THE Board of Governors of the All Nations University College (ANUC) at Koforidua, has explained that the recent adjustment in fees was not meant to deny its students access to higher education.
It said the upward adjustment in the tuition fees was to enable the institution to provide quality higher education to the students.
The 9.09 per cent tuition fee increase, the Board of Governors stated, was the first in three years but it still made the university fees the lowest on the market.
A press release signed by the President of ANUC, Dr Samuel Donkor, said the increment had “become necessary due to the current economic realities and the high cost associated with the delivery of quality higher education”.
It pointed out that the ANUC would continue to provide affordable quality higher education to give access to the average Ghanaian and other foreign nationals.
“Anyone who wishes can survey the market for the cost of higher education in these times”, the statement added.
Giving details of the increment in tuition fees scheduled for the current semester for the various programmes offered by the university, the statement indicated that while under the Business Administration, Ghanaian students would now pay GH¢600, international students would pay US$1,100, while the weekend students would pay GH¢400 per trimester.
With regards to Computer Science, Ghanaian students would pay GH¢600; international students US$1,100 and weekend students GH¢400 per trimester, while under Biomedical Engineering, Ghanaian students would pay GH¢690, international students US$1,300 and GH¢460 for weekend students per trimester.
The statement added that Ghanaian students pursuing Computer Engineering were to pay GH¢690, their international counterparts, US$1,300 while the weekend students were to GH¢460 per trimester.
Under Electronics and Communication Engineering, it said Ghanaian students were being charged GH¢690, international students US$1,300 and weekend students GH¢460 per trimester.
For the Oil and Gas Engineering, Ghanaian students would have to pay GH¢1, 300, international students US$1,800 and GH¢797 per trimester for weekend students.
With regard to Biblical Studies with a minor in business, Ghanaian students would pay GH¢450, international students US$600 and GH¢234 for weekend students per trimester, while under the diploma in Biblical Studies, Ghanaian students were to pay GH¢350, international students US$500 and weekend students GH¢234 for trimester.
“For the Foundations programme, Ghanaian students would have to pay GH¢200 and international students US$200, while the Ghanaians and the international students were to pay GH¢450 and US$450 respectively for the pre-university programmes”, the statement added.
It would be recalled that students of the university last week protested against the upward adjustment in fees, saying that, they were not consulted and given prior notice to prepare for the adjustment.
They contended that the move was likely to deny some of them university education if the authorities failed to heed to their demand for a review.
However, the university authorities and the students leadership have begun talks to find an amicable solution to the disagreement over the fees adjustment.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
ACCOMMODATING FIRST YEAR SHS STUDENTS (PAGE 11, SEPT 27, 2010)
PARENTS of students who have gained admission to the Aburi Girls Senior High School have pledged to support the school to tackle the problem of infrastructure facing the school.
The move will see the prospective parents supporting the school with various building materials to renovate and convert a disused chapel building into a dormitory to accommodate 200 fresh students.
Besides, the parents also expressed their readiness to assist with the renovation and furnishing of other structures to enhance the capacity of the school to admit more fresh students.
The pledge followed a meeting between the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and about 250 prospective parents whose children have gained admission to the school.
The meeting saw the executives of the PTA of the school brainstorming with the parents to see how best to find a solution to the accommodation problem facing the school.
The parents’ pledge formed part of their contribution to complementing the government’s efforts at providing infrastructure at the school to enhance teaching and learning.
The meeting, chaired by the PTA chairman of the school, Professor Enu Kwesi, saw the parents touring the site of the disused chapel, where they saw a few trips of sand, stones, blocks and buckets of paints already dumped there towards the renovation of the building.
The Aburi Girls SHS, one of the sought-after girls’ boarding schools in the country, has been allocated a six-unit classroom block but currently the school does not have adequate dormitories and classrooms to accommodate the 432 students placed in the school by the Ghana Education Service (GES).
At the meeting, some of the prospective parents noted that the issue of lack of infrastructure to cater for the admission of fresh students must be seen as “a problem which must be given urgent attention not only by the government but also by all concerned parents".
