What should have been a normal soccer game between students of the Seventh Adventist Day (SDA) Senior High School at Koforidua last Friday turned tragic when an 18-year-old form two student collapsed and died.
The deceased, whose name was only given as Oduro, was said to have joined his Visual Art colleagues in a match against their counterparts from the General Art class at the school’s park. Prior to the start of the mid-term game at about 2.30 p.m, the deceased who rushed to the field to play the number five position was said to have become dazed and gradually started falling down. His mates who prevented him from hitting the ground were said to have first taken him to the school’s clinic where he was given a first aid treatment.
With the condition of the deceased not showing any signs of improvement, the school authority rushed him to the St. Joseph Hospital at Koforidua, where he passed on while being attended to by the doctor and other health personnel on duty at about 4.30 p.m
The superintendent of the hospital, Dr. Akrofi Mantey, and other health aides who were attending to Oduro were reported to have burst into uncontrollable tears when the deceased died right before their eyes, a situation that was said to have emotionally touched other out-patients who also cried.
Meanwhile, the body of the deceased has been placed in the hospital morgue, awaiting autospy.
When the Daily Graphic contacted some members of the school administration last Sunday, they confirmed the death but declined to give any further comment.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
PARENTS URGED TO GIVE CHILDREN GOOD EDUCATION (PAGE 21)
A Minister of the Church of Pentecost, Rev. Sam Oppong Asare-Duah, has called on parents to consider their commitment to their children’s education as a divine responsibility.
He has, therefore, urged parents to make every needed resource available to support their children’s educational ambitions to enable them to develop their potential.
“If education is expensive, we must consider the advantages we will gain in our old age, when our educated children could hold the key to our survival”, he stated.
Rev. Asare-Duah was speaking on behalf of the Koforidua Area Head of the Pentecost Church, Apostle Samuel K. Ofosu at the celebration of this year’s Pentecost Social Services (PentSoS) week at Koforidua.
The event, held on the theme: “Education — A Key to a secured future for my child” brought together pupils and students of basic and senior high schools of the Pentecost Church at Koforidua.
As part of activities marking the three-day event, the pupils and students who carried placards, went on a procession through some principal streets in the area to remind parents of the need to prioritise the education of their children.
Rev. Asare-Duah said since education was an indispensable tool to a child’s secure future, parents had an inevitable role to play both physically and spiritually in the education of their wards.
For that reason, he encouraged parents to work hard to improve upon their incomes and be economical in the use of their resources for the benefit of their children’s education.
“Education demands many resources—human, financial, time and material. There are so many challenges that as parents we have to encounter and overcome if proper education is to be given to our children”, Rev. Asare-Duah stated.
The minister also urged parents to make time to supervise their children’s homework and motivate them to be studious.
“As stakeholders in the education of our children, we must also learn to relate well with our children’s teachers to ensure the kind of education we desire for them”, he added.
Rev. Asare-Duah further appealed to the government to make resources available to schools as part of its commitment to enhance teaching and learning in the country.
He has, therefore, urged parents to make every needed resource available to support their children’s educational ambitions to enable them to develop their potential.
“If education is expensive, we must consider the advantages we will gain in our old age, when our educated children could hold the key to our survival”, he stated.
Rev. Asare-Duah was speaking on behalf of the Koforidua Area Head of the Pentecost Church, Apostle Samuel K. Ofosu at the celebration of this year’s Pentecost Social Services (PentSoS) week at Koforidua.
The event, held on the theme: “Education — A Key to a secured future for my child” brought together pupils and students of basic and senior high schools of the Pentecost Church at Koforidua.
As part of activities marking the three-day event, the pupils and students who carried placards, went on a procession through some principal streets in the area to remind parents of the need to prioritise the education of their children.
Rev. Asare-Duah said since education was an indispensable tool to a child’s secure future, parents had an inevitable role to play both physically and spiritually in the education of their wards.
For that reason, he encouraged parents to work hard to improve upon their incomes and be economical in the use of their resources for the benefit of their children’s education.
“Education demands many resources—human, financial, time and material. There are so many challenges that as parents we have to encounter and overcome if proper education is to be given to our children”, Rev. Asare-Duah stated.
The minister also urged parents to make time to supervise their children’s homework and motivate them to be studious.
“As stakeholders in the education of our children, we must also learn to relate well with our children’s teachers to ensure the kind of education we desire for them”, he added.
