THE Akuapem Traditional Council has appealed to the government, as a matter of urgency, to intervene in resolving the protracted chieftaincy disputes in the area to foster peace and unity among the people.
Such intervention, the council noted, would help bring together all the traditional leaders and people under one paramount chief to ensure the rapid socio-economic development of the area.
“We appeal to the government not to continue to countenance this act of illegality on the part of a few of us who are apparently putting their personal interests ahead of the interest of Akuapem,” it stressed.
The Krontihene of the Akuapem Traditional Area, Osahene Ofei Kwasi Agyeman IV, made the appeal on behalf of the traditional council at a durbar organised by the council at Akropong-Akuapem in honour of the Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo.
The minister, accompanied by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, is on a three-day tour of the region to acquaint himself with the various challenges facing traditional authorities and to seek their support towards conducting peaceful elections in December.
“The 15-year protracted chieftaincy dispute in the area has affected us so much and if it is allowed to continue unchecked, it can one day create a big security problem,” Osahene Ofei Agyeman stressed.
He said the Akuapems had for centuries been noted to be humble and peace-loving due to their early experience with the Presbyterian Church and other religious bodies.
In his opinion, such religious encounter had enabled the people to be educated and God-fearing as well as enriched the culture of the people.
“However, all these things came to a halt when 15 years ago, some of our traditional leaders, out of petty personal reasons, decided to dismantle the rich heritage that our forefathers had painstakingly built for us,” Osahene Ofei Agyeman stated.
He blamed the protracted chieftaincy dispute on the various successive governments, the traditional authorities and the people of the area.
“This unfortunate act by a few of us has continued because of some lapses and selfishness on our part. But it has also continued because of the indifference shown by successive governments on the issue and the excuse that we normally hear is that the government does not want to meddle in chieftaincy affairs,” he stated.
According to Osahene Ofei Agyeman, the Akuapem Traditional Area had for many years been constitutionally known as one “Traditional Council” with one paramount chief by law.
“If we believe in law and order, which is the only way to go by, then any attempt to violate this arrangement spelt out in our constitution, becomes a criminal violation, which should not in any circumstance be countenanced”, he emphasised.
The Krontihene, therefore, expressed the hope that with the passage of the new Chieftaincy Act, the government would exercise the political will to deal with such issues.
On development of the area, Osahene Ofei Agyeman expressed the people’s gratitude to the government for the construction of the Tetteh Quarshie-Mamfe Highway, which had boosted development and investments in the area.
He, however, urged the government to help improve other access roads linking Mamfe, adding: “This we think is crucial to the complete transformation of the area”.
For his part, the Mamfehene, Osabarima Ansah Sasraku III, expressed worry over the taking- over of part of the lands belonging to the Akuapems by the people of New Juaben, and appealed to the government to help address the problem.
The Aseseesohene, Okatakyie Kusi Obuadum Amoyaw V, stressed the need for the creation of a second national chamber comprising Members of the Council of State and traditional rulers, to brainstorm on the development of the country and also serve as a balance of legislature.
Mr Boafo, who pledged the commitment of the government to resolve the disputes, however, appealed to the traditional leaders in the area to dialogue to resolve their differences.
That, he said, would facilitate the rapid development of the area.
Friday, September 26, 2008
REFRAIN FROM DIRTY POLITICS — DARWUTEY VI (PAGE 15)
THE President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, Ologo Darwutey VI, has appealed to political parties to refrain from the dirty politics that seeks to incite the youth to engage in violent acts to destroy lives and property.
Such incitement, he noted, could also spark lawlessness, petty squabbles and bitterness among the people before, during and after the elections, a situation that could destabilise the country.
“If we have the interest of our country at heart and are prepared to ensure the success of its democratic dispensation, we must all come together and resolve our differences,” Ologo Darwutey stated.
He made the appeal when he received the Minister of Chieftaincy Affairs and Culture, Mr S. K. Boafo, and the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, at his palace at Somanya on Tuesday.
Mr Boafo is on a three-day working visit to the region to acquaint himself with the various challenges facing traditional authorities and also seek their support towards the conduct of peaceful elections in December.
Ologo Darwutey, who is the Konor of the Yilo Krobo Traditional Area, said healthy politics based on issues that would improve the well-being of the people, as practised in developed countries, had always been the hallmark of many civilised societies.
However, he noted that politics that centred on personal attacks, bitterness and fighting, as practised in the country, had over the years been a major cause of its slow pace of socio-economic development.
“As responsible politicians, we must, therefore, necessarily strive to do away with incitement and rather let our campaign messages centre around issues that will address the needs of the people whose interests we seek to represent,” he stated.
On the role chiefs could play towards peace building in the country, he called on the government and other stakeholders to begin to recognise the enormous authority that the chieftaincy institution wielded and its influence on the people’s behaviour.
Consequently, he suggested the need for political parties to give prior notice to traditional authorities before organising political events such as rallies, since that would enable the rulers to control the behaviour of the people who attended those events, explaining that “it is we who are blamed in the event of any political violence in our communities”.
Ologo Darwutey expressed satisfaction with the peace prevailing between the people of the Yilo and the Manya Traditional areas and appealed to the government to help develop the various tourist attractions in the area, particularly the Krobo Mountain.
Mr Boafo, for his part, noted that although chiefs were barred from active politics, they reserved the right to advise the government, politicians and the people to conduct themselves in a decent manner, especially during elections.
The minister, who dwelt extensively on the Chieftaincy Act, Act 759, which recognises the importance of the chieftaincy institution to the country’s development, appealed to king makers to nominate and enstool only eligible persons to curb chieftaincy disputes in the country.
Such incitement, he noted, could also spark lawlessness, petty squabbles and bitterness among the people before, during and after the elections, a situation that could destabilise the country.
“If we have the interest of our country at heart and are prepared to ensure the success of its democratic dispensation, we must all come together and resolve our differences,” Ologo Darwutey stated.
He made the appeal when he received the Minister of Chieftaincy Affairs and Culture, Mr S. K. Boafo, and the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, at his palace at Somanya on Tuesday.
