THE Presbyterian University College (PUC) last Saturday, held its seventh matriculation at Abetifi with 300 students from the institution’s three campuses admitted to pursue various programmes.
The students will be pursuing their studies at the Asante-Akyem (Agogo), Akropong-Akuapem and Abetifi campuses of the university.
Addressing the ceremony, the Principal of the institution, Professor K. Sraku-Lartey, said after six years of operation there was the need for the institution to reposition itself to achieve more academically.
To this end, he indicated that plans were far advanced for a double enrollment in five years and to work hard to obtain a charter within the same period, while more innovative and demand driven programmes would be introduced.
“With the assistance of the chief and people of Obo, we plan to introduce a faculty of Science and Technology at the Okwahu campus and intensify our efforts to expand the facility of Health and Medical Science at the Asante-Akyem campus”, Prof. Sraku-Lartey said.
According to him, the university in collaboration with the Kwahu Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana had embarked on a smallscale agricultural project in crops and animal husbandry at the PCG Agricultural station in the Kwahu North District (Afram Plains).
“The objectives are to increase our capacity to engage in large scale commercial farming and also use the station to provide outreach services in terms of training for the community members to improve their livelihoods”, he explained, adding that the college had trained over 1,200 farmers in the area to improve on their productivity.
Prof. Sraku-Lartey, expressed concern about the negative impact the internet and other electronic media had on the youth, and advised them to refrain from unhealthy lifestyles that could jeopardise their future ambitions.
For his part, the Paramount Chief of the Kwahu Traditional Area, Nana Akuamoa Boateng, commended the university for complimenting the government’s commitment to provide quality tertiary education in the country.
He, however, appealed to the government to support private universities with the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to enable them to live up to expectation in the delivery of quality tertiary education in the country.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
VODAFONE DONATES CASH, COMPUTERS TO OKUAPEMAN SHS (PAGE 21, OCT 28)
VODAFONE Ghana last Sunday donated 20 new computers valued at GH¢8,000 and a cheque for GH¢5,500 to the Okuapeman Senior High School as part of its contribution to the school’s library.
The donation, which formed part of the company's corporate social responsibility, was aimed at enhancing teaching and learning to improve the academic performance of the students.
The donation of the items was facilitated by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Foundation for Future Leaders (FFL), Mr Emmanuel Dei-Tumi, who also presented 19 computer tables to the school.
The donation coincided with a motivational seminar organised by the FFL for students, including the visually impaired students of the school.
Vodafone used the occasion to organise a dinner for the visually impaired students.
Presenting the items, the Head of Internal Communications of Vodafone Ghana, Mr Isaac Abraham, said the company was proud to associate itself with the Foundation for Future Leaders’ commitment to making life more meaningful for under-privileged youth.
For his part, Mr Dei-Tumi said one of the major drawbacks to the development of visually-impaired and other handicapped youth in society, was the society’s lack of support for such persons to develop their potential and pursue their future ambitions.
“It is to address these lapses on the part of society that the FFL is organising various motivational seminars to inspire the under-privileged to aim high to achieve their future ambitions in life,”,he stated.
Mr Dei-Tumi appealed to corporate bodies to support the under-privileged in society to make life bearable for them.
He commended Vodafone for its readiness to assist the unfortunate in society.
Receiving the items, the Headmaster of Okuapeman SHS, Mr Felix Essah-Hienno, thanked Vodafone Ghana and the FFL for their support.
He said the gesture would enhance teaching and learning and improve the lives of the visually-impaired in the school.
The donation, which formed part of the company's corporate social responsibility, was aimed at enhancing teaching and learning to improve the academic performance of the students.
The donation of the items was facilitated by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Foundation for Future Leaders (FFL), Mr Emmanuel Dei-Tumi, who also presented 19 computer tables to the school.
The donation coincided with a motivational seminar organised by the FFL for students, including the visually impaired students of the school.
Vodafone used the occasion to organise a dinner for the visually impaired students.
Presenting the items, the Head of Internal Communications of Vodafone Ghana, Mr Isaac Abraham, said the company was proud to associate itself with the Foundation for Future Leaders’ commitment to making life more meaningful for under-privileged youth.
For his part, Mr Dei-Tumi said one of the major drawbacks to the development of visually-impaired and other handicapped youth in society, was the society’s lack of support for such persons to develop their potential and pursue their future ambitions.
“It is to address these lapses on the part of society that the FFL is organising various motivational seminars to inspire the under-privileged to aim high to achieve their future ambitions in life,”,he stated.
Mr Dei-Tumi appealed to corporate bodies to support the under-privileged in society to make life bearable for them.
He commended Vodafone for its readiness to assist the unfortunate in society.
Receiving the items, the Headmaster of Okuapeman SHS, Mr Felix Essah-Hienno, thanked Vodafone Ghana and the FFL for their support.
He said the gesture would enhance teaching and learning and improve the lives of the visually-impaired in the school.
30 PRESENTED WITH TOOLS TO START BUSINESS (BACK PAGE, OCT 28)
THE Rural Enterprises Project and the Asuogyaman District Assembly have presented assorted start-up equipment worth GH¢1,500 to 30 people who have completed their apprenticeship in various trades in the area.
The incentive is to ensure that graduate apprentices who have undergone their apprenticeship but cannot establish their own businesses due to financial difficulties start them.
The items, which were presented to dressmakers, hairdressers, electrical welders, barbers, auto mechanics and carpenters, included sewing machines, grinding machines, spraying machines, hair dryers, vulcanising machines, among others.
In an address, the Head of the Business Advisory Centre of the Asuogyaman District Assembly, Mr Daniel Owusu Ansah, said the initiative was part of the government’s effort and strategy to alleviate poverty through increased incomes for graduate artisans to set up their own business ventures.
He said the programme was also aimed at equipping the beneficiaries with the requisite knowledge and skills to enable them to efficiently manage their businesses and provide employment for others.
Mr Ansah said since the inception of the programme in the district, about 400 people had already been trained in marketing, small business management, soap making, grasscutter rearing, fish farming, batik and tie and dye making, among others.
He added that the project had supported the people to register their businesses with the Registrar-General’s Department, while 60 master craftsmen and apprentices had been assisted to undertake the NVTI certificate examinations, out of which 15 had received their certificates, with the remaining awaiting their results.
For his part, the District Chief Executive for Asuogyaman, Mr Johnson Ehiakpor, said since the government was committed to eradicating poverty and improving the well-being of Ghanaians, it recognised the potential of the programme to alleviate poverty in the district and the country as a whole.
He said plans were far advanced to establish a service centre in the district to train the youth in various vocations, adding, “This is part of the assembly’s commitment to job creation for unemployed youth.”
The incentive is to ensure that graduate apprentices who have undergone their apprenticeship but cannot establish their own businesses due to financial difficulties start them.
The items, which were presented to dressmakers, hairdressers, electrical welders, barbers, auto mechanics and carpenters, included sewing machines, grinding machines, spraying machines, hair dryers, vulcanising machines, among others.
In an address, the Head of the Business Advisory Centre of the Asuogyaman District Assembly, Mr Daniel Owusu Ansah, said the initiative was part of the government’s effort and strategy to alleviate poverty through increased incomes for graduate artisans to set up their own business ventures.
He said the programme was also aimed at equipping the beneficiaries with the requisite knowledge and skills to enable them to efficiently manage their businesses and provide employment for others.
Mr Ansah said since the inception of the programme in the district, about 400 people had already been trained in marketing, small business management, soap making, grasscutter rearing, fish farming, batik and tie and dye making, among others.
He added that the project had supported the people to register their businesses with the Registrar-General’s Department, while 60 master craftsmen and apprentices had been assisted to undertake the NVTI certificate examinations, out of which 15 had received their certificates, with the remaining awaiting their results.
For his part, the District Chief Executive for Asuogyaman, Mr Johnson Ehiakpor, said since the government was committed to eradicating poverty and improving the well-being of Ghanaians, it recognised the potential of the programme to alleviate poverty in the district and the country as a whole.
He said plans were far advanced to establish a service centre in the district to train the youth in various vocations, adding, “This is part of the assembly’s commitment to job creation for unemployed youth.”
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
MEDIA URGED TO PROMOTE SMEs ( PAGE 17, OCT 27)
THE Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has called on media practitioners to help promote the activities of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs), in the country to enable them to become more vibrant and competitive.
This, he said, would spur such private entities on to expand and create more employment opportunities for the people.
“We can achieve this objective if the media consciously promotes the activities of the SMEs to enable them to effectively contribute to efforts at alleviating poverty among the people,” he stated.
Mr Ampofo made the call when executive members of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), the KAB Governance Consult and SMEs in the Eastern Region called on him at his office at Koforidua.
He said, “The media, as a powerful development tool, can help accelerate the socio-economic development of the region and country if they pay less attention to politics”.
