THE National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has presented 23 packets of roofing sheets to some residents and two basic schools at Akwadum in the New Juaben Municipality in the Eastern Region.
The donation of the materials were meant for the rehabilitation of some buildings in the area that were damaged as a result of a heavy downpour that ripped off their roofs.
The buildings included the Akwadum Municipal Assembly primary school and kindergarten and the Akwadum Islamic kindergarten.
The rainstorm also destroyed a portion of the classroom blocks of the two schools, compelling the teachers of the affected schools to temporarily organise classes under trees.
Presenting the items, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, the Eastern Regional Minister, expressed sympathy for the beneficiaries and hoped that the items would help mitigate their suffering.
He also directed the New Juaben Municipal Assembly to collaborate with the schools' management on how best to renovate the structures that were destroyed to provide conducive learning environment for the children.
The minister also promised the people some seedlings from the Forestry Commission to be planted in the area to serve as windbreaks to prevent recurrence of the disaster in the future.
Receiving the items, the Akwadumhene, Nana Osei Owusu, thanked NADMO for their timely support.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
PHARMACISTS FOR ALL DISTRICT HEALTH FACILITIES (PAGE 55)
THE Ghana Health Service (GHS) has decided to attach pharmacists to all of its facilities in the districts to ensure proper storage and management of drugs.
The Chief Pharmacist of the Service, Mr Ohemeng Kyei, who made this known at the annual Pharmacy Sub-Sector Performance Review meeting in Koforidua on Tuesday stated that the initiative would also make it possible for effective drug distribution and appropriate dispensation to patients, particularly pregnant women.
The three-day event was on the theme “Reducing Maternal Mortality in Ghana: Optimising the Role of the Pharmacist”.
It was aimed at taking stock of the performance of the Pharmaceutical Service for the past year and plan for the future with the view of addressing its inherent challenges.
According to Mr Kyei, it had become necessary to post pharmacists to the districts because of the so many problems associated with drug use by patients.
He said the process would ensure that the right quantities of drugs procured and sent there were stored well, distributed and rationally used at all levels, particularly among pregnant women who would also be advised on drugs that would endanger their lives and those of their unborn children.
Spelling out the functions of the pharmacist, he said such health workers were to audit and document whatever prescriptions meant for patients, especially pregnant women.
This, Mr Kyei said, helped improve service delivery and reduced the risk that some of such medicines posed to the health of the child and the mother.
With regard to hemoglobin levels of pregnant women, he said since that was essential in antenatal and post natal care, pharmacists must ensure that safe and efficacious blood tonic were selected, procured and dispensed to pregnant women.
“Pharmacists must also ensure that quantities of blood tonics required by a pregnant woman would be determined and supplied to ensure that the right amount of elemental iron needed for blood formation would be delivered,” he stated.
For his part, the Eastern Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Erasmus Agongo, said the country recorded nearly 1,000 maternal deaths every year, describing the situation as “a disaster to many families.”
He, therefore, appealed to pharmacists to help ensure easy access to drugs and their proper use, family planning and safe abortion to reduce maternal mortality.
Dr Agongo also stressed the need for pharmacists to actively involve themselves in the administration of health facilities as 50 per cent of the resources being used by hospitals were associated with medicines.
The Chief Pharmacist of the Service, Mr Ohemeng Kyei, who made this known at the annual Pharmacy Sub-Sector Performance Review meeting in Koforidua on Tuesday stated that the initiative would also make it possible for effective drug distribution and appropriate dispensation to patients, particularly pregnant women.
The three-day event was on the theme “Reducing Maternal Mortality in Ghana: Optimising the Role of the Pharmacist”.
It was aimed at taking stock of the performance of the Pharmaceutical Service for the past year and plan for the future with the view of addressing its inherent challenges.
According to Mr Kyei, it had become necessary to post pharmacists to the districts because of the so many problems associated with drug use by patients.
He said the process would ensure that the right quantities of drugs procured and sent there were stored well, distributed and rationally used at all levels, particularly among pregnant women who would also be advised on drugs that would endanger their lives and those of their unborn children.
Spelling out the functions of the pharmacist, he said such health workers were to audit and document whatever prescriptions meant for patients, especially pregnant women.
This, Mr Kyei said, helped improve service delivery and reduced the risk that some of such medicines posed to the health of the child and the mother.
With regard to hemoglobin levels of pregnant women, he said since that was essential in antenatal and post natal care, pharmacists must ensure that safe and efficacious blood tonic were selected, procured and dispensed to pregnant women.
“Pharmacists must also ensure that quantities of blood tonics required by a pregnant woman would be determined and supplied to ensure that the right amount of elemental iron needed for blood formation would be delivered,” he stated.
For his part, the Eastern Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Erasmus Agongo, said the country recorded nearly 1,000 maternal deaths every year, describing the situation as “a disaster to many families.”
He, therefore, appealed to pharmacists to help ensure easy access to drugs and their proper use, family planning and safe abortion to reduce maternal mortality.
Dr Agongo also stressed the need for pharmacists to actively involve themselves in the administration of health facilities as 50 per cent of the resources being used by hospitals were associated with medicines.
Monday, April 27, 2009
DON'T DEMAND MONIES FROM DCE NOMINEES ...ER Minister urges assembly members (PAGE 13)
THE Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has expressed concern over the situation where some assembly members demand money from persons nominated for the position of chief executive, as a pre-condition to confirm or reject their appointments.
He has therefore appealed to assembly members to refrain from such practice, since that could compromise the moral authority they wielded to keep chief executives accountable.
Speaking at the confirmation of Mr Sammy Kwabi as the Chief Executive for the Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar District, Mr Ampofo said “the integrity to keep chief executives accountable and honest will only come with the ability to keep our hands clean”.
The regional minister was reacting to a report in a newspaper which claimed that some members of the New Juaben Municipal Assembly had demanded GH¢3,000 from the President’s nominee as a condition to approve his appointment.
Mr Ampofo indicated that since the work of local government was crucial to implementing the development agenda of the government to enhance the standard of living of the people, the co-operation and support of assembly members for chief executives was indispensable.
Nonetheless, he indicated that that team work to enhance effective and efficient operation of the assemblies could be defeated “if we who are responsible for checking the chief executives are vulnerable to influence”.
He, therefore, entreated members of the various district assemblies to stay clean by dissociating themselves from attempts to demand money or other incentives from persons who had been nominated for the post of chief executives before voting to confirm them.
“Since we are perceived as honourable members of the various assemblies we must always, now and after the appointment of the President’s nominees, demand development for our electoral areas to raise the living conditions of our people,” he stated.
To those so far confirmed as chief executives, Mr Ampofo urged them to be accountable, honest and transparent to the assembly members to ensure effective and efficient team work at the local level
He has therefore appealed to assembly members to refrain from such practice, since that could compromise the moral authority they wielded to keep chief executives accountable.
Speaking at the confirmation of Mr Sammy Kwabi as the Chief Executive for the Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar District, Mr Ampofo said “the integrity to keep chief executives accountable and honest will only come with the ability to keep our hands clean”.
The regional minister was reacting to a report in a newspaper which claimed that some members of the New Juaben Municipal Assembly had demanded GH¢3,000 from the President’s nominee as a condition to approve his appointment.
Mr Ampofo indicated that since the work of local government was crucial to implementing the development agenda of the government to enhance the standard of living of the people, the co-operation and support of assembly members for chief executives was indispensable.
Nonetheless, he indicated that that team work to enhance effective and efficient operation of the assemblies could be defeated “if we who are responsible for checking the chief executives are vulnerable to influence”.
He, therefore, entreated members of the various district assemblies to stay clean by dissociating themselves from attempts to demand money or other incentives from persons who had been nominated for the post of chief executives before voting to confirm them.
“Since we are perceived as honourable members of the various assemblies we must always, now and after the appointment of the President’s nominees, demand development for our electoral areas to raise the living conditions of our people,” he stated.
To those so far confirmed as chief executives, Mr Ampofo urged them to be accountable, honest and transparent to the assembly members to ensure effective and efficient team work at the local level
Thursday, April 23, 2009
POLICE DID NOT ASSAULT WOMAN (PAGE 54)
THE Eastern Regional Police Command has denied that policemen from the Effiduasi Police Station subjected a 96-year old woman reported missing to severe interrogation and assault, leading to her death.
An Accra-based media house in a report on April 16 attributed the cause of death of the unidentified woman to brutalities meted out to her by police personnel of the Effiduasi Police during interrogation.
A press release issued in Koforidua last Monday and signed by the Public Affairs Officer of the command, Chief Inspector Christopher Tawiah, said the police neither subjected the woman to severe interrogation nor beatings as was being speculated in some sections of the media.
According to the release, on April 13, this year, the Koforidua Railway Police Station officially received a report of a missing old lady.
It said while efforts were being made to trace the whereabouts of the woman, one Mr Osei Karikari reported to the Effiduase Police on April 16 that he had found an old lady sitting on a plot of land belonging to him at Aberewa-Nkwanta, a suburb of Koforidua.
