MEMBERS of the Eastern Regional Lands Commission have called on the government to ensure the strict enforcement of environmental laws and regulations to preserve and protect the country’s natural resources from depletion.
They also urged the government to adequately resource all the environmental enforcement agencies to empower them to effectively monitor the activities of small-scale miners across the country.
“The low priority given to the enforcement of environmental laws and the inability of environmental agencies to effectively monitor the activities of licensed small-scale miners could partly have contributed to the widespread pollution of water bodies, depletion of forest and the degradation of farmlands, as well as the environment over the years,” they stated.
They made the call after a day’s tour of the various mining sites at Akwatia.
During the tour, the members came face-to-face with the extent of depletion of forest covers and the pollution of the Birim River as a result of the activities of both licensed small-scale mining companies and illegal miners at Akwatia and its environs.
The tour took the members of the commission to the abandoned consignment of the Ghana Consolidated Diamonds (GCD) where both licensed and illegal miners had diverted the course of the Birim River and were found mining at the base of the river.
Besides, the visit also enabled the members to interact with officials of the Kwaebibirem District Assembly.
The members were informed that almost on a daily basis, galamsey operators die in pits and the assembly provides assistance in retrieving the bodies for burial.
The Land Commission members, who were joined by officials of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), observed at first hand how licensed miners use big excavators to degrade the base of the Birim River, forests and farmlands in the Akwatia area.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Board Chairman of the commission, Nana Kodua Kesse, said the objective of the commission was to promote the judicious use of lands by society and ensure that land use was in accordance with sustainable principles and the maintenance of a sound eco-system.
He said in line with such in objective, members of the commission decided to tour some of the mining sites at Akwatia to enable them to know and understand the impact of the activities on the environment in the area.
In the view of Nana Kodua Kese, the uncontrolled activities of both licensed and illegal miners, as well as illegal chainsaw operations over the years had led to the incessant flouting of environmental laws and regulations.
He said that had led to the rapid depletion of forests, heavy pollution of water bodies and the degradation of farmlands and the environment in general, leading to countless un-reclaimed mining sites in the region.
“Until our environmental laws and regulations are respected promoted, greedy individuals, including chainsaw and galamsey operators, will continue to exploit our resources and pollute our bodies at the expense of the masses today and posterity,” Nana Kodua Kesse stated.
He added, “we can only ensure adherence of environmental laws only when the government and environmental enforcement agencies pay a high priority to negative environmental concerns as pertaining to the negative operations of galamsey miners and lawless licensed miners”.
At the Kwaebibirem District Assembly where members of the commission held a meeting with the staff, Messrs Delali Nyablodzo and Samuel Ayim Antwi, the District Co-ordinating Director and the Finance Officer of the assembly.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
DEPUTY MINISTER COMMENDS CATHOLIC GROUP (PAGE 43, JULY 21, 2010)
Deputy Minister commends Catholic group)
Story: Nana Konadu Agyeman, Koforidua
THE Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Baba Jamal, has commended the Community of the Holy Family of Devine Mercy, a Catholic group at Koforidua, for promoting the teaching and learning of French among basic schools in the region.
He said such commitment was gradually helping to reverse the low interest of students and pupils in the study of French, which he described as a language that “today has a global appeal to many people.”
“Since we are surrounded by Francophone countries, there is the need to learn French to help in our political, social and economic interactions with our neighbours,” Mr Jamal stated.
Speaking at the 2010 Devine Mercy French award for some selected basic schools in the Eastern Region, Mr Jamal said “language is a basic tool for development and it is a means by which both students, intellectuals and business-minded people can gain access to vast and varied supply of knowledge and experiences that are in the hands of our Francophone neighbours.”
This year’s competition, the third in a series, was organised for 120 pupils and students from selected basic schools at Koforidua, Tafo, Suhum, Somanya and Akosombo.
For the primary category, pupils from the Wesley International School, Koforidua obtained 93.2 per cent to place first, followed by pupils of the Carol Gray School, Somanya and the Solomon School, Koforidua, who had 83.5 and 82.5 per cent to take the second and third positions, respectively.
At the JHS level, the Star at Suhum School had 89 per cent to take the first position while the Akosombo International School and the Riis Presbyterian School at Koforidua had 86.3 and 86.1 per cent to take the second and third positions, respectively.
The competition was sponsored by the Mac Dic Royal Plaza Hotel, the Y & K Investment Limited and the Antarctic Limited, both at Koforidua.
