Peasant farmers have called on the Government to impose high tariffs on rice imports in order to encourage local production, generate employment and save foreign exchange.
They were of the view that the country’s continuous overreliance on imported rice could create a balance of trade deficit and affect the economic fortunes of the country in future.
The National President of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, Mr Adam Nashiru, who made the appeal on behalf the farmers, said that although the Government of Ghana had supported rice production by providing inputs to rice growers to increase their yields, local rice production still faced serious challenges.
Welcoming participants to a stakeholders’ conference on rice value chain in Accra, Mr Nashiru said the Government and donor partners, such as Agence Francaise De Development (AFAD) and the Japanese Agency for International Co-operation (JICA), had contributed substantially towards local rice production.
As a result of such support, he said rice production was expected to increase by 20 per cent over the previous year’s production.
In spite of the support, Mr Nashiru said the rice sector faced challenges which needed to be addressed, otherwise all the support and efforts would be in vain.
In a presentation, Mr Ibrahim Akabila, the National Co-ordinator of the Ghana Trade and Livelihood Coalition, explained that tariffs were a policy tool employed to protect domestic industries by placing competitive imports at a disadvantaged position on the market.
Mr Akabila said over the last two decades, the Government designed policies to get the sector working without much success, but tariffs served as the best opportunity for Ghana to mobilise funds for investment in local rice production.
For his part, the Project Manager of Technoserve, Mr Baba Adongo, said rice was an important diet for many Ghanaians and, therefore, stressed a need for the Government to come up with a policy that would improve local rice production and industry.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS SUPPORTS FORSTER HOME (PAGE 35, DEC 24)
PriceWaterHouse Coopers, a professional service firm, has donated items to the Christ Faith Foster Home at Frafraha in Accra for the upkeep of the inmates.
The items include 40 bed sheets and carrier bags.
The firm also painted the home and tiled the bathrooms to give the home a new look.
According to the donors, the donation and the painting cost $5,000.
Presenting the items, Mr Michael Aseidu-Antwi, a partner of the firm, said the donation and the painting formed part of its corporate social responsibility.
Staff of the firm used the opportunity to counsel the children to study hard and obey their mothers at the home.
Receiving the items, Ms Victoria Abraham, the Administrator and Supervisor of the home, thanked the firm for the support.
She said the firm had been of immense help to the children and appealed to the government, non-governmental organisations and philanthropists to go to the aid of the orphanage.
The items include 40 bed sheets and carrier bags.
The firm also painted the home and tiled the bathrooms to give the home a new look.
According to the donors, the donation and the painting cost $5,000.
Presenting the items, Mr Michael Aseidu-Antwi, a partner of the firm, said the donation and the painting formed part of its corporate social responsibility.
Staff of the firm used the opportunity to counsel the children to study hard and obey their mothers at the home.
Receiving the items, Ms Victoria Abraham, the Administrator and Supervisor of the home, thanked the firm for the support.
She said the firm had been of immense help to the children and appealed to the government, non-governmental organisations and philanthropists to go to the aid of the orphanage.
HIV RESPONSE PROGRAMME...Needs greater attention on women, children (PAGE 11, DEC 24)
The Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, Ms Akua Sena Dansua, has stressed the need to focus greater attention on women and children as part of the national HIV response programme.
She said tests conducted on some female sex workers in the Accra-Tema and Kumasi metropolises showed that a number of them were HIV positive, adding that many factors put women more at risk of HIV infection than men.
In an address read on her behalf at the first conference held to give an update of HIV and AIDS in Africa, organised by the Africa Health Research Organisation in Accra, the minister mentioned factors such as discrimination, inequalities in power relations between men and women, lower educational status, dependence on men for economic survival and formidable cultural practices and social norms, as contributors to women’s inability to refuse or negotiate safer sex.
She said other issues that compounded the problem was the fact that women tended to have sexual intercourse at an early age than men, and most often, their sexual partners were older men who were already exposed to sex.
She also said the culture of silence around sexual and reproductive health and the cultural belief among Africans that did not allow open communication on sex, made it difficult for women, including married ones, to discuss reproductive health problems and sexually transmitted diseases, making women vulnerable to the virus.
According to the minister, HIV and AIDS, which was claiming more lives and threatening lives of people in the productive age, was a great challenge to the country's development, stressing that about 80 per cent of young women between the ages of 15 and 25 lacked sufficient knowledge on HIV and AIDS.
Furthermore, she said mother-to-child transmission accounted for about 80 per cent of HIV infections among children, and urged civil society organisations, as well as policy makers, community and religious leaders to address the issue of the protection of women and girls from violence and discrimination.
The Chief Executive Officer of Africa Health Research Organisation, Dr Abubakar Yaro, said a newly initiated programme was underway in support of the HIV response programme, and indicated that the project would cover research on drug monitoring, education, provision of drugs and nutrition supplement to needy persons infected with the virus.
She said tests conducted on some female sex workers in the Accra-Tema and Kumasi metropolises showed that a number of them were HIV positive, adding that many factors put women more at risk of HIV infection than men.
In an address read on her behalf at the first conference held to give an update of HIV and AIDS in Africa, organised by the Africa Health Research Organisation in Accra, the minister mentioned factors such as discrimination, inequalities in power relations between men and women, lower educational status, dependence on men for economic survival and formidable cultural practices and social norms, as contributors to women’s inability to refuse or negotiate safer sex.
She said other issues that compounded the problem was the fact that women tended to have sexual intercourse at an early age than men, and most often, their sexual partners were older men who were already exposed to sex.