Mr Boafo is on a three-day working visit to the region to acquaint himself with the various challenges facing traditional authorities and also seek their support towards the conduct of peaceful elections in December.
Ologo Darwutey, who is the Konor of the Yilo Krobo Traditional Area, said healthy politics based on issues that would improve the well-being of the people, as practised in developed countries, had always been the hallmark of many civilised societies.
However, he noted that politics that centred on personal attacks, bitterness and fighting, as practised in the country, had over the years been a major cause of its slow pace of socio-economic development.
“As responsible politicians, we must, therefore, necessarily strive to do away with incitement and rather let our campaign messages centre around issues that will address the needs of the people whose interests we seek to represent,” he stated.
On the role chiefs could play towards peace building in the country, he called on the government and other stakeholders to begin to recognise the enormous authority that the chieftaincy institution wielded and its influence on the people’s behaviour.
Consequently, he suggested the need for political parties to give prior notice to traditional authorities before organising political events such as rallies, since that would enable the rulers to control the behaviour of the people who attended those events, explaining that “it is we who are blamed in the event of any political violence in our communities”.
Ologo Darwutey expressed satisfaction with the peace prevailing between the people of the Yilo and the Manya Traditional areas and appealed to the government to help develop the various tourist attractions in the area, particularly the Krobo Mountain.
Mr Boafo, for his part, noted that although chiefs were barred from active politics, they reserved the right to advise the government, politicians and the people to conduct themselves in a decent manner, especially during elections.
The minister, who dwelt extensively on the Chieftaincy Act, Act 759, which recognises the importance of the chieftaincy institution to the country’s development, appealed to king makers to nominate and enstool only eligible persons to curb chieftaincy disputes in the country.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
MAINTAIN NEUTRAL POSITION — JOHN MAHAMA (PAGE 16)
MR John Dramani Mahama, the running mate to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flag bearer, Prof. J. E. Atta Mills, has appealed to the security agencies and the Electoral Commission (EC) to maintain a neutral position in the execution of their duties to ensure the conduct of credible elections in December.
He said the display of any form of loyalty and commitment to any political party could undermine the confidence of the people in the outcome of the elections.
Mr Mahama, who made the call during a tour to the Upper Manya District in the Eastern Region, said “the loyalty of personnel of the EC and the security establishments should be towards the state and the people and not to any political party”.
“The neutrality of our security agencies and the EC will boost the people’s confidence in the electoral process and the results of the elections, which will ensure peace in the country,” he noted.
The NDC running mate, who was accompanied by some executives of the party, including its Eastern Regional Chairman, Mr Julius Debrah and Mr Stephen Amanor Quao, the Parliamentary Member for Upper Manya Constituency, was addressing a durbar of chiefs and people of the area.
Mr Mahama was, however, full of praise for the security agencies and the EC for its ability to conduct four successful elections in the country since 1992.
“However, the EC should guard against complacency and sit up to ensure that the upcoming election is conducted in a credible manner”, he said, describing the recent voter registration exercise as the “worst ever to be organised by the EC’’.
He expressed the hope that the anomalies that were associated with the just-ended exercise would be a thing of the past, as any recurrence could severely tarnish the EC’s reputation and reduce the confidence of the people in the electoral process.
The running mate also urged Ghanaians not to perceive those with different political leanings as enemies but with different beliefs, saying “irrespective of which party we belong to, we are all Ghanaians, hence the need to live in peace and unity”.
He, therefore, entreated the people to pray for God’s guidance in the selection of the best party to rule the country, noting that “it is only God who chooses and bestows power on a man with power to rule and ensure the well-being of the people”.
The Bole Bamboi MP expressed the commitment of the NDC to increase the Capitation Grant to enable more children to access quality education in the country.
He said the display of any form of loyalty and commitment to any political party could undermine the confidence of the people in the outcome of the elections.
Mr Mahama, who made the call during a tour to the Upper Manya District in the Eastern Region, said “the loyalty of personnel of the EC and the security establishments should be towards the state and the people and not to any political party”.
“The neutrality of our security agencies and the EC will boost the people’s confidence in the electoral process and the results of the elections, which will ensure peace in the country,” he noted.
The NDC running mate, who was accompanied by some executives of the party, including its Eastern Regional Chairman, Mr Julius Debrah and Mr Stephen Amanor Quao, the Parliamentary Member for Upper Manya Constituency, was addressing a durbar of chiefs and people of the area.
Mr Mahama was, however, full of praise for the security agencies and the EC for its ability to conduct four successful elections in the country since 1992.
“However, the EC should guard against complacency and sit up to ensure that the upcoming election is conducted in a credible manner”, he said, describing the recent voter registration exercise as the “worst ever to be organised by the EC’’.
He expressed the hope that the anomalies that were associated with the just-ended exercise would be a thing of the past, as any recurrence could severely tarnish the EC’s reputation and reduce the confidence of the people in the electoral process.
The running mate also urged Ghanaians not to perceive those with different political leanings as enemies but with different beliefs, saying “irrespective of which party we belong to, we are all Ghanaians, hence the need to live in peace and unity”.
He, therefore, entreated the people to pray for God’s guidance in the selection of the best party to rule the country, noting that “it is only God who chooses and bestows power on a man with power to rule and ensure the well-being of the people”.
The Bole Bamboi MP expressed the commitment of the NDC to increase the Capitation Grant to enable more children to access quality education in the country.
REFRAIN FROM UNGUARDED UTTERANCES — BOATENG (PAGE 15)
THE Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, has called on political leaders to refrain from unguarded utterances that could incite people to engage in violent behaviours which could mar the conduct of free and fair elections in December.
He also urged the people to be law-abiding and respect the views of each other to sustain the peace the country was currently enjoying.
Mr Asamoah Boateng, who made the call during a tour of some three districts in the Eastern Region, however cautioned that the government would not “hesitate to fairly and firmly enforce the rule of law on any individual or groups of people who blatantly engage in violent acts that pose a threat to the country’s thriving democracy”.
“In the wake of any outbreak of lawlessness and violence in the country, we all stand to lose as political parties and individuals,” he stated.