Mr Jamal said since the country was surrounded by French-speaking neighbours, the need for learning and teaching French had become more indispensable.
He, therefore, advocated the need for the learning of French to be made a compulsory subject from the basic to the tertiary level of education in the country.
According to him, if the inclusion of French was made a compulsory subject and a requirement into tertiary institutions such as the university, students would be motivated to study the language to improve themselves.
“We can only hope to make Ghana the gateway to West Africa if we can encourage our people to see the need to study French in this era of global village which required our people be armed with the language that will enable them to cross boundaries and still find their way in any French-speaking country”, Mr Jamal stated.
He, therefore, expressed the hope that the Ghana Education Service would give serious consideration to the call for French to be included in the curricula of educational institutions from the basic to the tertiary levels.
Mr Jamal urged the Community of the Holy Family of Devine Mercy to collaborate with the French Embassy in the country to enable them to get more schools from all the 21 municipalities and districts in the region to also benefit from the French competition, stressing “if we engage the youth in this productive venture, it will help them to acquire knowledge and also reduce their involvement in social vices”.
Story: Nana Konadu Agyeman, Koforidua
THE Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Baba Jamal, has commended the Community of the Holy Family of Devine Mercy, a Catholic group at Koforidua, for promoting the teaching and learning of French among basic schools in the region.
He said such commitment was gradually helping to reverse the low interest of students and pupils in the study of French, which he described as a language that “today has a global appeal to many people.”
“Since we are surrounded by Francophone countries, there is the need to learn French to help in our political, social and economic interactions with our neighbours,” Mr Jamal stated.
Speaking at the 2010 Devine Mercy French award for some selected basic schools in the Eastern Region, Mr Jamal said “language is a basic tool for development and it is a means by which both students, intellectuals and business-minded people can gain access to vast and varied supply of knowledge and experiences that are in the hands of our Francophone neighbours.”
This year’s competition, the third in a series, was organised for 120 pupils and students from selected basic schools at Koforidua, Tafo, Suhum, Somanya and Akosombo.
For the primary category, pupils from the Wesley International School, Koforidua obtained 93.2 per cent to place first, followed by pupils of the Carol Gray School, Somanya and the Solomon School, Koforidua, who had 83.5 and 82.5 per cent to take the second and third positions, respectively.
At the JHS level, the Star at Suhum School had 89 per cent to take the first position while the Akosombo International School and the Riis Presbyterian School at Koforidua had 86.3 and 86.1 per cent to take the second and third positions, respectively.
The competition was sponsored by the Mac Dic Royal Plaza Hotel, the Y & K Investment Limited and the Antarctic Limited, both at Koforidua.
Mr Jamal said since the country was surrounded by French-speaking neighbours, the need for learning and teaching French had become more indispensable.
He, therefore, advocated the need for the learning of French to be made a compulsory subject from the basic to the tertiary level of education in the country.
According to him, if the inclusion of French was made a compulsory subject and a requirement into tertiary institutions such as the university, students would be motivated to study the language to improve themselves.
“We can only hope to make Ghana the gateway to West Africa if we can encourage our people to see the need to study French in this era of global village which required our people be armed with the language that will enable them to cross boundaries and still find their way in any French-speaking country”, Mr Jamal stated.
He, therefore, expressed the hope that the Ghana Education Service would give serious consideration to the call for French to be included in the curricula of educational institutions from the basic to the tertiary levels.
Mr Jamal urged the Community of the Holy Family of Devine Mercy to collaborate with the French Embassy in the country to enable them to get more schools from all the 21 municipalities and districts in the region to also benefit from the French competition, stressing “if we engage the youth in this productive venture, it will help them to acquire knowledge and also reduce their involvement in social vices”.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
ASUOGYAMAN ASSEMBLY DISTRIBUTES EXERCISE BOOKS AND UNIFORMS (PAGE 42, JULY 15, 2010)
THE Asuogyaman District Assembly in the Eastern Region has started distributing free exercise books and school uniforms to pupils in first cycle educational institutions in the area.
The exercise, according to the District Chief Executive (DCE) Mr Johnson Ehiakpor, was in line with the government’s initiative to ensure that children of poor parentage were educated like those of the rich.
He said in all 13 million exercise books and 2,000 school uniforms would be given out to pupils in the district, adding that those in primary three would receive nine exercise books each while those from primary four and six and the junior high schools (JHS) would have 13 each with the JHS pupils getting drawing and graft papers in addition.
