and Italy is using it effectively.
Even almighty Brazil, one of the kingpins of stylish free-flowing attacking football, have equally embraced this tactic with the likes of Lucio, Maicon, Juan, Bastos and Alves keeping the defence tight and breaking into attack at the least opportunity.
If this continues, we would see more surprises in football, as the winning teams would not always be the teams that play sweet football, but those with better defence and fast-breaking skills.
For now, we continue to follow the World Cup and pray that Ghana’s pride, the Black Stars live above expectations.
If any one had predicted that Switzerland would beat Spain, then he or she would probably have been the queer one. Even the Swiss had little hope that they could draw or even defeat the star-studded Spanish national team. But it happened.
And talking of tactics, it is early days yet, but one can deduce that South Africa 2010 has ushered in a new dawn in football tactics, the era of defensive-attack (not entirely new).
The days when teams played sweet, offensive, ball-juggling football (the Maradona and Pele days) are getting over. It is now the days when the Mourinho (Special One) football is beginning to take charge.
Before I launch into these and many more, let me first ask this question: What is wrong with the 2010 World Cup ball? The Jabulani, they call it (which means “to celebrate” in Isizulu, a South African language), seems the nightmare of goal keepers, at least for England’s Robert Green and Algeria’s Faouzi Chaochi.
According to FIFA, the Jabulani was created to “lend the ball a unique appearance in African spirit. Like the outer facade of Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium, individual design elements capture the colourfulness of South Africa.” That is undisputed.
But, is it true that it is the most stable and accurate Adidas ball ever?
And how about the German international and Chelsea midfielder, Michael Ballack describing the Jabulani as the ball that does exactly “what I want it to?”
With all these qualities, the question is: “Does it help the game?” Of what use is a ball that has all the good qualities, but is difficult to direct and catch on the field of play?
I suspect it is the Jabulani that has prevented us from witnessing beautiful long-shot goals, except for the few from the likes of Diego Forlan of Uruguay and Siphiwe Tshabalala of the Bafana Bafana.
The ball spins so much so that long shots always veer off the target as it gets to the goal post. If not for the Jabulani, we should have seen beautiful long-shot goals unleashed from the likes of Kwadwo Asamoah, Taye Taiwo, Steven Gerrard, Wesley Sneijder, Lucas Podolski and Frank Lampard.
The question I am left pondering over is why FIFA should always ask for the manufacturing of a new type of match ball during each edition of the World Cup. Is it so necessary? Inventions are welcome but too much of it becomes a disservice.
And talking of paradoxes, can one explain why Australia should lose heavily to Germany and yet manage to draw against a powerful team such as Ghana. Meanwhile, the German team that mauled the Australians could not beat the Serbian team, which Ghana had overshadowed. Wonders, right?
What about the New Zealanders, managing to break through the tight defence wall of the Italians. What went wrong?
Now, back to tactics. When Jose Mourinho used to coach Chelsea in the English Premiership, many a Chelsea fan hated the style of game he introduced into the millionaire’s team – stay behind, capture the midfield and exploit the fast break when the opportunity comes.
With this type of tactics, Chelsea would play little football and frustrate the opponent because they won’t come at you, and yet they won’t allow you to also play your game.
In spite of the defensive tendencies of this game style, Mourinho won the English premiership for two consecutive times, while the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal, with all their sweet, fluid football, were left bemused.
It did not end there as Mourinho took the same style to Italy and won the Seria ‘A’ two times in a row and capped it with a Champions league Cup, where teams such as Barcelona were left to weep and eat humble pie.
Today, it is this type of game which is bringing glory to many teams considered unentertaining and not up to scratch. Ghana’s Serbian coach, Milovan Rajevac, has employed this tactics skilfully enough to lead the Black Stars to victory against many powerful teams at the African Cup and currently at the World Cup.
South Africa 2010 has witnessed a lot of this tactics in many games, most of which ended in draws or victory for the underdogs.
North Korea used it to frustrate Brazil, Ghana used it against the Serbs, Nigeria used it to frustrate Argentina and Italy is using it effectively.
Even almighty Brazil, one of the kingpins of stylish free-flowing attacking football, have equally embraced this tactic with the likes of Lucio, Maicon, Juan, Bastos and Alves keeping the defence tight and breaking into attack at the least opportunity.
