THE PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC), a consultancy and auditing firm, has donated items to the Christ Faith Foster Home in Accra.
The items included eight bags of rice, five bags of beans and maize, as well as vegetables, fruits, gallons of oil, detergents and toiletries, among other things.
The Corporate Finance and Recovery Director of PWC, Mr Eric Nana Nipah, said the donation was part of the company’s corporate social responsibility to the society in which it operated.
“This initiative was driven by an adherence to make impact within countries of operation in the area of health, education and the environment,” he added.
He said although the donation was the first of giving back to the society, he expressed hope in organising other programmes such as speech day for the Home’s basic school and health checks, through which they would impact positively, inspire and motivate the children, adding that “this would let the children feel as though they were a part of us”.
Mr Nipah stated that the company had dedicated $20,000 for development projects at the Christ Faith Foster Home and other charity homes, beginning next year.
The PWC organised a Christmas party for the children with lots of fun games and activities during which the staff of PWC interacted with the children.
The Administrator and Supervisor of the Home, Madam Victoria Abraham, was grateful to the PWC for its enormous support.
However, she said the Home, which catered for about 47 children, lacked potable drinking water.
“We call on benevolent societies and individuals to come to our aid,” she appealed.
The items were presented by the Administrative and Marketing Manager of PWC, Mrs Barbara Coleman.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Use Yuletide to show love for children (20/12/08)
THE First Lady, Mrs Theresa Kufuor has called on Ghanaians to use the Yuletide festivities to show a sense of love towards children as well as the needy in society.
“Let the true spirit of Christmas reflect in the dedication to helping children and those in need as well as spreading the message of peace and understanding “, the first Lady stated.
Mrs Kufuor was speaking at the annual Christmas party for the children of the Princess Marie Louise Hospital (PMLH) in Accra.
She donated an opel 4X4 vehicle as a christmas present to the hospital to help improve the transportation system of the hospital.
She urged Ghanaians to be resolute in their commitment toward the upbringing of children in the coming year as most of these children would grow to be future leaders of the nation.
She asked parents to teach their children to “be obedient, hardworking and respectful at home, in school and anywhere they find yourselves”.A citation was presented on behalf of the hospital to the First lady for her continuous support to the hospital.
The Chairman of the Management Board of the hospital, Father Andrew Campbell urged parents to have quality time with their children to enable them have a fair knowledge of the activites their children were involved in when they were in school.
The Acting Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Eric Sifah in an interview with the Daily Graphic disclosed that the hospital will from next year set up a neonatal unit- which is an intensive care unit which caters for pre-mature babies and children below one month.
He was very grateful to the First Lady for her continuous support to the hospital, however, he said despite the numerous donations the hospital received they had no means of transportation to convey the children to the more experienced hospitals when there were cases beyond them.
The Acting Supt added that the hospital lacked equipment such as incubators for the intensive care unit, babies cots and nebulizers.
He appealed organisations and individuals to come the aid of the hospital as they were initiating measures to build a three storey paediatric surgical theatre by the beginning of next year.
“Let the true spirit of Christmas reflect in the dedication to helping children and those in need as well as spreading the message of peace and understanding “, the first Lady stated.
Mrs Kufuor was speaking at the annual Christmas party for the children of the Princess Marie Louise Hospital (PMLH) in Accra.
She donated an opel 4X4 vehicle as a christmas present to the hospital to help improve the transportation system of the hospital.
She urged Ghanaians to be resolute in their commitment toward the upbringing of children in the coming year as most of these children would grow to be future leaders of the nation.
She asked parents to teach their children to “be obedient, hardworking and respectful at home, in school and anywhere they find yourselves”.A citation was presented on behalf of the hospital to the First lady for her continuous support to the hospital.
The Chairman of the Management Board of the hospital, Father Andrew Campbell urged parents to have quality time with their children to enable them have a fair knowledge of the activites their children were involved in when they were in school.
The Acting Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Eric Sifah in an interview with the Daily Graphic disclosed that the hospital will from next year set up a neonatal unit- which is an intensive care unit which caters for pre-mature babies and children below one month.
He was very grateful to the First Lady for her continuous support to the hospital, however, he said despite the numerous donations the hospital received they had no means of transportation to convey the children to the more experienced hospitals when there were cases beyond them.
The Acting Supt added that the hospital lacked equipment such as incubators for the intensive care unit, babies cots and nebulizers.
He appealed organisations and individuals to come the aid of the hospital as they were initiating measures to build a three storey paediatric surgical theatre by the beginning of next year.
Use Yuletide to show love for children
THE First Lady, Mrs Theresa Kufuor has called on Ghanaians to use the Yuletide festivities to show a sense of love towards children as well as the needy in society.
“Let the true spirit of Christmas reflect in the dedication to helping children and those in need as well as spreading the message of peace and understanding “, the first Lady stated.
Mrs Kufuor was speaking at the annual Christmas party for the children of the Princess Marie Louise Hospital (PMLH) in Accra.
She donated an opel 4X4 vehicle as a christmas present to the hospital to help improve the transportation system of the hospital.
She urged Ghanaians to be resolute in their commitment toward the upbringing of children in the coming year as most of these children would grow to be future leaders of the nation.
She asked parents to teach their children to “be obedient, hardworking and respectful at home, in school and anywhere they find yourselves”.A citation was presented on behalf of the hospital to the First lady for her continuous support to the hospital.
The Chairman of the Management Board of the hospital, Father Andrew Campbell urged parents to have quality time with their children to enable them have a fair knowledge of the activites their children were involved in when they were in school.
The Acting Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Eric Sifah in an interview with the Daily Graphic disclosed that the hospital will from next year set up a neonatal unit- which is an intensive care unit which caters for pre-mature babies and children below one month.
He was very grateful to the First Lady for her continuous support to the hospital, however, he said despite the numerous donations the hospital received they had no means of transportation to convey the children to the more experienced hospitals when there were cases beyond them.
The Acting Supt added that the hospital lacked equipment such as incubators for the intensive care unit, babies cots and nebulizers.
He appealed organisations and individuals to come the aid of the hospital as they were initiating measures to build a three storey paediatric surgical theatre by the beginning of next year.
“Let the true spirit of Christmas reflect in the dedication to helping children and those in need as well as spreading the message of peace and understanding “, the first Lady stated.
Mrs Kufuor was speaking at the annual Christmas party for the children of the Princess Marie Louise Hospital (PMLH) in Accra.
She donated an opel 4X4 vehicle as a christmas present to the hospital to help improve the transportation system of the hospital.
She urged Ghanaians to be resolute in their commitment toward the upbringing of children in the coming year as most of these children would grow to be future leaders of the nation.
She asked parents to teach their children to “be obedient, hardworking and respectful at home, in school and anywhere they find yourselves”.A citation was presented on behalf of the hospital to the First lady for her continuous support to the hospital.
The Chairman of the Management Board of the hospital, Father Andrew Campbell urged parents to have quality time with their children to enable them have a fair knowledge of the activites their children were involved in when they were in school.
The Acting Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Eric Sifah in an interview with the Daily Graphic disclosed that the hospital will from next year set up a neonatal unit- which is an intensive care unit which caters for pre-mature babies and children below one month.
He was very grateful to the First Lady for her continuous support to the hospital, however, he said despite the numerous donations the hospital received they had no means of transportation to convey the children to the more experienced hospitals when there were cases beyond them.
The Acting Supt added that the hospital lacked equipment such as incubators for the intensive care unit, babies cots and nebulizers.
He appealed organisations and individuals to come the aid of the hospital as they were initiating measures to build a three storey paediatric surgical theatre by the beginning of next year.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Shoe seller stabs friend to death over woman
A 24-YEAR-OLD man who murdered his friend on suspicion that the deceased was having an affair with his (the suspect’s) fiancee has been arrested by the James Town Police.
The suspect, Prince Opoku, alias Kelvin Gee, who could not bear the pain of losing his fiancee to his close pal, allegedly attacked and stabbed his friend and colleague second-hand shoe seller, Emmanuel Offei, 23, at Agbogbloshie about 8.30 p.m. on Monday.
Offei was said to have been rushed to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital unconscious and was pronounced dead on arrival.
The woman at the centre of the murder case, Maafia Korkor, 21, who was allegedly present at the time of the attack, is said to be on the run.
The James Town District Police Commander, Superintendent Ebenezer Kweku Asare, told the Daily Graphic on Tuesday that Opoku suspected his fiancee, Maafia, a pawpaw seller, of having an affair with the deceased.
He said the suspect allegedly issued several warnings to the deceased to stay away from Maafia or face the consequences but the deceased denied having any affair with the lady.
Supt Asare said the deceased was returning from a drinking spot on that fateful day when the suspect stabbed him in a dark corner.
He said one of the witnesses, who reported the matter to the police after the incident, indicated that Maafia had rushed to inform him and other persons around that Opoku had stabbed Offei.
Supt Asare appealed to the public who knew of Maafia’s whereabouts to inform the police or advise her to report herself to the nearest police station.
He said the body of the deceased had since been deposited at the Korle-Bu mortuary, pending autopsy, adding that the suspect would be arraigned after investigations..
The suspect, Prince Opoku, alias Kelvin Gee, who could not bear the pain of losing his fiancee to his close pal, allegedly attacked and stabbed his friend and colleague second-hand shoe seller, Emmanuel Offei, 23, at Agbogbloshie about 8.30 p.m. on Monday.
