The Greater Accra Tomato Traders Association (GATTA) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has cautioned the contractor working at the Aflao Station at Tudu in Accra against using “macho” men to scare them away from the market.
The General Secretary of the association, Madam Lydia Afoley Anum, told the Daily Graphic that the contractor was using “macho” men to work at the site at mid-night after the peaceful demonstration they undertook against the construction of a building in the area.
“We will use every avenue at our disposal to prevent the construction”, she said.
To back their words, members of the association have for the past one week been sleeping at the market to ensure that no work goes on at the site.
In their quest to have an amicable solution to the problem, the association has petitioned the Greater Accra regional minister, the minister for women and children’s affair and the TUC as the AMA seemed to be siding with the contractor.
Madam Anum said evicting them from the market would render hundreds of their dependants homeless as the tomato business had been their sources of income for a long time.
She proposed that if they would be relocated, then all others should also be relocated and a central market constructed for all fresh vegetable sellers in Accra.
The general secretary also appealed to automobile companies to assist them to acquire vehicles for their trading activities.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
‘Encourage girls to go into ICT’
THE Director-General of the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence, Ms Dorothy Gordon, has urged parents to encourage their female children to pursue courses in Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
She said parents usually influenced the courses their children pursued and, therefore, called on them to challenge their daughters to take up ICT courses, which were now dominated by males.
She was speaking at the launch of the sixth Computer Science Students Association (COMPSSA) Week of the University of Ghana.
It was on the theme, “Bridging the digital divide in the nation; The role of the computer scientist”.
Ms Gordon observed that ICT was used to enhance all facets of the economy, including commerce, agriculture and security.
She stated that ICT should be people-centred and development-oriented, while it should be possible for people to create and use the information to enable the country to realise its full potential as far as development was concerned.
She advised the students to study hard and make use of every opportunity that came their way “to enable you to set up your own businesses to help in the development of the nation”.
She called on ICT-based organisations to put a mechanism in place for computer science students to take up attachment programmes in their firms.
The General Manager of Omatek Computers Ghana Limited, Nana Benneh, said Omatek would collaborate with the Computer Science Department at Legon to set up an engineering centre, a replica of its factory, on campus for the practical training of students.
“This will provide opportunity for research and development,” he said.
The President of COMPSSA, Mr Frederick Gyasi-Awuah, noted that access to ICT was crucial to the lives of people, adding that “those without access risk being further marginalised, as society becomes increasingly dependent on electronic ICT systems”.
“It is important that we address the challenges that brought about the digital divide and provide its entire people with the right tools they need to be part of the information society,” he added.
The president noted that the number of computers and books at the Computer Science Department was insufficient for the number of students taking up the course.
“We also need projectors and our own building for the department,” he said.
As part of the week-long celebrations, the association will organise a clean-up exercise and donate some items to the University Hospital.
They will also have an ICT seminar, a debate, a sports festival, among others, to climax the celebrations.
She said parents usually influenced the courses their children pursued and, therefore, called on them to challenge their daughters to take up ICT courses, which were now dominated by males.
She was speaking at the launch of the sixth Computer Science Students Association (COMPSSA) Week of the University of Ghana.
It was on the theme, “Bridging the digital divide in the nation; The role of the computer scientist”.
Ms Gordon observed that ICT was used to enhance all facets of the economy, including commerce, agriculture and security.
She stated that ICT should be people-centred and development-oriented, while it should be possible for people to create and use the information to enable the country to realise its full potential as far as development was concerned.
She advised the students to study hard and make use of every opportunity that came their way “to enable you to set up your own businesses to help in the development of the nation”.
She called on ICT-based organisations to put a mechanism in place for computer science students to take up attachment programmes in their firms.
The General Manager of Omatek Computers Ghana Limited, Nana Benneh, said Omatek would collaborate with the Computer Science Department at Legon to set up an engineering centre, a replica of its factory, on campus for the practical training of students.
“This will provide opportunity for research and development,” he said.
The President of COMPSSA, Mr Frederick Gyasi-Awuah, noted that access to ICT was crucial to the lives of people, adding that “those without access risk being further marginalised, as society becomes increasingly dependent on electronic ICT systems”.
“It is important that we address the challenges that brought about the digital divide and provide its entire people with the right tools they need to be part of the information society,” he added.
The president noted that the number of computers and books at the Computer Science Department was insufficient for the number of students taking up the course.
“We also need projectors and our own building for the department,” he said.
As part of the week-long celebrations, the association will organise a clean-up exercise and donate some items to the University Hospital.
They will also have an ICT seminar, a debate, a sports festival, among others, to climax the celebrations.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Sanitation Strategy for Ablekuma Central
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma Central, Mr Theophilus Tetteh Chaie, has drawn up a year long sanitation campaign plan to solve sanitation problems in the constituency.
Being able to solve the environmental sanitation problem in his constituency would be a fulfilment of a promise made to the people living within the Ablekuma central constituency during the run-up to the December polls.
Mr Tetteh Chaie told the Daily Graphic in an interview that the campaign was part of a comprehensive strategy by the President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills to deal with the appalling filth in communities, especially in the big cities such as Accra, Kumasi, Sekondi Takoradi and Tamale.
