The New Horizon Special school has received building materials worth GH¢20,000 from the La Palm Casino and Saigon, two leading game centres in the country.
The items included 200m square tiles, eight units of enamel basins, packets of roofing sheets, 35 buckets of emulsion paints and wood for roofing.
Other items included, a photocopier , a quantity of fabrics for tie-dye,200 bags of cement and a table top fridge.
Presenting the items, the General Manager of the Casino, Mr Colin Parker, said the donation was to support the school’s classroom project.
He said it was also in line with the company’s social responsibility to the school and the community in which they operated.
Mr Parker said the proper integration of children into the society would help them enjoy life although they were deprived. Receiving the items, the Executive Director of the school, Mrs Salome Francois, expressed her profound gratitude to the two organisations for their kind gesture.
She said most children in the special schools needed much attention, care and love, and that society had the responsibility to help ensure their well-being.
“These kids have a right to live and be part of the society and with much love and care they can contribute to the development of this country,” she said.
A board member of the school, Ms Sylvia Francois, said the classroom project, which cost about $45,000 was expected to ease congestion in the school.
She said the building would consist of classrooms, physiotherapy centre and autism rooms to help manage the disabilities of the children.
“We are improving on our facilities here to help keep up with the modern technological facilities that are needed in the training and upbringing of the children,” she added.
Ms Francois said the school faced financial difficulties which had made it impossible to hire adequate teachers.
She, therefore, called on individuals and corporate institutions to emulate the example of the La Palm Casino, and come to their aid.
Ms Francois said the regular teachers were not interested in teaching the children with special needs, and appealed to the Ghana Education Service to train more teachers in that field.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Juaboso DCE pledges (30/7/09)
The Juaboso District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Fuachie Solomon, has expressed his commitment to enhancing security in the area.
He said he had received numerous reports of rampant armed robbery cases and other violent crimes in the district.
He said although the criminal activities would hamper the development of the district, measures were being put in place to tackle them.
Mr Solomon expressed this commitment when he addressed the third session of the General Meeting of the Juaboso District Assembly.
He said as a first step to ensuring safety in the area, the assembly had strengthened the security agencies in the area and had also contracted a Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) official to ensure absolute control of the security network in the area.
“I will work assiduously as the chairman of the district security committee to reduce the looming security threats in our area in order to ensure that the security situation improves in the district, “ he said.
Outlining his plans for the area, the DCE said he would work together with the people to bring about development.
Touching on the unemployment situation in the area, he said the agricultural sector would be made attractive for the youth.
“A practical example is the Inland valley rice project which is currently being undertaken in a few communities,” he added.
He also asked the assembly members to work diligently to mobilise their people in the electoral area to undertake regular environmental sanitation in their various communities.
”The nationwide clean-up exercises initiated by the President is one step to ensure good sanitation practices in our various communities, and we will make them regular,” he stated.
The DCE announced that a community based rural development organisation was assisting the district with GH¢240,000 for the construction of schools and area council offices.
Mr Solomon stressed the need for the assembly to generate revenue internally to supplement the district’s share of the common fund.
He urged the revenue and budget department of the assembly to institute measures to step-up revenue mobilisation activities in order to raise adequate funds to supplement the already “over-burdened common fund.”
The Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Samson Ahi, assured the assembly of his commitment to ensuring that all the projects outlined by the DCE were executed.
There were goodwill messages from the chiefs and opinion leaders.
He said he had received numerous reports of rampant armed robbery cases and other violent crimes in the district.
He said although the criminal activities would hamper the development of the district, measures were being put in place to tackle them.
Mr Solomon expressed this commitment when he addressed the third session of the General Meeting of the Juaboso District Assembly.
He said as a first step to ensuring safety in the area, the assembly had strengthened the security agencies in the area and had also contracted a Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) official to ensure absolute control of the security network in the area.
“I will work assiduously as the chairman of the district security committee to reduce the looming security threats in our area in order to ensure that the security situation improves in the district, “ he said.
Outlining his plans for the area, the DCE said he would work together with the people to bring about development.
Touching on the unemployment situation in the area, he said the agricultural sector would be made attractive for the youth.
