THE Board Chairman of the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), Mr Ibrahim Adams, has lauded the management of Kwanim G.D.K. Farm, a 1,000-hectare mechanised farm at Kwanim in the Kwahu North District in the Eastern Region, for contributing significantly to food security in the country.
He has therefore recommended the farm to be considered as a model that should be replicated across the country.
According to him, that would help empower indigenous individual farmers and private companies to embark on mechanised farming to contribute towards increased food production in Ghana.
Mr Adams, who toured Kwanim G.D.K Farm with the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said “ADB has so far invested GH¢3 million in this farm and is committed to the success of the project since it is the only properly managed mechanised farm in the country now.”
The visit was to enable the ADB Board Chairman to have first-hand insight into the achievements and challenges of the farm, especially the delay in the completion of its two 10,000-metric tonne warehouses.
The project, which has been described by Mr Adams as an integral part of the farm, was expected to be completed in December 2009 but lack of finance, purloins and appropriate welding machines have delayed it.
The ADB Board Chairman said since agriculture was the backbone of the Ghanaian economy, the government was determined to support the cultivation of mechanised farming across the country to enhance food production and security.
Mr Adams hinted that following the success of Kwanim G. D.K. Farm, the ADB had decided to replicate mechanised farming in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions.
He urged the management of Kwanim G.D.K. Farms to diversify its operations to include the establishment of a mill to add value to its produce, such as animal feed, to support animal husbandry and fish farming in the country.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo described Kwanim G.D.K. Farm as a private project that had now become “a national asset, currently contributing to food security in the country.”
He therefore expressed the commitment of the government to facilitate the expansion and development of the farm, adding that “we will support the construction of access roads and street lights to the farm.”
He appealed to farmers and interested individuals to take advantage of cage fish farming in the Volta Lake, which he described as “more lucrative and rewarding.”
The Executive Chairman of Kwanim G.D.K. Farm, Mr Alex Tenkorang, said out of the over 8,500 hectares of land acquired for the cultivation of maize and other crops, management had only been able to cultivate 450 hectares of the land with maize, 60 hectares with soya beans and 20 hectares with water melon.
According to him, his outfit planned to cultivate about 500 hectares of various crops this year, but persistent rainfall, which had made ploughing of the land difficult, seemed to undermine the company’s ability to achieve the target for the year.
Mr Tenkorang identified lack of access roads, street lights and finance as some of the challenges facing the expansion of the farm project.
He appealed to the government and the ADB to support the development aspirations of the farm.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
HERBALIST APPEALS TO GOVT, MOH FOR HELP (PAGE 22, MAY 28, 2010)
THE Eastern Regional Chairman of the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine (GHATFRAM), Dr Emmanuel Kyei-Osei has appealed to the government and the Ministry of Health (MoH) to conduct scientific and clinical test into his herbal medicine, which he claims is a potent cure for HIV and AIDS.
He said the test would determine the efficacy or otherwise of the herbal medicine, which he said, had helped to improve the health status of some persons living with HIV and AIDS.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Koforidua, Dr Kyei-Osei said “a positive outcome of the test will help the country to produce large quantities of this herbal concoction to treat persons living with HIV and AIDS.”
The 72-year-old herbalist, who is the proprietor of the “Enso Nyame Ye Herbal Clinic” in Koforidua, expressed concern over the rate at which the HIV and AIDS pandemic was claiming many innocent lives as a result of lack of cure for the deadly disease.
“How on earth can we as a nation sit down and look on helplessly when many lives are being lost through HIV and AIDS, and we are not prepared to support those who are making efforts to find a cure to the disease?”, Dr Kyei-Osei asked.
He claimed that although he had discovered a cure for the disease, the only challenge was how to draw the attention of the government, the MOH, scientists and medical practitioners at the various hospitals to monitor clinical tests on HIV and AIDS patients to ascertain the efficacy of the herbal concoction.
According to Dr Kyei-Osei, in 2004 he wrote a proposal to the MOH to provide him with between 50 and 100 PLWHAs for clinical test to verify the efficacy of the herbal medicine but he did not obtain any positive response from the authorities.
“I also recall that in 2008, the then Minister of Health, the late Major Courage Quarshigah directed the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to conduct a research into the efficacy of my medicine, but again I did not get any positive response from the CSIR, even though it came to me to collect samples of the herbal medicine for test,” he stated.
“This was in spite of the fact that I had already taken the medicine to the same CSIR at Mampong in 1995 to test for the toxification, which led to its approval”, he added.
Recounting his experiences with health personnel at some of the hospitals, Dr Kyei-Osei said he had often asked some of the HIV and AIDS patients he was treating with his herbal concoction to go for clinical evaluation to test their viral load, CD 4 and CD 8 counts but most of the doctors declined to give the patients the outcome of the results to enable them to report back to him.
He said the test would determine the efficacy or otherwise of the herbal medicine, which he said, had helped to improve the health status of some persons living with HIV and AIDS.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Koforidua, Dr Kyei-Osei said “a positive outcome of the test will help the country to produce large quantities of this herbal concoction to treat persons living with HIV and AIDS.”
The 72-year-old herbalist, who is the proprietor of the “Enso Nyame Ye Herbal Clinic” in Koforidua, expressed concern over the rate at which the HIV and AIDS pandemic was claiming many innocent lives as a result of lack of cure for the deadly disease.
“How on earth can we as a nation sit down and look on helplessly when many lives are being lost through HIV and AIDS, and we are not prepared to support those who are making efforts to find a cure to the disease?”, Dr Kyei-Osei asked.
He claimed that although he had discovered a cure for the disease, the only challenge was how to draw the attention of the government, the MOH, scientists and medical practitioners at the various hospitals to monitor clinical tests on HIV and AIDS patients to ascertain the efficacy of the herbal concoction.
According to Dr Kyei-Osei, in 2004 he wrote a proposal to the MOH to provide him with between 50 and 100 PLWHAs for clinical test to verify the efficacy of the herbal medicine but he did not obtain any positive response from the authorities.
“I also recall that in 2008, the then Minister of Health, the late Major Courage Quarshigah directed the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to conduct a research into the efficacy of my medicine, but again I did not get any positive response from the CSIR, even though it came to me to collect samples of the herbal medicine for test,” he stated.
“This was in spite of the fact that I had already taken the medicine to the same CSIR at Mampong in 1995 to test for the toxification, which led to its approval”, he added.
Recounting his experiences with health personnel at some of the hospitals, Dr Kyei-Osei said he had often asked some of the HIV and AIDS patients he was treating with his herbal concoction to go for clinical evaluation to test their viral load, CD 4 and CD 8 counts but most of the doctors declined to give the patients the outcome of the results to enable them to report back to him.
