THE National Security Secretariat has presented heavy equipment to the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District Assembly to enhance the district’s development programme.
The equipment comprises a grader, tipper truck, pay loader and a roller.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mrs Georgina Nkrumah Aboah, who inaugurated the equipment last Thursday, said a committee had been set up with an oversight responsibility under the district’s security council to ensure effective and efficient management of the equipment.
Mrs Nkrumah Aboah said rehabilitation works on the bridge at Kuntanase, which collapsed during the recent floods, would soon be completed to make the road accessible.
She said the assembly had awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of a number of feeder roads in the area.
The roads are Jamra-Towoboase, Brakwa-Ogonaso, Adumanu-Anhwiam and Asikuma-Abuakua.
Mrs Nkrumah Aboah said funds had also been made available for the reshaping and spot regravelling of the Odoben town, Breman Asikuma-Assin Manso, Breman Asikuma town roads as well as the Odoben-Kuntanase roads.
She advised the people to channel their grievances through the appropriate quarters for redress instead of embarking on demonstrations.
The DCE also urged the people to participate fully in the up-coming district assembly elections whilst advising candidates and their supporters to desist from actions that could mar the elections.
She commended the National Security Secretariat for providing the equipment, which she said, would go a long way to boost development in the district and nearby ones which would also benefit from the equipment.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
PLUMBER INFLICTS WOUNDS ON RIVAL (MIRROR, DEC 4, 2010, PAG 35,)
From Joe Okyere, Cape Coast
FOR his extreme jealousy, Kojo Eyi, a 31-year-old plumber, is in the grip of the law for inflicting blade wounds on a man he suspected of having an affair with his ex-wife.
Eyi has been remanded by the Cape Coast Circuit Court One, presided over by Mr Samuel Asare Nyarkoh, to reappear on December 13, 2010 after pleading not guilty when he made his first appearance last Wednesday.
According to Chief Inspector Francis Kingsford Ockom, Eyi has three children with his ex-wife, Ewura Esi, who operates a chop bar at the Anaafo Market in Cape Coast.
Inspector Ockom said Mr Solomon Otoo Arthur, 38, was a Cleaner at the Ghana Commercial Bank, Cape Coast Main Branch and a regular customer of Ewura Esi.
He said on Sunday, November 28, this year, around 7.30 p.m., Arthur who lived at Abease, visited Ewura Esi and the sister, Aba Kakraba, in their house at Coronation, a suburb of Cape Coast.
Inspector Ockom said, whilst Arthur was in the house with Esi and the sister, the accused went there to visit the children.
He said the accused left the house without uttering a word and Mr Arthur also left the house later to his house.
Inspector Ockom said at about 8.30 p.m, whilst Mr Arthur was about to enter the bathroom to take his bath, he heard a knock at another entrance to the house and asked who was knocking.
He said Eyi suddenly entered and attacked Mr Arthur and inflicted multiple wounds on his face, neck, back and the left arm with a blade, accusing him of having an affair with his wife.
He said Arthur managed to escape to a nearby house and informed the inmates about his ordeal.
He said the inmates, who saw blood oozing from the several wounds inflicted on Mr Arthur, arrested Eyi and handed him over to the police.
The police issued Mr Arthur with a medical form to go to the hospital for treatment.
He said investigators, who visited the scene, retrieved two blades believed to have been used by Eyi for the dastardly act.
The Judge, however, urged the investigator to speed up his work for the court to take the necessary action.
FOR his extreme jealousy, Kojo Eyi, a 31-year-old plumber, is in the grip of the law for inflicting blade wounds on a man he suspected of having an affair with his ex-wife.
Eyi has been remanded by the Cape Coast Circuit Court One, presided over by Mr Samuel Asare Nyarkoh, to reappear on December 13, 2010 after pleading not guilty when he made his first appearance last Wednesday.
According to Chief Inspector Francis Kingsford Ockom, Eyi has three children with his ex-wife, Ewura Esi, who operates a chop bar at the Anaafo Market in Cape Coast.
Inspector Ockom said Mr Solomon Otoo Arthur, 38, was a Cleaner at the Ghana Commercial Bank, Cape Coast Main Branch and a regular customer of Ewura Esi.
He said on Sunday, November 28, this year, around 7.30 p.m., Arthur who lived at Abease, visited Ewura Esi and the sister, Aba Kakraba, in their house at Coronation, a suburb of Cape Coast.
Inspector Ockom said, whilst Arthur was in the house with Esi and the sister, the accused went there to visit the children.
He said the accused left the house without uttering a word and Mr Arthur also left the house later to his house.
Inspector Ockom said at about 8.30 p.m, whilst Mr Arthur was about to enter the bathroom to take his bath, he heard a knock at another entrance to the house and asked who was knocking.
He said Eyi suddenly entered and attacked Mr Arthur and inflicted multiple wounds on his face, neck, back and the left arm with a blade, accusing him of having an affair with his wife.
He said Arthur managed to escape to a nearby house and informed the inmates about his ordeal.
He said the inmates, who saw blood oozing from the several wounds inflicted on Mr Arthur, arrested Eyi and handed him over to the police.
The police issued Mr Arthur with a medical form to go to the hospital for treatment.
He said investigators, who visited the scene, retrieved two blades believed to have been used by Eyi for the dastardly act.
The Judge, however, urged the investigator to speed up his work for the court to take the necessary action.
ZOOMLION TO ESTABLISH COMPOSTING PLANT AT AGYEN (PAGE 38, DEC 6, 2010)
ZOOMLION Ghana Limited, a waste management company, is to establish a 300-tonne capacity sorting and composting plant at Agyen Kotoku, near Nsawam in the Eastern Region as part of its waste management improvement services in the country.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Zoomlion, Mr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, made this known at a press briefing on the activities of the plant in Cape Coast.
Mr Siaw Agyepong said the plant was expected to be ready by February, 2011.
He said the country generated enough waste which could feed the plant to turn it into manure for agriculture.
Mr Siaw Agyepong said the company had also set up a subsidiary known as the Zoil Services to deal with oil spill due to the discovery and production of oil in the country.
The CEO said the company also intended to go into large scale agricultural venture to train the youth in agriculture under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) in agriculture (NYEP).
Mr Siaw Agyepong said the venture would provide employment for the youth who would pass out after their training under the NYEP.
On the promotion of waste management in the Central Region, he said a number of interventions had been introduced to address the situation.
The interventions include the introduction of “bola taxis” and the formation of clubs in basic schools in the region as well as eco- brigades to keep the coastal areas clean to boost tourism.
Mr Siaw Agyepong said the main challenges the company faced were irregular payment from clients, poor sanitary habits and sourcing funding.
He said the company was poised to make a major breakthrough in waste management in the country.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Zoomlion, Mr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, made this known at a press briefing on the activities of the plant in Cape Coast.
Mr Siaw Agyepong said the plant was expected to be ready by February, 2011.
He said the country generated enough waste which could feed the plant to turn it into manure for agriculture.
Mr Siaw Agyepong said the company had also set up a subsidiary known as the Zoil Services to deal with oil spill due to the discovery and production of oil in the country.
The CEO said the company also intended to go into large scale agricultural venture to train the youth in agriculture under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) in agriculture (NYEP).
Mr Siaw Agyepong said the venture would provide employment for the youth who would pass out after their training under the NYEP.
On the promotion of waste management in the Central Region, he said a number of interventions had been introduced to address the situation.
The interventions include the introduction of “bola taxis” and the formation of clubs in basic schools in the region as well as eco- brigades to keep the coastal areas clean to boost tourism.
Mr Siaw Agyepong said the main challenges the company faced were irregular payment from clients, poor sanitary habits and sourcing funding.
He said the company was poised to make a major breakthrough in waste management in the country.
OBRAACHIRE TRAINING CENTRE TO REDUCE POVERTY (PAGE 38, DEC 6, 2010)
“If you want one year of prosperity for your community,grow only crops. If you want 10 years of prosperity, cultivate only trees. But if you want 100 years of prosperity, grow people,” so goes a Chinese saying.
Since the youth shall remain one of the greatest assets that any community can possess, there is the need to invest greatly in them for the sustainable development of society.
It is against this background that the Obrachire Skills Training Centre was established in January 2010 to alleviate rural poverty and youth unemployment by providing tuition-free market-driven vocational and technical skills training, as well as excellent job placement services.
The fast growing skills training project targets unemployed and underemployed youth at Obrachire and its surrounding communities in the Central Region, who failed to complete primary or secondary education to have access to vocational and technical education.
The trainees undergo six months intensive skills course in hair technology, baking and pastry arts, cookery and mobile phone repair technology.
As resources unfold, the centre will invest in other market-driven vocational and technical programmes of study, the next in line being batik tie-dye technology.
To ensure that students become responsible members of society and maintain their employment, trainees also undergo life skills, entrepreneurial skills and leadership training as core courses.
After successfully completing six months of study in a particular programme, the students serve as interns with top class business establishments for two months in order to gain rich job experience and make a smooth transition from school to work.
The centre is blessed with affable and passionate instructors and job placement experts who establish career paths for each student and work around the clock to secure good-paying jobs in line with the career goals of each student.
The Obrachire Skills Training Centre has great potential of becoming a springboard to financial freedom and dignity amongst the youth and is therefore, critical to family strengthening and community development.
So far, 21 inmates who have completed various training programmes are to undergo attachment whilst 21 others are being admitted.
At the launching of the first Students Representative Council Week celebration last Monday, the Director of the Centre, Mr Joseph Tetteh, said what was troubling was the fact that some members of the society had engaged themselves in all sorts of unimportant matters aimed at distracting the progress of the centre and holding back the community’s clock of development.
He appealed for support for the centre to provide skills for the youth in the area.
Since the youth shall remain one of the greatest assets that any community can possess, there is the need to invest greatly in them for the sustainable development of society.
It is against this background that the Obrachire Skills Training Centre was established in January 2010 to alleviate rural poverty and youth unemployment by providing tuition-free market-driven vocational and technical skills training, as well as excellent job placement services.
The fast growing skills training project targets unemployed and underemployed youth at Obrachire and its surrounding communities in the Central Region, who failed to complete primary or secondary education to have access to vocational and technical education.
The trainees undergo six months intensive skills course in hair technology, baking and pastry arts, cookery and mobile phone repair technology.
As resources unfold, the centre will invest in other market-driven vocational and technical programmes of study, the next in line being batik tie-dye technology.
To ensure that students become responsible members of society and maintain their employment, trainees also undergo life skills, entrepreneurial skills and leadership training as core courses.
After successfully completing six months of study in a particular programme, the students serve as interns with top class business establishments for two months in order to gain rich job experience and make a smooth transition from school to work.
The centre is blessed with affable and passionate instructors and job placement experts who establish career paths for each student and work around the clock to secure good-paying jobs in line with the career goals of each student.
The Obrachire Skills Training Centre has great potential of becoming a springboard to financial freedom and dignity amongst the youth and is therefore, critical to family strengthening and community development.
So far, 21 inmates who have completed various training programmes are to undergo attachment whilst 21 others are being admitted.
At the launching of the first Students Representative Council Week celebration last Monday, the Director of the Centre, Mr Joseph Tetteh, said what was troubling was the fact that some members of the society had engaged themselves in all sorts of unimportant matters aimed at distracting the progress of the centre and holding back the community’s clock of development.
He appealed for support for the centre to provide skills for the youth in the area.
ASEBU RELAUNCHES EDUCATIONAL FUND (PAGE 22, DEC 3, 2010)
THE Asebu Traditional Council has relaunched its education fund to promote education in the area.
The relaunch of the fund formed part of activities marking this year’s celebration of their annual Apayamkese festival, which has the theme: ”Celebrating the past to inspire the future. Education, the key to our development.”
Addressing a durbar of chiefs and people at Asebu last weekend, the Omanhene of the Traditional Area, Okatakyi Amanfi VII said the theme for the celebration was informed by the role of education towards development.
Okatakyi Amanfi said the collapse of the two fruit processing companies, L. Rose Limited and Fruit and Flavours Limited in the area had affected the ability of farmers to send their children to school.
He, therefore, appealed to indigenes and well wishers to assist by donating generously to sustain the fund.
The Omanhene also appealed to the government to rehabilitate roads in Asebu town as well as those in the area to enhance economic activities.
A lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Professor Nsiah Gyasi described the fund as a bold step that would help to stem the tide of high drop-out rate and teenage pregnancy in the area.
He advised the people against high funeral costs, which depleted their already meagre incomes.
The flag bearer of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) in the 2008 election, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom pledged to donate GH¢50 each to 10 students in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District who would excel in the Basic Education Certificate Examination within the next five years.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mr Anthony Christian Dadzie donated GH¢1,000 towards the fund, and Mr Kobina Arthur Kennedy donated GH¢1,000.
The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, who was represented by Mr Patrick Aniagyei, a Presidential Aid at the Central Regional Co-ordinating Council on behalf of the national Democratic Congress (NDC), presented GH¢500 to the fund whilst Mr Arthur Kennedy and Nana Ato Arthur, the immediate past Central Regional Minister on behalf of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, donated GH¢500 towards the fund.
The relaunch of the fund formed part of activities marking this year’s celebration of their annual Apayamkese festival, which has the theme: ”Celebrating the past to inspire the future. Education, the key to our development.”
Addressing a durbar of chiefs and people at Asebu last weekend, the Omanhene of the Traditional Area, Okatakyi Amanfi VII said the theme for the celebration was informed by the role of education towards development.
Okatakyi Amanfi said the collapse of the two fruit processing companies, L. Rose Limited and Fruit and Flavours Limited in the area had affected the ability of farmers to send their children to school.
He, therefore, appealed to indigenes and well wishers to assist by donating generously to sustain the fund.
The Omanhene also appealed to the government to rehabilitate roads in Asebu town as well as those in the area to enhance economic activities.
A lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Professor Nsiah Gyasi described the fund as a bold step that would help to stem the tide of high drop-out rate and teenage pregnancy in the area.
He advised the people against high funeral costs, which depleted their already meagre incomes.
The flag bearer of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) in the 2008 election, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom pledged to donate GH¢50 each to 10 students in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District who would excel in the Basic Education Certificate Examination within the next five years.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mr Anthony Christian Dadzie donated GH¢1,000 towards the fund, and Mr Kobina Arthur Kennedy donated GH¢1,000.
The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, who was represented by Mr Patrick Aniagyei, a Presidential Aid at the Central Regional Co-ordinating Council on behalf of the national Democratic Congress (NDC), presented GH¢500 to the fund whilst Mr Arthur Kennedy and Nana Ato Arthur, the immediate past Central Regional Minister on behalf of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, donated GH¢500 towards the fund.
AHOMKA FM MAST COLLAPSES (PAGE 22, DEC 3, 2010)
GUSTS of rain last Sunday morning caused the collapse of an old antennae used by Ahomka FM, a private radio station on top of block three of the SSNIT Flats at Elmina.
Even though no one was injured in the incident, an Audi 80 car which was parked at the entrance was slightly dented as part of the collapsed antennae landed close to the vehicle hit it.
The operation of the FM station at the Flats had been challenged by the residents, due to the danger the erection of a mast in a residential area poses to lives and property.
Following a court’s ruling, the station relocated to Iture, near Elmina but the antennae was not dismantled.
A resident of Block three, who claimed anonymity, described the incident as a miraculous escape for a former resident who used to park his car at the spot where the collapsed antennae landed.
In a related development, residents of SSNIT Flats have appealed to the Electricity Company of Ghana to pull down a concrete pole for streetlight between Block three and Block four which poses danger to lives.
The cement covering the iron rods has peeled off as a result of corrosion leaving it to stand precariously.
Even though no one was injured in the incident, an Audi 80 car which was parked at the entrance was slightly dented as part of the collapsed antennae landed close to the vehicle hit it.
The operation of the FM station at the Flats had been challenged by the residents, due to the danger the erection of a mast in a residential area poses to lives and property.
Following a court’s ruling, the station relocated to Iture, near Elmina but the antennae was not dismantled.
A resident of Block three, who claimed anonymity, described the incident as a miraculous escape for a former resident who used to park his car at the spot where the collapsed antennae landed.
In a related development, residents of SSNIT Flats have appealed to the Electricity Company of Ghana to pull down a concrete pole for streetlight between Block three and Block four which poses danger to lives.
The cement covering the iron rods has peeled off as a result of corrosion leaving it to stand precariously.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
SET UP BODY ON ETHICS OF OPOMETRY PROFESSION (PAGE 35, DEC 2, 2010)
THE Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, has called for the setting up of a qualified body to enforce the ethics of the optometry profession.
Mr Mahama said even though the profession had served the country in diverse ways in the healthcare delivery system, it was faced with challenges in its bid to offer quality services to the people.
Addressing the third induction ceremony for 105 newly qualified doctors of optometry from the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) for the 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 year groups to the Ghana Optometric Association, the Vice-President said the move would also help to weed out unqualified personnel from the system.
These were contained in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Steve Okrah, the Director at the Central Regional Co-ordinating Council at the auditorium of the School of Medical Sciences in Cape Coast.
Vice-President Mahama said the government would strive to ensure that the optometry profession was regulated to achieve its full potential in line with the “Better Ghana” agenda.
He said the nation should look forward to a greater opportunity for every Ghanaian to get access to comprehensive eye care services, eradication of preventable blindness, as well as all other provisions of the Vision 2020 in collaboration with all stakeholders in the eye care sector.
He pledged the government’s support for them to enable them to contribute their quota towards national development.
The Head of the Department of Optometry, Dr Alfred Owusu, reminded the participants that their induction imposed on them a sense of responsibility to conscientiously and honourably promote their profession with regard to highest standards of their practice, ethics and ideas in optometry.
The Vice Chancellor of UCC, Professor Naana Jane Opoku–Agyemang, admonished universities in the country to ensure closer collaboration for the optimum use of resources and equipment for the training of students.
At the ceremony during which the newly qualified doctors took their professional oath administered by a judge of the High Court, Osagyefo Agyemang-Badu II, the Dormaahene, Dr Anthony Kpetsey of the KNUST, took the Dr F.K. Morny Memorial Prize for the OD in Optometry Licenser Examination.
Dr Mary Anderson of the UCC was adjudged the best in ODs in 2008/2009 with Dr Michael Ntodie also of the UCC for 2009/2010. Dr Ernest Awiti Bafoe of KNUST for 2008/2009, whilst Dr Nartey Tawiah Emmanuel also of KNUST won the 2009/2010 awards.
On behalf of the newly qualified doctors, Dr Kpetsey called on the government to expedite action on their postings to district hospitals, salaries and provision of equipment for them to deliver.
Mr Mahama said even though the profession had served the country in diverse ways in the healthcare delivery system, it was faced with challenges in its bid to offer quality services to the people.