Mr Asamoah Boateng, who was accompanied by the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, visited the Asuogyaman, Lower Manya Krobo and Yilo Krobo Districts, to interact with the staff of the Information Service Department (ISD), heads of departments and the local people to learn at first-hand problems facing them, as well as communicate the achievements of the government to them.
He also paid a courtesy call on the various paramount chiefs in the districts.
“Elections are not about strength or fight but about the expression of ideas, thus we should all endeavour to play by the rule of the electoral process to sustain the country’s thriving democracy,” Mr Asamoah Boateng stated.
According to the minister, since the forthcoming elections should be a defining moment for the various political parties, particularly the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), every effort should be made to ensure its peaceful conduct.
He therefore called on political parties to “strictly play by the rules of the electoral process to prevent the outbreak of lawlessness and violence in the country”, which had for many years been upheld as a safe haven in the sub-region.
“As responsible political parties, who have the interest of the nation at heart, we must refrain from engaging in negative utterances that could instigate the people to take the laws into their own hands”, he stated.
The Minister, who particularly expressed his worry about the rampant use of tribalism and ethnicity by political parties, called for an end to such negative politics, saying “we are one people with a common destiny in spite of our political affiliation”.
As part of efforts to calm nerves before, during and after the elections, the Minister called on assembly members, heads of departments and staff of the ISD to educate the people on the adverse effects of lawlessness and violence and how they could contribute towards the conduct of peaceful elections.
Dwelling on the achievements of the government, he indicated that although the NPP administration inherited a weak economy from the NDC, prudent management had surged the country’s economy to a buoyant height.
This, he noted, had become possible since the country opted for HIPC, from which Ghana had derived enormous benefits.
He said the resources, which the country would have used in servicing its indebtedness had been channelled into massive infrastructural developments including roads, school buildings, health facilities, provision of potable water, electricity and places of convenience for the people.
According to him, since education remained central to the country’s development aspirations, the government decided to implement the new educational reform in addition to the various initiatives such as Capitation Grant, the feeding programmes as part of efforts to ensure that all Ghanaian children had access to education.
For his part, Konor of the Manya Krobo Traditional Area, Nene Sackitey, reiterated the need for Ghanaians to live in peace and unity in order to make the country attractive to investors and tourists.
Pix: Nene Sackitey (left), the Paramount Manya Krobo Traditional Area, receiving Mr Asamoah Boateng to his palace.
He also urged the people to be law-abiding and respect the views of each other to sustain the peace the country was currently enjoying.
Mr Asamoah Boateng, who made the call during a tour of some three districts in the Eastern Region, however cautioned that the government would not “hesitate to fairly and firmly enforce the rule of law on any individual or groups of people who blatantly engage in violent acts that pose a threat to the country’s thriving democracy”.
“In the wake of any outbreak of lawlessness and violence in the country, we all stand to lose as political parties and individuals,” he stated.
Mr Asamoah Boateng, who was accompanied by the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, visited the Asuogyaman, Lower Manya Krobo and Yilo Krobo Districts, to interact with the staff of the Information Service Department (ISD), heads of departments and the local people to learn at first-hand problems facing them, as well as communicate the achievements of the government to them.
He also paid a courtesy call on the various paramount chiefs in the districts.
“Elections are not about strength or fight but about the expression of ideas, thus we should all endeavour to play by the rule of the electoral process to sustain the country’s thriving democracy,” Mr Asamoah Boateng stated.
According to the minister, since the forthcoming elections should be a defining moment for the various political parties, particularly the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), every effort should be made to ensure its peaceful conduct.
He therefore called on political parties to “strictly play by the rules of the electoral process to prevent the outbreak of lawlessness and violence in the country”, which had for many years been upheld as a safe haven in the sub-region.
“As responsible political parties, who have the interest of the nation at heart, we must refrain from engaging in negative utterances that could instigate the people to take the laws into their own hands”, he stated.
The Minister, who particularly expressed his worry about the rampant use of tribalism and ethnicity by political parties, called for an end to such negative politics, saying “we are one people with a common destiny in spite of our political affiliation”.
As part of efforts to calm nerves before, during and after the elections, the Minister called on assembly members, heads of departments and staff of the ISD to educate the people on the adverse effects of lawlessness and violence and how they could contribute towards the conduct of peaceful elections.
Dwelling on the achievements of the government, he indicated that although the NPP administration inherited a weak economy from the NDC, prudent management had surged the country’s economy to a buoyant height.
This, he noted, had become possible since the country opted for HIPC, from which Ghana had derived enormous benefits.
He said the resources, which the country would have used in servicing its indebtedness had been channelled into massive infrastructural developments including roads, school buildings, health facilities, provision of potable water, electricity and places of convenience for the people.
According to him, since education remained central to the country’s development aspirations, the government decided to implement the new educational reform in addition to the various initiatives such as Capitation Grant, the feeding programmes as part of efforts to ensure that all Ghanaian children had access to education.
For his part, Konor of the Manya Krobo Traditional Area, Nene Sackitey, reiterated the need for Ghanaians to live in peace and unity in order to make the country attractive to investors and tourists.
Pix: Nene Sackitey (left), the Paramount Manya Krobo Traditional Area, receiving Mr Asamoah Boateng to his palace.
Monday, September 15, 2008
ASSESS FEASIBILITY OF POLITICAL PROMISES — JOHN MAHAMA (PAGE 16)
THE Vice Presidential aspirant of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Dramani Mahama, has appealed to Ghanaians to critically assess the feasibility of the promises made by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) so that they would not be taken for granted again.
According to him, the NPP made a number of unrealistic promises such as employment for most of the unemployed youth during the 2000 and 2004 elections which they did not fulfil, and added that Ghanaians should now be able to assess the genuineness of such promises.
This, he noted, would enable them to know which party to vote for, adding that the NDC, which according to him, had been able to live up to its promises was the best party to be supported to win the December elections.
“The NPP made a lot of promises such as the creation of jobs for the large number of unemployed, made up of migrants from the rural areas to urban centres loitering the streets in all corners of the country”, he said.