She also said the culture of silence around sexual and reproductive health and the cultural belief among Africans that did not allow open communication on sex, made it difficult for women, including married ones, to discuss reproductive health problems and sexually transmitted diseases, making women vulnerable to the virus.
According to the minister, HIV and AIDS, which was claiming more lives and threatening lives of people in the productive age, was a great challenge to the country's development, stressing that about 80 per cent of young women between the ages of 15 and 25 lacked sufficient knowledge on HIV and AIDS.
Furthermore, she said mother-to-child transmission accounted for about 80 per cent of HIV infections among children, and urged civil society organisations, as well as policy makers, community and religious leaders to address the issue of the protection of women and girls from violence and discrimination.
The Chief Executive Officer of Africa Health Research Organisation, Dr Abubakar Yaro, said a newly initiated programme was underway in support of the HIV response programme, and indicated that the project would cover research on drug monitoring, education, provision of drugs and nutrition supplement to needy persons infected with the virus.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
ACCELERATE DECENTRALISATION (PAGE 3, DEC 22)
THE Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Amarh Ashitey, has called on the sub-metropolitan assemblies to help accelerate the process of decentralisation in the country.
Mr Ashitey, who was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the members of the sub-metropolitan assemblies, added that the current decentralisation process was slow, consequently there was the need to speed up the process.
The for sub-metros were Ayawaso East, Ayawaso Central, Ablekuma South, Ashiedu Keteke, La, Okaikoi North and Okaikoi South.
He said decentralisation thrived on the fundamental principle that government machinery should be centralised to ensure grass-root participation.
“It also ensures the transfer of planning, programming, budgeting, and implementation to the district and sub-district levels”, he stated.
Mr Ashitey urged the council of the sub- metros to take a critical look at the legislative instrument that established the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, including keeping of records of all rateable properties in their areas and collecting rates fixed and levied by the assembly.
Also he noted that the council should prepare annual estimates covering recurrent and development expenditure for inclusion in the AMA budget among other responsibilities.
He advised the Assembly to be prepared to share its power, functions and resources with the councils and committees.
He cautioned the council not to indulge themselves in any legal activities such as issuing of unauthorised permits, illegal collection of fees and the issue of fake receipt on behalf of the Assembly.
“ It will be in your own interest if you resist the temptation of giving approval for unauthorised structures especially kiosks and containers in our localities”, he added.
Mr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, the Chief Executive for Accra said the sub - metros were empowered to perform delegated functions of the Assembly to make the management and administration of the city a shared responsibility.
He added that the implementation of policies would take place at the sub- structure level, on which the success of the Assembly depend largely on.
He said the AMA was faced with many challenges which needed to be addressed.
Mr Vanderpuije said the increase urbanisation had caused traffic congestion, pressures on infrastructural facilities, poor sanitation, inadequate housing which some were as a result of indiscipline and apathy.
He noted that there were pillars adopted by the AMA to reduce the problem such as decongestion in Accra, implement the waste to energy project to enhance sanitation and waste management, improve the drainage system, rehabilitate old roads and construct new ones, modernise education and health services, enhance and mobilise revenue and provide other social- economic facilities.
He advised the councillors to avoid and resist any temptations that would lure them in acts which are not accepted by the Assembly’s rules and regulations
Mr Vanderpuije called on the councillors to assist in the decongestion and demolition exercises which was underway at Dansoman; chorkor road construction, Mamprobi; Dansoman Estates Guggisberg road construction and Chemunaa; Mamponse storm drain and drainage development with street lights.
Mr Ashitey, who was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the members of the sub-metropolitan assemblies, added that the current decentralisation process was slow, consequently there was the need to speed up the process.
The for sub-metros were Ayawaso East, Ayawaso Central, Ablekuma South, Ashiedu Keteke, La, Okaikoi North and Okaikoi South.
He said decentralisation thrived on the fundamental principle that government machinery should be centralised to ensure grass-root participation.
“It also ensures the transfer of planning, programming, budgeting, and implementation to the district and sub-district levels”, he stated.
Mr Ashitey urged the council of the sub- metros to take a critical look at the legislative instrument that established the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, including keeping of records of all rateable properties in their areas and collecting rates fixed and levied by the assembly.
Also he noted that the council should prepare annual estimates covering recurrent and development expenditure for inclusion in the AMA budget among other responsibilities.
He advised the Assembly to be prepared to share its power, functions and resources with the councils and committees.
He cautioned the council not to indulge themselves in any legal activities such as issuing of unauthorised permits, illegal collection of fees and the issue of fake receipt on behalf of the Assembly.
“ It will be in your own interest if you resist the temptation of giving approval for unauthorised structures especially kiosks and containers in our localities”, he added.
Mr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, the Chief Executive for Accra said the sub - metros were empowered to perform delegated functions of the Assembly to make the management and administration of the city a shared responsibility.
He added that the implementation of policies would take place at the sub- structure level, on which the success of the Assembly depend largely on.
He said the AMA was faced with many challenges which needed to be addressed.
Mr Vanderpuije said the increase urbanisation had caused traffic congestion, pressures on infrastructural facilities, poor sanitation, inadequate housing which some were as a result of indiscipline and apathy.
He noted that there were pillars adopted by the AMA to reduce the problem such as decongestion in Accra, implement the waste to energy project to enhance sanitation and waste management, improve the drainage system, rehabilitate old roads and construct new ones, modernise education and health services, enhance and mobilise revenue and provide other social- economic facilities.