The release said a team of policemen was therefore dispatched to the scene, where an old woman looking very weak and half naked was found lying down.
According to the statement, she passed away when she was being sent by the policemen to the Regional Hospital at Koforidua.
It said that the police were humane and would always live up to their ethics of protecting life and property.
An Accra-based media house in a report on April 16 attributed the cause of death of the unidentified woman to brutalities meted out to her by police personnel of the Effiduasi Police during interrogation.
A press release issued in Koforidua last Monday and signed by the Public Affairs Officer of the command, Chief Inspector Christopher Tawiah, said the police neither subjected the woman to severe interrogation nor beatings as was being speculated in some sections of the media.
According to the release, on April 13, this year, the Koforidua Railway Police Station officially received a report of a missing old lady.
It said while efforts were being made to trace the whereabouts of the woman, one Mr Osei Karikari reported to the Effiduase Police on April 16 that he had found an old lady sitting on a plot of land belonging to him at Aberewa-Nkwanta, a suburb of Koforidua.
The release said a team of policemen was therefore dispatched to the scene, where an old woman looking very weak and half naked was found lying down.
According to the statement, she passed away when she was being sent by the policemen to the Regional Hospital at Koforidua.
It said that the police were humane and would always live up to their ethics of protecting life and property.
MORE CRACKS DETECTED ON ADOMI BRIDGE (BACK PAGE)
LESS than nine months after repair works had been completed on some of the steel beams supporting the Adomi Bridge, the bridge has developed fresh cracks.
A section of the concrete that the steel beams are supporting has developed new cracks that could deteriorate if prompt attention is not paid to the current condition.
The cracks — mostly confined to the area that developed the deep cracks that were repaired in July, 2008 — have exposed some of the iron rods in the concrete.
A visit to the facility on Tuesday, April 21, 2009, revealed that although some attempts had been made to seal some of the cracks, further cracks kept occurring causing some of the concrete to peel off into the water beneath.
Sources close to the Ghana Road Fund Board told the Daily Graphic at Atimpoku that the cracks were first detected in early March, this year.
According to the sources, the continued use of the bridge by heavy trucks with loads exceeding the stipulated 30 tonnes had adversely compromised the safety and stability of the 52-year-old bridge.
The sources said the danger being posed by the overloaded trucks had persisted due to the extortion of money from drivers by some policemen and officials of the Ghana Highway Authority.
To escape the attention of those who are concerned about the safety of the 805-feet bridge, most drivers of the overloaded heavy trucks often park their trucks from the Juapong end of the bridge during the day and cross it either late in the evening or at dawn.
“We do not blame these recalcitrant drivers who flout the safety measures on the bridge, since those who are responsible to check their illegal act have turned a blind eye to the safety of the bridge,” the sources added.
A section of the concrete that the steel beams are supporting has developed new cracks that could deteriorate if prompt attention is not paid to the current condition.
The cracks — mostly confined to the area that developed the deep cracks that were repaired in July, 2008 — have exposed some of the iron rods in the concrete.
A visit to the facility on Tuesday, April 21, 2009, revealed that although some attempts had been made to seal some of the cracks, further cracks kept occurring causing some of the concrete to peel off into the water beneath.
Sources close to the Ghana Road Fund Board told the Daily Graphic at Atimpoku that the cracks were first detected in early March, this year.
According to the sources, the continued use of the bridge by heavy trucks with loads exceeding the stipulated 30 tonnes had adversely compromised the safety and stability of the 52-year-old bridge.
The sources said the danger being posed by the overloaded trucks had persisted due to the extortion of money from drivers by some policemen and officials of the Ghana Highway Authority.
To escape the attention of those who are concerned about the safety of the 805-feet bridge, most drivers of the overloaded heavy trucks often park their trucks from the Juapong end of the bridge during the day and cross it either late in the evening or at dawn.
“We do not blame these recalcitrant drivers who flout the safety measures on the bridge, since those who are responsible to check their illegal act have turned a blind eye to the safety of the bridge,” the sources added.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
KOKONTE POWDER USED AS FIRE EXTINGUISHERS? (PAGE 20)
THE Eastern Regional office of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has expressed concern over the increasing use of fire extinguishers filled with cassava powder (konkonte) by some commercial drivers in the region.
According to the GNFS, the use of the konkonte powder, which is to deceive policemen on patrol, could not extinguish fire on vehicles.
Such a practice, it said, had arisen due to the inability of the personnel of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) to use the appropriate device to thoroughly inspect the contents of fire extinguishers on vehicles, especially those plying the highways.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Commander of the GNFS, Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Mr Paul Opoku, made this known at the launch of road safety campaign at Nkawkaw recently.
He stated that his outfit seized a total of nine fire extinguishers filled with cassava powder from vehicles that were involved in accidents in 2008.
Mr Opoku, therefore, warned that any driver who would be caught with a fake extinguisher would be prosecuted.
ACFO Opoku also warned that his outfit would not shield drivers whose vehicles used the konkonte powder as fire extinguisher and would apprehend them for prosecution when approached for assistance for insurance claims when such vehicles are involved in accidents.
He stated that many of the fire outbreaks on vehicles could have been prevented if the drivers had genuine fire extinguishers with them.
Mr Opoku said in order to make the gadgets more accessible to motorists to ensure the safety of life and property on the roads, his outfit had provided the Koforidua office of the Driver, Vehicle License Authority (DVLA) with fire extinguishers to be sold to drivers at subsidised prices but some of the drivers had declined to buy them.
According to the GNFS, the use of the konkonte powder, which is to deceive policemen on patrol, could not extinguish fire on vehicles.
Such a practice, it said, had arisen due to the inability of the personnel of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) to use the appropriate device to thoroughly inspect the contents of fire extinguishers on vehicles, especially those plying the highways.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Commander of the GNFS, Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Mr Paul Opoku, made this known at the launch of road safety campaign at Nkawkaw recently.
He stated that his outfit seized a total of nine fire extinguishers filled with cassava powder from vehicles that were involved in accidents in 2008.
Mr Opoku, therefore, warned that any driver who would be caught with a fake extinguisher would be prosecuted.
ACFO Opoku also warned that his outfit would not shield drivers whose vehicles used the konkonte powder as fire extinguisher and would apprehend them for prosecution when approached for assistance for insurance claims when such vehicles are involved in accidents.
He stated that many of the fire outbreaks on vehicles could have been prevented if the drivers had genuine fire extinguishers with them.
Mr Opoku said in order to make the gadgets more accessible to motorists to ensure the safety of life and property on the roads, his outfit had provided the Koforidua office of the Driver, Vehicle License Authority (DVLA) with fire extinguishers to be sold to drivers at subsidised prices but some of the drivers had declined to buy them.
Monday, April 20, 2009
BRIBES, EXTORTION THREATEN SAFETY OF ADOMI BRIDGE (BACK PAGE)
Some officials of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) have been accused of extorting money from drivers to allow them to cross the Adomi Bridge with their overloaded trucks, at the risk of the safety of the bridge.
As a result, a section of the bridge which developed deep cracks but was repaired in July last year has started developing the same problem.
Under normal circumstances, vehicles that weigh more than the stipulated 31 tonnes are not allowed to use the bridge, but some policemen and GHA officials have allegedly turned a blind eye to that requirement because of their selfish interests.
Officials of the Ghana Road Fund Board and the Road Safety and Environment, who made this known, indicated that just last Tuesday three articulated trucks with excess load were allowed to cross the bridge at exactly 8.30 p.m.
The trucks, with registration numbers GT 5809 W, GW 6377U and GT 3126 H, weighed more than the permissible 31 tonnes allowed for heavy vehicles to cross the 52-year-old bridge.
Concerned about the safety of the bridge, the officials reported the blatant disregard for safety measures on the bridge by heavy truck drivers to the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, last Thursday.
They told the minister that last Tuesday, April 14, 2009, an operative of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) who attempted to stop the three articulated trucks from crossing the bridge was nearly assaulted by one of the drivers and his mates but the BNI official was rescued by some commercial drivers.
The driver of one of the trucks paid no heed to the BNI operative’s signals to stop and rammed into the back of his Golf 3 saloon car, destroying it.
The drivers and their mates are currently in custody to assist the police in their investigations, while the three trucks have been impounded.
A director of the Road Safety and Environment, Mr Joe-Fred Perseo, stated that when he personally contacted the staff of the GHA positioned at either end of the bridge on why they allowed the three trucks to cross, they explained that “the weighing machine became non-functional in the evening”.
Reacting to Mr Perseo’s concerns, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo described the action of the heavy truck drivers who flouted safety measures on the bridge as “a crime against the state”.
He, therefore, called for the immediate prosecution of the drivers and the mates of the three articulated trucks to serve as deterrent to other recalcitrant drivers.
According to him, since he assumed office as the Eastern Regional Minister, he had received countless complaints about the manner in which drivers were flouting safety measures on the bridge, which he said was a “national asset that must be preserved”.