“A practical example is the Inland valley rice project which is currently being undertaken in a few communities,” he added.
He also asked the assembly members to work diligently to mobilise their people in the electoral area to undertake regular environmental sanitation in their various communities.
”The nationwide clean-up exercises initiated by the President is one step to ensure good sanitation practices in our various communities, and we will make them regular,” he stated.
The DCE announced that a community based rural development organisation was assisting the district with GH¢240,000 for the construction of schools and area council offices.
Mr Solomon stressed the need for the assembly to generate revenue internally to supplement the district’s share of the common fund.
He urged the revenue and budget department of the assembly to institute measures to step-up revenue mobilisation activities in order to raise adequate funds to supplement the already “over-burdened common fund.”
The Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Samson Ahi, assured the assembly of his commitment to ensuring that all the projects outlined by the DCE were executed.
There were goodwill messages from the chiefs and opinion leaders.
Govt provides credit for SMEs(31/7/09)
Government has allocated $40 million credit facility to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country to enhance their business.
This is in fulfilment of government’s pledge to support the growth of SMEs and put them in a better position to contribute effectively in the transformation of the country’s economy.
The SME’s Coordinator at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI), Mr Francis Kusi said this at the launching of an SME Toolbox in Accra, on behalf of Ms Hanna Tetteh, the Minister of Trade and Industry.
The SME Toolbox is a book developed by the Oguaa Business Incubator and sponsored by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and MoTI.
Mr Kusi stated that MoTI initiated the programmes to address the financial challenges being faced by SMEs and had embarked on a number of interventions to arrest the situation.
Mr Kusi stated that as part of the interventions, government would soon launch a national industry policy, which would encompass an industrial sector support programme to spell out projects to be undertaken for a sustainable development of the industrial sector, including the SMEs.
“The implementation of the policy will enable SMEs in the country to have a reliable policy direction that can make them competitive,” he stated.
He further said that the trade sector support programme being under taken by the ministry would create an ambience where SMEs would operate effectively to win market shares in the globally competitive economy.
Mr Kusi commended JICA for the initiative, which he said would complement the ministry’s projects.
“The Toolbox would serve as an assistance to entrepreneurs to operate their businesses effectively and help enterprise to grow from the informal sector and from SMEs to large companies,” he said.
He said it would also create new businesses to help reduce the rate of unemployment in the country.
The Toolbox is a compilation of essential information, business development services and plans needed in starting small-scale businesses, and contains information on the day-to-day management of small businesses, legal and ethical environment for pursuing business opportunities in Ghana, briefs on regulatory agencies and SME support institutions among others.
The Japanese Ambassador, Mr Keiichi Katakami, noted that the significant means of approaching and implementing strategies that would lead to the growth of SMEs in Ghana should be paramount on government initiatives .
He said the Japanese government had initiated various projects such as the promotion of industrial development and SME promotion development through JICA to assist small-scale businesses in the country.
“In line with the strategic direction of the government of Ghana, Japan intends to focus its assistance on micro, small, medium enterprises and the manufacturing sectors, especially in the local industries that utilise local resources,” he stated.
The JICA Resident Representative, Mr Kunihiro Yamanchi expressed the hope that the contents of the SME Toolbox would help SMEs grow and thrive in the country.
This is in fulfilment of government’s pledge to support the growth of SMEs and put them in a better position to contribute effectively in the transformation of the country’s economy.
The SME’s Coordinator at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI), Mr Francis Kusi said this at the launching of an SME Toolbox in Accra, on behalf of Ms Hanna Tetteh, the Minister of Trade and Industry.
The SME Toolbox is a book developed by the Oguaa Business Incubator and sponsored by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and MoTI.
Mr Kusi stated that MoTI initiated the programmes to address the financial challenges being faced by SMEs and had embarked on a number of interventions to arrest the situation.
Mr Kusi stated that as part of the interventions, government would soon launch a national industry policy, which would encompass an industrial sector support programme to spell out projects to be undertaken for a sustainable development of the industrial sector, including the SMEs.
“The implementation of the policy will enable SMEs in the country to have a reliable policy direction that can make them competitive,” he stated.
