MUSLIM youth around the country have been urged to join together to form one unit irrespective of their denominational differences. Also,they have been encouraged to use their best endeavours to advance their educational careers for a better future.
The Minister for Youth and Sports , Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, said this at the Islamic University College, Ghana (ICUG), when, as a guest of honour, he was addressing students of the university during their celebration of Islamic Unity Week.
He said he was so much attached to the occasion because of its theme of unity in Islam and Quranic recitation.
“This programme is dear to my heart, because I strongly believe that it takes us close to Allah. Therefore, Muslim youth should be very proud of themselves, but in doing so, they must as well behave themselves,” the minister said.
He said there was the need for the entire Muslim youth to come together in order to grow as a single community, explaining that it was only when all Muslims were united that they could succeed in all endeavours.
Alhaj Mubarak also pleaded with the authorities of the university to give more scholarships to the Muslim youth to study in the university.
For his part, the Head of Cultural and Religious Affairs and Chief Imam of the ICUG, Dr Syed Mohammed Ali Aon said the essence of the programme, which involved Quranic recitation, was to increase public awareness of the value of the Holy Qur’an.
In reference to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khumaini, who said “we must respect the Qur’an, we must recite it, we must abide by it”, Dr Aon, who doubled as the initiator of the Quranic recitation programme, lamented that it was rather unfortunate that Muslims were still disunited.
Dr Aon urged all Muslims to direct their lifestyle towards the teachings of the Qur’an, expatiating on the fact that, by that “we can get victory over our lusts which make us suffer in this world”.
The Greater Accra Regional Manager of the Islamic Education Unit, Alhaji Armiyao Shuaib, for his part, noted that Islam was one of the greatest religions in the world, but by virtue of the multiplicity of the people practising it, sectarianism had become a serious issue, adding that tribalism was one of the most serious challenges.
“Islam has traversed various cultures, tribes and ethnicities, but there is still a fundamental problem with Muslims. That must be searched to discover the cause,” Alhaj Shuaib intimated.
He said for the Muslim Ummah to be able to come together as one family, there was the need for it to appreciate its differences and recognise them as such. He added that it was also important for Muslims to always hold a kind of interdenominational dialogue and also tolerate one another for their differences in religious beliefs, cultures, tribes, etc.
The Chairman for the function, Major Mohammad Essah(retd), commended the initiator and the Islamic University, for that matter, for organising such a wonderful function, with the aim of cementing unity among Muslims.
Major Essah said it would always take just one instrumental person to initiate such a programme in order to join us together, explaining that Allah always wants us to come together as a people.
Among the dignitaries present at the function were the Iranian Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Valliullah Mohammadi; the President of Muslims School of Thought in Iran, Dr Abdul Karim Bi-Azar Shirazi, and the President of ICUG, Dr Ahmed Ali Ghane.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Awudome Youth protest death of colleague
The Concerned Youth Group of Awudome Estates have held a peaceful demonstration against the management of Kaneshie Polyclinic for what they described as gross negligence which led to the death of a member of their group.
Amidst brass band music, the group besieged the premises of the polyclinic wielding placards with inscriptions some of which read “Patients need love not condemnation, “Nurses cannot give first aid” and “Polyclinic is a liability to the country”.
According to the spokesperson of the group, Mr Isaac Adjei, the incident occurred on February 8, 2009 when Eric Simpson, 34, a member of the group, was rushed to the clinic after he complained of difficulty in breathing.
Upon arrival, the spokesperson said, a nurse told them the doctor on duty had left and therefore she could not administer first aid to Simpson without a doctor’s instruction.
“She, however, advised us to take him to the Cocoa Clinic. When we got there we were told there was no bed, so we should take him to Holy Trinity. He died on our way to Holy Trinity,” he recounted.
The group, among other things in a petition, have called on the leadership of the clinic to ensure that quality healthcare service is delivered to residents of the area, since it was the right of the people to enjoy quality health care.
The group claimed in the petition that doctors were not available at the clinic at all times although the clinic administration advertised a 24-hour service to the public.
They also claimed that “nurses at the polyclinic are unwilling to provide first aid to patients or are not properly trained to administer first aid to patients”.