Addressing the third induction ceremony for 105 newly qualified doctors of optometry from the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) for the 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 year groups to the Ghana Optometric Association, the Vice-President said the move would also help to weed out unqualified personnel from the system.
These were contained in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Steve Okrah, the Director at the Central Regional Co-ordinating Council at the auditorium of the School of Medical Sciences in Cape Coast.
Vice-President Mahama said the government would strive to ensure that the optometry profession was regulated to achieve its full potential in line with the “Better Ghana” agenda.
He said the nation should look forward to a greater opportunity for every Ghanaian to get access to comprehensive eye care services, eradication of preventable blindness, as well as all other provisions of the Vision 2020 in collaboration with all stakeholders in the eye care sector.
He pledged the government’s support for them to enable them to contribute their quota towards national development.
The Head of the Department of Optometry, Dr Alfred Owusu, reminded the participants that their induction imposed on them a sense of responsibility to conscientiously and honourably promote their profession with regard to highest standards of their practice, ethics and ideas in optometry.
The Vice Chancellor of UCC, Professor Naana Jane Opoku–Agyemang, admonished universities in the country to ensure closer collaboration for the optimum use of resources and equipment for the training of students.
At the ceremony during which the newly qualified doctors took their professional oath administered by a judge of the High Court, Osagyefo Agyemang-Badu II, the Dormaahene, Dr Anthony Kpetsey of the KNUST, took the Dr F.K. Morny Memorial Prize for the OD in Optometry Licenser Examination.
Dr Mary Anderson of the UCC was adjudged the best in ODs in 2008/2009 with Dr Michael Ntodie also of the UCC for 2009/2010. Dr Ernest Awiti Bafoe of KNUST for 2008/2009, whilst Dr Nartey Tawiah Emmanuel also of KNUST won the 2009/2010 awards.
On behalf of the newly qualified doctors, Dr Kpetsey called on the government to expedite action on their postings to district hospitals, salaries and provision of equipment for them to deliver.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
WOMAN ABANDONS CHILD IN BUSH (MIRROR, PAGE 34, NOV 20, 2010)
From Joe Okyere, Twifo Praso
The Twifo-Praso Police has mounted a search for Ama Teiku who lied to the husband that their two-year-old son was dead. Unknown to John Seidu, Ama had left the child in the bush for almost a week until a farmer chanced upon him.
The 35-year-old farmer, Mr Alfred Owusu, found the child from the tragic scene at the “Topp Plantation,” a suburb of Twifo-Praso in the Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira District of the Central Region.
According to the police, the farmer said he was going to his farm that morning, November 1, 2010, when he heard the voice of a baby shouting mama, mama so he was initially scared but later gathered courage and went closer to the direction of the sound.
Mr Owusu stated that upon reaching the scene, he saw the child tied up with a string on both arms and legs lying in the bush helplessly.
According to the district police commander, DSP Cosmos Damoa, the child had been in the bush for close to a week which had made him malnourished and dehydrated due to his denial of food and water. The child had also developed sore at the back and around the head.
DSP Damoah said the father of the child was currently in police custody to help in investigations.
The police commander said Seidu told the police that his wife told him on phone that the child had died.
“I could not go there to see things for myself because I had not performed the marriage rites, which had brought some problems between Ama and I”, Seidu explained.
“We are entreating the mother of the child to report herself to the police and assist us in investigations,” DSP Damoah stated.
Meanwhile, Mrs Sarah Ampomah, the Nurses Manager at the Twifo-Praso Government Hospital, has assured that the child, now in the care of the hospital, is responding to treatment.
The Twifo-Praso Police has mounted a search for Ama Teiku who lied to the husband that their two-year-old son was dead. Unknown to John Seidu, Ama had left the child in the bush for almost a week until a farmer chanced upon him.
The 35-year-old farmer, Mr Alfred Owusu, found the child from the tragic scene at the “Topp Plantation,” a suburb of Twifo-Praso in the Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira District of the Central Region.
According to the police, the farmer said he was going to his farm that morning, November 1, 2010, when he heard the voice of a baby shouting mama, mama so he was initially scared but later gathered courage and went closer to the direction of the sound.
Mr Owusu stated that upon reaching the scene, he saw the child tied up with a string on both arms and legs lying in the bush helplessly.
According to the district police commander, DSP Cosmos Damoa, the child had been in the bush for close to a week which had made him malnourished and dehydrated due to his denial of food and water. The child had also developed sore at the back and around the head.
DSP Damoah said the father of the child was currently in police custody to help in investigations.
The police commander said Seidu told the police that his wife told him on phone that the child had died.
“I could not go there to see things for myself because I had not performed the marriage rites, which had brought some problems between Ama and I”, Seidu explained.
“We are entreating the mother of the child to report herself to the police and assist us in investigations,” DSP Damoah stated.
Meanwhile, Mrs Sarah Ampomah, the Nurses Manager at the Twifo-Praso Government Hospital, has assured that the child, now in the care of the hospital, is responding to treatment.
INTRODUCE MORE LOCAL FOODS ON MENU (MIRROR, PAGE 39, NOV 20, 2010)
From Joe Okyere, Winneba
THE Head of Department of the Home Economics Education of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Dr. Phyllis Forster, has called on the hospitality and tourism industry to introduce local dishes into their menus for variety.
Dr. Forster said local dishes which were nutritious can compete with foreign dishes but had unfortunately been left out of the menus of hotels in the country.
She said her Department was prepared to show-case dishes and beverages that could be derived from local food commodities to the hotels and hospitality industry and urged them to take advantage of its efforts to promote food varieties.
At the annual Food Exhibition and Assessment of New Recipes of the Unit of Home Economics, Dr. Forster said the exhibition was the result of eight weeks experiments for the course of food product development, preservation and storage.
The exhibition show-cased recipes and beverages from the regions.
She said most local foodstuffs could be developed into nutritious dishes and beverages, the hospitality industry had relied on what she described as “the same old dishes”.
She said the Unit was prepared to share its experience with the hospitality and tourism industry to provide variety from local commodities to enrich their services.
Dr. Forster said the dishes and beverages could also help reduce the cost of the school feeding programme.
The Head of the Food and Nutrition Unit, Ms. Comfort Katumi Madah, urged students in second cycle institutions to take advantage of the exhibition to learn and try out their own recipes for their practical examinations.
The Head of the Faculty of Science, Dr, Mawudem Amedeker, commended the unit for its innovation and urged it to endeavour to revive local dishes and beverages which were facing extinction.
THE Head of Department of the Home Economics Education of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Dr. Phyllis Forster, has called on the hospitality and tourism industry to introduce local dishes into their menus for variety.
Dr. Forster said local dishes which were nutritious can compete with foreign dishes but had unfortunately been left out of the menus of hotels in the country.
She said her Department was prepared to show-case dishes and beverages that could be derived from local food commodities to the hotels and hospitality industry and urged them to take advantage of its efforts to promote food varieties.
At the annual Food Exhibition and Assessment of New Recipes of the Unit of Home Economics, Dr. Forster said the exhibition was the result of eight weeks experiments for the course of food product development, preservation and storage.
The exhibition show-cased recipes and beverages from the regions.
She said most local foodstuffs could be developed into nutritious dishes and beverages, the hospitality industry had relied on what she described as “the same old dishes”.
She said the Unit was prepared to share its experience with the hospitality and tourism industry to provide variety from local commodities to enrich their services.
Dr. Forster said the dishes and beverages could also help reduce the cost of the school feeding programme.
The Head of the Food and Nutrition Unit, Ms. Comfort Katumi Madah, urged students in second cycle institutions to take advantage of the exhibition to learn and try out their own recipes for their practical examinations.
The Head of the Faculty of Science, Dr, Mawudem Amedeker, commended the unit for its innovation and urged it to endeavour to revive local dishes and beverages which were facing extinction.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
CHIEF INSPECTOR DONATES TO SALTPOND POLICE STATION (PAGE 22, NOV 13, 2010)
CHIEF Inspector Patrick Yeboah of the Saltpond Police Command who returned from peace-keeping duties in Darfur, Sudan, has presented a counter to the Saltpond police as his widow’s mite towards equipping the police to be efficient in their work.
Making the presentation at Saltpond, Chief Inspector Yeboah said what served as a counter at the police station was an improvised one made up of two tables which had been nailed together, and that was hampering effective work at the station.
Saltpond served as the first capital of the then Gold Coast and the police station is believed to be one of the oldest in the country.
Chief Inspector Yeboah called on other police personnel who had the capacity to assist their colleagues to do so to enhance efficiency in the service.
He further called for public support and co-operation to enable the police to combat crime effectively.
The Saltpond District Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Donkor, commended Chief Inspector Yeboah for the gesture.
He stressed that the police would not relent in its efforts to combat crime.
Making the presentation at Saltpond, Chief Inspector Yeboah said what served as a counter at the police station was an improvised one made up of two tables which had been nailed together, and that was hampering effective work at the station.
Saltpond served as the first capital of the then Gold Coast and the police station is believed to be one of the oldest in the country.
Chief Inspector Yeboah called on other police personnel who had the capacity to assist their colleagues to do so to enhance efficiency in the service.
He further called for public support and co-operation to enable the police to combat crime effectively.
The Saltpond District Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Donkor, commended Chief Inspector Yeboah for the gesture.
He stressed that the police would not relent in its efforts to combat crime.
4.3 MILLION TO BE IMMUNISED (PAGE 22, NOV 13, 2010)
ABOUT 4.3 million children between the ages of nine months and 50 months are expected to be immunised under the Measles Supplementary Immunisation Activity (SIA) this year.
Within the same period, the beneficiaries will also be given a dose of vitamin A to protect their eyes.
The figure represents 17 per cent of the total national population.
The Central Regional Deputy Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in charge of Public Health, Dr John Eleeza, made this known when he briefed journalists on the SIA mass immunisation campaign in Cape Coast.
Dr Eleeza said in 2000, the World Health Organisation, Africa Region, set a goal of 90 per cent reduction of measles deaths by 2009 compared to 2000.
Dr Eleeza said the decision was one of the targets of the millennium development goals.
He said the country had not recorded a single death of measles for the past eight years.
Dr Eleeza said measles is among the highest morbidity and mortality cases in the world and accounts for five per cent of the deaths of children under five years in Africa and 50 per cent of all vaccine preventable disease deaths.
He said the country was expected to reduce child mortality by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015.
According to him, the programme was aimed at ensuring routine immunisation, providing a second opportunity, effective surveillance system and improving case management.
Within the same period, the beneficiaries will also be given a dose of vitamin A to protect their eyes.
The figure represents 17 per cent of the total national population.
The Central Regional Deputy Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in charge of Public Health, Dr John Eleeza, made this known when he briefed journalists on the SIA mass immunisation campaign in Cape Coast.
Dr Eleeza said in 2000, the World Health Organisation, Africa Region, set a goal of 90 per cent reduction of measles deaths by 2009 compared to 2000.
Dr Eleeza said the decision was one of the targets of the millennium development goals.
He said the country had not recorded a single death of measles for the past eight years.
Dr Eleeza said measles is among the highest morbidity and mortality cases in the world and accounts for five per cent of the deaths of children under five years in Africa and 50 per cent of all vaccine preventable disease deaths.
He said the country was expected to reduce child mortality by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015.
According to him, the programme was aimed at ensuring routine immunisation, providing a second opportunity, effective surveillance system and improving case management.
HELP IDENTIFY DEAD MALE ADULT (PAGE 22, NOV 13, 2010)
THE Saltpond Police Command has appealed to the general public to help in identifying a male adult who died in an accident between Antaadze and Essakyir Junction on the Accra-Cape Coast highway.
According to Chief Inspector Emmanuel Kwawu, the victim, about 35 years of age, was said to have boarded the Nissan Urvan bus with registration number CR 556 X at Kasoa.
He said the accident occurred at 7.30 p.m. on September 20, this year when the Urvan collided with a man diesel vehicle with registration number GR 7079 N loaded with copra from Ayinasi in the Western Region which was bound for Nigeria.
He said with the exception of the unidentified victim, the three others, including the urvan bus driver had been identified.
Chief Inspector Kwawu said the victim was wearing a pair of blue jeans and an ash T-shirt with the inscription “port wire goss” in front and “brewer” at the back.
He, therefore, appealed to the public to contact the Saltpond Police Command for identification and collection of the body.
According to Chief Inspector Emmanuel Kwawu, the victim, about 35 years of age, was said to have boarded the Nissan Urvan bus with registration number CR 556 X at Kasoa.
He said the accident occurred at 7.30 p.m. on September 20, this year when the Urvan collided with a man diesel vehicle with registration number GR 7079 N loaded with copra from Ayinasi in the Western Region which was bound for Nigeria.
He said with the exception of the unidentified victim, the three others, including the urvan bus driver had been identified.
Chief Inspector Kwawu said the victim was wearing a pair of blue jeans and an ash T-shirt with the inscription “port wire goss” in front and “brewer” at the back.
He, therefore, appealed to the public to contact the Saltpond Police Command for identification and collection of the body.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
ASSEMBLY SPONSORS 32 STUDENTS (PAGE 43, NOV 15, 2010)
THE Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipal Assembly has paid fees totalling GH¢5,342.70 for 32 brilliant, needy students.
The beneficiaries included nine form one students and 23 continuing students who are under the assembly’s support programme.
New entrants to the various institutions are yet to be considered.
These were contained in the executive committee report delivered by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Reverend Veronica Essuman Nelson at the second ordinary meeting of the fourth session of the assembly.
Rev. Essuman Nelson, said the gesture formed part of measures to improve education in the municipality.
She said a number of educational facilities such as classrooms were being put in place whilst a list of deprived schools were to be considered.
Already, nine schools are benefiting from the programme.
Rev. Essuman Nelson called on parents, opinion leaders and other stakeholders to complement efforts of the government to make education accessible to children of school age.
On the Mutual Health Insurance Scheme, the MCE said, 93,931 clients had been registered with renewals at 13,775, whilst valid ID cards stood at 24,065.
She said for the assembly to improve its revenue base, it was implementing recommendations from the finance and administrative, and the revenue mobilisation subcommittees.
Rev. Essuman Nelson said the moves were aimed at sustaining the administrative machinery of the assembly and its development goals and advised the assembly members to ensure that they succeeded.
The beneficiaries included nine form one students and 23 continuing students who are under the assembly’s support programme.
New entrants to the various institutions are yet to be considered.
These were contained in the executive committee report delivered by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Reverend Veronica Essuman Nelson at the second ordinary meeting of the fourth session of the assembly.
Rev. Essuman Nelson, said the gesture formed part of measures to improve education in the municipality.
She said a number of educational facilities such as classrooms were being put in place whilst a list of deprived schools were to be considered.
Already, nine schools are benefiting from the programme.
Rev. Essuman Nelson called on parents, opinion leaders and other stakeholders to complement efforts of the government to make education accessible to children of school age.
On the Mutual Health Insurance Scheme, the MCE said, 93,931 clients had been registered with renewals at 13,775, whilst valid ID cards stood at 24,065.
She said for the assembly to improve its revenue base, it was implementing recommendations from the finance and administrative, and the revenue mobilisation subcommittees.
Rev. Essuman Nelson said the moves were aimed at sustaining the administrative machinery of the assembly and its development goals and advised the assembly members to ensure that they succeeded.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
OUTH REMINDED OF VALUE OF EDUCATION (PAGE 35, OCT 28, 2010)
THE Omanhene of the Breman Traditional Area in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District, Odeefo Amoakwa Buadu VIII, has reminded the youth of the value of education and advised them to study hard and become useful citizens.
He urged them not to see material wealth as the standard for success.
Speaking at a durbar to climax this year’s Afahye festival of the chiefs and people of Breman Asikuma at the weekend, Odeefo Amoakwa Buadu VIII said happiness lay not in the mere possession of money, but on one committing himself to honesty.
He used the occasion to launch a five-year strategic plan which places premium on education, health and agriculture, among others.
Odeefo Amoakwa Buadu called on the government to improve the existing educational infrastructure, provision of accommodation for teachers and education in the area.
He further called for the rehabilitation of the Asikuma-Anyinabrim road to open up the area.
Odeefo Amoakwa Buadu commended the government for the various interventions in the educational sector such as the introduction of the free school uniforms, exercise books and the School Feeding Programme to enhance enrolment.
The Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr Alexander Asum Ahensan, said the government had increased the Capitation Grant by 15 per cent.
He also commended the Omanhene for his foresight and efforts to develop the area, giving the assurance that the district would receive its fair share of development.
He urged them not to see material wealth as the standard for success.
Speaking at a durbar to climax this year’s Afahye festival of the chiefs and people of Breman Asikuma at the weekend, Odeefo Amoakwa Buadu VIII said happiness lay not in the mere possession of money, but on one committing himself to honesty.
He used the occasion to launch a five-year strategic plan which places premium on education, health and agriculture, among others.
Odeefo Amoakwa Buadu called on the government to improve the existing educational infrastructure, provision of accommodation for teachers and education in the area.
He further called for the rehabilitation of the Asikuma-Anyinabrim road to open up the area.
Odeefo Amoakwa Buadu commended the government for the various interventions in the educational sector such as the introduction of the free school uniforms, exercise books and the School Feeding Programme to enhance enrolment.
The Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr Alexander Asum Ahensan, said the government had increased the Capitation Grant by 15 per cent.
He also commended the Omanhene for his foresight and efforts to develop the area, giving the assurance that the district would receive its fair share of development.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
$52,445,091 SPENT ON HIV/AIDS IN 2007 (PAGE 22, OCT 26, 2010)
MORE than $52,445,091 was spent on HIV AIDS related activities in Ghana for the year 2007.
The Dean of the School of Medical Sciences of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Professor Amonoo-Koufi, announced this at an HIV AIDS stigmatisation reduction conference in Cape Coast.
The conference was organised by the UCC, University of Ghana, University of Education, Winneba and Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada, with funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
Professor Amonoo-Koufi said altogether, 40 per cent was spent on treatment and care with 35 per cent being spent on programme management and 12 per cent on prevention programmes.
He stated that spending on prevention decreased from 39 per cent in 2005 to 23 per cent in 2006 and 12 per cent in 2007, whilst spending on treatment increased from 17 per cent in 2005 to 22 per cent in 2006 and 40 per cent in 2007.
Prof. Amonoo-Koufi said that was against the background that prevention remained the cornerstone of the national strategy to overcome the epidemic.
He said stigmatisation, socio-cultural practices and attitudes of people had made persons living with HIV AIDS to hide their status thus hindering their chances of obtaining proper treatment.
Prof. Amonoo-Koufi said while educating people to avoid stigmatisation, it was important to increase the understanding of the general population on how the disease was contracted.
The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe in a speech read on her behalf, called for concerted efforts to reduce stigmatisation and discrimination.
