TEACHERS ABANDON CLASSROOMS FOR OTHER PROFESSIONS (PAGE 17)

A NUMBER of trained teachers who have expertise in science and mathematics are abandoning the profession to pursue other professions they consider more rewarding.
The massive enlistment in other professions such as banking, nursing and the seeking of greener pastures is as a result of poor remuneration and conditions of service in the teaching profession.
The Eastern Regional Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Mr Nathaniel L. Apronti, who made this known at a sensitisation workshop in Koforidua, said “conditions of service approved decades ago for teachers are currently being applied, while the newly approved one has only remained on paper for many years”.
“While district heads of basic schools and their assistants earn GH¢1 and GH¢.60 respectively as responsibility allowance per month, heads of double-stream schools take GH¢1.50 for the same period,” he stated.
The workshop, aimed at sensitising district directors of education from the Eastern and the Greater Accra regions to the new in-service education and training in basic schools (INSET), was organised by the Ghana Education Service (GES).
The model, designed and implemented on a pilot basis in 10 districts in each region for the past three years, is aimed at building the competences, knowledge and skills of teachers in specific subjects such as science and mathematics, which are considered more difficult to teach.
The programme, which is also to encourage teachers and supervisors, including district directors of education, to design, develop and produce the appropriate teaching and learning materials for use to inspire active teaching and learning in schools, was sponsored by the Government of Japan.
Mr Apronti said although the teaching profession was indispensable to the country’s socio-economic progress, teachers had remained the poorest paid over the years.
“In the past, teachers were held in high esteem, but today what do we see —teachers are being assaulted by their own pupils, students and even parents, a situation that indicates how the profession has lost its past glory,” he stated.
He said until conditions of service for teachers were improved, teachers would continue to be tempted to leave the profession to other sectors of the economy, which they perceive to be more rewarding.
The Director-General of the GES, Mr Samuel Bannerman-Mensah, said the outcome of the implementation of the in-service education and training in basic schools in some selected districts had yielded positive outcomes.
He, therefore, called for collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that the model was effectively extended and implemented in other districts across the country.
He commended JICA for both its technical and financial support to the programme.

MAN, 23, ARRESTED FOR FRAUD (PAGE 31)

A 23-year-old man who posed as a soldier and collected sums of money from a number of people with the promise to recruit them into the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has been arrested by the police in Koforidua.
The suspect, Lawrence Kwabena Asiedu, who claimed to be a computer engineer, was said to have paraded himself for the past one year as a soldier and succeeded in collecting an undisclosed sum of money from a number of people, mostly in Accra.
Briefing the Daily Graphic in Koforidua yesterday, the Eastern Regional Police Public Affairs Director, Chief Inspector Christopher Tawiah, said Asiedu arrived in Koforidua from Accra on May 23, 2008 in military uniform and was spotted at the Koforidua Branch of the Agricultural Development Bank in the company of two friends.
He said the suspect, who was later seen at Effiduasi, near Koforidua, and was confronted by policemen because of his misconduct and the way he wore the military uniform, initially claimed to be a soldier from Accra.
Chief Inspector Tawiah said when the policemen asked for both his pass and identity card, the suspect could not produce them, claiming that he had left the ID card in his bag at a friend’s house in Koforidua.
He pointed out that when the policemen decided to accompany him to the friend’s house, the suspect confessed to not being a soldier, explaining that he had got the uniform from a naval officer friend who had given him a number of uniforms to wash for him.
According to the Public Affairs Director, when the police invited the naval officer from Accra, he blatantly denied ever giving any military uniforms to the suspect but admitted that there had been a few occasions on which he had given his dirty Navy uniforms to Asiedu to wash.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Eastern Regional Police Commander, ACP George Anko-Bill, expressed worry at the rate at which armed robbers undertook their operations in military and police uniforms and, therefore, asked security personnel to refrain from giving out their uniforms to civilians to be washed.