Rev. Asare-Duah further appealed to the government to make resources available to schools as part of its commitment to enhance teaching and learning in the country.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
POLICE ARREST CAR SNATCHER (PAGE 3)
A 27-year-old man who allegedly snatched a taxi from a driver at knife point at Santa Maria in Accra has been arrested in a joint military-police patrol at Amanase, near Suhum in the Eastern Region.
The suspect, Yaw Adu, who was on his way to Kumasi, together with an accomplice, is currently in police custody assisting in investigations.
He and Kingsley Tawiah Adu, the accomplice, were said to have attacked one Fetor Oweredu, the taxi driver, about 9 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 and snatched his KIA Delta taxi, with registration number GC 4160 Z.
Briefing the press in Koforidua, Sergeant Frank Domi of the Kyebi Divisional Police Command said about 1 a.m. on Thursday, June 18 this year, a joint military-police patrol team on the Accra-Kumasi Highway spotted a taxi cab heading towards Kumasi.
He said when the patrol team signalled the driver to stop, he disregarded the order and rather sped off, but he was pursued until the two were arrested.
Sergeant Domi said during interrogation, the two claimed that they were attending their father’s funeral at Effiduase in Kumasi and when the patrol team asked them to prove ownership of the vehicle, they could not do so.
In the cause of all that, Tawiah, sensing danger, fled into a nearby bush.
According to Sergeant Domi, a search conducted on the vehicle led to the discovery of a complimentary card bearing the name of one Kwaku Addo who worked with an Accra-based bank.
He said when the patrol team called the owner of the vehicle, he told the patrol team that some criminals had snatched the vehicle from its driver.
The suspect, Yaw Adu, who was on his way to Kumasi, together with an accomplice, is currently in police custody assisting in investigations.
He and Kingsley Tawiah Adu, the accomplice, were said to have attacked one Fetor Oweredu, the taxi driver, about 9 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 and snatched his KIA Delta taxi, with registration number GC 4160 Z.
Briefing the press in Koforidua, Sergeant Frank Domi of the Kyebi Divisional Police Command said about 1 a.m. on Thursday, June 18 this year, a joint military-police patrol team on the Accra-Kumasi Highway spotted a taxi cab heading towards Kumasi.
He said when the patrol team signalled the driver to stop, he disregarded the order and rather sped off, but he was pursued until the two were arrested.
Sergeant Domi said during interrogation, the two claimed that they were attending their father’s funeral at Effiduase in Kumasi and when the patrol team asked them to prove ownership of the vehicle, they could not do so.
In the cause of all that, Tawiah, sensing danger, fled into a nearby bush.
According to Sergeant Domi, a search conducted on the vehicle led to the discovery of a complimentary card bearing the name of one Kwaku Addo who worked with an Accra-based bank.
He said when the patrol team called the owner of the vehicle, he told the patrol team that some criminals had snatched the vehicle from its driver.
Monday, June 15, 2009
NADMO GIVES RELIEF ITEMS TO FLOOD VICTIMS (PAGE 52)
THE National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) last Saturday presented a number of relief items to victims of last Thursday’s flood which affected 300 houses and rendered 1,200 people homeless at Kpong, Lorlornyo and Bely Kope in the Lower Manya District of the Eastern Region.
The items included 100 bags of rice, 100 pieces of mattresses, 150 pieces of blankets, nine bales of second-hand clothing, as well as 150 pieces of cups and bowls.
A number of roofing sheets and nails will also be given to the victims after personnel of NADMO have completed assessment of the houses that were destroyed.
Presenting the items, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, expressed the government’s sympathy to the people.
He charged the District Chief Executive for Lower Manya, Mr Isaac Tetteh Agbo and the assembly member for Kpong Ahujo, Mr Masud Abdul-Mumin, to ensure that the items were presented to those who were affected by the disaster.
He also tasked the DCE and other stakeholders to identify and demolish all buildings that had been built along watercourses to prevent a future recurrence of the disaster.
The regional minister also advised the people to make strong foundations when putting up their houses to enable them to withstand future floods.
For his part, the acting Eastern Regional Co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr Tunde Hussein Kayode, urged the people to go for seedlings from the various offices of his outfit to plant them, and that “when these trees grow they will serve as windbreaks and reduce the flow of any future floods”.