He also called on policemen positioned at either end of the bridge to refrain from extorting money from drivers, since “your individual interest will endanger the safety of this national asset and innocent lives”.
The Adomi Bridge was closed to traffic for three weeks in July 2008 after three steel beams supporting the facility developed serious cracks, resulting in a depression on a section of the road.
As a result, a section of the bridge which developed deep cracks but was repaired in July last year has started developing the same problem.
Under normal circumstances, vehicles that weigh more than the stipulated 31 tonnes are not allowed to use the bridge, but some policemen and GHA officials have allegedly turned a blind eye to that requirement because of their selfish interests.
Officials of the Ghana Road Fund Board and the Road Safety and Environment, who made this known, indicated that just last Tuesday three articulated trucks with excess load were allowed to cross the bridge at exactly 8.30 p.m.
The trucks, with registration numbers GT 5809 W, GW 6377U and GT 3126 H, weighed more than the permissible 31 tonnes allowed for heavy vehicles to cross the 52-year-old bridge.
Concerned about the safety of the bridge, the officials reported the blatant disregard for safety measures on the bridge by heavy truck drivers to the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, last Thursday.
They told the minister that last Tuesday, April 14, 2009, an operative of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) who attempted to stop the three articulated trucks from crossing the bridge was nearly assaulted by one of the drivers and his mates but the BNI official was rescued by some commercial drivers.
The driver of one of the trucks paid no heed to the BNI operative’s signals to stop and rammed into the back of his Golf 3 saloon car, destroying it.
The drivers and their mates are currently in custody to assist the police in their investigations, while the three trucks have been impounded.
A director of the Road Safety and Environment, Mr Joe-Fred Perseo, stated that when he personally contacted the staff of the GHA positioned at either end of the bridge on why they allowed the three trucks to cross, they explained that “the weighing machine became non-functional in the evening”.
Reacting to Mr Perseo’s concerns, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo described the action of the heavy truck drivers who flouted safety measures on the bridge as “a crime against the state”.
He, therefore, called for the immediate prosecution of the drivers and the mates of the three articulated trucks to serve as deterrent to other recalcitrant drivers.
According to him, since he assumed office as the Eastern Regional Minister, he had received countless complaints about the manner in which drivers were flouting safety measures on the bridge, which he said was a “national asset that must be preserved”.
He also called on policemen positioned at either end of the bridge to refrain from extorting money from drivers, since “your individual interest will endanger the safety of this national asset and innocent lives”.
The Adomi Bridge was closed to traffic for three weeks in July 2008 after three steel beams supporting the facility developed serious cracks, resulting in a depression on a section of the road.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
ASUOGYAMAN, YILO KROBO CONFIRM DCEs (PAGE 14)
ASSEMBLY members of the Asuogyaman and Yilo Krobo districts of the Eastern Region have confirmed the two men nominated by the President for the position of Chief Executive for the political entities in the region.
They are Mr Johnson Kwaku Ahiator for Asuogyaman and Mr Andrew Soda for Yilo Krobo.
At Atimpoku, the district capital of Asuogyaman where the assembly members cast their ballot, Mr Ahiator, 48, an accountant at the Koforidua Office of the West African Examinations Council, polled 28 votes out of 44 valid votes cast, representing 66.7 per cent of the total votes to get the nod.
The Yilo Krobo assembly members at its meeting at Somanya, the district capital, also gave their approval for Mr Soda, a Credit Manager of the Upper Manya Krobo Rural Bank, with 47 of the 49 valid votes cast representing 95 per cent of the votes.
With their confirmations, the two DCEs have now become the first out of the 144 persons nominated for the post of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) to be approved.
The elections which was conducted by the Electoral Commission (EC) and watched by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, and the two members of Parliament in the two areas were generally peaceful.
In their acceptance speeches, Messrs Ahiator and Soda, were grateful to the members of the two assemblies for the confidence reposed in them and called for unity to ensure the rapid socio-economic development of the two districts.
“If we are to see any meaningful progress as districts, we must be prepared to put behind us petty squabbles that have divided our ranks in the past and forge ahead in unity to move forward the development of our districts,” they stated.
They also thanked the President for the honour done them and expressed their preparedness to help execute government’s development agenda in their respective districts.
Prior to the elections, Mr Ofosu Ampofo made it clear that since decentralisation was key to the progress of every district, assembly members should bury their differences and vote for the President’s nominees to accelerate the development of the two districts.
They are Mr Johnson Kwaku Ahiator for Asuogyaman and Mr Andrew Soda for Yilo Krobo.
At Atimpoku, the district capital of Asuogyaman where the assembly members cast their ballot, Mr Ahiator, 48, an accountant at the Koforidua Office of the West African Examinations Council, polled 28 votes out of 44 valid votes cast, representing 66.7 per cent of the total votes to get the nod.
The Yilo Krobo assembly members at its meeting at Somanya, the district capital, also gave their approval for Mr Soda, a Credit Manager of the Upper Manya Krobo Rural Bank, with 47 of the 49 valid votes cast representing 95 per cent of the votes.
With their confirmations, the two DCEs have now become the first out of the 144 persons nominated for the post of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) to be approved.
The elections which was conducted by the Electoral Commission (EC) and watched by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, and the two members of Parliament in the two areas were generally peaceful.
In their acceptance speeches, Messrs Ahiator and Soda, were grateful to the members of the two assemblies for the confidence reposed in them and called for unity to ensure the rapid socio-economic development of the two districts.
“If we are to see any meaningful progress as districts, we must be prepared to put behind us petty squabbles that have divided our ranks in the past and forge ahead in unity to move forward the development of our districts,” they stated.
They also thanked the President for the honour done them and expressed their preparedness to help execute government’s development agenda in their respective districts.
Prior to the elections, Mr Ofosu Ampofo made it clear that since decentralisation was key to the progress of every district, assembly members should bury their differences and vote for the President’s nominees to accelerate the development of the two districts.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
EASTERN REGION BEADS MAKERS WANT PERMANENT MARKET (PAGE 43)
THE Lack of a permanent market for 300 beads sellers in the Eastern Region is seriously hampering efforts to increase the high patronage of beads, considered as one of the great tourism attractions in the area.
Currently, majority of the beads traders, mostly aged men and women, travel from Somanya and Krobo-Odumase to Koforidua every Thursday to carry out their business activities at Jackson Park, which has been temporarily allocated to them.
To revive the industry and boost the region’s tourism potential, the Beads Sellers Association in the Eastern Region has therefore made a passionate appeal to the government to help them to obtain a permanent market place.
An executive member of the association, Mr Mohammed Braimah, who made the appeal, said “our present location has provided us limited opportunity to trade only on Thursdays and business is disrupted during the rain season and in the event of a national activity here”.
The association made the appeal when the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, and the New Juaben Municipal Co-ordinating Director, Mr Kwesi Ofei, visited the traders at their present location at the Jackson Park to interact with them to know at first hand problems facing them.
Mr Braimah explained that trade in beads, a treasured ancient traditional commodity, had significantly become one of the greatest tourism attractions in the Eastern Region.
In spite of the economic potential of the products, he added, the lack of a permanent market had severely hindered the merchandising of the items as many of the traders, mostly the aged, often carried their wares from Somanya and Krobo Odumase to Koforidua every Thursday.
“The exciting renaissance of beads craftsmanship taking place today have made them to become a source of livelihood for hundreds of people—the aged, women and men, children and adults in the Eastern Region”, Mr Braimah added.
He, therefore, appealed to Mr Ampofo, the new regional minister, to help find a permanent market for them to enhance the patronage of the products.
For his part, Mr Ampofo expressed his preparedness to provide a permanent market for the beads sellers, since the commodity was one of the potential tourist attractions in the region.
To this end, he assured the traders to collaborate with the New Juaben Municipal Assembly, the Ghana Tourism Board and the Koforidua Office of the National Cultural Centre (CNC) to find a lasting solution to problems facing them and other craftsmen in the area.
He also called on stakeholders to at least help organise a special beads fair in Koforidua, where traders would have the opportunity to display their wares and also be educated on how best to add value to their products.
The Regional Minister, in the company of some of the executives of the association, later called on the executives of the Koforidua Office of the CNC, where he held discussion with them on how best to revive the centre to serve as a permanent place for the traders.
Currently, majority of the beads traders, mostly aged men and women, travel from Somanya and Krobo-Odumase to Koforidua every Thursday to carry out their business activities at Jackson Park, which has been temporarily allocated to them.
To revive the industry and boost the region’s tourism potential, the Beads Sellers Association in the Eastern Region has therefore made a passionate appeal to the government to help them to obtain a permanent market place.
An executive member of the association, Mr Mohammed Braimah, who made the appeal, said “our present location has provided us limited opportunity to trade only on Thursdays and business is disrupted during the rain season and in the event of a national activity here”.
The association made the appeal when the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, and the New Juaben Municipal Co-ordinating Director, Mr Kwesi Ofei, visited the traders at their present location at the Jackson Park to interact with them to know at first hand problems facing them.