Mr Ehiakpor, who personally conducted the exercise, gave out 100,012 exercise books and unspecified number of school uniforms to pupils in four educational circuits in the district, namely Gyakiti, Akosombo, Anum/Boso, Frankadua/Asikuma, Apeguso and Senchi.
Some of the beneficiary schools were Gyakiti Presbyterian Primary, Tortibo Local authority (L/A) Primary and JHS, Dodi-Asantekrom Presbyterian Primary and JHS, Frankadua L/A Primary and JHS, Mpakadan Presbyterian and JHS and Adome L/A Primary.
The Queen of Akwamu, Nana Afrakuma II, who together with some of the queens in the area witnessed the distribution of the items, praised the government for the initiative and called on parents to take advantage of the scheme to enrol their children in school.
That, she said, would help develop the area.
A number of parents who also witnessed the distribution of the items, said the donation had come at the right time since most of them could not provide their children with the uniform.
The parents who were thankful to the government for providing their children with the items, expressed the hope that the gesture would be sustained so that their children and wards would be able to go to school.
The exercise, according to the District Chief Executive (DCE) Mr Johnson Ehiakpor, was in line with the government’s initiative to ensure that children of poor parentage were educated like those of the rich.
He said in all 13 million exercise books and 2,000 school uniforms would be given out to pupils in the district, adding that those in primary three would receive nine exercise books each while those from primary four and six and the junior high schools (JHS) would have 13 each with the JHS pupils getting drawing and graft papers in addition.
Mr Ehiakpor, who personally conducted the exercise, gave out 100,012 exercise books and unspecified number of school uniforms to pupils in four educational circuits in the district, namely Gyakiti, Akosombo, Anum/Boso, Frankadua/Asikuma, Apeguso and Senchi.
Some of the beneficiary schools were Gyakiti Presbyterian Primary, Tortibo Local authority (L/A) Primary and JHS, Dodi-Asantekrom Presbyterian Primary and JHS, Frankadua L/A Primary and JHS, Mpakadan Presbyterian and JHS and Adome L/A Primary.
The Queen of Akwamu, Nana Afrakuma II, who together with some of the queens in the area witnessed the distribution of the items, praised the government for the initiative and called on parents to take advantage of the scheme to enrol their children in school.
That, she said, would help develop the area.
A number of parents who also witnessed the distribution of the items, said the donation had come at the right time since most of them could not provide their children with the uniform.
The parents who were thankful to the government for providing their children with the items, expressed the hope that the gesture would be sustained so that their children and wards would be able to go to school.
KOFORIDUA HOUSING PROJECT TO BE REVIEWED (PAGE 42, JULY 15 2010)
WORK on the stalled multi-million dollar Koforidua affordable housing project (off the Akwadum-Suhum road) will soon be revived to ensure its speedy completion.
In this regard, the government is currently sourcing funds from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and other financial institutions to boost the capacity of the 18 contractors working on the project to enable them to finish work on time.
The Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Dr Ahmed Mustapha disclosed this in Koforidua.
He said “the government is committed to obtaining the needed funds to facilitate the early completion of the project started by the previous government to provide decent accommodation for the people.”
Dr Mustapha said this when he and the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Baba Jamal, paid a working visit to the site of the project last Monday.
The visit was to enable the minister to observe the progress on the project and also have first-hand information about the challenges facing the project, which started in 2007.
The 2,805 housing unit project which is being developed on 106 acres, will comprise 1,056 two-bedroom apartments and 1,523 single bedroom apartments, all contained in four-storey buildings.
The project aimed at alleviating accommodation problems facing workers and their families, will have facilities such as a clinic, a shopping centre, a post office, a community centre, a police post, schools, churches and mosques, to meet the standard of a modern community.
Dr Mustapha said as part of the government’s pursuit of the better agenda policy, all affordable housing projects, including the one at Koforidua, which were started by the previous government, would be given priority to ensure their early completion.
That, he believed, would help provide decent and affordable housing units for Ghanaians, especially average income earning workers and their families.
Dr Mustapha gave the assurance that the government was also determined to acquire legal entitlement to the site for the affordable housing projects to curtail any future litigation that could stall the progress of the project.
He pledged the government’s support for the contractors, stressing “we are ready to partner with you the contractors to identify obstacles that impede the progress of the project.”