As part of the programme, Mr Tetteh Chaie explained that clean-up exercises would be organised in the various electoral areas.
“Educational programmes on sanitation would be organised for the people on how to handle refuse properly,” he said.
Mr Chaie said he was currently in dialogue with Zoomlion Ghana Limited to provide more refuse containers at vantage points to help curb the indiscriminate dumping and littering of refuse in the constituency.
Commenting on the deplorable state of the roads and poor drainage system in the constituency, the MP said he was in contact with the department of urban roads to rehabilitate the roads.
Aside that, he said measures were also being put in place to improve on the drainage systems in the constituency adding that improving security in the constituency was also one of his priority.
"I have met with the district police commanders in the constituency to discuss the various security problems to ensure that the crime rate in the communities are reduced to the barest minimum," he assured.
"I hope that by end of my term of office, the constituency would see more development than it is now," he promised.
Being able to solve the environmental sanitation problem in his constituency would be a fulfilment of a promise made to the people living within the Ablekuma central constituency during the run-up to the December polls.
Mr Tetteh Chaie told the Daily Graphic in an interview that the campaign was part of a comprehensive strategy by the President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills to deal with the appalling filth in communities, especially in the big cities such as Accra, Kumasi, Sekondi Takoradi and Tamale.
As part of the programme, Mr Tetteh Chaie explained that clean-up exercises would be organised in the various electoral areas.
“Educational programmes on sanitation would be organised for the people on how to handle refuse properly,” he said.
Mr Chaie said he was currently in dialogue with Zoomlion Ghana Limited to provide more refuse containers at vantage points to help curb the indiscriminate dumping and littering of refuse in the constituency.
Commenting on the deplorable state of the roads and poor drainage system in the constituency, the MP said he was in contact with the department of urban roads to rehabilitate the roads.
Aside that, he said measures were also being put in place to improve on the drainage systems in the constituency adding that improving security in the constituency was also one of his priority.
"I have met with the district police commanders in the constituency to discuss the various security problems to ensure that the crime rate in the communities are reduced to the barest minimum," he assured.
"I hope that by end of my term of office, the constituency would see more development than it is now," he promised.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Layoff exercise not politically motivated -Coleman
The Accra Zonal Supervisor of the Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Mr Robert Coleman has explained that ongoing exercise to layoff some of the personnel of the company across the country, particularly in Accra, was not politically motivated.
He told the Daily Graphic in an interview on Tuesday that "Management took the decision to layoff some of its workers due to laziness, indiscipline and habitual absenteeism, while some of them treated the job with contempt,".
He said the exercise which began in February, was as a result of recommendations made by the human resource department of the organisation to management and indicated that the vim and vigour with which some of the workers started the work had died out and so most of them were not performing.
He stated that 251 workers in Accra have been laidoff and the exercise would continue in the other regions.
He said "it is an in-house cleaning that we are doing to serve as a lesson to other lazy workers”, and added that "we need people who are more dedicated and committed to their job”.
Mr Coleman said Zoomlion would take disciplinary actions against workers who do not perform at their various work places and stressed that "we hope to deepen our services under this government".
He told the Daily Graphic in an interview on Tuesday that "Management took the decision to layoff some of its workers due to laziness, indiscipline and habitual absenteeism, while some of them treated the job with contempt,".
He said the exercise which began in February, was as a result of recommendations made by the human resource department of the organisation to management and indicated that the vim and vigour with which some of the workers started the work had died out and so most of them were not performing.
He stated that 251 workers in Accra have been laidoff and the exercise would continue in the other regions.
He said "it is an in-house cleaning that we are doing to serve as a lesson to other lazy workers”, and added that "we need people who are more dedicated and committed to their job”.
Mr Coleman said Zoomlion would take disciplinary actions against workers who do not perform at their various work places and stressed that "we hope to deepen our services under this government".
Accra tomato traders protest against building project
The Greater Accra Tomato Traders Association (GATTA) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) yesterday held a peaceful demonstration against the siting of a building at the Tudu-Aflao Station in Accra.
According to them, the building, which is being constructed by one Mr Kwame Danquah, poses a threat to their trading activities.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the General Secretary of the association, Madam Lydia Afoley Anum, said the land on which the building was being built was given to them 23 years ago by the then Mayor of Accra, Mr E.T. Mensah, and they had being selling there since then.
She said they were initially assured by the contractor, Mr Danquah, that the project would not be a hindrance to their activities, but now, it had rather taken over the area where their goods were off-loaded and most part of the area where some of them sold their vegetables.
During the protest, the traders sang and shouted “we won’t leave, we won’t leave” as a way of expressing their displeasure about the project.
Madam Afoley Anum said they had slept at the market for three days to ensure that the contractor did not continue with the project.
“We are not going to allow him to take over the area, if he does, where do we go, we have nowhere to go, if we take to the streets too we would be evicted,” she remarked.
According to her, they had contacted the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) about the issue, but had since not received any positive response from the Assembly.
She called on the government to intervene, since the project posed a threat to their trading activities.
In an interview, another member of GATTA, Priscilla Adei Kotei, said she had been selling tomatoes at the station for a very long time and emphasised that that was what she did to enable her to look after her children.