She commended the collaborative institutions and the agencies for their role of increasing awareness on the disease.
The Dean of the School of Medical Sciences of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Professor Amonoo-Koufi, announced this at an HIV AIDS stigmatisation reduction conference in Cape Coast.
The conference was organised by the UCC, University of Ghana, University of Education, Winneba and Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada, with funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
Professor Amonoo-Koufi said altogether, 40 per cent was spent on treatment and care with 35 per cent being spent on programme management and 12 per cent on prevention programmes.
He stated that spending on prevention decreased from 39 per cent in 2005 to 23 per cent in 2006 and 12 per cent in 2007, whilst spending on treatment increased from 17 per cent in 2005 to 22 per cent in 2006 and 40 per cent in 2007.
Prof. Amonoo-Koufi said that was against the background that prevention remained the cornerstone of the national strategy to overcome the epidemic.
He said stigmatisation, socio-cultural practices and attitudes of people had made persons living with HIV AIDS to hide their status thus hindering their chances of obtaining proper treatment.
Prof. Amonoo-Koufi said while educating people to avoid stigmatisation, it was important to increase the understanding of the general population on how the disease was contracted.
The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe in a speech read on her behalf, called for concerted efforts to reduce stigmatisation and discrimination.
She commended the collaborative institutions and the agencies for their role of increasing awareness on the disease.
Monday, October 25, 2010
WE'VE NEGLECTED MENTAL HEALTH — CHIEF BANDANA (PAGE 19, OCT 23, 2010)
THE President of the Ghana Medical Assistants Association (GMAA), Chief Imoro Bandana, has described mental health as the most neglected area of the health care system.
Chief Bandana said entities in the health delivery system had not shown any enthusiasm in mental health and that professionals in the system had the propensity to shun that speciality for various reasons including unattractive service conditions as well as stigma.
Speaking at the opening session of the 8th annual general meeting of the GMAA, Chief Bandana said as health professionals were calling on the public to desist from stigmatising mental illness, health assistants should themselves preach the concept of destigmatisation of mental health in terms of policy directives, interest, practice and political will.
The meeting is on the theme: “Mental health in the primary healthcare setting — The role of the medical assistant”.
He stressed the need to make the speciality more attractive to health professionals while policy directives should be made more friendly to the development of psychiatry.
He said while there were plans to turn most post-basic programmes in allied health fields into degree programmes, not much was heard about the intended degree programme for the medical assistant.
According to Chief Bandana, even the psychiatry programme for medical assistants which was initially intended as a degree programme had also not materialised.
He called for a regulatory body to prescribe standard of practice, training and professional development criteria for the group.
He further called for a downward review of the all-inclusive tariffs to ensure effective health care delivery in the rural areas.
The Deputy Director of the Central Regional Ghana Health Service, Nana Owusu Boampong, said without medical assistants, most rural communities would have been denied health services and that the mental health bill when passed would address the problem of mental health and issues affecting medical assistants.
The Human Resource Manager of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Appiah-Denkyira, said the Ghana Health Service was working out plans to assist medical assistants to offer quality health services to the people.
The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, in a speech read on her behalf by Mr Patrick Aniagyei, an Aide at the Central Regional Co-ordinating Council, called for concerted efforts to curb mental health challenges in the system.
The Chief Psychiatrist, Dr Akwasi Osei, said psychiatry should be integrated into the general hospitals to enable medical assistants to handle simple mental cases.
Chief Bandana said entities in the health delivery system had not shown any enthusiasm in mental health and that professionals in the system had the propensity to shun that speciality for various reasons including unattractive service conditions as well as stigma.
Speaking at the opening session of the 8th annual general meeting of the GMAA, Chief Bandana said as health professionals were calling on the public to desist from stigmatising mental illness, health assistants should themselves preach the concept of destigmatisation of mental health in terms of policy directives, interest, practice and political will.
The meeting is on the theme: “Mental health in the primary healthcare setting — The role of the medical assistant”.
He stressed the need to make the speciality more attractive to health professionals while policy directives should be made more friendly to the development of psychiatry.
He said while there were plans to turn most post-basic programmes in allied health fields into degree programmes, not much was heard about the intended degree programme for the medical assistant.
According to Chief Bandana, even the psychiatry programme for medical assistants which was initially intended as a degree programme had also not materialised.
He called for a regulatory body to prescribe standard of practice, training and professional development criteria for the group.
He further called for a downward review of the all-inclusive tariffs to ensure effective health care delivery in the rural areas.
The Deputy Director of the Central Regional Ghana Health Service, Nana Owusu Boampong, said without medical assistants, most rural communities would have been denied health services and that the mental health bill when passed would address the problem of mental health and issues affecting medical assistants.
The Human Resource Manager of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Appiah-Denkyira, said the Ghana Health Service was working out plans to assist medical assistants to offer quality health services to the people.
The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, in a speech read on her behalf by Mr Patrick Aniagyei, an Aide at the Central Regional Co-ordinating Council, called for concerted efforts to curb mental health challenges in the system.
The Chief Psychiatrist, Dr Akwasi Osei, said psychiatry should be integrated into the general hospitals to enable medical assistants to handle simple mental cases.
Friday, October 22, 2010
13 SEERVICE PERSONS WITH FAKE DOCUMENTS ARRESTED (BACK PAGE, OCT 22, 2010)
THIRTEEN persons who allegedly used fake documents to enrol on the National Service Scheme in the Central Region have been handed over to the police.
Briefing the press in Cape Coast, the Central Regional Director of the National Service Secretariat, Nana Odiasempa Antwi, said the impersonators were arrested in Cape Coast, Agona Swedru and Breman Kuntanase between October 8 and October 20, this year.
Nana Antwi said one Ebenezer Eyiah Mensah, a teacher whose documents were found to have been falsified, had already appeared before a court and granted bail in the sum of GH¢1,000.00 to re-appear on October 29, 2010.
He said the mastermind behind the deals, who operates from the University of Education, Winneba, Kumasi Campus, entered into an agreement with clients to pay GH¢70.00 out of the GH¢202.00 allowance paid to service personnel.
He advised service personnel to desist from seeking assistance from other persons and rather approach personnel at the Secretariat for assistance.
He also called on the Ghana Education Service to furnish the secretariat with data on teachers on study leave to enable the secretariat to monitor them.
He said 2,953 personnel out of 4,230 allocated to the region had so far been posted to various institutions and organisations in the region.
Briefing the press in Cape Coast, the Central Regional Director of the National Service Secretariat, Nana Odiasempa Antwi, said the impersonators were arrested in Cape Coast, Agona Swedru and Breman Kuntanase between October 8 and October 20, this year.
Nana Antwi said one Ebenezer Eyiah Mensah, a teacher whose documents were found to have been falsified, had already appeared before a court and granted bail in the sum of GH¢1,000.00 to re-appear on October 29, 2010.
He said the mastermind behind the deals, who operates from the University of Education, Winneba, Kumasi Campus, entered into an agreement with clients to pay GH¢70.00 out of the GH¢202.00 allowance paid to service personnel.
He advised service personnel to desist from seeking assistance from other persons and rather approach personnel at the Secretariat for assistance.
He also called on the Ghana Education Service to furnish the secretariat with data on teachers on study leave to enable the secretariat to monitor them.
He said 2,953 personnel out of 4,230 allocated to the region had so far been posted to various institutions and organisations in the region.
BREMAN ASIKUMA GETS NURSES TRAINING SCHOOL (PAGE 22, OCT 22, 2010)
A PRIVATE Nurses’ Training School to train nurses in community health, health assistants and diploma in general nursing, has been established at Breman Asikuma in the Central Region.
The first batch of 250 students is expected to be enrolled in November, this year, to begin a two-year certificate programme in community health nursing, health assistants, clinical and a three-year diploma in general nursing.
At a ceremony to launch the school, the Christian School of Nursing, Mr Noah Kwesi Mends, the founder of the school said the National Accreditation Board had given accreditation for the establishment of the school.
Mr Mends said the school was being established in collaboration with a group from the European Union, and Aid N Action, a non-governmental organisation.
A member of the Nurses and Midwifery Council of Ghana, Ms Yvonne Hayfron said since public health training institutions were not adequate to train sufficient health personnel to meet the country’s demand, the private sector had a role to play to complement the government’s efforts.
Ms Hayfron called on the management of the school to ensure that students who would be trained at the school would be re-orientated with constant research and professional ethics to render quality health service to the populace.
The Nurse Manager of the Our Lady of Grace Hospital, Breman Asikuma, Ms Paulina Essuman, said the mission of the school was to educate professional nurses within a Christian environment with the requisite academic ability, professional competencies dedicated to the provision of high quality care to individuals, families and communities.
The Omanhene of the Breman Asikuma Traditional Area, Odeefo Amoakwa Buadu VIII, who chaired the function, pledged his support for the school and said education and health were key to his development agenda.
Odeefo Amoakwa Buadu said he had initiated a stakeholders forum to plan and strategise for the development of the area which cumulated in a five-year development plan, adding that the school would enhance the plan.
He commended the Church of Christ for its vision and said since chiefs were now striving to develop their areas, he would support the school to achieve its mission and vision.
The first batch of 250 students is expected to be enrolled in November, this year, to begin a two-year certificate programme in community health nursing, health assistants, clinical and a three-year diploma in general nursing.
At a ceremony to launch the school, the Christian School of Nursing, Mr Noah Kwesi Mends, the founder of the school said the National Accreditation Board had given accreditation for the establishment of the school.
Mr Mends said the school was being established in collaboration with a group from the European Union, and Aid N Action, a non-governmental organisation.
A member of the Nurses and Midwifery Council of Ghana, Ms Yvonne Hayfron said since public health training institutions were not adequate to train sufficient health personnel to meet the country’s demand, the private sector had a role to play to complement the government’s efforts.
Ms Hayfron called on the management of the school to ensure that students who would be trained at the school would be re-orientated with constant research and professional ethics to render quality health service to the populace.
The Nurse Manager of the Our Lady of Grace Hospital, Breman Asikuma, Ms Paulina Essuman, said the mission of the school was to educate professional nurses within a Christian environment with the requisite academic ability, professional competencies dedicated to the provision of high quality care to individuals, families and communities.
The Omanhene of the Breman Asikuma Traditional Area, Odeefo Amoakwa Buadu VIII, who chaired the function, pledged his support for the school and said education and health were key to his development agenda.
Odeefo Amoakwa Buadu said he had initiated a stakeholders forum to plan and strategise for the development of the area which cumulated in a five-year development plan, adding that the school would enhance the plan.
He commended the Church of Christ for its vision and said since chiefs were now striving to develop their areas, he would support the school to achieve its mission and vision.
AKYIANU DONATES TO NDC (PAGE 13, OCT 22, 2010)
A LEADING member of the National Democratic Congress and Ghana’s Ambassador to Serbia, Mr Sam Vallis Akyianu, has provided free accommodation for the Cape Coast Constituency.
The facility used to be the dwelling place of Mr Akyianu’s late mother.
Speaking at a ceremony at the presentation of the premises to the party on Wednesday, Mr Akyianu said the gesture was in fulfilment of her late mother’s commitment and loyalty to the President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills.
Mr Akyianu recalled her late mother’s desire to vote for and see Professor Mills becoming President before her death.
He said her mother dedicated herself to the party to the extent that she would never go to bed until he, Akyianu, had returned home each time he went on party assignment when he was the Central Regional Chairman of the NDC.
He said the party could use the facility as long it desired and until the time that it acquired a piece of land to build its own constituency offices.
He urged the party to make good use of the facility to enable the party to retain the seat and win the 2012 elections.
Mr Kwame Tabi Akyianu a member of the Akyianu family of Cape Coast pledged the support of the family for Professor Mills and the NDC and called on the supporters of the party to unite for victory in the 2012 elections.
The Chairman of the Cape Coast Constituency of the NDC, Mr Christian Elvis Amoasah, commended Mr Akyianu and his family for the gesture and promised to make good use of the facility to enable the party to retain power.
Mr Ricket Hagan, who donated four pick-ups for Professor Mills’ 2008 campaign, promised to provide furniture for the office to enhance operations of the party.
Mr Justice Boison, an NDC activist in the Central Region, also promised to provide furniture for the office.
The facility used to be the dwelling place of Mr Akyianu’s late mother.
Speaking at a ceremony at the presentation of the premises to the party on Wednesday, Mr Akyianu said the gesture was in fulfilment of her late mother’s commitment and loyalty to the President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills.
Mr Akyianu recalled her late mother’s desire to vote for and see Professor Mills becoming President before her death.
He said her mother dedicated herself to the party to the extent that she would never go to bed until he, Akyianu, had returned home each time he went on party assignment when he was the Central Regional Chairman of the NDC.
He said the party could use the facility as long it desired and until the time that it acquired a piece of land to build its own constituency offices.
He urged the party to make good use of the facility to enable the party to retain the seat and win the 2012 elections.
Mr Kwame Tabi Akyianu a member of the Akyianu family of Cape Coast pledged the support of the family for Professor Mills and the NDC and called on the supporters of the party to unite for victory in the 2012 elections.
The Chairman of the Cape Coast Constituency of the NDC, Mr Christian Elvis Amoasah, commended Mr Akyianu and his family for the gesture and promised to make good use of the facility to enable the party to retain power.
Mr Ricket Hagan, who donated four pick-ups for Professor Mills’ 2008 campaign, promised to provide furniture for the office to enhance operations of the party.
Mr Justice Boison, an NDC activist in the Central Region, also promised to provide furniture for the office.
Friday, August 20, 2010
I WEAR MY OWN SHOES (MIRROR, PAGE 27, AUGUST 21, 2010)
From Joe Okyere, Cape Coast.
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast, the Most Reverend Matthias Kobena Nketsiah, has stated he will be his own man as the metropolitan archbishop of the archdiocese.
Rev. Nketsiah said even though the archdiocese has been manned by illustrious, intellectual giants and luminary priests, he has taken a cue from his predecessor, Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson’s advice to “wear my own shoes”.
Rev. Nketsiah said he will not depart from the rules and guidelines of the church and what guides bishops as “shepherds of the flock”, and in a figurative language added “ I will wear my own shoes, I wear size 41”and everybody must wear his own shoes”.
In an address at his installation as the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Cape Coast Archdiocese, he said he is informed by the principle that each person was created differently with different talents which calls for different approaches to the myriad of issues affecting the church and mankind.
He stated that he would not attempt to copy anybody including his predecessor because they were different personalities.
He promised to contribute his quota towards the development of the church and that he would also continue to be in the trenches with them in the pastoral battle.
Archbishop Nketsiah also pledged to be at their beck and call and be committed and fair. He also promised to partner government to bring about progress, justice, freedom and the promotion of moral values, education and health for the people.
In his homely, the President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, His Eminence, Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, said it was not just by accident that Archbishop Nketsiah was chosen to lead the faithful but a divine intervention.
Cardinal Turkson likened Archbishop Nketsiah’s appointment to that of David who even though far too young amongst his brethren, was chosen by God to lead his people.
He asked Archbishop Nketsiah to take inspiration from that and offer the same quality of leadership and serve his flock.
He said since it is the duty of the bishop to lead his people to salvation, the desire of the people for the bishop to succeed should encourage them to pray constantly for that purpose, adding that, praying for the bishop means praying for themselves.
The Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, the Most Reverend Leon Kalenga Badikebele, said the archdiocese and the church in Ghana deserve a place in the Vatican.
Rev. Kalenga implored all to unite to support Archbishop Nketsiah and share with him the glory of his elevation.
The Central Regional Minister, Mrs. Ama Benyiwa-Doe, used the occasion to call on Ghanaians to ensure the success of the impending National Housing and Population Census, the exhibition of the voter’s register and the district level elections.
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast, the Most Reverend Matthias Kobena Nketsiah, has stated he will be his own man as the metropolitan archbishop of the archdiocese.
Rev. Nketsiah said even though the archdiocese has been manned by illustrious, intellectual giants and luminary priests, he has taken a cue from his predecessor, Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson’s advice to “wear my own shoes”.
Rev. Nketsiah said he will not depart from the rules and guidelines of the church and what guides bishops as “shepherds of the flock”, and in a figurative language added “ I will wear my own shoes, I wear size 41”and everybody must wear his own shoes”.
In an address at his installation as the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Cape Coast Archdiocese, he said he is informed by the principle that each person was created differently with different talents which calls for different approaches to the myriad of issues affecting the church and mankind.
He stated that he would not attempt to copy anybody including his predecessor because they were different personalities.
He promised to contribute his quota towards the development of the church and that he would also continue to be in the trenches with them in the pastoral battle.
Archbishop Nketsiah also pledged to be at their beck and call and be committed and fair. He also promised to partner government to bring about progress, justice, freedom and the promotion of moral values, education and health for the people.
In his homely, the President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, His Eminence, Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, said it was not just by accident that Archbishop Nketsiah was chosen to lead the faithful but a divine intervention.
Cardinal Turkson likened Archbishop Nketsiah’s appointment to that of David who even though far too young amongst his brethren, was chosen by God to lead his people.
He asked Archbishop Nketsiah to take inspiration from that and offer the same quality of leadership and serve his flock.
He said since it is the duty of the bishop to lead his people to salvation, the desire of the people for the bishop to succeed should encourage them to pray constantly for that purpose, adding that, praying for the bishop means praying for themselves.
The Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, the Most Reverend Leon Kalenga Badikebele, said the archdiocese and the church in Ghana deserve a place in the Vatican.
Rev. Kalenga implored all to unite to support Archbishop Nketsiah and share with him the glory of his elevation.
The Central Regional Minister, Mrs. Ama Benyiwa-Doe, used the occasion to call on Ghanaians to ensure the success of the impending National Housing and Population Census, the exhibition of the voter’s register and the district level elections.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
MTN SETS UP ITC CENTRE AT ANKAFUL PRISON CAMP (PAGE 19, AUGUST 14, 2010)
MOBILE Telecommunications Network (MTN) Foundation has established a GH¢31,000.00 Information and Communication Centre (ICT) for inmates and officers of the Ankaful Main Prison Camp in the Central Region.
The centre would facilitate the training of the 2000 inmates and officers at the prisons in ICT to enhance their skills development and moral education.
According to the Executive Director of the Foundation, Mrs Mawuena Trebarh, the centre would also build the capacity of the officers for effective record keeping and management.
Mrs Trebarh said the MTN’s decision to finance the ICT project at the Ankaful Prison was in response to a request made to the company by the Ghana Prisons Service-Ankaful.
She said MTN engaged in educational projects that would impact positively on efforts at reforming prisoners to enable them to be well- integrated into the society after they were discharged.
The executive director said the commitment to support the Ankaful Prisons was informed by the experiences the MTN Employee Volunteers had during visits to the prisons and interactions with the authorities and the inmates.