IMPROVE SERVICE CONDIDTIONS OF TEACHERS...Government urged (PAGE 11, MAY 28, 2010)
THE Director of the Institute of Education of the University of Cape Coast, Prof. James Adu Opare, has called on the government and stakeholders to improve the conditions of service of teachers in order to make the teaching profession more attractive.
That, he said, would enable the various colleges of education in the country to attract “quality students who qualify to be trained to become teachers”.
“Since teaching is no longer attractive, few students are motivated to enter the colleges of education to train to become teachers,” he stated.
In a speech read on his behalf at the second graduation ceremony of the Kyebi Presbyterian College of Education at Kyebi on Saturday, Prof. Opare said, “It is up to the state to improve the conditions of service of teachers if it wants to attract able and committed candidates to enter the colleges of education.”
One hundred and forty five students graduated during the ceremony, which was on the theme, “Transition to tertiary status: Prospects and challenges”.
The director said it was on record that getting the right number of candidates who met the requirements to enter the colleges of education had been a headache for the heads of those institutions.
Speaking on the topic, “Challenges facing the elevation of teacher training colleges into tertiary status”, Prof. Opare said, “There cannot be quality education without teachers of good quality. Similarly, there cannot be teachers of good quality unless we have teacher education of good quality.”
On other challenges, he said with the elevation of teacher training colleges to colleges of education, the practice of students being made to behave in certain ways and doing things such as taking exeats for permission to leave campus, going to bed at stipulated times, weeding the school campus and carrying water to the kitchen must be given a second thought.
“If this culture runs into the tertiary era, students are likely to rebel and this may undermine discipline,” he said.
He, however, cautioned the students of the colleges not to enjoy their newly found freedom in an irresponsible way.
On staffing, he said at present none of the colleges had the optimum number of qualified staff to teach, adding that it would take time to train or recruit enough qualified staff to teach in the colleges.
With regard to infrastructure, Prof. Opare said the colleges had basic infrastructure such as classrooms and offices that only needed to be refurbished.
“However, not all the facilities are suitable for tertiary institutions, as furniture in most of the colleges is suitable for secondary school students, while science laboratories are incomplete and others lack computers for ICT training and office work,” he added.
The director also identified career progression of the teaching staff of the colleges as another challenge, saying, “When the colleges fully attain tertiary status, we expect that promotions or career progression will be determined by quality of research and publications.”
“Unless the colleges get well-equipped libraries with Internet facilities, as well as the requisite books, the tutors cannot work towards promotion, as limited opportunities for research and promotion will naturally be a source of frustration for them,” he added.
On financial management, Prof. Opare said at present some of the bursars in the colleges did not possess the right qualifications and experience to handle their financial affairs and “to go the extra mile to advise the heads of institutions, a situation that must be considered critically”.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said since financing the educational enterprise was quite expensive, the government would, as a matter of priority, ensure that the necessary funds were released to support all the colleges of education.
In his welcoming address, the Principal of the Kyebi Presbyterian College of Education, Rev. E.Y. Omenako, identified the lack of highly trained personnel for the development of the colleges as fully fledged tertiary institutions as one of the major challenges facing the colleges.
“I, therefore, urge the government to pay attention to this critical manpower requirement without delay,” he pleaded.
That, he said, would enable the various colleges of education in the country to attract “quality students who qualify to be trained to become teachers”.
“Since teaching is no longer attractive, few students are motivated to enter the colleges of education to train to become teachers,” he stated.
In a speech read on his behalf at the second graduation ceremony of the Kyebi Presbyterian College of Education at Kyebi on Saturday, Prof. Opare said, “It is up to the state to improve the conditions of service of teachers if it wants to attract able and committed candidates to enter the colleges of education.”
One hundred and forty five students graduated during the ceremony, which was on the theme, “Transition to tertiary status: Prospects and challenges”.
The director said it was on record that getting the right number of candidates who met the requirements to enter the colleges of education had been a headache for the heads of those institutions.
Speaking on the topic, “Challenges facing the elevation of teacher training colleges into tertiary status”, Prof. Opare said, “There cannot be quality education without teachers of good quality. Similarly, there cannot be teachers of good quality unless we have teacher education of good quality.”
On other challenges, he said with the elevation of teacher training colleges to colleges of education, the practice of students being made to behave in certain ways and doing things such as taking exeats for permission to leave campus, going to bed at stipulated times, weeding the school campus and carrying water to the kitchen must be given a second thought.
“If this culture runs into the tertiary era, students are likely to rebel and this may undermine discipline,” he said.
He, however, cautioned the students of the colleges not to enjoy their newly found freedom in an irresponsible way.
On staffing, he said at present none of the colleges had the optimum number of qualified staff to teach, adding that it would take time to train or recruit enough qualified staff to teach in the colleges.
With regard to infrastructure, Prof. Opare said the colleges had basic infrastructure such as classrooms and offices that only needed to be refurbished.
“However, not all the facilities are suitable for tertiary institutions, as furniture in most of the colleges is suitable for secondary school students, while science laboratories are incomplete and others lack computers for ICT training and office work,” he added.
The director also identified career progression of the teaching staff of the colleges as another challenge, saying, “When the colleges fully attain tertiary status, we expect that promotions or career progression will be determined by quality of research and publications.”
“Unless the colleges get well-equipped libraries with Internet facilities, as well as the requisite books, the tutors cannot work towards promotion, as limited opportunities for research and promotion will naturally be a source of frustration for them,” he added.
On financial management, Prof. Opare said at present some of the bursars in the colleges did not possess the right qualifications and experience to handle their financial affairs and “to go the extra mile to advise the heads of institutions, a situation that must be considered critically”.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said since financing the educational enterprise was quite expensive, the government would, as a matter of priority, ensure that the necessary funds were released to support all the colleges of education.
In his welcoming address, the Principal of the Kyebi Presbyterian College of Education, Rev. E.Y. Omenako, identified the lack of highly trained personnel for the development of the colleges as fully fledged tertiary institutions as one of the major challenges facing the colleges.
“I, therefore, urge the government to pay attention to this critical manpower requirement without delay,” he pleaded.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
ASOKWA SOS CHILDREN'S HOME GETS ASSISTANCE (PAGE 42, MAY 26, 2010)
MEMBERS of the Eastern Regional branch of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall, a Catholic friendly society, have donated assorted items worth GH¢1,000 and cash of GH¢500 to the SOS Children's Home at Asiakwa.
The items comprised bags of rice, gallons of cooking oil, assorted biscuits, drinks, toffees, toiletries, detergents and toys.