The visit was to brief the regional minister on how the media could effectively be used to promote the activities of SMEs in all the 21 districts and municipalities in the region, and also seek his support and that of the Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC), districts and municipalities in facilitating the growth of the SMEs in the region.
The delegates included Mr Bright Blewu, General Secretary of the GJA; Mr Edmund Quaynor, Eastern Regional Chairman of the GJA; Mr Kwesi Afriyie Badu, Chief Executive Officer of the KAB Governance Consult and some executive members of the SMEs.
The regional minister noted that one of the major challenges facing the socio-economic development of the region and the country as a whole was poverty, a problem he attributed to lack of employment among the people.
He, therefore, stressed the need for the media to shift focus from politics and promote the activities of the SMEs to enable them to grow and provide employment for the people.
“The global recognition of the media as a development tool should encourage media practitioners to give priority to promoting the interests of SMEs as their contribution to the alleviation of poverty, and not for politics and criticisms,” he stated.
According to him, for media practitioners to effectively promote the interest of SMEs, they must acquire the requisite knowledge in business and financial reporting to enable them to effectively contribute to efforts at addressing the challenges facing the SMEs.
He pledged the support of municipal and district assemblies to the development of the SMEs in the region.
He said 20 years after the introduction of the decentralisation process, there was the need for district assemblies to also be business-oriented to enable them not to relysolely on their common funds for the implementation of development projects.
He also indicated that some of the poverty alleviation programmes, especially the National Youth Employment Programme, which were introduced under the previous government, was taking a chunk of the district assemblies’ common fund.
He, therefore, stressed the need for such funds to be invested in profit-making ventures, including the SMEs.
“Since 70 per cent of the population in the region are engaged in agriculture, supporting the youth to go into farming can immensely address poverty among the people”, he stated, adding that he was working with two municipal assemblies to equip 210 girls with vocational skills to enable them to become self-employed to provide employment for others girls.
The regional minister called on MMDAs to collaborate with the various SMEs to facilitate the socio-economic development of their districts.
On the lack of a permanent market for beads traders at Koforidua, he pledged his preparedness to help in relocating the traders from their present location at the Jackson Park to a more decent and spacious place, where they could carry out their trade.
“I am collaborating with the New Juaben Municipal Assembly to accomplish this goal, “he said.
For his part, Mr Afriyie Badu said surveys carried out across MMDAs in the country revealed that most of the SMEs had no support from the district assemblies, a situation that had hindered their growth and development.
He, therefore, stressed the need for district assemblies to include SMEs in their decision-making process with regard to business activities in the region.
“District assemblies must also award contracts to the SMEs instead of giving them out to big business entities, ” Mr Afriyie Badu said.
Mr Blewu pledged the commitment of the media to extend the coverage to the activities of SMEs to enable them to overcome the inherent challenges facing the enterprises.
This, he said, would spur such private entities on to expand and create more employment opportunities for the people.
“We can achieve this objective if the media consciously promotes the activities of the SMEs to enable them to effectively contribute to efforts at alleviating poverty among the people,” he stated.
Mr Ampofo made the call when executive members of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), the KAB Governance Consult and SMEs in the Eastern Region called on him at his office at Koforidua.
He said, “The media, as a powerful development tool, can help accelerate the socio-economic development of the region and country if they pay less attention to politics”.
The visit was to brief the regional minister on how the media could effectively be used to promote the activities of SMEs in all the 21 districts and municipalities in the region, and also seek his support and that of the Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC), districts and municipalities in facilitating the growth of the SMEs in the region.
The delegates included Mr Bright Blewu, General Secretary of the GJA; Mr Edmund Quaynor, Eastern Regional Chairman of the GJA; Mr Kwesi Afriyie Badu, Chief Executive Officer of the KAB Governance Consult and some executive members of the SMEs.
The regional minister noted that one of the major challenges facing the socio-economic development of the region and the country as a whole was poverty, a problem he attributed to lack of employment among the people.
He, therefore, stressed the need for the media to shift focus from politics and promote the activities of the SMEs to enable them to grow and provide employment for the people.
“The global recognition of the media as a development tool should encourage media practitioners to give priority to promoting the interests of SMEs as their contribution to the alleviation of poverty, and not for politics and criticisms,” he stated.
According to him, for media practitioners to effectively promote the interest of SMEs, they must acquire the requisite knowledge in business and financial reporting to enable them to effectively contribute to efforts at addressing the challenges facing the SMEs.
He pledged the support of municipal and district assemblies to the development of the SMEs in the region.
He said 20 years after the introduction of the decentralisation process, there was the need for district assemblies to also be business-oriented to enable them not to relysolely on their common funds for the implementation of development projects.
He also indicated that some of the poverty alleviation programmes, especially the National Youth Employment Programme, which were introduced under the previous government, was taking a chunk of the district assemblies’ common fund.
He, therefore, stressed the need for such funds to be invested in profit-making ventures, including the SMEs.
“Since 70 per cent of the population in the region are engaged in agriculture, supporting the youth to go into farming can immensely address poverty among the people”, he stated, adding that he was working with two municipal assemblies to equip 210 girls with vocational skills to enable them to become self-employed to provide employment for others girls.
The regional minister called on MMDAs to collaborate with the various SMEs to facilitate the socio-economic development of their districts.
On the lack of a permanent market for beads traders at Koforidua, he pledged his preparedness to help in relocating the traders from their present location at the Jackson Park to a more decent and spacious place, where they could carry out their trade.
“I am collaborating with the New Juaben Municipal Assembly to accomplish this goal, “he said.
For his part, Mr Afriyie Badu said surveys carried out across MMDAs in the country revealed that most of the SMEs had no support from the district assemblies, a situation that had hindered their growth and development.
He, therefore, stressed the need for district assemblies to include SMEs in their decision-making process with regard to business activities in the region.
“District assemblies must also award contracts to the SMEs instead of giving them out to big business entities, ” Mr Afriyie Badu said.
Mr Blewu pledged the commitment of the media to extend the coverage to the activities of SMEs to enable them to overcome the inherent challenges facing the enterprises.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
ASEMPANEYE RESIDENTS GET FREE MEDICARE (PAGE 15, OCT 22)
MEMBERS of the Accra Ring Road Central Rotary Club last Saturday organized a free medical care for residents of Asempaneye, a farming village in the Akuapem North District in the Eastern Region.
The exercise, which involved a 10-man medical team, including five doctors, was used to screen the people, mostly the aged, women and children of various health problems.
Beneficiaries with minor health conditions were provided free drugs while those with serious ailments were referred to the Eastern Regional Hospital at Koforidua and the Tetteh Quarshie Hospital at Akuapem-Mampong.
The initiative was also used to present a 100 school uniforms, exercise books and stationery, as well as footballs to the 100 school children in the village, which members of the club have adopted and are putting up a three-unit class room block.
The school building would provide a conducive teaching and learning environment for the pupils and their teachers who, hitherto, were accommodated in a dilapidated mud structure that posed danger to them.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic during the exercise, the Service Project Director of the club, Mr Victor Yaw Asante, said the club embarked on the health screening and presented the school uniforms and stationery to the community as part of their community assistance project aimed at improving the lives of the beneficiary community.
He said through the various fund raising, members of the club were able to raise GH¢3,000, which had been spent on the first phase of the school building project, comprising a library and a staff common room in addition to a playing field.
Mr Asante added that “we are committed to raising an additional GH¢50, 000 for the second and third phase of the school project”.
“The project will signify the realisation of the objective of the club to provide community service to communities who are less fortunate in the country and also to support the government to provide public services to the citizens of Ghana”, Mr Asante stated.
The exercise, which involved a 10-man medical team, including five doctors, was used to screen the people, mostly the aged, women and children of various health problems.
Beneficiaries with minor health conditions were provided free drugs while those with serious ailments were referred to the Eastern Regional Hospital at Koforidua and the Tetteh Quarshie Hospital at Akuapem-Mampong.
The initiative was also used to present a 100 school uniforms, exercise books and stationery, as well as footballs to the 100 school children in the village, which members of the club have adopted and are putting up a three-unit class room block.
The school building would provide a conducive teaching and learning environment for the pupils and their teachers who, hitherto, were accommodated in a dilapidated mud structure that posed danger to them.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic during the exercise, the Service Project Director of the club, Mr Victor Yaw Asante, said the club embarked on the health screening and presented the school uniforms and stationery to the community as part of their community assistance project aimed at improving the lives of the beneficiary community.
He said through the various fund raising, members of the club were able to raise GH¢3,000, which had been spent on the first phase of the school building project, comprising a library and a staff common room in addition to a playing field.
Mr Asante added that “we are committed to raising an additional GH¢50, 000 for the second and third phase of the school project”.