“If they evict us how do I take care of them, where do I go,” she asked angrily and appealed to the government to come to their aid because that was what they did for a living.
Auntie Mary, another tomato seller at the Aflao station, complained that they had been left with just a small space to offload vegetables.
“We bring these vegetables particularly tomatoes from Burkina Faso and if we do not offload them, it means most of the vegetables would get spoilt and we would incur losses,” she stated.
According to them, the building, which is being constructed by one Mr Kwame Danquah, poses a threat to their trading activities.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the General Secretary of the association, Madam Lydia Afoley Anum, said the land on which the building was being built was given to them 23 years ago by the then Mayor of Accra, Mr E.T. Mensah, and they had being selling there since then.
She said they were initially assured by the contractor, Mr Danquah, that the project would not be a hindrance to their activities, but now, it had rather taken over the area where their goods were off-loaded and most part of the area where some of them sold their vegetables.
During the protest, the traders sang and shouted “we won’t leave, we won’t leave” as a way of expressing their displeasure about the project.
Madam Afoley Anum said they had slept at the market for three days to ensure that the contractor did not continue with the project.
“We are not going to allow him to take over the area, if he does, where do we go, we have nowhere to go, if we take to the streets too we would be evicted,” she remarked.
According to her, they had contacted the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) about the issue, but had since not received any positive response from the Assembly.
She called on the government to intervene, since the project posed a threat to their trading activities.
In an interview, another member of GATTA, Priscilla Adei Kotei, said she had been selling tomatoes at the station for a very long time and emphasised that that was what she did to enable her to look after her children.
“If they evict us how do I take care of them, where do I go,” she asked angrily and appealed to the government to come to their aid because that was what they did for a living.
Auntie Mary, another tomato seller at the Aflao station, complained that they had been left with just a small space to offload vegetables.
“We bring these vegetables particularly tomatoes from Burkina Faso and if we do not offload them, it means most of the vegetables would get spoilt and we would incur losses,” she stated.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
“Improve facilities for special schools"
A Child physiotherapist at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Miss Sandra Carsamer, has called for an improvement in rehabilitation and educational facilities for children in special schools.
She made particular reference to children in special schools suffering from a movement and posture defect known as cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy is a disorders of movement, learning, hearing, seeing, and thinking that occur due to problems with brain development.
It is caused by injuries or abnormalities of the brain. Most of the problems occur as the baby grows in the womb, but they can happen at any time during the first two years of life, while the baby's brain is still developing.
Ms Carsamer explained that such disabled children were mostly faced with the challenge of how they would be able to transport themselves to hospitals, afford specialised equipment and how such equipment could be adopted to their needs.
She said with the improvement in facilities, the assistance needed by these children to stand, sit and move would be readily available to extend the help given by physiotherapists.
Miss Carsamer made the call in an interview with the Daily Graphic after an exhibition at the New Horizon Special School in Accra.
The exhibition was organised by a Scottish charity known as Cerebral Palsy Africa (CPA) to showcase chairs and standers that are specially tailored to meet the needs of children living with the cerebral palsy disease.
The technology known as the Appropriate Paper-based Technology (APT) were made from recycled cardboard and flour paste.
According to the physiotherapist, children with cerebral palsy need a lot of care, love and support from parents and society at large.
She added that “these kids can be very useful to the society when they are given a lot of support and care by their family and the community”.
Miss Carsamer further noted that the disorder occurred when a child developed convulsion or an oxygen deficiency in the brain and when the pregnant mother suffered from untreated malaria or adopted wrong medication during pregnancy, among others.
She, therefore, advised pregnant women to attend regular antenatal check-ups to ensure safe delivery.
The representative of CPA, Ms Margriet Langeveld, said the technology had been tried and tested in many African countries, where they were considered to be an effective tool to facilitate movement among cerebral palsy patients.
She advised families to seek early care and support when a child was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, stating that “the disease is non-progressive, but not curable”.
The Headmistress of the school, Mrs Salome Francois, entreated the government and other philanthropist to support the school financially to enable them to hire qualified teachers and provide the needed resources for teaching and learning.
She made particular reference to children in special schools suffering from a movement and posture defect known as cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy is a disorders of movement, learning, hearing, seeing, and thinking that occur due to problems with brain development.
It is caused by injuries or abnormalities of the brain. Most of the problems occur as the baby grows in the womb, but they can happen at any time during the first two years of life, while the baby's brain is still developing.
Ms Carsamer explained that such disabled children were mostly faced with the challenge of how they would be able to transport themselves to hospitals, afford specialised equipment and how such equipment could be adopted to their needs.
She said with the improvement in facilities, the assistance needed by these children to stand, sit and move would be readily available to extend the help given by physiotherapists.
Miss Carsamer made the call in an interview with the Daily Graphic after an exhibition at the New Horizon Special School in Accra.
The exhibition was organised by a Scottish charity known as Cerebral Palsy Africa (CPA) to showcase chairs and standers that are specially tailored to meet the needs of children living with the cerebral palsy disease.
The technology known as the Appropriate Paper-based Technology (APT) were made from recycled cardboard and flour paste.