The donation formed part of activities marking the 2010 Marshall Day celebrations.
Presenting the items, Mr Charles Appiase, a Knight, and Mrs Gloria Bramson, a Lady, said the donation formed part of the association’s charity work to support the needy and under-privileged in society.
"As a practical demonstration of our commitment to make life meaningful, we have decided to donate these items to put smiles on the faces of these children who are our future leaders," they stated.
Receiving the items, the Head of Mothers of the home, Mrs Gertrude Buochi, thanked the Marshallans for the gesture.
She seized the opportunity to appeal to other organisations to support the under-privileged children at the home.0
The items comprised bags of rice, gallons of cooking oil, assorted biscuits, drinks, toffees, toiletries, detergents and toys.
The donation formed part of activities marking the 2010 Marshall Day celebrations.
Presenting the items, Mr Charles Appiase, a Knight, and Mrs Gloria Bramson, a Lady, said the donation formed part of the association’s charity work to support the needy and under-privileged in society.
"As a practical demonstration of our commitment to make life meaningful, we have decided to donate these items to put smiles on the faces of these children who are our future leaders," they stated.
Receiving the items, the Head of Mothers of the home, Mrs Gertrude Buochi, thanked the Marshallans for the gesture.
She seized the opportunity to appeal to other organisations to support the under-privileged children at the home.0
ENTERPRISE LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY COMMENDED (PAGE 21, MAY 25, 2010)
THE Commissioner of the National Insurance Commission (NIC), Mrs Nyameke Kyiamah, has commended the management of the Enterprise Life Assurance Company (ELAC) for contributing immensely to the development of the insurance industry in the country.
According to her, the hard work and innovative strategies adopted by the management of ELAC had spurred the company on to become the second biggest life company and one of the three specialist life insurance entities in the country.
"ELAC has, over the past eight years of its operations, shown tremendous growth from the initial 16th position in premium income to become the second biggest life company in the country as of 2009," Mrs Kyiamah stated.
In a speech read on her behalf at the 2010 Top 100 Sales Representatives’ Conference of the company in Koforidua last Friday, Mrs Kyiamah said, "The NIC appreciates your great contribution to the development of the insurance and life industry in Ghana."
The event, which was on the theme, “The career sales rep — A Force for change", was used to reward 20 topmost sales representatives who distinguished themselves and contributed to the growth of the company.
As part of their reward, the best five sales representatives, with Miss Gifty Quao being adjudged the overall best, were given a sponsored trip to South Africa with some spending money.
"With the coming into force of the new insurance law, there has been tremendous focus, resulting in 16 life companies in the country, as against three in 2002,” Mrs Kyiamah stated.
According to her, the NIC would soon harmonise the training requirements for the sales teams of various life insurance companies to improve the quality and image of the sector.
"This, we believe, will encourage individuals to make a career out of this job," she added.
The Executive Director of ELAC, Mr Cleland C. Bruce Jnr, said in spite of the financial constraints faced in 2009, the company had achieved successes, growing by 57 per cent of its gross premium over that of the previous year.
"While active policy holders grew by 36 per cent, benefits payment to our clients increased from GH¢2.8 million to GH¢4.6 million," he said, adding that the company's 2009 performance could not have been achieved without continuous patronage by its clients.
He hinted that his outfit would soon introduce a number of innovative technological facilities, such as an interactive website and the use of mobile phones that would allow clients to check and monitor their premium growth.
A resource person, Mrs Catherine Ablorh, who is the Eastern and Volta Zonal Manager of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, advised sales representatives to help change the poor perception the public currently had of life assurance ownership in the country.
The Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Oti Boateng, urged insurance companies to diversify their business activities to enable them to take advantage of the insurance market potential in the country.
"You can accomplish this by coming up with innovative policies and opening up to your customers to instil a sense of ownership in them," he stated.
According to her, the hard work and innovative strategies adopted by the management of ELAC had spurred the company on to become the second biggest life company and one of the three specialist life insurance entities in the country.
"ELAC has, over the past eight years of its operations, shown tremendous growth from the initial 16th position in premium income to become the second biggest life company in the country as of 2009," Mrs Kyiamah stated.
In a speech read on her behalf at the 2010 Top 100 Sales Representatives’ Conference of the company in Koforidua last Friday, Mrs Kyiamah said, "The NIC appreciates your great contribution to the development of the insurance and life industry in Ghana."
The event, which was on the theme, “The career sales rep — A Force for change", was used to reward 20 topmost sales representatives who distinguished themselves and contributed to the growth of the company.
As part of their reward, the best five sales representatives, with Miss Gifty Quao being adjudged the overall best, were given a sponsored trip to South Africa with some spending money.
"With the coming into force of the new insurance law, there has been tremendous focus, resulting in 16 life companies in the country, as against three in 2002,” Mrs Kyiamah stated.
According to her, the NIC would soon harmonise the training requirements for the sales teams of various life insurance companies to improve the quality and image of the sector.
"This, we believe, will encourage individuals to make a career out of this job," she added.
The Executive Director of ELAC, Mr Cleland C. Bruce Jnr, said in spite of the financial constraints faced in 2009, the company had achieved successes, growing by 57 per cent of its gross premium over that of the previous year.
"While active policy holders grew by 36 per cent, benefits payment to our clients increased from GH¢2.8 million to GH¢4.6 million," he said, adding that the company's 2009 performance could not have been achieved without continuous patronage by its clients.
He hinted that his outfit would soon introduce a number of innovative technological facilities, such as an interactive website and the use of mobile phones that would allow clients to check and monitor their premium growth.
A resource person, Mrs Catherine Ablorh, who is the Eastern and Volta Zonal Manager of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, advised sales representatives to help change the poor perception the public currently had of life assurance ownership in the country.
The Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Oti Boateng, urged insurance companies to diversify their business activities to enable them to take advantage of the insurance market potential in the country.
"You can accomplish this by coming up with innovative policies and opening up to your customers to instil a sense of ownership in them," he stated.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
LOCAL TAILORS MUST SEW UNIFORMS (MIRROR, PAGE 42, MAY 22, 2010)
From Nana Konadu Agyeman, Koforidua.
THE Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has urged the 21 municipal and district assemblies in the Eastern Region to abide by the government’s directive to award the sewing of the free school uniforms to indigenous tailors and dressmakers in their areas.
He, therefore, has asked Municipal and District Chief Executives to obtain the names of members of the Tailors and Dressmakers Association in their areas to be considered for the job.
This, he said, would create employment for the local tailors and dressmakers to enable them to raise their standard of living.