The items included 100 bags of rice, 100 pieces of mattresses, 150 pieces of blankets, nine bales of second-hand clothing, as well as 150 pieces of cups and bowls.
A number of roofing sheets and nails will also be given to the victims after personnel of NADMO have completed assessment of the houses that were destroyed.
Presenting the items, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, expressed the government’s sympathy to the people.
He charged the District Chief Executive for Lower Manya, Mr Isaac Tetteh Agbo and the assembly member for Kpong Ahujo, Mr Masud Abdul-Mumin, to ensure that the items were presented to those who were affected by the disaster.
He also tasked the DCE and other stakeholders to identify and demolish all buildings that had been built along watercourses to prevent a future recurrence of the disaster.
The regional minister also advised the people to make strong foundations when putting up their houses to enable them to withstand future floods.
For his part, the acting Eastern Regional Co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr Tunde Hussein Kayode, urged the people to go for seedlings from the various offices of his outfit to plant them, and that “when these trees grow they will serve as windbreaks and reduce the flow of any future floods”.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
POLICE CONSTABLES CAUTIONED AGAINST BLATANT USE OF FORCE (PAGE 20)
THE Director General (Legal) of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) James Oppong-Boanuh has cautioned police constables against blatant use of force, abuse of human rights and indiscriminate use of firearms in the discharge of their duties.
According to him, any breach of discipline and regulations governing the police service could result in premature end to their career.
Speaking at the passing-out parade of 180 recruits at Koforidua over the weekend, DCOP Oppong-Boanuh stated “You owe this nation a duty to ensure that citizens go about their work without fear from criminals”.
The event, the second this year and was witnessed by a large gathering of families and relatives of the recruits, saw General Recruit Augustine Lartey, adjudged the overall best recruit.
DCOP Oppong-Boanuh said since discipline was the foundation on which the service depended, police officers needed to abide by the disciplinary code of the service.
“Therefore any officer who chooses to violate the disciplinary code of the service as laid down by the Police Service Act 1970 (Act 350) and the Police Service Disciplinary Proceedings Regulation 1974 (L.I 993) would be dealt with ruthlessly,” he cautioned.
He reminded the police personnel that since they had chosen a noble profession for which they must be proud of, the police administration would expect them to exhibit professional conduct wherever they would found themselves.
“For this reason, do not be motivated by personal considerations and you should guide against being used by individuals to settle personal, political or chieftaincy scores”, DCOP Oppong-Boanuh stressed.
He further advised the police constables to stay away from the use of narcotic drugs and drunkenness, saying “they will only lead you to a wasted life or imprisonment or both”.
According to him, any breach of discipline and regulations governing the police service could result in premature end to their career.
Speaking at the passing-out parade of 180 recruits at Koforidua over the weekend, DCOP Oppong-Boanuh stated “You owe this nation a duty to ensure that citizens go about their work without fear from criminals”.
The event, the second this year and was witnessed by a large gathering of families and relatives of the recruits, saw General Recruit Augustine Lartey, adjudged the overall best recruit.
DCOP Oppong-Boanuh said since discipline was the foundation on which the service depended, police officers needed to abide by the disciplinary code of the service.
“Therefore any officer who chooses to violate the disciplinary code of the service as laid down by the Police Service Act 1970 (Act 350) and the Police Service Disciplinary Proceedings Regulation 1974 (L.I 993) would be dealt with ruthlessly,” he cautioned.
He reminded the police personnel that since they had chosen a noble profession for which they must be proud of, the police administration would expect them to exhibit professional conduct wherever they would found themselves.
“For this reason, do not be motivated by personal considerations and you should guide against being used by individuals to settle personal, political or chieftaincy scores”, DCOP Oppong-Boanuh stressed.
He further advised the police constables to stay away from the use of narcotic drugs and drunkenness, saying “they will only lead you to a wasted life or imprisonment or both”.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
BIRIM RIVER POLLUTED BY ILLEGAL GOLD MINING (BACK PAGE)
THE Birim River, which provides water for many communities in the Eastern Region, has been heavily polluted by the activities of illegal gold miners, a tour of the area has revealed.
The miners have also caused massive destruction to large tracts of land and wood cover in the Asikam Forest Reserve near Kyebi, by using toxic chemicals such as cyanide and mercury to refine the minerals extracted from the degraded land.
They are said to have migrated from Akwatia where similar acts of environmental degradation were reported, and, over the past three months, diverted the course of the Birim River in the forest to enable them to extract diamond and gold from the river bed.
Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, the Okyenhene, and the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, saw the appalling state of the river and forest when they visited the place to have a first-hand observation of the degradation
The Birim River, which takes its source from the Atiwa Forest Range and richly endowed with diamond and gold, is a major source of water for communities in Kyebi, Asamankese, Oda, Kade and many others.
At the time of the visit last Friday, a number of machines being used by the galamsey operators, including an excavator, pumping machines and various extracting equipment, had been left behind with no miners around. Also left open was polluted water in large pits, creating a conducive environment for mosquitoes to breed.
The miners were believed to be working at the time of the visit, but fled into the forest when they sensed the approach of the Okyenhene and his entourage.
Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin indicated that attempts by the traditional authorities in the area to halt the activities had proven unsuccessful for the past three months.
He, therefore, appealed to the government to collaborate with the traditional authorities in the area to halt the activities of the small-scale miners to protect the forest reserve and the Birim River from further destruction and pollution.
Reacting, Mr Ofosu Ampofo recalled how 3,000 gallons of water treated by the Ghana Water Company was found to be unwholesome due to pollution triggered by the activities of the illegal miners in the area.
“Since no amount of money can substitute the destructive activities to our forest and the Birim River, I pledge the government’s readiness to join hands with traditional authorities and the security agencies to fight this menace,” Mr Ampofo assured the Okyenhene.
The Country Director of Conservation International, Mr Yaw Osei Owusu, noted that the activities of the galamsey operators would not only destroy the forests and the Birim River but would also make the area inhabitable for other living creatures, as well as make the land unproductive for any future use.
The miners have also caused massive destruction to large tracts of land and wood cover in the Asikam Forest Reserve near Kyebi, by using toxic chemicals such as cyanide and mercury to refine the minerals extracted from the degraded land.
They are said to have migrated from Akwatia where similar acts of environmental degradation were reported, and, over the past three months, diverted the course of the Birim River in the forest to enable them to extract diamond and gold from the river bed.
Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, the Okyenhene, and the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, saw the appalling state of the river and forest when they visited the place to have a first-hand observation of the degradation
The Birim River, which takes its source from the Atiwa Forest Range and richly endowed with diamond and gold, is a major source of water for communities in Kyebi, Asamankese, Oda, Kade and many others.
At the time of the visit last Friday, a number of machines being used by the galamsey operators, including an excavator, pumping machines and various extracting equipment, had been left behind with no miners around. Also left open was polluted water in large pits, creating a conducive environment for mosquitoes to breed.
The miners were believed to be working at the time of the visit, but fled into the forest when they sensed the approach of the Okyenhene and his entourage.
Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin indicated that attempts by the traditional authorities in the area to halt the activities had proven unsuccessful for the past three months.
He, therefore, appealed to the government to collaborate with the traditional authorities in the area to halt the activities of the small-scale miners to protect the forest reserve and the Birim River from further destruction and pollution.
Reacting, Mr Ofosu Ampofo recalled how 3,000 gallons of water treated by the Ghana Water Company was found to be unwholesome due to pollution triggered by the activities of the illegal miners in the area.
“Since no amount of money can substitute the destructive activities to our forest and the Birim River, I pledge the government’s readiness to join hands with traditional authorities and the security agencies to fight this menace,” Mr Ampofo assured the Okyenhene.
The Country Director of Conservation International, Mr Yaw Osei Owusu, noted that the activities of the galamsey operators would not only destroy the forests and the Birim River but would also make the area inhabitable for other living creatures, as well as make the land unproductive for any future use.
Monday, June 8, 2009
AMANOKROM GETS NEW MANKRADO (MIRROR, PAGE 26)
From Nana Konadu Agyeman, Amanokrom
THE Agona Abusua of Amanokrom in the Akuapem North District of the Eastern Region has installed Nana Konton Mensa II as the new Osomanyawa (Mankrado) of Amanokrom.
The 55-year-old businessman, known in private life as Mr Mark Twumasi Yeboah, succeeded Nana Akwatia II, who abdicated the stool due to poor health.
At a grand ceremony to swear the oath of allegiance to the chief of Amanokrom, Nana Osim Kwatia II, and the people of the area, Nana Mensa pledged his commitment to always be at the service of the people in the area.
He expressed his preparedness to work with other traditional authorities and the people to uplift the socio-economic status of the area.