According to the physiotherapist, children with cerebral palsy need a lot of care, love and support from parents and society at large.
She added that “these kids can be very useful to the society when they are given a lot of support and care by their family and the community”.
Miss Carsamer further noted that the disorder occurred when a child developed convulsion or an oxygen deficiency in the brain and when the pregnant mother suffered from untreated malaria or adopted wrong medication during pregnancy, among others.
She, therefore, advised pregnant women to attend regular antenatal check-ups to ensure safe delivery.
The representative of CPA, Ms Margriet Langeveld, said the technology had been tried and tested in many African countries, where they were considered to be an effective tool to facilitate movement among cerebral palsy patients.
She advised families to seek early care and support when a child was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, stating that “the disease is non-progressive, but not curable”.
The Headmistress of the school, Mrs Salome Francois, entreated the government and other philanthropist to support the school financially to enable them to hire qualified teachers and provide the needed resources for teaching and learning.
Two organisations support Quabbatul Khadrah School
UT Financial Services (UTFSL) in collaboration with United Way Ghana (UWG) a non-governmental organisation, has earmarked GH¢6,800 to upgrade the Quabbatul Khadrah Islamic School at Nima in Accra.
The project, dubbed the Zongo Education Support Project, will cover the donation of teaching and learning materials to the school, the construction of a urinal, painting the school block, cementing the floors of six classrooms, as well as fixing broken doors and windows of the school.
The Corporate Affairs and Public Relations Officer of UT, Mrs Sophia Lissah, said since Nima was one of the most deprived areas in the Accra Metropolis where some schools in the community lacked basic infrastructural facilities, the benefactors took advantage of this year’s Valentine season to share love and reach out to the deprived in society.
“The project would also serve as UT’s contribution to the upbringing of the children as they are the future leaders of the country,” Mrs Lissah said.
She added that “with a solid education and the right support, the schoolchildren will be encouraged to work hard to realise their potential”.
The Communications Officer of UWG, Ms Kristy Osei Bempong, said the project was aimed at promoting education in deprived communities in the country.
According to her, the UWG had for the past three years supported the school with furniture, provided school uniforms for 60 students and also decided to paint the school annually.
The Headmistress of the school, Ms Shetu Ziblim, expressed gratitude to the two bodies for their support. She said the school, with a population of 280 pupils, lacked furniture and the classrooms were in bad shape.
She, therefore, called on the government and other organisations to come to the aid of the school.
The project, dubbed the Zongo Education Support Project, will cover the donation of teaching and learning materials to the school, the construction of a urinal, painting the school block, cementing the floors of six classrooms, as well as fixing broken doors and windows of the school.
The Corporate Affairs and Public Relations Officer of UT, Mrs Sophia Lissah, said since Nima was one of the most deprived areas in the Accra Metropolis where some schools in the community lacked basic infrastructural facilities, the benefactors took advantage of this year’s Valentine season to share love and reach out to the deprived in society.
“The project would also serve as UT’s contribution to the upbringing of the children as they are the future leaders of the country,” Mrs Lissah said.
She added that “with a solid education and the right support, the schoolchildren will be encouraged to work hard to realise their potential”.
The Communications Officer of UWG, Ms Kristy Osei Bempong, said the project was aimed at promoting education in deprived communities in the country.
According to her, the UWG had for the past three years supported the school with furniture, provided school uniforms for 60 students and also decided to paint the school annually.
The Headmistress of the school, Ms Shetu Ziblim, expressed gratitude to the two bodies for their support. She said the school, with a population of 280 pupils, lacked furniture and the classrooms were in bad shape.
She, therefore, called on the government and other organisations to come to the aid of the school.
Friday, February 13, 2009
‘Enact bill to create seats in parliament for the youth
THE Founder and Leader of the Public Youth and Students Movement of Ghana (PUSMOG), Mr Fredrick Duncan Modzabi, has urged the government to enact a bill to create two seats in Parliament for the youth.
He said that would ensure an effective representation of the youth in Parliament and enable them to share their opinion on issues concerning the country, as well as contribute to decision making for the progress and development of the country.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Modzabi said the time had come for the youth to be recognised in governance and indicated that the seats, if created by the government, would serve useful purposes.
He called on all the youth of Ghana to unite and present a common voice on the matter, saying, "The time has come for us to consider our destiny to unite and fight for our position in government."
Mr Modzabi explained that the two seats he was advocating for should be open to the general public for interested persons to contest and be elected to fill during parliamentary elections.
He said PUSMOG was an independent organisation which was not associated with any political party, adding that the movement petitioned Parliament in a proposal it sent last year.
"We pleaded with the then Parliament to consider and recognise the youth in Parliament by creating the two seats," he said, and recalled that the move had not been successful because of the change in government.
He, therefore, called on the NDC administration to help make the call successful.
He said that would ensure an effective representation of the youth in Parliament and enable them to share their opinion on issues concerning the country, as well as contribute to decision making for the progress and development of the country.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Modzabi said the time had come for the youth to be recognised in governance and indicated that the seats, if created by the government, would serve useful purposes.