Handing over 42,000 pieces of school uniforms and about 2,950,000 exercise books to the 21 Municipal and District Chief Executives in Koforidua, Mr Ofosu Ampofo warned that “the government will find it unacceptable if the sewing of school uniforms is awarded to tailors and dressmakers outside any district”.
The school uniforms, after it had been sewn, would be distributed to 42,000 school children in some of the deprived communities in the region. Each of the assemblies would be provided with 2,000 pieces to be sewn.
The regional minister said the provision of various poverty alleviation interventions by the government such as free school uniforms, the School Feeding Programme and the Capitation Grant were meant to uplift educational standards in the country and motivate schoolchildren to be in the classrooms.
On the provision of the exercise books, Mr Ofosu Ampofo expressed worry over reports about the sale of the books in some districts in the region and, therefore, appealed to the MCEs and the DCE to “exercise strict oversight responsibility to curb the practice”.
He hinted that the unfortunate practice had arisen because individuals who had been engaged to convey the books from the premises of the Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Council to the various district education directorate offices often sold some of the books out “to cover the cost incurred on carting them to the various districts”.
He, therefore, urged the MCEs and the DCEs to send vehicles belonging to the assemblies to convey the books in order to put an end to the practice.
Receiving the items on behalf of the districts, the Eastern Regional Director of Education, Mrs Rene Boakye-Boateng, expressed appreciation to the government for its commitment to raise the standard of education in the country.
THE Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has urged the 21 municipal and district assemblies in the Eastern Region to abide by the government’s directive to award the sewing of the free school uniforms to indigenous tailors and dressmakers in their areas.
He, therefore, has asked Municipal and District Chief Executives to obtain the names of members of the Tailors and Dressmakers Association in their areas to be considered for the job.
This, he said, would create employment for the local tailors and dressmakers to enable them to raise their standard of living.
Handing over 42,000 pieces of school uniforms and about 2,950,000 exercise books to the 21 Municipal and District Chief Executives in Koforidua, Mr Ofosu Ampofo warned that “the government will find it unacceptable if the sewing of school uniforms is awarded to tailors and dressmakers outside any district”.
The school uniforms, after it had been sewn, would be distributed to 42,000 school children in some of the deprived communities in the region. Each of the assemblies would be provided with 2,000 pieces to be sewn.
The regional minister said the provision of various poverty alleviation interventions by the government such as free school uniforms, the School Feeding Programme and the Capitation Grant were meant to uplift educational standards in the country and motivate schoolchildren to be in the classrooms.
On the provision of the exercise books, Mr Ofosu Ampofo expressed worry over reports about the sale of the books in some districts in the region and, therefore, appealed to the MCEs and the DCE to “exercise strict oversight responsibility to curb the practice”.
He hinted that the unfortunate practice had arisen because individuals who had been engaged to convey the books from the premises of the Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Council to the various district education directorate offices often sold some of the books out “to cover the cost incurred on carting them to the various districts”.
He, therefore, urged the MCEs and the DCEs to send vehicles belonging to the assemblies to convey the books in order to put an end to the practice.
Receiving the items on behalf of the districts, the Eastern Regional Director of Education, Mrs Rene Boakye-Boateng, expressed appreciation to the government for its commitment to raise the standard of education in the country.
MINISTER COMMENDS ALL NATIONS UNIVERSITY COLLEGE (SPREAD, MAY 22, 2010)
THE Deputy Minister of Health, Mr Rojo Mettle-Nunoo, has commended the management of the All Nations University College (ANUC) for being the first accredited private university in the country to pioneer the establishment of Biomedical Engineering.
The programme, he said, would equip students with a sound foundation in biomedical engineering to enable them to play a critical role in biomedical research to improve the health status of Ghanaians.
“The government applauds the ANUC for being a trailblazer in pioneering the establishment of Biomedical Engineering, which has been dubbed one of the strongest on the continent,” he stated.
Speaking at the fifth Convocation of the ANUC in Koforidua on Thursday, Mr Mettle-Nunoo stated that “with its relatively few years in existence, ANUC has also become the first private university to receive accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for an upstream programme in Oil and Gas Engineering”.
Two hundred and sixty one students who pursued various disciplines in Administration, Electronics and Communications Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science and Computer Engineering received certificates. Out of the number, 10 graduates obtained First Class honours.
“As the Minister of Health, I am very pleased that today we have the first batch of Biomedical Engineering graduates produced by a Ghanaian tertiary institution passing out of the All Nations University College, a momentous occasion for which we should all be happy and proud,” Mr Mettle-Nunoo said.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, commended ANUC for introducing a total personality development programme which he described as exemplary.
The personality development programme inculcates training in work ethics, self-esteem, interpersonal skills, innovation and creativity in the students.
“In this way, the Ghanaian society is privileged to benefit from the balanced training of a new generation of scientists, engineers and business professionals which is crucial in any bid for social and nation reform,” he stated.
In his welcoming address, the President of ANUC, Dr Samuel H. Donkor, announced that out of the 700 graduates from the university, all but 14 were gainfully employed.
He said that was an attestation to the quality and relevance of the university’s programmes.
According to him, the overwhelming acceptance of the university’s graduates on the job market placed the ANUC among the top universities in the country.
He announced that the university had plans to establish new programmes such as Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) in Civil Engineering, B.E. Electrical/Electronics Engineering, B.E. Biotechnology, B.E. Environmental/Safety Engineering, B.E. Automotive Engineering, Master of Science (MSc) in Nursing, MCA and M.E. in Computer Engineering, M.E. Electronics and Computer Engineering and MBA.
The programme, he said, would equip students with a sound foundation in biomedical engineering to enable them to play a critical role in biomedical research to improve the health status of Ghanaians.
“The government applauds the ANUC for being a trailblazer in pioneering the establishment of Biomedical Engineering, which has been dubbed one of the strongest on the continent,” he stated.
Speaking at the fifth Convocation of the ANUC in Koforidua on Thursday, Mr Mettle-Nunoo stated that “with its relatively few years in existence, ANUC has also become the first private university to receive accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for an upstream programme in Oil and Gas Engineering”.
Two hundred and sixty one students who pursued various disciplines in Administration, Electronics and Communications Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science and Computer Engineering received certificates. Out of the number, 10 graduates obtained First Class honours.
“As the Minister of Health, I am very pleased that today we have the first batch of Biomedical Engineering graduates produced by a Ghanaian tertiary institution passing out of the All Nations University College, a momentous occasion for which we should all be happy and proud,” Mr Mettle-Nunoo said.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, commended ANUC for introducing a total personality development programme which he described as exemplary.
The personality development programme inculcates training in work ethics, self-esteem, interpersonal skills, innovation and creativity in the students.