Mr Braimah explained that trade in beads, a treasured ancient traditional commodity, had significantly become one of the greatest tourism attractions in the Eastern Region.
In spite of the economic potential of the products, he added, the lack of a permanent market had severely hindered the merchandising of the items as many of the traders, mostly the aged, often carried their wares from Somanya and Krobo Odumase to Koforidua every Thursday.
“The exciting renaissance of beads craftsmanship taking place today have made them to become a source of livelihood for hundreds of people—the aged, women and men, children and adults in the Eastern Region”, Mr Braimah added.
He, therefore, appealed to Mr Ampofo, the new regional minister, to help find a permanent market for them to enhance the patronage of the products.
For his part, Mr Ampofo expressed his preparedness to provide a permanent market for the beads sellers, since the commodity was one of the potential tourist attractions in the region.
To this end, he assured the traders to collaborate with the New Juaben Municipal Assembly, the Ghana Tourism Board and the Koforidua Office of the National Cultural Centre (CNC) to find a lasting solution to problems facing them and other craftsmen in the area.
He also called on stakeholders to at least help organise a special beads fair in Koforidua, where traders would have the opportunity to display their wares and also be educated on how best to add value to their products.
The Regional Minister, in the company of some of the executives of the association, later called on the executives of the Koforidua Office of the CNC, where he held discussion with them on how best to revive the centre to serve as a permanent place for the traders.
TWO WOMEN IN ACCIDENT AFTER EASTER HOLIDAYS (BACK PAGE)
TWO women died in an accident last Tuesday when a Toyota Rav 4 on which they were travelling from Kwahu-Obomeng to Accra burst one of its front tyres and somersaulted several times.
Another woman, identified as Kate Anima, 26, who sustained serious injuries, was rushed to the Holy Family Hospital at Nkawkaw. She was later referred to the St Joseph’s Hospital in Koforidua.
The dead, who were identified as Bridget, 26, and Barbara, 28, were with two men returning from the Easter holidays at Kwahu-Obomeng when the accident occurred about 10.30 a.m.
The body of Barbara, who was a Level 300 student of the Central University College in Accra, has been deposited at the morgue of the Enyiresi Government Hospital, while that of Bridget has been put in the Holy Family Hospital morgue.
The two men, identified as Akuffo and Kwadwo Sarfo Boateng, who were also seriously injured, are on admission at the Enyiresi Government Hospital and are reported to be responding to treatment. They are expected to be conveyed to the Abetifi Government Hospital for further treatment.
The officer in charge of the Anyinam Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), Inspector Ben Alylmah, who confirmed the accident to the Daily Graphic, said at 10.30 a.m. on Tuesday, his outfit was informed about the fatal accident.
He explained that when personnel of the MTTU rushed to the scene, they found Barbara trapped dead in the vehicle, adding that with the support of some pedestrians, the police were able to retrieve the body from the terribly mangled vehicle.
According to him, the vehicle, which was said to be travelling at top speed, burst one of its front tyres and somersaulted several times while it was negotiating a dangerous curve on the road between Enyiresi and Sekyere-Dankwah on the Accra-Kumasi highway.
Another woman, identified as Kate Anima, 26, who sustained serious injuries, was rushed to the Holy Family Hospital at Nkawkaw. She was later referred to the St Joseph’s Hospital in Koforidua.
The dead, who were identified as Bridget, 26, and Barbara, 28, were with two men returning from the Easter holidays at Kwahu-Obomeng when the accident occurred about 10.30 a.m.
The body of Barbara, who was a Level 300 student of the Central University College in Accra, has been deposited at the morgue of the Enyiresi Government Hospital, while that of Bridget has been put in the Holy Family Hospital morgue.
The two men, identified as Akuffo and Kwadwo Sarfo Boateng, who were also seriously injured, are on admission at the Enyiresi Government Hospital and are reported to be responding to treatment. They are expected to be conveyed to the Abetifi Government Hospital for further treatment.
The officer in charge of the Anyinam Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), Inspector Ben Alylmah, who confirmed the accident to the Daily Graphic, said at 10.30 a.m. on Tuesday, his outfit was informed about the fatal accident.
He explained that when personnel of the MTTU rushed to the scene, they found Barbara trapped dead in the vehicle, adding that with the support of some pedestrians, the police were able to retrieve the body from the terribly mangled vehicle.
According to him, the vehicle, which was said to be travelling at top speed, burst one of its front tyres and somersaulted several times while it was negotiating a dangerous curve on the road between Enyiresi and Sekyere-Dankwah on the Accra-Kumasi highway.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
ACCIDENT CLAIMS LIVES OF 3 ON GOOD FRIDAY (BACK PAGE)
THREE persons died and others sustained injuries in a motor accident on Good Friday.
The accident occurred when an O.A. Travel and Tours bus and a 33-seater Mercedes Benz bus collided at the intersection at Akyem Anyinasin on the Accra-Kumasi highway.
The O.A. bus, with registration number AS 3401 X, was travelling to Kumasi while the Mercedes Benz bus, with registration number GS 7863 Z, was coming from the opposite direction.
Two of the victims, identified as driver’s mates of the two buses, died on the spot, while the third person, who has not been identified yet, died later at the Suhum Government Hospital.
The bodies of the driver’s mates have been deposited at the Kyebi Government Hospital, while that of the third person is in the morgue of the Suhum Government Hospital.
The driver of the Mercedes Benz bus, who was injured, was first sent to the Kyebi Government Hospital and later referred to the St Joseph Hospital, while those who sustained minor injuries were treated and discharged at the Kyebi Government Hospital.
The officer in charge of the Kyebi Police Divisional Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), DSP Hans Setsor, confirmed that his outfit was informed of the accident at about 6.30 p.m. on Good Friday.
According to him the O.A., bus which was trying to overtake two vehicles, went into the lane of the oncoming Mercedes Benz bus, resulting in the collision.
He said the Mercedes Benz bus broke into two leading to the death of the three persons and injuries to others.
DSP Setsor stated that personnel from the Fire Station at Suhum were called in to retrieve two of the dead whose bodies were trapped in the mangled Benz bus.
The accident occurred when an O.A. Travel and Tours bus and a 33-seater Mercedes Benz bus collided at the intersection at Akyem Anyinasin on the Accra-Kumasi highway.
The O.A. bus, with registration number AS 3401 X, was travelling to Kumasi while the Mercedes Benz bus, with registration number GS 7863 Z, was coming from the opposite direction.
Two of the victims, identified as driver’s mates of the two buses, died on the spot, while the third person, who has not been identified yet, died later at the Suhum Government Hospital.
The bodies of the driver’s mates have been deposited at the Kyebi Government Hospital, while that of the third person is in the morgue of the Suhum Government Hospital.
The driver of the Mercedes Benz bus, who was injured, was first sent to the Kyebi Government Hospital and later referred to the St Joseph Hospital, while those who sustained minor injuries were treated and discharged at the Kyebi Government Hospital.
The officer in charge of the Kyebi Police Divisional Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), DSP Hans Setsor, confirmed that his outfit was informed of the accident at about 6.30 p.m. on Good Friday.
According to him the O.A., bus which was trying to overtake two vehicles, went into the lane of the oncoming Mercedes Benz bus, resulting in the collision.
He said the Mercedes Benz bus broke into two leading to the death of the three persons and injuries to others.
DSP Setsor stated that personnel from the Fire Station at Suhum were called in to retrieve two of the dead whose bodies were trapped in the mangled Benz bus.
ACCEPT THE PRESIDENT'S APPOINTMENT (PAGE 16)
SOME executive members of the New Juaben North and South constituencies of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have urged the rank and file of the party to accept the President’s appointment of Mr Alex Asamoah as the Chief Executive for the New Juaben Municipality.
That, they noted, would prevent any possible division among the party’s supporters to ensure the rapid development of the municipality and its early elevation into a metropolitan status.
At a press briefing over the weekend, the New Juaben North Propaganda Secretary of the party, Mr Joshua Attah Mensah, said “we are full of praise for the President because he has picked the right person for the job”.
The briefing, which was a quick reaction to an earlier press conference by a section of the party who were against the appointment of Mr Asamoah, was attended by executive members and supporters of the two constituencies of the party.
Mr Mensah said although disagreement that characterised some of the nominations for the post of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives were usual, over-stretching it could lead to the erosion of the credibility accorded the party by Ghanaians.
He, therefore, appealed to the rank and file to respect and accept the President’s decision to enable the party to fulfil its promises to the people.
Highlighting the background of Mr Asamoah, he said the nominee was the chief executive for the New Juaben Municipality for only three months before the party lost power and handed over in January 2001.
“Mr Asamoah, who is a graduate and product of the School of Administration of the University of Ghana, Legon, also had the opportunity to work at the Ministry of Finance in South Africa,” Mr Mensah stated, adding that “although his stay in office was brief, he made his mark.”
“We are therefore hopeful that Mr Asamoah, being at the helm of affairs at the New Juaben Municipal Assembly and in collaboration with the assembly members, will work assiduously to ensure the elevation of the municipality to a metropolitan status soon,” the propaganda secretary added.