If this continues, we would see more surprises in football, as the winning teams would not always be the teams that play sweet football, but those with better defence and fast-breaking skills.
For now, we continue to follow the World Cup and pray that Ghana’s pride, the Black Stars live above expectations.
CANADIAN FIRM SUPPORTS GHANI SCHOOL (PAGE 11, JUNE 23, 2010)
A CANADIAN-based company, Eagle Communications Filming Company, has collaborated with the Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC) to support the Gnani Basic School in Yendi in the Northern Region.
The company provided GH¢11,370 to fund the construction of three rainwater harvesting tanks for both the primary and junior high sections of the school.
This is to ease the water problems facing the pupils of the school and inhabitants of the community. It is also to promote the health and nutrition of the children.
The tanks, which are being constructed by Duraqua Company Ltd (DCL) under the supervision of Tuma Kavi Development Association, will each contain 30,000 litres of water. This is enough to serve the pupils and community members during the dry season.
At a ceremony to cut the sod for the project, the Country Director of CCFC, Mrs Sanatu Nantogma, said the provision of water to schoolchildren was aimed at promoting hygiene in schools, adding that the lack of water made it difficult for children to practise regular hand washing.
She also explained that when water was available to children, it decreased their vulnerability to sanitation-related diseases because of increased hygiene.
Mrs Nantogma further explained that the CCFC had chosen to provide rainwater tanks because they were less costly and more appropriate for communities where underground water was low, thus making it difficult for the sinking of boreholes.
She said the CCFC had so far constructed 104 rainwater harvesting tanks for various schools and health centres in the Northern Region.
The Vice-President of the CCFC-Canada, Ms Carol Froom, said the organisation was committed to supporting the growth of children all over the world because the future depended on them.
She also noted that children in developing countries needed more support because they were the most vulnerable due to the retarding environments they found themselves in.
The Project Co-ordinator of Tuma Kavi, Mr Jonathan Nasona Zakaria, said aside these water tanks, the CCFC had also provided $32,000 to finance the construction of a three-classroom block to serve as an Early Childhood Development Centre for the children of Gnani.
The company provided GH¢11,370 to fund the construction of three rainwater harvesting tanks for both the primary and junior high sections of the school.
This is to ease the water problems facing the pupils of the school and inhabitants of the community. It is also to promote the health and nutrition of the children.
The tanks, which are being constructed by Duraqua Company Ltd (DCL) under the supervision of Tuma Kavi Development Association, will each contain 30,000 litres of water. This is enough to serve the pupils and community members during the dry season.
At a ceremony to cut the sod for the project, the Country Director of CCFC, Mrs Sanatu Nantogma, said the provision of water to schoolchildren was aimed at promoting hygiene in schools, adding that the lack of water made it difficult for children to practise regular hand washing.
She also explained that when water was available to children, it decreased their vulnerability to sanitation-related diseases because of increased hygiene.
Mrs Nantogma further explained that the CCFC had chosen to provide rainwater tanks because they were less costly and more appropriate for communities where underground water was low, thus making it difficult for the sinking of boreholes.
She said the CCFC had so far constructed 104 rainwater harvesting tanks for various schools and health centres in the Northern Region.
The Vice-President of the CCFC-Canada, Ms Carol Froom, said the organisation was committed to supporting the growth of children all over the world because the future depended on them.
She also noted that children in developing countries needed more support because they were the most vulnerable due to the retarding environments they found themselves in.
The Project Co-ordinator of Tuma Kavi, Mr Jonathan Nasona Zakaria, said aside these water tanks, the CCFC had also provided $32,000 to finance the construction of a three-classroom block to serve as an Early Childhood Development Centre for the children of Gnani.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
ADDRESSING GENDER CONCERNS IN FOOD SECURITY...CARE Int takes the initiative (PAGE 11, JUNE 22, 2010)
CARE International, a women’s advocacy group and non-governmental organisation (NGO), has commenced efforts to ensure that gender concerns relating to Agriculture and Food security in Ghana are addressed.
This, according to the NGO, is to ensure that women and the youth, who are noted to be more vulnerable to food insecurity, environmental hazards and climate change, achieve social and economic resilience and food security.
In line with this objective, the organisation has drafted a gender analysis strategy document which will be incorporated into the implementation of its Agriculture and Food Security Programme (AFSP), which was launched this year.