Some of the parents, who spoke to the Daily Graphic, said the pledge to support the school with the various building materials formed part of “our widow’s mite to support the government in providing infrastructure for the school”.
“Since it is also the responsibility of parents to ensure that our children benefit from quality education in a serene environment, parents could complement the efforts of the government at providing the required infrastructure to the various Senior High Schools in the country,” they stated.
The parents commended the PTA executives and management of the school for their hard work, which, they said, had contributed significantly to making Aburi Girls SHS one of the Best Senior High School in the country.
The move will see the prospective parents supporting the school with various building materials to renovate and convert a disused chapel building into a dormitory to accommodate 200 fresh students.
Besides, the parents also expressed their readiness to assist with the renovation and furnishing of other structures to enhance the capacity of the school to admit more fresh students.
The pledge followed a meeting between the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and about 250 prospective parents whose children have gained admission to the school.
The meeting saw the executives of the PTA of the school brainstorming with the parents to see how best to find a solution to the accommodation problem facing the school.
The parents’ pledge formed part of their contribution to complementing the government’s efforts at providing infrastructure at the school to enhance teaching and learning.
The meeting, chaired by the PTA chairman of the school, Professor Enu Kwesi, saw the parents touring the site of the disused chapel, where they saw a few trips of sand, stones, blocks and buckets of paints already dumped there towards the renovation of the building.
The Aburi Girls SHS, one of the sought-after girls’ boarding schools in the country, has been allocated a six-unit classroom block but currently the school does not have adequate dormitories and classrooms to accommodate the 432 students placed in the school by the Ghana Education Service (GES).
At the meeting, some of the prospective parents noted that the issue of lack of infrastructure to cater for the admission of fresh students must be seen as “a problem which must be given urgent attention not only by the government but also by all concerned parents".
Some of the parents, who spoke to the Daily Graphic, said the pledge to support the school with the various building materials formed part of “our widow’s mite to support the government in providing infrastructure for the school”.
“Since it is also the responsibility of parents to ensure that our children benefit from quality education in a serene environment, parents could complement the efforts of the government at providing the required infrastructure to the various Senior High Schools in the country,” they stated.
The parents commended the PTA executives and management of the school for their hard work, which, they said, had contributed significantly to making Aburi Girls SHS one of the Best Senior High School in the country.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
JUBILANT NPP SUPPORTERS CELEBRATE ATIWA VICTORY (PAGE 12, SEPT 2, 2010)
THOUSANDS of jubilant supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) poured onto the streets of Kwabeng, headquarters of the Atiwa Constituency,on Tuesday, to celebrate the election of Mr Kwasi Amoako Atta as the new Member of Parliament for the area in a by-election.
The by-election was to find a replacement for the late Kwasi Annor Ankama, also of the NPP, who passed away in the middle of the year.
Mr Amoako Atta, a lawyer, secured 20,282 votes (75 per cent) to beat three other contestants; Mr Emmanuel Atta Twum of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who had 6,190 votes (22.89 per cent), Mr George Padmore Apreku of the New Vision Party (NVP) who polled 477 votes (1.76 per cent) and Kasum Abdul Karim of the People’s National Party (PNC) who had 94 representing 0.35 per cent of the total vote cast of 27,540.
As soon as the Eastern Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Paul Boateng, announced the results and raised the hands of Mr Amoako Atta as the new MP-elect, thousands of the NPP members and supporters from all parts of the constituency poured onto the streets of Kwabeng singing party songs and dancing.
The jubilant crowd, including old women and children, went through the main street and other arterial roads in Kwabeng while some praised the NPP executives for doing a good job which ensured an overwhelming victory. Others mobbed Mr Amoako Atta for doing his best to win the seat which had been held for years by the NPP.
Earlier the National Chairman of the NPP, Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi Lamptey, who led a number of the party’s gurus to monitor the election, told the jubilant crowd that by retaining the seat, the NPP had exhibited a clear signal that it would definitely win the 2012 elections to unseat the NDC.
However, the First Vice-Chairman of the NDC, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, who commended the police for their excellent performance at the poll, indicated that the NDC would gear up to retain power in 2012.