He further said that the trade sector support programme being under taken by the ministry would create an ambience where SMEs would operate effectively to win market shares in the globally competitive economy.
Mr Kusi commended JICA for the initiative, which he said would complement the ministry’s projects.
“The Toolbox would serve as an assistance to entrepreneurs to operate their businesses effectively and help enterprise to grow from the informal sector and from SMEs to large companies,” he said.
He said it would also create new businesses to help reduce the rate of unemployment in the country.
The Toolbox is a compilation of essential information, business development services and plans needed in starting small-scale businesses, and contains information on the day-to-day management of small businesses, legal and ethical environment for pursuing business opportunities in Ghana, briefs on regulatory agencies and SME support institutions among others.
The Japanese Ambassador, Mr Keiichi Katakami, noted that the significant means of approaching and implementing strategies that would lead to the growth of SMEs in Ghana should be paramount on government initiatives .
He said the Japanese government had initiated various projects such as the promotion of industrial development and SME promotion development through JICA to assist small-scale businesses in the country.
“In line with the strategic direction of the government of Ghana, Japan intends to focus its assistance on micro, small, medium enterprises and the manufacturing sectors, especially in the local industries that utilise local resources,” he stated.
The JICA Resident Representative, Mr Kunihiro Yamanchi expressed the hope that the contents of the SME Toolbox would help SMEs grow and thrive in the country.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Two firms institute programme for youth employment (23/7/09)
A BUSINESS Process Outsourcing (BPO) company, Rising Data Solution Ghana (RDS), and Intercom Programming and Manufacturing Company Limited (IPMC) have instituted a programme to provide jobs for the youth.
Under the programme, IPMC will provide training in Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) for a number of Ghanaians, while RDS will employ directly the students on completion of the course.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between IPMC, an ICT training institution and RDS to authenticate the initiative.
By this agreement, IPMC will teach courses specifically designed for the BPO industry. Some of the courses include, accent neutralisation, transcription and customer service technique.
The Director of Finance of RDS, Ms Irene Banias, signed for RDS, while the CEO of IPMC, Mr Amar Deep S Hari, initialled for the IPMC.
The Business Development Manager of RDS, Mr A. J. Whitman, said the BPO industry was one huge sector the country could tap into in order to create jobs for the unemployed youth.
He mentioned, for instance, that the industry was valued at $110 billion in 2002 and was estimated to increase to about $175 billion by 2010.
The CEO of IPMC, Mr Amar Hari, commended RDS for taking the giant step to invest in the country and, particularly in the BPO sector.
Mr Hari said he had for a long time sourced for partners in that particular area of ICT and was happy RDS had come on board.
He also encouraged the management of RDS to venture into the rural areas of the country as there existed a lot of potential that needed to be tapped.
The CEO said in an effort to empower women, IPMC had 40 per cent allocation for women and hoped to increase it in the coming years, calling on RDS to do same.
The Director of IT Enabled Service Secretariat Ghana, Mr Alhassan Umar, assured management of RDS of the government’s support as job creation for the youth was its top priority.
Mr Alhassan said the government had initiated moves to solve the problem of redundancy which the PBO service providers and others were facing in the country.
He mentioned the landing station soon to be completed by GLO 1 as a measure under way to solve the problem in the short term.
Under the programme, IPMC will provide training in Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) for a number of Ghanaians, while RDS will employ directly the students on completion of the course.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between IPMC, an ICT training institution and RDS to authenticate the initiative.
By this agreement, IPMC will teach courses specifically designed for the BPO industry. Some of the courses include, accent neutralisation, transcription and customer service technique.
The Director of Finance of RDS, Ms Irene Banias, signed for RDS, while the CEO of IPMC, Mr Amar Deep S Hari, initialled for the IPMC.
The Business Development Manager of RDS, Mr A. J. Whitman, said the BPO industry was one huge sector the country could tap into in order to create jobs for the unemployed youth.
He mentioned, for instance, that the industry was valued at $110 billion in 2002 and was estimated to increase to about $175 billion by 2010.
The CEO of IPMC, Mr Amar Hari, commended RDS for taking the giant step to invest in the country and, particularly in the BPO sector.
Mr Hari said he had for a long time sourced for partners in that particular area of ICT and was happy RDS had come on board.
