VOTE NDC FOR DEVELOPMENT — MILLS (PAGE 15)

THE flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor J.E. Atta Mills, has called on the people of the Central Region to vote for him to lead the country into economic prosperity and development.
Professor Mills further asked them to vote for him because he is a God-fearing person who would serve them with truth and humility.
Addressing the Central Regional House of Chiefs in Cape Coast, Professor Mills also appealed to supporters of the party to eschew acts that could lead to violence before, during and after the elections.
He challenged the other parties to ensure a free, fair and peaceful elections.
He said the current economic hardships facing the people needed a person who was capable of developing sound policies.
He said by his experience, he was better placed to serve the people and create the enabling environment for job creation, wealth and real growth.
Professor Mills who was accompanied by the Regional Chairman of the party, Mr S.V. Akyianu, said when he becomes President, he would not discriminate against any section of the populace.
He said the Central Region had lagged behind in terms of industrial development, and that his government would tackle the problem when it was voted into power.
He said his government would set up a buffer stock management agency to buy and store excess food items for the lean season.
He also debunked claims that the former President said chiefs in the region were bribed to vote for the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He explained that ex-President Rawlings rather blamed some of the NDC’s polling agents for contributing to the party’s defeat.
Earlier, the President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs, and the Omanhen of the Eguafo Traditional Area, Nana Kwamena Ansah VI, described the forthcoming election as vital for democracy in the country.
He called on the contesting candidates to address how they would solve the myriad of challenges which the country faced, and that chiefs would continue to open their doors to all political parties.

SET UP SECURITY FUND —ATO ARTHUR (PAGE 32)

THE Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, has stressed the need to set up a security fund to provide decent accommodation for personnel of the security services.
He said decent accommodation for personnel of the security services, especially those on transfer, had been a major problem confronting the institutions.
He was addressing a three-day seminar for regional and district officers and regional accountants and storekeepers of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) from the southern sector in Cape Coast last Monday.
Nana Arthur said throughout the world governments were being called upon to practise good governance, which called for transparency, accountability, equality and good decision-making.
He said it was in line with those that the government passed the Financial Administration Act, the Procurement Act and the Audit Agency Act to form the pillars of the country's strategy for achieving accelerated social and economic development.
He said the acts had brought sanity into the handling and management of government resources and urged the officers to take advantage of the seminar for effective and efficient delivery.
Nana Arthur reminded them of the upcoming elections and advised them to harp on issues that would unite the people rather than divide them.
The Deputy Chief Fire Officer and Director in charge of Finance and Administration at the GNFS, Mr Cornelius Woedi, said the service had, from January to September this year, mobilised GH¢244,580.99, against a projected GH¢330,000.
He asked the officers to put in efforts to make up for the shortfall by the end of the year.
He said the service had responded to 2,279 fires throughout the country as of the end of August this year and that those fires cost GH¢5,351,177 in damage.
He urged the officers to use the seminar to improve on their skills in financial management to enhance the judicious use of resources for development.

MAKE SACRIFICES ON ELECTION DAY...IGP tells police officers (PAGE 16)

THE Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick K. Acheampong, has called on the police to make the necessary sacrifices on December 7, to ensure violence-free elections.
He said since there might not be enough by way of resources at their disposal it was important they made the necessary sacrifices to safeguard the integrity of the elections.
Mr Acheampong said this at the inauguration of GH¢4.8 million accommodation for the Central Regional Police Command in Cape Coast.
He said Ghanaians had had non-violent elections since 1992 and that the country would not burn as being touted by sceptics.
He therefore assured Ghanaians that the police would do all in their power to ensure peace before, during and after the elections.
He added that the police would ensure adequate security and that at the end of the day, the people would be happy that they had gone through another successful general election.
The IGP advised the police to be bold to correct any anomalies at the polling stations.
The Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, urged the police administration to complete ongoing accommodation projects to ensure decent housing for its personnel.