“Nurses on duty do not have empathy for the sick and suffering patients and in most cases patient would have to wait for long hours before been attended to. Even during emergencies, nurses are most at times rude to the patients or their families,” they added.
The Deputy Director of Nursing Services at the polyclinic, Ms Alexandraina Addo, who received the petition on behalf of management, expressed her sympathy to the bereaved family and called on the youth to remain calm as management was investigating the incident.
She told the Daily Graphic that disciplinary measures would be taken against the nurse concern if she was found guilty.
“We have started sensitising and training the nurses on what to do when such incidents occur again,” she said.
Ms Addo, however, noted that the clinic lacked permanent doctors and called on the appropriate authorities to come to the aid of the clinic.
Amidst brass band music, the group besieged the premises of the polyclinic wielding placards with inscriptions some of which read “Patients need love not condemnation, “Nurses cannot give first aid” and “Polyclinic is a liability to the country”.
According to the spokesperson of the group, Mr Isaac Adjei, the incident occurred on February 8, 2009 when Eric Simpson, 34, a member of the group, was rushed to the clinic after he complained of difficulty in breathing.
Upon arrival, the spokesperson said, a nurse told them the doctor on duty had left and therefore she could not administer first aid to Simpson without a doctor’s instruction.
“She, however, advised us to take him to the Cocoa Clinic. When we got there we were told there was no bed, so we should take him to Holy Trinity. He died on our way to Holy Trinity,” he recounted.
The group, among other things in a petition, have called on the leadership of the clinic to ensure that quality healthcare service is delivered to residents of the area, since it was the right of the people to enjoy quality health care.
The group claimed in the petition that doctors were not available at the clinic at all times although the clinic administration advertised a 24-hour service to the public.
They also claimed that “nurses at the polyclinic are unwilling to provide first aid to patients or are not properly trained to administer first aid to patients”.
“Nurses on duty do not have empathy for the sick and suffering patients and in most cases patient would have to wait for long hours before been attended to. Even during emergencies, nurses are most at times rude to the patients or their families,” they added.
The Deputy Director of Nursing Services at the polyclinic, Ms Alexandraina Addo, who received the petition on behalf of management, expressed her sympathy to the bereaved family and called on the youth to remain calm as management was investigating the incident.
She told the Daily Graphic that disciplinary measures would be taken against the nurse concern if she was found guilty.
“We have started sensitising and training the nurses on what to do when such incidents occur again,” she said.
Ms Addo, however, noted that the clinic lacked permanent doctors and called on the appropriate authorities to come to the aid of the clinic.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Gov’t will work to expand media frontiers - Zita
The Minister of Information, Mrs Sabah Zita Okaikoi, has given the assurance that an Atta Mills government would work assiduously to ensure the expansion of media frontiers and freedom in the country.
She said as a first step, the administration had adopted an open-door policy that would facilitate the free flow of information for the benefit of all Ghanaians and also as part of its declared aim of ensuring transparency and accountability.
The minister gave the assurance during a familiarisation tour of the Daily Guide, the Insight and the Statesman newspapers in Accra last Thursday.
She also urged the media to always ensure that all their publications were targeted towards the well-being of Ghanaians, adding that “In the pursuit of your professional work as journalists, you should always think of Ghana first and ask yourself what effect your work would have on the country”.
Mrs Okaikoi described the visits as the first move towards engendering closer collaboration between the media and the government, especially the ministry but was quick to add that this was not for the media to be in bed with the Atta Mills administration.
She added that the government believed in a vibrant and objective media that would put the government on its toes to deliver for the people of this country.
She said the media in Ghana was an equal partner to the government in finding solutions to the myriad of problems facing the country, and that the Atta Mills administration would not turn a deaf ear to the media in Ghana.
Mrs Okaikoi reiterated the call on media houses to use their medium to also educate the people on the issue of environmental cleanliness, patriotism, the need for Ghanaians, especially those outside the tax net, to pay their taxes for the government to generate enough revenue to develop the country.
She added that after the elections, the era of partisan political party activities must give way to a united front made up of all Ghanaians working together to accelerate the pace of providing the basic needs of Ghanaians.