He also called for investigations to find the culprits who, he alleged, assaulted some NDC officials.
Meanwhile, all the 1,200 policemen and a handful of soldiers deployed for the election have been withdrawn.
According to the Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Ransford Ninson, the policemen who managed to prevent chaotic situations at flash points such as Abomosu where six persons were knocked down by a vehicle during disturbances as well as other few places had to be withdrawn immediately the results were announced and calm restored.
The Anyinam District Police Commander, DSP (Rev) John Opoku, who gave out the names of the victims as Isaac Dua, 18, Seth Ampofo, 20, George Abu, 30, Kwabena Agyepong, 25, Kojo Barima, 30 and Osei Kwabena, 48, said they were among a group of young men armed with sticks and other offensive weapons who blocked the road at Abomosu to prevent the NDC National Women Organiser, Madam Anita De Soso, from passing through.
The driver of Madam De Sooso’s vehicle, DSP Opoku stated, panicked and drove through, injuring them in the process.
All the six victims, he stated, were sent to the Government Hospital at Engiresi where three were treated and discharged.
The by-election was to find a replacement for the late Kwasi Annor Ankama, also of the NPP, who passed away in the middle of the year.
Mr Amoako Atta, a lawyer, secured 20,282 votes (75 per cent) to beat three other contestants; Mr Emmanuel Atta Twum of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who had 6,190 votes (22.89 per cent), Mr George Padmore Apreku of the New Vision Party (NVP) who polled 477 votes (1.76 per cent) and Kasum Abdul Karim of the People’s National Party (PNC) who had 94 representing 0.35 per cent of the total vote cast of 27,540.
As soon as the Eastern Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Paul Boateng, announced the results and raised the hands of Mr Amoako Atta as the new MP-elect, thousands of the NPP members and supporters from all parts of the constituency poured onto the streets of Kwabeng singing party songs and dancing.
The jubilant crowd, including old women and children, went through the main street and other arterial roads in Kwabeng while some praised the NPP executives for doing a good job which ensured an overwhelming victory. Others mobbed Mr Amoako Atta for doing his best to win the seat which had been held for years by the NPP.
Earlier the National Chairman of the NPP, Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi Lamptey, who led a number of the party’s gurus to monitor the election, told the jubilant crowd that by retaining the seat, the NPP had exhibited a clear signal that it would definitely win the 2012 elections to unseat the NDC.
However, the First Vice-Chairman of the NDC, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, who commended the police for their excellent performance at the poll, indicated that the NDC would gear up to retain power in 2012.
He also called for investigations to find the culprits who, he alleged, assaulted some NDC officials.
Meanwhile, all the 1,200 policemen and a handful of soldiers deployed for the election have been withdrawn.
According to the Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Ransford Ninson, the policemen who managed to prevent chaotic situations at flash points such as Abomosu where six persons were knocked down by a vehicle during disturbances as well as other few places had to be withdrawn immediately the results were announced and calm restored.
The Anyinam District Police Commander, DSP (Rev) John Opoku, who gave out the names of the victims as Isaac Dua, 18, Seth Ampofo, 20, George Abu, 30, Kwabena Agyepong, 25, Kojo Barima, 30 and Osei Kwabena, 48, said they were among a group of young men armed with sticks and other offensive weapons who blocked the road at Abomosu to prevent the NDC National Women Organiser, Madam Anita De Soso, from passing through.
The driver of Madam De Sooso’s vehicle, DSP Opoku stated, panicked and drove through, injuring them in the process.
All the six victims, he stated, were sent to the Government Hospital at Engiresi where three were treated and discharged.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
NPP RETAINS ATIWA SEAT (1C, SEPT 1, 2010)
GHANA is said to be losing an estimated $40 million annually as a result of rice smuggled into the country.
Estimates compiled by the Food and Beverages Association of Ghana, for presentation to the Ministry of Trade, indicate that 100,000 metric tonnes out of the 350,000 metric tonnes of rice imported into the country are smuggled in, causing the country the millions of dollars in tax revenue.
The resort to the smuggling of rice is attributed to the high duty and other tariffs being implemented at Ghana’s ports as against the country’s West African neighbours.