“In this way, the Ghanaian society is privileged to benefit from the balanced training of a new generation of scientists, engineers and business professionals which is crucial in any bid for social and nation reform,” he stated.
In his welcoming address, the President of ANUC, Dr Samuel H. Donkor, announced that out of the 700 graduates from the university, all but 14 were gainfully employed.
He said that was an attestation to the quality and relevance of the university’s programmes.
According to him, the overwhelming acceptance of the university’s graduates on the job market placed the ANUC among the top universities in the country.
He announced that the university had plans to establish new programmes such as Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) in Civil Engineering, B.E. Electrical/Electronics Engineering, B.E. Biotechnology, B.E. Environmental/Safety Engineering, B.E. Automotive Engineering, Master of Science (MSc) in Nursing, MCA and M.E. in Computer Engineering, M.E. Electronics and Computer Engineering and MBA.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
RAINSTORM CAUSES HAVOC AT BEGORO PRESBY SHS (PAGE 42, MAY 20, 2010)
A SEVERE rainstorm completely ripped off the roofs of four classrooms of the Begoro Presbyterian Senior High School (SHS) last Monday, injuring some of the students in the process.
Three students sustained deep cuts on the head, arm and the rib while 11 others were traumatised in the incident, which occurred at exactly 10.35 a.m. when the students were in their classrooms.
All the 14 students were rushed to the Begoro District Hospital, where they were admitted and treated to enable them to overcome the trauma they had gone through during the incident.
The students sustained the injuries and shock when they ran helter-skelter, amidst desperate screams of help, out of their make-shift dwarf-walled pavilion classrooms, which had their roofs ripped off by the rainstorm.
The students, mostly girls, were reported to have quickly dashed out of their classrooms in a bid to salvage their dresses, which they had then dried on lines near the girls’ dormitory.
However, some of them were unfortunately struck by some of the flying objects, including the branches of some of the teak trees planted on the school compound.
The force of the rainstorm pulled down portions of the classroom block and some of the teak trees, which prevented some of the flying roofing sheets from causing an otherwise serious injuries to the students and damages to other buildings at the school.
When the District Chief Executive for Fanteakwa, Mr Abass Fuseini Sbaab, visited the school immediately after the incident, it was realised that most of the wood used for roofing the classrooms were termite infested.
The Assistant Headmaster of the school, Mr David Odjijah told the Daily Graphic that but for the presence of a number of teak trees on the school compound, the wreck caused by the rainstorm could have been worse.
According to him, the school lacked a decent classroom block for effective teaching and learning.
Mr Odjijah, therefore, appealed to the authorities to provide the school with a 24-unit classroom block to prevent the recurrence of such a disaster in the future.
Mr Sbaab assured the management of the school that the assembly would bear all the medical expenses incurred by injured students.
He also gave an assurance that the assembly would send labourers and carpenters to the school to clear the debris after which the assembly’s engineers would assess the cost of re-roofing the damaged classroom blocks.
Three students sustained deep cuts on the head, arm and the rib while 11 others were traumatised in the incident, which occurred at exactly 10.35 a.m. when the students were in their classrooms.
All the 14 students were rushed to the Begoro District Hospital, where they were admitted and treated to enable them to overcome the trauma they had gone through during the incident.
The students sustained the injuries and shock when they ran helter-skelter, amidst desperate screams of help, out of their make-shift dwarf-walled pavilion classrooms, which had their roofs ripped off by the rainstorm.
The students, mostly girls, were reported to have quickly dashed out of their classrooms in a bid to salvage their dresses, which they had then dried on lines near the girls’ dormitory.
However, some of them were unfortunately struck by some of the flying objects, including the branches of some of the teak trees planted on the school compound.
The force of the rainstorm pulled down portions of the classroom block and some of the teak trees, which prevented some of the flying roofing sheets from causing an otherwise serious injuries to the students and damages to other buildings at the school.
When the District Chief Executive for Fanteakwa, Mr Abass Fuseini Sbaab, visited the school immediately after the incident, it was realised that most of the wood used for roofing the classrooms were termite infested.
The Assistant Headmaster of the school, Mr David Odjijah told the Daily Graphic that but for the presence of a number of teak trees on the school compound, the wreck caused by the rainstorm could have been worse.
According to him, the school lacked a decent classroom block for effective teaching and learning.
Mr Odjijah, therefore, appealed to the authorities to provide the school with a 24-unit classroom block to prevent the recurrence of such a disaster in the future.
Mr Sbaab assured the management of the school that the assembly would bear all the medical expenses incurred by injured students.
He also gave an assurance that the assembly would send labourers and carpenters to the school to clear the debris after which the assembly’s engineers would assess the cost of re-roofing the damaged classroom blocks.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
MORE HOUSING UNITS FOR SECURITY AGENCIES (PAGE 23, MAY 15, 2010)
THE Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, on Wednesday reiterated the government’s commitment to allocate the first batch of the 200,000 housing units to be constructed across the country between April this year and April 2015 to the security agencies.
He said the project, to be jointly funded by the government and the Korean Government, would solve the acute accommodation problems facing personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces, the Police Service, the Prisons Service and others to boost their morale to discharge their duties more professionally.
Speaking at a send-off party for 82 retiring military officers and men at the Michel Camp, Tema, Mr Ofosu Ampofo stated that “the government will make the allocation of the first batch of the 200,000 housing units to the security agencies a priority in order to create a conducive environment for them and their families”.
The event was held for the military officers who had served the Ghana Army for 25 years and over. They will proceed on terminal leave on May 15, 2010 and eventually retire in November this year.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo noted that the invaluable contributions of the military to the peace and stability in the country over the years had made the nation enjoy an enviable democratic dispensation.
“Your commitment to the peace and democracy of our nation requires that the government provides you with a conducive environment that will motivate you to continue to discharge your duties professionally and co-operate with the government and the citizenry,” he stated.
He appealed to the retiring military officers to take advantage of the various government initiatives meant for farmers, such as the block farming, subsidised irrigation machines, fertilisers, weedicides and insecticides, to go into farming to enhance their living standards while they were on retirement.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo commended military personnel for the high professional skills they demonstrated in active service, adding, “Your professionalism has made our nation to be recognised in international peace-keeping.”
He appealed to the retiring security officers to put the experiences they had acquired at the disposal of the various cadet corps in tertiary and second-cycle institutions.
Earlier in his welcoming address, the Commanding Officer of the 1st Infantry Battalion, Lt Col Barimah Brako Owusu, commended the retiring officers for their commitment and distinguished invaluable services to the Ghana Army over the past 25 years.