He also encouraged the management of RDS to venture into the rural areas of the country as there existed a lot of potential that needed to be tapped.
The CEO said in an effort to empower women, IPMC had 40 per cent allocation for women and hoped to increase it in the coming years, calling on RDS to do same.
The Director of IT Enabled Service Secretariat Ghana, Mr Alhassan Umar, assured management of RDS of the government’s support as job creation for the youth was its top priority.
Mr Alhassan said the government had initiated moves to solve the problem of redundancy which the PBO service providers and others were facing in the country.
He mentioned the landing station soon to be completed by GLO 1 as a measure under way to solve the problem in the short term.
Carpenter held over car theft (25/6/09)
A 27-year-old carpenter, Yaw Adu, who together with an accomplice allegedly snatched a Kia taxicab with registration number GC 41060Z from its driver at Kwashieman, has been arrested by the Odorkor police in Accra.
His accomplice, Kinsley Tawiah, is on the run and being sought by the Odorkor police.
The Odorkor Police District Commander, Superintendent Ebenzer Asare, told the Daily Graphic that on June 17, 2009 at about 9:30 p.m. the driver of the taxicab, Kwame Abaw, was on his normal rounds when the two stopped him for his service.
The two, he said, told the driver to take them to Santa Maria in Accra after he had charged them GH¢2.00.
“Upon reaching Blue Kiosk, an area within Santa Maria, the two suspects attacked the driver with a knife and told him to surrender his car to them, which he complied with and afterwards they sped off with the car,” he said.
Supt Asare said the driver then lodged a complaint at the Odorkor Police Station.
On June 18, 2009, he said a police patrol team intercepted the taxicab at Amanase near Suhum, where Yaw Adu was arrested.
The suspect had since been arraigned before court while efforts are still underway to arrest Kinsley Tawiah, his accomplice.
His accomplice, Kinsley Tawiah, is on the run and being sought by the Odorkor police.
The Odorkor Police District Commander, Superintendent Ebenzer Asare, told the Daily Graphic that on June 17, 2009 at about 9:30 p.m. the driver of the taxicab, Kwame Abaw, was on his normal rounds when the two stopped him for his service.
The two, he said, told the driver to take them to Santa Maria in Accra after he had charged them GH¢2.00.
“Upon reaching Blue Kiosk, an area within Santa Maria, the two suspects attacked the driver with a knife and told him to surrender his car to them, which he complied with and afterwards they sped off with the car,” he said.
Supt Asare said the driver then lodged a complaint at the Odorkor Police Station.
On June 18, 2009, he said a police patrol team intercepted the taxicab at Amanase near Suhum, where Yaw Adu was arrested.
The suspect had since been arraigned before court while efforts are still underway to arrest Kinsley Tawiah, his accomplice.
IRS supports Cardio Centre (27/6/09)
THE Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has donated a cheque for GH¢10,000 to the Ghana Heart Foundation (GHF) to support its activities.
Presenting the cheque, the Deputy Commissioner for Administration at the IRS, Mr Ebow Enyimayew, said the donation was part of the service’s yearly commitment to the GHF.
He said it was also consistent with its social responsibility to support patients in need.
He said the money, which was raised through deductions from the salaries of all staff members and management, was a way of contributing to the country’s health delivery
Mr Enyimayew took the opportunity to advise staff of the foundation to file their tax returns for the country to generate more revenue for development.
Receiving the cheque, the President of the GHF, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, expressed his sincere gratitude to the IRS for the enormous support and pledged that the donation would benefit patients who could not afford treatment at the centre.
The Deputy Director of Nursing Services at the foundation, Mrs Rebecca Essilfie, called on individuals and corporate organisations to support the foundation to establish a $14 million Paediatric Heart Centre to cater for children.
She also appealed to individuals and organisations to help set up a playroom with toys and teaching and learning aids for the children at the centre.
Presenting the cheque, the Deputy Commissioner for Administration at the IRS, Mr Ebow Enyimayew, said the donation was part of the service’s yearly commitment to the GHF.
He said it was also consistent with its social responsibility to support patients in need.