Such a sad situation, he explained, could be attributed to the collapse of local industries as a result of which many people lost their jobs which had increased the crime rate in the country.
Addressing a durbar of NDC faithful at Akyem Oda on Saturday, Mr Mahama, who was on a campaign tour of the Eastern Region, persistently stated “we should not allow ourselves to be deceived by the NPP’s vain promises of creating a better future for us”.
Mr Mahama, who was accompanied by some executives of his party, including its National Organiser, Mr Ofosu Ampofo; Eastern Regional Chairman, Mr Julius Debrah; Parliamentary candidate for Navrongo Central, Mr Mark Woyongo; Commodore Stephen Obimpe, a former Minister of Health, Mr Kofi Mintah, Central Regional Minister, used the occasion to introduce the Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Kojo Atta-Krah, to the people.
“If the NPP claims it believes in Ghana, why should it offer foreign companies and investors contracts that could equally be competently handled by local industries and investors?”, he asked.
Explaining his point, Mr Mahama pointed out that the various materials such as T-shirts, cups, hats and other paraphernalia that cost the country millions of dollars and were used to celebrate its golden anniversary were entirely designed and produced by Chinese and Japanese companies, when some of our local industries could have equally done them at a low cost?
He intimated that “our presidential palace is currently being constructed by an India firm, without any regard to the security implication to the state”, adding “even our territorial waters and many of the country’s roads as well as other major infrastructural projects are also being undertaken by Chinese and other foreign companies”.
According to him, the NPP made a number of unrealistic promises such as employment for most of the unemployed youth during the 2000 and 2004 elections which they did not fulfil, and added that Ghanaians should now be able to assess the genuineness of such promises.
This, he noted, would enable them to know which party to vote for, adding that the NDC, which according to him, had been able to live up to its promises was the best party to be supported to win the December elections.
“The NPP made a lot of promises such as the creation of jobs for the large number of unemployed, made up of migrants from the rural areas to urban centres loitering the streets in all corners of the country”, he said.
Such a sad situation, he explained, could be attributed to the collapse of local industries as a result of which many people lost their jobs which had increased the crime rate in the country.
Addressing a durbar of NDC faithful at Akyem Oda on Saturday, Mr Mahama, who was on a campaign tour of the Eastern Region, persistently stated “we should not allow ourselves to be deceived by the NPP’s vain promises of creating a better future for us”.
Mr Mahama, who was accompanied by some executives of his party, including its National Organiser, Mr Ofosu Ampofo; Eastern Regional Chairman, Mr Julius Debrah; Parliamentary candidate for Navrongo Central, Mr Mark Woyongo; Commodore Stephen Obimpe, a former Minister of Health, Mr Kofi Mintah, Central Regional Minister, used the occasion to introduce the Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Kojo Atta-Krah, to the people.
“If the NPP claims it believes in Ghana, why should it offer foreign companies and investors contracts that could equally be competently handled by local industries and investors?”, he asked.
Explaining his point, Mr Mahama pointed out that the various materials such as T-shirts, cups, hats and other paraphernalia that cost the country millions of dollars and were used to celebrate its golden anniversary were entirely designed and produced by Chinese and Japanese companies, when some of our local industries could have equally done them at a low cost?
He intimated that “our presidential palace is currently being constructed by an India firm, without any regard to the security implication to the state”, adding “even our territorial waters and many of the country’s roads as well as other major infrastructural projects are also being undertaken by Chinese and other foreign companies”.
TEACHER TRAINING COLLEGES TO GET ICT FACILITIES (PAGE 11)
THE government will soon equip all the 38 Teacher Training Colleges in the country with Information Communications Technology (ICT) facilities to enhance teaching and learning, the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has announced.
He said this would enable teacher trainees to improve on their abilities and prepare them to effectively handle ICT programmes, which is now on the basic school curriculum.
Alhaji Mahama said the government was also constructing the necessary infrastructure such as classrooms, libraries and science laboratories, and administration blocks in all the 38 teacher training colleges to raise their status.
It had already provided them with Tata buses while their principals had been given brand new four-wheel Nissan Patrol vehicles to facilitate their work and raise their status, adding that a scheme was being worked out to provide interested staff members with cars and motorbikes on hire purchase basis.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, the Vice-President said “teachers are no longer the only source of knowledge and information in this age of globalisation”.
He said this at the opening of the 50th conference and workshop of the National Conference of Principals of Teacher Training Colleges (PRINCOF) at Aburi.
The event was on the theme: “PRINCOF at 50: Achievements, Prospects and Challenges”.
The Vice-President said the government had recognised ICT as one of the most effective ways to a learner-centred approach of instruction.
“Emphasis on ICT in the colleges will to a larger extent support critical thinking, problem-solving, as well as the creative and innovative abilities of trainees, which would prepare them to effectively handle ICT programmes in schools,” he noted.
The President of PRINCOF, Mr Emmanuel K. Osei, called on the government to implement policies that would improve the conditions of service for teachers in the country.
He said this would not only motivate teachers to give their best and retain them in the profession, but would also make the profession more attractive to others.
On the average, he said they produced 9,000 teachers each year for basic schools, while in the last 10 years they had produced 90,000 teachers, and asked - “but where are they? Where do all other teachers we train go to?” the president asked.
Another disturbing phenomena arising from the low teacher motivation, Mr Osei noted, was that the teacher training institutions had become the last choice for students as the colleges did not attract the best cream of students who could impact positively on their chosen career.
For his part, the Rt Rev Dr Frimpong-Manso expressed worry over the increasing spate of anti-social behaviours in second-cycle institutions such as occultism, immorality, and smoking and therefore called on the Ghana Education Service to involve religious bodies in the management of educational institutions to curb such practices.
The function was attended by the principals of the various teacher training colleges across the country, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the Rt Rev. Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, the Chairman of the Akuapem Presbytery, Dr J.O.Y Mante, and the Aburihene, Oto Buor Djan Kwesi II.
He said this would enable teacher trainees to improve on their abilities and prepare them to effectively handle ICT programmes, which is now on the basic school curriculum.