He called on all the youth of Ghana to unite and present a common voice on the matter, saying, "The time has come for us to consider our destiny to unite and fight for our position in government."
Mr Modzabi explained that the two seats he was advocating for should be open to the general public for interested persons to contest and be elected to fill during parliamentary elections.
He said PUSMOG was an independent organisation which was not associated with any political party, adding that the movement petitioned Parliament in a proposal it sent last year.
"We pleaded with the then Parliament to consider and recognise the youth in Parliament by creating the two seats," he said, and recalled that the move had not been successful because of the change in government.
He, therefore, called on the NDC administration to help make the call successful.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
SEND-Ghana launces report on free trade
THE Director of Administration at the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC), Mr Ronald Modey, has said the high levels of fertilisers contained in local food crops reduced their nutritional value and made them unhealthy for human consumption.
He, therefore, called on small scale farmers to practise organic farming as this would increase the quality and nutritional level of locally produced food crops in the country.
Mr Modey said this at the launch of a research report on free trade, small scale production and poverty by the Social Enterprise Foundation (SEND-Ghana) in five communities in the country. They are Elmina in the Central Region, Matsekope in Greater Accra, Gane in Upper East, Kalende in Northern Region and Tangasia in the Upper West Region.
Mr Modey advised farmers to develop innovative ways of farming to give crops longer life span, as crops that contained higher concentrations of fertilizers perished quickly.
The Senior Industrial Promotion Officer in charge of the Gender Desk of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mrs Diana Afriyie Addo called on Ghanaians to patronise locally produced food crops.
She said this would help local producers to cultivate more crops to promote the local food industry and create employment for the youth.
She noted that it would also help local producers to compete in the local and international markets to boost the Ghanaian economy.
Mrs Addo urged the farmers to join co-operative unions to share ideas on good farming practices and also benefit from micro credit facilities.
The Country Director of SEND-Ghana, Mr Samuel Zan Akologo said the research was conducted to educate, generate and advocate for participatory trade policy formulation for small scale farmers.
He said the findings would be used to engage government and other relevant stakeholders in order to develop policies that would impact positively on small scale farmers especially women.
The findings revealed that farmers particularly those cultivating tomato and soya beans were yet to enjoy the benefits associated with the creation of the sub regional market and other integration policies.
It also found out that "unless comprehensive export capacity building programmes were vigorously pursued, the benefits that small scale Ghanaian women producers can reap from regional integration and trade liberalisation would remain a mirage".
The research also revealed that there was a decline in agricultural production because most farmers cultivating tomatoes and soybeans depended on rainfall for their farming.
It further stated that there was a high cost of farming and fishing inputs, such as, pre mix fuel, fertilisers, machinery and pesticides, which rendered agriculture unprofitable for farmers particularly those in small scale food crop production.
The findings stated that trade liberalisation had resulted in stiff competition from imported goods, foreign traders and companies.
The research however recommended that support for women farmers should include capacity building and access to loan facilities.
It also recommended that government should create an enabling environment for private entities to enter into the provision of storage facilities to prevent supply glut and boost the income of farmers.
The research further stressed the need for District Assemblies to create opportunities that increased access to markets by linking women and small scale farmers to the Ghana school feeding programme.
He, therefore, called on small scale farmers to practise organic farming as this would increase the quality and nutritional level of locally produced food crops in the country.
Mr Modey said this at the launch of a research report on free trade, small scale production and poverty by the Social Enterprise Foundation (SEND-Ghana) in five communities in the country. They are Elmina in the Central Region, Matsekope in Greater Accra, Gane in Upper East, Kalende in Northern Region and Tangasia in the Upper West Region.
Mr Modey advised farmers to develop innovative ways of farming to give crops longer life span, as crops that contained higher concentrations of fertilizers perished quickly.
The Senior Industrial Promotion Officer in charge of the Gender Desk of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mrs Diana Afriyie Addo called on Ghanaians to patronise locally produced food crops.
She said this would help local producers to cultivate more crops to promote the local food industry and create employment for the youth.
She noted that it would also help local producers to compete in the local and international markets to boost the Ghanaian economy.
Mrs Addo urged the farmers to join co-operative unions to share ideas on good farming practices and also benefit from micro credit facilities.
The Country Director of SEND-Ghana, Mr Samuel Zan Akologo said the research was conducted to educate, generate and advocate for participatory trade policy formulation for small scale farmers.
He said the findings would be used to engage government and other relevant stakeholders in order to develop policies that would impact positively on small scale farmers especially women.
The findings revealed that farmers particularly those cultivating tomato and soya beans were yet to enjoy the benefits associated with the creation of the sub regional market and other integration policies.
It also found out that "unless comprehensive export capacity building programmes were vigorously pursued, the benefits that small scale Ghanaian women producers can reap from regional integration and trade liberalisation would remain a mirage".
The research also revealed that there was a decline in agricultural production because most farmers cultivating tomatoes and soybeans depended on rainfall for their farming.
It further stated that there was a high cost of farming and fishing inputs, such as, pre mix fuel, fertilisers, machinery and pesticides, which rendered agriculture unprofitable for farmers particularly those in small scale food crop production.
The findings stated that trade liberalisation had resulted in stiff competition from imported goods, foreign traders and companies.