The Executive Secretary of MTN Ghana Foundation, Mr Robert Kudzoe, said the multi- dimensional benefits of the centre signalled a vision of hope and opportunities for integrating prisoners into the society after their discharge.
He said the foundation had established 10 ICT centres in various rural communities throughout the country and called on the beneficiary communities to maintain them properly.
The Chairman of the Board of MTN Ghana Foundation, Professor Franklin Manu, urged communities to take interest in the various projects initiated by the foundation to enhance their sustainability.
The Acting Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Mr Michael Kofi Bansah, said the inmates of the prison, who fell below the ages of 18 and 35 constituted 78.2 per cent of the total convicted prisoner population of 10,366 as of August 9, 2010.
Mr Bansah said 69 per cent of the group was made up of basic and high school dropouts and stressed the need to equip them with knowledge and skills to minimise the tendency for them to re-offend after their release from prison as their opportunity of being employed could be enhanced.
He said the provision of the ICT facility by MTN Ghana Foundation would facilitate the inmates’ education programme initiated by the Ghana Prisons Service, and further complement the ongoing distance learning programmes at Nsawam, Kumasi, Wa, Tamale and the Ankaful prisons.
He expressed the hope that the project would be replicated in the other prisons to help reform prisoners to ensure their proper re-integration into society after their discharge.
The centre would facilitate the training of the 2000 inmates and officers at the prisons in ICT to enhance their skills development and moral education.
According to the Executive Director of the Foundation, Mrs Mawuena Trebarh, the centre would also build the capacity of the officers for effective record keeping and management.
Mrs Trebarh said the MTN’s decision to finance the ICT project at the Ankaful Prison was in response to a request made to the company by the Ghana Prisons Service-Ankaful.
She said MTN engaged in educational projects that would impact positively on efforts at reforming prisoners to enable them to be well- integrated into the society after they were discharged.
The executive director said the commitment to support the Ankaful Prisons was informed by the experiences the MTN Employee Volunteers had during visits to the prisons and interactions with the authorities and the inmates.
The Executive Secretary of MTN Ghana Foundation, Mr Robert Kudzoe, said the multi- dimensional benefits of the centre signalled a vision of hope and opportunities for integrating prisoners into the society after their discharge.
He said the foundation had established 10 ICT centres in various rural communities throughout the country and called on the beneficiary communities to maintain them properly.
The Chairman of the Board of MTN Ghana Foundation, Professor Franklin Manu, urged communities to take interest in the various projects initiated by the foundation to enhance their sustainability.
The Acting Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Mr Michael Kofi Bansah, said the inmates of the prison, who fell below the ages of 18 and 35 constituted 78.2 per cent of the total convicted prisoner population of 10,366 as of August 9, 2010.
Mr Bansah said 69 per cent of the group was made up of basic and high school dropouts and stressed the need to equip them with knowledge and skills to minimise the tendency for them to re-offend after their release from prison as their opportunity of being employed could be enhanced.
He said the provision of the ICT facility by MTN Ghana Foundation would facilitate the inmates’ education programme initiated by the Ghana Prisons Service, and further complement the ongoing distance learning programmes at Nsawam, Kumasi, Wa, Tamale and the Ankaful prisons.
He expressed the hope that the project would be replicated in the other prisons to help reform prisoners to ensure their proper re-integration into society after their discharge.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
JUDGE COMMENDS NKUSUKUM CHIEFS (PAGE 51, AUGUST 11, 2010)
A Supreme Court judge, Mrs Justice Vida Akoto Bamfo, has commended the three chiefs in the Nkusukum Traditional Area in the Mfantseman District for releasing land for the establishment of Mfantsiman Girls’ Secondary School in Saltpond towards the promotion of girl-child education in the country.
She made the commendation at a durbar organised by the Mfantsiman Old Girls Association (MOGA) in Saltpond at the weekend to honour the chiefs for their magnanimity, vision and foresight which had yielded positive results in the Ghanaian society.
In 1960, the chiefs of Anokyi, Kuntu and Nankesedo, all in the Nkusukum Traditional Area, upon the request of the first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, donated portions of their land for the establishment of the school for girl-child education in the country.
Dr Nkrumah’s request was in appreciation of the role played by the chiefs and the people of Saltpond in the formation of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) in 1948 which fast-tracked the struggle for independence for the country.
In recognition of their contributions, the chiefs received citations, chairs and unspecified amounts of money for promoting girl-child education in the country.
Mrs Justice Akoto Bamfo, who is an old student of the school, said today their collective efforts, foresight and vision had paid off, as many women now occupied responsible and higher places in the country, even though more needed to be done.
She expressed the hope that the land had not been encroached upon through the connivance and activities of those who donated it.
The Headmistress of Mfantsiman Girls’ Secondary School, Madam Charlotte Addo, said the school faced a number of infrastructural challenges which needed to be addressed.
These, she said, included dormitories, classrooms, a library, a dining hall and staff accommodation, among others.
She also said even though water supply to the school had improved, electricity supply continued to be erratic and called for the problem to be rectified.
The President of MOGA, Mrs Matilda Attoh Brehun, said the association had, since its formation, initiated a number of projects which had improved conditions in the school and that more needed to be done for the growth of the school.
She made the commendation at a durbar organised by the Mfantsiman Old Girls Association (MOGA) in Saltpond at the weekend to honour the chiefs for their magnanimity, vision and foresight which had yielded positive results in the Ghanaian society.
In 1960, the chiefs of Anokyi, Kuntu and Nankesedo, all in the Nkusukum Traditional Area, upon the request of the first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, donated portions of their land for the establishment of the school for girl-child education in the country.
Dr Nkrumah’s request was in appreciation of the role played by the chiefs and the people of Saltpond in the formation of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) in 1948 which fast-tracked the struggle for independence for the country.
In recognition of their contributions, the chiefs received citations, chairs and unspecified amounts of money for promoting girl-child education in the country.
Mrs Justice Akoto Bamfo, who is an old student of the school, said today their collective efforts, foresight and vision had paid off, as many women now occupied responsible and higher places in the country, even though more needed to be done.
She expressed the hope that the land had not been encroached upon through the connivance and activities of those who donated it.
The Headmistress of Mfantsiman Girls’ Secondary School, Madam Charlotte Addo, said the school faced a number of infrastructural challenges which needed to be addressed.
These, she said, included dormitories, classrooms, a library, a dining hall and staff accommodation, among others.
She also said even though water supply to the school had improved, electricity supply continued to be erratic and called for the problem to be rectified.
The President of MOGA, Mrs Matilda Attoh Brehun, said the association had, since its formation, initiated a number of projects which had improved conditions in the school and that more needed to be done for the growth of the school.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
MOGA DONATES TO SALTPOND HOSPITAL (SPREAD, AUGUST 7, 2010)
The Mfantsiman Old Girls’ Association (MOGA) has presented items worth GH¢ 6,000.00 to the Saltpond Government Hospital as part of its 50th anniversary celebration.
The items include curtains, bedsheets, food items and toiletries.
The group, who were accompanied by some students and staff, also cleaned the compound of the hospital.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic after the presentation, the President of MOGA, Mrs Matilda Attoh Brehun, said their token was to give back to society and those who have in diverse ways contributed to the growth of the school.
She commended the staff of the hospital for the efficient and effective healthcare services rendered to the students of the school since its establishment.
She expressed the hope that the close relationship between the school and the staff of the hospital would continue to blossom for their mutual benefit.
The Headmistress of the Mfantsiman Girls’ Senior High School, Madam Charlotte Addo, who is also an old girl, said the presentation formed part of its social responsibility to the school’s community.
Madam Addo said it was also to show appreciation for the services rendered to the students, saying at one time, at least all or most of the students attended the hospital for medical care whilst at school.
She thanked the staff and commended them for their dedication and devotion to duty.
The matron of the hospital, Madam Mercy Charway, who received the items thanked the school and the old students for the gesture and said the donation would go along way in helping the hospital to meet some of its needs.
Highlights of the programme to mark the celebrations include election of new officers for MOGA, bonfire, inauguration of projects and a durbar to honour the chiefs of the Nkusukum Traditional Area today, August 7, 2010 at the Victoria Park, Saltpond for releasing land for the establishment of the school.
Others are Speech and Prize Giving Day on Saturday, September 25 and Founder’s Day Service on Sunday, September 26.
The items include curtains, bedsheets, food items and toiletries.
The group, who were accompanied by some students and staff, also cleaned the compound of the hospital.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic after the presentation, the President of MOGA, Mrs Matilda Attoh Brehun, said their token was to give back to society and those who have in diverse ways contributed to the growth of the school.
She commended the staff of the hospital for the efficient and effective healthcare services rendered to the students of the school since its establishment.
She expressed the hope that the close relationship between the school and the staff of the hospital would continue to blossom for their mutual benefit.
The Headmistress of the Mfantsiman Girls’ Senior High School, Madam Charlotte Addo, who is also an old girl, said the presentation formed part of its social responsibility to the school’s community.
Madam Addo said it was also to show appreciation for the services rendered to the students, saying at one time, at least all or most of the students attended the hospital for medical care whilst at school.
She thanked the staff and commended them for their dedication and devotion to duty.
The matron of the hospital, Madam Mercy Charway, who received the items thanked the school and the old students for the gesture and said the donation would go along way in helping the hospital to meet some of its needs.
Highlights of the programme to mark the celebrations include election of new officers for MOGA, bonfire, inauguration of projects and a durbar to honour the chiefs of the Nkusukum Traditional Area today, August 7, 2010 at the Victoria Park, Saltpond for releasing land for the establishment of the school.
Others are Speech and Prize Giving Day on Saturday, September 25 and Founder’s Day Service on Sunday, September 26.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
CR LOSES GH¢44 MILLION THROUGH DISASTERS (PAGE 54, AUGUST 2, 2010)
THE Central Region has lost property worth more than GH¢44 million to various natural disasters from January to June, this year.
The disasters include rainstorms, domestic and bush fires and tidal waves.
The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, announced this at the region’s turn of the “Meet-the-Press” series in Cape Coast last Thursday.
She said the disasters left about 6,117 persons displaced and also damaged 8,278 houses and about 100 acres of land.
On the recent floods, Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said three districts, including Agona West, Agona East and Gomoa East were affected.
She said the floods claimed 11 lives, rendered 16,731 persons homeless, including 3,981 males, 8,785 females and 3,965 children.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said 3,000 of the affected persons had been registered and are being supported and rehabilitated.
She stated that a presidential task force had carried out an assessment for the appropriate actions to be taken.
The regional minister urged the affected communities to exercise restraint as the government was taking measures to find funds to rebuild the infrastructure destroyed through the disasters.
On the environment, Mrs Benyiwa-Doe stated that about 40 per cent of the region’s land mass of 9,826 kilometres had been severely degraded due to both nature induced and, especially human induced activities, adding that the hidden cost of the land degradation to the region was estimated at $434 million per annum.
She was particularly concerned about the pollution of the Benya, Fosu and Narkwa lagoons and Rivers Akora and Ochi, and advised the communities to stop polluting those water bodies.
On youth employment, Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said 21,730 persons had been engaged under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) to reduce the unemployment situation in the region.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said significant achievements had been chalked in the health sector in the region, stating that no case of cholera had been reported in the region since 2007.
She said there had also been remarkable achievements in immunisation programmes in recent times with immunisation recording over 100 per cent participation.
She said although there were challenges of personnel and infrastructure, a 60-bed capacity hospital at Twifo Praso to be completed by 2012, the construction of a 140-bed capacity hospital at Winneba and the upgrading of the Ajumako District hospital were some of the projects that were expected to help improve the health service delivery in the region.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe also expressed concern about illegal mining (galamsey) activities in the region, which she said, had claimed many lives and was presently making the treatment of safe drinking water very expensive at the Sekyere Hemang Water Treatment Plant.
She said the government was working hard to provide many more communities with potable water, adding that districts including Assin North, Assin South, Gomoa East and Gomoa West, Abura Asebu-Kwamankese, Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam and Asikuma-Odoben Brakwa would benefit from borehole projects.
She said an ultra modern cold store facility had been provided at Nyanyano in the Gomoa East District, while a second one was at an advanced stage of completion at Kormantsi in the Mfanstman District to reduce post harvest losses in the coastal areas.
Touching on security, the regional minister expressed concern about 18 murder and 31 robbery cases recorded as of May, 2010, and advised the public to volunteer information on suspicious characters.
The Information Minister, Mr John Tia Akologu, who chaired the function, said it was important for journalists to bear in mind the ethics of the profession in the discharge of their duties.
He said while the government was not interested in criminalising speech, it behoves on journalists to ensure that their reports did not split society or dent the reputation and the fundamental human rights of others.
The disasters include rainstorms, domestic and bush fires and tidal waves.
The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, announced this at the region’s turn of the “Meet-the-Press” series in Cape Coast last Thursday.
She said the disasters left about 6,117 persons displaced and also damaged 8,278 houses and about 100 acres of land.
On the recent floods, Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said three districts, including Agona West, Agona East and Gomoa East were affected.
She said the floods claimed 11 lives, rendered 16,731 persons homeless, including 3,981 males, 8,785 females and 3,965 children.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said 3,000 of the affected persons had been registered and are being supported and rehabilitated.
She stated that a presidential task force had carried out an assessment for the appropriate actions to be taken.
The regional minister urged the affected communities to exercise restraint as the government was taking measures to find funds to rebuild the infrastructure destroyed through the disasters.
On the environment, Mrs Benyiwa-Doe stated that about 40 per cent of the region’s land mass of 9,826 kilometres had been severely degraded due to both nature induced and, especially human induced activities, adding that the hidden cost of the land degradation to the region was estimated at $434 million per annum.
She was particularly concerned about the pollution of the Benya, Fosu and Narkwa lagoons and Rivers Akora and Ochi, and advised the communities to stop polluting those water bodies.
On youth employment, Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said 21,730 persons had been engaged under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) to reduce the unemployment situation in the region.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said significant achievements had been chalked in the health sector in the region, stating that no case of cholera had been reported in the region since 2007.
She said there had also been remarkable achievements in immunisation programmes in recent times with immunisation recording over 100 per cent participation.
She said although there were challenges of personnel and infrastructure, a 60-bed capacity hospital at Twifo Praso to be completed by 2012, the construction of a 140-bed capacity hospital at Winneba and the upgrading of the Ajumako District hospital were some of the projects that were expected to help improve the health service delivery in the region.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe also expressed concern about illegal mining (galamsey) activities in the region, which she said, had claimed many lives and was presently making the treatment of safe drinking water very expensive at the Sekyere Hemang Water Treatment Plant.
She said the government was working hard to provide many more communities with potable water, adding that districts including Assin North, Assin South, Gomoa East and Gomoa West, Abura Asebu-Kwamankese, Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam and Asikuma-Odoben Brakwa would benefit from borehole projects.
She said an ultra modern cold store facility had been provided at Nyanyano in the Gomoa East District, while a second one was at an advanced stage of completion at Kormantsi in the Mfanstman District to reduce post harvest losses in the coastal areas.
Touching on security, the regional minister expressed concern about 18 murder and 31 robbery cases recorded as of May, 2010, and advised the public to volunteer information on suspicious characters.
The Information Minister, Mr John Tia Akologu, who chaired the function, said it was important for journalists to bear in mind the ethics of the profession in the discharge of their duties.
He said while the government was not interested in criminalising speech, it behoves on journalists to ensure that their reports did not split society or dent the reputation and the fundamental human rights of others.
FIRE SERVICE TO GET 300 FIRE ENGINES (PAGE 54, AUGUST 2, 2010)
THE Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is expected to be equipped with 300 fire engines by the end of the year.
Currently, Parliament is considering an Exim Bank loan agreement for 75 of the fire engines, five water tankers and other equipment for the service.
The others would be supplied under agreements with the United States, Austria and Belgium.
Tenders have also been invited for the supply of between 55 and 60 Pick-up vehicles for the service.
The Chairman of the GNFS Council, Alhaji Amadu B. Sorogho, made these known during an interaction with personnel of the service in the Central Region in Cape Coast.
Alhaji Sorogho said since the 11-member council took office, it had been working hard to provide the necessary logistics for the effective operations of the service.
He said the provision of fire stations and accommodation for staff were also being considered.
He said plans were being considered to place personnel of the service on peace-keeping operations and tasked the personnel to maintain discipline and commitment to uplift the image of the service.
Alhaji Sorogho said efforts were also being made to upgrade staff through training and promotions to raise their morale.
He urged the officers to revive fire volunteer groups, cadet corps in schools and the establishment of fire posts at the markets to complement the efforts of fire personnel.
The Central Regional Commander, Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Kwesi Ankonam Quayson, said the challenges facing the service were office and residential accommodation, vehicles, office equipment and manpower.
ACFO Quayson said despite the challenges, the personnel in the region would engage the private sector in mutually beneficial partnership to prevent and manage undesired fires.
Earlier, Mr Sorogho had commended the Gouda Municipality in The Netherlands for equipping and training the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipal Fire Service.
Currently, Parliament is considering an Exim Bank loan agreement for 75 of the fire engines, five water tankers and other equipment for the service.
The others would be supplied under agreements with the United States, Austria and Belgium.
Tenders have also been invited for the supply of between 55 and 60 Pick-up vehicles for the service.
The Chairman of the GNFS Council, Alhaji Amadu B. Sorogho, made these known during an interaction with personnel of the service in the Central Region in Cape Coast.
Alhaji Sorogho said since the 11-member council took office, it had been working hard to provide the necessary logistics for the effective operations of the service.
He said the provision of fire stations and accommodation for staff were also being considered.
He said plans were being considered to place personnel of the service on peace-keeping operations and tasked the personnel to maintain discipline and commitment to uplift the image of the service.
Alhaji Sorogho said efforts were also being made to upgrade staff through training and promotions to raise their morale.
He urged the officers to revive fire volunteer groups, cadet corps in schools and the establishment of fire posts at the markets to complement the efforts of fire personnel.
The Central Regional Commander, Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Kwesi Ankonam Quayson, said the challenges facing the service were office and residential accommodation, vehicles, office equipment and manpower.
ACFO Quayson said despite the challenges, the personnel in the region would engage the private sector in mutually beneficial partnership to prevent and manage undesired fires.
Earlier, Mr Sorogho had commended the Gouda Municipality in The Netherlands for equipping and training the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipal Fire Service.
CO-OPERATE WITH CENSUS ENUMERATORS — DR BEDIAKO (PAGE 54, AUGUST 2, 2010)
THE Government Statistician, Dr Grace Bediako, has admonished all Ghanaians, irrespective of their religious, ethnic and socio-cultural group values and beliefs to co-operate with the census enumerators to ensure the success of the exercise.