He said the money, which was raised through deductions from the salaries of all staff members and management, was a way of contributing to the country’s health delivery
Mr Enyimayew took the opportunity to advise staff of the foundation to file their tax returns for the country to generate more revenue for development.
Receiving the cheque, the President of the GHF, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, expressed his sincere gratitude to the IRS for the enormous support and pledged that the donation would benefit patients who could not afford treatment at the centre.
The Deputy Director of Nursing Services at the foundation, Mrs Rebecca Essilfie, called on individuals and corporate organisations to support the foundation to establish a $14 million Paediatric Heart Centre to cater for children.
She also appealed to individuals and organisations to help set up a playroom with toys and teaching and learning aids for the children at the centre.
Prestige Academy holds graduation(30/6/09)
Prestige Gateway Academy (PGA), a private tertiary institution, held its second graduation ceremony in Accra at the weekend.
In all 48 students, made up of 30 females and 18 males graduated in accounting and finance, public relations, marketing and intensive English language among others.
The institution, which is made up of mostly Francophone students and some Ghanaians, is in the process of affiliating with some universities in order to attain higher standards.
The Director of PGA, Ms Herty Nancy Sackey, said the school, which started with three students, now has a population of 250 students from Cote d’Ivoire, Chad, Gabon, Guinea, Togo and Ghana among others.
She said the school would soon be expanded, adding that “We are also looking at the possibility of ordering our own textbooks from Britain, come next academic year.”
Ms Sackey said although the institution had chalked up a few successes, there were some challenges which hampered the smooth running of the school.
She noted that because most of the students were from different backgrounds and cultures it was difficult for them to co-exist.
She said the students were not punctual and advised them to be regular in order to achieve their future goals.
The General Secretary of the Institute of Commercial Management (ICM) Mr. Eric Agbenyo advised the graduates to take their studies seriously.
He also called on tutorial colleges to be serious with their infrastructure and employ qualified lecturers to teach, since the National Accreditation Board would close some colleges which were not meeting their standard.
In all 48 students, made up of 30 females and 18 males graduated in accounting and finance, public relations, marketing and intensive English language among others.
The institution, which is made up of mostly Francophone students and some Ghanaians, is in the process of affiliating with some universities in order to attain higher standards.
The Director of PGA, Ms Herty Nancy Sackey, said the school, which started with three students, now has a population of 250 students from Cote d’Ivoire, Chad, Gabon, Guinea, Togo and Ghana among others.
She said the school would soon be expanded, adding that “We are also looking at the possibility of ordering our own textbooks from Britain, come next academic year.”
Ms Sackey said although the institution had chalked up a few successes, there were some challenges which hampered the smooth running of the school.
She noted that because most of the students were from different backgrounds and cultures it was difficult for them to co-exist.
She said the students were not punctual and advised them to be regular in order to achieve their future goals.
The General Secretary of the Institute of Commercial Management (ICM) Mr. Eric Agbenyo advised the graduates to take their studies seriously.
He also called on tutorial colleges to be serious with their infrastructure and employ qualified lecturers to teach, since the National Accreditation Board would close some colleges which were not meeting their standard.
Technical,Vocational skills very important (29/6/09)
THE Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Samuel Bannerman-Mensah, has urged Ghanaians to discard the notion that technical and vocational education is for students who do not perform well at the basic school level.
“Technical and vocational skills education play very important role in our everyday lives, without which life would be very difficult, as daily activities revolve around them,” he added.
Mr Bannerman-Mensah made the remarks when he commissioned an IT hardware centre at the closing ceremony of the Computer System Support Programme (CSSP) at the Accra Technical Training Centre (ATTC) in Accra.
The CSSP was a two-week training programme organised by the Technical and Vocational Education Division (TVED) of the GES for 10 technical skills teachers from selected technical institutions to acquire computer hardware and maintenance skills.
Mr Bannerman-Mensah, therefore, advised that students who had interest in technical and vocational skills education should be encouraged to take up the course as it would empower them economically and also contribute to national development.
He said the training centre would ensure availability of regular training materials to students undergoing the training.
Mr Bannerman-Mensah noted that similar centres would be set up in other regions which would provide maintenance and repair services to all schools with computers.