He advised them to refrain from any negative attitudes that could tarnish their reputation and that of the entire GAF, adding, “While on retirement, the Military Command would not want to hear of you being implicated in any criminal cases such as armed robbery.”
He appealed to the government to resource the military with the needed logistics to enhance the training of military personnel to enable them to execute their duties more professionally, both locally and internationally.
He said the project, to be jointly funded by the government and the Korean Government, would solve the acute accommodation problems facing personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces, the Police Service, the Prisons Service and others to boost their morale to discharge their duties more professionally.
Speaking at a send-off party for 82 retiring military officers and men at the Michel Camp, Tema, Mr Ofosu Ampofo stated that “the government will make the allocation of the first batch of the 200,000 housing units to the security agencies a priority in order to create a conducive environment for them and their families”.
The event was held for the military officers who had served the Ghana Army for 25 years and over. They will proceed on terminal leave on May 15, 2010 and eventually retire in November this year.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo noted that the invaluable contributions of the military to the peace and stability in the country over the years had made the nation enjoy an enviable democratic dispensation.
“Your commitment to the peace and democracy of our nation requires that the government provides you with a conducive environment that will motivate you to continue to discharge your duties professionally and co-operate with the government and the citizenry,” he stated.
He appealed to the retiring military officers to take advantage of the various government initiatives meant for farmers, such as the block farming, subsidised irrigation machines, fertilisers, weedicides and insecticides, to go into farming to enhance their living standards while they were on retirement.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo commended military personnel for the high professional skills they demonstrated in active service, adding, “Your professionalism has made our nation to be recognised in international peace-keeping.”
He appealed to the retiring security officers to put the experiences they had acquired at the disposal of the various cadet corps in tertiary and second-cycle institutions.
Earlier in his welcoming address, the Commanding Officer of the 1st Infantry Battalion, Lt Col Barimah Brako Owusu, commended the retiring officers for their commitment and distinguished invaluable services to the Ghana Army over the past 25 years.
He advised them to refrain from any negative attitudes that could tarnish their reputation and that of the entire GAF, adding, “While on retirement, the Military Command would not want to hear of you being implicated in any criminal cases such as armed robbery.”
He appealed to the government to resource the military with the needed logistics to enhance the training of military personnel to enable them to execute their duties more professionally, both locally and internationally.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
USE NATURAL RESOURCES TO DEVELOP NATION — EP ELDERS (PAGE 42, MAY 13, 2010)
LEADERS of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ghana have called on the government to utilise the country's natural resources for rapid socio-economic development.
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Church, Rt Revd Francis Amenu, and the President of the Trinity Theological Seminary, Rev. Dr Cyril Fayose, made the call at the maiden synod of the West Volta Presbytery of the church at Akosombo.
The three-day event, on the theme: “Enhancing human dignity," was attended by leaders of the church who deliberated on the successes, challenges and shortcomings of the church over the years and planned for future activities.
Speaking at the ceremony, Rev. Dr Fayose said one of the factors that had contributed to low self-esteem among Africans, including Ghanaians, was their inability to recognise, appreciate and harness the abundant natural resources at their disposal.
"We just do not appreciate and harness the enormous resources at our disposal. Before coming into contact with the western European merchants and Christian missionaries, we were self-sufficient, savvy and sophisticated," he said.
He added: "When these people landed on our shores, we welcomed them, showered them with gifts, danced for them, carried their luggage to our villages, gave them land and settled them, they looted our resources freely, which we carried to their countries for them".
According to Rev. Dr Fayose, up to today, the black man still danced for the white man, gave them free access to their economies and markets as well as queued at their embassies literally begging to go and sweep their gutters and clean their toilets.
"Our religious and political leaders go to them soliciting aid and grants before we can survive. We are still dancing so that they will donate pittance of their loot to us," he added.
Rev. Dr Fayose stated that Africans continued dependence on donor aid had contributed immensely to the low self-esteem among the black people, a situation that had made them to perceive everything to have originated from the western world as superior to those produced on the African continent.
"It is our incessant dependence on donor aid that has eventually violated our basic human dignity as a people," Rev. Dr Fayose said.
He, therefore, appealed to the government, religious bodies and other stakeholders to psyche the people to appreciate and harness their natural resources to uplift their socio-economic standards.
Dr Fayose said as part of efforts of restoring a national dignity, Ghanaians should believe in themselves and learn to consume what they produced locally.
For his part, Rt Revd Amenu called on churches to be catalysts for change and commended the government's efforts in pursuing national orientation programmes aimed at changing the psyche of the people.
The moderator commended the government for instituting measures to ensure safety on the Volta Lake, but appealed for more pontoons to improve the Volta Lake transport system.
The District Chief Executive for Asuogyaman, Mr Johnson Ehiakpor, gave the assurance that the government would soon provide a number of pontoons that would safely ferry the people across the lake.
He used the occasion to outline the various development and social intervention projects being implemented by the government in the district.
In a welcoming address, the Chairperson of the West Volta Presbytery of the church, Rev. Joyce K. Kodade, appealed to members of the church with professional skills and knowledge to provide resources that could be utilised to support the poor, marginalised and oppressed members among them.
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Church, Rt Revd Francis Amenu, and the President of the Trinity Theological Seminary, Rev. Dr Cyril Fayose, made the call at the maiden synod of the West Volta Presbytery of the church at Akosombo.
The three-day event, on the theme: “Enhancing human dignity," was attended by leaders of the church who deliberated on the successes, challenges and shortcomings of the church over the years and planned for future activities.
Speaking at the ceremony, Rev. Dr Fayose said one of the factors that had contributed to low self-esteem among Africans, including Ghanaians, was their inability to recognise, appreciate and harness the abundant natural resources at their disposal.
"We just do not appreciate and harness the enormous resources at our disposal. Before coming into contact with the western European merchants and Christian missionaries, we were self-sufficient, savvy and sophisticated," he said.
He added: "When these people landed on our shores, we welcomed them, showered them with gifts, danced for them, carried their luggage to our villages, gave them land and settled them, they looted our resources freely, which we carried to their countries for them".
According to Rev. Dr Fayose, up to today, the black man still danced for the white man, gave them free access to their economies and markets as well as queued at their embassies literally begging to go and sweep their gutters and clean their toilets.
"Our religious and political leaders go to them soliciting aid and grants before we can survive. We are still dancing so that they will donate pittance of their loot to us," he added.
Rev. Dr Fayose stated that Africans continued dependence on donor aid had contributed immensely to the low self-esteem among the black people, a situation that had made them to perceive everything to have originated from the western world as superior to those produced on the African continent.
"It is our incessant dependence on donor aid that has eventually violated our basic human dignity as a people," Rev. Dr Fayose said.