At the Daily Guide offices, the Editor of the newspaper, Mr Fortune Alimi, said it was an erroneous impression for people to hold the view that the paper was anti-NDC.
He explained that as a responsible media house, its management and staff were made up of a blend of people from various political backgrounds and what the paper sought to do was to create equal avenues for all Ghanaians to express their opinions.
He added that as a responsible corporate entity, it had been supporting and would continue to support the government in disseminating its policies and programmes and also bring out the ills in the society.
The Editor of the Statesman newspaper, Mr Frances Agyei-Twum, commended the minister for calling on the media house.
Mr Kwesi Pratt Jnr, the Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, also commended the minister for the visit.
She said one of the major problems facing most of the privately owned newspapers was lack of advertisement to generate enough resources for expansion and hiring of qualified personnel.
She said as a first step, the administration had adopted an open-door policy that would facilitate the free flow of information for the benefit of all Ghanaians and also as part of its declared aim of ensuring transparency and accountability.
The minister gave the assurance during a familiarisation tour of the Daily Guide, the Insight and the Statesman newspapers in Accra last Thursday.
She also urged the media to always ensure that all their publications were targeted towards the well-being of Ghanaians, adding that “In the pursuit of your professional work as journalists, you should always think of Ghana first and ask yourself what effect your work would have on the country”.
Mrs Okaikoi described the visits as the first move towards engendering closer collaboration between the media and the government, especially the ministry but was quick to add that this was not for the media to be in bed with the Atta Mills administration.
She added that the government believed in a vibrant and objective media that would put the government on its toes to deliver for the people of this country.
She said the media in Ghana was an equal partner to the government in finding solutions to the myriad of problems facing the country, and that the Atta Mills administration would not turn a deaf ear to the media in Ghana.
Mrs Okaikoi reiterated the call on media houses to use their medium to also educate the people on the issue of environmental cleanliness, patriotism, the need for Ghanaians, especially those outside the tax net, to pay their taxes for the government to generate enough revenue to develop the country.
She added that after the elections, the era of partisan political party activities must give way to a united front made up of all Ghanaians working together to accelerate the pace of providing the basic needs of Ghanaians.
At the Daily Guide offices, the Editor of the newspaper, Mr Fortune Alimi, said it was an erroneous impression for people to hold the view that the paper was anti-NDC.
He explained that as a responsible media house, its management and staff were made up of a blend of people from various political backgrounds and what the paper sought to do was to create equal avenues for all Ghanaians to express their opinions.
He added that as a responsible corporate entity, it had been supporting and would continue to support the government in disseminating its policies and programmes and also bring out the ills in the society.
The Editor of the Statesman newspaper, Mr Frances Agyei-Twum, commended the minister for calling on the media house.
Mr Kwesi Pratt Jnr, the Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, also commended the minister for the visit.
She said one of the major problems facing most of the privately owned newspapers was lack of advertisement to generate enough resources for expansion and hiring of qualified personnel.
‘Let’s discourage violence against women’
THE President of the Women’s Wing of the Ghana Association of the Blind (GAB), Ms Cecilia Bartholomew has reiterated the need to discourage acts of violence against women particularly those with disabilities.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark this year's International Women’s Day celebration organised by the Women’s Wing of GAB in Accra, she said the theme for this year’s global event, “Women and Men United to End Violence Against Women and Girls” was laudable, since it focused on united efforts by both men and women to gradually eliminate violence against women and girls.
The theme also projected a united front of both men and women towards the total condemnation of all sorts of violence against women and girls, citing blind and partially- sighted women and girls as most vulnerable.
According to her, efforts to minimise these acts of violence against women and girls should be communicated to people at the grassroots through the use of drama, youth fora, community leadership programmes and peer educators among others.
Ms Bartholomew noted that acts of violence were mostly carried out by close relations, spouses and biological parents and pointed out that, such acts, be they psychological, emotional or physical tend to have long and lasting effects on the victims.
She recalled that since the inception of the Women’s wing of GAB 28 years ago, the association had made positive strides toward raising awareness on the significant roles the blind and partially -sighted women and girls could play in the society.