Earlier at a separate press conference to express their disagreement over the appointment Mr Asamoah for the MCE post, some executive members and supporters of the party called on the President to reconsider his decision and rather give the post to Mr Ransford Boakye, who was made to stand as the parliamentary candidate for New Juaben South Constituency on the ticket of the NDC but lost in the recent elections.
The New Juaben South Constituency Chairman of the party, Mr Andrew Awuku, who made the call, said since Mr Boakye was assured of the post by the national executive of the party, he resigned from his well-paid job to enable him to commit himself to the cause of the party.
“We therefore consider it unfair to deny him the MCE post, since out of love and loyalty he boldly stood out among the many who refused to accept the challenge to contest the parliamentary election for the New Juaben Constituency,” Mr Awuku stated.
According him, prior to the December elections, Mr Asamoah, who had been given the appointment, never showed any commitment to the cause of the party yet had succeeded in influencing the hearts and minds of the executive of the party, who had rewarded him with the chief executive post.
“We, therefore, will want to sound a word of caution that we will advise ourselves if our concerns are not addressed by the President immediately,” Mr Awuku cautioned.
That, they noted, would prevent any possible division among the party’s supporters to ensure the rapid development of the municipality and its early elevation into a metropolitan status.
At a press briefing over the weekend, the New Juaben North Propaganda Secretary of the party, Mr Joshua Attah Mensah, said “we are full of praise for the President because he has picked the right person for the job”.
The briefing, which was a quick reaction to an earlier press conference by a section of the party who were against the appointment of Mr Asamoah, was attended by executive members and supporters of the two constituencies of the party.
Mr Mensah said although disagreement that characterised some of the nominations for the post of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives were usual, over-stretching it could lead to the erosion of the credibility accorded the party by Ghanaians.
He, therefore, appealed to the rank and file to respect and accept the President’s decision to enable the party to fulfil its promises to the people.
Highlighting the background of Mr Asamoah, he said the nominee was the chief executive for the New Juaben Municipality for only three months before the party lost power and handed over in January 2001.
“Mr Asamoah, who is a graduate and product of the School of Administration of the University of Ghana, Legon, also had the opportunity to work at the Ministry of Finance in South Africa,” Mr Mensah stated, adding that “although his stay in office was brief, he made his mark.”
“We are therefore hopeful that Mr Asamoah, being at the helm of affairs at the New Juaben Municipal Assembly and in collaboration with the assembly members, will work assiduously to ensure the elevation of the municipality to a metropolitan status soon,” the propaganda secretary added.
Earlier at a separate press conference to express their disagreement over the appointment Mr Asamoah for the MCE post, some executive members and supporters of the party called on the President to reconsider his decision and rather give the post to Mr Ransford Boakye, who was made to stand as the parliamentary candidate for New Juaben South Constituency on the ticket of the NDC but lost in the recent elections.
The New Juaben South Constituency Chairman of the party, Mr Andrew Awuku, who made the call, said since Mr Boakye was assured of the post by the national executive of the party, he resigned from his well-paid job to enable him to commit himself to the cause of the party.
“We therefore consider it unfair to deny him the MCE post, since out of love and loyalty he boldly stood out among the many who refused to accept the challenge to contest the parliamentary election for the New Juaben Constituency,” Mr Awuku stated.
According him, prior to the December elections, Mr Asamoah, who had been given the appointment, never showed any commitment to the cause of the party yet had succeeded in influencing the hearts and minds of the executive of the party, who had rewarded him with the chief executive post.
“We, therefore, will want to sound a word of caution that we will advise ourselves if our concerns are not addressed by the President immediately,” Mr Awuku cautioned.
Monday, April 13, 2009
ACTIVITIES OF HAWKERS POSE THREAT TO KDUA GCB (PAGE 26)
COMMERCIAL activities by hawkers and traders around the premises of the Koforidua branch of the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) are posing a serious security threat to the operations of the bank.
Therefore, efforts by the bank’s management to provide adequate conducive and safe environment for business transaction over the years have been severely compromised.
Apart from the human and vehicular traffic caused by the activities of the hawkers and traders, access to the bank by its numerous customers has also become a major problem facing the management of the bank.
A Retail Manager of the bank, Mr John Teye Doku, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic in Koforidua, recounted how a criminal snatched money a woman had withdrawn from the bank just after she had emerged from the bank’s premises in December, last year.
He, therefore, appealed to the police and the New Juaben Municipal Assembly to relocate the traders to ensure security on the bank’s premises.
“Our operation as a bank has always come under serious challenge over the years, since some of our customers often complain of insecurity transacting business with the bank,” Mr Teye Doku stressed.
He stated that all efforts by the bank’s management in the past to solicit the assistance of the New Juaben Municipal Assembly to relocate the traders had yielded no results.
According to Mr Teye Doku, in spite of the fact that the management of the bank had been paying its property rate to the assembly, which had also been collecting tolls from the traders and hawkers, it had made no attempt to relocate the traders.
“So if anybody invades our premises, we have every legal right to eject them. It is because we want to be a law-abiding institution that is why we want to seek the support of the police and the assembly to address the problem,” he stated.
Mr Teye Doku further appealed to the assembly to relocate the Metro Transit buses, whose activities also contributed to human and vehicular traffic around the bank’s premises, to another place.
Therefore, efforts by the bank’s management to provide adequate conducive and safe environment for business transaction over the years have been severely compromised.
Apart from the human and vehicular traffic caused by the activities of the hawkers and traders, access to the bank by its numerous customers has also become a major problem facing the management of the bank.
A Retail Manager of the bank, Mr John Teye Doku, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic in Koforidua, recounted how a criminal snatched money a woman had withdrawn from the bank just after she had emerged from the bank’s premises in December, last year.
He, therefore, appealed to the police and the New Juaben Municipal Assembly to relocate the traders to ensure security on the bank’s premises.
“Our operation as a bank has always come under serious challenge over the years, since some of our customers often complain of insecurity transacting business with the bank,” Mr Teye Doku stressed.
He stated that all efforts by the bank’s management in the past to solicit the assistance of the New Juaben Municipal Assembly to relocate the traders had yielded no results.
According to Mr Teye Doku, in spite of the fact that the management of the bank had been paying its property rate to the assembly, which had also been collecting tolls from the traders and hawkers, it had made no attempt to relocate the traders.
“So if anybody invades our premises, we have every legal right to eject them. It is because we want to be a law-abiding institution that is why we want to seek the support of the police and the assembly to address the problem,” he stated.
Mr Teye Doku further appealed to the assembly to relocate the Metro Transit buses, whose activities also contributed to human and vehicular traffic around the bank’s premises, to another place.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
HFC DONATES TO ST JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL (PAGE 44)
THE Staff of the Koforidua branch of the Home Finance Company Limited (HFC) have presented assorted items worth GH¢550 to the Children’s Ward of the St Joseph Hospital at Koforidua.
The items, comprising two cartons of milk, four packets of fruit juice, one carton of Milo, some toiletries and detergents, three cartons of toffees, biscuits and loaves of bread, were donated as part of activities marking the institution’s first anniversary in the area.
Presenting the items, the Koforidua Branch Manager, Mr Isaac S. Aryeetey, said the staff of the bank decided to support the needy and the under-privileged in the community as part of the bank’s social responsibility activities.
“As part of our commitment to put a smile on the faces of the poor and the unfortunate this Easter, we took the initiative to contribute and go to the aid of sick children to make them enjoy this Easter moment,” Mr Aryeetey stated.
Receiving the items, the Director of the hospital, Rev Brother Yohannes B. Torwoe, thanked the staff for the donation and expressed the hope that it would be a worthy example for other institutions in the New Juaben Municipality.
The items, comprising two cartons of milk, four packets of fruit juice, one carton of Milo, some toiletries and detergents, three cartons of toffees, biscuits and loaves of bread, were donated as part of activities marking the institution’s first anniversary in the area.
Presenting the items, the Koforidua Branch Manager, Mr Isaac S. Aryeetey, said the staff of the bank decided to support the needy and the under-privileged in the community as part of the bank’s social responsibility activities.
“As part of our commitment to put a smile on the faces of the poor and the unfortunate this Easter, we took the initiative to contribute and go to the aid of sick children to make them enjoy this Easter moment,” Mr Aryeetey stated.
Receiving the items, the Director of the hospital, Rev Brother Yohannes B. Torwoe, thanked the staff for the donation and expressed the hope that it would be a worthy example for other institutions in the New Juaben Municipality.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
MANYA KROBO CHIEFS ACCUSE ASSEMBLY OF IMPROPRIETY (PAGE 16)
THE Manya Krobo Traditional Council has expressed grave concern over the lack of transparency on the part of the Many a Krobo District Assembly in the disbursement of a GH¢100,000 conveyance levy it collected as tolls from heavy trucks a year and a half ago.
It has, therefore, appealed to the government to help unravel the mystery surrounding the use of the money by the assembly.