The draft strategy is founded on four key components, namely capital, inclusiveness, effective civil society and governance and responsive policy making and implementation.
At a workshop in Tamale to validate the strategy, officials of CARE explained the various components and how the organisation would tackle them.
The first component, they noted, focused on how the social and economic capital of women and the youth, who are particularly exposed to food insecurity and climate change, could be enhanced to sustainable levels.
It considers issues of land, property and natural resources in relation to their ownership, usage and impact on the well-being of women and the youth.
The strategy, they said, would therefore, aim at promoting women's access to land and natural resources so as to facilitate their use of the land for agricultural purposes and the resources for income generation.
“By this move, the project will attempt to defy the age-old traditional belief that women's acquisition of wealth is unacceptable as it tends to threaten men's dominance,” Ms Ayishetu Mikey, the Gender and Diversity Advisor for AFSP, noted.
The second component, they explained, dealt mainly with improving the participation and representation of women and the youth in decision-making processes from the grass roots to the national level.
This was to ensure that these groups of society had a say in matters that affected their welfare, such as the distribution of resources and agricultural inputs, they noted.
“The strategy will, thus, attempt overturning traditional beliefs and taboos that prevent women from participating in decision-making at the community level,” Ms Catherine Hill, a consultant to the programme, explained.
The third component of the strategy will seek to build and increase civil society roles at all levels, in advocating and representing the interests of the poor and vulnerable people.
It will equally attempt to empower civil society organisations to hold people accountable for poor food security programmes to ensure that they reach the intended beneficiaries.
“It will also involve raising awareness at the community level on women's rights and strengthen women solidarity groups,” Ms Hill added.
The last and equally critical component of the strategy places emphasis on influencing policy making in the country to ensure that it favours gender interests, particularly in relation to food security and mitigating climate change.
Apart from ensuring that the country implements national laws and international treaties and conventions that relate to women and children's rights, the strategy, according to the organisation, will ensure that national agricultural programmes take gender concerns into consideration.
To ensure that CARE International successfully implements its gender strategy, the officials hinted that the organisation would commit more resources to that direction.
“We will also move beyond merely including women in activities to scaling up on ways to work with both women and men on intra-household basis and at the community decision-making level,” Ms Mikey further hinted.
She also noted that CARE had decided to draft the gender strategy because “based on experience, we have realised that gender inequalities exist within our programmes and we are determined to address these”.
Ms Mikey said the Agriculture and Food security project would achieve minimal results if these concerns were not addressed, because some important components of society would be left out.
This, according to the NGO, is to ensure that women and the youth, who are noted to be more vulnerable to food insecurity, environmental hazards and climate change, achieve social and economic resilience and food security.
In line with this objective, the organisation has drafted a gender analysis strategy document which will be incorporated into the implementation of its Agriculture and Food Security Programme (AFSP), which was launched this year.
The draft strategy is founded on four key components, namely capital, inclusiveness, effective civil society and governance and responsive policy making and implementation.
At a workshop in Tamale to validate the strategy, officials of CARE explained the various components and how the organisation would tackle them.
The first component, they noted, focused on how the social and economic capital of women and the youth, who are particularly exposed to food insecurity and climate change, could be enhanced to sustainable levels.
It considers issues of land, property and natural resources in relation to their ownership, usage and impact on the well-being of women and the youth.
The strategy, they said, would therefore, aim at promoting women's access to land and natural resources so as to facilitate their use of the land for agricultural purposes and the resources for income generation.
“By this move, the project will attempt to defy the age-old traditional belief that women's acquisition of wealth is unacceptable as it tends to threaten men's dominance,” Ms Ayishetu Mikey, the Gender and Diversity Advisor for AFSP, noted.
The second component, they explained, dealt mainly with improving the participation and representation of women and the youth in decision-making processes from the grass roots to the national level.
This was to ensure that these groups of society had a say in matters that affected their welfare, such as the distribution of resources and agricultural inputs, they noted.
“The strategy will, thus, attempt overturning traditional beliefs and taboos that prevent women from participating in decision-making at the community level,” Ms Catherine Hill, a consultant to the programme, explained.
The third component of the strategy will seek to build and increase civil society roles at all levels, in advocating and representing the interests of the poor and vulnerable people.
It will equally attempt to empower civil society organisations to hold people accountable for poor food security programmes to ensure that they reach the intended beneficiaries.