She said no matter their beliefs and values, it should be the social responsibility of all to help accomplish the aims and objectives of the census since it would provide the vital data and statistics for planning and development.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the 2010 Population and Housing Census Training of district trainers at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in Cape Coast, Dr Bediako said the government had taken the necessary measures for the success of the exercise.
She outlined the various processes which had been initiated and urged the about 2,000 participants who would be training the district level trainers to be committed to excellence and devotion to duty.
Dr Bediako said the importance, magnitude and challenges of the exercise called for hard work and in-depth knowledge of the methods, which required discipline, determination and strong desire to excel.
Dr Bediako, therefore, urged all communities, institutions, individuals and groups as well as development partners to join hands with the Ghana Statistical Service to make the census a success.
The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, reminded the trainers of the essence of the census and the need to ensure adequate data, which called for highly trained and skilled field staff to handle.
She also expressed the hope that the participants would take advantage of the workshop to update their skills and knowledge to enhance the exercise.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe called on the citizenry to support the personnel who would be engaged in the exercise for the government to get a reliable national data for planning to achieve the “Better Ghana Agenda.”
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the UCC, Professor D.D. Kuupole who chaired the function, said the vital outcome of the census called for competence, confidence and tolerance from the personnel deployed for the enumeration.
He advised the participants to be guided by those and other important national interests and factors for the total success of the exercise.
She said no matter their beliefs and values, it should be the social responsibility of all to help accomplish the aims and objectives of the census since it would provide the vital data and statistics for planning and development.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the 2010 Population and Housing Census Training of district trainers at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in Cape Coast, Dr Bediako said the government had taken the necessary measures for the success of the exercise.
She outlined the various processes which had been initiated and urged the about 2,000 participants who would be training the district level trainers to be committed to excellence and devotion to duty.
Dr Bediako said the importance, magnitude and challenges of the exercise called for hard work and in-depth knowledge of the methods, which required discipline, determination and strong desire to excel.
Dr Bediako, therefore, urged all communities, institutions, individuals and groups as well as development partners to join hands with the Ghana Statistical Service to make the census a success.
The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, reminded the trainers of the essence of the census and the need to ensure adequate data, which called for highly trained and skilled field staff to handle.
She also expressed the hope that the participants would take advantage of the workshop to update their skills and knowledge to enhance the exercise.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe called on the citizenry to support the personnel who would be engaged in the exercise for the government to get a reliable national data for planning to achieve the “Better Ghana Agenda.”
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the UCC, Professor D.D. Kuupole who chaired the function, said the vital outcome of the census called for competence, confidence and tolerance from the personnel deployed for the enumeration.
He advised the participants to be guided by those and other important national interests and factors for the total success of the exercise.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
CO_OPERATE WITH CENSUS ENUMERATORS — DR BEDIAKO (PAGE %$, JULY 31, 2010)
THE Government Statistician, Dr Grace Bediako, has admonished all Ghanaians, irrespective of their religious, ethnic and socio-cultural group values and beliefs to co-operate with the census enumerators to ensure the success of the exercise.
She said no matter their beliefs and values, it should be the social responsibility of all to help accomplish the aims and objectives of the census since it would provide the vital data and statistics for planning and development.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the 2010 Population and Housing Census Training of district trainers at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in Cape Coast, Dr Bediako said the government had taken the necessary measures for the success of the exercise.
She outlined the various processes which had been initiated and urged the about 2,000 participants who would be training the district level trainers to be committed to excellence and devotion to duty.
Dr Bediako said the importance, magnitude and challenges of the exercise called for hard work and in-depth knowledge of the methods, which required discipline, determination and strong desire to excel.
Dr Bediako, therefore, urged all communities, institutions, individuals and groups as well as development partners to join hands with the Ghana Statistical Service to make the census a success.
The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, reminded the trainers of the essence of the census and the need to ensure adequate data, which called for highly trained and skilled field staff to handle.
She also expressed the hope that the participants would take advantage of the workshop to update their skills and knowledge to enhance the exercise.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe called on the citizenry to support the personnel who would be engaged in the exercise for the government to get a reliable national data for planning to achieve the “Better Ghana Agenda.”
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the UCC, Professor D.D. Kuupole who chaired the function, said the vital outcome of the census called for competence, confidence and tolerance from the personnel deployed for the enumeration.
He advised the participants to be guided by those and other important national interests and factors for the total success of the exercise.
She said no matter their beliefs and values, it should be the social responsibility of all to help accomplish the aims and objectives of the census since it would provide the vital data and statistics for planning and development.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the 2010 Population and Housing Census Training of district trainers at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in Cape Coast, Dr Bediako said the government had taken the necessary measures for the success of the exercise.
She outlined the various processes which had been initiated and urged the about 2,000 participants who would be training the district level trainers to be committed to excellence and devotion to duty.
Dr Bediako said the importance, magnitude and challenges of the exercise called for hard work and in-depth knowledge of the methods, which required discipline, determination and strong desire to excel.
Dr Bediako, therefore, urged all communities, institutions, individuals and groups as well as development partners to join hands with the Ghana Statistical Service to make the census a success.
The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, reminded the trainers of the essence of the census and the need to ensure adequate data, which called for highly trained and skilled field staff to handle.
She also expressed the hope that the participants would take advantage of the workshop to update their skills and knowledge to enhance the exercise.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe called on the citizenry to support the personnel who would be engaged in the exercise for the government to get a reliable national data for planning to achieve the “Better Ghana Agenda.”
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the UCC, Professor D.D. Kuupole who chaired the function, said the vital outcome of the census called for competence, confidence and tolerance from the personnel deployed for the enumeration.
He advised the participants to be guided by those and other important national interests and factors for the total success of the exercise.
FIRE SERVICE TO GET FIRE ENGINES (PAGE 54, JULY 31, 2010)
THE Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is expected to be equipped with 300 fire engines by the end of the year.
Currently, Parliament is considering an Exim Bank loan agreement for 75 of the fire engines, five water tankers and other equipment for the service.
The others would be supplied under agreements with the United States, Austria and Belgium.
Tenders have also been invited for the supply of between 55 and 60 Pick-up vehicles for the service.
The Chairman of the GNFS Council, Alhaji Amadu B. Sorogho, made these known during an interaction with personnel of the service in the Central Region in Cape Coast.
Alhaji Sorogho said since the 11-member council took office, it had been working hard to provide the necessary logistics for the effective operations of the service.
He said the provision of fire stations and accommodation for staff were also being considered.
He said plans were being considered to place personnel of the service on peace-keeping operations and tasked the personnel to maintain discipline and commitment to uplift the image of the service.
Alhaji Sorogho said efforts were also being made to upgrade staff through training and promotions to raise their morale.
He urged the officers to revive fire volunteer groups, cadet corps in schools and the establishment of fire posts at the markets to complement the efforts of fire personnel.
The Central Regional Commander, Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Kwesi Ankonam Quayson, said the challenges facing the service were office and residential accommodation, vehicles, office equipment and manpower.
ACFO Quayson said despite the challenges, the personnel in the region would engage the private sector in mutually beneficial partnership to prevent and manage undesired fires.
Earlier, Mr Sorogho had commended the Gouda Municipality in The Netherlands for equipping and training the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipal Fire Service.
Currently, Parliament is considering an Exim Bank loan agreement for 75 of the fire engines, five water tankers and other equipment for the service.
The others would be supplied under agreements with the United States, Austria and Belgium.
Tenders have also been invited for the supply of between 55 and 60 Pick-up vehicles for the service.
The Chairman of the GNFS Council, Alhaji Amadu B. Sorogho, made these known during an interaction with personnel of the service in the Central Region in Cape Coast.
Alhaji Sorogho said since the 11-member council took office, it had been working hard to provide the necessary logistics for the effective operations of the service.
He said the provision of fire stations and accommodation for staff were also being considered.
He said plans were being considered to place personnel of the service on peace-keeping operations and tasked the personnel to maintain discipline and commitment to uplift the image of the service.
Alhaji Sorogho said efforts were also being made to upgrade staff through training and promotions to raise their morale.
He urged the officers to revive fire volunteer groups, cadet corps in schools and the establishment of fire posts at the markets to complement the efforts of fire personnel.
The Central Regional Commander, Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Kwesi Ankonam Quayson, said the challenges facing the service were office and residential accommodation, vehicles, office equipment and manpower.
ACFO Quayson said despite the challenges, the personnel in the region would engage the private sector in mutually beneficial partnership to prevent and manage undesired fires.
Earlier, Mr Sorogho had commended the Gouda Municipality in The Netherlands for equipping and training the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipal Fire Service.
CR LOSES GH¢44 MILLION THROUGH DISASTERS (PAGE 54, JULY 31, 2010)
THE Central Region has lost property worth more than GH¢44 million to various natural disasters from January to June, this year.
The disasters include rainstorms, domestic and bush fires and tidal waves.
The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, announced this at the region’s turn of the “Meet-the-Press” series in Cape Coast last Thursday.
She said the disasters left about 6,117 persons displaced and also damaged 8,278 houses and about 100 acres of land.
On the recent floods, Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said three districts, including Agona West, Agona East and Gomoa East were affected.
She said the floods claimed 11 lives, rendered 16,731 persons homeless, including 3,981 males, 8,785 females and 3,965 children.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said 3,000 of the affected persons had been registered and are being supported and rehabilitated.
She stated that a presidential task force had carried out an assessment for the appropriate actions to be taken.
The regional minister urged the affected communities to exercise restraint as the government was taking measures to find funds to rebuild the infrastructure destroyed through the disasters.
On the environment, Mrs Benyiwa-Doe stated that about 40 per cent of the region’s land mass of 9,826 kilometres had been severely degraded due to both nature induced and, especially human induced activities, adding that the hidden cost of the land degradation to the region was estimated at $434 million per annum.
She was particularly concerned about the pollution of the Benya, Fosu and Narkwa lagoons and Rivers Akora and Ochi, and advised the communities to stop polluting those water bodies.
On youth employment, Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said 21,730 persons had been engaged under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) to reduce the unemployment situation in the region.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said significant achievements had been chalked in the health sector in the region, stating that no case of cholera had been reported in the region since 2007.
She said there had also been remarkable achievements in immunisation programmes in recent times with immunisation recording over 100 per cent participation.
She said although there were challenges of personnel and infrastructure, a 60-bed capacity hospital at Twifo Praso to be completed by 2012, the construction of a 140-bed capacity hospital at Winneba and the upgrading of the Ajumako District hospital were some of the projects that were expected to help improve the health service delivery in the region.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe also expressed concern about illegal mining (galamsey) activities in the region, which she said, had claimed many lives and was presently making the treatment of safe drinking water very expensive at the Sekyere Hemang Water Treatment Plant.
She said the government was working hard to provide many more communities with potable water, adding that districts including Assin North, Assin South, Gomoa East and Gomoa West, Abura Asebu-Kwamankese, Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam and Asikuma-Odoben Brakwa would benefit from borehole projects.
She said an ultra modern cold store facility had been provided at Nyanyano in the Gomoa East District, while a second one was at an advanced stage of completion at Kormantsi in the Mfanstman District to reduce post harvest losses in the coastal areas.
Touching on security, the regional minister expressed concern about 18 murder and 31 robbery cases recorded as of May, 2010, and advised the public to volunteer information on suspicious characters.
The Information Minister, Mr John Tia Akologu, who chaired the function, said it was important for journalists to bear in mind the ethics of the profession in the discharge of their duties.
He said while the government was not interested in criminalising speech, it behoves on journalists to ensure that their reports did not split society or dent the reputation and the fundamental human rights of others.
The disasters include rainstorms, domestic and bush fires and tidal waves.
The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, announced this at the region’s turn of the “Meet-the-Press” series in Cape Coast last Thursday.
She said the disasters left about 6,117 persons displaced and also damaged 8,278 houses and about 100 acres of land.
On the recent floods, Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said three districts, including Agona West, Agona East and Gomoa East were affected.
She said the floods claimed 11 lives, rendered 16,731 persons homeless, including 3,981 males, 8,785 females and 3,965 children.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said 3,000 of the affected persons had been registered and are being supported and rehabilitated.
She stated that a presidential task force had carried out an assessment for the appropriate actions to be taken.
The regional minister urged the affected communities to exercise restraint as the government was taking measures to find funds to rebuild the infrastructure destroyed through the disasters.
On the environment, Mrs Benyiwa-Doe stated that about 40 per cent of the region’s land mass of 9,826 kilometres had been severely degraded due to both nature induced and, especially human induced activities, adding that the hidden cost of the land degradation to the region was estimated at $434 million per annum.
She was particularly concerned about the pollution of the Benya, Fosu and Narkwa lagoons and Rivers Akora and Ochi, and advised the communities to stop polluting those water bodies.
On youth employment, Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said 21,730 persons had been engaged under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) to reduce the unemployment situation in the region.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said significant achievements had been chalked in the health sector in the region, stating that no case of cholera had been reported in the region since 2007.
She said there had also been remarkable achievements in immunisation programmes in recent times with immunisation recording over 100 per cent participation.
She said although there were challenges of personnel and infrastructure, a 60-bed capacity hospital at Twifo Praso to be completed by 2012, the construction of a 140-bed capacity hospital at Winneba and the upgrading of the Ajumako District hospital were some of the projects that were expected to help improve the health service delivery in the region.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe also expressed concern about illegal mining (galamsey) activities in the region, which she said, had claimed many lives and was presently making the treatment of safe drinking water very expensive at the Sekyere Hemang Water Treatment Plant.
She said the government was working hard to provide many more communities with potable water, adding that districts including Assin North, Assin South, Gomoa East and Gomoa West, Abura Asebu-Kwamankese, Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam and Asikuma-Odoben Brakwa would benefit from borehole projects.
She said an ultra modern cold store facility had been provided at Nyanyano in the Gomoa East District, while a second one was at an advanced stage of completion at Kormantsi in the Mfanstman District to reduce post harvest losses in the coastal areas.
Touching on security, the regional minister expressed concern about 18 murder and 31 robbery cases recorded as of May, 2010, and advised the public to volunteer information on suspicious characters.
The Information Minister, Mr John Tia Akologu, who chaired the function, said it was important for journalists to bear in mind the ethics of the profession in the discharge of their duties.
He said while the government was not interested in criminalising speech, it behoves on journalists to ensure that their reports did not split society or dent the reputation and the fundamental human rights of others.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
APPOINTMENTS ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE NATION (PAGE 13, JULY 28, 2010)
PRESIDENT John Evans Atta Mills has reminded chief executives, chief directors and chairmen of governing boards and councils of their appointments as opportunities for service to the nation.
Professor Mills said Ghanaians expected that their actions and decisions would be guided by that maxim and that the common good of the country would reign supreme.
In a statement read on his behalf by Dr Christine Amoako-Nuamah, Presidential Advisor, at the Fourth Conference of the Public Service Chief Executives, Chief Directors and Chairmen of Governing Boards and Councils at Elimina, President Mills asked them to work as a team, pay attention to the processes, policies, customs and laws laid down and designed for the proper functioning of their organisations.
He said it should not be difficult to build consensus at all times.
The President reminded them to use the platform to understand their roles and responsibilities between the governing boards and the chief executives and management.
President Mills asked them not to depart from laid down principles and practices that would create crisis between boards or councils and their chief executives.
He tasked them to update their strategic and corporate plan, embark on robust internal audit reporting system with strengthened internal control mechanisms, effective scheme of service and complying with citizen/service charters which specify the services being provided and effective performance management reporting system.
The Chairman of the Council of State, Professor Kofi Awoonor, who chaired the function, tasked them not to shy away from discussing the difficulties they faced in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Professor Awonor also reminded them of the need for the protection of trust, national interest, discipline, integrity, among others.
Earlier in his welcoming address, Professor S. N. Woode, Chairman of the Public Services Commission, admonished participants to take advantage of the conference to break the cycle of bureaucracy and to see how they relate to each other for the better Ghana agenda.
Professor Mills said Ghanaians expected that their actions and decisions would be guided by that maxim and that the common good of the country would reign supreme.
In a statement read on his behalf by Dr Christine Amoako-Nuamah, Presidential Advisor, at the Fourth Conference of the Public Service Chief Executives, Chief Directors and Chairmen of Governing Boards and Councils at Elimina, President Mills asked them to work as a team, pay attention to the processes, policies, customs and laws laid down and designed for the proper functioning of their organisations.
He said it should not be difficult to build consensus at all times.
The President reminded them to use the platform to understand their roles and responsibilities between the governing boards and the chief executives and management.
President Mills asked them not to depart from laid down principles and practices that would create crisis between boards or councils and their chief executives.
He tasked them to update their strategic and corporate plan, embark on robust internal audit reporting system with strengthened internal control mechanisms, effective scheme of service and complying with citizen/service charters which specify the services being provided and effective performance management reporting system.
The Chairman of the Council of State, Professor Kofi Awoonor, who chaired the function, tasked them not to shy away from discussing the difficulties they faced in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Professor Awonor also reminded them of the need for the protection of trust, national interest, discipline, integrity, among others.
Earlier in his welcoming address, Professor S. N. Woode, Chairman of the Public Services Commission, admonished participants to take advantage of the conference to break the cycle of bureaucracy and to see how they relate to each other for the better Ghana agenda.
Monday, July 26, 2010
PROPOSAL TO ELECT DCEs DANGEROUS TO DEV — AHWOI (PAGE 14, JULY 26, 2010)
A Principal Lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, has cautioned against proposal to elect District Chief Executives (DCEs), describing it as dangerous and detrimental to development.
Delivering a lecture on “One step forward, the significance of Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 1961 in MMDAS capacity building,” Mr Ahwoi said there was the need for a competent and qualified DCE to face the challenges of decentralisation and the assemblies.
Delivering the lecture at Cape Caost, Mr Ahwoi said if care was not taken, electing DCE’s could compromise efficiency for mediocrity.
He cited the case of an assembly where a conservancy labourer beat a popular lawyer in an election and described the scenario as a case of popularity against competence which is not what the assembly is looking for.
He said another area of serious concern with the election of DCE’s is discipline, respect for authority and their removal.
Mr Ahwoi said for instance in the Ashanti Region, if DCE’s were to be elected, the NDC was likely to get about only three to head the assemblies whilst in the Volta Region the likelihood was that the NDC might sweep the assemblies.
He said under such circumstances, the allegiance, discipline and respect for authority might be compromised.
Besides, it would be difficult to remove them in the event of the above reasons since they were elected and had the mandate of the people and not appointed.
He explained that it was the presence of the government appointees which had politicised the assemblies coming immediately after the 2000 elections when all government appointees were withdrawn for fear that they were appointed by the previous government and that they might not vote for government nominated DCE’s.
On the decentralisation, Mr Ahwoi said there were difficult practical matters that had to be confronted in implementing L.I. 1961.