He advised the councillors to avoid and resist any temptations that would lure them in acts which are not accepted by the Assembly’s rules and regulations
Mr Vanderpuije called on the councillors to assist in the decongestion and demolition exercises which was underway at Dansoman; chorkor road construction, Mamprobi; Dansoman Estates Guggisberg road construction and Chemunaa; Mamponse storm drain and drainage development with street lights.
Monday, December 21, 2009
AGLOW PRAYS FOR NATION (SPREAD, DEC 21)
An interdenominational church service was held in Accra last Saturday to express the nation’s gratitude to the God for his blessings to the nation in 2009.
The event, organised by the Women Aglow Fellowship, was attended by government officials, members of the Judiciary, members of Parliament and delegation of Christian women’s groups and churches from all the 10 regions in the country.
The service began with song ministration and interspersed with intercessory prayers, testimonies, scripture readings and sermons and speeches.
Special prayers were said for the peace and prosperity of the nation in the coming year.
The prayer session was led by Mrs Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie, the Prayer Director of Women Aglow and former President of the Ghana Journalists Association.
She said women played a role in the development of the country and urged them to devote a little time to pray for unity required for nation building.
Addressing the gathering, the National President of Women Aglow, Mrs Dorothy Danso, said it was prudent to thank the Lord for gracing Ghana with economic stability, good harvest and a decrease in road accidents.
She encouraged Ghanaians particularly Christians, to dedicate their lives to Christ and pray without ceasing for the nation.
Ms Alice Botchway, a representative from the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, said the efforts of the Women Aglow could not be underrated, particularly at the time when socio-economic, as well as cultural beliefs and practices, had created a lot of difficulties for women and children.
Ms Botchway called on the Women Aglow to work towards a balance between the human rights of women and their responsibility to the family in order to minimise some forms of violence taking place in Christian homes.
The event, organised by the Women Aglow Fellowship, was attended by government officials, members of the Judiciary, members of Parliament and delegation of Christian women’s groups and churches from all the 10 regions in the country.
The service began with song ministration and interspersed with intercessory prayers, testimonies, scripture readings and sermons and speeches.
Special prayers were said for the peace and prosperity of the nation in the coming year.
The prayer session was led by Mrs Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie, the Prayer Director of Women Aglow and former President of the Ghana Journalists Association.
She said women played a role in the development of the country and urged them to devote a little time to pray for unity required for nation building.
Addressing the gathering, the National President of Women Aglow, Mrs Dorothy Danso, said it was prudent to thank the Lord for gracing Ghana with economic stability, good harvest and a decrease in road accidents.
She encouraged Ghanaians particularly Christians, to dedicate their lives to Christ and pray without ceasing for the nation.
Ms Alice Botchway, a representative from the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, said the efforts of the Women Aglow could not be underrated, particularly at the time when socio-economic, as well as cultural beliefs and practices, had created a lot of difficulties for women and children.
Ms Botchway called on the Women Aglow to work towards a balance between the human rights of women and their responsibility to the family in order to minimise some forms of violence taking place in Christian homes.
ACCRA EAST ROTARY RAISES FUNDS TO SUPPORT HEALTH EDUCATION ( PAGE 47, DEC 21)
The Rotary Club of Accra East last Saturday raised more than GHc30,000 during a walk in Accra to support education and health in selected schools in the metropolis.
The schools to benefit from such support are the Street Academy, a school for street children, and Anyaa Cluster of Schools, both in the Accra Metropolis.
Interactors from St Thomas Acquainas Secondary School, and Rotaractors from the Institute of Professional Students (IPS) participated in the 10 kilometre walk which began from the Bortianor Junction and ended at the Kokrobite Beach.
The President of the club, Nii Afutu Neequaye told the Daily Graphic that the fund would be used to provide computers and furniture for the Street Academy while a library would be set up for the Anyaa Cluster of Schools to enhance effective studies.
Nii Neequaye said that the club of Accra East had already raised funds for severals projects this year, including the provision of 16 boleholes in some communities in the Eastern Region and stationery to the Aburi Presby Secondary Technical.
The schools to benefit from such support are the Street Academy, a school for street children, and Anyaa Cluster of Schools, both in the Accra Metropolis.
Interactors from St Thomas Acquainas Secondary School, and Rotaractors from the Institute of Professional Students (IPS) participated in the 10 kilometre walk which began from the Bortianor Junction and ended at the Kokrobite Beach.
The President of the club, Nii Afutu Neequaye told the Daily Graphic that the fund would be used to provide computers and furniture for the Street Academy while a library would be set up for the Anyaa Cluster of Schools to enhance effective studies.
Nii Neequaye said that the club of Accra East had already raised funds for severals projects this year, including the provision of 16 boleholes in some communities in the Eastern Region and stationery to the Aburi Presby Secondary Technical.
121 WOMEN COMPLETE ENTREPRENEURSHIP COURSE (PAGE 11, DEC 21)
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-ONE young women at the weekend graduated after completing a five-month entrepreneurship skills training course at the Vocational Training for Females (VTF) programme in Accra.
The women studied subjects such as customer care, communication, time management, creativity, production planning, quality control, costing and pricing, record keeping and market survey.
Sixty-four young women who had completed vocational training were each given a set of basic tool and equipment valued at Gh¢ 35,000 to start their own business.
Addressing the ceremony, the acting Director of VTF, Ms Linda Agyei said the training course sought to enhance employment, social and political status of women for sustainable livelihood.
She stressed the importance to focus on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to ensure national development.
The acting director said the training gave women the opportunity to access basic equipment to begin and maintain their businesses on completion of their courses.
Ms Agyei advised the graduates to search and learn new skills even as they passed out.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr Stephen Amoanor Kwao said the ministry would modernise the traditional apprenticeship system which was a major source of skill supply to the Ghanaian industry.