Offei was said to have been rushed to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital unconscious and was pronounced dead on arrival.
The woman at the centre of the murder case, Maafia Korkor, 21, who was allegedly present at the time of the attack, is said to be on the run.
The James Town District Police Commander, Superintendent Ebenezer Kweku Asare, told the Daily Graphic on Tuesday that Opoku suspected his fiancee, Maafia, a pawpaw seller, of having an affair with the deceased.
He said the suspect allegedly issued several warnings to the deceased to stay away from Maafia or face the consequences but the deceased denied having any affair with the lady.
Supt Asare said the deceased was returning from a drinking spot on that fateful day when the suspect stabbed him in a dark corner.
He said one of the witnesses, who reported the matter to the police after the incident, indicated that Maafia had rushed to inform him and other persons around that Opoku had stabbed Offei.
Supt Asare appealed to the public who knew of Maafia’s whereabouts to inform the police or advise her to report herself to the nearest police station.
He said the body of the deceased had since been deposited at the Korle-Bu mortuary, pending autopsy, adding that the suspect would be arraigned after investigations..
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Book Review
Author: Edward Yaotse Wornyoh
Publisher: PI Research and Development Limited
Title: Vote Without Tears
Number of pages: 83
Reviewer: Gifty Bamfo
Many qualified voters look forward to voting for their best candidate to help shape the future of the country.
By doing so, some may be indecisive about which candidate to vote for and this is where Edward Yaotse Wornyoh’s book, “Vote Without Tears” comes in handy.
The book gives indepth guidelines about who the best candidate could be and also describes how an election in an emerging democracy would look like if all stakeholders could play fairly as in a game of decent football match.
The first of the six chapters of the book comes with the heading “Fair Play” where the author ironically likens the roles played by referees, football players, fans (supporters), linesmen to that of roles played by the Electoral Commission as the referee, the fans as the electorate and the judiciary as the linesmen.
In assessing all these roles, he points out that just like how match officials and players execute their duties on the playing field without heckles, so should the elections be conducted in a country , peaceful and free from violence.
In chapter two, the author maintains the football match scenario but stresses on the fans, that is electorate.
He raises the issue of different dialect and ethnicity as a major problem causing confusion in elections in countries, especially Africa.
Chapter three addresses “what elections can do”. Here, the author observes that political power could destroy as well as absolute power vested in the hands of a leader could also be “destroyed beyond recognition”.
Thus he poses a rhetorical question “why things are not working in most African countries because sweet power is in the hands of just one person or a small group of people for decades?
He cites examples of dictators like Adolf Hitler of Germany, Pablo Bokassa of Central African Republic, the late life President of Malawi and others.
He, however, observes that, “politics can become exciting if our politicians can leave behind the tag politician which has basically become a dirty word and see themselves as policy makers or lawmakers”.
He adds that the work of parliament would become client centred, that is using the people’s scarce resources to come out in a timely fashion with policies and laws to make lives better.
He stresses the need for policy makers to see an incumbent government as the father of the nation and the opposition as the mother, since both sides are in for the total good of the nation.
“If policy makers can catch such a vision, then I think all the acrimony in our politics can die down, and any election can indeed be like a nice football match, so that the election year phenomenon would get off our backs” , he adds.
In Chapter four, the author entitles it “from democracy to meritocracy”. He explains that the attitudes of politicians and electorates should be one that can move beyond democracy to a merit-based one.
Meaning, people should be given power based on their abilities and support to the nation.
In further explanations, the author uses words like “deation”, “depersonalisation”, “demystifying”, and “depoliticisation” to make readers understand his view on the issue he raised.
He states that with proper selection of people with right background , each political party can take a particular policy path or approach to developing the nation.
He adds that focusing on such a policy direction could be enough rather than the zero sum gave temptation to focus on the other party’s weaknesses which unfortunately will not sell to today’s Ghanaian voter.
Chapter five tells the reader “how to vote without tears”. Here he cautions readers or the electorate about the kind of leaders to vote for. He tries to highlight the qualities of a good leader, that is “he is not a joker, but a serious person”.
He states biblically that, leadership position is such a serious business, leaders are not allowed to play the fool slightly even once.
“As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour” (Eccl 10:1), he adds.
He further explains that anyone who has been publicly known to have played the fool a little is not qualified to be a leader.
In the final chapter, the author is hopeful that ”vote without tears” would become a part of everyone not only in Africa but in the world as a whole.
Written in simple modern English, the author, with illustrations and scenarios explain in detail what the reader needs to know about elections and the voting process.
The book comes at a time when most countries, including Ghana, are holding elections. Thus it serves as a useful guide for the electorate and politicians as a whole.
Publisher: PI Research and Development Limited
Title: Vote Without Tears
Number of pages: 83
Reviewer: Gifty Bamfo
Many qualified voters look forward to voting for their best candidate to help shape the future of the country.
By doing so, some may be indecisive about which candidate to vote for and this is where Edward Yaotse Wornyoh’s book, “Vote Without Tears” comes in handy.
The book gives indepth guidelines about who the best candidate could be and also describes how an election in an emerging democracy would look like if all stakeholders could play fairly as in a game of decent football match.
The first of the six chapters of the book comes with the heading “Fair Play” where the author ironically likens the roles played by referees, football players, fans (supporters), linesmen to that of roles played by the Electoral Commission as the referee, the fans as the electorate and the judiciary as the linesmen.
In assessing all these roles, he points out that just like how match officials and players execute their duties on the playing field without heckles, so should the elections be conducted in a country , peaceful and free from violence.
In chapter two, the author maintains the football match scenario but stresses on the fans, that is electorate.
He raises the issue of different dialect and ethnicity as a major problem causing confusion in elections in countries, especially Africa.
Chapter three addresses “what elections can do”. Here, the author observes that political power could destroy as well as absolute power vested in the hands of a leader could also be “destroyed beyond recognition”.
Thus he poses a rhetorical question “why things are not working in most African countries because sweet power is in the hands of just one person or a small group of people for decades?
He cites examples of dictators like Adolf Hitler of Germany, Pablo Bokassa of Central African Republic, the late life President of Malawi and others.
He, however, observes that, “politics can become exciting if our politicians can leave behind the tag politician which has basically become a dirty word and see themselves as policy makers or lawmakers”.
He adds that the work of parliament would become client centred, that is using the people’s scarce resources to come out in a timely fashion with policies and laws to make lives better.
He stresses the need for policy makers to see an incumbent government as the father of the nation and the opposition as the mother, since both sides are in for the total good of the nation.
“If policy makers can catch such a vision, then I think all the acrimony in our politics can die down, and any election can indeed be like a nice football match, so that the election year phenomenon would get off our backs” , he adds.
In Chapter four, the author entitles it “from democracy to meritocracy”. He explains that the attitudes of politicians and electorates should be one that can move beyond democracy to a merit-based one.
Meaning, people should be given power based on their abilities and support to the nation.
In further explanations, the author uses words like “deation”, “depersonalisation”, “demystifying”, and “depoliticisation” to make readers understand his view on the issue he raised.
He states that with proper selection of people with right background , each political party can take a particular policy path or approach to developing the nation.
He adds that focusing on such a policy direction could be enough rather than the zero sum gave temptation to focus on the other party’s weaknesses which unfortunately will not sell to today’s Ghanaian voter.
Chapter five tells the reader “how to vote without tears”. Here he cautions readers or the electorate about the kind of leaders to vote for. He tries to highlight the qualities of a good leader, that is “he is not a joker, but a serious person”.
He states biblically that, leadership position is such a serious business, leaders are not allowed to play the fool slightly even once.
“As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour” (Eccl 10:1), he adds.
He further explains that anyone who has been publicly known to have played the fool a little is not qualified to be a leader.
In the final chapter, the author is hopeful that ”vote without tears” would become a part of everyone not only in Africa but in the world as a whole.
Written in simple modern English, the author, with illustrations and scenarios explain in detail what the reader needs to know about elections and the voting process.
The book comes at a time when most countries, including Ghana, are holding elections. Thus it serves as a useful guide for the electorate and politicians as a whole.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
MOGA holds fun games
THE Mfantsiman Old Girls Association (MOGA) has held fun games in Accra to raise funds for the establishment of a Visual Arts Gallery for the school.
The event also sought to unite the various year groups towards creating an avenue for interaction with one another.
The President of the association, Mrs Matilda G. Attoh-Brehun, said “this event is aimed at encouraging the old students to mobilise funds for the construction of a gallery for the school”.
The old girls engaged in such activities as tug of war, picking the fruits, lime and spoon, musical chairs, 4x50 relay and sack race.
Engmann House placed first with 47 points, followed by Chinnery House with 27 points, while Scotton House placed third with 23 points, with Croffie and Butler Houses making 19 and seven points and placing fourth and fifth respectively.
The school was established in 1960 by the Ghana Education Trust with a view to educating the girl-child in Saltpond and its environs.
The school offers such courses as Visual Arts, General Arts, Business, Science and Home Economics.
The event also sought to unite the various year groups towards creating an avenue for interaction with one another.
The President of the association, Mrs Matilda G. Attoh-Brehun, said “this event is aimed at encouraging the old students to mobilise funds for the construction of a gallery for the school”.
The old girls engaged in such activities as tug of war, picking the fruits, lime and spoon, musical chairs, 4x50 relay and sack race.