“It will also involve raising awareness at the community level on women's rights and strengthen women solidarity groups,” Ms Hill added.
The last and equally critical component of the strategy places emphasis on influencing policy making in the country to ensure that it favours gender interests, particularly in relation to food security and mitigating climate change.
Apart from ensuring that the country implements national laws and international treaties and conventions that relate to women and children's rights, the strategy, according to the organisation, will ensure that national agricultural programmes take gender concerns into consideration.
To ensure that CARE International successfully implements its gender strategy, the officials hinted that the organisation would commit more resources to that direction.
“We will also move beyond merely including women in activities to scaling up on ways to work with both women and men on intra-household basis and at the community decision-making level,” Ms Mikey further hinted.
She also noted that CARE had decided to draft the gender strategy because “based on experience, we have realised that gender inequalities exist within our programmes and we are determined to address these”.
Ms Mikey said the Agriculture and Food security project would achieve minimal results if these concerns were not addressed, because some important components of society would be left out.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
TEENAGER SAVED BY NEUROSURGERY (PAGE 19, JUNE 14, 2010)
ON the morning of November 30, 2009, Iddrisu Rukaya, a 17-year old girl, was found lying in a pool of blood in a gutter at Kakpayili, a suburb of Tamale, by some members of the community.
She had a severe injury on the right frontal bone of the skull and had lost consciousness, an indication that she had been assaulted and dumped in the gutter.
The teenager was consequently rushed to the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) for attention, even though her family had lost hope.
“When they brought her, her skull had crushed open and a significant chunk of her brain matter had protruded and stuck to the skin. In fact, she was between life and death,” the Head of the Neurosurgical Unit of the TTH, Dr Adam Abass, told the Daily Graphic.
“The whole bone fragment on that segment was off and sinking into the brain and there was also some debris in the brain,” he said.
Dr Abass said due to the severity of the case, the girl was immediately rushed into the theatre and operated upon.
“We did an incision to separate the skin from the brain and then we picked some wooden chips that had found its way into the brain,” adding that the presence of the pieces of wood could be an indication that she was violently attacked.
“We also undertook some measures to control the bleeding and then because the durra-matter (the skin covering the brain) was damaged, we used a galea to do some grafting for the brain to serve as the skin,” he further narrated.
The neurosurgeon said after the surgery was performed, the young girl was taken to the intensive care unit (ICU) to undergo rehabilitation.
According to the doctor in charge of the ICU, Dr Thomas Anabah, when the girl was brought to the ICU, the challenge was now how to resuscitate her, because she was in a state of coma.
“Part of her body could not move and she could not talk because the part of the brain that had been damaged had a link to the mouth,” he stated.
Dr Anabah said after weeks of care and physiotherapy, “one-day, Rukaya just woke up and said she wanted to urinate and began moving towards the washroom and this evoked excitement among the nurses and all who were in the ward”.
He said the teenager gradually recovered and began moving and talking.
Last week, Rukaya and two of her brothers visited the hospital to say thanks to Dr Abass, Dr Anabah and the entire team that contributed to the teenager’s recovery.
She was moving and talking, but occasionally showed signs of apprehension, especially when attention was focused on her.
Dr Abass said the attitude of Rukaya was to be expected because patients who underwent such major operations suffered post-traumatic seizures.
“This is why we asked the family to bring her to us regularly so that we can attend to her and provide medication during such hiccups,” Dr Abass noted.
Mr Musah Iddrisu, the older of the two brothers, said the family was very grateful to the doctors of the TTH for the professionalism and commitment shown towards the treatment and rehabilitation of Rukaya.
According to him, the family had ruled out the possibility of Rukaya surviving her predicament due to the severity of the injury and were therefore overjoyed that the surgeon was able to bring her back to life.
Mr Iddrisu, however, expressed concern about the criminal aspect of the case and appealed to the police to do thorough investigations to bring the culprits to book.
Interestingly, the surgical operation performed by Dr Abass and his team was the first since he commenced the neurosurgical unit of the TTH.
“I was very delighted about the success of this surgery because since then, subsequent ones have also been successful. It shows how important the unit is to the health of our people,” he stated.
She had a severe injury on the right frontal bone of the skull and had lost consciousness, an indication that she had been assaulted and dumped in the gutter.