The research however recommended that support for women farmers should include capacity building and access to loan facilities.
It also recommended that government should create an enabling environment for private entities to enter into the provision of storage facilities to prevent supply glut and boost the income of farmers.
The research further stressed the need for District Assemblies to create opportunities that increased access to markets by linking women and small scale farmers to the Ghana school feeding programme.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Vocational Training for youthin central business district
SOME youth of Agbogbloshie, Konkomba, Sodom and Gomorrah and Abuja, all in the central business district of Accra, are to benefit from a three-year technical and vocational skills training programme.
The programme, which is free, is intended to provide the youth with skills in auto-repairs, auto-electricals and wielding through the Youth Leadership and Skills Training Institute under the National Youth Council (NYC).
This would be in addition to existing skills training in the areas of carpentry, dress making, and building construction, among others, being provided by the NYC to some of the youth in these areas.
Briefing the press, the Acting National Co-ordinator of the NYC, Mr Archibald Donkoh, said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to that effect had already been signed between the NYC and the Great Imperial Company Limited of the Kristo Asafo Church at Gomoa Mpota in the Central Region.
The group were at the residence of the Head of the Kristo Asafo Church and owner of the Great Imperial Company Limited, Apostle Kwadwo Safo, to formally introduce themselves and brief him about the joint project.
Mr Donkoh said the training was aimed at equipping the youth with sustainable economic livelihood skills, especially the vulnerable and those out of school.
“The training centre would also provide opportunities for the youth in the 11 vocational and technical institutes under the NYC across the country to have internship programmes to upgrade themselves and be equipped with entrepreneurial skills,” he added.
He said the centre would help the youth to establish themselves in their various regions and also pass on the skills acquired to other people.
Mr Donkoh noted that the move would create jobs in the rural areas and help reduce the increasing rate of rural-urban migration.
Apostle Kwadwo Safo called on the government to pay more attention to vocational and technical skills education, because it held the key to the nation’s quest for becoming a middle-level income country.
He urged entrepreneurs and inventors to pass on their knowledge and skills to the younger generation for the benefit of the country.
Apostle Safo pledged to help the youth to acquire the needed skills and knowledge to help enhance the development of the country.
The programme, which is free, is intended to provide the youth with skills in auto-repairs, auto-electricals and wielding through the Youth Leadership and Skills Training Institute under the National Youth Council (NYC).
This would be in addition to existing skills training in the areas of carpentry, dress making, and building construction, among others, being provided by the NYC to some of the youth in these areas.
Briefing the press, the Acting National Co-ordinator of the NYC, Mr Archibald Donkoh, said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to that effect had already been signed between the NYC and the Great Imperial Company Limited of the Kristo Asafo Church at Gomoa Mpota in the Central Region.
The group were at the residence of the Head of the Kristo Asafo Church and owner of the Great Imperial Company Limited, Apostle Kwadwo Safo, to formally introduce themselves and brief him about the joint project.
Mr Donkoh said the training was aimed at equipping the youth with sustainable economic livelihood skills, especially the vulnerable and those out of school.
“The training centre would also provide opportunities for the youth in the 11 vocational and technical institutes under the NYC across the country to have internship programmes to upgrade themselves and be equipped with entrepreneurial skills,” he added.
He said the centre would help the youth to establish themselves in their various regions and also pass on the skills acquired to other people.
Mr Donkoh noted that the move would create jobs in the rural areas and help reduce the increasing rate of rural-urban migration.
Apostle Kwadwo Safo called on the government to pay more attention to vocational and technical skills education, because it held the key to the nation’s quest for becoming a middle-level income country.
He urged entrepreneurs and inventors to pass on their knowledge and skills to the younger generation for the benefit of the country.
Apostle Safo pledged to help the youth to acquire the needed skills and knowledge to help enhance the development of the country.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
“School feeding programme must not be selective”
THE Leader of a youth advocacy development organisation, the Public Youth and Students Movement of Ghana (PUSMOG), Mr Fredrick Duncan Modzabi, has called on the government to stop the selective free feeding of children in basic schools.
He has rather suggested the building of more public schools for the country, since such schools were inadequate and teaching and learning had to be controlled on a shift basis.
Other public schools were in a state of dilapidation and needed renovation, he noted.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, he described the school feeding programme as a misuse of public funds that could be invested meaningfully in developing infrastructure in the education sector.
He said the inadequacy of public schools in the country put a stress on head teachers to admit more pupils than necessarily required in a class.
That resulted in the running of morning and afternoon shifts in schools making education ineffective in Ghana.
Mr Modzabi said these were the fundamental causes of the decline in standards of education in public schools in the country, since teachers were not able to control and assess the increasing number of pupils in the class.
He said since Ghana attained independence in 1957, little had been done by government to build more schools.
He said some schools currently under the supervision of the government were schools built by religious and international organisations, such as the Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic churches.
Mr Modzabi said the private sector owned and controlled three quarters of educational facilities in the country from crèche to the university level, and most of these were not affordable to the masses.
In public schools in certain parts of the country, two classes had to use one classroom with one chalkboard, while others who had to study under trees and dilapidated structures that were traps, were threatened by the slightest rainfall.