“The project will signify the realisation of the objective of the club to provide community service to communities who are less fortunate in the country and also to support the government to provide public services to the citizens of Ghana”, Mr Asante stated.
PAY ATTENTION TO NEEDS OF DISADVANTAGED IN SOCIETY (PAGE 21, OCT 21)
THE Board Chairman of the Akropong School for the Blind, Osahene Kwesi Ofei Agyeman IV, has passionately appealed to corporate bodies and well-to-do individuals to pay more attention to the needs of the physically-challenged and the disadvantaged in society.
Such commitment, he said, would enable such people to feel part of society to enable them to develop their potential and contribute their quota to national development.
“There comes a time in the life of every nation to pay serious attention to the needs of the blind, the deaf and mental patients whose welfare must be taken care of not only by the government but also all corporate bodies and responsible individuals”, he stated.
Osahene Agyeman was speaking at the inauguration and handing over of two school phone booths donated by Vodafone Ghana to the School for the Blind at Akropong.
The booths have the functions of a standard mobile phone and would enable the students not only to make and receive calls, but to also to send text messages.
As part of the initiative, Vodafone also freely gave out 600 chips to the students to enable them to access the facility.
Osahene Agyeman, who is also the Krontihene of Akuapem, said in the past, persons with disability were mostly left to their parents to cater for their needs without any support from society.
The unfortunate situation, he said, left many physically-challenged persons “isolated, neglected and marginalised to the detriment of their mental, physical and emotional development”.
Osahene Agyeman added that the unhealthy attitude of society could be reversed if “corporate bodies and able bodied persons recognised their responsibility towards the unfortunate ones in society and lend them a helping hand”.
He, therefore, commended Vodafone for its commitment to make the underprivileged and handicapped also enjoy what “an enlightened society has to offer everybody, including the physically-challenged”.
For his part, the Head of Internal Communications of Vodafone Ghana, Mr Isaac Abraham, said since communication had become very crucial in the lives of the people today, his outfit decided to take advantage of the Ghana Education Service policy, which did not allow students to use mobile phones on campuses, to introduce the school boots to the students.
According to him, Vodafone had committed US$2,650,000 to the project, bringing to 941 the number of boots provided for 300 schools across the country.
“The project, identified as Vodafone corporate social responsibility, was initiated to provide global accessibility to basic telephony in schools, where students are not allowed to handle mobile phones while in school”, he stated.
Such commitment, he said, would enable such people to feel part of society to enable them to develop their potential and contribute their quota to national development.
“There comes a time in the life of every nation to pay serious attention to the needs of the blind, the deaf and mental patients whose welfare must be taken care of not only by the government but also all corporate bodies and responsible individuals”, he stated.
Osahene Agyeman was speaking at the inauguration and handing over of two school phone booths donated by Vodafone Ghana to the School for the Blind at Akropong.
The booths have the functions of a standard mobile phone and would enable the students not only to make and receive calls, but to also to send text messages.
As part of the initiative, Vodafone also freely gave out 600 chips to the students to enable them to access the facility.
Osahene Agyeman, who is also the Krontihene of Akuapem, said in the past, persons with disability were mostly left to their parents to cater for their needs without any support from society.
The unfortunate situation, he said, left many physically-challenged persons “isolated, neglected and marginalised to the detriment of their mental, physical and emotional development”.
Osahene Agyeman added that the unhealthy attitude of society could be reversed if “corporate bodies and able bodied persons recognised their responsibility towards the unfortunate ones in society and lend them a helping hand”.
He, therefore, commended Vodafone for its commitment to make the underprivileged and handicapped also enjoy what “an enlightened society has to offer everybody, including the physically-challenged”.
For his part, the Head of Internal Communications of Vodafone Ghana, Mr Isaac Abraham, said since communication had become very crucial in the lives of the people today, his outfit decided to take advantage of the Ghana Education Service policy, which did not allow students to use mobile phones on campuses, to introduce the school boots to the students.
According to him, Vodafone had committed US$2,650,000 to the project, bringing to 941 the number of boots provided for 300 schools across the country.
“The project, identified as Vodafone corporate social responsibility, was initiated to provide global accessibility to basic telephony in schools, where students are not allowed to handle mobile phones while in school”, he stated.
PAY ATTENTION TO NEEDS OF DISADVANTAGED IN SOCIETY (PAGE 21, OCT 21)
THE Board Chairman of the Akropong School for the Blind, Osahene Kwesi Ofei Agyeman IV, has passionately appealed to corporate bodies and well-to-do individuals to pay more attention to the needs of the physically-challenged and the disadvantaged in society.
Such commitment, he said, would enable such people to feel part of society to enable them to develop their potential and contribute their quota to national development.
“There comes a time in the life of every nation to pay serious attention to the needs of the blind, the deaf and mental patients whose welfare must be taken care of not only by the government but also all corporate bodies and responsible individuals”, he stated.
Osahene Agyeman was speaking at the inauguration and handing over of two school phone booths donated by Vodafone Ghana to the School for the Blind at Akropong.
The booths have the functions of a standard mobile phone and would enable the students not only to make and receive calls, but to also to send text messages.
As part of the initiative, Vodafone also freely gave out 600 chips to the students to enable them to access the facility.
Osahene Agyeman, who is also the Krontihene of Akuapem, said in the past, persons with disability were mostly left to their parents to cater for their needs without any support from society.
The unfortunate situation, he said, left many physically-challenged persons “isolated, neglected and marginalised to the detriment of their mental, physical and emotional development”.
Osahene Agyeman added that the unhealthy attitude of society could be reversed if “corporate bodies and able bodied persons recognised their responsibility towards the unfortunate ones in society and lend them a helping hand”.
He, therefore, commended Vodafone for its commitment to make the underprivileged and handicapped also enjoy what “an enlightened society has to offer everybody, including the physically-challenged”.
For his part, the Head of Internal Communications of Vodafone Ghana, Mr Isaac Abraham, said since communication had become very crucial in the lives of the people today, his outfit decided to take advantage of the Ghana Education Service policy, which did not allow students to use mobile phones on campuses, to introduce the school boots to the students.
According to him, Vodafone had committed US$2,650,000 to the project, bringing to 941 the number of boots provided for 300 schools across the country.
“The project, identified as Vodafone corporate social responsibility, was initiated to provide global accessibility to basic telephony in schools, where students are not allowed to handle mobile phones while in school”, he stated.
Such commitment, he said, would enable such people to feel part of society to enable them to develop their potential and contribute their quota to national development.
“There comes a time in the life of every nation to pay serious attention to the needs of the blind, the deaf and mental patients whose welfare must be taken care of not only by the government but also all corporate bodies and responsible individuals”, he stated.
Osahene Agyeman was speaking at the inauguration and handing over of two school phone booths donated by Vodafone Ghana to the School for the Blind at Akropong.
The booths have the functions of a standard mobile phone and would enable the students not only to make and receive calls, but to also to send text messages.
As part of the initiative, Vodafone also freely gave out 600 chips to the students to enable them to access the facility.
Osahene Agyeman, who is also the Krontihene of Akuapem, said in the past, persons with disability were mostly left to their parents to cater for their needs without any support from society.
The unfortunate situation, he said, left many physically-challenged persons “isolated, neglected and marginalised to the detriment of their mental, physical and emotional development”.
Osahene Agyeman added that the unhealthy attitude of society could be reversed if “corporate bodies and able bodied persons recognised their responsibility towards the unfortunate ones in society and lend them a helping hand”.
He, therefore, commended Vodafone for its commitment to make the underprivileged and handicapped also enjoy what “an enlightened society has to offer everybody, including the physically-challenged”.
For his part, the Head of Internal Communications of Vodafone Ghana, Mr Isaac Abraham, said since communication had become very crucial in the lives of the people today, his outfit decided to take advantage of the Ghana Education Service policy, which did not allow students to use mobile phones on campuses, to introduce the school boots to the students.
According to him, Vodafone had committed US$2,650,000 to the project, bringing to 941 the number of boots provided for 300 schools across the country.
“The project, identified as Vodafone corporate social responsibility, was initiated to provide global accessibility to basic telephony in schools, where students are not allowed to handle mobile phones while in school”, he stated.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
FREE HEALTH SCREENING FOR OYOKO RESIDENTS (PAGE 14, OCT 15)
ABOUT 1,000 people from Oyoko and its environs in the New Juaben Municipality in the Eastern region have benefited from a free medical screening organised by the Oyokohene, Nana Kodua Kesse III.
During the exercise, the beneficiaries, mostly the aged, women and children, were examined for various health problems.
Those with minor conditions were diagnosed and provided with free drugs, while those with severe ailments were referred to the Eastern Regional Hospital for further treatment.