He said the NVTI would be resourced with assistance from the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET) to implement the National Apprenticeship Programme as the Government's commitment to employment creation.
The women studied subjects such as customer care, communication, time management, creativity, production planning, quality control, costing and pricing, record keeping and market survey.
Sixty-four young women who had completed vocational training were each given a set of basic tool and equipment valued at Gh¢ 35,000 to start their own business.
Addressing the ceremony, the acting Director of VTF, Ms Linda Agyei said the training course sought to enhance employment, social and political status of women for sustainable livelihood.
She stressed the importance to focus on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to ensure national development.
The acting director said the training gave women the opportunity to access basic equipment to begin and maintain their businesses on completion of their courses.
Ms Agyei advised the graduates to search and learn new skills even as they passed out.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr Stephen Amoanor Kwao said the ministry would modernise the traditional apprenticeship system which was a major source of skill supply to the Ghanaian industry.
He said the NVTI would be resourced with assistance from the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET) to implement the National Apprenticeship Programme as the Government's commitment to employment creation.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
ACCRA HOSTS MADE-IN-GHANA FAIR (PAGE 30, DEC 21)
THE Dachio South Women Farmers Association (DSWFA), a community based organisation in the Bolgatanga Municipality, has organised a Free Voluntary Counselling and Testing for women groups within the Zuarungu area.
The aim of the exercise was to enable the women and other members of the society to know their HIV status in order to protect themselves from the deadly disease and also encourage healthy living.
The Project Co-ordinator, Mr Collins Amadu Atuah, told the Daily Graphic at Zuarungu after one of the counselling and testing sessions that with nearly 10,000 people believed to be living with HIV AIDS in the region, it had become necessary to encourage people to undergo the test.
Whilst encouraging people to go and check their status, Mr Atuah spoke against stigmatisation and discrimination against people living with the disease.
He said aside the HIV/AIDS programmes, the CBO was also involved in creating awareness among the women groups on local governance because women continued to be largely marginalised in the initiation of policies and implementation processes in their communities.
“Women targeted are now aware of their rights, ” he asserted.
On the environment, Mr Atuah said women in the project’s catchment area were also educated on the need to preserve the environment by helping to curb bush fires and the rampant felling of trees.
He said over the period that the project had been underway in the Zuarungu community, 1,500 improved tree seedlings had been distributed to 750 women to be planted around their homes.
He commended IBIS West Africa for supporting the organisation, adding that through their support, DSWFA had increased the bargaining powers of the 15 organised women groups which are now able to present their development needs to the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly and their respective sub-district structures for redress.
Mr Atuah appealed to IBIS West Africa to continue supporting the organisation and other women civil society organisations which are weak to support the education and engagement processes.
“With the continuous support from IBIS, DSWFA will make women to actively engage with the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly and its sub-district structures to demand effective services and hold their leaders accountable,” he stressed.
A beneficiary of the project, Ms Christiana Adekurah, said the engagement processes initiated by the DSWFA were well thought-out programmes which would go a long way to enhance the capacity of the women.
She was particularly happy about the Voluntary Counselling and Testing programme, and said it would help them to know their status and better manage their lifestyles.
Mr Ayamga Anamboyire, an HIV AIDS educator, lauded the DWSFA for involving the youth in its programmes and said it would help reduce the rate of infection in the municipality.
The aim of the exercise was to enable the women and other members of the society to know their HIV status in order to protect themselves from the deadly disease and also encourage healthy living.
The Project Co-ordinator, Mr Collins Amadu Atuah, told the Daily Graphic at Zuarungu after one of the counselling and testing sessions that with nearly 10,000 people believed to be living with HIV AIDS in the region, it had become necessary to encourage people to undergo the test.
Whilst encouraging people to go and check their status, Mr Atuah spoke against stigmatisation and discrimination against people living with the disease.
He said aside the HIV/AIDS programmes, the CBO was also involved in creating awareness among the women groups on local governance because women continued to be largely marginalised in the initiation of policies and implementation processes in their communities.
“Women targeted are now aware of their rights, ” he asserted.
On the environment, Mr Atuah said women in the project’s catchment area were also educated on the need to preserve the environment by helping to curb bush fires and the rampant felling of trees.
He said over the period that the project had been underway in the Zuarungu community, 1,500 improved tree seedlings had been distributed to 750 women to be planted around their homes.
He commended IBIS West Africa for supporting the organisation, adding that through their support, DSWFA had increased the bargaining powers of the 15 organised women groups which are now able to present their development needs to the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly and their respective sub-district structures for redress.
Mr Atuah appealed to IBIS West Africa to continue supporting the organisation and other women civil society organisations which are weak to support the education and engagement processes.
“With the continuous support from IBIS, DSWFA will make women to actively engage with the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly and its sub-district structures to demand effective services and hold their leaders accountable,” he stressed.
A beneficiary of the project, Ms Christiana Adekurah, said the engagement processes initiated by the DSWFA were well thought-out programmes which would go a long way to enhance the capacity of the women.
She was particularly happy about the Voluntary Counselling and Testing programme, and said it would help them to know their status and better manage their lifestyles.
Mr Ayamga Anamboyire, an HIV AIDS educator, lauded the DWSFA for involving the youth in its programmes and said it would help reduce the rate of infection in the municipality.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
PAY ATTENTION TO NEEDS OF AGED (PAGE 20, DEC 15)
A study conducted on the aged in Ghana has underscored the need for the government to focus more attention on the needs of the aged.