ALLOCATE RESOURCES TO DEVELOP ARTS AND CULTURE (PAGE 31)

THE Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth, Culture and Sports, Mr Isaac K. Asiamah, has advocated the allocation of adequate resources to develop the arts and culture in the country.
That, he said, would help Ghanaians to appreciate their cultural and traditional values and encourage them to patronise locally-manufactured products.
At a workshop for members of the committee in Koforidua last Saturday, Mr Asiamah stated that “the promotion of culture the world over has remained the basis for harnessing every nation’s human and material resources”.
“To psych up the minds of our people for national patriotism and development, we need to give priority to the arts and culture to appreciate our cultural heritage and values such as honesty, truthfulness, unity, peace, respect for the elderly and the promotion of democratic governance,” Mr Asiamah stated.
The workshop, which was aimed at sensitising the MPs to the new cultural policy and the activities of the Cultural Initiative Support Programme (CISP) to make them more resourceful to advocate cultural issues in Parliament, was organised by the CISP.
The Parliamentary Select Committee chairman said globally nations that had aspired to develop their human and material resources had always paid the necessary attention to the development of such cultural heritage and values.
That, according to him, had helped to encourage their nationals to develop a keen interest in their culture, as well as imbibe cultural values such as patronising locally manufactured products, adopting positive attitudes towards the environment, self-reliance, family and community solidarity, as well as stability and peace.
Mr Asiamah, who is also the MP for Atwima-Mponua in the Ashanti Region, said to give practical meaning to cultural development in all sectors of the economy, ministries, departments and agencies, as well as educational institutions, should dedicate a percentage of their budgets to the cultural component of their programmes.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, said since culture remained an engine for economic development and poverty reduction at all levels of national development, the European Union had provided a two million euros grant to support cultural activities, mainly in the areas of manpower development, cultural agreement, research and support to artistic groups and programmes.
He added that as part of efforts to enhance cultural activities in the country, GH¢200,000 had been made available to support proposals from the cultural sector.
For his part, the Chairman of the National Commission on Culture, Professor George Hagan, stated that his outfit, in collaboration with other relevant institutions, had been organising workshops to seek inputs from stakeholders on how best to develop the cultural sector.
The Project Co-ordinator of the CISP, Mr Kwasi Gyan Apenteng, said his outfit would be providing financial support for stakeholders for the next three years, adding, “The grants will also be applied in the training of cultural administrators, performers and technicians and organising stakeholders’ consultations.”
He added that plans were far advanced to create a meaningful database on the country’s cultural assets to help make culture more relevant to the economy.

AMOAH WINS ABURI-NSAWAM NPP PRIMARY (PAGE 14)

THE aspiration of the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for Aburi-Nsawam Constituency, Mr Magnus Opare Asamoah, to be in Parliament for the second time got dashed when he suffered a humiliating defeat by Mr O.B. Amoah, the Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports at the New Patriotic Party primary held at Nsawam yesterday.
The defeated MP, who is also the Deputy Minister of Transportation, polled 61 votes to lose the bid to Mr Amoah, who obtained 86 votes.
The tension-packed primary, which was kept under control by the heavy police presence, was witnessed by the party's Eastern Regional Executive, including its chairman, Mr Yaw Gyekye Amoabeng and Mr Alecs Agobo, the regional secretary.
Prior to the election, Mr Amoabeng had asked the delegates to demonstrate maturity and unity of purpose by accepting whoever would emerge the winner to enable him to win the seat for the NPP in the upcoming general election.
He also urged them to endeavour to put their differences behind them and forge ahead in unity by co-operating with the winner.
For their part, the two contestants outlined their vision and achievements for the constituency.
Mr Opare Asamoah particularly mentioned the construction of a number of school buildings and the dual carriageway from Nsawam to Aburi as a hallmark of his term as an MP.
For his part, Mr Amoah said since this year's election would be a straight battle between the NPP and the National Democratic Congress, he remained the better marketable candidate to win the seat for the party in the December election.
After being declared the winner, Mr Amoah commended Mr Opare Asamoah for the good work he had done.
"My election as the new parliamentary aspirant is not a personal victory, but that for the entire NPP family," he said.
Mr Amoah called for support and co-operation from the rank and file of the party to enable him to win the seat for the party.