The initiative, which formed part of activities marking the 30th anniversary of Nana Kesse’s enstoolment as the Oyokohene, was sponsored by the Kama Health Group and supported by the Intravenous Infusions Ghana Limited in Koforidua.
The Chief Executive Officer of the KAMA Group of Companies, Dr Michael Agyekum Addo, told the Daily Graphic during the exercise that since the health of the people was wealth, the company had decided to provide GH¢5,000 worth of assorted drugs for the provision of quality health-care to residents of the area.
During the exercise, the beneficiaries, mostly the aged, women and children, were examined for various health problems.
Those with minor conditions were diagnosed and provided with free drugs, while those with severe ailments were referred to the Eastern Regional Hospital for further treatment.
The initiative, which formed part of activities marking the 30th anniversary of Nana Kesse’s enstoolment as the Oyokohene, was sponsored by the Kama Health Group and supported by the Intravenous Infusions Ghana Limited in Koforidua.
The Chief Executive Officer of the KAMA Group of Companies, Dr Michael Agyekum Addo, told the Daily Graphic during the exercise that since the health of the people was wealth, the company had decided to provide GH¢5,000 worth of assorted drugs for the provision of quality health-care to residents of the area.
Monday, October 12, 2009
ABURI CELEBRATES ODWIRA FESTIVAL TODAY (PAGE 22, OCT 10)
THE chiefs and people of Aburi in the Eastern Region will celebrate this year’s Odwira festival today.
Aburi, one of the most toured tourist attractions in the country, is a hilly town surrounded by a lush green vegetation, where cold breeze is common.
The festival, which has remained an integral part of the people’s cultural heritage for decades, is highly expected to draw a large gathering of people from all walks of life both locally and internationally.
As part of the festival, the Aburihene, Nana Otoobour Djan Kwasi II, queens and sub-chiefs will sit in their palanquins to be paraded through the main streets of the town, amidst the firing of ancient muskets by the traditional warriors.
The fiesta will mark the beginning of a new traditional year for the people to offer thanks to God for his care and protection, as well as remember their ancestors, from whom the people will seek protection and favour and purify the community to allow the people to go into the new year with hope.
The event, just like every festival in the country, will bring together the sons and daughters of the town to renew their loyalties to their chiefs by paying homage to them, as well as afford families and individuals at loggerheads to seek to settle disputes, quarrels or misunderstanding to ensure unity among the people.
This year’s grand durbar of the event will be held at the Botanical Garden and will serve as a platform for the people of Aburiman to review the past and resolve to correct the past mistakes and plan for the future, especially in the areas of education and health.
Citizens and others like invited guests will have to donate towards educational and other development projects during an appeal for funds, while others, especially those who are well-to-do, will make pledges and other commitments towards the development of the area.
From all indications, the importance of this celebration in every sphere of the people’s lives, particularly in the areas of morality, religion, cultural, education and economic, cannot be ignored.
In recognition of the significant role of festivals like the Odwira in the lives of the people across the country, some corporate institutions associate themselves with the festivals by way of contributing in cash and in kind towards the success of the festivals and also the development of the communities. And this is always appreciated.
One corporate body that is distinctly demonstrating such unflinching commitment in partnering with the chiefs of the people in the successful organisation and celebration of various festivals in the country is Vodafone Ghana, which, for the past one year, has identified itself with various communities through the sponsorship of a number of festivals in the country.
The festivals include the Akuapem and Amanokrom Odwira, the Fetu Afahye, the Ho Asogli, the Ada Asafotufiam, the Edna Bakatue, the Kade Ekaade, the Axim Kundum, the Mankessim Akwambo and the Komenda Nyeyi.
The company has further demonstrated that indeed one of its attributes is to support worthy courses of communities. This was amply echoed when the management of Vodafone presented cash donation and souvenirs worth GH¢25,000 to the Aburiman Traditional Council on October 2, this year, a week preceding the grand celebration of the Aburi Odwira festival today.
The Eastern Regional Manager of Corporate Communications of Vodafone, Mr Osei Afriyie, who deputised for the Head of Corporate Communication of Vodafone Ghana, Major Albert Don-Chebe at the ceremony at the Aburihene’s palace, said the management of the company had recognised that the best way to identify with Aburiman and other communities was through festivals, which was the only opportunity for the people to come together, take stock of their past and plan for the future and renew their family ties.
“Apart from the cultural and social significance of the sponsorship by Vodafone, it goes without mentioning that all companies commit resources to the people in order to demonstrate their corporate or brand names, logos and even signs, buildings and other promotional materials,” he stated.
Many corporate bodies see sponsorship of festivals and other community-based projects as a way to reach a self-selected audience hopefully interested in patronising the company’s products or services, hence the decision to commit resources to better the lives of the people.
“It is in recognition of this corporate social responsibility that the management of Vodafone Ghana, after unveiling its brand in the country, has taken the decision to sponsor festivals, which form the bedrock of the social fabric of the people. It is, therefore, hoped that such sponsorship would enhance or improve patronage of brands or products of those corporate bodies”, Mr Afriyie stated.
Research has also shown that a company which takes sponsorship seriously could be seen as looking into the future, which is likely to produce business benefits in terms of cost, efficiencies and loyal customer base, which in times of competition, is essential for business to survive and thrive.
“If corporate social responsibility is really a competitive advantage, then it is important for companies in the telecommunication industries in particular and all corporate bodies in general to take interest in CSR activities,” Mr Afriyie told the Daily Graphic.
He added that his company had taken the lead in that commitment.
I recall that during the Vodafone presentation to the Aburi Traditional Council, the Krontihene of the area, Nana Kwafo Kraben II, commended the company for its support but called for a sustainable long-term partnership between Vodafone and the people to develop and transform the area into one of the best tourism attractions in the country.
He made particular reference to the Botanical Garden, which, he said, could be developed to meet today’s tourism standard.
Apart from festivals and other communal celebrations, it is equally important that companies give attention to other useful areas such as the rehabilitation of schools, provision of health facilities, potable water facilities and computer and accessories to government-community ICT libraries, as well as assisting brilliant, needy students in deprived communities.
In view of the above, it is important for companies to see sponsorship as an integral part of their businesses which would earn them the goodwill of communities and increase their returns.
Aburi, one of the most toured tourist attractions in the country, is a hilly town surrounded by a lush green vegetation, where cold breeze is common.
The festival, which has remained an integral part of the people’s cultural heritage for decades, is highly expected to draw a large gathering of people from all walks of life both locally and internationally.
As part of the festival, the Aburihene, Nana Otoobour Djan Kwasi II, queens and sub-chiefs will sit in their palanquins to be paraded through the main streets of the town, amidst the firing of ancient muskets by the traditional warriors.
The fiesta will mark the beginning of a new traditional year for the people to offer thanks to God for his care and protection, as well as remember their ancestors, from whom the people will seek protection and favour and purify the community to allow the people to go into the new year with hope.
The event, just like every festival in the country, will bring together the sons and daughters of the town to renew their loyalties to their chiefs by paying homage to them, as well as afford families and individuals at loggerheads to seek to settle disputes, quarrels or misunderstanding to ensure unity among the people.
This year’s grand durbar of the event will be held at the Botanical Garden and will serve as a platform for the people of Aburiman to review the past and resolve to correct the past mistakes and plan for the future, especially in the areas of education and health.
Citizens and others like invited guests will have to donate towards educational and other development projects during an appeal for funds, while others, especially those who are well-to-do, will make pledges and other commitments towards the development of the area.
From all indications, the importance of this celebration in every sphere of the people’s lives, particularly in the areas of morality, religion, cultural, education and economic, cannot be ignored.
In recognition of the significant role of festivals like the Odwira in the lives of the people across the country, some corporate institutions associate themselves with the festivals by way of contributing in cash and in kind towards the success of the festivals and also the development of the communities. And this is always appreciated.
One corporate body that is distinctly demonstrating such unflinching commitment in partnering with the chiefs of the people in the successful organisation and celebration of various festivals in the country is Vodafone Ghana, which, for the past one year, has identified itself with various communities through the sponsorship of a number of festivals in the country.
The festivals include the Akuapem and Amanokrom Odwira, the Fetu Afahye, the Ho Asogli, the Ada Asafotufiam, the Edna Bakatue, the Kade Ekaade, the Axim Kundum, the Mankessim Akwambo and the Komenda Nyeyi.
The company has further demonstrated that indeed one of its attributes is to support worthy courses of communities. This was amply echoed when the management of Vodafone presented cash donation and souvenirs worth GH¢25,000 to the Aburiman Traditional Council on October 2, this year, a week preceding the grand celebration of the Aburi Odwira festival today.
The Eastern Regional Manager of Corporate Communications of Vodafone, Mr Osei Afriyie, who deputised for the Head of Corporate Communication of Vodafone Ghana, Major Albert Don-Chebe at the ceremony at the Aburihene’s palace, said the management of the company had recognised that the best way to identify with Aburiman and other communities was through festivals, which was the only opportunity for the people to come together, take stock of their past and plan for the future and renew their family ties.