He likened the decentralisation to the struggle for independence and explained that the only difference between the two was that whilst one struggle was against white rule, the struggle in the decentralisation was that the people wanted to take power themselves.
Dr George T.K. Oduro, the Director of Institute for Educational Planning and Administration of the University of Cape Coast said the politicisation of decentralisation would not help but only make the concept a talk shop instead of promoting development for a better Ghana .
Delivering a lecture on “One step forward, the significance of Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 1961 in MMDAS capacity building,” Mr Ahwoi said there was the need for a competent and qualified DCE to face the challenges of decentralisation and the assemblies.
Delivering the lecture at Cape Caost, Mr Ahwoi said if care was not taken, electing DCE’s could compromise efficiency for mediocrity.
He cited the case of an assembly where a conservancy labourer beat a popular lawyer in an election and described the scenario as a case of popularity against competence which is not what the assembly is looking for.
He said another area of serious concern with the election of DCE’s is discipline, respect for authority and their removal.
Mr Ahwoi said for instance in the Ashanti Region, if DCE’s were to be elected, the NDC was likely to get about only three to head the assemblies whilst in the Volta Region the likelihood was that the NDC might sweep the assemblies.
He said under such circumstances, the allegiance, discipline and respect for authority might be compromised.
Besides, it would be difficult to remove them in the event of the above reasons since they were elected and had the mandate of the people and not appointed.
He explained that it was the presence of the government appointees which had politicised the assemblies coming immediately after the 2000 elections when all government appointees were withdrawn for fear that they were appointed by the previous government and that they might not vote for government nominated DCE’s.
On the decentralisation, Mr Ahwoi said there were difficult practical matters that had to be confronted in implementing L.I. 1961.
He likened the decentralisation to the struggle for independence and explained that the only difference between the two was that whilst one struggle was against white rule, the struggle in the decentralisation was that the people wanted to take power themselves.
Dr George T.K. Oduro, the Director of Institute for Educational Planning and Administration of the University of Cape Coast said the politicisation of decentralisation would not help but only make the concept a talk shop instead of promoting development for a better Ghana .
Monday, July 19, 2010
DEVOTE GREATER TIME TO CHILDREN — PREZ (SPREAD, JULY 19, 2010)
THE President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, has implored parents and teachers to devote greater time and effort to ensure the sound character training of children, especially at the basic and secondary levels of education.
According to him, parents and teachers were duty bound to spend more time in inculcating good traditional norms and spiritual values in children to transform them into responsible and productive citizens for the country's future development.
President Mills was addressing a durbar to climax the centenary celebrations of Adisadel College in Cape Coast at the weekend.
The durbar attracted dignitaries, ranging from high-ranking members of the Anglican Church of Ghana, the Legislature, Ministers of State and old boys of the college.
The President said the impression was being created that parents were spending more time on their vocations, at the expense of the development of the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of their children.
He explained that much as he was not against parents working hard to mobilise enough resources to offer quality education to their children, care should be taken to ensure that the character training of children was not sacrificed for anything else.
President Mills explained that parents and teachers should draw a careful balance between their vocations and the moulding of children's character so that children would not be disadvantaged.
He said the nation needed men and women of impeccable integrity to facilitate its future development, for which reason parents and teachers were obliged to help groom children who would allow good virtues and values to influence their talents.
The President said virtues and values such as hard work, selflessness, respect for authority, humility and generosity should be inculcated in children so that they would not depart from them when they grew into adults and found themselves in responsible positions, especially in the various arms of government.
He advised children to steer away from social and moral vices which could threaten their development and ruin their lives for good.
"Dear students, your future depends on what you make of the opportunity you have today to build a solid educational foundation. Your ability to break new grounds and open the doors of success will depend on the extent to which you take advantage of the quality education that Adisadel College has for you," President Mills said.
He appealed to the students to strive for excellence, stressing, "As a teacher, whenever I speak to students I do so with great hope, knowing that it is you who will move Ghana onto higher pedestals."
He reiterated the government's commitment to open up more educational opportunities, especially to the vulnerable and disadvantaged across the country.
"We will continue to open up more opportunities, shape syllabuses to meet the exigencies of the time and create a more conducive teaching and learning environment," he said.
President Mills told the gathering that the government was vigorously expanding infrastructure in all schools in order to manage the current infrastructure inadequacies and appealed to the private sector to complement its efforts in that direction.
According to him, parents and teachers were duty bound to spend more time in inculcating good traditional norms and spiritual values in children to transform them into responsible and productive citizens for the country's future development.
President Mills was addressing a durbar to climax the centenary celebrations of Adisadel College in Cape Coast at the weekend.
The durbar attracted dignitaries, ranging from high-ranking members of the Anglican Church of Ghana, the Legislature, Ministers of State and old boys of the college.
The President said the impression was being created that parents were spending more time on their vocations, at the expense of the development of the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of their children.
He explained that much as he was not against parents working hard to mobilise enough resources to offer quality education to their children, care should be taken to ensure that the character training of children was not sacrificed for anything else.
President Mills explained that parents and teachers should draw a careful balance between their vocations and the moulding of children's character so that children would not be disadvantaged.
He said the nation needed men and women of impeccable integrity to facilitate its future development, for which reason parents and teachers were obliged to help groom children who would allow good virtues and values to influence their talents.
The President said virtues and values such as hard work, selflessness, respect for authority, humility and generosity should be inculcated in children so that they would not depart from them when they grew into adults and found themselves in responsible positions, especially in the various arms of government.
He advised children to steer away from social and moral vices which could threaten their development and ruin their lives for good.
"Dear students, your future depends on what you make of the opportunity you have today to build a solid educational foundation. Your ability to break new grounds and open the doors of success will depend on the extent to which you take advantage of the quality education that Adisadel College has for you," President Mills said.
He appealed to the students to strive for excellence, stressing, "As a teacher, whenever I speak to students I do so with great hope, knowing that it is you who will move Ghana onto higher pedestals."
He reiterated the government's commitment to open up more educational opportunities, especially to the vulnerable and disadvantaged across the country.
"We will continue to open up more opportunities, shape syllabuses to meet the exigencies of the time and create a more conducive teaching and learning environment," he said.
President Mills told the gathering that the government was vigorously expanding infrastructure in all schools in order to manage the current infrastructure inadequacies and appealed to the private sector to complement its efforts in that direction.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
YOUTH COUNCIL LAUNCHES PROGRAMME AT ELMINA (PAGE 22, JULY 17, 2010)
THE National Youth Council (NYC) in collaboration with the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) has launched a programme to empower the youth to be actively involved in governance.
The programme offers the opportunity to tap into the rich experience of the youth, record such experiences and factor them into the development plans and programmes of specific communities, districts and municipalities.
It further offers them the chance to accept divergent views and to be tolerant and at the same time learn the assembly procedures.
The concept also intends to train the youth to be independent people with choice and character to become leaders in the future.
Furthermore, the programme is to help them to learn the skill of arguing healthily in a fluid manner without any acrimony or violence.
The programme was launched at a forum during which a selected team from the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem Municipality held a mock assembly to highlight some of the challenges such as HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy, truancy, health and education issues.
The Metropolitan Youth Co-ordinator, Mr Henry K. Adu, who launched the programme, said since its introduction, it had been observed that the youth had a lot of ideas.
Mr Adu said what they lacked was effective ways of presenting them to attract the attention of authorities.
He expressed the hope that the programme would be sustained to accelerate economic development which until now had proved to be a mirage.
The programme offers the opportunity to tap into the rich experience of the youth, record such experiences and factor them into the development plans and programmes of specific communities, districts and municipalities.
It further offers them the chance to accept divergent views and to be tolerant and at the same time learn the assembly procedures.
The concept also intends to train the youth to be independent people with choice and character to become leaders in the future.
Furthermore, the programme is to help them to learn the skill of arguing healthily in a fluid manner without any acrimony or violence.
The programme was launched at a forum during which a selected team from the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem Municipality held a mock assembly to highlight some of the challenges such as HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy, truancy, health and education issues.
The Metropolitan Youth Co-ordinator, Mr Henry K. Adu, who launched the programme, said since its introduction, it had been observed that the youth had a lot of ideas.
Mr Adu said what they lacked was effective ways of presenting them to attract the attention of authorities.
He expressed the hope that the programme would be sustained to accelerate economic development which until now had proved to be a mirage.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Farmers urged to increase yield (PAGE 22, JULY 10, 2010)
Story: Joe Okyere, Agona NyakroM
THE Executive Director of the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease Control Unit (CSSVDCU), Reverend Kweku Abaka-Ewusi has advised cocoa farmers to take advantage of the government’s interventions in the sector to increase their yield.
Rev. Abaka-Ewusi said government had put in place a package to assist cocoa farmers to increase their yield for the country to achieve its target of one million tonnes by 2012.
The interventions include mass spraying, introduction of cocoa extension services, new agro practices and methods, supply of pods and seedlings, high technology and the cutting of all diseased trees, as well as compensation to the affected farmers, among others.
Addressing a forum at Agona Nyarkrom in the Central Region, Rev. Abaka-Ewusi, said the government had decided to cut all diseased trees within the next four years.
He said in order to speed up the cutting of the diseased trees, the government has invited chainsaw operators to sign up to the programme and take up contracts with the CSSVDCU to avoid clashes with the forestry division for illegal logging.
Rev. Ewusi-Abaka said government had also introduced alternative livelihood such as snail farming, bee-keeping, mushroom cultivation,grass cutter raring, fish farming, among others to sustain the farmers’ incomes during the period of replanting their farms.
He also advised them to clear the farms of mistletoes and that those who refuse to clear their farms of diseases will be compelled to do so.
He also asked the farmers to form watchdog committees to monitor smuggling along the country’s borders.
The Executive Director said in order to curb smuggling, farmers have been advised to sell their cocoa beans only to licensed buyers in their respective districts.
Mr Samuel Asare Ankamah of the CSSVDCU urged farmers to contact cocoa stations located within their vicinity for advice and further called on them to set up community nurseries to replant their farms.
Mr Ankamah said the package also involved cross cutting issues such as HIV AIDS and the elimination of child labour on cocoa farms.
THE Executive Director of the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease Control Unit (CSSVDCU), Reverend Kweku Abaka-Ewusi has advised cocoa farmers to take advantage of the government’s interventions in the sector to increase their yield.
Rev. Abaka-Ewusi said government had put in place a package to assist cocoa farmers to increase their yield for the country to achieve its target of one million tonnes by 2012.
The interventions include mass spraying, introduction of cocoa extension services, new agro practices and methods, supply of pods and seedlings, high technology and the cutting of all diseased trees, as well as compensation to the affected farmers, among others.
Addressing a forum at Agona Nyarkrom in the Central Region, Rev. Abaka-Ewusi, said the government had decided to cut all diseased trees within the next four years.
He said in order to speed up the cutting of the diseased trees, the government has invited chainsaw operators to sign up to the programme and take up contracts with the CSSVDCU to avoid clashes with the forestry division for illegal logging.
Rev. Ewusi-Abaka said government had also introduced alternative livelihood such as snail farming, bee-keeping, mushroom cultivation,grass cutter raring, fish farming, among others to sustain the farmers’ incomes during the period of replanting their farms.
He also advised them to clear the farms of mistletoes and that those who refuse to clear their farms of diseases will be compelled to do so.
He also asked the farmers to form watchdog committees to monitor smuggling along the country’s borders.
The Executive Director said in order to curb smuggling, farmers have been advised to sell their cocoa beans only to licensed buyers in their respective districts.
Mr Samuel Asare Ankamah of the CSSVDCU urged farmers to contact cocoa stations located within their vicinity for advice and further called on them to set up community nurseries to replant their farms.
Mr Ankamah said the package also involved cross cutting issues such as HIV AIDS and the elimination of child labour on cocoa farms.
Library Board launches reading programme (PAGE 22, JULY 10, 2010)
Story: Joe Okyere, Cape Coast
“IF you want to hide something from the African, put it in a book”, so goes the saying.
The saying is an apt attitude of the literate in a country where only a few read despite the importance of reading.
As part of measures to address this unfortunate situation, the Ghana Library Board has embarked on a programme to inculcate the habit of reading into the country’s youth on the eve of the International Children’s Book Day Celebration on the theme “A book is waiting for you, find it”.
The programme include book and photo exhibition on topical issues, readers clubs, story-telling, competitions (quiz, spelling Bee, reading and essay writing), mobile library service, among others.
At the celebration of the event in Cape Coast last Tuesday, the Central Regional Librarian, Ms Elizabeth Arthur added “and read” because it is not enough just finding it without reading it due to the importance of reading to the individual and the country at large.
Ms Arthur called for community involvement in the effective operation of libraries, especially children’s libraries and appealed for support from individuals, organisations, associations and assemblies for the provision of reading materials for children.
She also called on parents and teachers to encourage children to use the libraries and urged them to co-operate with the Ghana Library Board in ensuring that books borrowed by children are taken good care of and returned promptly.
St Monica’s Junior High School emerged tops in a quiz competition organised as part of activities for the occasion. They were followed by the University Junior High School, the Child Care international and the Mfantsipim Junior High School in that order.
In the basic schools level, Golden Treasure School took the first prize with William deGraft School second followed by Kakumdo Metropolitan Assembly School and Montessori and Philip Quarcoe in that order.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive,Mr Anthony Egyir Aikins,commended the participating schools and the Ghana Library Board for its mission to inculcate the habit of reading into children.
“IF you want to hide something from the African, put it in a book”, so goes the saying.
The saying is an apt attitude of the literate in a country where only a few read despite the importance of reading.
As part of measures to address this unfortunate situation, the Ghana Library Board has embarked on a programme to inculcate the habit of reading into the country’s youth on the eve of the International Children’s Book Day Celebration on the theme “A book is waiting for you, find it”.
The programme include book and photo exhibition on topical issues, readers clubs, story-telling, competitions (quiz, spelling Bee, reading and essay writing), mobile library service, among others.
At the celebration of the event in Cape Coast last Tuesday, the Central Regional Librarian, Ms Elizabeth Arthur added “and read” because it is not enough just finding it without reading it due to the importance of reading to the individual and the country at large.
Ms Arthur called for community involvement in the effective operation of libraries, especially children’s libraries and appealed for support from individuals, organisations, associations and assemblies for the provision of reading materials for children.
She also called on parents and teachers to encourage children to use the libraries and urged them to co-operate with the Ghana Library Board in ensuring that books borrowed by children are taken good care of and returned promptly.
St Monica’s Junior High School emerged tops in a quiz competition organised as part of activities for the occasion. They were followed by the University Junior High School, the Child Care international and the Mfantsipim Junior High School in that order.
In the basic schools level, Golden Treasure School took the first prize with William deGraft School second followed by Kakumdo Metropolitan Assembly School and Montessori and Philip Quarcoe in that order.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive,Mr Anthony Egyir Aikins,commended the participating schools and the Ghana Library Board for its mission to inculcate the habit of reading into children.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
MECHANIC HELD FOR MURDER IN CAPE COAST (SPREAD, JULY 8, 2010)
THE Bakaano Police in Cape Coast have placed in custody a 38-year-old mechanic, Philip Cobbina, aka Amortei, for allegedly murdering Kweku Awortwi, whom Cobbina suspected of having an affair with his wife.
The suspect was arrested at the Moree Junction when he attempted to escape.
According to a source, the deceased, a fisherman, and the suspect, a radio and refrigeration mechanic, are part of a group of friends who have been meeting at Amanful, a suburb of Cape Coast, to share drinks and food.
It said Cobbina had suspected the wife, Ekua Esuon, 23, of having an extra-marital affair with Awortwi.
It added that the victim, who lived at Gyegyeano in Cape Coast, had gone to Amanful last Monday and one of their friends, Abisi, had informed Cobbina that his wife was in the room of a person known as Obeng with Awortwi.
Cobbina was said to have rushed into the room where, on meeting his wife and the deceased, stabbed Awortwi during a struggle.
Esuon could not call for help during the struggle until she realised that Awortwi was in critical condition.
The source said neighbours who rushed to the scene managed to rush Awortwi to the Central Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The suspect was arrested at the Moree Junction when he attempted to escape.
According to a source, the deceased, a fisherman, and the suspect, a radio and refrigeration mechanic, are part of a group of friends who have been meeting at Amanful, a suburb of Cape Coast, to share drinks and food.
It said Cobbina had suspected the wife, Ekua Esuon, 23, of having an extra-marital affair with Awortwi.
It added that the victim, who lived at Gyegyeano in Cape Coast, had gone to Amanful last Monday and one of their friends, Abisi, had informed Cobbina that his wife was in the room of a person known as Obeng with Awortwi.
Cobbina was said to have rushed into the room where, on meeting his wife and the deceased, stabbed Awortwi during a struggle.
Esuon could not call for help during the struggle until she realised that Awortwi was in critical condition.
The source said neighbours who rushed to the scene managed to rush Awortwi to the Central Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
FARMER BUTCHERS EX-WIFE OVER SON'S MEDICAL BILL (PAGE 20, MIRROR, JULY 3, 2010)
AFrom Joe Okyere, Cape Coast.
When Safia Salami decided to go to Mensakrom to collect GH¢25, being her son’s hospital expenses from her ex-husband, hardly did she know that she was embarking on “a journey of no return”.
The ex-husband, Paapa Yaw Agbenyo, 38, a farmer and a fetish priest, took offence after Safia had refused to take GH¢5 and butchered her.
The prosecutor, Vincent Nyinaka told the Cape Coast High Court (Two ), presided over by Justice Alhaji Mohammed Ahmed Mustapha Salami that Agbenyo and Safia were married for four years and had a son, Wisdom Agbenyo.
Safia, who stayed with her son at Akyem Akroso in the Eastern Region, travelled with him to Mensakrom on December 1, 2006 to collect the hospital expenses.
He said, when Safia did not return, a report was made to the police and investigations led to the arrest of Agbenyo.
He said Agbenyo admitted in his caution statement that he butchered Safia, cut off her head, legs and arms and buried them in one grave whilst the body was also buried in another.
Agbenyo said, Safia, after refusing to accept what he could provide, insulted him and hit him with a piece of fire wood during a quarrel.
He said that made him to pick a machete and slashed her on the neck which resulted in her instant death.
He said having killed her, he removed the heart, and cut her female organ to prevent Safia’s soul from hunting him.
Agbenyo, is in prison custody and will re-appear in court soon.
When Safia Salami decided to go to Mensakrom to collect GH¢25, being her son’s hospital expenses from her ex-husband, hardly did she know that she was embarking on “a journey of no return”.
The ex-husband, Paapa Yaw Agbenyo, 38, a farmer and a fetish priest, took offence after Safia had refused to take GH¢5 and butchered her.