PROMOTE FAMILY LIFE TO HELP CHECK STREETISM (PAGE 31)

The Director of the National Cardiothoracic Centre, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has suggested that the promotion of family life based on sound cultural practices should be included in the national plan to get the youth out of the streets.
He added that such a plan should also include an overall improvement in the socio-economic status of the people.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said since poverty had been identified as the cause of streetism in Ghana, measures such as sound education for the youth would be the best way to tackle the poverty cycle.
He was delivering the 13th congregation lecture of the University of Education Winneba (UEW) at Winneba on the theme: "Sustaining Excellence in Educational Leadership for Accelerated Development". His topic was the "Role of Education in Addressing "Streetism".
Defining "streetism" as the leaving of homeless or unmonitored children on the street, he drew a direct link between the phenomenon and drugs, crime, broken homes, disease and delinquency, adding that the phenomenon constituted an emerging challenge to one of the most disquieting challenges facing not only civil society but also the political society as well as religious leaders and that its magnitude was unknown even to public institutions.
Professor Frimpong-Boateng who is also the President of the Ghana Heart Foundation and the Chairman of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), said unconfirmed estimates put the figure in the country at 100,000.
He said for the traditional African society "streetism" indicates that the once cherished value of collective societal responsibility towards children is fast disappearing.
He said in Ghana the two main categories of street children are the ones who migrate from the remote parts of the country to the cities and those who work on the street to supplement family income but return to the house at the end of the day.
He said vocational education should be seen as not only providing training and employment for the youth but also as an indispensable link in the chain of wealth creation and prosperity for the people.
He said education is the system that unearths hidden talents or ability, which can be described as a potential force that needs other variables to manifest its usefulness to society and that this calls for motivation and attitudinal change.
He therefore called on all to change their attitude to enable the country to achieve her goals which have eluded her for a long time.
Professor Frimpong-Boateng further called for the establishment of a strong link between the universities, industries and the government to enhance funding and the use of research.
The Vice-Chancellor of the UEW, Professor Asabere-Ameyaw, said since the problems of street children relate to drugs and crime, it is the collective responsibility of all to help curb the unfortunate phenomenon.

RAWLINGS: BE VIGILANT TO SECURE VICTORY FOR NDC (PAGE 15)

Former President J.J. Rawlings has asked supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to be vigilant and ensure that the December 7 elections is peaceful, free and fair.
Addressing a rally at Elmina on Sunday, he said supporters of the party should not repeat the mistake of 2004 when they became complacent and were cheated at the election.
He said an international survey indicated that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was going to lose that election by a margin of about 70 per cent due to the waning popularity and support as a result of the hardship the people were going through.
The former President said the NPP, knowing that it was going to lose the election in 2004, manipulated the results to retain power and that the results in the Central Region bore testimony to that.
The Central Regional Chairman of the NDC, Mr S.V. Akyianu, commended the supporters for their massive turn-out for the rally, and to welcome the former President.
He asked them to translate their support into a vote for the NDC to win the December 7 election.
The party’s parliamentary candidate for the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem, Dr J.S.Annan, was introduced to the people.
From Sekondi Kwame Asiedu Marfo reports that the former President said that the NDC government left behind a legacy and opportunities which could make it possible for every Ghanaian to live a decent life.
He added that as soon as the party left office, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government reduced the people to fourth class citizens, and urged Ghanaians not to vote for the NPP again.
Flt Lt Rawlings was speaking at the launch of the political campaign for constituencies in the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis in Sekondi at the weekend, where the party's parliamentary candidates for the constituencies were introduced.
"Ghana must wake up because Satan wants to destroy her people", the former President said, and urged the people to stay united and maintain the sense of purpose and not to allow any darkness to befall the country.
The Western Regional Chairman of the NDC, Dr John Abu, said the region would continue to recognise the NDC for what it did for the region by voting massively for it.
He mentioned some of the achievements of the NDC in the region as the construction of a fishing harbour at Sekondi, roads and schools, and added that with all these projects , the NPP government was claiming that the NDC did nothing for the region.