“Apart from the cultural and social significance of the sponsorship by Vodafone, it goes without mentioning that all companies commit resources to the people in order to demonstrate their corporate or brand names, logos and even signs, buildings and other promotional materials,” he stated.
Many corporate bodies see sponsorship of festivals and other community-based projects as a way to reach a self-selected audience hopefully interested in patronising the company’s products or services, hence the decision to commit resources to better the lives of the people.
“It is in recognition of this corporate social responsibility that the management of Vodafone Ghana, after unveiling its brand in the country, has taken the decision to sponsor festivals, which form the bedrock of the social fabric of the people. It is, therefore, hoped that such sponsorship would enhance or improve patronage of brands or products of those corporate bodies”, Mr Afriyie stated.
Research has also shown that a company which takes sponsorship seriously could be seen as looking into the future, which is likely to produce business benefits in terms of cost, efficiencies and loyal customer base, which in times of competition, is essential for business to survive and thrive.
“If corporate social responsibility is really a competitive advantage, then it is important for companies in the telecommunication industries in particular and all corporate bodies in general to take interest in CSR activities,” Mr Afriyie told the Daily Graphic.
He added that his company had taken the lead in that commitment.
I recall that during the Vodafone presentation to the Aburi Traditional Council, the Krontihene of the area, Nana Kwafo Kraben II, commended the company for its support but called for a sustainable long-term partnership between Vodafone and the people to develop and transform the area into one of the best tourism attractions in the country.
He made particular reference to the Botanical Garden, which, he said, could be developed to meet today’s tourism standard.
Apart from festivals and other communal celebrations, it is equally important that companies give attention to other useful areas such as the rehabilitation of schools, provision of health facilities, potable water facilities and computer and accessories to government-community ICT libraries, as well as assisting brilliant, needy students in deprived communities.
In view of the above, it is important for companies to see sponsorship as an integral part of their businesses which would earn them the goodwill of communities and increase their returns.
FANTEAKWA ASSEMBLY IMPROVES REVENUE (PAGE 15, OCT 7)
THE Fanteakwa District Assembly in the Eastern Region as of the end of August 31, 2009, collected GH¢203,018.44 out of the projected GH¢108, 420.00 revenue for 2009.
The amount represented 185.54 per cent of the projected revenue for this year.
The District Chief Executive for the area, Mr Abass Fuseini Sbaaba, who disclosed this at the assembly meeting on Friday at Begoro, attributed the impressive financial performance of the assembly to a number of prudent measures which had been instituted.
He mentioned the use of consultants and a revenue task force and regular meetings of management with revenue collectors during which strategies to improve performance were adopted and effectively implemented.
Others included the preparation of database on all businesses in the district.
To sustain and further improve on the gains made, the DCE gave the assurance that the assembly would continue to adopt and implement measures that would improve its revenue base.
To this end, he called for motivation for revenue collectors whose hard work immensely contributed to the financial success of the assembly.
“The assembly must motivate revenue collectors and the general labour force by way of instituting best worker awards,” he said.
“Those revenue collectors whose non-performance did not contribute to the success of the assembly’s revenue base should not be allowed to take the same monthly salary as those who performed creditably,” the DCE emphasised.
Mr Sbaaba said under the District Development Fund, the district had been allocated US$482,000 to support its development budget for 2009.
“Out of this amount, $460,000 is for development projects while the US$22,000 is for capacity building,” the DCE added.
On development projects, Mr Sbaaba said the assembly had acquired a (GH¢25,000) grader on a hire purchase to be paid for within three years to be used to improve the road network in the area to facilitate the movement of the people and goods.
He added that under the Millennium Development Authority facility, a number of educational projects had been approved for execution in the district.
They included the construction of 14 two-unit classroom blocks, four three-unit classroom blocks and two four-unit teachers’ bungalow.
The DCE further said since information communication technology (ICT) was relevant to the development of the area, the assembly would soon establish ICT centres in five basic schools, two at Begoro and one each at Ahomahomasu, Bosuso and Osino, adding that each of the centres would be equipped with 10 computers and accessories.
“To make the centres very effective, beneficiaries of the National Youth Employment Programme will be selected and trained to assist in the management of the centres,” he added.
The amount represented 185.54 per cent of the projected revenue for this year.
The District Chief Executive for the area, Mr Abass Fuseini Sbaaba, who disclosed this at the assembly meeting on Friday at Begoro, attributed the impressive financial performance of the assembly to a number of prudent measures which had been instituted.
He mentioned the use of consultants and a revenue task force and regular meetings of management with revenue collectors during which strategies to improve performance were adopted and effectively implemented.
Others included the preparation of database on all businesses in the district.
To sustain and further improve on the gains made, the DCE gave the assurance that the assembly would continue to adopt and implement measures that would improve its revenue base.
To this end, he called for motivation for revenue collectors whose hard work immensely contributed to the financial success of the assembly.
“The assembly must motivate revenue collectors and the general labour force by way of instituting best worker awards,” he said.
“Those revenue collectors whose non-performance did not contribute to the success of the assembly’s revenue base should not be allowed to take the same monthly salary as those who performed creditably,” the DCE emphasised.
Mr Sbaaba said under the District Development Fund, the district had been allocated US$482,000 to support its development budget for 2009.
“Out of this amount, $460,000 is for development projects while the US$22,000 is for capacity building,” the DCE added.
On development projects, Mr Sbaaba said the assembly had acquired a (GH¢25,000) grader on a hire purchase to be paid for within three years to be used to improve the road network in the area to facilitate the movement of the people and goods.
He added that under the Millennium Development Authority facility, a number of educational projects had been approved for execution in the district.
They included the construction of 14 two-unit classroom blocks, four three-unit classroom blocks and two four-unit teachers’ bungalow.
The DCE further said since information communication technology (ICT) was relevant to the development of the area, the assembly would soon establish ICT centres in five basic schools, two at Begoro and one each at Ahomahomasu, Bosuso and Osino, adding that each of the centres would be equipped with 10 computers and accessories.
“To make the centres very effective, beneficiaries of the National Youth Employment Programme will be selected and trained to assist in the management of the centres,” he added.
VODAFONE DONATES TOWARDS EKAADE FESTIVAL (PAGE 21, OCT 6)
VODAFONE Ghana over the weekend presented a cheque for GH¢1,000 and assorted souvenirs to the Kade Traditional Authority, as its contribution towards this year’s Ekaade festival.
The items comprised assorted drinks, 10 cartons of Vodafone branded bottled mineral water, T-shirts and polo caps.
The company also promised to provide GH¢5,000 to support a state dance and beauty pageant as part of activities to mark the festival.
Presenting the items, the Eastern Regional Corporate Communication Manager of Vodafone, Mr Osei Afriyie expressed the delight of his outfit to be associated with the celebration of the festival, a gesture that marked the beginning of a new relationship between Vodafone and the people of Kade.
He said the donation formed part of the company’s corporate social responsibility of promoting culture in the country.
“As part of Vodafone’s commitment to promote the Ekaade festival aimed at re-uniting families and people of Kade, we decided to support the festival to make it a great success”, he stated.
The Vice Chairman of the Planning Committee for the festival, Mr Twumasi Ankrah, who received the gift, thanked Vodafone for the gesture, which he stressed, would make the celebration of the festival a success.
The items comprised assorted drinks, 10 cartons of Vodafone branded bottled mineral water, T-shirts and polo caps.
The company also promised to provide GH¢5,000 to support a state dance and beauty pageant as part of activities to mark the festival.
Presenting the items, the Eastern Regional Corporate Communication Manager of Vodafone, Mr Osei Afriyie expressed the delight of his outfit to be associated with the celebration of the festival, a gesture that marked the beginning of a new relationship between Vodafone and the people of Kade.
He said the donation formed part of the company’s corporate social responsibility of promoting culture in the country.
“As part of Vodafone’s commitment to promote the Ekaade festival aimed at re-uniting families and people of Kade, we decided to support the festival to make it a great success”, he stated.
The Vice Chairman of the Planning Committee for the festival, Mr Twumasi Ankrah, who received the gift, thanked Vodafone for the gesture, which he stressed, would make the celebration of the festival a success.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
AKYEM ABUAKWA TO RELEASE LAND TO INVESTORS (PAGE 23, OCT 1)
THE Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amotia Ofori Panin, has stated that the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council is prepared to release large tracts of land to investors interested in commercial farming.
He said the area was endowed with several hectares of land suitable for the cultivation of both cash and food crops, which investors could use for large-scale farming.