To this end, Nana Mensa called on the people not to allow past mistakes and misunderstandings to divide their ranks, “since any disunity among us will undermine our collective resolve to develop our town”.
“All that we need as one people is unity to enable us to continue to live in peace and contribute meaningfully to our community’s development”, he advised the people.
On his part, Nana Osim Kwatia, reminded the new Mankrado that chieftaincy was not about adorning oneself with rich clothes and ornaments but about one’s ability to mobilise his people for meaningful development.
“The best legacy a good chief could leave to his people is his ability to raise the standard of education, health, sanitation among others in his community to the benefit of the people”, he added.
THE Agona Abusua of Amanokrom in the Akuapem North District of the Eastern Region has installed Nana Konton Mensa II as the new Osomanyawa (Mankrado) of Amanokrom.
The 55-year-old businessman, known in private life as Mr Mark Twumasi Yeboah, succeeded Nana Akwatia II, who abdicated the stool due to poor health.
At a grand ceremony to swear the oath of allegiance to the chief of Amanokrom, Nana Osim Kwatia II, and the people of the area, Nana Mensa pledged his commitment to always be at the service of the people in the area.
He expressed his preparedness to work with other traditional authorities and the people to uplift the socio-economic status of the area.
To this end, Nana Mensa called on the people not to allow past mistakes and misunderstandings to divide their ranks, “since any disunity among us will undermine our collective resolve to develop our town”.
“All that we need as one people is unity to enable us to continue to live in peace and contribute meaningfully to our community’s development”, he advised the people.
On his part, Nana Osim Kwatia, reminded the new Mankrado that chieftaincy was not about adorning oneself with rich clothes and ornaments but about one’s ability to mobilise his people for meaningful development.
“The best legacy a good chief could leave to his people is his ability to raise the standard of education, health, sanitation among others in his community to the benefit of the people”, he added.
ENFORCE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS — OKYENHENE (SPREAD)
THE Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amotia Ofori Panin, has called for the strict enforcement of environmental laws to protect the country’s rapidly dwindling natural resources, especially forest reserves, from illegal chainsaw operators whose activities are gradually posing a threat to the entire population.
“Our ability to subject illegal chainsaw operators to the full rigours of the law, without any favour or political interference, will serve as a deterrent to others who are bent on destroying our forests in the pursuit of their selfish interests,” he said.
Speaking at the launch of the Okyeman Environmental Day celebration at Kyebi last Friday, the Okyenhene said, “If persuasion fails to make illegal timber loggers abide by environmental laws, then force must be applied to stop them.”
The event, which coincided with the World Environment Day, was aimed at creating environmental awareness among the people residing in Okyeman and was also used to plant a number of trees in most of the degraded communities.
According to the Okyenhene, the incessant depletion of more than 80 per cent of the forest reserves in Okyeman and its environs over the years by syndicates of chainsaw operators was seriously undermining efforts to protect the forests and other natural resources in the area.
Osagyefuo Ofori Panin indicated that the commitment of the traditional authorities and the people had led to the confiscation of more than 200 chainsaws and truckloads of illegal lumber suspected to have been obtained from the forests in the area.
He, therefore, urged the government and Ghanaians in general to adopt a more positive attitude towards the environment as part of their contribution to curbing the effects of global warming in the country.
For his part, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, said the country’s total forest cover of 8.2 million hectares had been reduced to about one million hectares as of the end of the last century.
“This situation, caused by bushfires, agriculture, logging, mining, human settlement, indiscriminate disposal of human and material waste, has made the country’s forest resources to be considered as one of the highest degraded in the developing world,” he stated.
He, therefore, expressed the government’s readiness to collaborate with security agencies, traditional authorities and other stakeholders to protect the forests from selfish individuals, especially chainsaw operators.
“Our ability to subject illegal chainsaw operators to the full rigours of the law, without any favour or political interference, will serve as a deterrent to others who are bent on destroying our forests in the pursuit of their selfish interests,” he said.
Speaking at the launch of the Okyeman Environmental Day celebration at Kyebi last Friday, the Okyenhene said, “If persuasion fails to make illegal timber loggers abide by environmental laws, then force must be applied to stop them.”
The event, which coincided with the World Environment Day, was aimed at creating environmental awareness among the people residing in Okyeman and was also used to plant a number of trees in most of the degraded communities.