The prosecutor, Vincent Nyinaka told the Cape Coast High Court (Two ), presided over by Justice Alhaji Mohammed Ahmed Mustapha Salami that Agbenyo and Safia were married for four years and had a son, Wisdom Agbenyo.
Safia, who stayed with her son at Akyem Akroso in the Eastern Region, travelled with him to Mensakrom on December 1, 2006 to collect the hospital expenses.
He said, when Safia did not return, a report was made to the police and investigations led to the arrest of Agbenyo.
He said Agbenyo admitted in his caution statement that he butchered Safia, cut off her head, legs and arms and buried them in one grave whilst the body was also buried in another.
Agbenyo said, Safia, after refusing to accept what he could provide, insulted him and hit him with a piece of fire wood during a quarrel.
He said that made him to pick a machete and slashed her on the neck which resulted in her instant death.
He said having killed her, he removed the heart, and cut her female organ to prevent Safia’s soul from hunting him.
Agbenyo, is in prison custody and will re-appear in court soon.
PALMWINE SENDS FARMER TO JAIL (PAGE 20, MIRROR, JULY 3, 2010)
From Joe Okyere, Cape Coast.
For his lust, a 33-year-old farmer has been slapped with a 10 year sentence with hard labour for defiling a 13-year-old.
Samuel Ofori, pleaded with Justice Asiedu Badu, who presided at the Cape Coast Circuit Court to have mercy on him because he was under the influence of alcohol at the time he committed the crime.
Prosecuting, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Samuel Oduro Kwarteng-Addae, told the court that the accused lived in the same vicinity with the complainant.
DSP Kwarteng said on Sunday, May 9, this year, the complainant paid her a casual visit at Assin Abotreye in the Assin North Municipality.
He said, whilst leaving around 3.00p.m., the complainant implored the accused to allow her daughter to accompany him to a fish monger at a nearby village to change some fish she had bought from the fishmonger.
He said the accused managed to lure the girl into the bush and defiled her.
The accused was arrested after the girl had narrated her ordeal to her mother.
The accused said after taking some calabashful of palm-wine from a tapper he could not control his urge for sex.
For his lust, a 33-year-old farmer has been slapped with a 10 year sentence with hard labour for defiling a 13-year-old.
Samuel Ofori, pleaded with Justice Asiedu Badu, who presided at the Cape Coast Circuit Court to have mercy on him because he was under the influence of alcohol at the time he committed the crime.
Prosecuting, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Samuel Oduro Kwarteng-Addae, told the court that the accused lived in the same vicinity with the complainant.
DSP Kwarteng said on Sunday, May 9, this year, the complainant paid her a casual visit at Assin Abotreye in the Assin North Municipality.
He said, whilst leaving around 3.00p.m., the complainant implored the accused to allow her daughter to accompany him to a fish monger at a nearby village to change some fish she had bought from the fishmonger.
He said the accused managed to lure the girl into the bush and defiled her.
The accused was arrested after the girl had narrated her ordeal to her mother.
The accused said after taking some calabashful of palm-wine from a tapper he could not control his urge for sex.
Friday, June 25, 2010
MOTOR CYCLES CREATE PROBLEMS FOR TEACHERS (MIRROR, PAGE 34, JUNE 26, 2010)
From Joe Okyere, Cape Coast.
MOTOR cycles given to teachers by the Ministry of Education to alleviate their difficulties in commuting to school are hanging like albatross on their necks.
The reason being apart from the irregular monthly deductions from their salaries, almost a year into the deal, the beneficiaries face the wrath of the police each time they ventured into town.
According to a number of the beneficiaries The Mirror spoke to, even though the Ministry promised to register the bikes for them, the promise has not been honoured.
Aside that, they could also not take insurance policies for the bikes, thus exposing them to risks in case they were involved in an accident.
They said the situation has pit them against the police who insisted that they could not use the bikes without registration numbers and insurance.
They said thieves had also taken advantage of their situation to steal the bikes.
According to them, they were told that a bike costs GH¢960.00 and that GH¢15.00 would be deducted from their salaries each month but the deductions had fluctuated with some of them being deducted GH¢66.00 a month.
They said no tangible explanation had been given and each time they went to the Ministry to find out, the only answer they got was that the anomaly would be rectified.
Owing to these problems, they could neither claim motor cycle maintenance nor fuel allowance.
Some of the beneficiaries expressed dismay at the way issues were being handled and expressed regret for taking the bikes.
They therefore called on the Ministry to step up efforts to remedy the situation.
When contacted, the Central Regional Budget Officer, Mr Robert Mensah, who doubles as acting officer in-charge of Finance and Administration said it was the Ministry of Education’s Logistics outfit which could clarify the situation.
MOTOR cycles given to teachers by the Ministry of Education to alleviate their difficulties in commuting to school are hanging like albatross on their necks.
The reason being apart from the irregular monthly deductions from their salaries, almost a year into the deal, the beneficiaries face the wrath of the police each time they ventured into town.
According to a number of the beneficiaries The Mirror spoke to, even though the Ministry promised to register the bikes for them, the promise has not been honoured.
Aside that, they could also not take insurance policies for the bikes, thus exposing them to risks in case they were involved in an accident.
They said the situation has pit them against the police who insisted that they could not use the bikes without registration numbers and insurance.
They said thieves had also taken advantage of their situation to steal the bikes.
According to them, they were told that a bike costs GH¢960.00 and that GH¢15.00 would be deducted from their salaries each month but the deductions had fluctuated with some of them being deducted GH¢66.00 a month.
They said no tangible explanation had been given and each time they went to the Ministry to find out, the only answer they got was that the anomaly would be rectified.
Owing to these problems, they could neither claim motor cycle maintenance nor fuel allowance.
Some of the beneficiaries expressed dismay at the way issues were being handled and expressed regret for taking the bikes.
They therefore called on the Ministry to step up efforts to remedy the situation.
When contacted, the Central Regional Budget Officer, Mr Robert Mensah, who doubles as acting officer in-charge of Finance and Administration said it was the Ministry of Education’s Logistics outfit which could clarify the situation.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
SWEDRU CUT OFF BY FLOODS (SPREAD, JUNE 24, 2010)
THREE bridges connecting the Agona Swedru municipality to neighbouring communities have collapsed as a result of the flooding of the area last Sunday.
The situation has compelled residents of and travellers to the municipality to join long queues at both ends of the River Akora to commute between the eastern and the western ends of the municipality.
Travellers from Swedru to Accra, Winneba, Cape Coast, Sekondi-Takoradi and beyond have to make a detour through either Bawjiase and Kasoa or Breman Asikuma and Mankessim.
Electricity supply has also been cut throughout the municipality and its environs as a result of the flooding, while commercial activities have seriously been affected.
Even walking from one end of the town to the other is a problem, as policemen, who serve as guides, have to assist people who walk across the collapsed Akora Bridge on the main Swedru-Winneba Junction-Accra road.
Many buildings, electric poles and cables, property such as vehicles and personal belongings estimated at several millions of Ghana cedis have been destroyed by the floods, which were unprecedented in the history of the town.
During a visit by the Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, to some of the affected communities last Tuesday, some of the residents who spoke to the Daily Graphic said they had been devastated by the floods.
The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has temporarily accommodated over 1,500 flood victims from Zabon Zongo at the Agona Swedru Town Hall.
Several houses were also destroyed at Adawukwa, while rice and vegetable farms at the Okyereko Irrigation site were completely submerged.
Also submerged was Tekyem, a village near Awombrew in the Gomoa East District, whose residents were evacuated by the National Emergency and Rapid Response Unit of NADMO.
The displaced people are currently lodging in the primary and junior high schools and the Presbyterian Church at Awombrew.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe blamed the flooding on lawlessness, lack of planning and monitoring in settlements and urged district and municipal assemblies to step up efforts to address the chaotic situation.
She consoled the victims, but praised them for saving the lives of some of the people trapped in vehicles that were swept away by the floods.
The chief of Agona Swedru, Nana Kobina Botwe II, called for immediate steps to reconstruct the main bridge over the Akora River which was built in 1920.
The Omanhen of the Nyakrom Traditional Area, Nana Nyarko Eku, urged the government to take the necessary remedial steps to bring relief to the people in the affected communities.
Meanwhile, the National Emergency and Rapid Response Unit, the 48 Engineers Regiment and NADMO are monitoring and assessing the situation to bring relief to the displaced people.
The situation has compelled residents of and travellers to the municipality to join long queues at both ends of the River Akora to commute between the eastern and the western ends of the municipality.
Travellers from Swedru to Accra, Winneba, Cape Coast, Sekondi-Takoradi and beyond have to make a detour through either Bawjiase and Kasoa or Breman Asikuma and Mankessim.
Electricity supply has also been cut throughout the municipality and its environs as a result of the flooding, while commercial activities have seriously been affected.
Even walking from one end of the town to the other is a problem, as policemen, who serve as guides, have to assist people who walk across the collapsed Akora Bridge on the main Swedru-Winneba Junction-Accra road.
Many buildings, electric poles and cables, property such as vehicles and personal belongings estimated at several millions of Ghana cedis have been destroyed by the floods, which were unprecedented in the history of the town.
During a visit by the Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, to some of the affected communities last Tuesday, some of the residents who spoke to the Daily Graphic said they had been devastated by the floods.
The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has temporarily accommodated over 1,500 flood victims from Zabon Zongo at the Agona Swedru Town Hall.
Several houses were also destroyed at Adawukwa, while rice and vegetable farms at the Okyereko Irrigation site were completely submerged.
Also submerged was Tekyem, a village near Awombrew in the Gomoa East District, whose residents were evacuated by the National Emergency and Rapid Response Unit of NADMO.
The displaced people are currently lodging in the primary and junior high schools and the Presbyterian Church at Awombrew.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe blamed the flooding on lawlessness, lack of planning and monitoring in settlements and urged district and municipal assemblies to step up efforts to address the chaotic situation.
She consoled the victims, but praised them for saving the lives of some of the people trapped in vehicles that were swept away by the floods.
The chief of Agona Swedru, Nana Kobina Botwe II, called for immediate steps to reconstruct the main bridge over the Akora River which was built in 1920.
The Omanhen of the Nyakrom Traditional Area, Nana Nyarko Eku, urged the government to take the necessary remedial steps to bring relief to the people in the affected communities.
Meanwhile, the National Emergency and Rapid Response Unit, the 48 Engineers Regiment and NADMO are monitoring and assessing the situation to bring relief to the displaced people.
Friday, June 11, 2010
CAPE COAST COUNCIL OF LABOUR CALLS FOR REVIEW OF TARIFFS (PAGE 51, JUNE 11, 2010)
THE Cape Coast Metropolitan Council of Labour has added its voice to the call by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) for the immediate review of the tariffs on electricity and water which were recently announced by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC).
This was contained in the resolution signed by the Chairman of the Metropolitan Council of Labour, Mr J. M. Aggrey, and the Secretary, Mr B. A. Brown, after a meeting in Cape Coast yesterday.
The resolution, which reviewed the high cost of living in relation to the woefully inadequate 10 per cent salary increase announced by the government and the recent high tariff increases, said the increases would negatively affect workers and the people.
It, therefore, expressed its solidarity with the TUC in rejecting the increases and called on the PURC to, as a matter of urgency, review the tariffs, in consultation with stakeholders, including the government.
The resolution said the council expected that the consultation would begin immediately and that the PURC should announce the downward review by the end of next week.
This was contained in the resolution signed by the Chairman of the Metropolitan Council of Labour, Mr J. M. Aggrey, and the Secretary, Mr B. A. Brown, after a meeting in Cape Coast yesterday.
The resolution, which reviewed the high cost of living in relation to the woefully inadequate 10 per cent salary increase announced by the government and the recent high tariff increases, said the increases would negatively affect workers and the people.
It, therefore, expressed its solidarity with the TUC in rejecting the increases and called on the PURC to, as a matter of urgency, review the tariffs, in consultation with stakeholders, including the government.
The resolution said the council expected that the consultation would begin immediately and that the PURC should announce the downward review by the end of next week.
Friday, June 4, 2010
PROJECT TO BENEFIT 20 TRADITIONAL AREAS (MIRROR, PAGE 34, JUNE 5, 2010)
From Joe Okyere, Nyankumasi Ahenkro
Twenty traditional areas throughout the country have been selected for the first phase of validation workshops on Ascertainment and Codification of Customary Law Project (ACLP).
Under the project, two traditional areas each from the regions are benefiting from the workshop to validate responses gathered in the traditional area during a field research conducted between June and July 2009.
A team of researchers conducted interviews with paramount chiefs, divisional chiefs, female traditional leaders, indigenous and settler farmers as well as people with disability, land-related institutional heads and other local informants, within the period indicated above.
The ACLP is a joint research project established by the National House of Chiefs and the Law reform Commission with support from the German Development Co-operation (GTZ).
Speaking to the press during one of the workshops for chiefs from the Assin Atandanso Traditional Area at Nyankumasi Ahenkro in the Assin South District, the Executive Secretary of the ACLP, Mrs. Sheilla Minkah-Premo, said two traditional areas each from the regions were selected for the first phase of the project and that 1600 traditional areas would benefit later.
Mrs. Minkah-Premo said the workshop is the 10th in the series and that the Eguafo Traditional area in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipality is the other beneficiary from the Central Region.
The purpose of ACLP is the ascertainment and codification of the customary law rules and practices on land and family in the country.
She said it was obvious that even though customary law was an important source of law in Ghana, what constitutes customary law in a particular community was not always clear.
She said the impact of this uncertainty was most prominent and evident in two areas of law which affected the most significant facets of national life in the country; family law and land law.
She said the final output of the project would make use of land and family law certain and thus would assist in the settlement of disputes and bring more transparency in land transactions which would aid development.
The Executive Secretary said land transactions in Ghana are beset with conflicts between the customary practices, rules and norms on the one hand, and the formal and statutory law on the other.
Customary lands, which include lands owned by stools, skins, clans, families, tendamba, etc form a significant percentage of all lands in Ghana and that this state of affairs reinforces the need for the ascertainment and codification of customary law rules applicable to particular communities in the country.
According to her the project represents the very first initiative taken towards the fulfilment of the constitutional mandate given to the National House of Chiefs to undertake the progressive study, interpretation and codification of customary law with a view to evolving, in appropriate cases, a unified system of rules of customary law in Article 272(b) of the !992 Constitution.
The Law Reform Commission, a key partner in the project, also has the statutory mandate to promote law reform in Ghana and review all the laws, both statutory and otherwise, with a view to facilitate its systematic development and reform.
A Director of Research, Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture and a member of JSC who is also the representative of the National House of Chiefs, Dr. H.S. Daannaa, who spoke at the function, called for reconciliation between state law and taboos.
Dr. Daannaa commended the chiefs for their enthusiasm in the workshop since it would help in land acquisition, marriage, among others, and assist in solving most of the associated problems and contribute to development.
Twenty traditional areas throughout the country have been selected for the first phase of validation workshops on Ascertainment and Codification of Customary Law Project (ACLP).
Under the project, two traditional areas each from the regions are benefiting from the workshop to validate responses gathered in the traditional area during a field research conducted between June and July 2009.
A team of researchers conducted interviews with paramount chiefs, divisional chiefs, female traditional leaders, indigenous and settler farmers as well as people with disability, land-related institutional heads and other local informants, within the period indicated above.
The ACLP is a joint research project established by the National House of Chiefs and the Law reform Commission with support from the German Development Co-operation (GTZ).
Speaking to the press during one of the workshops for chiefs from the Assin Atandanso Traditional Area at Nyankumasi Ahenkro in the Assin South District, the Executive Secretary of the ACLP, Mrs. Sheilla Minkah-Premo, said two traditional areas each from the regions were selected for the first phase of the project and that 1600 traditional areas would benefit later.
Mrs. Minkah-Premo said the workshop is the 10th in the series and that the Eguafo Traditional area in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipality is the other beneficiary from the Central Region.
The purpose of ACLP is the ascertainment and codification of the customary law rules and practices on land and family in the country.
She said it was obvious that even though customary law was an important source of law in Ghana, what constitutes customary law in a particular community was not always clear.
She said the impact of this uncertainty was most prominent and evident in two areas of law which affected the most significant facets of national life in the country; family law and land law.
She said the final output of the project would make use of land and family law certain and thus would assist in the settlement of disputes and bring more transparency in land transactions which would aid development.
The Executive Secretary said land transactions in Ghana are beset with conflicts between the customary practices, rules and norms on the one hand, and the formal and statutory law on the other.
Customary lands, which include lands owned by stools, skins, clans, families, tendamba, etc form a significant percentage of all lands in Ghana and that this state of affairs reinforces the need for the ascertainment and codification of customary law rules applicable to particular communities in the country.
According to her the project represents the very first initiative taken towards the fulfilment of the constitutional mandate given to the National House of Chiefs to undertake the progressive study, interpretation and codification of customary law with a view to evolving, in appropriate cases, a unified system of rules of customary law in Article 272(b) of the !992 Constitution.
The Law Reform Commission, a key partner in the project, also has the statutory mandate to promote law reform in Ghana and review all the laws, both statutory and otherwise, with a view to facilitate its systematic development and reform.
A Director of Research, Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture and a member of JSC who is also the representative of the National House of Chiefs, Dr. H.S. Daannaa, who spoke at the function, called for reconciliation between state law and taboos.
Dr. Daannaa commended the chiefs for their enthusiasm in the workshop since it would help in land acquisition, marriage, among others, and assist in solving most of the associated problems and contribute to development.
CHIEF JUSTICE DEPLORES CONDITION OF COURTS (MIRROR, PAGE 34, MIRROR, JUNE 4, 2010)
From Joe Okyere, Assin Fosu
The Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, has deplored the poor conditions of some of the Lower courts in the country and commended magistrates, judges and staff for working under such non-conducive environment.
She said conditions at most of the lower courts in the country are deplorable which need the collective effort of all stakeholders and assemblies to address.
Speaking after visiting the Magistrate Court at Assin Fosu to assess the condition at the court, Mrs Wood said she was, however, encouraged by the efforts of the Magistrate, Mr Joseph Blay, to get a new court complex built to house the dilapidated one.
It would be recalled that a snake emerged from the ceiling of the court last month during proceedings, creating confusion in the courtroom.
She said the conditions at the old structure are not the best and that it could not pass for a place where justice is dispensed.
Commenting on the new complex under construction, the Chief Justice said when completed, the court would be upgraded to a circuit court and possibly, a high court would be created to bring justice to the door step of the people to save aggrieve persons from travelling to Cape Coast.
Mrs Wood urged the people to take advantage of the alternative dispute resolution to resolve their differences and avoid long litigation.