In a speech read on his behalf at the Ofori Panin Fie at Kyebi on Saturday, the Okyenhene gave the assurance that individuals or organisations interested in such a venture would be assisted by the traditional council to acquire the needed tracts of land for both crop and animal production.
That was when officials of the Ghana Tourists Board (GTB) led delegates from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), a number of travel writers, as well as tourists from Africa and Europe to pay a courtesy call on the Okyenhene at the Ofori Panin Fie.
The visit, which formed part of activities marking World Tourism Day, took the delegates to the Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm at Mampong Akuapem, the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) at Tafo and the Bunso Arboretum.
It afforded the delegates the opportunity to meet and interact with the Okyenhene and members of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council to learn about the culture and traditions of the area.
The Okyenhene said engaging in commercial farming would help the country not only to become self-sufficient in food production but also create employment for the people.
He stated that if Ghana wanted to strengthen its competitive advantage in the global economic arena, it must mainstream agriculture as the driving engine of its economy.
Besides the agriculture potential of the area, Osagyefo Ofori Panin further disclosed that the area was endowed with several tourist attractions that could be tapped to ensure the rapid socio-economic development of the area.
He stated that the Atiwa Forest alone had about 200 species of butterflies and several species of snakes, as well as timber that could never be found in other parts of the African continent or anywhere else in the world.
He called on tourism investors to take advantage of the natural serene environment in the area to develop it into one of the best tourist attractions in the country.
The Okyenhemaa, Nana Dokua Adutwumwaa, who sat in state for the Okyenhene, had earlier noted that tourism had the potential to change the fortunes of the country and called for a national policy that would encourage Ghanaians to consider tourism as a viable venture to invest in.
She said as part of his contribution to build on the legacy of his predecessors who built the first secondary school and a clinic in the country, the Okyenhene had also initiated the establishment of the Bunso University of Environment and Agriculture, which would provide access to tertiary education for the youth living in the area and the country as a whole.
The Chadian Tourism Minister, Mr Ahmaf Barkai Animi, who spoke on behalf of the delegates, thanked the Okyenhemaa for the opportunity provided them to learn about some of the traditional heritage of the area.
He said the area was endowed with several hectares of land suitable for the cultivation of both cash and food crops, which investors could use for large-scale farming.
In a speech read on his behalf at the Ofori Panin Fie at Kyebi on Saturday, the Okyenhene gave the assurance that individuals or organisations interested in such a venture would be assisted by the traditional council to acquire the needed tracts of land for both crop and animal production.
That was when officials of the Ghana Tourists Board (GTB) led delegates from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), a number of travel writers, as well as tourists from Africa and Europe to pay a courtesy call on the Okyenhene at the Ofori Panin Fie.
The visit, which formed part of activities marking World Tourism Day, took the delegates to the Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm at Mampong Akuapem, the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) at Tafo and the Bunso Arboretum.
It afforded the delegates the opportunity to meet and interact with the Okyenhene and members of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council to learn about the culture and traditions of the area.
The Okyenhene said engaging in commercial farming would help the country not only to become self-sufficient in food production but also create employment for the people.
He stated that if Ghana wanted to strengthen its competitive advantage in the global economic arena, it must mainstream agriculture as the driving engine of its economy.
Besides the agriculture potential of the area, Osagyefo Ofori Panin further disclosed that the area was endowed with several tourist attractions that could be tapped to ensure the rapid socio-economic development of the area.
He stated that the Atiwa Forest alone had about 200 species of butterflies and several species of snakes, as well as timber that could never be found in other parts of the African continent or anywhere else in the world.
He called on tourism investors to take advantage of the natural serene environment in the area to develop it into one of the best tourist attractions in the country.
The Okyenhemaa, Nana Dokua Adutwumwaa, who sat in state for the Okyenhene, had earlier noted that tourism had the potential to change the fortunes of the country and called for a national policy that would encourage Ghanaians to consider tourism as a viable venture to invest in.
She said as part of his contribution to build on the legacy of his predecessors who built the first secondary school and a clinic in the country, the Okyenhene had also initiated the establishment of the Bunso University of Environment and Agriculture, which would provide access to tertiary education for the youth living in the area and the country as a whole.
The Chadian Tourism Minister, Mr Ahmaf Barkai Animi, who spoke on behalf of the delegates, thanked the Okyenhemaa for the opportunity provided them to learn about some of the traditional heritage of the area.
GOVT TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SOCIAL SERVICES — VEEP (SEPT 29, PAGE 17)
THE Vice President, Mr John Mahama, has assured Ghanaians that the government will not discontinue with the provision of essential social services because it has to settle huge arrears at both the central government and district assembly levels.
He said while the government inherited huge arrears from the previous administration, it was taking appropriate measures to ensure the smooth flow of fuel, the provision of water, clinics and school buildings, as well as secure jobs.
“Let me be clear that we are not following a programme that is designed to stop the provision of essential services because we have to settle huge arrears at both the central government and the district levels,” he stated.
At this year’s Kronti Odwira festival of the chiefs and people of the Kronti Division of the Akuapem Traditional Area on Saturday, the Vice President said other committees, including a Steering Committee, were working to set up a budget and accounting system to ensure the effective allocation of resources for the government and the social and development projects such as water, clinics and school buildings.
The event, which coincided with the 10th anniversary celebration of the reign of Osahene Ofei Kwesi Agyeman IV as the Krontihene of the Akuapem Traditional Area, was attended by a large gathering of people from all walks of life.
They included the Member of Parliament for Akropong, Mr William Ofori Boafo and the District Chief Executive for Akuapem North, Mr George Opare-Addo, chiefs and queens.
The Vice President said as a social democratic government, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration was committed to development and equity for all Ghanaians irrespective of their political or tribal background.
He said while the government inherited huge arrears from the previous administration, it was taking appropriate measures to ensure the smooth flow of fuel, the provision of water, clinics and school buildings, as well as secure jobs.
“Let me be clear that we are not following a programme that is designed to stop the provision of essential services because we have to settle huge arrears at both the central government and the district levels,” he stated.
At this year’s Kronti Odwira festival of the chiefs and people of the Kronti Division of the Akuapem Traditional Area on Saturday, the Vice President said other committees, including a Steering Committee, were working to set up a budget and accounting system to ensure the effective allocation of resources for the government and the social and development projects such as water, clinics and school buildings.
The event, which coincided with the 10th anniversary celebration of the reign of Osahene Ofei Kwesi Agyeman IV as the Krontihene of the Akuapem Traditional Area, was attended by a large gathering of people from all walks of life.
They included the Member of Parliament for Akropong, Mr William Ofori Boafo and the District Chief Executive for Akuapem North, Mr George Opare-Addo, chiefs and queens.
The Vice President said as a social democratic government, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration was committed to development and equity for all Ghanaians irrespective of their political or tribal background.
Friday, October 9, 2009
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS MUST BE SENSTITIVE — CHIREH (PAGE 17, SEPT 28)
ASSEMBLY Members in the country have been urged to be assertive in calling for adequate transfer of power and resources to the local level to ensure an effective decentralisation process in the country.
Such a move would also facilitate the empowerment of assembly members to actively take part in decision-making processes that affected development at the local level.
The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, who made the call, stated that “as representatives of the people at the local level, you must agitate for your right and not expect anyone to give it to you”.
He was speaking at the first ordinary meeting of the third session of the Akuapem South District assembly in the Eastern Region last Friday.
“The transfer of power to the assembly members will effectively ensure equity in sharing and balance in development projects to move forward the decentralisation process across the country,” Mr Chireh said.
The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development said assembly members, as representatives of the people at the grass root level, were in a better position to determine which development projects and programmes would improve the lots of the people.
“However, this is not the case as in most instances almost every development project and programme for your electoral areas are determined by authorities in Accra and the regional capitals, sometimes without even seeking your inputs,” Mr Chireh stated.
According to him, the separation of decentralised local service from the central civil service would strengthen the capacity of personnel at the local level, provide more resources and give assembly members a greater leverage in order to carry out their development programmes.
He urged the assembly members to identify development projects, especially those in the areas of education, sanitation, roads to improve the standard of living of the people.
He also urged assembly members to remain neutral and impartial to matters affecting the metropolitan, municipal and districts to ensure meaningful development at the local level.
He gave the assurance that the government would soon review the decentralisation process, after 20 years of implementation, to deepen local level democracy and accelerate development at the grass-roots level.
For his part, the Municipal Chief Executive of Akuapem South, Dr Godfried Osei-Bonsu Twum, said out of the projected GH288,900.00 to be collected, the assembly as of July 2009 had collected GH158, 143.25, representing 54.7 per cent of the projected figure.
He said notwithstanding the success chalked up, efforts were being made to revamp the revenue mobilisation effort and cited the setting up of a task force to mop up revenue in the areas of development levy and property rate, acquiring new pick-up cabins for revenue mobilisation, setting targets for revenue collectors and monitoring their performance, among others.