“It will be meaningless for the government to proclaim itself to the international world that it has free education and free feeding while the mass of school children are not receiving quality education,” he added.
He has rather suggested the building of more public schools for the country, since such schools were inadequate and teaching and learning had to be controlled on a shift basis.
Other public schools were in a state of dilapidation and needed renovation, he noted.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, he described the school feeding programme as a misuse of public funds that could be invested meaningfully in developing infrastructure in the education sector.
He said the inadequacy of public schools in the country put a stress on head teachers to admit more pupils than necessarily required in a class.
That resulted in the running of morning and afternoon shifts in schools making education ineffective in Ghana.
Mr Modzabi said these were the fundamental causes of the decline in standards of education in public schools in the country, since teachers were not able to control and assess the increasing number of pupils in the class.
He said since Ghana attained independence in 1957, little had been done by government to build more schools.
He said some schools currently under the supervision of the government were schools built by religious and international organisations, such as the Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic churches.
Mr Modzabi said the private sector owned and controlled three quarters of educational facilities in the country from crèche to the university level, and most of these were not affordable to the masses.
In public schools in certain parts of the country, two classes had to use one classroom with one chalkboard, while others who had to study under trees and dilapidated structures that were traps, were threatened by the slightest rainfall.
“It will be meaningless for the government to proclaim itself to the international world that it has free education and free feeding while the mass of school children are not receiving quality education,” he added.
Vocational Training for youth in Central Business District
SOME youth of Agbogbloshie, Konkomba, Sodom and Gomorrah and Abuja, all in the central business district of Accra, are to benefit from a three-year technical and vocational skills training programme.
The programme, which is free, is intended to provide the youth with skills in auto-repairs, auto-electricals and wielding through the Youth Leadership and Skills Training Institute under the National Youth Council (NYC).
This would be in addition to existing skills training in the areas of carpentry, dress making, and building construction, among others, being provided by the NYC to some of the youth in these areas.
Briefing the press, the Acting National Co-ordinator of the NYC, Mr Archibald Donkoh, said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to that effect had already been signed between the NYC and the Great Imperial Company Limited of the Kristo Asafo Church at Gomoa Mpota in the Central Region.
The group were at the residence of the Head of the Kristo Asafo Church and owner of the Great Imperial Company Limited, Apostle Kwadwo Safo, to formally introduce themselves and brief him about the joint project.
Mr Donkoh said the training was aimed at equipping the youth with sustainable economic livelihood skills, especially the vulnerable and those out of school.
“The training centre would also provide opportunities for the youth in the 11 vocational and technical institutes under the NYC across the country to have internship programmes to upgrade themselves and be equipped with entrepreneurial skills,” he added.
He said the centre would help the youth to establish themselves in their various regions and also pass on the skills acquired to other people.
Mr Donkoh noted that the move would create jobs in the rural areas and help reduce the increasing rate of rural-urban migration.
Apostle Kwadwo Safo called on the government to pay more attention to vocational and technical skills education, because it held the key to the nation’s quest for becoming a middle-level income country.
He urged entrepreneurs and inventors to pass on their knowledge and skills to the younger generation for the benefit of the country.
The programme, which is free, is intended to provide the youth with skills in auto-repairs, auto-electricals and wielding through the Youth Leadership and Skills Training Institute under the National Youth Council (NYC).
This would be in addition to existing skills training in the areas of carpentry, dress making, and building construction, among others, being provided by the NYC to some of the youth in these areas.
Briefing the press, the Acting National Co-ordinator of the NYC, Mr Archibald Donkoh, said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to that effect had already been signed between the NYC and the Great Imperial Company Limited of the Kristo Asafo Church at Gomoa Mpota in the Central Region.
The group were at the residence of the Head of the Kristo Asafo Church and owner of the Great Imperial Company Limited, Apostle Kwadwo Safo, to formally introduce themselves and brief him about the joint project.
Mr Donkoh said the training was aimed at equipping the youth with sustainable economic livelihood skills, especially the vulnerable and those out of school.
“The training centre would also provide opportunities for the youth in the 11 vocational and technical institutes under the NYC across the country to have internship programmes to upgrade themselves and be equipped with entrepreneurial skills,” he added.
He said the centre would help the youth to establish themselves in their various regions and also pass on the skills acquired to other people.
Mr Donkoh noted that the move would create jobs in the rural areas and help reduce the increasing rate of rural-urban migration.
Apostle Kwadwo Safo called on the government to pay more attention to vocational and technical skills education, because it held the key to the nation’s quest for becoming a middle-level income country.
He urged entrepreneurs and inventors to pass on their knowledge and skills to the younger generation for the benefit of the country.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
CEPS to upgrade computerised system
THE Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) is to upgrade its integrated computerised system for the management of customs declarations and related activities as a part of a comprehensive plan to widen the tax net.
As a result, the system, known as the Ghana Customs Management System (GCMS), will be transformed into a web-based system to enhance the operations of the service at all entry points.
The Commissioner of CEPS, Mr Emmanuel N. Doku, who announced this at the annual awards and dinner night for staff of the service on the theme, “Enhancing revenue mobilisation — The way forward”, said the move formed part of a plan by the service to increase revenue generation for 2009 to support the government’s programmes.
