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.
Friday, November 28, 2008
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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