Such a move would also facilitate the empowerment of assembly members to actively take part in decision-making processes that affected development at the local level.
The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, who made the call, stated that “as representatives of the people at the local level, you must agitate for your right and not expect anyone to give it to you”.
He was speaking at the first ordinary meeting of the third session of the Akuapem South District assembly in the Eastern Region last Friday.
“The transfer of power to the assembly members will effectively ensure equity in sharing and balance in development projects to move forward the decentralisation process across the country,” Mr Chireh said.
The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development said assembly members, as representatives of the people at the grass root level, were in a better position to determine which development projects and programmes would improve the lots of the people.
“However, this is not the case as in most instances almost every development project and programme for your electoral areas are determined by authorities in Accra and the regional capitals, sometimes without even seeking your inputs,” Mr Chireh stated.
According to him, the separation of decentralised local service from the central civil service would strengthen the capacity of personnel at the local level, provide more resources and give assembly members a greater leverage in order to carry out their development programmes.
He urged the assembly members to identify development projects, especially those in the areas of education, sanitation, roads to improve the standard of living of the people.
He also urged assembly members to remain neutral and impartial to matters affecting the metropolitan, municipal and districts to ensure meaningful development at the local level.
He gave the assurance that the government would soon review the decentralisation process, after 20 years of implementation, to deepen local level democracy and accelerate development at the grass-roots level.
For his part, the Municipal Chief Executive of Akuapem South, Dr Godfried Osei-Bonsu Twum, said out of the projected GH288,900.00 to be collected, the assembly as of July 2009 had collected GH158, 143.25, representing 54.7 per cent of the projected figure.
He said notwithstanding the success chalked up, efforts were being made to revamp the revenue mobilisation effort and cited the setting up of a task force to mop up revenue in the areas of development levy and property rate, acquiring new pick-up cabins for revenue mobilisation, setting targets for revenue collectors and monitoring their performance, among others.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
SOLOMON WINS DANCE CONTEST (SEPT 22, PAGE 31)
A 24-year-old graduate of the NIIT in Accra, Solomon Odoi, has been adjudged the Best Dancer of the 2009 National Dance Championship, which was held at the Capital View Hotel in Koforidua.
Odoi, who represented the Greater Accra Region, where he emerged the first runner-up and also competed in 2008 Channel O Dance African Championship, received GH¢5,000 as his prize.
He was among the first five contestants who made it to the finals of the competition, which saw 19 contestants putting up splendid performances to outdo each other to the admiration and cheers of the audience.
Eric Borketey Amsuade, representing the Ashanti Region, where he was the best dancer of the competition, took the first runner-up position and was awarded GH¢2,000.
As a second-runner up, Abass Caesar, who was the first runner-up of the competition held in the Central Region, had GH¢1,000 as his award.
However, the declaration of Odoi as the Best National Dancer for 2009 was received with strong reservations by the audience.
The audience, who had remained extremely elated, screaming on top of their voices and calling out loudly the names of their favourite contestants from the beginning through the various stages of the competition, however expressed their displeasure at the judges’ decision, which some of them described as “flawed and biased”.
According to them, Borketey and Caesar, contestants number 13 and six respectively, put up not only splendid performances during the free styles and the highlife segments of the competition but also wore the most appropriate costumes.
Mr Dominic Andoh, a cultural co-ordinator and a graduate of the School of Performing Art with specialisation in dancing, said if the judges were indeed after creativity, movement to the rhythm, control and the use of space on the stage, no contestant showed talents at choreography, flair with highlife music and other uncommon talents than the first and second runners-up.
Mary Ghansah, a student at the Koforidua Polytechnic, admitted that while Odoi proved to be a good dancer, he committed a number of flaws at both segments of the competition, especially during the highlife stage, where “he missed most of his control and movements, as well as dressed very casually”.
Mr Oppong Adjei also expressed worry that little attention was paid to the creativity and costumes that Borketey and Caesar wore, which made them stand out among the 19 contestants who competed for the events.
However, one of the judges, Mr George C.N.N. Asampong, indicated that since all the five judges had enough expertise of the dancing profession and were professionals themselves “we think we made the right decision”.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic after the event, Mr Chris Adamah, the Managing Director of the Media Whizz Kids, organisers of the event, expressed satisfaction at the decision of the judges, saying “we engaged competent judges and we consider that they have made the right decision”.
Sharing his pride, the 2009 Best Dancer Champion, Odoi, attributed his winning to the “favour and grace of God and not by my ability or talent”.
Odoi, who represented the Greater Accra Region, where he emerged the first runner-up and also competed in 2008 Channel O Dance African Championship, received GH¢5,000 as his prize.
He was among the first five contestants who made it to the finals of the competition, which saw 19 contestants putting up splendid performances to outdo each other to the admiration and cheers of the audience.
Eric Borketey Amsuade, representing the Ashanti Region, where he was the best dancer of the competition, took the first runner-up position and was awarded GH¢2,000.
As a second-runner up, Abass Caesar, who was the first runner-up of the competition held in the Central Region, had GH¢1,000 as his award.
However, the declaration of Odoi as the Best National Dancer for 2009 was received with strong reservations by the audience.
The audience, who had remained extremely elated, screaming on top of their voices and calling out loudly the names of their favourite contestants from the beginning through the various stages of the competition, however expressed their displeasure at the judges’ decision, which some of them described as “flawed and biased”.
According to them, Borketey and Caesar, contestants number 13 and six respectively, put up not only splendid performances during the free styles and the highlife segments of the competition but also wore the most appropriate costumes.
Mr Dominic Andoh, a cultural co-ordinator and a graduate of the School of Performing Art with specialisation in dancing, said if the judges were indeed after creativity, movement to the rhythm, control and the use of space on the stage, no contestant showed talents at choreography, flair with highlife music and other uncommon talents than the first and second runners-up.
Mary Ghansah, a student at the Koforidua Polytechnic, admitted that while Odoi proved to be a good dancer, he committed a number of flaws at both segments of the competition, especially during the highlife stage, where “he missed most of his control and movements, as well as dressed very casually”.
Mr Oppong Adjei also expressed worry that little attention was paid to the creativity and costumes that Borketey and Caesar wore, which made them stand out among the 19 contestants who competed for the events.
However, one of the judges, Mr George C.N.N. Asampong, indicated that since all the five judges had enough expertise of the dancing profession and were professionals themselves “we think we made the right decision”.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic after the event, Mr Chris Adamah, the Managing Director of the Media Whizz Kids, organisers of the event, expressed satisfaction at the decision of the judges, saying “we engaged competent judges and we consider that they have made the right decision”.
Sharing his pride, the 2009 Best Dancer Champion, Odoi, attributed his winning to the “favour and grace of God and not by my ability or talent”.
MEDIATE IN OKUAPEMAN CHIEFTAINCY DISPUTE...Prez urges Regional House of Chiefs (SEPT 21, SPREAD)
President John Evans Atta Mills has called on the President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs and other appropriate committees to mediate in the Okuapeman chieftaincy dispute which is hindering development in the area.
That, he said, would help to bring together the people of Okuapeman to enable them to peacefully co-exist with one another and contribute meaningfully to the area’s socio-economic development.
“I will humbly plead with the President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs and its other appropriate committees to mediate in the chieftaincy impasse in Akuapem between the Benkum (Larteh), the Adonten (Aburi) and the Nifa (Adukrom) divisions on one side and the Okuapehene on the other,” the President stated.
In an address read on his behalf by the Minister of Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Alex Asum-Ahensah, at the celebration of this year’s Odwira festival of the chiefs and people of Akuapem on Saturday, the President said “let us use this year’s Odwira festival to bury our differences and forge ahead in unity for a better Okuapeman and a better Ghana”.
The event, which was on the theme “The Role of the Youth in the Development of the Nation”, also coincided with the 35th anniversary of the reign of Oseadeeyo Nana Addo Dankwa III as the Okuapehene.
The colourful ceremony drew a large gathering of people from all walks of life including the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Baba Jamal; the District Chief Executive for Akuapem North, Mr George Opare-Addo, and Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate for the 2008 December general election.
The President said Okuapeman once used to be one of the traditional areas in the country where chieftaincy disputes were non-existent or minimal, a development that ensured the rapid development of the area.
“But that is not so currently, since this ugly phenomenon of chieftaincy disputes is surfacing in the traditional area,” he stated.
Prof. Mills, therefore, urged the chiefs and people of Okuapeman to use this year’s Odwira festival to bury their differences and forge ahead in unity to enable them to contribute to the area’s rapid development.
He used the occasion to thank the chiefs and people of the Eastern Region for voting the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to power during the 2008 general election.
He, however, urged the people to exercise maximum patience for the Government, since his administration was making every effort to “fix the tattered economy we inherited from our predecessors”.