MASLOC PRESENTS SLIPS TO BENEFICIARIES (PAGE 20)

THE Koforidua area office of the Micro-finance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) has presented withdrawal slips to 210 beneficiary groups within the area to enable them access money credited to them from the various designated banks.
The groups comprised 3,625 individual traders, artisans and other operators of small- scale businesses from all the 17 districts in the region.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the MASLOC, Mr Lawrence Prempeh, together with the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, and other municipal and district chief executives (MDCEs) in the region, made the presentation at a ceremony in Koforidua.
The event coincided with the re-launch of the facility in the region.
Mr Prempeh said between October, 2007 and April, this year, his outfit disbursed a total of GH¢1.3 million to the beneficiaries of the facility.
He explained that the government introduced the scheme to make available credit facilities to the various groups of associations, as well as individual operators of small-scale businesses to undertake various income-generating ventures to raise their standards of living.
Mr Prempeh advised the beneficiaries to invest the money in productive ventures which would enable them to pay back the loans promptly for others to also enjoy the benefits of the scheme.
The CEO urged the people not to associate the scheme with any political party, since the facility was meant for all Ghanaians, irrespective of their political affiliation.
He called on other people to take advantage of the facility to enhance their living standard.
To ensure prompt access to more loans from other financial institutions, Mr Prempeh asked the beneficiaries to save with the various banks which would be willing to provide them with loans.
According to him, as part of measures to ensure successful implementation of the scheme and prompt repayment of loans, his outfit had engaged the services of a number of field officers across the country to identify, monitor and assess the performance of the beneficiaries.
For his part, Mr Affram Asiedu reiterated the government’s commitment to the creation of an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, so that they would be able to contribute their quota towards national development.
He said as a measure for assisting the extremely poor households and individuals in the country, the government had also introduced the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), of which some of the poor in the region had started benefiting.

MORE SOCIAL AMENITIES FOR AFRAM PLAINS (PAGE 20)