Alhaji Mahama said the government was also constructing the necessary infrastructure such as classrooms, libraries and science laboratories, and administration blocks in all the 38 teacher training colleges to raise their status.
It had already provided them with Tata buses while their principals had been given brand new four-wheel Nissan Patrol vehicles to facilitate their work and raise their status, adding that a scheme was being worked out to provide interested staff members with cars and motorbikes on hire purchase basis.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, the Vice-President said “teachers are no longer the only source of knowledge and information in this age of globalisation”.
He said this at the opening of the 50th conference and workshop of the National Conference of Principals of Teacher Training Colleges (PRINCOF) at Aburi.
The event was on the theme: “PRINCOF at 50: Achievements, Prospects and Challenges”.
The Vice-President said the government had recognised ICT as one of the most effective ways to a learner-centred approach of instruction.
“Emphasis on ICT in the colleges will to a larger extent support critical thinking, problem-solving, as well as the creative and innovative abilities of trainees, which would prepare them to effectively handle ICT programmes in schools,” he noted.
The President of PRINCOF, Mr Emmanuel K. Osei, called on the government to implement policies that would improve the conditions of service for teachers in the country.
He said this would not only motivate teachers to give their best and retain them in the profession, but would also make the profession more attractive to others.
On the average, he said they produced 9,000 teachers each year for basic schools, while in the last 10 years they had produced 90,000 teachers, and asked - “but where are they? Where do all other teachers we train go to?” the president asked.
Another disturbing phenomena arising from the low teacher motivation, Mr Osei noted, was that the teacher training institutions had become the last choice for students as the colleges did not attract the best cream of students who could impact positively on their chosen career.
For his part, the Rt Rev Dr Frimpong-Manso expressed worry over the increasing spate of anti-social behaviours in second-cycle institutions such as occultism, immorality, and smoking and therefore called on the Ghana Education Service to involve religious bodies in the management of educational institutions to curb such practices.
The function was attended by the principals of the various teacher training colleges across the country, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the Rt Rev. Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, the Chairman of the Akuapem Presbytery, Dr J.O.Y Mante, and the Aburihene, Oto Buor Djan Kwesi II.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
NEW TAFO AT STANDSTILL TO WELCOME JOHN MAHAMA (PAGE 14)
Commercial activities at New Tafo in the East Akyem Municipality and Ahomahomasu in the Fanteakwa District in the Eastern Region came to a standstill when hundreds of people thronged the streets to catch a glimpse of Mr John Dramani Mahama, the running mate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential aspirant.
The people who came out of their offices, shops and the market, freely expressed their admiration for Mr Mahama, who reciprocated with cheerful smiles and waved to them.
The politically charged atmosphere also saw most of the party’s teeming followers clad in party T-shirts, engaging in the gesture “Yeresesame”, in response to that made by Mr Mahama whom they accompanied from the streets to the rally grounds.
What added so much colour to the wild ecstasy was the fact that children and the youth joined their adult colleagues in the frenzy, singing and dancing along to the party’s campaign songs, particularly “African Money”, “Future Leaders, Yeresesame” and “Barrack, Barrack, Barrack Obama”.
At the Ahomahomasu School Park, the people, who were not deterred by the intermittent rainfall, expressed their preparedness to stand by the party and showed this by defying the downpour and paying keen attention to the message of the running mate.
At the New Tafo Zongo Park, the crowd also gathered in their hundreds to listen to and express their admiration and support for the party.
Accompanied by some executives of NDC, including its National Organiser, Mr Ofosu Ampofo, who is also the parliamentary aspirant for Fanteakwa Constituency, Mr Julius Debrah, Eastern Regional Chairman, and Mr Mark Woyongo, the parliamentary aspirant for Navrongo, Mr Mahama also called on the traditional rulers at Begoro and Osiem.
In his address, Mr Mahama expressed his profound appreciation to the people for coming together to demonstrate their desire to see an end to the New Patriotic Party administration.
He told the gathering to consider their economic status and compared it with that under the NDC administration in the past.
He particularly indicated that during the NDC’s regime a bag of cement which sold for GH¢2 was now selling at GH¢10, while a gallon of petrol, which was formerly sold at GH0.65 was now at GH¢5.4.
He therefore urged the people to massively vote out the NPP government, adding “God who gave the NPP power in 2000 and 2004 will hand over the power to the NDC in 2008”.
He reiterated the need for the party’s supporters to exercise their franchise in a peaceful manner, since “it is the NDC that is destined to win the elections”.
For his part, Mr Ampofo called on the party’s constituency executives to mobilise its supporters to take active part in the exhibition of the voters register to enable them acquire their identity cards and exercise their franchise in December.
The people who came out of their offices, shops and the market, freely expressed their admiration for Mr Mahama, who reciprocated with cheerful smiles and waved to them.
The politically charged atmosphere also saw most of the party’s teeming followers clad in party T-shirts, engaging in the gesture “Yeresesame”, in response to that made by Mr Mahama whom they accompanied from the streets to the rally grounds.
What added so much colour to the wild ecstasy was the fact that children and the youth joined their adult colleagues in the frenzy, singing and dancing along to the party’s campaign songs, particularly “African Money”, “Future Leaders, Yeresesame” and “Barrack, Barrack, Barrack Obama”.
At the Ahomahomasu School Park, the people, who were not deterred by the intermittent rainfall, expressed their preparedness to stand by the party and showed this by defying the downpour and paying keen attention to the message of the running mate.
At the New Tafo Zongo Park, the crowd also gathered in their hundreds to listen to and express their admiration and support for the party.
Accompanied by some executives of NDC, including its National Organiser, Mr Ofosu Ampofo, who is also the parliamentary aspirant for Fanteakwa Constituency, Mr Julius Debrah, Eastern Regional Chairman, and Mr Mark Woyongo, the parliamentary aspirant for Navrongo, Mr Mahama also called on the traditional rulers at Begoro and Osiem.
In his address, Mr Mahama expressed his profound appreciation to the people for coming together to demonstrate their desire to see an end to the New Patriotic Party administration.