According to him, the NDC Government would not rush in taking decisions that would be detrimental to the nation, hence the decision to tread cautiously in taking vital decision affecting the people. “It is the positive impact of an action which matters and not the rush in its implementation,” he added.
The President assured Ghanaians that his administration would not witch-hunt any political opponent but would insist that political office holders accounted for their stewardship “for the sake of transparency, probity and accountability”.
“My government is bent on uniting Ghanaians and not dividing them along political, religious and ethnic lines,” Prof. Mills added.
The President commended the Okuapehene for ensuring peace and development in the area and wished him good health and God’s blessings and guidance in the days and years of his reign.
In a speech read on his behalf by his deputy, Mr Baba Jamal, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, reiterated the need for the chiefs and people of Okuapeman to strive to put the past behind them and unite as one people with a common destiny to ensure the prevalence of peace in the area.
Earlier in his welcoming address read for him, Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa appealed to the youth to eschew negative lifestyles that could adversely jeopardise their future ambitions.
He urged them to take advantage of the numerous opportunities provided by the Government and society to educate themselves and acquire the requisite knowledge and skills to enable them to become responsible citizens in the future.
He commended President Mills for assuming the highest office of the land and expressed the commitment and support of the Akuapem Traditional Council to his administration.
That, he said, would help to bring together the people of Okuapeman to enable them to peacefully co-exist with one another and contribute meaningfully to the area’s socio-economic development.
“I will humbly plead with the President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs and its other appropriate committees to mediate in the chieftaincy impasse in Akuapem between the Benkum (Larteh), the Adonten (Aburi) and the Nifa (Adukrom) divisions on one side and the Okuapehene on the other,” the President stated.
In an address read on his behalf by the Minister of Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Alex Asum-Ahensah, at the celebration of this year’s Odwira festival of the chiefs and people of Akuapem on Saturday, the President said “let us use this year’s Odwira festival to bury our differences and forge ahead in unity for a better Okuapeman and a better Ghana”.
The event, which was on the theme “The Role of the Youth in the Development of the Nation”, also coincided with the 35th anniversary of the reign of Oseadeeyo Nana Addo Dankwa III as the Okuapehene.
The colourful ceremony drew a large gathering of people from all walks of life including the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Baba Jamal; the District Chief Executive for Akuapem North, Mr George Opare-Addo, and Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate for the 2008 December general election.
The President said Okuapeman once used to be one of the traditional areas in the country where chieftaincy disputes were non-existent or minimal, a development that ensured the rapid development of the area.
“But that is not so currently, since this ugly phenomenon of chieftaincy disputes is surfacing in the traditional area,” he stated.
Prof. Mills, therefore, urged the chiefs and people of Okuapeman to use this year’s Odwira festival to bury their differences and forge ahead in unity to enable them to contribute to the area’s rapid development.
He used the occasion to thank the chiefs and people of the Eastern Region for voting the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to power during the 2008 general election.
He, however, urged the people to exercise maximum patience for the Government, since his administration was making every effort to “fix the tattered economy we inherited from our predecessors”.
According to him, the NDC Government would not rush in taking decisions that would be detrimental to the nation, hence the decision to tread cautiously in taking vital decision affecting the people. “It is the positive impact of an action which matters and not the rush in its implementation,” he added.
The President assured Ghanaians that his administration would not witch-hunt any political opponent but would insist that political office holders accounted for their stewardship “for the sake of transparency, probity and accountability”.
“My government is bent on uniting Ghanaians and not dividing them along political, religious and ethnic lines,” Prof. Mills added.
The President commended the Okuapehene for ensuring peace and development in the area and wished him good health and God’s blessings and guidance in the days and years of his reign.
In a speech read on his behalf by his deputy, Mr Baba Jamal, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, reiterated the need for the chiefs and people of Okuapeman to strive to put the past behind them and unite as one people with a common destiny to ensure the prevalence of peace in the area.
Earlier in his welcoming address read for him, Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa appealed to the youth to eschew negative lifestyles that could adversely jeopardise their future ambitions.
He urged them to take advantage of the numerous opportunities provided by the Government and society to educate themselves and acquire the requisite knowledge and skills to enable them to become responsible citizens in the future.
He commended President Mills for assuming the highest office of the land and expressed the commitment and support of the Akuapem Traditional Council to his administration.
GNAT WORRIED OVER DELAY IN PAYING NEW TEACHERS (SEPT 21 PAGE 17)
THE Ghana National association of Teachers (GNAT) has expressed concern over the practice where many new young teachers posted across the country have to work for a long time before receiving their first salaries.
Such practice, the association observed, demoralised and demotivated young teachers, and therefore made it difficult for them to offer their best as part of efforts to raise the standard of education in the country.
The President of GNAT, Mr Joseph Kweku Adjei, who expressed these concerns, said visits made throughout the country by executives of the association and reports reaching its office showed that many young teachers often worked for long periods before receiving their first pay.
Such an unfortunate situation was subjecting the young teachers to extreme financial hardship, demoralising and affecting them generally, he noted.
Speaking at the 3rd quadrennial delegates’ conference of the Eastern Regional branch of the GNAT at Koforidua at the weekend, Mr Adjei said the prompt payment of salaries to new teachers would make them contribute meaningfully towards efforts aimed at raising the standard of education in the country.
The GNAT therefore expects the government and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to ensure that young teachers are not given a baptism of fire that will dissuade them from performing excellently.
“We believe that solving the delay in the payment of the first salaries of young teachers has the added advantage of magnetising a number of young senior high school graduates to make teaching a profession of choice”, Mr Adjei stated.
He said the endemic shortage of professional teachers was a serious handicap which had continued to bedevil the education system.
He noted that such problems had arisen mainly because many teachers who entered the universities had to use their own resources “because the quota system could not allow them to be paid for the four years and have been refused posting after graduation”.
According to him, 567 professional graduate teachers who had completed their studies and had duly submitted their posting forms to the GES for posting had been denied the chance to go and teach.
“Many of the district directors of education who have been approached by the beleaguered teachers have turned them back with the excuse that they cannot guarantee their salaries”, he added.
The GNAT president also called for an increment in the responsibility allowances given to teachers, noting that the present allowance being paid to teachers were “an insult to the recipients”.
Mr Adjei commended the government for its commitment of launching a new national pension scheme and however expressed the hope that the authorities and committees put in place to ensure the success of the scheme would allow transparency, equity, fairness and justice to prevail in the discharge of their duties.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, noted that one of the major factors confronting the education system in the country was the lack of infrastructure, logistics and teachers at the basic level of education.
He, however, expressed the commitment of the government to address these challenges in order to make education more accessible to every Ghanaian child.
Such practice, the association observed, demoralised and demotivated young teachers, and therefore made it difficult for them to offer their best as part of efforts to raise the standard of education in the country.
The President of GNAT, Mr Joseph Kweku Adjei, who expressed these concerns, said visits made throughout the country by executives of the association and reports reaching its office showed that many young teachers often worked for long periods before receiving their first pay.
Such an unfortunate situation was subjecting the young teachers to extreme financial hardship, demoralising and affecting them generally, he noted.
Speaking at the 3rd quadrennial delegates’ conference of the Eastern Regional branch of the GNAT at Koforidua at the weekend, Mr Adjei said the prompt payment of salaries to new teachers would make them contribute meaningfully towards efforts aimed at raising the standard of education in the country.
The GNAT therefore expects the government and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to ensure that young teachers are not given a baptism of fire that will dissuade them from performing excellently.
“We believe that solving the delay in the payment of the first salaries of young teachers has the added advantage of magnetising a number of young senior high school graduates to make teaching a profession of choice”, Mr Adjei stated.
He said the endemic shortage of professional teachers was a serious handicap which had continued to bedevil the education system.
He noted that such problems had arisen mainly because many teachers who entered the universities had to use their own resources “because the quota system could not allow them to be paid for the four years and have been refused posting after graduation”.
According to him, 567 professional graduate teachers who had completed their studies and had duly submitted their posting forms to the GES for posting had been denied the chance to go and teach.
“Many of the district directors of education who have been approached by the beleaguered teachers have turned them back with the excuse that they cannot guarantee their salaries”, he added.
The GNAT president also called for an increment in the responsibility allowances given to teachers, noting that the present allowance being paid to teachers were “an insult to the recipients”.
Mr Adjei commended the government for its commitment of launching a new national pension scheme and however expressed the hope that the authorities and committees put in place to ensure the success of the scheme would allow transparency, equity, fairness and justice to prevail in the discharge of their duties.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, noted that one of the major factors confronting the education system in the country was the lack of infrastructure, logistics and teachers at the basic level of education.
He, however, expressed the commitment of the government to address these challenges in order to make education more accessible to every Ghanaian child.
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