MAN, 18, REMANDED FOR STEALING (PAGE 23)

THE Assin Fosu District Magistrate Court has remanded an 18-year-man in prison custody for four weeks for stealing.
The accused, Evans Ahiafo, a native of Sogakope, allegedly stole 60 metres of electric cable valued at GH¢174.60 meant for supplying power to some communities, including Assin Nduaso.
Ahiafo pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing and causing damage to cables belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana.
According to the court, presided over by Mr Joseph Blay, Ahiafo’s remand was to enable the police to look for his accomplice, whose name was only given as Ralph, who is on the run, to assist the police in their investigations.
Prosecuting, Inspector P.K. Atta stated that on September 24, this year, Ahiafo and Ralph caused damage to a cable connecting some houses at Nduaso in the Assin North District.
He said residents, who had been sensitised by the ECG to irregular power supply interruptions by thieves to enable them to steal cables, managed to arrest Ahiafo but Ralph bolted.
Mr Blay urged the police to invite Ahiafo’s parents to the court at the next hearing of the case.
Briefing the press later, Mr Christian Ayensu Nimako, the Assin Fosu District Manager of the ECG, said there had been rampant stealing of cables connecting power to houses in several communities in the area, thereby plunging those communities into darkness.
He said the modus operandi of the thieves was to switch off the mains before stealing the cables and sometimes meters.

WASTE PROCESSING PLANT FOR ABURANSA (PAGE 23)

THE problem of plastic waste disposal which has been the bane of most communities will soon be a thing of the past within the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) municipality with the construction of recycling plant at Aburansa.
As a result of the collaboration between the Gouda municipality of The Netherlands and the KEEA Municipal Assembly, early next year four tonnes of recycled plastic from 4,000 kilogrammes of waste will be turned into sheets and tiles, among other things.
At a three-day seminar for agents for the collection of types of plastic waste in Elmina, the Project Manager of Cyclus Limited, Mr Bless Darke, said response by the agents had so far been encouraging. They rake in 1,700 kilogrammes of waste weekly.
He said the KEEA Municipal Assembly had also donated 400 litter bins to neighbouring assemblies to ensure regular supply of raw materials for the plant.
He said the plant would not only help reduce the sanitation problems within the KEEA and neighbouring assemblies but also offer employment for about 3,000 youth.
Mr Darke said the KEEA had placed litter bins at the disposal of collection agents at vantage points, while some of them had also been donated to the neighbouring assemblies to ensure the regular supply of raw materials for the effective operation of the plant.
Mr Wim Hardeman, the Project Manager of Cyclus Netherlands, which is supporting the project, said at the moment only transparent bottles were being collected but that other types of bottles and waste such as sachets and containers for cooking oil, detergents, soft drinks and shopping bags would also be needed after the construction of a new plant next year.
He said the machines were expected in the country by the end of this month, adding that work on the construction was progressing steadily.

EDINAMAN SHS CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET (PAGE 23)

THE students of Edinaman Senior High School (SHS) have benefited from a GH¢12,000 Internet connectivity funded by SOG, a development foundation in Gouda, The Netherlands.
The facility was made possible under the twin-city relationship between the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipal Assembly and the Gouda Municipality.
It consists of broadband Internet services, local area network designing and implementation, website designing and the refurbishment of computers for the school.
Speaking at the inauguration of the facility on the school premises at Elmina, the Mayor of Gouda, Mr Wim Cornellis, said Gouda would support the Edinaman school with computers to enhance the teaching and learning of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), in line with the new educational reform.
For his part, the KEEA Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Frank Asmah, said the package would help the students to access the Internet, use the website to showcase their school and the country to the international community.
He said the donation had propelled the relationship between the KEEA and Gouda to another height.
Mr Asmah stated that the relationship, which began five years ago, continued to deepen yearly, mentioning other areas of co-operation under the partnership as capacity building for KEEA staff and support for environmental improvement, tourism promotion and development in the municipality.
In a related development, the LOGO South Platform (LSP) has honoured Mr Asmah for his commitment to the promotion of the organisation’s activities.
The LSP, which is made up of five municipalities each in The Netherlands and Ghana, promotes an exchange programme at sister-city levels where knowledge and good governance practices are shared.
Presenting the award to Mr Asmah, the VNG Director in Ghana, Mr Martin Beks, commended the former’s interest and contributions towards the development of the organisation.
Mr Asmah said the KEEA Municipal Assembly was conscious of the benefits of the LSP programme, which was helping the municipality in diverse ways.