He told the gathering to consider their economic status and compared it with that under the NDC administration in the past.
He particularly indicated that during the NDC’s regime a bag of cement which sold for GH¢2 was now selling at GH¢10, while a gallon of petrol, which was formerly sold at GH0.65 was now at GH¢5.4.
He therefore urged the people to massively vote out the NPP government, adding “God who gave the NPP power in 2000 and 2004 will hand over the power to the NDC in 2008”.
He reiterated the need for the party’s supporters to exercise their franchise in a peaceful manner, since “it is the NDC that is destined to win the elections”.
For his part, Mr Ampofo called on the party’s constituency executives to mobilise its supporters to take active part in the exhibition of the voters register to enable them acquire their identity cards and exercise their franchise in December.
Friday, September 12, 2008
AARMED ROBBERS INVADE KOFORIDUA SUBURB (PAGE 20)
RESIDENTS of Kenkey Factory, a suburb of Koforidua, are living in fear following a series of attacks by armed robbers on some households recently.
Between 12.20 and 1.30 a.m. on September 2, 2008, two households were attacked by a seven-member armed robbery gang who did not only deprive their victims of their money and other personal belongings, but also subjected them to torture, burnt some of their belongings and threatened to rape the women.
The robbers, who were said to have strategically positioned themselves at vantage points, first attacked a 51-year-old electrician, Mr Samuel Yaw Sarpong, and his family at about 12.20 a.m. before moving to Mr Kofi Noye, a teacher, also aged 51, at about 1.30 a.m.
The robbers were reported to have bravely announced their presence with several gunshots and ordered their victims to open their doors for them to enter their houses.
When their victims failed to heed their call, they allegedly used blocks, a chisel and hacksaw blades to destroy their metal gates and wooden doors to the main halls.
The robbers, who did not appreciate the efforts made by their victims to be co-operative, used the butt of an AK47 assault rifle to hit the head of Mr Sarpong three times and struck the chest of Mr Noye with a hammer.
That was after the robbers had allegedly brutalised Messrs Sarpong and Noye and their wives and children.
Narrating his ordeal to the Daily Graphic in Koforidua at the weekend, Mr Sarpong said at about 12.20 a.m. last Saturday, he was woken up by his 27-year-old son, who was sleeping in the main hall, that some armed robbers had attacked their house.
He said the robbers, who were wielding AK 47 assault rifles, after breaking into the house, demanded that the couple should hand over any money in their possession.
According to Mr Sarpong, they gave out GH¢1,400 cash, a quantity of jewellery, four mobile phones, a wedding ring, a DVD player and a wrist watch.
He said not content with what they had, the robbers then hit his head three times with the butt of an AK 47 rifle and slapped him several times before leading him into a bedroom, where his two daughters aged 19 and 11 were sleeping
He stated that the robbers also asked my daughters to surrender their money and mobile phones.
According to Mr Boateng, his daughters, who were reluctant to obey their instruction, were subjected to severe beating by using the stick of a ceiling brush and threatened to rape them.
He said the robbers later locked up the entire family in a bathroom, took away the key and then gathered a number of items in the sitting room and burnt them.
Mr Sarpong said a thick smoke that engulfed the bathroom compelled him and the family to break the door of the bathroom and quenched the fire with buckets of water.
For his part, Mr Noye stated that he and his family were woken up by the persistent barking of his dogs at about 1.30 a.m. when five armed robbers wielding guns attacked them.
"The robbers responded with a gunshot any shout that I made from one room to the other for help and they angrily ordered me to open the door, since they had already arrived on the premises," he stated.
Mr Noye said when he realised that no help was coming from anywhere, one of his sons called his eldest brother in Accra who also called the emergency number of a police station in Accra who in turn called a police station in Koforidua.
According to him, for almost one-and-a-half hours, the robbers were chiselling and cutting the main metal gate to the house with a hammer, a chisel and a hacksaw blade and eventually succeeded in dislocating the gate after which they destroyed the main wooden gate to the house with blocks.
He said when the robbers entered the house they slapped him, his wife and sister several times before hitting him on the chest with a hammer.
Mr Noye stated that the robbers then ordered him to surrender any money he had in addition to his mobile phone, but after giving them some amount of money they were still dissatisfied so his wife came to his rescue by giving them another handset.
"They locked us up in the toilet and threatened to burn all of us as they did to our neighbours, but they abandoned that idea and escaped through a nearby cemetery," he stated.
According to him, it was when he was being taken to hospital for treatment by some of his children that he saw two policemen in a vehicle about 500 metres way from his house.
"When I enquired why it took them many hours to respond to our SOS call, they explained that their vehicles broke down," Mr Noye said, adding "if the police had responded quickly, they could have saved the situation."
Some of the residents, who expressed their worry about the rampant armed robberies in the area, in recent times, said the area once known for its serene atmosphere had now become vulnerable to robbery.
They, therefore, appealed to the police to intensify their operations in the area to curb such criminal activities.
Between 12.20 and 1.30 a.m. on September 2, 2008, two households were attacked by a seven-member armed robbery gang who did not only deprive their victims of their money and other personal belongings, but also subjected them to torture, burnt some of their belongings and threatened to rape the women.
The robbers, who were said to have strategically positioned themselves at vantage points, first attacked a 51-year-old electrician, Mr Samuel Yaw Sarpong, and his family at about 12.20 a.m. before moving to Mr Kofi Noye, a teacher, also aged 51, at about 1.30 a.m.
The robbers were reported to have bravely announced their presence with several gunshots and ordered their victims to open their doors for them to enter their houses.
When their victims failed to heed their call, they allegedly used blocks, a chisel and hacksaw blades to destroy their metal gates and wooden doors to the main halls.
The robbers, who did not appreciate the efforts made by their victims to be co-operative, used the butt of an AK47 assault rifle to hit the head of Mr Sarpong three times and struck the chest of Mr Noye with a hammer.
That was after the robbers had allegedly brutalised Messrs Sarpong and Noye and their wives and children.