For his part, Mr Jamal said the early completion of the Koforidua housing project would provide relief for most workers, who stayed in nearby towns such as Suhum, Akwadum and Akyem Tafo and had to commute daily to Koforidua to work.
He also stated that the proximity of Koforidua and Accra had made the Eastern Regional capital a favourite working destination for most companies and their workers, who he said, were now relocating to the fast-growing area.
In this regard, the government is currently sourcing funds from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and other financial institutions to boost the capacity of the 18 contractors working on the project to enable them to finish work on time.
The Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Dr Ahmed Mustapha disclosed this in Koforidua.
He said “the government is committed to obtaining the needed funds to facilitate the early completion of the project started by the previous government to provide decent accommodation for the people.”
Dr Mustapha said this when he and the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Baba Jamal, paid a working visit to the site of the project last Monday.
The visit was to enable the minister to observe the progress on the project and also have first-hand information about the challenges facing the project, which started in 2007.
The 2,805 housing unit project which is being developed on 106 acres, will comprise 1,056 two-bedroom apartments and 1,523 single bedroom apartments, all contained in four-storey buildings.
The project aimed at alleviating accommodation problems facing workers and their families, will have facilities such as a clinic, a shopping centre, a post office, a community centre, a police post, schools, churches and mosques, to meet the standard of a modern community.
Dr Mustapha said as part of the government’s pursuit of the better agenda policy, all affordable housing projects, including the one at Koforidua, which were started by the previous government, would be given priority to ensure their early completion.
That, he believed, would help provide decent and affordable housing units for Ghanaians, especially average income earning workers and their families.
Dr Mustapha gave the assurance that the government was also determined to acquire legal entitlement to the site for the affordable housing projects to curtail any future litigation that could stall the progress of the project.
He pledged the government’s support for the contractors, stressing “we are ready to partner with you the contractors to identify obstacles that impede the progress of the project.”
For his part, Mr Jamal said the early completion of the Koforidua housing project would provide relief for most workers, who stayed in nearby towns such as Suhum, Akwadum and Akyem Tafo and had to commute daily to Koforidua to work.
He also stated that the proximity of Koforidua and Accra had made the Eastern Regional capital a favourite working destination for most companies and their workers, who he said, were now relocating to the fast-growing area.
TAXI DRIVERS CAUTIONED AGAINST CAR SNATCHERS (PAGE 42, JULY 15, 2010)
THE Eastern Regional Police Command has appealed to taxi drivers who are hired from Accra to the region to be alert to car snatchers.
It said the command had observed with concern that lately, taxis were often snatched from their drivers at gunpoint in remote areas of the region.
“The modus operandi of the car snatchers is for one of its members to lure a driver of a fairly new taxi from Accra to the Eastern Region mostly at night or on Sundays and make the armed gang attack the driver and snatch the taxi,” the command stated.
In a statement signed by the Public Affairs Officer of the Eastern Regional Police Command, Chief Inspector Yaw Nketiah-Yeboah, “the most notorious routes for the car-snatching gang are the New Tafo-Kukurantumi-Koforidua road and the Asuboni rails area off the Nkawkaw main road.”
According to the statement, 16 taxis, including eight bearing this year’s registration numbers, were snatched from their drivers within a period of six months in the Eastern Region.
“Three of these vehicles were snatched on June 5 and 6, 2010 at Enyiresi on the Bunso-Nkawkaw stretch of the Accra-Kumasi road and two others last Sunday at Akyem-Asafo,” it stated.
“This indicates that drivers of new taxis are the victims,” the statement said, and appealed to taxi drivers to avoid plying such routes at odd hours.
The statement also advised taxi drivers to immediately report any attack or suspicious and unusual movement by individuals to the nearest police barriers or police stations to enable the police to act in time.
It said the command had observed with concern that lately, taxis were often snatched from their drivers at gunpoint in remote areas of the region.
“The modus operandi of the car snatchers is for one of its members to lure a driver of a fairly new taxi from Accra to the Eastern Region mostly at night or on Sundays and make the armed gang attack the driver and snatch the taxi,” the command stated.
In a statement signed by the Public Affairs Officer of the Eastern Regional Police Command, Chief Inspector Yaw Nketiah-Yeboah, “the most notorious routes for the car-snatching gang are the New Tafo-Kukurantumi-Koforidua road and the Asuboni rails area off the Nkawkaw main road.”