He, therefore, appealed to the government, religious bodies and other stakeholders to psyche the people to appreciate and harness their natural resources to uplift their socio-economic standards.
Dr Fayose said as part of efforts of restoring a national dignity, Ghanaians should believe in themselves and learn to consume what they produced locally.
For his part, Rt Revd Amenu called on churches to be catalysts for change and commended the government's efforts in pursuing national orientation programmes aimed at changing the psyche of the people.
The moderator commended the government for instituting measures to ensure safety on the Volta Lake, but appealed for more pontoons to improve the Volta Lake transport system.
The District Chief Executive for Asuogyaman, Mr Johnson Ehiakpor, gave the assurance that the government would soon provide a number of pontoons that would safely ferry the people across the lake.
He used the occasion to outline the various development and social intervention projects being implemented by the government in the district.
In a welcoming address, the Chairperson of the West Volta Presbytery of the church, Rev. Joyce K. Kodade, appealed to members of the church with professional skills and knowledge to provide resources that could be utilised to support the poor, marginalised and oppressed members among them.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
THREE KILLED IN ACCIDENT (PAGE 59, MAY 10, 2010)
THREE persons died in an accident last Tuesday when a Sprinter bus collided head-on with a Fiat tipper truck at the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) checkpoint at Nsutam, near Bunso, in the Eastern Region.
Several others also sustained various degrees of injury and were rushed to the Kyebi Government Hospital for treatment.
The bodies of the dead have been deposited at the same hospital, pending identification and autopsy.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Eastern Regional Commander of the Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU), Superintendent James Peprah, said the accident occurred at about 12.30 p.m.
According to him, the collision occurred right in the middle of the CEPS checkpoint.
He gave the registration numbers of the bus and the truck as GS 5225 O9 and WR 743 Q respectively.
He said investigations were currently underway to establish the cause of the accident.
Several others also sustained various degrees of injury and were rushed to the Kyebi Government Hospital for treatment.
The bodies of the dead have been deposited at the same hospital, pending identification and autopsy.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Eastern Regional Commander of the Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU), Superintendent James Peprah, said the accident occurred at about 12.30 p.m.
According to him, the collision occurred right in the middle of the CEPS checkpoint.
He gave the registration numbers of the bus and the truck as GS 5225 O9 and WR 743 Q respectively.
He said investigations were currently underway to establish the cause of the accident.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
TEACHERS ADVISED TO SHOW COMMITMENT TO WORK (PAGE 11, MAY 5, 2010)
THE Akuapem North District Director of Education, Mr Ben B. Cronze, has advised teachers to show commitment to their work and refrain from negative practices that undermined their efficiency and effectiveness.
He cautioned that teachers who misconducted themselves to retard the academic performance of students and the standard of education would be dealt with.
"Since the district education directorate will no longer tolerate any zero per cent passes in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), teachers must refrain from absenteeism, drunkenness, lateness and the use of mobile phones during teaching hours" Mr Cronze stated.
Speaking at a dinner for basic school teachers at Mamfe last Saturday, Mr Cronze said one of the major factors undermining the standard of education in the area had partly been blamed on the teachers' poor attitude towards work.
The dinner was hosted by the Chief of Mamfe, Osabrima Ansah Sasraku III, to show his appreciation to the efforts being made by basic school teachers at Mamfe and its surrounding communities to improve the poor standard of education in the district.
The director of education said in 2008, out of the 2000 candidates presented for the BECE, only 38 students obtained aggregate six or better, while 28 students had the same grade in the 2009 examination.
He added that between 2008 and 2009, two junior high schools in the area recorded zero per cent passes in the BECE.
To improve on the academic performance in the area, Mr Cronze therefore, urged the teachers to change their attitude towards the profession, adding that the education directorate would no longer accommodate any negative behaviours on the part of teachers.
"You must remember that once you are given an appointment letter after your training to go to the classrooms and teach, you must refrain from all lackadaisical attitudes that undermine your efficiency and effectiveness to offer your best", he stated.
He reminded the teachers to be mindful of the blessings associated with offering their best to raise the academic performance of the pupils and students entrusted into their care, adding "a great teacher receives his/her blessings not only from God but from the very little ones entrusted into his or her care".
The district also expressed concern over the long distance some of the teachers had to commute everyday to teach and therefore appealed to the government and other stakeholders to help provide accommodation for the teachers.
Osabarim Sasraku expressed his commitment and that of the traditional authority to raise the standard of education in the town and its surrounding communities.
He called for support from other stakeholders, especially the Akuapem North District Assembly, to organise series of mock examinations for future BECE candidates from the town and other nearby communities so as to prepare the students adequately for examinations.
The Mamfehene, who presented an undisclosed amount of money to the teachers as a token of his appreciation, used the occasion to introduce a number of students from the University of Ghana who would travel to the area to teach students in the basic school every weekend.
He cautioned that teachers who misconducted themselves to retard the academic performance of students and the standard of education would be dealt with.
"Since the district education directorate will no longer tolerate any zero per cent passes in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), teachers must refrain from absenteeism, drunkenness, lateness and the use of mobile phones during teaching hours" Mr Cronze stated.
Speaking at a dinner for basic school teachers at Mamfe last Saturday, Mr Cronze said one of the major factors undermining the standard of education in the area had partly been blamed on the teachers' poor attitude towards work.
The dinner was hosted by the Chief of Mamfe, Osabrima Ansah Sasraku III, to show his appreciation to the efforts being made by basic school teachers at Mamfe and its surrounding communities to improve the poor standard of education in the district.
The director of education said in 2008, out of the 2000 candidates presented for the BECE, only 38 students obtained aggregate six or better, while 28 students had the same grade in the 2009 examination.
He added that between 2008 and 2009, two junior high schools in the area recorded zero per cent passes in the BECE.
To improve on the academic performance in the area, Mr Cronze therefore, urged the teachers to change their attitude towards the profession, adding that the education directorate would no longer accommodate any negative behaviours on the part of teachers.
"You must remember that once you are given an appointment letter after your training to go to the classrooms and teach, you must refrain from all lackadaisical attitudes that undermine your efficiency and effectiveness to offer your best", he stated.
He reminded the teachers to be mindful of the blessings associated with offering their best to raise the academic performance of the pupils and students entrusted into their care, adding "a great teacher receives his/her blessings not only from God but from the very little ones entrusted into his or her care".
The district also expressed concern over the long distance some of the teachers had to commute everyday to teach and therefore appealed to the government and other stakeholders to help provide accommodation for the teachers.
Osabarim Sasraku expressed his commitment and that of the traditional authority to raise the standard of education in the town and its surrounding communities.