In that smuggling adventure, Elubo, Debiso, Nkrankwanta, Dadieso and Enchi border areas are the most frequently used to bring in the 100,000 metric tonnes; 75,000 metric tonnes of which are described as high value perfumed rice.
The finding of the association, made up of about 20 local entrepreneurs, also revealed that rice sales for 2010 dropped by 25 per cent.
It also noted that duty on imported rice in Cote d’Ivoire was 12.5 per cent with no Valued Added Tax (VAT), while “on the contrary, importers in Ghana have to pay 20 per cent customs duty in addition to 12.5 per cent VAT and 2.5 per cent National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) in addition to other levies, all totalling 40 per cent.
“So the inherent difference of 22.5 per cent in the landing cost of imported rice in the respective countries works to the advantage of the traders involved in the smuggling,” they added.
They explained that there was a difference to the tune of GH¢7 between a 25kg bag of smuggled perfumed rice and the legally imported one.
According to them, the traders involved in the trade were able to manage the direct cost by manipulating the duty at the Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire border, hence the difference of GH¢7 per bag.
The players said there was also an under-declaration of customs duty to the tune of 50 per cent.
Citing high value perfumed rice as an example, they noted that the CIF price of Thai perfumed rice was $950 per metric tonne and customs duty of 20 per cent amounting to $190 per metric tonne, whereas duty paid at the Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire border was $95 per metric tonne.
They explained that the loss of revenue to the Ghana government on account of VAT on 75,000 metric tonnes was $6,412,500 annually while customs duty on the same quantum of imports was $7,125,000 annually, bringing the total loss of revenue on perfumed rice alone to $13.5 million.
They said the fear was that international prices of rice had started rising in the last four weeks, which was likely to promote more smuggling into the country, stressing that “rice prices have increased from an average of about $800 to $900 in the last four weeks”.
Estimates compiled by the Food and Beverages Association of Ghana, for presentation to the Ministry of Trade, indicate that 100,000 metric tonnes out of the 350,000 metric tonnes of rice imported into the country are smuggled in, causing the country the millions of dollars in tax revenue.
The resort to the smuggling of rice is attributed to the high duty and other tariffs being implemented at Ghana’s ports as against the country’s West African neighbours.
In that smuggling adventure, Elubo, Debiso, Nkrankwanta, Dadieso and Enchi border areas are the most frequently used to bring in the 100,000 metric tonnes; 75,000 metric tonnes of which are described as high value perfumed rice.
The finding of the association, made up of about 20 local entrepreneurs, also revealed that rice sales for 2010 dropped by 25 per cent.
It also noted that duty on imported rice in Cote d’Ivoire was 12.5 per cent with no Valued Added Tax (VAT), while “on the contrary, importers in Ghana have to pay 20 per cent customs duty in addition to 12.5 per cent VAT and 2.5 per cent National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) in addition to other levies, all totalling 40 per cent.
“So the inherent difference of 22.5 per cent in the landing cost of imported rice in the respective countries works to the advantage of the traders involved in the smuggling,” they added.
They explained that there was a difference to the tune of GH¢7 between a 25kg bag of smuggled perfumed rice and the legally imported one.
According to them, the traders involved in the trade were able to manage the direct cost by manipulating the duty at the Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire border, hence the difference of GH¢7 per bag.
The players said there was also an under-declaration of customs duty to the tune of 50 per cent.
Citing high value perfumed rice as an example, they noted that the CIF price of Thai perfumed rice was $950 per metric tonne and customs duty of 20 per cent amounting to $190 per metric tonne, whereas duty paid at the Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire border was $95 per metric tonne.
They explained that the loss of revenue to the Ghana government on account of VAT on 75,000 metric tonnes was $6,412,500 annually while customs duty on the same quantum of imports was $7,125,000 annually, bringing the total loss of revenue on perfumed rice alone to $13.5 million.
They said the fear was that international prices of rice had started rising in the last four weeks, which was likely to promote more smuggling into the country, stressing that “rice prices have increased from an average of about $800 to $900 in the last four weeks”.
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