According to the statement, 16 taxis, including eight bearing this year’s registration numbers, were snatched from their drivers within a period of six months in the Eastern Region.
“Three of these vehicles were snatched on June 5 and 6, 2010 at Enyiresi on the Bunso-Nkawkaw stretch of the Accra-Kumasi road and two others last Sunday at Akyem-Asafo,” it stated.
“This indicates that drivers of new taxis are the victims,” the statement said, and appealed to taxi drivers to avoid plying such routes at odd hours.
The statement also advised taxi drivers to immediately report any attack or suspicious and unusual movement by individuals to the nearest police barriers or police stations to enable the police to act in time.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
GOVT, TRADITIONAL LEADERS MUST COLLABORATE FOR DEV (PAGE 14, JULY 13, 2010)
THE Vice President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, has called for effective collaboration between the government and traditional leaders to enhance the socio-economic development of the country.
He said such collaboration would also encourage consultation, counselling, co-operation and support to enable the government to achieve its quest to usher the country into the comity of middle income nations.
“Traditional leaders and the government as development partners have a common task which is to develop the communities and the nation and above all to promote the welfare of our people that have elected or appointed us to leadership positions,” Mr Mahama stated.
The Vice President made the call in an address read on his behalf by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, at the Ohumkan festival of the chiefs and people of Akyem Tafo in the East Akyem Municipality of the Eastern Region on Saturday.
The event, which also marked the 25th anniversary of Osabarima Adusei Peasah IV’s installation as the Akyem-Tafohene, was on the theme “Unity in Development”.
The Vice President said the chieftaincy institution was vital for the progress and socio-economic development of the country, saying that “traditional authorities and the state as has always been the case play a complementary role in nation building”.
“I am therefore inspired and encouraged about the involvement, collaboration and contributions of chiefs towards the development of their communities and the country as a whole,” he stated.
He urged chiefs to show stronger commitment towards the development of their people and the communities to enable them to leave behind a legacy which posterity would judge them by.
“The success or otherwise of a chief is inextricably linked to solving problems of mankind, showing affection, care and love to humanity, values our chiefs must always strive to achieve”, Mr Mahama added.
He further urged traditional leaders and parents to lead the crusade in the fight against moral decay and indiscipline among Ghanaians, particularly the youth.
“Parents and traditional leaders, through whose leadership and control our children and the youth are nurtured, need to advise and guide them when their actions deviate or do not conform to our norms and values,” he stated.
He also advised the youth to avoid lifestyles, practices and behaviours which he described as “obscene and not considered prudent and righteous”.
The Vice President commended Osabarima Peasah for ensuring peace and progress in the area for the past 25 years, saying that the “government has noted with appreciation and admiration the peace and unity that have prevailed in your area”.
He pledged the commitment of the government to continue to provide infrastructure and social facilities to improve upon the quality of life of the people in Akyem-Tafo, adding that currently the road from Sokoda Juaso to Osiem-Old Tafo junction on the Koforidua-Bunso highway was under rehabilitation.
Osabarima Peasah expressed appreciation to the government for the development of the town but appealed for the rehabilitation of the only market in the area as well as some of the roads in the town to facilitate the movement of the people and goods.
He said such collaboration would also encourage consultation, counselling, co-operation and support to enable the government to achieve its quest to usher the country into the comity of middle income nations.
“Traditional leaders and the government as development partners have a common task which is to develop the communities and the nation and above all to promote the welfare of our people that have elected or appointed us to leadership positions,” Mr Mahama stated.
The Vice President made the call in an address read on his behalf by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, at the Ohumkan festival of the chiefs and people of Akyem Tafo in the East Akyem Municipality of the Eastern Region on Saturday.
The event, which also marked the 25th anniversary of Osabarima Adusei Peasah IV’s installation as the Akyem-Tafohene, was on the theme “Unity in Development”.
The Vice President said the chieftaincy institution was vital for the progress and socio-economic development of the country, saying that “traditional authorities and the state as has always been the case play a complementary role in nation building”.
“I am therefore inspired and encouraged about the involvement, collaboration and contributions of chiefs towards the development of their communities and the country as a whole,” he stated.
He urged chiefs to show stronger commitment towards the development of their people and the communities to enable them to leave behind a legacy which posterity would judge them by.
“The success or otherwise of a chief is inextricably linked to solving problems of mankind, showing affection, care and love to humanity, values our chiefs must always strive to achieve”, Mr Mahama added.