Engmann House placed first with 47 points, followed by Chinnery House with 27 points, while Scotton House placed third with 23 points, with Croffie and Butler Houses making 19 and seven points and placing fourth and fifth respectively.
The school was established in 1960 by the Ghana Education Trust with a view to educating the girl-child in Saltpond and its environs.
The school offers such courses as Visual Arts, General Arts, Business, Science and Home Economics.
ECG ladies donate to Cardio centre
THE Power Queens Club of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has presented a cheque for GH¢4,000 to support the work of the National Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
It formed part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the club, which is the ladies welfare association of the ECG.
Prior to the presentation to the centre, regional branches of the club also made various donations to charity homes across the country.
The National President of the club, Ms Miranda Okine, who presented the cheque on behalf of the club, said besides the donation, the club also organised talks on various health issues to educate their members and the public.
The cheque was received by Ms Dorothy Peyegu, matron of the cardio ward.
She said the club also organised cervical screening exercises for its members and women in their respective communities.
Ms Okine said besides addressing the health concerns of its members, the club also engaged in educational programmes such as the importance of energy conservation.
A heart surgeon at the centre, Dr. Baffoe Gyan commended the club for the donation and urged other philanthropists to emulate the example of the club.
He advised Ghanaians to check their eating habits so as to avoid fallen ill, particularly to heart related ailments.
It formed part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the club, which is the ladies welfare association of the ECG.
Prior to the presentation to the centre, regional branches of the club also made various donations to charity homes across the country.
The National President of the club, Ms Miranda Okine, who presented the cheque on behalf of the club, said besides the donation, the club also organised talks on various health issues to educate their members and the public.
The cheque was received by Ms Dorothy Peyegu, matron of the cardio ward.
She said the club also organised cervical screening exercises for its members and women in their respective communities.
Ms Okine said besides addressing the health concerns of its members, the club also engaged in educational programmes such as the importance of energy conservation.
A heart surgeon at the centre, Dr. Baffoe Gyan commended the club for the donation and urged other philanthropists to emulate the example of the club.
He advised Ghanaians to check their eating habits so as to avoid fallen ill, particularly to heart related ailments.
Dansoman Police probe two theft cases
THE Dansoman Police are investigating two robbery incidents at South Odorkor and Tunga in which the suspects took away the personal effects of their victims.
No arrests have so far been made.
The Dansoman District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Alex Yartey-Tawiah, told newsmen in Accra yesterday that in the first incident at a house at South Odorkor, near the Nso Nyame Ye Spot, the robbers took away mobile phones, a DVD player, wristwatches and an unspecified amount of money from their victims.
He said the robbers did not, however, harm their victims.
In the second incident, he said, seven armed men wielding various offensive weapons, including a locally manufactured gun, attacked a man at Tunga, an area in Dansoman, and robbed him of his valuables, including mobile phones and a wristwatch, after inflicting severe knife wounds on him.
Supt Yartey-Tawiah appealed to members of the public who had information on the suspected criminals to notify the police.
He explained that the police thrived on information and it was only through the co-operation of the public that they could succeed in fighting crime.
No arrests have so far been made.
The Dansoman District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Alex Yartey-Tawiah, told newsmen in Accra yesterday that in the first incident at a house at South Odorkor, near the Nso Nyame Ye Spot, the robbers took away mobile phones, a DVD player, wristwatches and an unspecified amount of money from their victims.
He said the robbers did not, however, harm their victims.
In the second incident, he said, seven armed men wielding various offensive weapons, including a locally manufactured gun, attacked a man at Tunga, an area in Dansoman, and robbed him of his valuables, including mobile phones and a wristwatch, after inflicting severe knife wounds on him.
Supt Yartey-Tawiah appealed to members of the public who had information on the suspected criminals to notify the police.
He explained that the police thrived on information and it was only through the co-operation of the public that they could succeed in fighting crime.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Dansoman Police round up suspected criminals
FIFTEEN suspected criminals at Dansoman, Accra, have been arrested during a swoop by the Dansoman Police and are currently in police custody assisting the police in investigations.
They are Robert Mantey, 39, Nii Adjei, 46, Ernest Osei, 28, Godwin Uchechuku, 27, Anane Alex, 28, Kwame Gyamesi, 35, Abdulai Ibrahim, 41.
The rest are Solomon Nii Samuel, 26, Amo Quatei, 35, Ernest Siayor, 28, Asante Godknows, 34, Adams Tetteh, 22, Akanfewen Ayakesagi, 24, Kofi Afaibe, 24 and Ayaba Afuwe, 26.
The suspects were arrested from their various hideouts at Sukura, Russia, Macbrouk Park and Ebenezer Down, with some of them in possession of dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and military camouflage uniforms.
The Dansoman District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Alex Yartey-Tawiah told journalists in Accra that some of the suspects were being screened for other crime-related offences and would be put before court if found culpable.
He said although no robbery and car snatching cases had been recorded at Dansoman in about a month, yet immediately before and just after the December 7, 2008, elections, some cases of armed robbery were reported.
DSP Yartey-Tawiah said that happened because the robbers took advantage of the fact that the police were pre-occupied with maintaining peace and order during the elections.
He, however, assured residents of the area that whether there were elections or not, the police would maintain law and order for people to go about their normal activities in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.
They are Robert Mantey, 39, Nii Adjei, 46, Ernest Osei, 28, Godwin Uchechuku, 27, Anane Alex, 28, Kwame Gyamesi, 35, Abdulai Ibrahim, 41.
The rest are Solomon Nii Samuel, 26, Amo Quatei, 35, Ernest Siayor, 28, Asante Godknows, 34, Adams Tetteh, 22, Akanfewen Ayakesagi, 24, Kofi Afaibe, 24 and Ayaba Afuwe, 26.
The suspects were arrested from their various hideouts at Sukura, Russia, Macbrouk Park and Ebenezer Down, with some of them in possession of dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and military camouflage uniforms.
The Dansoman District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Alex Yartey-Tawiah told journalists in Accra that some of the suspects were being screened for other crime-related offences and would be put before court if found culpable.
He said although no robbery and car snatching cases had been recorded at Dansoman in about a month, yet immediately before and just after the December 7, 2008, elections, some cases of armed robbery were reported.
DSP Yartey-Tawiah said that happened because the robbers took advantage of the fact that the police were pre-occupied with maintaining peace and order during the elections.
He, however, assured residents of the area that whether there were elections or not, the police would maintain law and order for people to go about their normal activities in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Barclays customer wins Jaguar at promo (13/12/08)
THE final draw of the Barclays Bank ‘Wheels of Surprise Promotion’ has been held in Accra, with a prestige customer of the Tamale branch of the bank, Mr M.A. Abdul, winning the ultimate prize of a brand new S-class Jaguar saloon car.
Mr Yahyah Lukeman Mohammed, a customer who saves at the Ashaiman branch of the bank, was given a plasma television as the second prize winner.
The third prize of an Accra-London-Accra ticket was won by Mr Oquaye Kudjo, customer of the Circle branch.
The Managing Director of Barclays Bank Ghana, Mr Benjamin Dabrah, said the promotion was to reward loyal customers and create awareness of the importance of savings, as well as encourage the savings habit among customers.
He acknowledged the crucial role financial institutions played in the Ghanaian economy, adding that Barclays “will continue to offer financial solutions to its loyal customers”.
Mr Dabrah assured customers that the bank would continue to improve its customer relationships, since its future depended on its customers.
The Director of Customer Banking, Nana Dwemoh Benneh, said more than 110,000 entries were received for the ‘Wheels of Surprise Promotion’ which was launched four months ago, with the first two draws having been held at Kasoa and Berekum to reward 12 loyal customers.
“As a way of deepening our relationship with our customers, we will introduce new innovative products and services from the beginning of next year to improve customer service,” he said.
The first 10 winners received DSTv installation, i-pods and other consolation prizes.
Mr Yahyah Lukeman Mohammed, a customer who saves at the Ashaiman branch of the bank, was given a plasma television as the second prize winner.
The third prize of an Accra-London-Accra ticket was won by Mr Oquaye Kudjo, customer of the Circle branch.
The Managing Director of Barclays Bank Ghana, Mr Benjamin Dabrah, said the promotion was to reward loyal customers and create awareness of the importance of savings, as well as encourage the savings habit among customers.
He acknowledged the crucial role financial institutions played in the Ghanaian economy, adding that Barclays “will continue to offer financial solutions to its loyal customers”.
Mr Dabrah assured customers that the bank would continue to improve its customer relationships, since its future depended on its customers.
The Director of Customer Banking, Nana Dwemoh Benneh, said more than 110,000 entries were received for the ‘Wheels of Surprise Promotion’ which was launched four months ago, with the first two draws having been held at Kasoa and Berekum to reward 12 loyal customers.
“As a way of deepening our relationship with our customers, we will introduce new innovative products and services from the beginning of next year to improve customer service,” he said.
The first 10 winners received DSTv installation, i-pods and other consolation prizes.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Mixed reaction to run-off in the presidential election(11/12/08)
Business activities at the central business district of Accra are picking up steadily, shaking off the election fever that had engulfed the country.
A visit to some busy centres within the district, including the CMB area and Makola, about 10.45 a.m. yesterday revealed that the usual brisk business activities were coming back, although at a slower pace, as a few hawkers, traders and buyers were seen shopping and interacting with one another.
Most of the hawkers and traders complained about the missing Christmas fever in the country, although they were hopeful that things would normalise when the election period was over.