According to the Okyenhene, the incessant depletion of more than 80 per cent of the forest reserves in Okyeman and its environs over the years by syndicates of chainsaw operators was seriously undermining efforts to protect the forests and other natural resources in the area.
Osagyefuo Ofori Panin indicated that the commitment of the traditional authorities and the people had led to the confiscation of more than 200 chainsaws and truckloads of illegal lumber suspected to have been obtained from the forests in the area.
He, therefore, urged the government and Ghanaians in general to adopt a more positive attitude towards the environment as part of their contribution to curbing the effects of global warming in the country.
For his part, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, said the country’s total forest cover of 8.2 million hectares had been reduced to about one million hectares as of the end of the last century.
“This situation, caused by bushfires, agriculture, logging, mining, human settlement, indiscriminate disposal of human and material waste, has made the country’s forest resources to be considered as one of the highest degraded in the developing world,” he stated.
He, therefore, expressed the government’s readiness to collaborate with security agencies, traditional authorities and other stakeholders to protect the forests from selfish individuals, especially chainsaw operators.
KWAHU NORTH SELECTS SHS LEAVERS ...For admission to colleges of education (PAGE 20)
EFFORTS to address the acute shortage of teachers in the Kwahu North (Afram Plains) District were given a practical meaning when 96 prospective senior high school (SHS) graduates in the area, at Donkokrome were identified for admission to colleges of education.
The registration and the initial admission fees of successful students would be borne by the Kwahu North District Assembly.
The students, who were among 200 other SHS graduates, had aggregate 24 or better, and were to attend interviews scheduled for July, this year at the six Colleges of education in the Eastern Region.
On passing the interviews, they would then be enrolled in the Presbyterian College of Education, Akropong-Akuapem; the Presbyterian College of Education, Kyebi; the Presbyterian Women’s College of Education, Aburi; the Abetifi College of Education, Abetifi; the Seventh-Day Adventist College of Education, Koforidua or the Mount Mary College of Education, Somanya.
Upon completion, the students would be required to go back to the district and teach, to help fill the vacant classrooms facing most of the basic schools on the island.
The exercise, supervised by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, and conducted by the principals of the six colleges in the region, has been described as a special one for the prospective students from the area.
This is because admission of prospective students to other colleges of education across the country ended last month.
The exercise was the brainchild of Mr Ofosu Ampofo, whose recent tour of the area revealed that most of the basic schools were being handled by a handful of teachers.
In an address prior to the exercise, the Kwahu North District Director of Education, Mr Gabriel Adu, said about 200 classrooms in the area were without teachers, a situation that had contributed to the poor performance of the pupils and students over the years.
Reacting, Mr Ampofo said he had decided to seek the technical advice of the principals of the various colleges of education so as to find long term solutions to the poor standard of education in the region, especially in the Kwahu North.
“It is only when we provide a window of hope for students to acquire knowledge and skills at our colleges of education that they can be in a better position to impact passively and uplift the standard of education in the region and the country at large,” had he stated.
He, therefore, urged students to take advantage of the offer to enable them to add “value to yourselves and help eradicate ignorance, diseases and poverty in your district”.
For his part, Mr Osei commended the Regional Minster for his commitment to addressing the disparity of teacher — pupil ratio that of females in the area, noting that such efforts would enhance teaching and learning in the area.
He pledged the reading of the Conference of the Principals of Colleges of Education to work with all stakeholders to address teacher shortages in the region.
The Kwahu North District Chief Executive, Mr Charles Evans Apreku, expressed the commitment of the assembly to sponsoring the registration and admission fees of students who would gain admission to the various colleges.
The registration and the initial admission fees of successful students would be borne by the Kwahu North District Assembly.
The students, who were among 200 other SHS graduates, had aggregate 24 or better, and were to attend interviews scheduled for July, this year at the six Colleges of education in the Eastern Region.
On passing the interviews, they would then be enrolled in the Presbyterian College of Education, Akropong-Akuapem; the Presbyterian College of Education, Kyebi; the Presbyterian Women’s College of Education, Aburi; the Abetifi College of Education, Abetifi; the Seventh-Day Adventist College of Education, Koforidua or the Mount Mary College of Education, Somanya.
Upon completion, the students would be required to go back to the district and teach, to help fill the vacant classrooms facing most of the basic schools on the island.