He further urged traditional leaders and parents to lead the crusade in the fight against moral decay and indiscipline among Ghanaians, particularly the youth.
“Parents and traditional leaders, through whose leadership and control our children and the youth are nurtured, need to advise and guide them when their actions deviate or do not conform to our norms and values,” he stated.
He also advised the youth to avoid lifestyles, practices and behaviours which he described as “obscene and not considered prudent and righteous”.
The Vice President commended Osabarima Peasah for ensuring peace and progress in the area for the past 25 years, saying that the “government has noted with appreciation and admiration the peace and unity that have prevailed in your area”.
He pledged the commitment of the government to continue to provide infrastructure and social facilities to improve upon the quality of life of the people in Akyem-Tafo, adding that currently the road from Sokoda Juaso to Osiem-Old Tafo junction on the Koforidua-Bunso highway was under rehabilitation.
Osabarima Peasah expressed appreciation to the government for the development of the town but appealed for the rehabilitation of the only market in the area as well as some of the roads in the town to facilitate the movement of the people and goods.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
GOVT AIDS DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE (PAGE 43, JULY 5, 2010)
THE government has presented 50 bicycles, five computers, five scanners, printers, as well as tables and chairs, to the Eastern Regional Office of the Department of Social Welfare.
The items will be distributed to members of the LEAP implementation committees in nine districts in the region to facilitate the effective monitoring and supervision of the LEAP programme.
Presenting the items, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said the donation was a demonstration of the government’s commitment to motivate the department and its districts officers to ensure the successful implementation of the LEAP programme.
He called on the beneficiary officers to help identify local investment opportunities in their districts to enable the government to provide the underprivileged in society with the needed support to overcome poverty.
According to him, the government is now shifting its focus from implementing various poverty-alleviation programmes to boosting local investment opportunities to empower the people to undertake ventures that will improve their living standards.
“Since the government has now recognised that the allocation of money to the people to go into various income-generating activities in the past has failed, it has now shifted focus on identifying and boosting local economic opportunities to empowering the people to overcome poverty,” Mr Ofosu Ampofo stated.
The regional minister mentioned the preparedness of the government to continue with the various social interventions, such as the School Feeding Programme and the Capitation Grant, that were implemented by the previous government
Receiving the items, the Eastern Regional Director of the Department, Mr Gyamena Danquah, expressed appreciation to the government for fulfilling its promise to facilitate the mobility of members of the LEAP implementation committees in the region.
The items will be distributed to members of the LEAP implementation committees in nine districts in the region to facilitate the effective monitoring and supervision of the LEAP programme.
Presenting the items, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said the donation was a demonstration of the government’s commitment to motivate the department and its districts officers to ensure the successful implementation of the LEAP programme.
He called on the beneficiary officers to help identify local investment opportunities in their districts to enable the government to provide the underprivileged in society with the needed support to overcome poverty.
According to him, the government is now shifting its focus from implementing various poverty-alleviation programmes to boosting local investment opportunities to empower the people to undertake ventures that will improve their living standards.
“Since the government has now recognised that the allocation of money to the people to go into various income-generating activities in the past has failed, it has now shifted focus on identifying and boosting local economic opportunities to empowering the people to overcome poverty,” Mr Ofosu Ampofo stated.
The regional minister mentioned the preparedness of the government to continue with the various social interventions, such as the School Feeding Programme and the Capitation Grant, that were implemented by the previous government
Receiving the items, the Eastern Regional Director of the Department, Mr Gyamena Danquah, expressed appreciation to the government for fulfilling its promise to facilitate the mobility of members of the LEAP implementation committees in the region.
EDUCATION MUST FOCUS ON APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE (PAGE 11, JULY 5, 2010)
THE President of the All Nations University College (ANUC) in Koforidua, Dr Samuel H. Donkor has called for a paradigm shift in the country’s education system that will place a strong emphasis on the application of knowledge rather than theory.
He said, “The time has come to bridge the wide gap between theory and practice in the delivery of education, which is the engine that drives economic growth in any nation”.
“As we train skillful manpower for the country, our universities must strive to equip graduates with useful practical skills, keeping in mind that application of knowledge acquired, is useful and to achieve this we must look at our methodology as learning is by practice as, well as by precept”, Dr Donkor stated.
Speaking at a meet-the-press in Koforidua, Dr Donkor stated,“for us to make strides in our development aspirations, we must encourage our students to spend long periods undertaking experiments in the laboratories and classrooms”.