The teenager was consequently rushed to the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) for attention, even though her family had lost hope.
“When they brought her, her skull had crushed open and a significant chunk of her brain matter had protruded and stuck to the skin. In fact, she was between life and death,” the Head of the Neurosurgical Unit of the TTH, Dr Adam Abass, told the Daily Graphic.
“The whole bone fragment on that segment was off and sinking into the brain and there was also some debris in the brain,” he said.
Dr Abass said due to the severity of the case, the girl was immediately rushed into the theatre and operated upon.
“We did an incision to separate the skin from the brain and then we picked some wooden chips that had found its way into the brain,” adding that the presence of the pieces of wood could be an indication that she was violently attacked.
“We also undertook some measures to control the bleeding and then because the durra-matter (the skin covering the brain) was damaged, we used a galea to do some grafting for the brain to serve as the skin,” he further narrated.
The neurosurgeon said after the surgery was performed, the young girl was taken to the intensive care unit (ICU) to undergo rehabilitation.
According to the doctor in charge of the ICU, Dr Thomas Anabah, when the girl was brought to the ICU, the challenge was now how to resuscitate her, because she was in a state of coma.
“Part of her body could not move and she could not talk because the part of the brain that had been damaged had a link to the mouth,” he stated.
Dr Anabah said after weeks of care and physiotherapy, “one-day, Rukaya just woke up and said she wanted to urinate and began moving towards the washroom and this evoked excitement among the nurses and all who were in the ward”.
He said the teenager gradually recovered and began moving and talking.
Last week, Rukaya and two of her brothers visited the hospital to say thanks to Dr Abass, Dr Anabah and the entire team that contributed to the teenager’s recovery.
She was moving and talking, but occasionally showed signs of apprehension, especially when attention was focused on her.
Dr Abass said the attitude of Rukaya was to be expected because patients who underwent such major operations suffered post-traumatic seizures.
“This is why we asked the family to bring her to us regularly so that we can attend to her and provide medication during such hiccups,” Dr Abass noted.
Mr Musah Iddrisu, the older of the two brothers, said the family was very grateful to the doctors of the TTH for the professionalism and commitment shown towards the treatment and rehabilitation of Rukaya.
According to him, the family had ruled out the possibility of Rukaya surviving her predicament due to the severity of the injury and were therefore overjoyed that the surgeon was able to bring her back to life.
Mr Iddrisu, however, expressed concern about the criminal aspect of the case and appealed to the police to do thorough investigations to bring the culprits to book.
Interestingly, the surgical operation performed by Dr Abass and his team was the first since he commenced the neurosurgical unit of the TTH.
“I was very delighted about the success of this surgery because since then, subsequent ones have also been successful. It shows how important the unit is to the health of our people,” he stated.
Friday, June 11, 2010
AGRA SUPPORTS NORHTERN FARMERS TO ACCESS MARKETS (MIRROR, PAGE 35, JUNE 12, 2010)
From Nurudeen Salifu, Tamale.
THE Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has launched a three-year project to assist smallholder farmers of staple crops in the Savannah Zone to gain easier access to sustainable markets for their produce.
Christened the Farmers To Markets (FTM), the project is being implemented by the International Centre for Soil Fertility (IFDC) and the Savannah Farmers’ Marketing Company Limited.
Between 40,000 and 60,000 farmers from the three northern regions are expected to benefit from the project in the form of increased incomes through guaranteed access to markets, credits, inputs and fair prices.
Other players in the industry, notably processing and marketing companies are also expected to gain from the project as they will have a guaranteed supply of quality raw materials with no price risks and less difficulty.
Launching the project in Tamale, the Country Director of the IFDC, Dr Kofi Debrah, explained that the project would build the capacity of the beneficiary farmers to use best practices in the production of rice, soybeans, maize and sorghum in line with market demands.
“We will proceed to strengthen small medium enterprises and local entrepreneurs to support the flow of the produce from the farm gates to the markets,” he stated.
Dr Debrah also noted that a data-base of various participants in the value-chain was being designed, adding that the linkage activities among the various players would be anchored through mobile telephony.
“We are going to use mobile phones because research has shown that mobile penetration in the country is nearing 80 per cent and most of our prospective participants use mobile phones,” he explained, adding that the technology was less costly.