The exercise, supervised by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, and conducted by the principals of the six colleges in the region, has been described as a special one for the prospective students from the area.
This is because admission of prospective students to other colleges of education across the country ended last month.
The exercise was the brainchild of Mr Ofosu Ampofo, whose recent tour of the area revealed that most of the basic schools were being handled by a handful of teachers.
In an address prior to the exercise, the Kwahu North District Director of Education, Mr Gabriel Adu, said about 200 classrooms in the area were without teachers, a situation that had contributed to the poor performance of the pupils and students over the years.
Reacting, Mr Ampofo said he had decided to seek the technical advice of the principals of the various colleges of education so as to find long term solutions to the poor standard of education in the region, especially in the Kwahu North.
“It is only when we provide a window of hope for students to acquire knowledge and skills at our colleges of education that they can be in a better position to impact passively and uplift the standard of education in the region and the country at large,” had he stated.
He, therefore, urged students to take advantage of the offer to enable them to add “value to yourselves and help eradicate ignorance, diseases and poverty in your district”.
For his part, Mr Osei commended the Regional Minster for his commitment to addressing the disparity of teacher — pupil ratio that of females in the area, noting that such efforts would enhance teaching and learning in the area.
He pledged the reading of the Conference of the Principals of Colleges of Education to work with all stakeholders to address teacher shortages in the region.
The Kwahu North District Chief Executive, Mr Charles Evans Apreku, expressed the commitment of the assembly to sponsoring the registration and admission fees of students who would gain admission to the various colleges.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS DISCUSS ACCESS TO MEDICINES (PAGE 43)
A FIVE-day brainstorming session on how civil society organisations (CSOs) can effectively work with the government and other stakeholders to promote access to affordable medicines in the country has ended at Akosombo.
The workshop, aimed at building the capacity of civil society organisations to enable them understand issues bordering on access to medicines, was attended by over 50 representatives from CSOs, Ghana Health Services and other health agencies.
It was also aimed at using a multi-stakeholder approach to ensure increased transparency in the regulation, selection, procurement, sale, distribution of medicine in the country, thereby improving access to medicines, especially for the poor.
The workshop was organised by the Health Access Networking, a co-ordinating organisation for civil society working on access to medicines in the country, and funded by the Medicines Transparency Alliance (MeTA) of UK.
In an address at the opening ceremony, a Director of Health Access Networking, Mr Charles Allotey, said many people particularly the poor, had been struggling to access essential medicines to save their lives or improve their health, a situation he attributed to the high cost of unavailable medicines in most local health centres.
To address such problem, he said, MeTA aimed at bringing all stakeholders to a round table to discuss how to improve transparency and accountability within the marketplace to increase poor people’s access to affordable essential medicines.
“Access to essential medicines really saves lives, reduces suffering and improves health; but only if they are of good quality and safe, available, affordable and properly used”, he said, adding that “however, there is no sufficient date to suggest that these conditions are being met in Ghana”.
According to him, since essential medicines were different from other consumer products and required special attention, there was the need for policies and actions to be instituted to make them more accessible to all.
“Improvement in efficient procurement and local manufacturing of medicines to obtain the lowest possible prices for products of assured quality should be made an urgent priority to all stakeholders”, he emphasised.
The President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, Dr Alex Dodoo, called on civil society organisations to come together to enable them to demand from the medical fraternity, both locally and internationally, accountability and transparency to ensure access to medicines at all levels in society.
That, he said, would ensure appropriate pricing of medicines to enable the poor to access them.
Buttressing his point, Dr Dodoo indicated that the lack of accessible and affordable anti-retroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS patients in South Africa motivated the HIV/AIDS activists to come together to help address the problem.
“By the commitment of these advocates, HIV/AIDS patients can now afford accessible anti-retroviral drugs, which have prolonged the lives of many patients”, Dr Dodoo added.
The workshop, aimed at building the capacity of civil society organisations to enable them understand issues bordering on access to medicines, was attended by over 50 representatives from CSOs, Ghana Health Services and other health agencies.
It was also aimed at using a multi-stakeholder approach to ensure increased transparency in the regulation, selection, procurement, sale, distribution of medicine in the country, thereby improving access to medicines, especially for the poor.
The workshop was organised by the Health Access Networking, a co-ordinating organisation for civil society working on access to medicines in the country, and funded by the Medicines Transparency Alliance (MeTA) of UK.