The acting President of the council, Nene Sasraku IV, who made the appeal, said “the assembly’ non-transparent attitude has brought the respect for chiefs to the lowest ebb, as our subjects are accusing us of sharing the money among ourselves”.
Nene Sasraku was speaking during a durbar of the chiefs and people, including the various heads of departments in the area, in honour of the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, at Odumase- Krobo.
He said about one and a half years ago the traditional council initiated the collection of conveyance fees from heavy trucks plying Odugblase as part of efforts to raise revenue to boost the development of the district, noting that the assembly had spent over GH¢100,000 without having anything to show for it.
On development, the acting President of the council pointed out that the district was beset with several challenges, including deplorable roads due to heavy trucks conveying limestone from Odugblase to Tema and Takoradi, as well as inadequate water supply for the people.
Reacting to the concerns of the council, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo gave the assurance that he would institute a full investigation into the use of the GH¢100,000 conveyance fees by the district assembly.
“I am prepared, as the regional minister, to investigate this allegation to the bottom to restore the good working relationship between the assembly and the traditional authority,” he assured them.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo urged the assembly to ensure transparency and accountability in the disbursement of its common fund, which he indicated must be utilised to put up people-centred projects that would befit the status of the area.
It has, therefore, appealed to the government to help unravel the mystery surrounding the use of the money by the assembly.
The acting President of the council, Nene Sasraku IV, who made the appeal, said “the assembly’ non-transparent attitude has brought the respect for chiefs to the lowest ebb, as our subjects are accusing us of sharing the money among ourselves”.
Nene Sasraku was speaking during a durbar of the chiefs and people, including the various heads of departments in the area, in honour of the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, at Odumase- Krobo.
He said about one and a half years ago the traditional council initiated the collection of conveyance fees from heavy trucks plying Odugblase as part of efforts to raise revenue to boost the development of the district, noting that the assembly had spent over GH¢100,000 without having anything to show for it.
On development, the acting President of the council pointed out that the district was beset with several challenges, including deplorable roads due to heavy trucks conveying limestone from Odugblase to Tema and Takoradi, as well as inadequate water supply for the people.
Reacting to the concerns of the council, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo gave the assurance that he would institute a full investigation into the use of the GH¢100,000 conveyance fees by the district assembly.
“I am prepared, as the regional minister, to investigate this allegation to the bottom to restore the good working relationship between the assembly and the traditional authority,” he assured them.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo urged the assembly to ensure transparency and accountability in the disbursement of its common fund, which he indicated must be utilised to put up people-centred projects that would befit the status of the area.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
AFRAM PUBLICATIONS DONATES TO SUHUM CNC (PAGE 20)
THE Afram Publications Ghana Limited has donated assorted educational materials worth GH¢500 and a cheque for GH¢1,000 to the Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar District secretariat of the Centre for National Culture (CNC).
The items, comprising textbooks for English, Mathematics and Twi as well as several novels, would be given out as prizes to basic schools which would take part in a quiz competition to be organised by the CNC in the district.
The donation was in response to an appeal the CNC made to the company to help inculcate reading habit into pupils of both private and public basic schools in the Suhum town.
Presenting the items, the Eastern Regional Marketing Officer of the Afram Publications, Mr Adamu Fuseini, expressed the delight of his outfit to be associated with efforts at encouraging schoolchildren in the area to develop reading habit.
He pledged the commitment of Afram Publications to provide free educational materials annually to some of the basic schools in the area to raise the academic performance of the beneficiary pupils.
The Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar District Officer of the CNC, Mr Patrick Adjeitey, who received the items, thanked the donor for the gift.
He stated that since the libraries of most basic schools in the area lacked essential reading materials, most of the pupils had taken to bad habits such as smoking, drinking and attending video centres during school hours.
According to Mr Adjeitey, such unfortunate situation had contributed to the poor academic performance of some of the basic schools in the area.
The items, comprising textbooks for English, Mathematics and Twi as well as several novels, would be given out as prizes to basic schools which would take part in a quiz competition to be organised by the CNC in the district.
The donation was in response to an appeal the CNC made to the company to help inculcate reading habit into pupils of both private and public basic schools in the Suhum town.
Presenting the items, the Eastern Regional Marketing Officer of the Afram Publications, Mr Adamu Fuseini, expressed the delight of his outfit to be associated with efforts at encouraging schoolchildren in the area to develop reading habit.
He pledged the commitment of Afram Publications to provide free educational materials annually to some of the basic schools in the area to raise the academic performance of the beneficiary pupils.
The Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar District Officer of the CNC, Mr Patrick Adjeitey, who received the items, thanked the donor for the gift.
He stated that since the libraries of most basic schools in the area lacked essential reading materials, most of the pupils had taken to bad habits such as smoking, drinking and attending video centres during school hours.
According to Mr Adjeitey, such unfortunate situation had contributed to the poor academic performance of some of the basic schools in the area.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
DON'T BE OBSESSED WITH MATERIAL WEALTH (SPREAD)
THE Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, has called on Ghanaians, especially politicians, to do away with the culture of obsession with material wealth that has reared its ugly head in society in recent times.
“As humans, how many days will we spend on this earth that we should worry so much over the possession of material wealth, which we will never take away with us should death befall us?” he quizzed.
Speaking when the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, accompanied by the Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP George Anko-Bill, paid a courtesy call on him and his council of elders at his palace at Kyebi on Wednesday, the Okyenhene stated that it was time Ghanaians collectively resolved to do away with that culture if they should see any meaningful development.
He noted that Ghanaians, mainly politicians, had nowadays allowed themselves to be taken over by the mentality of material possession, inducing them to put their personal interest ahead of that of the masses, most of whom he said had been subjected to misery and poverty over the years.
Using himself as an example, Osagyefo Ofori Panin noted that the cloths and rings that he wore as a prominent traditional leader would be in vain if he failed to provide his people hope for the future.
“As a traditional leader, my only interest is that after 10 years of my reign I should proudly say that the best legacy I have given to my people is hope for the future and not the cloths and rings I wear today,” he explained.
He, therefore, stressed the need for leaders to be generational thinkers by focusing their attention on providing the basic necessities of life such as potable water and schools for their people, as well as implementing environmentally-friendly policies that would preserve the environment for posterity.
He called for effective decentralisation to enable every district in the country to obtain the necessary resources to run its affairs to improve the living standards of the people.
For his part, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said since the elections were over, Ghanaians must strive to put aside their political differences to enable them to work together for the good of the country.
He also pledged to work closely with all traditional authorities to bring meaningful development to the region.
“As humans, how many days will we spend on this earth that we should worry so much over the possession of material wealth, which we will never take away with us should death befall us?” he quizzed.
Speaking when the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, accompanied by the Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP George Anko-Bill, paid a courtesy call on him and his council of elders at his palace at Kyebi on Wednesday, the Okyenhene stated that it was time Ghanaians collectively resolved to do away with that culture if they should see any meaningful development.
He noted that Ghanaians, mainly politicians, had nowadays allowed themselves to be taken over by the mentality of material possession, inducing them to put their personal interest ahead of that of the masses, most of whom he said had been subjected to misery and poverty over the years.
Using himself as an example, Osagyefo Ofori Panin noted that the cloths and rings that he wore as a prominent traditional leader would be in vain if he failed to provide his people hope for the future.
“As a traditional leader, my only interest is that after 10 years of my reign I should proudly say that the best legacy I have given to my people is hope for the future and not the cloths and rings I wear today,” he explained.
He, therefore, stressed the need for leaders to be generational thinkers by focusing their attention on providing the basic necessities of life such as potable water and schools for their people, as well as implementing environmentally-friendly policies that would preserve the environment for posterity.
He called for effective decentralisation to enable every district in the country to obtain the necessary resources to run its affairs to improve the living standards of the people.
For his part, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said since the elections were over, Ghanaians must strive to put aside their political differences to enable them to work together for the good of the country.
He also pledged to work closely with all traditional authorities to bring meaningful development to the region.
DEVELOP ADMISSION DISPENSATION...for students from less-endowed schools (PAGE 11)
THE Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has called on private universities in the country to develop admission dispensation that would be more favourable to students from less-endowed senior high schools (SHS).
That, he said, would create equal access to tertiary education for such students to enable them to develop their potential to be useful to society.
“Students from most of the local SHSs with poor infrastructure and the needed teaching and learning materials may not obtain the requisite grades but could equally compete academically with their counterparts in the well-endowed schools when given a chance”, Mr Ampofo stated.
Speaking at the first annual Conference of Heads of Private Universities (CHPUG) at Koforidua, the Minister said they had all seen students from poor schools in rural communities who had excelled better than their colleagues from privileged schools in urban areas.
The event, which was on the theme, “Private university education - complementing government’s effort in education,” was attended by all heads of private universities across the country and was used to discuss challenges facing members of CHPUG and to discuss the way forward.
The Regional Minister said since quality education was the best legacy every modern society could bequeath to its youth to enable them to become useful citizens, every effort should be made to make tertiary education accessible to all.