They told the Daily Graphic that they were worried about the delay in announcing the election results which they believed had caused the low patronage of goods.
A tomato seller at CMB, who identified herself only as Georgina, said there was no sign of Christmas as the elections had overshadowed all activities pertaining to the festivities.
"My tomatoes are not being bought because the elections have created a lot of tension which has made everyone to forget about Christmas," she said.
Christmas in the country is often characterised by brisk shopping activities, particularly in the central business district of Accra, where both wholesale and retail trading take place.
However, the uncertainties that come with elections often put people on the alert to want to pass the democratic test before looking elsewhere. Ghana faced an arduous task to prove the maturity of its democracy as many African countries, including neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire, cast a slur on the ability of sub-Saharan African countries to organise successful elections.
A toy shop owner, Mr Eben Zerobabel, lamented the slow pace of business, saying the market presented a boom the same time last year, with buyers beginning their shopping as early as December 1.
“This year is different,” he said. “The elections have halted many business activities in the country,” the toy vendor added.
A rice seller, known only as Arthur, said there was low patronage, despite Monday’s Eid-ul-Adha Festival celebrated by Muslims, noting that on such occasions, “Muslims buy a lot of rice but this year our rice is almost intact”.
An onion seller, Mabel Sowah, said, “The elections have slowed the normal brisk business here at CMB. People are not buying my onions, although we are in December, the time when I look forward to food vendors buying a lot of the onions.”
Artificial wigs in Ghana are part of the fashion trend with different types and colours being introduced onto the markets for women to complement their beauty, particularly on festive occasions such as Christmas.
However, a visit to the market revealed there was low patronage of the product as intimated by Auntie Bea, a wig shop owner.
“We are in December but all the wigs I bought for the Christmas festivities have not been bought yet, I hope that after the elections everything would return to normal.”
At the Makola Market, the atmosphere was no different, as most of the shops were opened, with hawkers and buyers going about their normal businesses.
The usual brisk business was on the low side, as most of the people were seen discussing the election results.
Most of the people the Daily Graphic spoke with believed there was electoral tension, as they were surprised at the outcome of the results.
Auntie Cecilia, a lace material seller, said, “Most of the people are afraid that there could be conflict in the country if one party refuses to accept the results of the elections and this has really affected our market, although Christmas is around the corner.”
A visit to some busy centres within the district, including the CMB area and Makola, about 10.45 a.m. yesterday revealed that the usual brisk business activities were coming back, although at a slower pace, as a few hawkers, traders and buyers were seen shopping and interacting with one another.
Most of the hawkers and traders complained about the missing Christmas fever in the country, although they were hopeful that things would normalise when the election period was over.
They told the Daily Graphic that they were worried about the delay in announcing the election results which they believed had caused the low patronage of goods.
A tomato seller at CMB, who identified herself only as Georgina, said there was no sign of Christmas as the elections had overshadowed all activities pertaining to the festivities.
"My tomatoes are not being bought because the elections have created a lot of tension which has made everyone to forget about Christmas," she said.
Christmas in the country is often characterised by brisk shopping activities, particularly in the central business district of Accra, where both wholesale and retail trading take place.
However, the uncertainties that come with elections often put people on the alert to want to pass the democratic test before looking elsewhere. Ghana faced an arduous task to prove the maturity of its democracy as many African countries, including neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire, cast a slur on the ability of sub-Saharan African countries to organise successful elections.
A toy shop owner, Mr Eben Zerobabel, lamented the slow pace of business, saying the market presented a boom the same time last year, with buyers beginning their shopping as early as December 1.
“This year is different,” he said. “The elections have halted many business activities in the country,” the toy vendor added.
A rice seller, known only as Arthur, said there was low patronage, despite Monday’s Eid-ul-Adha Festival celebrated by Muslims, noting that on such occasions, “Muslims buy a lot of rice but this year our rice is almost intact”.
An onion seller, Mabel Sowah, said, “The elections have slowed the normal brisk business here at CMB. People are not buying my onions, although we are in December, the time when I look forward to food vendors buying a lot of the onions.”
Artificial wigs in Ghana are part of the fashion trend with different types and colours being introduced onto the markets for women to complement their beauty, particularly on festive occasions such as Christmas.
However, a visit to the market revealed there was low patronage of the product as intimated by Auntie Bea, a wig shop owner.
“We are in December but all the wigs I bought for the Christmas festivities have not been bought yet, I hope that after the elections everything would return to normal.”
At the Makola Market, the atmosphere was no different, as most of the shops were opened, with hawkers and buyers going about their normal businesses.
The usual brisk business was on the low side, as most of the people were seen discussing the election results.
Most of the people the Daily Graphic spoke with believed there was electoral tension, as they were surprised at the outcome of the results.
Auntie Cecilia, a lace material seller, said, “Most of the people are afraid that there could be conflict in the country if one party refuses to accept the results of the elections and this has really affected our market, although Christmas is around the corner.”
GOVT to support kindergartens
THE government has initiated moves to provide resources to support the expansion of kindergarten facilities by district assemblies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), churches, among other groups.
In line with that, the government will provide kindergartens with teaching and learning materials, as well as train teachers to help equip them fully with the new syllabus under the new educational system.
The Accra Metro Director of Education, Nii Okaija Dinsey, disclosed this at the launch of the 40th anniversary of the Ghana Education Service (GES) Model School in Accra.
He said the initiative was the result of the crucial role played by pre-school in shaping the formative years of children, especially those from less privileged family backgrounds with initial educational challenges.
Mr Dinsey said the government had decided that kindergarten education, which had progressively become a part of the free compulsory universal basic education structure, as indicated in the 2007 educational reform, be given the necessary support.
He stated that some of the modalities for the realisation of the reform by 2015 included co-operation with private sector providers of kindergarten education, adding that it included the supply of textbooks, syllabus and other logistics to schools.
The objective, the director noted, was to ensure that all primary schoolchildren had good foundation that was rooted in quality kindergarten education.
The Headmistress of the school, Mrs Alberta Appietu-Ankrah, said the school, which started with 25 pupils, now had 350 pupils.
“It was established to serve as a demonstration facility for the training of pre-school teachers, as well as provide a better structure for the nursery concept in the country, hence the name model school,” she explained.
Mrs Appietu-Ankrah said the theme for the anniversary was, ”Building the Foundation Block for the next Generation”.
She outlined the activities for the anniversary, which included a painting competition for the pre-school children, seminars on early childhood development, a special anniversary fun day for kids, among others.
The headmistress thanked the parent-teacher association (PTA) of the school and other organisations for their support.
In line with that, the government will provide kindergartens with teaching and learning materials, as well as train teachers to help equip them fully with the new syllabus under the new educational system.
The Accra Metro Director of Education, Nii Okaija Dinsey, disclosed this at the launch of the 40th anniversary of the Ghana Education Service (GES) Model School in Accra.
He said the initiative was the result of the crucial role played by pre-school in shaping the formative years of children, especially those from less privileged family backgrounds with initial educational challenges.
Mr Dinsey said the government had decided that kindergarten education, which had progressively become a part of the free compulsory universal basic education structure, as indicated in the 2007 educational reform, be given the necessary support.
He stated that some of the modalities for the realisation of the reform by 2015 included co-operation with private sector providers of kindergarten education, adding that it included the supply of textbooks, syllabus and other logistics to schools.
The objective, the director noted, was to ensure that all primary schoolchildren had good foundation that was rooted in quality kindergarten education.
The Headmistress of the school, Mrs Alberta Appietu-Ankrah, said the school, which started with 25 pupils, now had 350 pupils.
“It was established to serve as a demonstration facility for the training of pre-school teachers, as well as provide a better structure for the nursery concept in the country, hence the name model school,” she explained.
Mrs Appietu-Ankrah said the theme for the anniversary was, ”Building the Foundation Block for the next Generation”.
She outlined the activities for the anniversary, which included a painting competition for the pre-school children, seminars on early childhood development, a special anniversary fun day for kids, among others.
The headmistress thanked the parent-teacher association (PTA) of the school and other organisations for their support.
CIVIL servants gear up to welcome a new governmen (10/12/08)
CIVIL servants in state institutions are gearing up to welcome a new government, come January 7, 2009.
Some officials at the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) told the Daily Graphic yesterday that as per the Constitution of Ghana, they would work with any government, be it that formed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Convention People’s Party (CPP) or the People’s National Convention (PNC).
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Defence, Mr E.F. Ofosu-Appeah, said the ministry was ready to work with any government that would take over after the just-ended elections.
He noted that it was the role of the Civil Service to serve any government elected into power by the people with neutrality.
He said this in an interview with the Daily Graphic as it went round to assess the atmosphere at the ministries after Sunday’s polls.
Mr Ofosu-Appeah said the ministry was ready to work with any political party that would be declared winner by the Electoral Commission (EC).
He further said work at the ministry was going on smoothly, as all the workers had reported to work, adding that they were not affected by the anxiety and suspense created by the unannounced election results.
The Director of Finance at the Ministry of Health, Alhaji Siddique, said he was impressed about the peaceful outcome of the elections and commended the EC, as well as Ghanaians, for the peaceful manner in which the elections were conducted.
He also said the ministry was ready to serve any government to contribute to the development of the country.
The Head of Public Relations at the Ministry of Health, Mr Dan Osman, urged Ghanaians to be patient, remain calm and await the declaration of the results because it was the duty of the EC to announce them within 72 hours.