The study, which was carried out by the Centre for Social Policy Studies of the University of Ghana and the Helpage Ghana, said although the government had done a lot for the aged more could be done to ensure their welfare.
The findings of the research were presented at a workshop designed to build the capacity of healthcare providers on the needs of older people in Accra.
The Executive Director of HelpAge Ghana, Mr Ebenezer Adjetey-Sorsey, who presented the findings, also stressed the need for the media to use the aged as role models in the society.
He said the study indicated that television, in particular, had the potential to raise the profile of older persons as a distinct component of the population as ageing became a growing issue in the country.
He said from the findings, the needs of the aged could take centre-stage if the government implemented relevant policies.
He said taxation could be used to generate more resources to implement pension schemes for a better livelihood for the aged.
The Project Officer of HelpAge Ghana, Ms Ama Ofori Antwi, also attributed most health-related problems facing the aged to lack of proper health care for them.
The study, which was carried out by the Centre for Social Policy Studies of the University of Ghana and the Helpage Ghana, said although the government had done a lot for the aged more could be done to ensure their welfare.
The findings of the research were presented at a workshop designed to build the capacity of healthcare providers on the needs of older people in Accra.
The Executive Director of HelpAge Ghana, Mr Ebenezer Adjetey-Sorsey, who presented the findings, also stressed the need for the media to use the aged as role models in the society.
He said the study indicated that television, in particular, had the potential to raise the profile of older persons as a distinct component of the population as ageing became a growing issue in the country.
He said from the findings, the needs of the aged could take centre-stage if the government implemented relevant policies.
He said taxation could be used to generate more resources to implement pension schemes for a better livelihood for the aged.
The Project Officer of HelpAge Ghana, Ms Ama Ofori Antwi, also attributed most health-related problems facing the aged to lack of proper health care for them.
ACCRA EAST ROTARY ASSISTS SCHOOL (PAGE 31, DEC 15)
The Rotary Club of Accra East, with the support of the Rotary Club of Fort Collins in Colorado, has donated equipment to the students of the Carpentry Department of Aburi Presby Secondary Technical School at Aburi in the Eastern Region.
The equipment included power sanders, electric drills and saws, all amounting to GH¢18,000.
Making the presentation, the President of the club, Nii Afutu Neequaye, said the donation was the second to the school.
He said during the first donation, the club drilled a borehole to provide potable water for the students.
He added that the donation formed part of the club’s social responsibility, which was targeted at health and education this year.
Mr Neequaye advised the students to take their education seriously. He also asked the management of the school to make good use of the equipment.
The Assistant Headmistress of the school, Ms Joyce Addo, who received the equipment, expressed her gratitude to the club for the gesture.
She promised that the tools would be used for their intended purpose to enhance the performance of students in the Carpentry Department.
The equipment included power sanders, electric drills and saws, all amounting to GH¢18,000.
Making the presentation, the President of the club, Nii Afutu Neequaye, said the donation was the second to the school.
He said during the first donation, the club drilled a borehole to provide potable water for the students.
He added that the donation formed part of the club’s social responsibility, which was targeted at health and education this year.
Mr Neequaye advised the students to take their education seriously. He also asked the management of the school to make good use of the equipment.
The Assistant Headmistress of the school, Ms Joyce Addo, who received the equipment, expressed her gratitude to the club for the gesture.
She promised that the tools would be used for their intended purpose to enhance the performance of students in the Carpentry Department.
Friday, December 11, 2009
PORTER DEFILES ICE WATER SELLER (MIRROR, PAGE 24, DEC 12)
By Henrietta Brocke
A Porter at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Accra, Miwordzi Kwasi, who allegedly defiled a 12-year-old girl, has been arrested by the Neoplan Station Police in Accra.
A Good Samaritan, who apparently saw Miwordzi allegedly defiling the girl at a spot between two kiosks at Odawna, reported the incident to the police, who in turn arrested the suspect last Monday.
Chief Inspector of Police, Irene Oppong, the Public Relations Officer of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) told The Mirror that when the victim was examined, blood stains were found in her pants.
According to Mrs Oppong, the girl, who narrated her ordeal to DOVVSU, said she hailed from Agona Swedru, where she stayed with her mother, but came to Accra about two weeks ago without having in mind a specific place to sleep.
Mrs Oppong said the girl, whose identity was being protected, told the police that upon roaming in town for some days, she met one Agya Osei, who introduced her to an iced-water seller and assisted her by running errands for her, for which she was paid.
The victim added that on one of her errands, she met Miwordzi, who called her to buy her water, but ended up defiling her.
The police are still conducting further investigations.
Ms Oppong said efforts were being made to trace the victim’s parents.
A Porter at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Accra, Miwordzi Kwasi, who allegedly defiled a 12-year-old girl, has been arrested by the Neoplan Station Police in Accra.
A Good Samaritan, who apparently saw Miwordzi allegedly defiling the girl at a spot between two kiosks at Odawna, reported the incident to the police, who in turn arrested the suspect last Monday.
Chief Inspector of Police, Irene Oppong, the Public Relations Officer of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) told The Mirror that when the victim was examined, blood stains were found in her pants.
According to Mrs Oppong, the girl, who narrated her ordeal to DOVVSU, said she hailed from Agona Swedru, where she stayed with her mother, but came to Accra about two weeks ago without having in mind a specific place to sleep.
Mrs Oppong said the girl, whose identity was being protected, told the police that upon roaming in town for some days, she met one Agya Osei, who introduced her to an iced-water seller and assisted her by running errands for her, for which she was paid.
The victim added that on one of her errands, she met Miwordzi, who called her to buy her water, but ended up defiling her.