He, however, indicated that while majority of students from well-endowed schools always stood a better chance of gaining easy access to tertiary institutions, their counterparts from the poorly-resourced schools, mostly in rural areas, were disadvantaged.
To address this disparity, Mr Ampofo called for collaboration among all stakeholders, particularly the members of the CHPUG and the government, to address such problems.
“We can collectively achieve this challenge and make university institutions the best place where quality education can be obtained by all,” he stressed.
As part of support for private universities, Mr Ampofo reiterated the government’s readiness to take a second look at the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), to consider all stakeholders, including private universities.
“Since your role as universities is complementary to the government’s commitment to enhancing the delivery of quality tertiary education in the country, we will see how best to extend the GETFund to you,” he assured.
The Regional Minister also expressed concern about the poor management of waste and urged the universities to introduce environmental and sanitation programmes that could solve the sanitation problems facing the country.
The President of CHPUG, Dr Samuel H. Donkor, called on the government to extend the GETFund to private universities to enable them to contribute meaningfully to the delivery of quality tertiary education in the country.
That, he said, would create equal access to tertiary education for such students to enable them to develop their potential to be useful to society.
“Students from most of the local SHSs with poor infrastructure and the needed teaching and learning materials may not obtain the requisite grades but could equally compete academically with their counterparts in the well-endowed schools when given a chance”, Mr Ampofo stated.
Speaking at the first annual Conference of Heads of Private Universities (CHPUG) at Koforidua, the Minister said they had all seen students from poor schools in rural communities who had excelled better than their colleagues from privileged schools in urban areas.
The event, which was on the theme, “Private university education - complementing government’s effort in education,” was attended by all heads of private universities across the country and was used to discuss challenges facing members of CHPUG and to discuss the way forward.
The Regional Minister said since quality education was the best legacy every modern society could bequeath to its youth to enable them to become useful citizens, every effort should be made to make tertiary education accessible to all.
He, however, indicated that while majority of students from well-endowed schools always stood a better chance of gaining easy access to tertiary institutions, their counterparts from the poorly-resourced schools, mostly in rural areas, were disadvantaged.
To address this disparity, Mr Ampofo called for collaboration among all stakeholders, particularly the members of the CHPUG and the government, to address such problems.
“We can collectively achieve this challenge and make university institutions the best place where quality education can be obtained by all,” he stressed.
As part of support for private universities, Mr Ampofo reiterated the government’s readiness to take a second look at the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), to consider all stakeholders, including private universities.
“Since your role as universities is complementary to the government’s commitment to enhancing the delivery of quality tertiary education in the country, we will see how best to extend the GETFund to you,” he assured.
The Regional Minister also expressed concern about the poor management of waste and urged the universities to introduce environmental and sanitation programmes that could solve the sanitation problems facing the country.
The President of CHPUG, Dr Samuel H. Donkor, called on the government to extend the GETFund to private universities to enable them to contribute meaningfully to the delivery of quality tertiary education in the country.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
NO POLITICS OVER ROAD ACCIDENTS (PAGE 15)
THE Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has appealed to Ghanaians to refrain from politicising the recent increase in the carnage on the country’s roads.
He said a section of the society were politicising the issue as a price the country was paying for the National Democratic Congress’s use of juju for their victory in the 2008 general election.
The Regional Minister said lately Ghanaians had become fond of playing politics with pertinent national issues, which included the recent carnage on the roads, thus switching attention from instituting effectives measures that could help curb road accidents.
Speaking at the launch of the Easter Road Safety campaign at Nkawkaw on Tuesday, Mr Ampofo said “we should rather channel our determined resolve on educating our drivers and enforcing the law so as to stop the accidents”.
“Why should we, as a nation, associate recklessness on the part of drivers who over speed, do wrongful overtaking, abuse alcohol, do not engage in regular checks on their vehicles on a daily basis and are even prepared to bribe the police to overlook such shortcomings, on politics?” Mr Ampofo asked.
Addressing members of the various transport unions, traditional authorities and heads of departments in the Kwahu West District, he said Ghanaians must ensure that efforts being directed at resolving the various factors contributing to the accidents were not undermined.
The meeting formed part of efforts by the Eastern Regional Police Command and other stakeholders in the transport industry to educate commercial drivers on road safety and regulations to ensure sanity on the roads in the region.
The stakeholders are the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU), Driver, Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA) and the various transport unions.
He indicated that recklessness on the part of motorists and other factors such as drink-driving, wrongful overtaking and speeding, as well as fatigue and the deplorable state of the roads were the major causes of accidents
He, therefore, stressed the need for the rigid enforcement of regulations and laws to check the conduct of drivers as part of measures to curb the carnage of the roads.
Mr Ampofo also called on the law enforcement agencies to be more professional in the discharge of their duties, since any lapse on their part could give drivers the perception that they could always get away with their wrongdoing by offering money to policemen on the roads.
“Together, we must all help to stop over- familiarisation with law enforcement agencies by motorists who think they can bribe the police officers and get away without facing the rigours of the law,” he said.
“A police officer who enforces the law is a best friend of the drivers than the one who collects money and drinks with them,” Mr Ampofo added.
Other personalities who spoke during the event were DCOP George Anko-Bill, the Eastern Regional Police Commander, who is also the Chairman of the Eastern Regional Road Safety Commission, and Mr Stephen Anokye, the Eastern Regional Manager of the NRSC.
He said a section of the society were politicising the issue as a price the country was paying for the National Democratic Congress’s use of juju for their victory in the 2008 general election.
The Regional Minister said lately Ghanaians had become fond of playing politics with pertinent national issues, which included the recent carnage on the roads, thus switching attention from instituting effectives measures that could help curb road accidents.
Speaking at the launch of the Easter Road Safety campaign at Nkawkaw on Tuesday, Mr Ampofo said “we should rather channel our determined resolve on educating our drivers and enforcing the law so as to stop the accidents”.
“Why should we, as a nation, associate recklessness on the part of drivers who over speed, do wrongful overtaking, abuse alcohol, do not engage in regular checks on their vehicles on a daily basis and are even prepared to bribe the police to overlook such shortcomings, on politics?” Mr Ampofo asked.
Addressing members of the various transport unions, traditional authorities and heads of departments in the Kwahu West District, he said Ghanaians must ensure that efforts being directed at resolving the various factors contributing to the accidents were not undermined.
The meeting formed part of efforts by the Eastern Regional Police Command and other stakeholders in the transport industry to educate commercial drivers on road safety and regulations to ensure sanity on the roads in the region.
The stakeholders are the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU), Driver, Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA) and the various transport unions.
He indicated that recklessness on the part of motorists and other factors such as drink-driving, wrongful overtaking and speeding, as well as fatigue and the deplorable state of the roads were the major causes of accidents
He, therefore, stressed the need for the rigid enforcement of regulations and laws to check the conduct of drivers as part of measures to curb the carnage of the roads.
Mr Ampofo also called on the law enforcement agencies to be more professional in the discharge of their duties, since any lapse on their part could give drivers the perception that they could always get away with their wrongdoing by offering money to policemen on the roads.
“Together, we must all help to stop over- familiarisation with law enforcement agencies by motorists who think they can bribe the police officers and get away without facing the rigours of the law,” he said.
“A police officer who enforces the law is a best friend of the drivers than the one who collects money and drinks with them,” Mr Ampofo added.
Other personalities who spoke during the event were DCOP George Anko-Bill, the Eastern Regional Police Commander, who is also the Chairman of the Eastern Regional Road Safety Commission, and Mr Stephen Anokye, the Eastern Regional Manager of the NRSC.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
EXHIBIT DISCIPLINE IN ALL SPHERES OF LIFE (PAGE 40)
THE Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Prof. Ken A. Attafuah, has advised students to exhibit discipline in all spheres of their lives to reverse the gross indiscipline that had eaten into the moral fibre of society.
He also urged them to take full advantage of the opportunities afforded them by the high school education to develop their aptitudes and skills, which would be required of them as future leaders.
“To stay focused and determined to achieve your God-given potentials, you must avoid the practices of occultism, “sakawa”, 491, computer fraud, drug experimentation and drug trafficking, which are all detrimental to your personal development,” Prof. Attafuah stressed.
Speaking at the 30th anniversary of the Osino Presbyterian Senior High School (SHS) in the Eastern Region over the weekend, Prof. Attafuah reminded students that “your discipline will be a most prized asset as Ghana enters an era of oil drilling, oil exploitation and oil-generated wealth”.
He was speaking on the topic,“Discipline: A road map for future leaders”.
Prof. Attafuah stated that one of the greatest causes of the country’s underdevelopment was indiscipline at both individual and collective levels in society.
He particularly attributed the indiscipline among the youth to be largely a reflection of the indiscipline among the adults, a situation which he said was gradually undermining the country’s progress.
“A reflection of the indiscipline among us is the endless carnage on our roads, environmental degradation, reckless urban development planning, electoral and examination malpractice, falsification of examination results that undermine the integrity of our educational qualifications and the presumption of certified competence,” he stated.