MCE ANGRY WITH PEOPLE WHO FLOUT SANITATION REGULATIONS (PAGE 23)

THE Cape Coast Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Madam Mercy Arhin, has deplored the way sanitation regulations in the metropolis are flouted with impunity by some residents.
She said the situation had contributed to the heavy pollution and silting of the Fosu Lagoon, as well as choked drains and poor sanitary conditions in some parts of the metropolis.
Madam Arhin, therefore, called on residents of the metropolis to ensure good sanitation and proper hygienic practices to rid the metropolis of filth to boost tourism and healthy lives.
She also urged them to keep the beaches clean and be bold to challenge people who flouted sanitation regulations.
Addressing a capacity-building workshop for opinion leaders of Anaafo in Cape Coast, Madam Arhin said it had become common practice for the residents to dump garbage at unauthorised places, including open drains, resulting in the spread of diseases.
The project is being supported by the German Development Service, in collaboration with Youth Watch, Ghana, the Central Regional Development Commission and the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly.
The Metropolitan Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Joseph Teye Nuertey, said 632 cases of cholera were reported in the metropolis in 2006, with 28 deaths, adding that there was no outbreak of the disease in 2007.
He said three cases of yellow fever were reported in 2005, with none being recorded in 2006 and 2007, while 60,113 cases of malaria were recorded in 2005, 61,764 in 2006 and 61,077 in 2007.
He stated that 13 elephantiasis cases were recorded in 2005, 23 in 2006 and 36 in 2007.
Dr Nuertey called on the assembly to enact and enforce its bye-laws on sanitation for improved and healthy lives.
Messrs Francis Kyeremeh and Christopher Mensah, Executive Director Programme and Director, respectively, of Youth Watch Ghana, said a recent UNICEF/WTO joint monitoring report on sanitation ranked the country as one of the dirtiest in West Africa.
They, therefore, called for concerted efforts to address the situation.

NPP POLLING EXECUTIVES REACT TO REPORT (PAGE 34)

POLLING station executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Constituency in the Central Region have reacted angrily to a report that the sale of pre-mix fuel in the area has been restored to the Chief Fisherman of Elmina, Joojo Solomon.
The return of the trade to the chief fisherman followed the dissolution of the Elmina Interim Premix Management Committee annonced by the Minister of Fisheries, Mrs Gladys Asmah.
At a press conference in Elmina on Monday to react to the minister’s announcement, the polling station executives said if within one week the decision is not reversed, they would embark on mass demonstrations.
In a statement read on their behalf by the KEEA Constituency Chairman of the NPP, Nana Appiah Korang, the group expressed dismay at the minister's decision and described it as a flagrant disrespect for the President, the Chief of Staff and Minister of Presidential Affairs, the Central Regional Minister and the KEEA Municipal Chief Executive.
They also wondered why Mrs Asmah should direct the Oil Marketing Companies to supply Joojo Solomon premix fuel without going through the Central Regional Co-ordinating Committee on premix as stipulated by the premix regulations.
The Executives said until its dissolution, the IMC was performing creditably and rendering regular accounts. They added that the IMC had rehabilitated street lights, supplied learning materials, uniforms, granted bursaries to children of fishermen and donated 50 bags of cement to support the construction of the chief’s palace.
They claimed that Joojo Solomon was suspended for allegedly embezzling funds from premix sale and that since the minister had failed to investigate the allegation, they found the action to reinstate him incompatible with the tenets of anti-corruption, accountability and transparency.

ASSOCIATION SUPPLIES FARMING INPUTS TO FARMERS (PAGE 20)

THE Cocoa Abrabopa Association (CAA) has provided farming inputs worth more than GH¢5,000,000 to its members on credit.
The association that was registered in January, this year, to provide assistance to cocoa farmers through the supply of improved yields and quality beans to improve the quality of life of cocoa farmers, has a total membership of 1,000.
The Executive Secretary of the association, Mr Eliseus Opoku-Boamah, made this known at Dunkwa-on-Offin. Mr Opoku-Boamah said each farmer received inputs worth GH¢390 and operational expenses of GH¢160.
He said the recovery rate had been over 90 per cent and commended the farmers for their co-operation. Mr Opoku-Boamah also praised TechnoServe Ghana, Wienco Ghana Limited, the Ghana Cocoa Board and their partners, which supported the project.
The Dutch Ambassador to Ghana, Lidi Remme Lzwaa, said the Netherlands as a significant consumer of cocoa products in the world, was ready to support efforts aimed at improving cocoa production as well as the life of cocoa farmers.
The ambassador said out of the about 35,000 metric tonnes of cocoa the Dutch consumed yearly, about 60 per cent was expected to come from Ghana.
She welcomed the collaboration between Wienco Ghana and the association and said it marked the beginning of a milestone in the future of the association and the lives of hard-working cocoa farmers.