An Appeal Court Judge with oversight responsibility for the courts in the Central region, Mr Samuel Marful-Sau, who accompanied the Chief Justice, advised the people to educate their children to enable them to become useful citizens in the society.
He advised them to avoid instance justice and uphold the principle of rule law for peace and development of the country.
The District Chief Executive for Assign South, Ms Sabina Appiah-Kubi, said the assembly would rehabilitate the old court building at Nyankumasi Ahenkro to serve as a court for the district, which has no court.
The Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, has deplored the poor conditions of some of the Lower courts in the country and commended magistrates, judges and staff for working under such non-conducive environment.
She said conditions at most of the lower courts in the country are deplorable which need the collective effort of all stakeholders and assemblies to address.
Speaking after visiting the Magistrate Court at Assin Fosu to assess the condition at the court, Mrs Wood said she was, however, encouraged by the efforts of the Magistrate, Mr Joseph Blay, to get a new court complex built to house the dilapidated one.
It would be recalled that a snake emerged from the ceiling of the court last month during proceedings, creating confusion in the courtroom.
She said the conditions at the old structure are not the best and that it could not pass for a place where justice is dispensed.
Commenting on the new complex under construction, the Chief Justice said when completed, the court would be upgraded to a circuit court and possibly, a high court would be created to bring justice to the door step of the people to save aggrieve persons from travelling to Cape Coast.
Mrs Wood urged the people to take advantage of the alternative dispute resolution to resolve their differences and avoid long litigation.
An Appeal Court Judge with oversight responsibility for the courts in the Central region, Mr Samuel Marful-Sau, who accompanied the Chief Justice, advised the people to educate their children to enable them to become useful citizens in the society.
He advised them to avoid instance justice and uphold the principle of rule law for peace and development of the country.
The District Chief Executive for Assign South, Ms Sabina Appiah-Kubi, said the assembly would rehabilitate the old court building at Nyankumasi Ahenkro to serve as a court for the district, which has no court.
BARBER DEFILES GIRL, 12 (MIRROR, PAGE 27, JUNE 5, 2010)
From Joe Okyere, Cape Coast.
A THIRTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD barber at Saltpond, Joseph Acquah, aka Kwame Attah, who thought he could do ‘an afternoon jump’ with a 12-year-old pupil is in the grip of the law after his unholy enjoyment.
Acquah who admitted defiling the girl in his caution statement, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared before the circuit court presided over by Mr. Justice Asiedu Badu.
He was therefore remanded into prison custody for two weeks.
According to the prosecutor, Inspector Daniel Agbezuhlor, Acquah took advantage of the absence of the victim’s grandmother, lured her into the grandmother’s bedroom and defiled her.
Inspector Agbezuhlor told the court that on February 27 this year, Acquah went to a drinking bar owned by the victim’s grandmother who had travelled to Kormantse to attend a funeral.
Inspector Agbezuhlor said the accused met the girl holding a loaf of bread which had been left in her care for her grandmother.
He said the accused allegedly advised the girl to take the loaf to a safe place in her grandmother’s bedroom but followed her to the bedroom and defiled her.
He said the screams of the teenager during the act attracted people who thought the teen was being beaten by her elder sister.
The victim narrated her ordeal to her grandmother on her return and after a report had been made to the police, the accused was arrested.
When the accused was called to question the evidence of a prosecution witness, Madam Adjoa Eguamba, who allegedly heard the screams of the victim while the accused was engaged in his sexual bout with the victim, he said he did not have any questions for the witness.
A THIRTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD barber at Saltpond, Joseph Acquah, aka Kwame Attah, who thought he could do ‘an afternoon jump’ with a 12-year-old pupil is in the grip of the law after his unholy enjoyment.
Acquah who admitted defiling the girl in his caution statement, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared before the circuit court presided over by Mr. Justice Asiedu Badu.
He was therefore remanded into prison custody for two weeks.
According to the prosecutor, Inspector Daniel Agbezuhlor, Acquah took advantage of the absence of the victim’s grandmother, lured her into the grandmother’s bedroom and defiled her.
Inspector Agbezuhlor told the court that on February 27 this year, Acquah went to a drinking bar owned by the victim’s grandmother who had travelled to Kormantse to attend a funeral.
Inspector Agbezuhlor said the accused met the girl holding a loaf of bread which had been left in her care for her grandmother.
He said the accused allegedly advised the girl to take the loaf to a safe place in her grandmother’s bedroom but followed her to the bedroom and defiled her.
He said the screams of the teenager during the act attracted people who thought the teen was being beaten by her elder sister.
The victim narrated her ordeal to her grandmother on her return and after a report had been made to the police, the accused was arrested.
When the accused was called to question the evidence of a prosecution witness, Madam Adjoa Eguamba, who allegedly heard the screams of the victim while the accused was engaged in his sexual bout with the victim, he said he did not have any questions for the witness.
MAN, 28, IMPREGNATES GIRL, 14 (MIRROR, PAGE 27, JUNE 5, 2010)
From Joe Okyere, Cape Coast.
When Justice Asiedu Badu told Kwame Teye to look at his ‘father-in-law’ (Papa Kobina) and the ‘father-in-law’ to look at his ‘son-in-law’, both could not look at each other as the ‘father–in–law’ stood beside Teye who was in the dock to answer questions on defilement which led to the latter’s 14-year-old daughter’s pregnancy.
Teye, 28, unemployed, who claims to be a driver’s mate and a spare driver, claims the 14-year-old class five pupil has been his girl friend for the past five months.
The prosecution’s case was that Mr Kobina had warned Teye, who is already married, about the amorous relationship between him and his daughter since January, 2009 but had been threatened by Teye.
The prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent of Police Kwarteng Addae of the Assin Fosu Divisional Police, said when the parents queried their daughter after detecting that she was pregnant, she mentioned Teye as the one responsible.
He said when Teye was arrested, he admitted having an affair with the girl and that she was his girl friend, claiming that she is rather 17 years old and not 14 as claimed by the parents.
Teye pleaded with Justice Asiedu Badu to allow him to work in order to look after the mother and the child.
In response, Justice Asiedu Badu said there may be elderly women who were looking for men to marry but instead of such men approaching such matured groups, they rather prefer to go after teens.
He advised those with the penchant for such dastardly acts to look elsewhere or have themselves to blame if caught.
Justice Asiedu Badu deferred sentence to Monday, June 7 and remanded the accused in prison custody.
When Justice Asiedu Badu told Kwame Teye to look at his ‘father-in-law’ (Papa Kobina) and the ‘father-in-law’ to look at his ‘son-in-law’, both could not look at each other as the ‘father–in–law’ stood beside Teye who was in the dock to answer questions on defilement which led to the latter’s 14-year-old daughter’s pregnancy.
Teye, 28, unemployed, who claims to be a driver’s mate and a spare driver, claims the 14-year-old class five pupil has been his girl friend for the past five months.
The prosecution’s case was that Mr Kobina had warned Teye, who is already married, about the amorous relationship between him and his daughter since January, 2009 but had been threatened by Teye.
The prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent of Police Kwarteng Addae of the Assin Fosu Divisional Police, said when the parents queried their daughter after detecting that she was pregnant, she mentioned Teye as the one responsible.
He said when Teye was arrested, he admitted having an affair with the girl and that she was his girl friend, claiming that she is rather 17 years old and not 14 as claimed by the parents.
Teye pleaded with Justice Asiedu Badu to allow him to work in order to look after the mother and the child.
In response, Justice Asiedu Badu said there may be elderly women who were looking for men to marry but instead of such men approaching such matured groups, they rather prefer to go after teens.
He advised those with the penchant for such dastardly acts to look elsewhere or have themselves to blame if caught.
Justice Asiedu Badu deferred sentence to Monday, June 7 and remanded the accused in prison custody.
NEW ARCHBISHOP FOR CAPE COAST (MIRROR, PAGE 35, JUNE 5, 2010)
From Joe Okyere, Cape Coast.
Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Most Reverend Matthias Kobena Nketsiah, Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast.
His Grace, Most Reverend Archbishop Nketsiah, 68, who was until then the Apostolic Administrator, replaces Peter Cardinal Kodwo Appiah Turkson, who has been appointed President of the Pontifical Council on Peace and Justice.
The Apostolic Nunciature in Ghana, Archbishop Leon B. Kalenga, announced the appointment at a short but impressive ceremony at the St. Francis De Sales Cathedral in Cape Coast last Monday.
Archbishop Nketsiah was born on April 14, 1942 at Kakomdo in the Archdiocese of Cape Coast in the Central Region.
He did his Ordinary and Advanced level studies at the St. Theresa’s Minor Seminary, Amisano and continued his philosophy and theology studies at the St. Peter’s Major Seminary, Pedu, Cape Coast.
He was ordained a priest on July 19, 1970 by Bishop Emeritus His Grace Akwasi Sarpong at the St. Francis De Sales Cathedral, Cape Coast.
Between 1970 and 1973, he served as assistant priest at the Agona Swedru Parish before being posted as a teacher to the Minor Seminary, Amisano from 1973 to 1975.
After studying canon law at the Pontificia Universita Urbaniana, Rome from 1975 to 1979 he taught canon law at the Major Seminary, Pedu, Cape Coast and later as chancellor and Episcopal Vicar from 1980 to 1981.
Between 1981 and 1986 he served as the parish priest at Ajumako Bisease and then a judge, Inter–Diocesan Tribunal, from 1986 to 1993.
After these and other positions, he was nominated Auxiliary Bishop of Cape Coast on November 24, 2006 and later as the Apostolic Administrator on October 27, 2009.
He is the Chairman of the Department of the Judicial Matter of the Episcopal Conference.
In his accepting speech, Archbishop Nketsiah expressed gratitude to Pope Benedict for the trust reposed in him.
Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Most Reverend Matthias Kobena Nketsiah, Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast.
His Grace, Most Reverend Archbishop Nketsiah, 68, who was until then the Apostolic Administrator, replaces Peter Cardinal Kodwo Appiah Turkson, who has been appointed President of the Pontifical Council on Peace and Justice.
The Apostolic Nunciature in Ghana, Archbishop Leon B. Kalenga, announced the appointment at a short but impressive ceremony at the St. Francis De Sales Cathedral in Cape Coast last Monday.
Archbishop Nketsiah was born on April 14, 1942 at Kakomdo in the Archdiocese of Cape Coast in the Central Region.
He did his Ordinary and Advanced level studies at the St. Theresa’s Minor Seminary, Amisano and continued his philosophy and theology studies at the St. Peter’s Major Seminary, Pedu, Cape Coast.
He was ordained a priest on July 19, 1970 by Bishop Emeritus His Grace Akwasi Sarpong at the St. Francis De Sales Cathedral, Cape Coast.
Between 1970 and 1973, he served as assistant priest at the Agona Swedru Parish before being posted as a teacher to the Minor Seminary, Amisano from 1973 to 1975.
After studying canon law at the Pontificia Universita Urbaniana, Rome from 1975 to 1979 he taught canon law at the Major Seminary, Pedu, Cape Coast and later as chancellor and Episcopal Vicar from 1980 to 1981.
Between 1981 and 1986 he served as the parish priest at Ajumako Bisease and then a judge, Inter–Diocesan Tribunal, from 1986 to 1993.
After these and other positions, he was nominated Auxiliary Bishop of Cape Coast on November 24, 2006 and later as the Apostolic Administrator on October 27, 2009.
He is the Chairman of the Department of the Judicial Matter of the Episcopal Conference.
In his accepting speech, Archbishop Nketsiah expressed gratitude to Pope Benedict for the trust reposed in him.
HURCH ELDER COMMITS INCEST (LEAD STORY, MIRROR, JUNE 5, 2010)
From Joe Okyere, Cape Coast
“I have resolved to bear responsibility for the incest case against my daughter. I am really sorry for any inconvenience my action might have caused my dear wife, family, daughter and my only son on earth.
“I regret my action and plead to God to forgive me. I am also ready to perform the required customary rites to my wife and my family to appease the gods of our land”.
These were the lamentations of a presiding elder of the New Apostlic Church at Twifo Mampoma, David Hayford Akuoko, 61, who doubles as a Farm Manager of the Essilfie Farms Limited at Twifo Mampoma in the Twifo-Hemang-Lower Denkyira District of the Central Region.
However, a Cape Coast Circuit Court, presided over by Mr Justice Beresford Acquah, dished out a seven-year jail term to him last Thursday.
When he appeared before the court two weeks ago, Akuoko pleaded guilty and was remanded in prison custody.
According to the prosecutor, Inspector Daniel Agbezuhlor, the accused on December 31, 2009 took advantage of the absence of his wife and had sex with his daughter.
Inspector Agbezuhlor said the victim returned from an all night and met the father performing some rituals in their hall.
He said after the rituals, the convict smeared some perfume on the body of the victim and dragged her to their bedroom and slept with her.
He said after the act, the convict warned the victim not to disclose the incident to anybody else she would die.
Inspector Agbezuhlor said on January 1 , this year, the convict and the daughter travelled to Accra to meet a relative from the United States and whilst in Accra, the convict again slept with her.
He said, thereafter, the accused made another attempt to sleep with the daughter and when she resisted, the convict gave her GH¢30 to convince her but she kept the money and when the mother returned from her journey, she informed her and showed the money to her.
He said when the victim’s mother and his son confronted Akuoko, he took offence and threatened his son with a cutlass but he managed to escape.
He said a report was made to the police and the convict was arrested.
“I have resolved to bear responsibility for the incest case against my daughter. I am really sorry for any inconvenience my action might have caused my dear wife, family, daughter and my only son on earth.
“I regret my action and plead to God to forgive me. I am also ready to perform the required customary rites to my wife and my family to appease the gods of our land”.
These were the lamentations of a presiding elder of the New Apostlic Church at Twifo Mampoma, David Hayford Akuoko, 61, who doubles as a Farm Manager of the Essilfie Farms Limited at Twifo Mampoma in the Twifo-Hemang-Lower Denkyira District of the Central Region.
However, a Cape Coast Circuit Court, presided over by Mr Justice Beresford Acquah, dished out a seven-year jail term to him last Thursday.
When he appeared before the court two weeks ago, Akuoko pleaded guilty and was remanded in prison custody.
According to the prosecutor, Inspector Daniel Agbezuhlor, the accused on December 31, 2009 took advantage of the absence of his wife and had sex with his daughter.
Inspector Agbezuhlor said the victim returned from an all night and met the father performing some rituals in their hall.
He said after the rituals, the convict smeared some perfume on the body of the victim and dragged her to their bedroom and slept with her.
He said after the act, the convict warned the victim not to disclose the incident to anybody else she would die.
Inspector Agbezuhlor said on January 1 , this year, the convict and the daughter travelled to Accra to meet a relative from the United States and whilst in Accra, the convict again slept with her.
He said, thereafter, the accused made another attempt to sleep with the daughter and when she resisted, the convict gave her GH¢30 to convince her but she kept the money and when the mother returned from her journey, she informed her and showed the money to her.
He said when the victim’s mother and his son confronted Akuoko, he took offence and threatened his son with a cutlass but he managed to escape.
He said a report was made to the police and the convict was arrested.
Monday, May 31, 2010
EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO READ (PAGE 67, MAY 31, 2010)
THE Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, on Saturday launched newly developed supplementary readers aimed at encouraging active reading in children.
Known as the Reading Goals Series, the new readers employ popular themes such as soccer and the history of the soccer World Cup to capture the reading and learning interests of children.
They have the Ghanaian international football hero, Michael Essien, as the role model around which the series is developed and they also capture the history of Essien from childhood to his current activities at Chelsea FC.
They are targeted at pupils in Primary Four, Five and Six.
The project is an international collaboration among Pearson and Sedco-Longman, both world acclaimed publishers, Chelsea FC, UK, The Michael Essien Foundation and the United Nation’s One Goal Project.
The first set of 90,000 copies, produced at the cost of GH¢1 million, is to be distributed to schools in the Central Region. Other parts of the country will be supplied in the course of the year.
Mr Tettey-Enyo said the new supplementary readers tied in with the Ministry of Education’s determination to ensure that the targets spelt out under the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for education were attained.
He said there were many children of school age who were currently out of school, a situation which posed a major challenge to the government, civil society and other stakeholders.
He said to ensure that education was functional and effective, there was the need for a collaborative effort to step up the current levels of literacy to an acceptable rate.
Mr Tettey-Enyo urged the various district directors of education to ensure that the books were made available to the children in their districts before the World Cup, adding, “The children need to read and enjoy the books while the competition is on.”
In a recorded message from his base in England, Essien said education was very important for kids in Ghana and expressed the hope that children would strive to achieve high levels of literacy through reading.
The Sales Director of Pearson in charge of Africa and The Caribbean, Mr Michael McGarvey, said the company chose football because it had immense power to enthuse and engage.
“The aim of Reading Goals is to inspire children to read. It is to use football to tell a story and, more important, build the language skills of children,” he added.
He said Book One had 75 words per page; Book Two 100 words per page and Book Three 150 words per page.
Mr McGarvey expressed gratitude to Chelsea FC for the help offered.
Known as the Reading Goals Series, the new readers employ popular themes such as soccer and the history of the soccer World Cup to capture the reading and learning interests of children.
They have the Ghanaian international football hero, Michael Essien, as the role model around which the series is developed and they also capture the history of Essien from childhood to his current activities at Chelsea FC.
They are targeted at pupils in Primary Four, Five and Six.
The project is an international collaboration among Pearson and Sedco-Longman, both world acclaimed publishers, Chelsea FC, UK, The Michael Essien Foundation and the United Nation’s One Goal Project.
The first set of 90,000 copies, produced at the cost of GH¢1 million, is to be distributed to schools in the Central Region. Other parts of the country will be supplied in the course of the year.
Mr Tettey-Enyo said the new supplementary readers tied in with the Ministry of Education’s determination to ensure that the targets spelt out under the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for education were attained.
He said there were many children of school age who were currently out of school, a situation which posed a major challenge to the government, civil society and other stakeholders.
He said to ensure that education was functional and effective, there was the need for a collaborative effort to step up the current levels of literacy to an acceptable rate.
Mr Tettey-Enyo urged the various district directors of education to ensure that the books were made available to the children in their districts before the World Cup, adding, “The children need to read and enjoy the books while the competition is on.”
In a recorded message from his base in England, Essien said education was very important for kids in Ghana and expressed the hope that children would strive to achieve high levels of literacy through reading.
The Sales Director of Pearson in charge of Africa and The Caribbean, Mr Michael McGarvey, said the company chose football because it had immense power to enthuse and engage.
“The aim of Reading Goals is to inspire children to read. It is to use football to tell a story and, more important, build the language skills of children,” he added.
He said Book One had 75 words per page; Book Two 100 words per page and Book Three 150 words per page.
Mr McGarvey expressed gratitude to Chelsea FC for the help offered.
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