Narrating his ordeal to the Daily Graphic in Koforidua at the weekend, Mr Sarpong said at about 12.20 a.m. last Saturday, he was woken up by his 27-year-old son, who was sleeping in the main hall, that some armed robbers had attacked their house.
He said the robbers, who were wielding AK 47 assault rifles, after breaking into the house, demanded that the couple should hand over any money in their possession.
According to Mr Sarpong, they gave out GH¢1,400 cash, a quantity of jewellery, four mobile phones, a wedding ring, a DVD player and a wrist watch.
He said not content with what they had, the robbers then hit his head three times with the butt of an AK 47 rifle and slapped him several times before leading him into a bedroom, where his two daughters aged 19 and 11 were sleeping
He stated that the robbers also asked my daughters to surrender their money and mobile phones.
According to Mr Boateng, his daughters, who were reluctant to obey their instruction, were subjected to severe beating by using the stick of a ceiling brush and threatened to rape them.
He said the robbers later locked up the entire family in a bathroom, took away the key and then gathered a number of items in the sitting room and burnt them.
Mr Sarpong said a thick smoke that engulfed the bathroom compelled him and the family to break the door of the bathroom and quenched the fire with buckets of water.
For his part, Mr Noye stated that he and his family were woken up by the persistent barking of his dogs at about 1.30 a.m. when five armed robbers wielding guns attacked them.
"The robbers responded with a gunshot any shout that I made from one room to the other for help and they angrily ordered me to open the door, since they had already arrived on the premises," he stated.
Mr Noye said when he realised that no help was coming from anywhere, one of his sons called his eldest brother in Accra who also called the emergency number of a police station in Accra who in turn called a police station in Koforidua.
According to him, for almost one-and-a-half hours, the robbers were chiselling and cutting the main metal gate to the house with a hammer, a chisel and a hacksaw blade and eventually succeeded in dislocating the gate after which they destroyed the main wooden gate to the house with blocks.
He said when the robbers entered the house they slapped him, his wife and sister several times before hitting him on the chest with a hammer.
Mr Noye stated that the robbers then ordered him to surrender any money he had in addition to his mobile phone, but after giving them some amount of money they were still dissatisfied so his wife came to his rescue by giving them another handset.
"They locked us up in the toilet and threatened to burn all of us as they did to our neighbours, but they abandoned that idea and escaped through a nearby cemetery," he stated.
According to him, it was when he was being taken to hospital for treatment by some of his children that he saw two policemen in a vehicle about 500 metres way from his house.
"When I enquired why it took them many hours to respond to our SOS call, they explained that their vehicles broke down," Mr Noye said, adding "if the police had responded quickly, they could have saved the situation."
Some of the residents, who expressed their worry about the rampant armed robberies in the area, in recent times, said the area once known for its serene atmosphere had now become vulnerable to robbery.
They, therefore, appealed to the police to intensify their operations in the area to curb such criminal activities.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
OTI BOAATENG: ASPIRANTS MUST PREACH PEACE (PAGE 16)
THE Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Oti Boateng, has called on all presidential aspirants and their running mates to always preach a message of peace and unity, which is a prerequisite for peaceful elections in the country.
"We must openly declare our stance for peace and also tell Ghanaians, as a matter of urgency, that we are not for violence, but rather for peace," he stated.
The Omanhene, who made the appeal when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) running mate, Mr John Dramani Mahama, called on him at his palace, stated that "without peace we cannot expect to have a peaceful election in December".
"We must, therefore, encourage our party supporters to understand that we are one people with a common destiny, irrespective of our political affiliations," Daasebre Oti Boateng stated.
Mr Mahama was accompanied by some of the executives of his party, including its Eastern Regional Chairman, Mr Julius Debrah, and his secretary, Anthony Gyampo.
According to the Omanhene, since the preaching of peace and unity was at the heart of democracy, every political party, particularly their flag bearers and running mates, should endeavour to preach peace to the people.
This, he said, would enable the masses to appreciate that in spite of their different political leanings, they were all Ghanaians within one country.
Daasebre Oti Boateng was also of the opinion that since elections were associated with either winning or losing, political parties must learn to appreciate the outcome of elections.
"Whatever will happen in this year’s elections, only one political party will emerge victorious. Hence, we must learn to accept defeat or otherwise to sustain the peace and the unity we are currently enjoying as a nation," he explained.
"We must, therefore, start to undertake a campaign of peace, based on issues and not of personal attacks," the Omanhene added.
Explaining the roles chiefs would play to ensure the conduct of peaceful elections, the Omanhene appealed to chiefs to preach peace and tranquility to their people in their respective traditional areas.
"By this, we as chiefs will be able to assist in the attainment of fair and transparent electoral processes, prior to the December elections," he stressed.
To boost the confidence of the people in the outcome of this year’s elections, the Omanhene called on those who had been pointing accusing fingers at the Electoral Commission and calling for the resignation of its chairman to desist from such behaviour.
"We should rather help to correct the shortcomings associated with electoral malpractices to ensure free and fair elections," he pointed out, adding "we are all duty-bound to be vigilant to avoid any future recurrence".
For his part, Mr Mahama reiterated the need for Ghanaians to refrain from violent acts, saying "we must tolerate each other’s views, regardless of our political leanings".
To this end, the soft-spoken running mate pledged the preparedness of his party to centre its campaign messages around peace, as being done by its flag bearer, Prof. John Atta Mills.
"I will want to appeal to our supporters to also refrain from engaging in violent behaviour and accommodate other people’s views as well," Mr Mahama added.
"We must openly declare our stance for peace and also tell Ghanaians, as a matter of urgency, that we are not for violence, but rather for peace," he stated.
The Omanhene, who made the appeal when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) running mate, Mr John Dramani Mahama, called on him at his palace, stated that "without peace we cannot expect to have a peaceful election in December".
"We must, therefore, encourage our party supporters to understand that we are one people with a common destiny, irrespective of our political affiliations," Daasebre Oti Boateng stated.
Mr Mahama was accompanied by some of the executives of his party, including its Eastern Regional Chairman, Mr Julius Debrah, and his secretary, Anthony Gyampo.