Dr Debrah further mentioned that companies like Guinness Ghana Ltd, Golden Web, Naturally Fair of Netherlands, Vester Oil Mills, Ghana Nuts and institutions like the Ghana School Feeding Programme and Buffer Stock Company had been brought on board to act as final buyers of the produce.
The Director of Market Access Programme for AGRA, Ms Anne Mbaabu said the north had been designated as the bread basket region of Ghana and this formed the justification for implementing the project in the area.
She noted that a lot of efforts had been made to increase productivity, but less attention had been paid to increasing farmers’ access to markets, adding that market access was the driving force behind productivity increase in a sustainable manner.
“By linking farmers with buyers before production, farmers will be assured of regular farm incomes and traders, processors and large retailers will also benefit because they will be able to obtain reliable and regular supplies of quality produce,” Ms Mbaabu further mentioned.
Other speakers at the launch included the National Programme Co-ordinator of the Northern Regional Growth Programme (NRGP), Mr Roy Ayariga, former Northern Regional Director of Agriculture, Mr Sylvestre Adugbilla Adongo and Chief Operating Officer of MiDA, Mr Matthew Amoah.
THE Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has launched a three-year project to assist smallholder farmers of staple crops in the Savannah Zone to gain easier access to sustainable markets for their produce.
Christened the Farmers To Markets (FTM), the project is being implemented by the International Centre for Soil Fertility (IFDC) and the Savannah Farmers’ Marketing Company Limited.
Between 40,000 and 60,000 farmers from the three northern regions are expected to benefit from the project in the form of increased incomes through guaranteed access to markets, credits, inputs and fair prices.
Other players in the industry, notably processing and marketing companies are also expected to gain from the project as they will have a guaranteed supply of quality raw materials with no price risks and less difficulty.
Launching the project in Tamale, the Country Director of the IFDC, Dr Kofi Debrah, explained that the project would build the capacity of the beneficiary farmers to use best practices in the production of rice, soybeans, maize and sorghum in line with market demands.
“We will proceed to strengthen small medium enterprises and local entrepreneurs to support the flow of the produce from the farm gates to the markets,” he stated.
Dr Debrah also noted that a data-base of various participants in the value-chain was being designed, adding that the linkage activities among the various players would be anchored through mobile telephony.
“We are going to use mobile phones because research has shown that mobile penetration in the country is nearing 80 per cent and most of our prospective participants use mobile phones,” he explained, adding that the technology was less costly.
Dr Debrah further mentioned that companies like Guinness Ghana Ltd, Golden Web, Naturally Fair of Netherlands, Vester Oil Mills, Ghana Nuts and institutions like the Ghana School Feeding Programme and Buffer Stock Company had been brought on board to act as final buyers of the produce.
The Director of Market Access Programme for AGRA, Ms Anne Mbaabu said the north had been designated as the bread basket region of Ghana and this formed the justification for implementing the project in the area.
She noted that a lot of efforts had been made to increase productivity, but less attention had been paid to increasing farmers’ access to markets, adding that market access was the driving force behind productivity increase in a sustainable manner.
“By linking farmers with buyers before production, farmers will be assured of regular farm incomes and traders, processors and large retailers will also benefit because they will be able to obtain reliable and regular supplies of quality produce,” Ms Mbaabu further mentioned.
Other speakers at the launch included the National Programme Co-ordinator of the Northern Regional Growth Programme (NRGP), Mr Roy Ayariga, former Northern Regional Director of Agriculture, Mr Sylvestre Adugbilla Adongo and Chief Operating Officer of MiDA, Mr Matthew Amoah.
AGRA SUPPORTS NORHTERN FARMERS TO ACCESS MARKETS (MIRROR, PAGE 35, JUNE 12, 2010)
From Nurudeen Salifu, Tamale.
THE Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has launched a three-year project to assist smallholder farmers of staple crops in the Savannah Zone to gain easier access to sustainable markets for their produce.
Christened the Farmers To Markets (FTM), the project is being implemented by the International Centre for Soil Fertility (IFDC) and the Savannah Farmers’ Marketing Company Limited.
Between 40,000 and 60,000 farmers from the three northern regions are expected to benefit from the project in the form of increased incomes through guaranteed access to markets, credits, inputs and fair prices.
Other players in the industry, notably processing and marketing companies are also expected to gain from the project as they will have a guaranteed supply of quality raw materials with no price risks and less difficulty.