Prof. Attafuah, therefore, reminded the youth of the huge role expected of them to help create a disciplined and lawful society, where they could grow up to fully develop their potentials to be useful to themselves and society.
“My dear students, Ghana looks up to you for a vibrant and visionary leadership in improving the tone of discipline in our country,” he said, adding that “if we are to combat indiscipline at all levels in society, we must be committed to the principles of natural justice, human rights, taking personal responsibility for our actions and building a strong personal character”.
On students agitation, Prof. Attafuah stated that lack of mutual trust and respect, mis-governance, repression of students concerns by school authorities had often resulted in avoidable students disturbances, demonstrations, vandalism and lawlessness, as well as poor student performance.
He, therefore, advised school authorities to adopt participatory methods of governance and show sincere evidence of addressing students’ concerns.
For his part, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said since the socio-economic development of every nation depended largely on the level of education of its citizens, the government had made education a high priority on its agenda.
He, therefore, urged the students to concentrate on their books and shun social vices that could be detrimental to their personal development.
On HIV/AIDS, Mr Ampofo cautioned the youth to avoid lifestyles that could predispose them to the pandemic, stressing that “as students, the best way to avoid the disease is through abstinence and shunning the bad company”.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr Kwadwo A. Sakyi, appealed to the government to help complete an 800-seater capacity assembly hall block, a four-unit science laboratory complex and a computer science laboratory to enhance teaching and learning.
He also urged them to take full advantage of the opportunities afforded them by the high school education to develop their aptitudes and skills, which would be required of them as future leaders.
“To stay focused and determined to achieve your God-given potentials, you must avoid the practices of occultism, “sakawa”, 491, computer fraud, drug experimentation and drug trafficking, which are all detrimental to your personal development,” Prof. Attafuah stressed.
Speaking at the 30th anniversary of the Osino Presbyterian Senior High School (SHS) in the Eastern Region over the weekend, Prof. Attafuah reminded students that “your discipline will be a most prized asset as Ghana enters an era of oil drilling, oil exploitation and oil-generated wealth”.
He was speaking on the topic,“Discipline: A road map for future leaders”.
Prof. Attafuah stated that one of the greatest causes of the country’s underdevelopment was indiscipline at both individual and collective levels in society.
He particularly attributed the indiscipline among the youth to be largely a reflection of the indiscipline among the adults, a situation which he said was gradually undermining the country’s progress.
“A reflection of the indiscipline among us is the endless carnage on our roads, environmental degradation, reckless urban development planning, electoral and examination malpractice, falsification of examination results that undermine the integrity of our educational qualifications and the presumption of certified competence,” he stated.
Prof. Attafuah, therefore, reminded the youth of the huge role expected of them to help create a disciplined and lawful society, where they could grow up to fully develop their potentials to be useful to themselves and society.
“My dear students, Ghana looks up to you for a vibrant and visionary leadership in improving the tone of discipline in our country,” he said, adding that “if we are to combat indiscipline at all levels in society, we must be committed to the principles of natural justice, human rights, taking personal responsibility for our actions and building a strong personal character”.
On students agitation, Prof. Attafuah stated that lack of mutual trust and respect, mis-governance, repression of students concerns by school authorities had often resulted in avoidable students disturbances, demonstrations, vandalism and lawlessness, as well as poor student performance.
He, therefore, advised school authorities to adopt participatory methods of governance and show sincere evidence of addressing students’ concerns.
For his part, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said since the socio-economic development of every nation depended largely on the level of education of its citizens, the government had made education a high priority on its agenda.
He, therefore, urged the students to concentrate on their books and shun social vices that could be detrimental to their personal development.
On HIV/AIDS, Mr Ampofo cautioned the youth to avoid lifestyles that could predispose them to the pandemic, stressing that “as students, the best way to avoid the disease is through abstinence and shunning the bad company”.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr Kwadwo A. Sakyi, appealed to the government to help complete an 800-seater capacity assembly hall block, a four-unit science laboratory complex and a computer science laboratory to enhance teaching and learning.
EXPEDITE ACTION ON SALARY NEGOTIATIONS (SPREAD)
THE Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has called on the Ministry of Health and the government to expedite action on the salary negotiations of health workers to avert any possible unrest in the health sector.
It also urged all labour unions to unite in an effort to ensure that issues pertaining to salaries and conditions of service of workers in the country went through the necessary consultative processes, in line with the provisions and tenets of the National Labour Law.
That, according to the association, would ensure that whatever salary structure would be proposed by the government would be thoroughly negotiated, not just with the GMA but all the trade unions representing the labour front in the country.
The President of the GMA, Dr Emmanuel Adom Winful, made the call at a press briefing at the end of the second National Executive Council meeting of the association in Koforidua last Sunday.
“We call on the government to be more proactive in bringing unresolved salary negotiation issues to a speedy conclusion and never wait until near-crisis level before making a move, as has always been the practice, and that we are in no mood to wait or negotiate ad-infinitum,” he stated.
Dr Winful said the salaries of health workers, including doctors, had not been reviewed for the past four years, although all other public sector workers had had their salaries reviewed annually within the period.
“This problem has pertained, in spite of the eroding effects of inflation and in clear breach of our memorandum of understanding with the government,” he stated.
According to him, although negotiations with the government started last year, they failed to reach a conclusion and that three months into 2009, the government had again failed to take concrete steps to address the issue.
On the single spine salary structure (SSSS), Dr Winful indicated that while the association was not in principle against it, “we should ensure that placement on this structure will be based on a comprehensive job evaluation study which, luckily, has been done by consultants appointed by the government”.
He explained that while the GMA, from the onset, was part of the consultative committee established to consider the process, “we do not have any knowledge of the final document for the implementation of the structure”.
“For this reason, we are hopeful that the government will thoroughly consider the relative of salary structures among the various health professionals to ensure that the implementation of the initiative will not be to our disadvantage,” he added.
On the posting of doctors to deprived communities, Dr Winful expressed the GMA’s disappointment at the decision of the Ghana Health Service to punish doctors who allegedly refused posting to rural communities.
“Let us, for the records, state unambiguously that in principle the GMA does not oppose the adoption of a wide range of policies to address the real challenge of inequitable distribution of health workers in the country,” he stated.
He, however, indicated that the inequitable distribution of doctors to rural areas in the country had put doctors who found themselves in such areas at a disadvantage, as they did not have the opportunity to upgrade themselves, compared to their colleagues serving in the various teaching hospitals.
He also added that with the current system, newly qualified doctors who ought to be perfecting their skills under more experienced senior colleagues many a time found themselves posted to facilities where there was no one to supervise them or to consult in times of difficulties.
It also urged all labour unions to unite in an effort to ensure that issues pertaining to salaries and conditions of service of workers in the country went through the necessary consultative processes, in line with the provisions and tenets of the National Labour Law.
That, according to the association, would ensure that whatever salary structure would be proposed by the government would be thoroughly negotiated, not just with the GMA but all the trade unions representing the labour front in the country.
The President of the GMA, Dr Emmanuel Adom Winful, made the call at a press briefing at the end of the second National Executive Council meeting of the association in Koforidua last Sunday.
“We call on the government to be more proactive in bringing unresolved salary negotiation issues to a speedy conclusion and never wait until near-crisis level before making a move, as has always been the practice, and that we are in no mood to wait or negotiate ad-infinitum,” he stated.
Dr Winful said the salaries of health workers, including doctors, had not been reviewed for the past four years, although all other public sector workers had had their salaries reviewed annually within the period.
“This problem has pertained, in spite of the eroding effects of inflation and in clear breach of our memorandum of understanding with the government,” he stated.
According to him, although negotiations with the government started last year, they failed to reach a conclusion and that three months into 2009, the government had again failed to take concrete steps to address the issue.
On the single spine salary structure (SSSS), Dr Winful indicated that while the association was not in principle against it, “we should ensure that placement on this structure will be based on a comprehensive job evaluation study which, luckily, has been done by consultants appointed by the government”.
He explained that while the GMA, from the onset, was part of the consultative committee established to consider the process, “we do not have any knowledge of the final document for the implementation of the structure”.
“For this reason, we are hopeful that the government will thoroughly consider the relative of salary structures among the various health professionals to ensure that the implementation of the initiative will not be to our disadvantage,” he added.
On the posting of doctors to deprived communities, Dr Winful expressed the GMA’s disappointment at the decision of the Ghana Health Service to punish doctors who allegedly refused posting to rural communities.
“Let us, for the records, state unambiguously that in principle the GMA does not oppose the adoption of a wide range of policies to address the real challenge of inequitable distribution of health workers in the country,” he stated.
He, however, indicated that the inequitable distribution of doctors to rural areas in the country had put doctors who found themselves in such areas at a disadvantage, as they did not have the opportunity to upgrade themselves, compared to their colleagues serving in the various teaching hospitals.
He also added that with the current system, newly qualified doctors who ought to be perfecting their skills under more experienced senior colleagues many a time found themselves posted to facilities where there was no one to supervise them or to consult in times of difficulties.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)