According to the Omanhene, since the preaching of peace and unity was at the heart of democracy, every political party, particularly their flag bearers and running mates, should endeavour to preach peace to the people.
This, he said, would enable the masses to appreciate that in spite of their different political leanings, they were all Ghanaians within one country.
Daasebre Oti Boateng was also of the opinion that since elections were associated with either winning or losing, political parties must learn to appreciate the outcome of elections.
"Whatever will happen in this year’s elections, only one political party will emerge victorious. Hence, we must learn to accept defeat or otherwise to sustain the peace and the unity we are currently enjoying as a nation," he explained.
"We must, therefore, start to undertake a campaign of peace, based on issues and not of personal attacks," the Omanhene added.
Explaining the roles chiefs would play to ensure the conduct of peaceful elections, the Omanhene appealed to chiefs to preach peace and tranquility to their people in their respective traditional areas.
"By this, we as chiefs will be able to assist in the attainment of fair and transparent electoral processes, prior to the December elections," he stressed.
To boost the confidence of the people in the outcome of this year’s elections, the Omanhene called on those who had been pointing accusing fingers at the Electoral Commission and calling for the resignation of its chairman to desist from such behaviour.
"We should rather help to correct the shortcomings associated with electoral malpractices to ensure free and fair elections," he pointed out, adding "we are all duty-bound to be vigilant to avoid any future recurrence".
For his part, Mr Mahama reiterated the need for Ghanaians to refrain from violent acts, saying "we must tolerate each other’s views, regardless of our political leanings".
To this end, the soft-spoken running mate pledged the preparedness of his party to centre its campaign messages around peace, as being done by its flag bearer, Prof. John Atta Mills.
"I will want to appeal to our supporters to also refrain from engaging in violent behaviour and accommodate other people’s views as well," Mr Mahama added.
Monday, September 1, 2008
ASSOCIATION OF DOMESTIC BURSARS CRIES FOR SUPPORT (PAGE 17)
THE National Association of Domestic Bursars and Matrons (NADBAM) has appealed to the government and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to provide adequate catering equipment for the catering departments of the various senior high schools across the country.
The provision of items like utensils and storage facilities such as freezers and cold rooms, as potable water, is expected to create a hygienic environment for the preparation and serving of food to students.
The President of NADBAM, Mrs Josephine Vernes, who made the appeal, said the “current state and condition of facilities with which some caterers prepare and serve to our students do not meet the minimum standards of catering”.
“We have to feed growing adolescents with huge appetites within a tight budget. We are aware that these fast-growing adolescents need food that is nutritious to enable them to be healthy, alert and be able to study,” she stated.
Mrs Vernes was speaking at the association’s biennial conference, on the theme “The Challenges Confronting Institutional Feeding and the New Educational Reforms”, at Koforidua.
The President of NADBAM said over the years, efforts by the GES to improve the standards of education in second-cycle institutions had mainly been focused on classrooms and academic areas, while the catering departments had been entirely neglected.
Such unfortunate situation, she noted, had led to the lack of catering equipment and facilities such as storage space, freezers or cold rooms and potable water, a challenge that had made catering very difficult in most SHSs.
“Cloak and changing-room facilities are almost non-existent in most of the schools. This does not augur well for good personal and environmental hygiene practices,” she said, adding that most catering departments had to rely on commercial transport to facilitate their work.
The president said another issue that had remained a major concern to the association was the practice whereby some heads of institutions employed their unqualified relatives in the catering departments “for spying purposes and to pry into areas they have no expertise”.
She said that practice, coupled with the ability of storekeepers having absolute powers over stores and purchases, was not only impeding the smooth running of the catering departments but also promoting indiscipline in the kitchen.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, said the present professional preparation and serving of food in second-cycle schools had curbed the tendency of students going on demonstrations in the past because of poor food.
He, therefore, commended the members of the association for their commitment and expressed the hope that such virtues would be sustained to ensure a peaceful atmosphere on the campuses of second cycle institutions.
Mr Asiedu further urged the members of the association to adhere to the new procurement law in the purchase of food items to ensure cost effectiveness.
The provision of items like utensils and storage facilities such as freezers and cold rooms, as potable water, is expected to create a hygienic environment for the preparation and serving of food to students.
The President of NADBAM, Mrs Josephine Vernes, who made the appeal, said the “current state and condition of facilities with which some caterers prepare and serve to our students do not meet the minimum standards of catering”.
“We have to feed growing adolescents with huge appetites within a tight budget. We are aware that these fast-growing adolescents need food that is nutritious to enable them to be healthy, alert and be able to study,” she stated.
Mrs Vernes was speaking at the association’s biennial conference, on the theme “The Challenges Confronting Institutional Feeding and the New Educational Reforms”, at Koforidua.
The President of NADBAM said over the years, efforts by the GES to improve the standards of education in second-cycle institutions had mainly been focused on classrooms and academic areas, while the catering departments had been entirely neglected.
Such unfortunate situation, she noted, had led to the lack of catering equipment and facilities such as storage space, freezers or cold rooms and potable water, a challenge that had made catering very difficult in most SHSs.
“Cloak and changing-room facilities are almost non-existent in most of the schools. This does not augur well for good personal and environmental hygiene practices,” she said, adding that most catering departments had to rely on commercial transport to facilitate their work.
The president said another issue that had remained a major concern to the association was the practice whereby some heads of institutions employed their unqualified relatives in the catering departments “for spying purposes and to pry into areas they have no expertise”.
She said that practice, coupled with the ability of storekeepers having absolute powers over stores and purchases, was not only impeding the smooth running of the catering departments but also promoting indiscipline in the kitchen.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, said the present professional preparation and serving of food in second-cycle schools had curbed the tendency of students going on demonstrations in the past because of poor food.
He, therefore, commended the members of the association for their commitment and expressed the hope that such virtues would be sustained to ensure a peaceful atmosphere on the campuses of second cycle institutions.
Mr Asiedu further urged the members of the association to adhere to the new procurement law in the purchase of food items to ensure cost effectiveness.
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