He said civil servants were hopeful that the new government would improve upon their working conditions, adding that they were prepared to work effectively with the next government.
A Senior Private Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Christabel Quaye, said she was anxious to know the outcome of the elections.
She urged Ghanaians not to engage in any violent acts to disturb the prevailing peace in the country.
As of 11.00 a.m. when the Daily Graphic was leaving the ministries, the atmosphere was quiet, with workers going about their normal duties without discussing the elections.
The usual brisk activities by hawkers, drivers and passengers at the Tema Station Bus Terminal in Accra were absent two days after the elections.
The atmosphere was quiet, as few traders were seen discussing the election results, with station masters listening to some of the results on radio.
Most of the traders and “trotro” drivers expressed worry over the way the elections had affected their businesses.
A second-hand clothes seller, Aunty Mary, said, “A lot of people are not in the market today and the few here are not buying anything.”
She attributed the situation to the anxiety and suspense in the country as Ghanaians waited for the final results from the EC.
When asked about who was going to win the polls, she said she was confused because of the ‘skirt and blouse’ voting pattern and could not tell who was going to emerge the winner.
Kofi Asamoah, a “tro-tro” driver, said he was surprised at the many parliamentary seats being won by the NDC.
He, however, said it was good, since the NPP and the NDC would learn to work together in building the nation.
Some officials at the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) told the Daily Graphic yesterday that as per the Constitution of Ghana, they would work with any government, be it that formed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Convention People’s Party (CPP) or the People’s National Convention (PNC).
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Defence, Mr E.F. Ofosu-Appeah, said the ministry was ready to work with any government that would take over after the just-ended elections.
He noted that it was the role of the Civil Service to serve any government elected into power by the people with neutrality.
He said this in an interview with the Daily Graphic as it went round to assess the atmosphere at the ministries after Sunday’s polls.
Mr Ofosu-Appeah said the ministry was ready to work with any political party that would be declared winner by the Electoral Commission (EC).
He further said work at the ministry was going on smoothly, as all the workers had reported to work, adding that they were not affected by the anxiety and suspense created by the unannounced election results.
The Director of Finance at the Ministry of Health, Alhaji Siddique, said he was impressed about the peaceful outcome of the elections and commended the EC, as well as Ghanaians, for the peaceful manner in which the elections were conducted.
He also said the ministry was ready to serve any government to contribute to the development of the country.
The Head of Public Relations at the Ministry of Health, Mr Dan Osman, urged Ghanaians to be patient, remain calm and await the declaration of the results because it was the duty of the EC to announce them within 72 hours.
He said civil servants were hopeful that the new government would improve upon their working conditions, adding that they were prepared to work effectively with the next government.
A Senior Private Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Christabel Quaye, said she was anxious to know the outcome of the elections.
She urged Ghanaians not to engage in any violent acts to disturb the prevailing peace in the country.
As of 11.00 a.m. when the Daily Graphic was leaving the ministries, the atmosphere was quiet, with workers going about their normal duties without discussing the elections.
The usual brisk activities by hawkers, drivers and passengers at the Tema Station Bus Terminal in Accra were absent two days after the elections.
The atmosphere was quiet, as few traders were seen discussing the election results, with station masters listening to some of the results on radio.
Most of the traders and “trotro” drivers expressed worry over the way the elections had affected their businesses.
A second-hand clothes seller, Aunty Mary, said, “A lot of people are not in the market today and the few here are not buying anything.”
She attributed the situation to the anxiety and suspense in the country as Ghanaians waited for the final results from the EC.
When asked about who was going to win the polls, she said she was confused because of the ‘skirt and blouse’ voting pattern and could not tell who was going to emerge the winner.
Kofi Asamoah, a “tro-tro” driver, said he was surprised at the many parliamentary seats being won by the NDC.
He, however, said it was good, since the NPP and the NDC would learn to work together in building the nation.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
FIVE NR COMMUNITIES TO GET CLINICS(5/11/08)
FIVE polyclinics are to be constructed in some communities in the Northern Region to boost the provision of health care in the region.
The communities are Karaga, Tatale, Chereponi, Kpandai and Sanga.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Health, Major(rtd) Courage Quarshigah, at a signing ceremony to award the contract for the project to the VAMED Engineering company based in Austria.
The minister noted that the project would be financed at a cost of €7.6 million loan and grant facility from the Bank of Austria.
He observed that the Northern Region had a peculiar health problem, thus, the facility had come at a time when it would be of great importance to the people of the area.
He said the centre would help reduce maternal mortality in the areas as the project would include a maternity care centre, to provide antenatal care education for pregnant women.
The Project Manager of VAMED Engineering, Oliver Strorgez, said construction work would commence in February and would include the maintenance of the clinic for 12 months, staff training and housing, as well as the provision of equipment.
The communities are Karaga, Tatale, Chereponi, Kpandai and Sanga.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Health, Major(rtd) Courage Quarshigah, at a signing ceremony to award the contract for the project to the VAMED Engineering company based in Austria.
The minister noted that the project would be financed at a cost of €7.6 million loan and grant facility from the Bank of Austria.
He observed that the Northern Region had a peculiar health problem, thus, the facility had come at a time when it would be of great importance to the people of the area.
He said the centre would help reduce maternal mortality in the areas as the project would include a maternity care centre, to provide antenatal care education for pregnant women.
The Project Manager of VAMED Engineering, Oliver Strorgez, said construction work would commence in February and would include the maintenance of the clinic for 12 months, staff training and housing, as well as the provision of equipment.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Vote for leaders who seeks welfare of people(Daily Graphic)
THE Kontihene of the Akuapem Traditional Area, Nana Offei Kwesi Agyemang IV, has asked Ghanaians to vote for a leader who would seek the welfare of his people.
"We want a president who would put the needs of the people first, one who is development oriented, peaceful and respectful to take up the challenge as president of Ghana," he said.
Nana Offei Kwesi Agyemang IV made the call in an interview with the Daily Graphic after launching three books authored by Reverend Charles Ansah Owusu, the Director of Abundant Grace Academy, in Accra.
Nana Agyemang IV who is also the Chairman of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) board expressed confidence in Ghana’s electoral process and was hopeful that this year’s general election would be free and fair to ensure that the country continued to enjoy peace.
He called for people who had committed themselves to writing books to be encouraged to continue to do so and enhance the culture of reading among Ghanaians as the authors shared their thoughts with others through their books.
Nana Agyemang IV attributed the oral transfer of information from generation to generation in the Ghanaian traditional culture to the fact that our ancestors were not able to document their thoughts and other important information for us to depend on, and because of that the present generation also found it difficult to document certain facts that would help in future development.
“The reliance of oral record means people with valuable information tend to pass on knowledge to a chosen few, and the practice tends to hamper development, “ he emphasised, adding that the "lack of the culture of writing historically has slowed the pace of development in our nation".
The Kontihene further attributed the lack of culture of reading by the present generation to their societal orientation, which mainly was around foreign knowledge acquired through foreign media, and cautioned that that had the tendency to limit the development of culture in the country.
The three books "Fear Not, Time and Opportunity and Plan to Win”, according to the author, Rev Ansah Owusu, highlighted the main issues hampering the inability of Christians to develop both socially and economically.
He said although it might take time for some people to understand some of the issues he discussed in the book, through continual reviews in the media he believed they would easily understand those issues which were hampering development in society.
"We want a president who would put the needs of the people first, one who is development oriented, peaceful and respectful to take up the challenge as president of Ghana," he said.
Nana Offei Kwesi Agyemang IV made the call in an interview with the Daily Graphic after launching three books authored by Reverend Charles Ansah Owusu, the Director of Abundant Grace Academy, in Accra.
Nana Agyemang IV who is also the Chairman of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) board expressed confidence in Ghana’s electoral process and was hopeful that this year’s general election would be free and fair to ensure that the country continued to enjoy peace.
He called for people who had committed themselves to writing books to be encouraged to continue to do so and enhance the culture of reading among Ghanaians as the authors shared their thoughts with others through their books.
Nana Agyemang IV attributed the oral transfer of information from generation to generation in the Ghanaian traditional culture to the fact that our ancestors were not able to document their thoughts and other important information for us to depend on, and because of that the present generation also found it difficult to document certain facts that would help in future development.
“The reliance of oral record means people with valuable information tend to pass on knowledge to a chosen few, and the practice tends to hamper development, “ he emphasised, adding that the "lack of the culture of writing historically has slowed the pace of development in our nation".
The Kontihene further attributed the lack of culture of reading by the present generation to their societal orientation, which mainly was around foreign knowledge acquired through foreign media, and cautioned that that had the tendency to limit the development of culture in the country.
The three books "Fear Not, Time and Opportunity and Plan to Win”, according to the author, Rev Ansah Owusu, highlighted the main issues hampering the inability of Christians to develop both socially and economically.
He said although it might take time for some people to understand some of the issues he discussed in the book, through continual reviews in the media he believed they would easily understand those issues which were hampering development in society.
Monday, December 1, 2008
GIL appeals for language laboratory(Daily Graphic)
A two-storey classroom block is to be completed at Okponglo in Accra by the end of the year for the Ghana Institute of Languages (GIL).
In addition, a one -storey classroom block on the Tamale campus has been completed and will be inaugurated by the end of the year.
This was disclosed in an address by the acting Director of the GIL, Mr C. K. Angkosaala, at the 7th matriculation of 583 freshmen of the institute in Accra .