The Member of Parliament for Abokobi-Madina, Alhaji Amadu Sorogho cautioned the members of the association against the act of begging for alms in the street and urged them “ to believe in yourself and disabuse your minds of the misconception that society has neglected you”.
He said acts of violence against visually impaired women and girls should be discouraged and pointed out that the fact that a woman or girl could not see did not mean that she was incapable of doing anything for herself.
The MP therefore called on Ghanaians to “dismantle the barriers of discrimination which we have erected over the years against the visually impaired and embark on a war path to eradicate the stigma of psychological violence against our sisters and our mothers”.
The Deputy Managing Director of Seatec Holdings, Mrs Augustina Ekuwa Addae encouraged women and girls to live up to the challenges by offering their best wherever they found themselves, adding that they should to see themselves capable of doing things to improve on their status and that of their families.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark this year's International Women’s Day celebration organised by the Women’s Wing of GAB in Accra, she said the theme for this year’s global event, “Women and Men United to End Violence Against Women and Girls” was laudable, since it focused on united efforts by both men and women to gradually eliminate violence against women and girls.
The theme also projected a united front of both men and women towards the total condemnation of all sorts of violence against women and girls, citing blind and partially- sighted women and girls as most vulnerable.
According to her, efforts to minimise these acts of violence against women and girls should be communicated to people at the grassroots through the use of drama, youth fora, community leadership programmes and peer educators among others.
Ms Bartholomew noted that acts of violence were mostly carried out by close relations, spouses and biological parents and pointed out that, such acts, be they psychological, emotional or physical tend to have long and lasting effects on the victims.
She recalled that since the inception of the Women’s wing of GAB 28 years ago, the association had made positive strides toward raising awareness on the significant roles the blind and partially -sighted women and girls could play in the society.
The Member of Parliament for Abokobi-Madina, Alhaji Amadu Sorogho cautioned the members of the association against the act of begging for alms in the street and urged them “ to believe in yourself and disabuse your minds of the misconception that society has neglected you”.
He said acts of violence against visually impaired women and girls should be discouraged and pointed out that the fact that a woman or girl could not see did not mean that she was incapable of doing anything for herself.
The MP therefore called on Ghanaians to “dismantle the barriers of discrimination which we have erected over the years against the visually impaired and embark on a war path to eradicate the stigma of psychological violence against our sisters and our mothers”.
The Deputy Managing Director of Seatec Holdings, Mrs Augustina Ekuwa Addae encouraged women and girls to live up to the challenges by offering their best wherever they found themselves, adding that they should to see themselves capable of doing things to improve on their status and that of their families.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Debt management strategy workshop held in Accra
A 12-day workshop to train financial expects, bankers and economists on sustainable debt management strategies, particularly in the wake of the global financial crisis, is taking place in Accra.
The workshop, being organised by the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM) on the theme, “Regional Course On Middle Office Operations and Risk Modelling”, will also strengthen the capacity of participants on middle office functions, including analysis and debt management strategies.
Opening the workshop, the acting Director-General of WAIFEM, Mr M. S. Foon, said it would broaden the knowledge of participants on effective debt management functions, medium-term debt strategy processes, risk management processes, among others.
He said it would also enlighten participants on the implementation of risk control and portfolio analysis and evaluation.
He stated that the workshop had come at a time when countries across the world had to address the adverse consequences of the global financial crisis.
The deep economic recession around the world has brought about the down turn in global markets and efforts by governments across the world to address the adverse effects of the financial melt down has not been feasible.
The crisis has resulted in prices of commodities such as oil and copper dropping and there has been significant reduction in tourism receipts and remittances in some African countries.
“With weakening growth prospects and tight credit markets investors are cutting back on their direct investment,” Mr Foon stated.
He indicated the recession had also resulted in the fall of Africa’s stock and bond markets, adding that it had also changed the landscape of international trade, cooperation in assistance and financial regulation.
“The developing countries without the means or will and depending largely on aid generosity of the so-called first world face greater challenges,” he said.
Mr Foon said that a lesson to be learnt from the global financial crisis which also constituted a challenge to debt management was the inadequate application of risk management measures and inability to appropriately recognise and manage risk significantly.