The meeting formed part of the university’s commitment to recognise the important role being played by the media, as well as strengthen the cordial relationship between the media and the institution.
The president said the country’s development aspirations had been hampered over the years due to inadequate preparation of students from the universities in the country.
Dr Donkor stressed that the quality of graduates from the country’s universities could determine the level of productivity, adding “raising the level of our work ethics in our educational institutions is the only way forward for the country”.
He explained that as the country, together with other African countries stepped up its quest for economic development as a step to emerge from poverty, it was imperative to take another look at the country’s education delivery, to make it have a strong focus on application of knowledge rather than theory.
“The need for students to spend long hours doing experiments in the laboratory, reading, writing, presenting papers and other assignment on a daily basis should be a routine for them in our educational institutions”, Dr Donor emphasised.
To ensure proper training of students, he said his outfit had instituted a “total personality development” as the cornerstone of the university’s educational philosophy to inculcate training on work ethics, self-esteem, interpersonal skills, innovation and creativity into its curricula.
“By this, the Ghanaian society is privileged to benefit from the balanced training of a new generation of scientists, engineers and business professionals who can work with diligence, perseverance and a high sense of patriotic and selfless passion”, he added.
On accredited programmes being offered by the institution, Dr Donkor mentioned Oil and Gas Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Electronics and Communications Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science and Business Administration, which were all taught by qualified full-time lecturers.
He said, “The time has come to bridge the wide gap between theory and practice in the delivery of education, which is the engine that drives economic growth in any nation”.
“As we train skillful manpower for the country, our universities must strive to equip graduates with useful practical skills, keeping in mind that application of knowledge acquired, is useful and to achieve this we must look at our methodology as learning is by practice as, well as by precept”, Dr Donkor stated.
Speaking at a meet-the-press in Koforidua, Dr Donkor stated,“for us to make strides in our development aspirations, we must encourage our students to spend long periods undertaking experiments in the laboratories and classrooms”.
The meeting formed part of the university’s commitment to recognise the important role being played by the media, as well as strengthen the cordial relationship between the media and the institution.
The president said the country’s development aspirations had been hampered over the years due to inadequate preparation of students from the universities in the country.
Dr Donkor stressed that the quality of graduates from the country’s universities could determine the level of productivity, adding “raising the level of our work ethics in our educational institutions is the only way forward for the country”.
He explained that as the country, together with other African countries stepped up its quest for economic development as a step to emerge from poverty, it was imperative to take another look at the country’s education delivery, to make it have a strong focus on application of knowledge rather than theory.
“The need for students to spend long hours doing experiments in the laboratory, reading, writing, presenting papers and other assignment on a daily basis should be a routine for them in our educational institutions”, Dr Donor emphasised.
To ensure proper training of students, he said his outfit had instituted a “total personality development” as the cornerstone of the university’s educational philosophy to inculcate training on work ethics, self-esteem, interpersonal skills, innovation and creativity into its curricula.
“By this, the Ghanaian society is privileged to benefit from the balanced training of a new generation of scientists, engineers and business professionals who can work with diligence, perseverance and a high sense of patriotic and selfless passion”, he added.
On accredited programmes being offered by the institution, Dr Donkor mentioned Oil and Gas Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Electronics and Communications Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science and Business Administration, which were all taught by qualified full-time lecturers.
SDA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION HOLDS GRADUATION (SPREAD, JULY 5, 2010)
THE Director of the Teacher Education Division of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Victor K. Mante, has called on people in leadership positions who benefited from the heavy investment made by the country’s first President in the education sector to help provide similar opportunities for the youth.
“Today, a great number of Ghanaians in responsible positions were educated in the Ghana Education Trust (GET) schools set up by Dr Kwame Nkrumah, hence they must also work hard to give our children and posterity the same opportunities which have made them what they are today”, Mr Mante stated.
Speaking at the third congregation of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) College of Education at Asokore, near Koforidua, Mr Mante said “as we concentrate on eradicating illiteracy, we in leadership positions must provide opportunities for all our people to be educated”.
In all 271 students who completed their training at the college in 2008 graduated.
The director said since every nation’s most important resource is its human resource and not only its natural resources, the need to provide free compulsory education at the basic level to its people should be given priority.
This, in his opinion, would ensure equal and balanced access to tertiary education to enable students to acquire the requisite knowledge and skills to contribute meaningfully to nation-building.