THE Government in collaboration with donor countries and agencies is undertaking a project to open up the Afram Plains, now known as the Kwahu North District, to exploit its enormous agricultural potential.
Under the project, about 200 kilometres of feeder roads would be constructed this year while farmers in the area would be given adequate farming skills to enable them to increase production.
The venture is aimed at cultivating 3,000 acres of maize this year, in the area described as the bread basket of the Eastern Region.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, made this known at the Meet-the-Press session in Koforidua.
The event, the second in a series to be organised by the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC), was attended by the Deputy Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Frank Agyekum; the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, as well as municipal and district chief executives (MDCEs), heads of ministries, departments and agencies in the region.
The regional minister said since agriculture was vital to the socio-economic development of the region and employed about 67 per cent of the population, the government, through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and other organisations, had been assisting farmers in the area with the necessary inputs to ensure food security.
He said to reduce poverty in the region and the country as a whole, the government had been implementing the Community-Based Rural Development Project to improve the income levels of rural folks to enable them to raise their standard of living.
Mr Affram Asiedu stated that the provision of various social amenities such as the construction of health posts, school buildings, boreholes, markets and roads, currently going in the communities, would enhance the socio-economic development of the area.
With regard to education, he said since it remained pivotal to the development of the area, the government had provided public schools in the region with the necessary facilities, which had resulted in significant increases in enrolment in the kindergarten (KG), primary and senior high schools (SHS).
For instance, he said, enrolment at the KG level rose from 1,792 in 2007 to 1,872 this year while that of the primary schools soared from 2,153 in 2007 to 2,406 this year with junior high schools recording an increase of 1,387 this year as against 1,229 last year.
To enhance teaching and learning, Mr Affram Asiedu said the government through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), had supplied all the schools in the region with furniture as well as teachers’ tables and chairs.
He added that three SHS in the region, namely Aburi Girls, Krobo Girls and St. Roses, had been provided with Nissan Pick-Up vehicles.
“The significant increases in enrolment in the basic schools have been partially attributed to the introduction of the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding programmes by the government on pilot basis in some selected schools,” he said, adding that the gesture would soon be extended to other schools in the region.
The regional minister, however, expressed worry about the large number of untrained teachers in the region, stressing “out of the 25,020 teachers in the region 6,600 were untrained.
He said the municipal and district assemblies in the region had been directed to sponsor teacher-trainees in the various Colleges of Education, after which the beneficiaries would be bonded to teach in their respective districts after completing their courses.
On security, Mr Affram Asiedu said since it was important in the development of the region, the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC), in collaboration with security agencies and the municipal and district assemblies had taken up the necessary measures to maintain peace in the area.
He, however, stated that a number of negative factors, such as the unexplained murders within the Suhum township, chieftaincy and land disputes, armed robberies, illegal mining and chain saw operations as well as activities of nomadic herdsmen and their cattle, had undermined the peace of the region.
To contain the situation, he said the security agencies, which had been provided with vehicles and communication gadgets, had increased highway and foot patrols, especially in crime-prone areas and at checkpoints to apprehend suspected criminals.
Such a strategy, Mr Affram Asiedu said, had yielded positive results by decreasing crime and created an enabling environment for the people to do their businesses without fear or intimidation.
With regard to health, he said the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme in the region had made it possible for about 937,338 people registered with it out of the region’s total population of 2,196,696 to access quality and affordable heath care.
The regional minister, however, expressed his dissatisfaction with the limited number of health personnel in the area, which he said, did not match the increasing number of patients.
He also expressed regret about the high prevalence rate (4.2 per cent) of HIV/AIDS in the region.
Mr Affram Asiedu, however, indicated that with the support of stakeholders, the rate of infection was reducing and advised the people, especially the youth to adopt responsible lifestyles in order not to contract the disease.
For his part, Mr Agyekum reiterated the government’s commitment to cushion Ghanaians against the increases in food and oil prices, due to global trends, adding “we must learn to consume our own locally produced food instead of depending on exported ones.”

ABIDE BY CODE OF ETHICS — CJ (PAGE 3)

THE Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina T. Wood, has appealed to the staff of the Judicial Service to abide by the code of ethics of the profession and work hard to facilitate the administration of justice in the country.
This, she said, could only be achieved when they exhibit commitment to duty, courtesy, humility and respect to the members of the public, who, in their desire to seek justice, patronised the various courts.
Mrs Wood made the appeal when she interacted with some workers of the service in Koforidua yesterday to learn first-hand their concerns.
“Any insubordination, dereliction of duty and lack of respect towards members of the public on your part only undermine efforts at improving the delivery of justice to the public,” she said.
Mrs Wood, who was accompanied by the judges of the various courts in the region, as well as an Appeal Court Judge, Mr Jones Dotse, who also has oversight responsibility over the courts in the region, also paid familiarisation visits to the Anyinam and the Kwabeng Magistrate’s courts to acquaint herself with the challenges facing the Judicial Service workers there.
The Chief Justice said the Judicial Service played an important role in the country’s democratic dispensation, particularly in the area of good governance and the rule of law.
By this, she said, the Judicial Service had over the years assisted people in distress and provided the needs of aggrieved people who desired justice.
Mrs Wood further noted that although the service had been over-staffed over the years, low productivity and lack of commitment on the part of some workers had severely affected the efficient and effective delivery of justice in the courts.
“We must try to work hard and exhibit courteous conduct towards members of the public so as to provide them with the reliefs they seek,” the CJ stated.
According to her, as part of efforts to motivate personnel of the service to give their best, her outfit had recently embarked on a mass promotion exercise and called on those who felt cheated by the system of promotion to notify the authorities for immediate redress.
The Chief Justice also urged the personnel of the service to strive to upgrade themselves and invest in information communications technology, saying: Your promotion is strongly tied to your level of computer literacy, which is indispensable to the prompt delivery of justice”.