The police are still conducting further investigations.
Ms Oppong said efforts were being made to trace the victim’s parents.
Monday, December 7, 2009
GOVEERNMENT ENCOURAGES MORE PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES (PAGE 11, DEC 7)
THE acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Education, Professor Paul Nobel Buatsi, has said the government’s encouragement of the establishment of private universities is to ensure that every qualified Ghanaian attains higher education.
He said the establishment of private universities would also help to ease the pressure on the public universities.
Prof. Buatsi said this when he represented the Deputy Minister of Education, Mr J. S. Annan, at the inauguration of the Ford Foundation International Fellowships Programme Alumni Association of Ghana ( IFPAAG).
Prof. Buatsi said the government recognised the fact that the International Fellowships Programme (IFP) did not only provide opportunities to Ghanaians to study abroad but entreated the beneficiaries of its programmes to return to their respective countries to serve their people with the acquired skills.
He also noted that the IFP’s conscious inclusion of the elderly and the disabled into the scheme had accorded them opportunities to attain their aspirations.
“It was in this direction that the government of Ghana was grateful to the Ford Foundation and other scholarship schemes for offering opportunities for Ghanaians to study abroad taking into consideration the high cost of education,” he stated.
The association is intended to create effective network for all members, build the capacity of IFP alumni and sustain their passion for social justice and support initiatives which promote communities.
Ford Foundation International Fellowship is a programme that gives assistance to exceptional individuals from 22 countries, who have not had the opportunity to pursue post-graduate degree programmes.
The immediate past President of the IFPAAG, Ms Irene Bibiana Bangpuori, said the fellowship did not request its beneficiaries to sign a bond to return to their respective countries but had 60 per cent return rate, one of the highest in the country.
She said the IFP alumni association would serve as a platform for credible leaders, who would influence policy and decision-making at the national, regional and district levels as well as to support the emergence of new change agents in West Africa.
For her part, the Director of Local Government, Dr Esther Offei-Aboagye, said she was humbled by the selection requirements and the range of community initiatives and the level of innovation.
Yolande Zahler, the Director of IFP unit at the Institute of International Education in New York, said since the inception of IFP in 2001 with the largest grant made by the Ford Foundation to higher education, totalling $330 million approximately, fellows had been selected in 22 countries of Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Russia and Latin America where the foundation held its active programmes.
She said 3,300 fellows had enrolled in over 530 universities in 45 countries; one -third studied in the United Staes of America, one - third in the United Kingdom and continental Europe, and one- third in their own countries or region.
He said the establishment of private universities would also help to ease the pressure on the public universities.
Prof. Buatsi said this when he represented the Deputy Minister of Education, Mr J. S. Annan, at the inauguration of the Ford Foundation International Fellowships Programme Alumni Association of Ghana ( IFPAAG).
Prof. Buatsi said the government recognised the fact that the International Fellowships Programme (IFP) did not only provide opportunities to Ghanaians to study abroad but entreated the beneficiaries of its programmes to return to their respective countries to serve their people with the acquired skills.
He also noted that the IFP’s conscious inclusion of the elderly and the disabled into the scheme had accorded them opportunities to attain their aspirations.
“It was in this direction that the government of Ghana was grateful to the Ford Foundation and other scholarship schemes for offering opportunities for Ghanaians to study abroad taking into consideration the high cost of education,” he stated.
The association is intended to create effective network for all members, build the capacity of IFP alumni and sustain their passion for social justice and support initiatives which promote communities.
Ford Foundation International Fellowship is a programme that gives assistance to exceptional individuals from 22 countries, who have not had the opportunity to pursue post-graduate degree programmes.
The immediate past President of the IFPAAG, Ms Irene Bibiana Bangpuori, said the fellowship did not request its beneficiaries to sign a bond to return to their respective countries but had 60 per cent return rate, one of the highest in the country.
She said the IFP alumni association would serve as a platform for credible leaders, who would influence policy and decision-making at the national, regional and district levels as well as to support the emergence of new change agents in West Africa.
For her part, the Director of Local Government, Dr Esther Offei-Aboagye, said she was humbled by the selection requirements and the range of community initiatives and the level of innovation.
Yolande Zahler, the Director of IFP unit at the Institute of International Education in New York, said since the inception of IFP in 2001 with the largest grant made by the Ford Foundation to higher education, totalling $330 million approximately, fellows had been selected in 22 countries of Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Russia and Latin America where the foundation held its active programmes.
She said 3,300 fellows had enrolled in over 530 universities in 45 countries; one -third studied in the United Staes of America, one - third in the United Kingdom and continental Europe, and one- third in their own countries or region.
EDUCATION MINISTRY, FAWE SIGN MOU (PAGE 11, DEC 7)
THE Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Ghana Chapter have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to address issues on girl child education.
The MOU was an outcome of a policy review meeting held between MOE, Ghana Education Service (GES) and the FAWE.
The Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey- Enyo, signed for his ministry, while Dr Esi Sutherland -Addy initialled for FAWE.
Dr Sutherland Addy said as part of FAWE’s current strategic plan, selected national chapters had conducted reviews of current policies governing the educational sector in the country.
She said the documents were studied based on the Education Strategic Plan for 2003-2005 and 2010-2020; the Draft Aide Memoire between the government of Ghana and the development partners and the 2009 national education sector annual review.
Some of the recommendations of the review, she said, were that subsidies should be provided for girls and boys from deprived communities and this must take into account the specific needs of children across geographical areas.
She said the review also indicated that public schools should ideally have free access to Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) but if not feasible, girls should be given priority and granted this essential facility.