Twenty-five of the students are to do degree courses in translation whiles 28 of them would be doing diplomas in bilingual secretariaship .The rest would take certificate courses in languages after their three year course.
The students treated the audience to a sketch in the German language.
Mr Angkosaala said the institute was established in 1961 to teach modern languages and to advice government on language matters as a way of promoting Pan Africanism, economic development and cordial relations between Ghana and other countries.
Currently, the GIL is under the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports with the National Council for Tertiary Education overseeing the activities of the school.
Mr Angkosaala said that the school had become a centre of promotion of international co-operation by breaking language and cultural barriers .
The director added that the school runs courses in seven languages namely Arabic, English, French, German, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.
Mr Angkosaala said that in spite of the immense support the institute received from the GETFund, it still faced accommodation problems, lacked good laboratories for language lessons, lacked books for the library and other challenges which needed immediate attention.
He, therefore, appealed to the government to enact the GIL Act to improve the tertiary status of the institution.
The director advised the students to be studious in order to make their future ambitions a reality.
In addition, a one -storey classroom block on the Tamale campus has been completed and will be inaugurated by the end of the year.
This was disclosed in an address by the acting Director of the GIL, Mr C. K. Angkosaala, at the 7th matriculation of 583 freshmen of the institute in Accra .
Twenty-five of the students are to do degree courses in translation whiles 28 of them would be doing diplomas in bilingual secretariaship .The rest would take certificate courses in languages after their three year course.
The students treated the audience to a sketch in the German language.
Mr Angkosaala said the institute was established in 1961 to teach modern languages and to advice government on language matters as a way of promoting Pan Africanism, economic development and cordial relations between Ghana and other countries.
Currently, the GIL is under the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports with the National Council for Tertiary Education overseeing the activities of the school.
Mr Angkosaala said that the school had become a centre of promotion of international co-operation by breaking language and cultural barriers .
The director added that the school runs courses in seven languages namely Arabic, English, French, German, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.
Mr Angkosaala said that in spite of the immense support the institute received from the GETFund, it still faced accommodation problems, lacked good laboratories for language lessons, lacked books for the library and other challenges which needed immediate attention.
He, therefore, appealed to the government to enact the GIL Act to improve the tertiary status of the institution.
The director advised the students to be studious in order to make their future ambitions a reality.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Include Private schools in best teacher awards-Prof Adjepong(Daily Graphic)
THE Principal of the Methodist University College, Very Reverend Professor S.K. Adjepong, has called for the inclusion of private schools in the Best Teacher Awards scheme.
“The inclusion of private schools in the competition would incentivize teachers in those schools to offer their best,” he emphasised.
He made the call at the 20th anniversary speech and prize-giving day of the Alpha Beta School in Accra.
Prof. Adjepong observed that a well-educated citizenry was the best legacy any generation could leave for a succeeding one, hence the need for government to recognise private sector providers of education as “golden partners of development”.
He said, however, that the major challenges facing educational institutions were not how to deal effectively with acts of indiscipline, but how to turn out academically brilliant students who were disciplined.
“The challenge underscored the need to find more effective ways of integrating character and leadership training into educational curriculum at all levels of education in this country,” he said.
The principal added that discipline was the hallmark of scholarship and success, and that education did not only look for the acquisition of knowledge and skills, but also for mental and attitudinal discipline as well.
He called on schools, churches, civil organisations, families and others to embark on a serious crusade to find a more effective and sustainable way of inculcating moral values in pupils and students, with the aim of making them knowledgeable, disciplined and responsible citizens in future.
In her welcome address, the Principal of the school, Mrs Florence Adjepong, said the school, which started with six pupils, had grown into an institution with over 800 students, who were excelling academically.
She mentioned that as part of the school’s social responsibilities, it had raised funds for the construction of a community library for the Dansoman 1 and 2 primary and a junior high school and supported the countryside Orphanage at Bawdwasi as well as the Ghana Society for the Blind and Deaf.
Mrs Adjepong said the school was grateful to GETFund for its immense support, but said in spite of the school’s successes, it still lacked funds to construct access road to the school.
She, therefore, called on the government and benevolent societies to come to their aid.
Some pupils and students entertained the guests with choreography and poetry recitals as part of the programme, while awards were also presented to some talented pupils from the school.
“The inclusion of private schools in the competition would incentivize teachers in those schools to offer their best,” he emphasised.
He made the call at the 20th anniversary speech and prize-giving day of the Alpha Beta School in Accra.
Prof. Adjepong observed that a well-educated citizenry was the best legacy any generation could leave for a succeeding one, hence the need for government to recognise private sector providers of education as “golden partners of development”.
He said, however, that the major challenges facing educational institutions were not how to deal effectively with acts of indiscipline, but how to turn out academically brilliant students who were disciplined.
“The challenge underscored the need to find more effective ways of integrating character and leadership training into educational curriculum at all levels of education in this country,” he said.
The principal added that discipline was the hallmark of scholarship and success, and that education did not only look for the acquisition of knowledge and skills, but also for mental and attitudinal discipline as well.
He called on schools, churches, civil organisations, families and others to embark on a serious crusade to find a more effective and sustainable way of inculcating moral values in pupils and students, with the aim of making them knowledgeable, disciplined and responsible citizens in future.
In her welcome address, the Principal of the school, Mrs Florence Adjepong, said the school, which started with six pupils, had grown into an institution with over 800 students, who were excelling academically.
She mentioned that as part of the school’s social responsibilities, it had raised funds for the construction of a community library for the Dansoman 1 and 2 primary and a junior high school and supported the countryside Orphanage at Bawdwasi as well as the Ghana Society for the Blind and Deaf.
Mrs Adjepong said the school was grateful to GETFund for its immense support, but said in spite of the school’s successes, it still lacked funds to construct access road to the school.
She, therefore, called on the government and benevolent societies to come to their aid.
Some pupils and students entertained the guests with choreography and poetry recitals as part of the programme, while awards were also presented to some talented pupils from the school.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Methodist Guild supports HND student
THE National President of the Methodist Guild, Ghana, Mr Enoch Baah, has called on Christians to seek the welfare of not only church members but the deprived in society as well.
“As part of our activities as Christians, we should be encouraged to seek the welfare of members and the society at large,” he said.
Mr Baah made the call when the guild presented a scholarship package to Miss Joyce Cofie, a first-year HND student of the Koforidua Polytechnic.
For her package, Miss Cofie is to receive GH¢600 for the next three years to cover the cost of her registration, accommodation and textbooks.
At a brief ceremony held at the Mount Zion Methodist Church at Korle Gonno in Accra, Mr Baah noted that the scheme was the guild’s complementary role in the quest to improve the human resource of the country.
He explained that the guild had decided to support one person for the first year of the scholarship scheme and noted that more students would be considered from next year.
The scholarship scheme, known as the Methodist Guild Ghana Scholarship Scheme (MGGSS), was launched during the 5th Biennial Connexional Holiday Camp of the guild held at Somanya on April 18, this year.
“As part of our activities as Christians, we should be encouraged to seek the welfare of members and the society at large,” he said.
Mr Baah made the call when the guild presented a scholarship package to Miss Joyce Cofie, a first-year HND student of the Koforidua Polytechnic.
For her package, Miss Cofie is to receive GH¢600 for the next three years to cover the cost of her registration, accommodation and textbooks.
At a brief ceremony held at the Mount Zion Methodist Church at Korle Gonno in Accra, Mr Baah noted that the scheme was the guild’s complementary role in the quest to improve the human resource of the country.
He explained that the guild had decided to support one person for the first year of the scholarship scheme and noted that more students would be considered from next year.
The scholarship scheme, known as the Methodist Guild Ghana Scholarship Scheme (MGGSS), was launched during the 5th Biennial Connexional Holiday Camp of the guild held at Somanya on April 18, this year.
Aquavitens opens customer care centre
AQUA Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL), managers of the urban water systems in the country, has established a customer care centre at its head office in Accra to offer immediate attention to customers with water- related problems.
The centre will also serve as a point for the company to receive information about its service delivery, as well as enhance monitoring.
Inaugurating the centre yesterday, the Chairman of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, said the move by the company would facilitate communication between it and its customers.
“This will encourage the staff to improve on their customer delivery and improve on their services,” he said.
Prof Frimpong-Boateng later gave the toll free line as 0800 40 000 and demonstrated how the line worked on a Ghana Telecom line.
The Director of Customer Care, Mr Cor Lievers, said the initiative would enable customers to give water problem information to the company at a centralised level to alert AVRL to attend quickly to enquiries and also educate customers.
He said AVRL recognised the fact that most customers were suffering from insufficient supply of water, adding, however, that through the investigations of the AVRL Loss Control Team, most of those cases of insufficient supply of water were as a result of malpractice on the part of some members of the public.
“Most of the people tamper with the lines and valves, others engage in illegal connections, as well as tampering with meters and extensive underground storage facilities,” he noted.
Mr Lievers explained that those acts, coupled with the irresponsible behaviour of some AVRL staff, led to the inaccessibility of water to everyone.
He asked all customers to report issues of malpractice and water-related problems to the AVRL customer care toll free line on Onetouch and GT lines 0800 40 000.
He assured customers that the setting up of the care centre would ensure and improve water supply in the country.
The centre will also serve as a point for the company to receive information about its service delivery, as well as enhance monitoring.