FIRST FEMALE VICE-CHANCELLOR INDUCTED AT CAPE COAST VARSITY (SPREAD)

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman, has pledged to work with everybody to advance the mission of the university and the country.
She said she was taking office "with a high sense of purpose, a desire for excellence, commitment, discipline, compassion, fairness and dedication to the core mission of the UCC, while being mindful of the complex nature of the responsibility involved in this position".
She gave the assurance in her acceptance speech at her induction as the Vice-Chancellor of the UCC in Cape Coast yesterday.
Prof Opoku-Agyeman, who turns 57 on November 22, this year, is the first Ghanaian woman to be appointed to that position. She succeeds Reverend Prof Emmanuel Adow Obeng, who has completed his tenure of two terms in office.
The occasion was also used to induct the new Registrar, Mr Isaac Ohene, who also takes over from Mr S.K. Ohene.
The new vice-chancellor promised to endeavour to consult widely on key decisions, while being mindful of the ultimate good of the university and the country.
She said the 21st Century had created a global village with new and exciting pathways to the world of learning and that Ghanaian universities needed to rethink a new vision that would effectively tap the huge learning opportunities now placed within the reach of all age groups, especially the young.
She said the new vision, aided by an intellectual leadership, should place the universities at the core of all that the country desired in the fields of teaching and learning, research and a new partnership among the universities, industry and the government.
Prof. Opoku-Agyeman said the universities drove the vision of development, which recognised that learning and skills formed the foundation of the knowledge society, which determines lasting innovation and increased production for the improvement of the living standards of the people.
She said that implied producing a student who was truly professional in every field of human endeavour, was willing to take initiatives and ready to turn challenges into opportunities.
"Such is the mindset I bring to engage the teaching, learning and working environment of the UCC," she added.
She expressed the hope that staff, students and workers would extend the needed co-operation and teamwork to enable her to continue the good works of her predecessors who sacrificed to bring the UCC to its current state.
President John Agyekum Kufuor, in a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Trade, Industry and President’s Special Initiatives, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, said by Prof Opoku-Agyeman's appointment, she had broken the jinx surrounding the glass ceiling limiting women’s efforts to higher positions.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah was accompanied by the Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Professor Dominic K. Fobih, and the Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur.
President Kufuor said the government, in its quest for women to strive for higher positions, created the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs and went further to appoint women to key positions.
He said Prof Opoku-Agyeman's appointment would ginger the younger generation of females to excel in their chosen fields.
He commended the past administration for its work in ensuring the growth of the university.
The Immediate Past Vice-Chancellor, Rev Prof Obeng, expressed the hope that all would give their support to Prof. Opoku-Agyeman to enhance the growth of the university.
The Chancellor of the UCC, Dr Sam Esson Jonah, who performed the induction ceremony, said by her appointment, Prof Opoku-Agyeman had exhibited great courage and refused to accept the status quo which imposed disadvantages on the role of women in all endeavours of life.
He said millions of young women would be emboldened to appreciate that there was no limit to what they could achieve in life, if they were as disciplined, courageous hardworking and determined as Prof Opoku-Agyeman.

PROF NAANA OPOKU-AGYEMANG...First female Vice-Chancellor (PAGE 11)