The workshop is being attended by 28 participants from 5 African countries including Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Nigeria.
WAIFEM is a training and capacity building institute based in Nigeria which started its operations 12 years ago, to strengthen capacity for sound debt, microfinancial sector management of member states.
The institute has so far executed over 306 training and capacity building programmes through seminars, executive and legislative fora among others.
The workshop, being organised by the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM) on the theme, “Regional Course On Middle Office Operations and Risk Modelling”, will also strengthen the capacity of participants on middle office functions, including analysis and debt management strategies.
Opening the workshop, the acting Director-General of WAIFEM, Mr M. S. Foon, said it would broaden the knowledge of participants on effective debt management functions, medium-term debt strategy processes, risk management processes, among others.
He said it would also enlighten participants on the implementation of risk control and portfolio analysis and evaluation.
He stated that the workshop had come at a time when countries across the world had to address the adverse consequences of the global financial crisis.
The deep economic recession around the world has brought about the down turn in global markets and efforts by governments across the world to address the adverse effects of the financial melt down has not been feasible.
The crisis has resulted in prices of commodities such as oil and copper dropping and there has been significant reduction in tourism receipts and remittances in some African countries.
“With weakening growth prospects and tight credit markets investors are cutting back on their direct investment,” Mr Foon stated.
He indicated the recession had also resulted in the fall of Africa’s stock and bond markets, adding that it had also changed the landscape of international trade, cooperation in assistance and financial regulation.
“The developing countries without the means or will and depending largely on aid generosity of the so-called first world face greater challenges,” he said.
Mr Foon said that a lesson to be learnt from the global financial crisis which also constituted a challenge to debt management was the inadequate application of risk management measures and inability to appropriately recognise and manage risk significantly.
The workshop is being attended by 28 participants from 5 African countries including Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Nigeria.
WAIFEM is a training and capacity building institute based in Nigeria which started its operations 12 years ago, to strengthen capacity for sound debt, microfinancial sector management of member states.
The institute has so far executed over 306 training and capacity building programmes through seminars, executive and legislative fora among others.
Paediatric society organises free medical outreach
The Chairperson of the Greater Accra Branch of the Ghana Paediatric Society (GPS), Dr Victoria May Adabayeri, has advised mothers, particularly those with children under five years, to immunise their children against the six childhood killer diseases.
She said immunisation was important in the life of a growing child, and that “a regular immunisation schedule prevents a child from getting any of the six childhood diseases”.
Dr Adabayeri gave the advice at an annual free medical outreach programme organised by the GPS at the Ussher Polyclinic for children in James Town, a suburb of Accra, at the weekend.
The GPS, which is made up of specially trained health care professionals, educated mothers on the importance of immunisation and how to care for children.
Aside that, the group examined and immunised the children and provided them with medication.
The chairperson asked the mothers to pay special attention to their children, adding that “children need a lot of care and attention from their mothers, especially with regard to nutrition and good hygiene”.
She also advised the mothers to sleep in treated mosquito nets and take care of their environment to prevent them from contracting malaria.
The doctor in charge of the clinic, Dr Emily Onuha, expressed her profound gratitude to the group for the support.
“We do not have specialists here at the clinic and the visit has been very beneficial to us and the mothers in the community; we are grateful,” she said.
She said the polyclinic lacked adequate staff and funding and, therefore, called on the appropriate authorities and individuals to come to the aid of the clinic.
She said immunisation was important in the life of a growing child, and that “a regular immunisation schedule prevents a child from getting any of the six childhood diseases”.
Dr Adabayeri gave the advice at an annual free medical outreach programme organised by the GPS at the Ussher Polyclinic for children in James Town, a suburb of Accra, at the weekend.
The GPS, which is made up of specially trained health care professionals, educated mothers on the importance of immunisation and how to care for children.
Aside that, the group examined and immunised the children and provided them with medication.
The chairperson asked the mothers to pay special attention to their children, adding that “children need a lot of care and attention from their mothers, especially with regard to nutrition and good hygiene”.
She also advised the mothers to sleep in treated mosquito nets and take care of their environment to prevent them from contracting malaria.
The doctor in charge of the clinic, Dr Emily Onuha, expressed her profound gratitude to the group for the support.