Inaugurating the centre yesterday, the Chairman of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, said the move by the company would facilitate communication between it and its customers.
“This will encourage the staff to improve on their customer delivery and improve on their services,” he said.
Prof Frimpong-Boateng later gave the toll free line as 0800 40 000 and demonstrated how the line worked on a Ghana Telecom line.
The Director of Customer Care, Mr Cor Lievers, said the initiative would enable customers to give water problem information to the company at a centralised level to alert AVRL to attend quickly to enquiries and also educate customers.
He said AVRL recognised the fact that most customers were suffering from insufficient supply of water, adding, however, that through the investigations of the AVRL Loss Control Team, most of those cases of insufficient supply of water were as a result of malpractice on the part of some members of the public.
“Most of the people tamper with the lines and valves, others engage in illegal connections, as well as tampering with meters and extensive underground storage facilities,” he noted.
Mr Lievers explained that those acts, coupled with the irresponsible behaviour of some AVRL staff, led to the inaccessibility of water to everyone.
He asked all customers to report issues of malpractice and water-related problems to the AVRL customer care toll free line on Onetouch and GT lines 0800 40 000.
He assured customers that the setting up of the care centre would ensure and improve water supply in the country.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
UT assists 3 NGOs
UT Financial Services has donated three cheques totalling GH¢11,000 to three non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the country to enhance their activities.
The recipients are the Kanda-based Hope for Kids Foundation, which caters for brilliant, needy students from junior high school (JHS) to the tertiary level; Family Outreach Ghana, providers of vocational education and medical care for the less privileged in society, and the Light Outreach Foundation, which caters for street children in Tema.
Presenting the cheques, the CEO of UT, Mr Prince Kofi Amoabeng, urged other companies to emulate UT’s efforts to help cater for the less privileged in society.
He added that even though it was the responsibility of the government to cater for those organisations, it was unable to do so as a result of the pressing demands on the budget, hence the need for other companies to assist as part of their social responsibility.
Receiving a cheque of GH¢6,000 on behalf of the Hope for Kids Foundation, the Director of the organisation, Mrs Adai Sai Yamoah, said UT was already supporting 10 of its children in school and was very grateful.
The other organisations, Family Outreach Ghana and Light Outreach Foundation received GH¢3,000 and GH¢2,000 respectively.
The founders of the two organisations jointly expressed their gratitude to UT for its assistance.
The recipients are the Kanda-based Hope for Kids Foundation, which caters for brilliant, needy students from junior high school (JHS) to the tertiary level; Family Outreach Ghana, providers of vocational education and medical care for the less privileged in society, and the Light Outreach Foundation, which caters for street children in Tema.
Presenting the cheques, the CEO of UT, Mr Prince Kofi Amoabeng, urged other companies to emulate UT’s efforts to help cater for the less privileged in society.
He added that even though it was the responsibility of the government to cater for those organisations, it was unable to do so as a result of the pressing demands on the budget, hence the need for other companies to assist as part of their social responsibility.
Receiving a cheque of GH¢6,000 on behalf of the Hope for Kids Foundation, the Director of the organisation, Mrs Adai Sai Yamoah, said UT was already supporting 10 of its children in school and was very grateful.
The other organisations, Family Outreach Ghana and Light Outreach Foundation received GH¢3,000 and GH¢2,000 respectively.
The founders of the two organisations jointly expressed their gratitude to UT for its assistance.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Facilities in Osu schools to improve(1/11/08)
The Osu Divisional Council and the Ga Traditional Council have budgeted to support infrastructure development and other projects in selected schools in Osu with about GH¢3 million.
Sixty per cent of the amount will be used for educational projects, while the remaining 40 per cent is earmarked for health and other social projects.
Addressing the heads and teachers of some selected schools in the area, the Osu Mantse, Nii Nortey Owuo III, said the council was aware of the numerous problems the schools faced and gave the assurance that these would be solved.
“It is clear the needs of our schools are many; with this first step taken by the council little effort will be needed from the metropolitan authorities to help find solutions to these problems”, he added.
The Circuit Supervisor of Osu Doku Circuit 45, Mrs Stella F. Abbey, told the elders that ”for efficient and effective future of the schoolchildren, quality education is very important, thus, the need for the provision of the necessary educational materials to enhance their academic pursuit”.
She added that the introduction of the Capitation Grant had increased enrolment in the schools and greatly stretched the schools' facilities.
Mrs Abbey said this development had created some challenges for the schools.
She said, "the schools lack textbooks, toilet facilities, potable drinking water as well as libraries”.
She added that the schools had to contend with lunatics and drug users who paraded the compound, putting the lives of pupils and teachers at risk.
The Circuit Supervisor added: ” Osu, being a very popular entertainment and marketing centre, has attracted some pupils into economic activities, to the detriment of their education”.
According to her, pupils spent long hours at Internet cafes, accessing pornographic materials and making money, which had negative effects on their academic performance.
“These children come to school tired and usually sleep in class, which hinders learning", she stated.
Mrs Stella Abbey appealed to the council for a community library and an ICT centre which would help improve the reading habits of the pupils and entertain them as well.
She called on the council to pay frequent visits to the schools to encourage and motivate pupils to study hard.
“The visits would also serve as a check on the teachers as well, ” she added.
Sixty per cent of the amount will be used for educational projects, while the remaining 40 per cent is earmarked for health and other social projects.
Addressing the heads and teachers of some selected schools in the area, the Osu Mantse, Nii Nortey Owuo III, said the council was aware of the numerous problems the schools faced and gave the assurance that these would be solved.
“It is clear the needs of our schools are many; with this first step taken by the council little effort will be needed from the metropolitan authorities to help find solutions to these problems”, he added.
The Circuit Supervisor of Osu Doku Circuit 45, Mrs Stella F. Abbey, told the elders that ”for efficient and effective future of the schoolchildren, quality education is very important, thus, the need for the provision of the necessary educational materials to enhance their academic pursuit”.
She added that the introduction of the Capitation Grant had increased enrolment in the schools and greatly stretched the schools' facilities.
Mrs Abbey said this development had created some challenges for the schools.
She said, "the schools lack textbooks, toilet facilities, potable drinking water as well as libraries”.
She added that the schools had to contend with lunatics and drug users who paraded the compound, putting the lives of pupils and teachers at risk.
The Circuit Supervisor added: ” Osu, being a very popular entertainment and marketing centre, has attracted some pupils into economic activities, to the detriment of their education”.
According to her, pupils spent long hours at Internet cafes, accessing pornographic materials and making money, which had negative effects on their academic performance.
“These children come to school tired and usually sleep in class, which hinders learning", she stated.
Mrs Stella Abbey appealed to the council for a community library and an ICT centre which would help improve the reading habits of the pupils and entertain them as well.
She called on the council to pay frequent visits to the schools to encourage and motivate pupils to study hard.
“The visits would also serve as a check on the teachers as well, ” she added.
Apostle Onyinah interacts with market women(1/11/08
The Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Dr Opoku Onyinah, has paid a visit to the Makola and Kaneshie markets in Accra to interact with market women and to exhort them to continue to play their crucial roles in national development.
He said the leadership of the church had designed the programme to reach more people with the gospel. He urged the market women to seek the lord’s guidance in their daily activities, urging them to pray for God’s protection anytime they sat to sell.
On the December elections, he urged those seeking political office to stop condemning each other and address the issue of what they would do for the country and the electorate.
“The best way of promoting yourselves is to tell the people what you can do instead of condemning what someone has done and also not saying things that will incite violence in the coming elections”,he added.
Apostle Dr Onyinah asked leaders of political parties to promote peace and tranquility among themselves and the electorate. He said the Church of Pentecost had launched a monthly prayer session to pray for peace for the December polls.
The Women’s Director of the church, Mrs Beatrice Kwaffo, advised the women to endeavour to do the will of God, while selling their wares.
The Queen of the Makola Market, Yemoteley Quaye, said she was grateful to the church for its initiative and appealed to other churches to emulate the example and visit them from time to time.
Commenting on the elections, Yemoteley said ”we ask for peace during this year’s election since anything that would bring violence would affect women and children”.
He said the leadership of the church had designed the programme to reach more people with the gospel. He urged the market women to seek the lord’s guidance in their daily activities, urging them to pray for God’s protection anytime they sat to sell.
On the December elections, he urged those seeking political office to stop condemning each other and address the issue of what they would do for the country and the electorate.
“The best way of promoting yourselves is to tell the people what you can do instead of condemning what someone has done and also not saying things that will incite violence in the coming elections”,he added.
Apostle Dr Onyinah asked leaders of political parties to promote peace and tranquility among themselves and the electorate. He said the Church of Pentecost had launched a monthly prayer session to pray for peace for the December polls.
The Women’s Director of the church, Mrs Beatrice Kwaffo, advised the women to endeavour to do the will of God, while selling their wares.
The Queen of the Makola Market, Yemoteley Quaye, said she was grateful to the church for its initiative and appealed to other churches to emulate the example and visit them from time to time.
Commenting on the elections, Yemoteley said ”we ask for peace during this year’s election since anything that would bring violence would affect women and children”.
Benefits for persons with disabilities (3/11/08)
THE GOVERNMENT has initiated measures to ensure that persons with disabilities get adequate benefits from the District Assembly Common Fund.
As part of the measures, the government has directed that two per cent of the Common Fund be set aside for education and advocacy purposes to serve the needs of persons with disabilities.
The Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, Nana Akomea, disclosed this in a speech read on his behalf at the 50th anniversary and graduation ceremony of the Ghana Society of the Socially Disadvantaged at the weekend in Accra.
He said the initiative was as result of complaints received by the ministry about problems encountered in accessing the facility, adding that consultations were still ongoing to streamline access to the facility.
“Since 2005, microcredit facilities to the tune of one billion has been extended to almost 950 persons with disability in 20 pilot districts throughout the 10 regions,” he said.
The minister added that plans were far advanced to disburse more money to the rest of the districts and stressed that “this is aimed at creating equal employment opportunities for persons with disability to enable them to live in dignity”.
Nana Akomea said the government implemented the National Social Protection Strategy to support and empower the extremely poor and vulnerable groups like persons with severe disabilities to access opportunities being created as a result of the growth of the economy.
According to him, the government was committed to the formulation of policies, implementation of programmes and activities geared towards the socio-economic integration and empowerment of persons with disability.
He added that the ministry, through the Department of Social Welfare, had played a supervisory role over the centre through the secondment of trained social workers, provision of technical instructors to head institutions and also train students.
Nana Akomea said the ministry had taken keen interest in ensuring that the centre had the requisite manpower to enable it to train persons with disability effectively.
He further said the National Disability Council had been constituted, although it was yet to be inaugurated by the President.
The Minister advised the graduates to work hard since the country’s job market had become more competitive.
He called on Ghanaians to stop paying lip service when it came to issues pertaining to disabilities and rather offer more resources to support persons with disabilities in order to enhance their well-being.
The centre, which was established in 1956 for the physically challenged who were going under medical rehabilitation, has since been transformed into a centre for training persons with disabilities to acquire skills and support themselves economically.
In his welcoming address, the Centre Manager, Mr Eric Ohene Adjei, said the centre had trained more than 181 people, who were mostly men, in shoe making, batik and tie-dye and computer literacy.
Mr Adjei said the centre, with a population of 25 trainees, was being funded by the Ghana Trust Fund and benevolent groups and individuals in society.
He expressed appreciation to all organisations and churches which were supporting the centre and said despite the assistance from donors, the centre still had few challenges and therefore called on individuals and NGOs to come to their aid.
Mr Adjei advised the graduates to use the equipment which had been donated to the centre judiciously.
As part of the measures, the government has directed that two per cent of the Common Fund be set aside for education and advocacy purposes to serve the needs of persons with disabilities.
The Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, Nana Akomea, disclosed this in a speech read on his behalf at the 50th anniversary and graduation ceremony of the Ghana Society of the Socially Disadvantaged at the weekend in Accra.
He said the initiative was as result of complaints received by the ministry about problems encountered in accessing the facility, adding that consultations were still ongoing to streamline access to the facility.
“Since 2005, microcredit facilities to the tune of one billion has been extended to almost 950 persons with disability in 20 pilot districts throughout the 10 regions,” he said.
The minister added that plans were far advanced to disburse more money to the rest of the districts and stressed that “this is aimed at creating equal employment opportunities for persons with disability to enable them to live in dignity”.
Nana Akomea said the government implemented the National Social Protection Strategy to support and empower the extremely poor and vulnerable groups like persons with severe disabilities to access opportunities being created as a result of the growth of the economy.
According to him, the government was committed to the formulation of policies, implementation of programmes and activities geared towards the socio-economic integration and empowerment of persons with disability.
He added that the ministry, through the Department of Social Welfare, had played a supervisory role over the centre through the secondment of trained social workers, provision of technical instructors to head institutions and also train students.
Nana Akomea said the ministry had taken keen interest in ensuring that the centre had the requisite manpower to enable it to train persons with disability effectively.
He further said the National Disability Council had been constituted, although it was yet to be inaugurated by the President.
The Minister advised the graduates to work hard since the country’s job market had become more competitive.
He called on Ghanaians to stop paying lip service when it came to issues pertaining to disabilities and rather offer more resources to support persons with disabilities in order to enhance their well-being.
The centre, which was established in 1956 for the physically challenged who were going under medical rehabilitation, has since been transformed into a centre for training persons with disabilities to acquire skills and support themselves economically.
In his welcoming address, the Centre Manager, Mr Eric Ohene Adjei, said the centre had trained more than 181 people, who were mostly men, in shoe making, batik and tie-dye and computer literacy.
Mr Adjei said the centre, with a population of 25 trainees, was being funded by the Ghana Trust Fund and benevolent groups and individuals in society.
He expressed appreciation to all organisations and churches which were supporting the centre and said despite the assistance from donors, the centre still had few challenges and therefore called on individuals and NGOs to come to their aid.
Mr Adjei advised the graduates to use the equipment which had been donated to the centre judiciously.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Journalism Training should focus on search for truth (DAILY GRAPHIC, Nov 18, 2008)
Story: Gifty Bamfo
THE Minister of Education, Science and Sports, (MoESS), Prof Dominic Fobih, has stressed the need for the training offered by the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), to be tailored to meet the basic needs which are the search for truth and concern for societal development.
He said the institute should inculcate in our leaders, the spirit of creating a national environment in which individuals and societal needs regarding information, are made accessible for the general development agenda.
This way, he said the media would shut out irrelevant issues and unwaranted attacks on individuals and rather focus on development issues such as the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) and the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs).
In a speech read on his behalf, at the second congregation of the GIJ, where 91 students were awarded diploma in Communication Studies, the Minister admonished the students to study hard and lead lives that would make them justify the investments they have made themselves, and made by their parents and guardians.
The occasion was on the theme, ”The media, politicians and responsibilty towards the 2008 general elections”.
The Minister challenged media practitioners to ensure that Ghana emerges from the December 7 elections as a strong unified nation.
He said the media bore a greater responsibility for the success of this year’s elections because of their crucial role as informers and educators of the citizenry.
Prof Fobih said journalists must use the lessons of some sister African countries, to build with their pens and voices and not to destroy.
He asked Ghanaians to exercise the greatest restraint and tolerance, during this year’s elections in order to deepen the democratic achievements chalked up over the past two decades.
“Ghana has sucessfully established itself as a leading democratic country in Africa and there is no doubt about this,” he added.
He commended the institute for producing professionals who disseminated information needed for national development.
The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Ransford Tetteh, who chaired the occasion, urged the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETfund) and the Ministry of Education Science and Sports (MoESS) to continue to extend their support to the institute for it to meet the demand of more students who would like to enroll to pursue various programmes in communication studies.
Mr Tetteh adviced the graduands to come out with verifiable and factual information before putting it out to the public.
In his welcome address,the acting Rector of the institute, Mr Kwaku Rockson, said the institute believed in maintaining very high standards of decency, fairness and equity in every facet of democratic governance.
Mr Rockson acknowleged the contribution of the Ministry and the GETfund by developing the intitute’s new site at Okponglo.
He said inspite of the gains made, the institute still faced problems such as financial, books for the library, audio visual equipment, accommodation for staff and logistics.
Miss Melody Selassie Adorsi emerged the overall best student, as well as the best professional and best female student.
She received three desk top computers and an undisclosed amount of money.
THE Minister of Education, Science and Sports, (MoESS), Prof Dominic Fobih, has stressed the need for the training offered by the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), to be tailored to meet the basic needs which are the search for truth and concern for societal development.
He said the institute should inculcate in our leaders, the spirit of creating a national environment in which individuals and societal needs regarding information, are made accessible for the general development agenda.
This way, he said the media would shut out irrelevant issues and unwaranted attacks on individuals and rather focus on development issues such as the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) and the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs).
In a speech read on his behalf, at the second congregation of the GIJ, where 91 students were awarded diploma in Communication Studies, the Minister admonished the students to study hard and lead lives that would make them justify the investments they have made themselves, and made by their parents and guardians.
The occasion was on the theme, ”The media, politicians and responsibilty towards the 2008 general elections”.
The Minister challenged media practitioners to ensure that Ghana emerges from the December 7 elections as a strong unified nation.
He said the media bore a greater responsibility for the success of this year’s elections because of their crucial role as informers and educators of the citizenry.
Prof Fobih said journalists must use the lessons of some sister African countries, to build with their pens and voices and not to destroy.
He asked Ghanaians to exercise the greatest restraint and tolerance, during this year’s elections in order to deepen the democratic achievements chalked up over the past two decades.
“Ghana has sucessfully established itself as a leading democratic country in Africa and there is no doubt about this,” he added.
He commended the institute for producing professionals who disseminated information needed for national development.
The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Ransford Tetteh, who chaired the occasion, urged the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETfund) and the Ministry of Education Science and Sports (MoESS) to continue to extend their support to the institute for it to meet the demand of more students who would like to enroll to pursue various programmes in communication studies.
Mr Tetteh adviced the graduands to come out with verifiable and factual information before putting it out to the public.
In his welcome address,the acting Rector of the institute, Mr Kwaku Rockson, said the institute believed in maintaining very high standards of decency, fairness and equity in every facet of democratic governance.
Mr Rockson acknowleged the contribution of the Ministry and the GETfund by developing the intitute’s new site at Okponglo.
He said inspite of the gains made, the institute still faced problems such as financial, books for the library, audio visual equipment, accommodation for staff and logistics.
Miss Melody Selassie Adorsi emerged the overall best student, as well as the best professional and best female student.
She received three desk top computers and an undisclosed amount of money.
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