Launching the project in Tamale, the Country Director of the IFDC, Dr Kofi Debrah, explained that the project would build the capacity of the beneficiary farmers to use best practices in the production of rice, soybeans, maize and sorghum in line with market demands.
“We will proceed to strengthen small medium enterprises and local entrepreneurs to support the flow of the produce from the farm gates to the markets,” he stated.
Dr Debrah also noted that a data-base of various participants in the value-chain was being designed, adding that the linkage activities among the various players would be anchored through mobile telephony.
“We are going to use mobile phones because research has shown that mobile penetration in the country is nearing 80 per cent and most of our prospective participants use mobile phones,” he explained, adding that the technology was less costly.
Dr Debrah further mentioned that companies like Guinness Ghana Ltd, Golden Web, Naturally Fair of Netherlands, Vester Oil Mills, Ghana Nuts and institutions like the Ghana School Feeding Programme and Buffer Stock Company had been brought on board to act as final buyers of the produce.
The Director of Market Access Programme for AGRA, Ms Anne Mbaabu said the north had been designated as the bread basket region of Ghana and this formed the justification for implementing the project in the area.
She noted that a lot of efforts had been made to increase productivity, but less attention had been paid to increasing farmers’ access to markets, adding that market access was the driving force behind productivity increase in a sustainable manner.
“By linking farmers with buyers before production, farmers will be assured of regular farm incomes and traders, processors and large retailers will also benefit because they will be able to obtain reliable and regular supplies of quality produce,” Ms Mbaabu further mentioned.
Other speakers at the launch included the National Programme Co-ordinator of the Northern Regional Growth Programme (NRGP), Mr Roy Ayariga, former Northern Regional Director of Agriculture, Mr Sylvestre Adugbilla Adongo and Chief Operating Officer of MiDA, Mr Matthew Amoah.
THE Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has launched a three-year project to assist smallholder farmers of staple crops in the Savannah Zone to gain easier access to sustainable markets for their produce.
Christened the Farmers To Markets (FTM), the project is being implemented by the International Centre for Soil Fertility (IFDC) and the Savannah Farmers’ Marketing Company Limited.
Between 40,000 and 60,000 farmers from the three northern regions are expected to benefit from the project in the form of increased incomes through guaranteed access to markets, credits, inputs and fair prices.
Other players in the industry, notably processing and marketing companies are also expected to gain from the project as they will have a guaranteed supply of quality raw materials with no price risks and less difficulty.
Launching the project in Tamale, the Country Director of the IFDC, Dr Kofi Debrah, explained that the project would build the capacity of the beneficiary farmers to use best practices in the production of rice, soybeans, maize and sorghum in line with market demands.
“We will proceed to strengthen small medium enterprises and local entrepreneurs to support the flow of the produce from the farm gates to the markets,” he stated.
Dr Debrah also noted that a data-base of various participants in the value-chain was being designed, adding that the linkage activities among the various players would be anchored through mobile telephony.
“We are going to use mobile phones because research has shown that mobile penetration in the country is nearing 80 per cent and most of our prospective participants use mobile phones,” he explained, adding that the technology was less costly.
Dr Debrah further mentioned that companies like Guinness Ghana Ltd, Golden Web, Naturally Fair of Netherlands, Vester Oil Mills, Ghana Nuts and institutions like the Ghana School Feeding Programme and Buffer Stock Company had been brought on board to act as final buyers of the produce.
The Director of Market Access Programme for AGRA, Ms Anne Mbaabu said the north had been designated as the bread basket region of Ghana and this formed the justification for implementing the project in the area.
She noted that a lot of efforts had been made to increase productivity, but less attention had been paid to increasing farmers’ access to markets, adding that market access was the driving force behind productivity increase in a sustainable manner.
“By linking farmers with buyers before production, farmers will be assured of regular farm incomes and traders, processors and large retailers will also benefit because they will be able to obtain reliable and regular supplies of quality produce,” Ms Mbaabu further mentioned.
Other speakers at the launch included the National Programme Co-ordinator of the Northern Regional Growth Programme (NRGP), Mr Roy Ayariga, former Northern Regional Director of Agriculture, Mr Sylvestre Adugbilla Adongo and Chief Operating Officer of MiDA, Mr Matthew Amoah.
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