“We do not have specialists here at the clinic and the visit has been very beneficial to us and the mothers in the community; we are grateful,” she said.
She said the polyclinic lacked adequate staff and funding and, therefore, called on the appropriate authorities and individuals to come to the aid of the clinic.
GTV on DStv
GHANA Television (GTV) has been launched on MultiChoice Digital Satellite television (DStv), the continent’s leading satellite television service to offer subscribers in the country quality digital pictures.
This formed part of MultiChoice strategy to enhance DStv’s international status by offering as many African public broadcasters as possible to be on the DStv bouquet and also to further enhance their relationships with local broadcasters.
GTV’s services, which is available on DStv channel 142 (DStv West African bouquet) was made possible through an agreement between MultiChoice Africa and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).
Speaking at the launch yesterday, the General Manager of MultiChoice Ghana, Mr Samuel Baimbill-Johnson, said MultiChoice was committed to the development of the continent and also devoted to promoting and projecting Africa.
“No other company in Africa has invested as much in the creation and delivery of local content. Our sister company M-Net is the lead investor in the development and provision of local content, and are committed to unearthing local talent and building a strong television industry in the markets in which we operate”, he stated.
He said he was confident that the addition of GTV onto the DStv platform in a list of more 60 channels would add more value and viewing pleasure to their subscribers in Ghana.
“With GTV on DStv, viewers in every corner of Ghana can now access the channel with digital quality signal resulting in a much clearer picture”, he stated and pointed out that “as with other broadcasters that are on DStv platform, GTV will be available only to viewers in Ghana for a start.”
Mr Baimbill-Johnson announced that MultiChoice had experienced phenomenal growth over the last 12 months with over 200,000 subscribers signed up for DStv, bringing the total number of DStv subscribers to 2.3 million.
He, however gave the assurance that their commitment to Ghana was in the long-term because Ghana was one of their most important markets.
The Director-General of GBC, Mr William Ampem-Darko, expressed his profound gratitude to MultiChoice for the collaboration.
He was optimistic that the link would uplift the image of GTV and therefore entreated MultiChoice to give GTV a global presence to enable Ghanaians abroad to acquaint themselves with what was going on in the country.
He was however of the view that the collaboration was not a competition but a cooperation that would be beneficial to MultiChoice.
This formed part of MultiChoice strategy to enhance DStv’s international status by offering as many African public broadcasters as possible to be on the DStv bouquet and also to further enhance their relationships with local broadcasters.
GTV’s services, which is available on DStv channel 142 (DStv West African bouquet) was made possible through an agreement between MultiChoice Africa and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).
Speaking at the launch yesterday, the General Manager of MultiChoice Ghana, Mr Samuel Baimbill-Johnson, said MultiChoice was committed to the development of the continent and also devoted to promoting and projecting Africa.
“No other company in Africa has invested as much in the creation and delivery of local content. Our sister company M-Net is the lead investor in the development and provision of local content, and are committed to unearthing local talent and building a strong television industry in the markets in which we operate”, he stated.
He said he was confident that the addition of GTV onto the DStv platform in a list of more 60 channels would add more value and viewing pleasure to their subscribers in Ghana.
“With GTV on DStv, viewers in every corner of Ghana can now access the channel with digital quality signal resulting in a much clearer picture”, he stated and pointed out that “as with other broadcasters that are on DStv platform, GTV will be available only to viewers in Ghana for a start.”
Mr Baimbill-Johnson announced that MultiChoice had experienced phenomenal growth over the last 12 months with over 200,000 subscribers signed up for DStv, bringing the total number of DStv subscribers to 2.3 million.
He, however gave the assurance that their commitment to Ghana was in the long-term because Ghana was one of their most important markets.
The Director-General of GBC, Mr William Ampem-Darko, expressed his profound gratitude to MultiChoice for the collaboration.
He was optimistic that the link would uplift the image of GTV and therefore entreated MultiChoice to give GTV a global presence to enable Ghanaians abroad to acquaint themselves with what was going on in the country.
He was however of the view that the collaboration was not a competition but a cooperation that would be beneficial to MultiChoice.
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