He also expressed his profound gratitude to UNESCO for sponsoring the programme.
For his part, the Principal of the ATTC, Mr Ameyaw-Baafi, also expressed his sincere gratitude to the TVED for instituting the programme, and assured Ghanaians that ATTC would maintain the tools and equipment at the centre.
“We will train and produce quality technicians for the socio-economic development of the country,” he added.
Mr Ameyaw-Baafi appealed to the government to allocate more funds to the TVED to sustain the programme.
“Technical and vocational skills education play very important role in our everyday lives, without which life would be very difficult, as daily activities revolve around them,” he added.
Mr Bannerman-Mensah made the remarks when he commissioned an IT hardware centre at the closing ceremony of the Computer System Support Programme (CSSP) at the Accra Technical Training Centre (ATTC) in Accra.
The CSSP was a two-week training programme organised by the Technical and Vocational Education Division (TVED) of the GES for 10 technical skills teachers from selected technical institutions to acquire computer hardware and maintenance skills.
Mr Bannerman-Mensah, therefore, advised that students who had interest in technical and vocational skills education should be encouraged to take up the course as it would empower them economically and also contribute to national development.
He said the training centre would ensure availability of regular training materials to students undergoing the training.
Mr Bannerman-Mensah noted that similar centres would be set up in other regions which would provide maintenance and repair services to all schools with computers.
He also expressed his profound gratitude to UNESCO for sponsoring the programme.
For his part, the Principal of the ATTC, Mr Ameyaw-Baafi, also expressed his sincere gratitude to the TVED for instituting the programme, and assured Ghanaians that ATTC would maintain the tools and equipment at the centre.
“We will train and produce quality technicians for the socio-economic development of the country,” he added.
Mr Ameyaw-Baafi appealed to the government to allocate more funds to the TVED to sustain the programme.
Beauty and Spa industry needs educated people(29/6/09)
The Chief Executive Officer of Allure Africa, Mrs Dzigbodi Dosoo, has urged Ghanaians to disabuse their minds of the notion that the beauty and health spa profession is the last resort for school dropouts.
She observed that most of the people in the industry were where they were because they had educated themselves to the highest level.
Mrs Dosoo said this in an interview with the Daily Graphic at the closing ceremony of Iyaba 09 in Accra last Thursday.
The Iyaba 09, a beauty and spa exhibition, was held for the players in the industry to learn and acquire new skills.
Mrs Dosoo said they were also contributing their quota to national development through taxes and the creation of employment for the youth.
On the exhibition, Mrs Dosoo said it had a huge turnout with participants acquiring lots of new skills.
She advised the beauty and spa associations to be united as “it is togetherness that would make the industry grow economically”.
For her part, the Sales and Marketing Manager of Allure Africa, Mrs Nana Efua Rockson, noted that although the exhibition had a huge turnout, there were a few hitches, which were later rectified.
She expressed the hope that Iyaba 2010, which is slated for February next year, would attract more participants than this year’s.
Some participants and exhibitors the Daily Graphic spoke to, expressed their gratitude to Allure Africa for the initiative and asked that it should be held every year for those in the industry to learn more.
She observed that most of the people in the industry were where they were because they had educated themselves to the highest level.
Mrs Dosoo said this in an interview with the Daily Graphic at the closing ceremony of Iyaba 09 in Accra last Thursday.
The Iyaba 09, a beauty and spa exhibition, was held for the players in the industry to learn and acquire new skills.
Mrs Dosoo said they were also contributing their quota to national development through taxes and the creation of employment for the youth.
On the exhibition, Mrs Dosoo said it had a huge turnout with participants acquiring lots of new skills.
She advised the beauty and spa associations to be united as “it is togetherness that would make the industry grow economically”.
For her part, the Sales and Marketing Manager of Allure Africa, Mrs Nana Efua Rockson, noted that although the exhibition had a huge turnout, there were a few hitches, which were later rectified.
She expressed the hope that Iyaba 2010, which is slated for February next year, would attract more participants than this year’s.
Some participants and exhibitors the Daily Graphic spoke to, expressed their gratitude to Allure Africa for the initiative and asked that it should be held every year for those in the industry to learn more.
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