In an address at the opening ceremony, a Director of Health Access Networking, Mr Charles Allotey, said many people particularly the poor, had been struggling to access essential medicines to save their lives or improve their health, a situation he attributed to the high cost of unavailable medicines in most local health centres.
To address such problem, he said, MeTA aimed at bringing all stakeholders to a round table to discuss how to improve transparency and accountability within the marketplace to increase poor people’s access to affordable essential medicines.
“Access to essential medicines really saves lives, reduces suffering and improves health; but only if they are of good quality and safe, available, affordable and properly used”, he said, adding that “however, there is no sufficient date to suggest that these conditions are being met in Ghana”.
According to him, since essential medicines were different from other consumer products and required special attention, there was the need for policies and actions to be instituted to make them more accessible to all.
“Improvement in efficient procurement and local manufacturing of medicines to obtain the lowest possible prices for products of assured quality should be made an urgent priority to all stakeholders”, he emphasised.
The President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, Dr Alex Dodoo, called on civil society organisations to come together to enable them to demand from the medical fraternity, both locally and internationally, accountability and transparency to ensure access to medicines at all levels in society.
That, he said, would ensure appropriate pricing of medicines to enable the poor to access them.
Buttressing his point, Dr Dodoo indicated that the lack of accessible and affordable anti-retroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS patients in South Africa motivated the HIV/AIDS activists to come together to help address the problem.
“By the commitment of these advocates, HIV/AIDS patients can now afford accessible anti-retroviral drugs, which have prolonged the lives of many patients”, Dr Dodoo added.
STUDENT ENROLMENT TO COLLEGES MUST INCREASE (PAGE 11)
THE Principal of the Presbyterian College of Education at Akropong-Akuapem, Mr Emmanuel K. Osei, has appealed to the government to increase the quota of student enrolment in colleges of education to increase the number of teachers produced each year.
This, he said, would effectively address the shortage of teachers across the country, a situation that had partly contributed to the poor academic performance of some basic schools.
The principal was speaking at the second congregation of the college during which 313 students who completed in 2008 graduated.
The event was also used to honour the principal of the college by both the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and the Board of Governors of the college, who named the new library for the institution after the principal.
Mr Osei was commended for working hard over the years to transform the college, known as “mother of schools”, into a centre of academic excellence.
The principal said while the college had a capacity to enrol at least 500 students every year, it was only allowed to admit 321 students in 2008.
Such low enrolment, he said, was adversely affecting the smooth running of the institution, since “we have empty classrooms, empty dormitory rooms and chairs left unoccupied and so on”.
“This low admission is a worrying development as we have a serious shortage of teachers in several schools in the country as was seen in the Afram Plains by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, on a tour to the area recently,” Mr Osei stated.
Reacting to the concerns of the principal, Mr Ofosu Ampofo gave the assurance that he would do everything within his authority to immediately address the problem to enable the college to train more qualified teachers.
“Shortage of teachers as is currently the situation in the Afram Plains could only be resolved if we could train more qualified teachers than ever before,” he stated, adding for this reason, he was prepared to bring together all principals of colleges to see how best to address teacher shortages in their schools.
This, he said, would effectively address the shortage of teachers across the country, a situation that had partly contributed to the poor academic performance of some basic schools.
The principal was speaking at the second congregation of the college during which 313 students who completed in 2008 graduated.
The event was also used to honour the principal of the college by both the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and the Board of Governors of the college, who named the new library for the institution after the principal.
Mr Osei was commended for working hard over the years to transform the college, known as “mother of schools”, into a centre of academic excellence.
The principal said while the college had a capacity to enrol at least 500 students every year, it was only allowed to admit 321 students in 2008.
Such low enrolment, he said, was adversely affecting the smooth running of the institution, since “we have empty classrooms, empty dormitory rooms and chairs left unoccupied and so on”.
“This low admission is a worrying development as we have a serious shortage of teachers in several schools in the country as was seen in the Afram Plains by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, on a tour to the area recently,” Mr Osei stated.
Reacting to the concerns of the principal, Mr Ofosu Ampofo gave the assurance that he would do everything within his authority to immediately address the problem to enable the college to train more qualified teachers.
“Shortage of teachers as is currently the situation in the Afram Plains could only be resolved if we could train more qualified teachers than ever before,” he stated, adding for this reason, he was prepared to bring together all principals of colleges to see how best to address teacher shortages in their schools.
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