Touching on quality and access, Dr Sutherland- Addy said according to the recommendation, policies that allowed unrestricted number of re-sits of BECE should be enacted.
She said another proposal was to ensure an improvement of the participation of girls in education and the elimination of discrimintion against female pupils and students, while scholarships should be offered to girls entering senior high school, as well as the establishment of all-girls senior high centres of excellence.
It must also include the upgrading of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) curriculum which involves innovations and new fields to meet current industrial demands with specific targets to cater for female candidates.
She also called for the review of the TVET curriculum at teacher training and university levels to ensure gender sensitivity in the design and delivering of TVET.
In the field of education management, Dr Sutherland-Addy proposed that civil education units must be strengthened and given governmental service funds to ensure gender mainstreaming, while a special programme of professional development and gender sensitive training be made a priority for women in managerial positions to be more effective and ensure gender quality.
The Ministry of Education assured FAWE of incorporating their proposals into the ESP because he saw their suggestions to be that which would enrich the policy of ESP.
He said his ministry was ready for suggestions which would be of benefit to its administration.
After the signing of the MOU the following activities needed to be implemented.
The MOE/GES will designate a focal point person based at the MOE who will serve as a liaison between FAWE and MOE on all issues related to the implementation of the Gender Responsive School ( GRS)- Centre of Excellence (COE) programme.
A technical committee comprising the following would be set up: A chairperson, an independent professional from the education sector outside the FAWE Ghana Chapter membership; a member of the FAWE Ghana Chapter Executive Committee; the focal point person from MOE; two members from the school community who is a teacher and a female student with the FAWE Ghana Co-ordinator as secretary to the committee.
The MOU was an outcome of a policy review meeting held between MOE, Ghana Education Service (GES) and the FAWE.
The Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey- Enyo, signed for his ministry, while Dr Esi Sutherland -Addy initialled for FAWE.
Dr Sutherland Addy said as part of FAWE’s current strategic plan, selected national chapters had conducted reviews of current policies governing the educational sector in the country.
She said the documents were studied based on the Education Strategic Plan for 2003-2005 and 2010-2020; the Draft Aide Memoire between the government of Ghana and the development partners and the 2009 national education sector annual review.
Some of the recommendations of the review, she said, were that subsidies should be provided for girls and boys from deprived communities and this must take into account the specific needs of children across geographical areas.
She said the review also indicated that public schools should ideally have free access to Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) but if not feasible, girls should be given priority and granted this essential facility.
Touching on quality and access, Dr Sutherland- Addy said according to the recommendation, policies that allowed unrestricted number of re-sits of BECE should be enacted.
She said another proposal was to ensure an improvement of the participation of girls in education and the elimination of discrimintion against female pupils and students, while scholarships should be offered to girls entering senior high school, as well as the establishment of all-girls senior high centres of excellence.
It must also include the upgrading of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) curriculum which involves innovations and new fields to meet current industrial demands with specific targets to cater for female candidates.
She also called for the review of the TVET curriculum at teacher training and university levels to ensure gender sensitivity in the design and delivering of TVET.
In the field of education management, Dr Sutherland-Addy proposed that civil education units must be strengthened and given governmental service funds to ensure gender mainstreaming, while a special programme of professional development and gender sensitive training be made a priority for women in managerial positions to be more effective and ensure gender quality.
The Ministry of Education assured FAWE of incorporating their proposals into the ESP because he saw their suggestions to be that which would enrich the policy of ESP.
He said his ministry was ready for suggestions which would be of benefit to its administration.
After the signing of the MOU the following activities needed to be implemented.
The MOE/GES will designate a focal point person based at the MOE who will serve as a liaison between FAWE and MOE on all issues related to the implementation of the Gender Responsive School ( GRS)- Centre of Excellence (COE) programme.
A technical committee comprising the following would be set up: A chairperson, an independent professional from the education sector outside the FAWE Ghana Chapter membership; a member of the FAWE Ghana Chapter Executive Committee; the focal point person from MOE; two members from the school community who is a teacher and a female student with the FAWE Ghana Co-ordinator as secretary to the committee.
Friday, December 4, 2009
CALL ON TEACHERS TO BE DILIGENT (PAGE 23, DEC 4)
The Headmaster of Accra Academy, Mr Samuel Ofori-Adjei, has urged teachers to be diligent in the discharge of their duties.
He said although salaries could not satisfy all their basic needs, they should come out with the best and serve as role models for the students.
Addressing the Fourth General Meeting of the Associated Teachers Co-operative Credit Union ( ATCCU) Limited in Accra yesterday, Mr Ofori-Adjei advised teachers not to demean their profession but use their salaries profitably.
In that connection, he encouraged the teachers to invest the little they earned by joining the credit union in order to contribute towards their retirement.
He cited his monthly allowance of GH¢ 3.00 as a headmaster and advised teachers that in spite of their meagre earnings they could save to make their retirement better.
For his part, the chairman for the occasion, Nii Nikoi Ashalley, who is also the Kaneshie Mantse, said it was a laudable idea for teachers to bring their resources together for their own benefit.
The Group Editorial Manager of the New Times Corporation, Mr Harry Reynolds, advised the management of the credit union to be transparent and commended teachers for their efforts in training professionals for the development of the country.
The Field Service Manager of Credit Union Association (CUA), Mr F.A. Ayisi, said development was a gradual process which involved growing from a humble beginning.
He said some of the factors which explained why some individuals did not develop included poor mindset from childhood, mismanagement during early stages of economic life and no savings culture.
Mr Ayisi said the only reliable and sustainable way one could obtain substantial resources was through savings.