I draw inspiration from life around me and people who do not give up easily. When I see women who sit behind their wares in the scorching sun, those who trek to markets on trucks loaded with foodstuffs, fish and other items and those who do not have fixed income, yet they are able to look after their children, I think there are no better role models than them.”
That was how Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang summed up her description of an ideal woman, whilst answering a question on who her role model was during an interview on her new appointment as the first woman Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC).
She did her postgraduate studies in Toronto's York University in Canada, between 1978 and 1986 and started life as a lecturer at UCC in the English Department. This was after she had completed her first degree at UCC in 1971, majoring in English and French with a diploma in education.
Asked whether she faced any challenges as a lecturer at the time, she replied in the affirmative and recalled that one of the greatest challenges that came her way in her work as a lecturer at the UCC over the past 22 years was the day she described as follows: After giving a two-hour lecture, a group of students from her class followed her to her office to tell her that they did not understand what she taught.
She said after listening to them carefully she realised they were mature students who had not gone through certain rudiments in literature and, therefore, she decided to hold special tutorials for them on Friday evenings.
She said that strategy worked, since the affected students showed determination and picked up, adding that she was glad to see them graduate successfully with some of them pursuing further studies.
Asked whether she dreamt of ever becoming the Vice Chancellor of UCC one day, Professor Opoku-Agyemang, in her usual and characteristic humility and soft-spoken tone, said since she was employed to teach, she was only "interested in doing that and doing it well”, adding that “whether teaching, researching or offering community service, I strive for excellence".
She said she did not know she would even become the Hall Warden for the Adehye Hall where she helped to mobilise students of the hall to improve facilities and conditions there.
The new vice chancellor said there were certain positions one had to compete for whilst others came along the line and that she contested for certain positions and won or lost but when she saw the advertisement for the position of vice chancellor, she studied the qualifications and requirements and then went through the application process as every applicant did and waited for the results.
Incidentally, she was the only woman who applied for the position.
Sounding proverbial on her vision for the UCC as vice chancellor, she said, "I want to see myself first as an interior decorator who occupies a room and re-arranges whatever is found there to give it a new look" and expressed optimism that once she would be working with a competent team the results would show.
She said she wanted the UCC to be globally known and remain "the university of choice” because of the high calibre of students and staff and pointed out that she was only interested to bring everyone on board to push the university forward.
She commended the past principals and vice chancellors for their respective roles in sustaining the vision of the university to maintain excellence and quality programmes.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, who hails from Komenda, was born in Cape Coast on November 22, 1952, where she spent much of her life. She said she grew up in a home where everyone had the opportunity to attend school and that all those in the family including herself, siblings and cousins were educated.
She described her father simply as a senior civil servant and her mother as a telephonist, seamstress and a housewife.
After one year at the Komenda Primary School she attended the Koforidua Anglican School when they moved to Koforidua and later entered the Aburi Girls Boarding School where she continued her basic education.
She recalled that even though her parents had to cater for her and also another sister and three brothers as well as her cousins, their needs were readily met, adding, "Everybody was encouraged to do his or her best.”
After elementary education she gained admission to the Wesley Girls High School where she pursued Arts subjects and obtained the General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level and the Advanced Level offering English, French and Religious Studies.
About her days as a youth at the Wey Gey Hey where she became a senior prefect, Professor Opoku-Agyemang said apart from the serene atmosphere and sense of freedom at the school, she met masters who took pains to teach them and gave them assignments to monitor their progress.
She advised the public to discard the wrong perception about the university set-up in 1962 and associate it with quality education and human resource development that the country's future hinged on.
She stressed the need to encourage the government to spend more on education, giving the assurance that the university would continue to be partners in a far-reaching vision in advancing education in all spheres throughout the country and across the world.
Asked to comment on the falling standards of education in the country, Professor Opoku-Agyemang said as a researcher, such a comparison could only be based on proper research because education in the country had depended on several different mechanisms at different times.
She said years ago, student numbers were not as huge as now and that if the methodology was changed and resources were provided, the university could cope with the situation.
She said since human resource was very important for national development the nation should be interested in the training of its people, stressing that the country needs to strategise to meet the challenges.
She said the youth of today had several opportunities and avenues and advised them to avail themselves of such opportunities to get good results.
She called on the girl-child, who she described as very brilliant and intelligent, to study hard and excel because her achievement was a credit to the family and the country.
On affirmative action for women, she said the issue should be handled with sensitivity because some people had a lot of misconceptions about the concept, adding that structures must be put in place in that respect.
She advised the youth to learn to be honest and avoid doing things that would mar their lives and shut the door to their future will.
She further advised the youth not to experiment but look up to the good examples set by others and also learn from their mistakes.
She advised parents to stop complaining to their children because they had no business to do that but strive to provide their essential needs to offer their best in whatever area they found themselves.
She is married with three children. She enjoys reading, cooking, playing tennis, entertainment and loves having people around her.
She is a member of a number of literary associations such as the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, African Literature Association, Ghana English Association, and the Ghana Studies Council. She has nine books to her credit and over 25 publications. She worships at the OLA Methodist Church and is a patron of the UCC Ladies Association.