He called for support from other stakeholders, especially the Akuapem North District Assembly, to organise series of mock examinations for future BECE candidates from the town and other nearby communities so as to prepare the students adequately for examinations.
The Mamfehene, who presented an undisclosed amount of money to the teachers as a token of his appreciation, used the occasion to introduce a number of students from the University of Ghana who would travel to the area to teach students in the basic school every weekend.
Monday, May 3, 2010
FREE UNIFORMS FOR 1,409 SCHOOL CHILDREN (PAGE 11, MAY 3, 2010)
Schoolchildren in three districts in the Eastern Region have benefited from the government’s free school uniform programme.
The uniforms would be distributed to 1,409 schoolchildren in deprived public basic schools in the Akyemmansa, Kwahu North and Upper Manya Krobo districts.
The uniforms were handed over to the three beneficiary districts, which are described as the most deprived among the 21 districts in the region.
The initiative is being implemented on a pilot basis in fulfilment of the government’s promise to provide free school uniforms to deprived schoolchildren across the country.
Handing over the items, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, expressed the hope that the school uniforms would boost the morale of the beneficiary pupils to study hard and motivate them to stay in school, and pointed out that “it is the hope of government that social interventions such as the provision of free school uniforms will bring a lot of relief to poor parents".
Mr Ofosu Ampofo announced that the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) would soon receive another 43,000 pieces of school uniform materials, which would be distributed to all the municipal and district assemblies in the region.
"With this consignment, every municipal and district assembly will receive 2,000 pieces, which are already in pre-cut pieces," he said.
He, therefore, called on municipal and district chief executives to help identify local tailors and dressmakers who would help in sewing the school uniforms.
He added that with education as a top priority, the government would soon construct about 4,000 new school buildings for schools that organised classes for their pupils and students under trees, due to lack of infrastructure.
"As part of this initiative, each of the 21 districts in the Eastern Region is to benefit from the construction of three new school buildings which will provide conducive environment for teaching and learning," he said.
Receiving the items, Mrs Kate Agyeman Badu, who represented the Eastern Regional Director of Education, Mrs Rene Boakye-Boateng, thanked the government for the gesture.
The uniforms would be distributed to 1,409 schoolchildren in deprived public basic schools in the Akyemmansa, Kwahu North and Upper Manya Krobo districts.
The uniforms were handed over to the three beneficiary districts, which are described as the most deprived among the 21 districts in the region.
The initiative is being implemented on a pilot basis in fulfilment of the government’s promise to provide free school uniforms to deprived schoolchildren across the country.
Handing over the items, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, expressed the hope that the school uniforms would boost the morale of the beneficiary pupils to study hard and motivate them to stay in school, and pointed out that “it is the hope of government that social interventions such as the provision of free school uniforms will bring a lot of relief to poor parents".
Mr Ofosu Ampofo announced that the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) would soon receive another 43,000 pieces of school uniform materials, which would be distributed to all the municipal and district assemblies in the region.
"With this consignment, every municipal and district assembly will receive 2,000 pieces, which are already in pre-cut pieces," he said.
He, therefore, called on municipal and district chief executives to help identify local tailors and dressmakers who would help in sewing the school uniforms.
He added that with education as a top priority, the government would soon construct about 4,000 new school buildings for schools that organised classes for their pupils and students under trees, due to lack of infrastructure.
"As part of this initiative, each of the 21 districts in the Eastern Region is to benefit from the construction of three new school buildings which will provide conducive environment for teaching and learning," he said.
Receiving the items, Mrs Kate Agyeman Badu, who represented the Eastern Regional Director of Education, Mrs Rene Boakye-Boateng, thanked the government for the gesture.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
PARENTS ADVISED TO SERVE AS MODELS TO CHILDREN (PAGE 11, APRIL 30, 2010)
THE Vice-Chairperson of the Madonna Junior High School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) in Koforidua, Mrs Suzie Brocke, has advised parents and guardians to be role models to their children and lead exemplary lives that would shape the lives of their children for a better future.
“We as parents and guardians need to show the right examples to our children by being free and chatting with them to enable us to understand, guide and shape them for a brighter future", Mrs Brocke said.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony of the Madonna Junior High School on Wednesday, Mrs Brocke said "to have the right influence on our children, parents must never fail to chastise them whenever they go wrong and commend them when they do the right thing".
The graduation ceremony for 43 students; comprising 21 boys and 22 girls, was used to honour some of the graduating students who distinguished themselves in various subjects.
Mrs Brocke, who is also a senior lecturer at the Nursing and Midwifery Training College in Koforidua, said since parents and guardians were often the first point of contact for their children, any bad examples or lifestyles on their part could negatively affect the psyche and future aspirations of their children.
"Since children are extremely susceptible to both good and bad influences in their formative years, it is our responsibility as parents to ensure that we ourselves exhibit the best examples that we desire them to emulate today and in the future", she explained.
She also advised the graduates to be guided by humility and respect for both the young and the elderly, adding "your key to success in every aspect of life is humility and respect towards others".
She further admonished the students to focus on the pursuit of their future ambitions, stressing, "a good start gives you a good finish in life".
"Staying focused in life also requires you to refrain from all negative lifestyles such as pre-marital sex, drug abuse, fraud and ‘Sakawa’, all of which could jeopardise your future dreams", she stressed.
“We as parents and guardians need to show the right examples to our children by being free and chatting with them to enable us to understand, guide and shape them for a brighter future", Mrs Brocke said.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony of the Madonna Junior High School on Wednesday, Mrs Brocke said "to have the right influence on our children, parents must never fail to chastise them whenever they go wrong and commend them when they do the right thing".
The graduation ceremony for 43 students; comprising 21 boys and 22 girls, was used to honour some of the graduating students who distinguished themselves in various subjects.
Mrs Brocke, who is also a senior lecturer at the Nursing and Midwifery Training College in Koforidua, said since parents and guardians were often the first point of contact for their children, any bad examples or lifestyles on their part could negatively affect the psyche and future aspirations of their children.
"Since children are extremely susceptible to both good and bad influences in their formative years, it is our responsibility as parents to ensure that we ourselves exhibit the best examples that we desire them to emulate today and in the future", she explained.
She also advised the graduates to be guided by humility and respect for both the young and the elderly, adding "your key to success in every aspect of life is humility and respect towards others".
She further admonished the students to focus on the pursuit of their future ambitions, stressing, "a good start gives you a good finish in life".
"Staying focused in life also requires you to refrain from all negative lifestyles such as pre-marital sex, drug abuse, fraud and ‘Sakawa’, all of which could jeopardise your future dreams", she stressed.
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