The Board Chairman of the Union, Mr Frank Appeakorang Biredu, said the union had grown from strength to strength, increasing its savings portfolio and posting a net surplus of GH¢304,172 this year as against GH¢ 218.69 last year.
He said although salaries could not satisfy all their basic needs, they should come out with the best and serve as role models for the students.
Addressing the Fourth General Meeting of the Associated Teachers Co-operative Credit Union ( ATCCU) Limited in Accra yesterday, Mr Ofori-Adjei advised teachers not to demean their profession but use their salaries profitably.
In that connection, he encouraged the teachers to invest the little they earned by joining the credit union in order to contribute towards their retirement.
He cited his monthly allowance of GH¢ 3.00 as a headmaster and advised teachers that in spite of their meagre earnings they could save to make their retirement better.
For his part, the chairman for the occasion, Nii Nikoi Ashalley, who is also the Kaneshie Mantse, said it was a laudable idea for teachers to bring their resources together for their own benefit.
The Group Editorial Manager of the New Times Corporation, Mr Harry Reynolds, advised the management of the credit union to be transparent and commended teachers for their efforts in training professionals for the development of the country.
The Field Service Manager of Credit Union Association (CUA), Mr F.A. Ayisi, said development was a gradual process which involved growing from a humble beginning.
He said some of the factors which explained why some individuals did not develop included poor mindset from childhood, mismanagement during early stages of economic life and no savings culture.
Mr Ayisi said the only reliable and sustainable way one could obtain substantial resources was through savings.
The Board Chairman of the Union, Mr Frank Appeakorang Biredu, said the union had grown from strength to strength, increasing its savings portfolio and posting a net surplus of GH¢304,172 this year as against GH¢ 218.69 last year.
METRO MASS TRANSIT TRAINS DRIVERS (PAGE 28, DEC 4)
FORTY-SIX staff members of the Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMT) have begun a refresher training programme as part of the company's efforts to ensure the maintenance of its fleet of buses.
The programme, which is part of the company's efforts to ensure safety on the roads and customer-friendliness, was attended by 22 male instructors and 24 female conductors.
Four instructors from Belgium will take the participants during the two-week programme.
The Managing Director of MMT, Mr Visschers Henk, told the Daily Graphic that another batch of instructors from Belgium would be expected in February, next year to take other instructors and conductors through a training programme.
He said out of the instructors, the best five would be selected for further training in Europe to reduce the company's reliance on foreign instructors.
He said as part of efforts at ensuring road safety, MMT buses had been equipped with electronic speed limitors to check speeding.
Mr Henk said the company was also in the process of providing a vehicle tracking system to monitor speed limits of drivers.
He explained that 95 per cent of road accidents were caused by human error, especially through speeding and fatigue.
Mr Henk said the speed limitors and the tracking system would keep drivers on their toes.
On ticketing, he appealed to patrons of MMT buses to insist on being given tickets any time they boarded any bus.
The programme, which is part of the company's efforts to ensure safety on the roads and customer-friendliness, was attended by 22 male instructors and 24 female conductors.
Four instructors from Belgium will take the participants during the two-week programme.
The Managing Director of MMT, Mr Visschers Henk, told the Daily Graphic that another batch of instructors from Belgium would be expected in February, next year to take other instructors and conductors through a training programme.
He said out of the instructors, the best five would be selected for further training in Europe to reduce the company's reliance on foreign instructors.
He said as part of efforts at ensuring road safety, MMT buses had been equipped with electronic speed limitors to check speeding.
Mr Henk said the company was also in the process of providing a vehicle tracking system to monitor speed limits of drivers.
He explained that 95 per cent of road accidents were caused by human error, especially through speeding and fatigue.
Mr Henk said the speed limitors and the tracking system would keep drivers on their toes.
On ticketing, he appealed to patrons of MMT buses to insist on being given tickets any time they boarded any bus.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
GIJ chapter of GJA visits Graphic
MEMBERS of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association(GJA), have paid a familiarisation visit to the Graphic Communications Group Limited offices in Accra.
The association was formed by some students of the school in 2007 under the leadership of the GJA.
The President of the association, Mr Umaru Sanda Amadu said the tour was to enable the members to have a first hand experience of the theory of journalism learnt in school.
He said in GIJ, they were taught how to gather news but did not have the practice of how news was processed.
Mr Amadu noted that through the visit, processes of news gathering, packaging and publication had become clearer.
“Graphic is the right place to learn original production processes in news production,” he stated.
For his part, the Vice- President of the association, Mr Edward Kwabi, said the opportunity expanded their knowledge in news processing.
He commended the company for its efforts at providing the best journalist of the year 2009 and asked the practitioners of Graphic to keep the fire ablaze.
The members later appealed to the management of the company to allow more students from the institute to have some practical experience with the organisation at the weekends.
The association was formed by some students of the school in 2007 under the leadership of the GJA.
The President of the association, Mr Umaru Sanda Amadu said the tour was to enable the members to have a first hand experience of the theory of journalism learnt in school.
He said in GIJ, they were taught how to gather news but did not have the practice of how news was processed.
Mr Amadu noted that through the visit, processes of news gathering, packaging and publication had become clearer.
“Graphic is the right place to learn original production processes in news production,” he stated.
For his part, the Vice- President of the association, Mr Edward Kwabi, said the opportunity expanded their knowledge in news processing.
He commended the company for its efforts at providing the best journalist of the year 2009 and asked the practitioners of Graphic to keep the fire ablaze.
The members later appealed to the management of the company to allow more students from the institute to have some practical experience with the organisation at the weekends.
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