“CEPS will continue to conduct a regulatory and administrative review of integrated systems that speak to each other across tax types and different databases by implementing its modernisation programme in order to improve its internal operational efficiency and reduce compliance costs borne by taxpayers,” he said.
Mr Doku recognised the need for staff motivation, which he said provided a challenging and supportive environment, as well as personal development, for staff.
“Management will implement new initiatives, such as giving priority to staff welfare and career development,” he said, and explained that that would enhance staff effectiveness, satisfaction and career opportunities.
“We will strive to improve the work environment by providing computers and professional skills for all officers and improve client satisfaction,” he said.
Mr Doku said as a way of enhancing motivation and impacting cultural change as an efficient way of achieving technically competent, professional and courteous officers, management would review the terms and conditions of service of staff and ensure competency through training and career path development.
“In addition, we will update and produce service codes of instruction, document all our procedures, upgrade our security equipment, review the service corporate plan and enforce our dress code,” he stated.
“The service will also continue to implement its modernisation programme in order to improve our internal operational efficiency and reduce compliance costs borne by our taxpayers and our overall cost of collection,” he said.
On the service’s revenue collection performance for 2008, he said it exceeded its revenue target of GH¢1,916.03 million to a total of GH¢1,930.03 million.
He said the exceeded value of GH¢13.63 million represented a positive deviation of 0.71 per cent.
The Head of the Public Affairs Unit at SSNIT, Reverend K. Osei Bimpong, said it was essential for organisations to recognise the efforts of their employees, as every organisation desired to achieve greater heights.
“One of the singular means of realising this is constantly identifying persons who contribute significantly to the success of the organisation,” he added.
He advised revenue agencies to develop partnerships with the public who had to pay taxes, as well as duties, and also build strong confidence among the people.
He said as a nation, “we should be fully informed and educated to appreciate that without revenue from the citizens the government cannot do much to meet our expectations”.
He recommended that CEPS pay attention to its pre-retirement training programmes to adequately prepare employees to settle peacefully after long years of work.
Awards were given to dedicated and hardworking staff and the various collections for 2008.
The awards included the commissioner’s special award, which went to Mr Paul Achaab, an instructor at the CEPS Academy; the best collection award, which went to the Kotoka International Airport, with the most improved collection award going to the staff of the IT Unit at the CEPS Headquarters.
As a result, the system, known as the Ghana Customs Management System (GCMS), will be transformed into a web-based system to enhance the operations of the service at all entry points.
The Commissioner of CEPS, Mr Emmanuel N. Doku, who announced this at the annual awards and dinner night for staff of the service on the theme, “Enhancing revenue mobilisation — The way forward”, said the move formed part of a plan by the service to increase revenue generation for 2009 to support the government’s programmes.
“CEPS will continue to conduct a regulatory and administrative review of integrated systems that speak to each other across tax types and different databases by implementing its modernisation programme in order to improve its internal operational efficiency and reduce compliance costs borne by taxpayers,” he said.
Mr Doku recognised the need for staff motivation, which he said provided a challenging and supportive environment, as well as personal development, for staff.
“Management will implement new initiatives, such as giving priority to staff welfare and career development,” he said, and explained that that would enhance staff effectiveness, satisfaction and career opportunities.
“We will strive to improve the work environment by providing computers and professional skills for all officers and improve client satisfaction,” he said.
Mr Doku said as a way of enhancing motivation and impacting cultural change as an efficient way of achieving technically competent, professional and courteous officers, management would review the terms and conditions of service of staff and ensure competency through training and career path development.
“In addition, we will update and produce service codes of instruction, document all our procedures, upgrade our security equipment, review the service corporate plan and enforce our dress code,” he stated.
“The service will also continue to implement its modernisation programme in order to improve our internal operational efficiency and reduce compliance costs borne by our taxpayers and our overall cost of collection,” he said.
On the service’s revenue collection performance for 2008, he said it exceeded its revenue target of GH¢1,916.03 million to a total of GH¢1,930.03 million.
He said the exceeded value of GH¢13.63 million represented a positive deviation of 0.71 per cent.
The Head of the Public Affairs Unit at SSNIT, Reverend K. Osei Bimpong, said it was essential for organisations to recognise the efforts of their employees, as every organisation desired to achieve greater heights.
“One of the singular means of realising this is constantly identifying persons who contribute significantly to the success of the organisation,” he added.
He advised revenue agencies to develop partnerships with the public who had to pay taxes, as well as duties, and also build strong confidence among the people.
He said as a nation, “we should be fully informed and educated to appreciate that without revenue from the citizens the government cannot do much to meet our expectations”.
He recommended that CEPS pay attention to its pre-retirement training programmes to adequately prepare employees to settle peacefully after long years of work.
Awards were given to dedicated and hardworking staff and the various collections for 2008.
The awards included the commissioner’s special award, which went to Mr Paul Achaab, an instructor at the CEPS Academy; the best collection award, which went to the Kotoka International Airport, with the most improved collection award going to the staff of the IT Unit at the CEPS Headquarters.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)