He advised the graduates to justify the immense investment made in their training through the taxpayers’ money by working very hard at their stations, adding, “You must therefore exhibit values of honesty, integrity, dedication, professional skills and the fear of God to ensure the provision of quality education in our schools”.
The Principal of the SDA College of Education, Mr A. Akumfi-Ameyaw, said currently the student enrolment of the college was 814, comprising 541 males and 273 females.
He mentioned the construction of a six-unit classroom block and the release of GH350, 000 for the completion of its library block and the assembly hall, as some assistance to the school under the GETFund project.
On challenges facing the school, he mentioned lack of accommodation for staff , most of whom he said resided in town, and pointed out that the situation had hampered effective teaching and learning. He therefore appealed to the government to help address the problem.
“Today, a great number of Ghanaians in responsible positions were educated in the Ghana Education Trust (GET) schools set up by Dr Kwame Nkrumah, hence they must also work hard to give our children and posterity the same opportunities which have made them what they are today”, Mr Mante stated.
Speaking at the third congregation of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) College of Education at Asokore, near Koforidua, Mr Mante said “as we concentrate on eradicating illiteracy, we in leadership positions must provide opportunities for all our people to be educated”.
In all 271 students who completed their training at the college in 2008 graduated.
The director said since every nation’s most important resource is its human resource and not only its natural resources, the need to provide free compulsory education at the basic level to its people should be given priority.
This, in his opinion, would ensure equal and balanced access to tertiary education to enable students to acquire the requisite knowledge and skills to contribute meaningfully to nation-building.
He advised the graduates to justify the immense investment made in their training through the taxpayers’ money by working very hard at their stations, adding, “You must therefore exhibit values of honesty, integrity, dedication, professional skills and the fear of God to ensure the provision of quality education in our schools”.
The Principal of the SDA College of Education, Mr A. Akumfi-Ameyaw, said currently the student enrolment of the college was 814, comprising 541 males and 273 females.
He mentioned the construction of a six-unit classroom block and the release of GH350, 000 for the completion of its library block and the assembly hall, as some assistance to the school under the GETFund project.
On challenges facing the school, he mentioned lack of accommodation for staff , most of whom he said resided in town, and pointed out that the situation had hampered effective teaching and learning. He therefore appealed to the government to help address the problem.
NADMO PRESENTS RELIEF ITEMS TO FIRE VICTIMS (PAGE 22, JULY 3, 2010)
THE National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has presented assorted relief items to 20 persons whose rooms and personal belongings were destroyed in a fire outbreak at Osiem in the East Akyem Municipality in the Eastern Region.
The items comprised 15 pieces each of students’ mattresses, blankets, plastic bowls and plates, buckets and cups, as well as three packets each of roofing sheets, bags of rice and maize,two bags of beans, cartons of soap and a bail of second hand clothing.
The East Akyem Municipal Assembly also provided the affected persons, mostly farmers, with undisclosed sums of money as part of its contribution to support them.
The fire, which occurred on Saturday, June 27, this year, destroyed items such as refrigerators, television sets, furniture and other personal belongings of the 20 persons in a compound house number B 16 at Kubase at Osiem.
Presenting the items, the Eastern Regional Co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr Ransford Boakye and the Municipal Chief Executive for East Akyem, Mr Peter Asirifi, said the items were meant to provide the victims with relief to enable them to cope with the unfortunate incident.
Receiving the items on behalf of other victims, Madam Esther Amakye, thanked the government for the gesture, which she described as timely.
The items comprised 15 pieces each of students’ mattresses, blankets, plastic bowls and plates, buckets and cups, as well as three packets each of roofing sheets, bags of rice and maize,two bags of beans, cartons of soap and a bail of second hand clothing.
The East Akyem Municipal Assembly also provided the affected persons, mostly farmers, with undisclosed sums of money as part of its contribution to support them.
The fire, which occurred on Saturday, June 27, this year, destroyed items such as refrigerators, television sets, furniture and other personal belongings of the 20 persons in a compound house number B 16 at Kubase at Osiem.
Presenting the items, the Eastern Regional Co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr Ransford Boakye and the Municipal Chief Executive for East Akyem, Mr Peter Asirifi, said the items were meant to provide the victims with relief to enable them to cope with the unfortunate incident.
Receiving the items on behalf of other victims, Madam Esther Amakye, thanked the government for the gesture, which she described as timely.
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