Tuesday, January 25, 2011

PROMOTING TECHNICAL VOCATIONS AMONG GIRLS (JUNIOR GRAPHIC PAGE 6, JAN 26, 2011)

Basic school girls in the Berekum Municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region have attended a workshop dubbed ‘‘Promoting Technical/Vocational Education for Girls.”
Ms Augustina Amo-Asare, the National Co-ordinator of Women in Technical Education (WITE) of the Ghana Education Service (GES), stressed that the days when parents made their girls to engage in trading in order to secure education for their brothers were over.
She, therefore, urged parents to enrol and retain their daughters in school while encouraging girls to take their technical and vocational courses seriously so that they would come out as professional craftswomen.
The WITE organises regular career counselling for basic school girls and encourages them to pursue non-traditional technical trades such as motor vehicle mechanics, welding, fabrication, plumbing, auto body repairs and spraying.
‘‘When we take a look around us now, we can see that everything was made by the technical man or woman, such as buildings, chairs, tables, microphones, roofing and others. In fact, all the development going on is done by the technical brains of both men and women,” Ms Amo-Asare emphasised.
Two role models, Ms Esther Niriwaah, a Mechanical Engineer of ABTS Company Limited, at Berekum and Mrs Antionnette Amoako, an Electrical Engineer of the Volta River Authority (VRA) office, in Sunyani, gave their respective testimonies about the study of science and encouraged the girls to pursue their chosen careers.

'EXPLAINS FEATS OF MILLS ADMINISTRATION (PAGE 12, JAN 25, 2011)

THE Brong Ahafo Regional Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Mohammed Seidu, has impressed upon the youth of the party to continuously explain to the people what the government has been able to achieve so far and what it intends to do towards fulfilling the ‘‘Better Ghana’’ agenda.
He pointed out that agitation by a section of the youth calling for the removal of some ministers of state and metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) ought to be done in a prudent manner through the application of the structures of the party or any other legitimate means in the supreme interest of the party.
The NDC Regional Youth Organiser alleged that there were faceless people behind such agitation by a section of the youth, a situation he stressed did not augur well for the smooth running of the Professor Mills-led administration.
Mr Seidu, who was speaking with the Daily Graphic in Sunyani, commended Prof. Mills for the bold decision to reshuffle some of the executive in the government, including MMDCEs, saying that it was a step in the right direction.
According to him, such an initiative by the President showed that he was indeed on top of his job, and, therefore, it would be unwise for any group to embark or stage unnecessary agitation or put pressure on the President to effect changes.
Mr Seidu rather appealed to the youth and women’s wings of the NDC to rally solidly behind the President and his team, as well as the national executive of the party, towards achieving the set positive agenda of the government.
He said everyone had the right to criticise the policies and programmes of the government by using the right channels and in a constructive manner.
The regional organiser intimated that a recent outreach programme jointly carried out by the youth and women’s wings of the NDC in the region showed that the party had goodwill of the people at the grass roots, since they had come to appreciate the government’s effort to build a prosperous country.
He emphasised that the programme had revealed that there was hope for the NDC to maintain power by winning handsomely in the 2012 general election and appealed to supporters of the party to put all hands on deck.
He appealed to the National Executive of the party to provide resources towards the sustenance of the programme this year, saying that it was the surest way to test the strength of the party on the local front.

Friday, January 21, 2011

SCHOOL HEADS ATTEND CAPACITY-BUILDING WORKSHOP...In Asunafo-South Disrict (PAGE 11, JAN 21, 2011)

EIGHTY-SEVEN headteachers and headmasters of basic and junior high schools in the Asunafo South District of the Brong Ahafo Region have attended a capacity-building workshop at Kukuom on legal and administrative issues of the Ghana Education Service (GES).
The two subject areas had created a lot of problems and difficulties for headteachers and headmasters as well as teachers and students which had adversely affected teaching and learning in the schools.
For instance, some of the heads arbitrarily dismiss their children without recourse to laid down procedures, while others administer corporal punishment on pupils and students and others are alleged to have sexually assaulted their female pupils or students.
Organised by the Asunafo District Directorate of the GES, the workshop sought to equip the participants with the requisite knowledge of the law and the implications of their actions and inaction, as administrators of their respective schools.
The workshop will also place the school heads in a position that will enable them to educate their teachers on rules and regulations of the GES in order that they do not fall foul of the law.
The Asunafo District Director of the GES, Mr Hayford Kwadwo Osei, who opened the workshop, observed that, the management of human resources was most difficult and complex, considering the dynamic nature of human beings.
To be able to effectively manage the affairs in the schools, he said the participants needed to know that their subordinates and the children alike had their rights which they would go all out to protect, hence the need for them to appreciate the legal framework within which they operated.
The district director pointed out that, some of the legal areas that could engender conflict in the school between the heads and their teachers were issues of leave, promotion, salary increases and upgrading, excursions, football matches, field trips, salary embargoes and deletion of salaries.
He disclosed that the district had taken delivery and distributed 3,000 school uniforms to pupils in deprived areas while over 100,000 exercise books had been distributed to pupils in the district, adding that, this year alone, the district had benefited from the construction of 12 classroom blocks, some of which were either completed or nearing completion.
The Legal Advisor of the GES, Mr Enoch Nurale Yirbeyogr, who facilitated the workshop, reminded the participants that, the time had come for every headteacher to be conscious of the legal regime within which he or she operated.
He said, ‘‘Ghanaians had promulgated a constitution for themselves and had resolved to pursue a democratic system of governance at all levels, be it at the national or at the school level, saying that, being conscious of the legal regime with which one works, entailed being familiar with laws one had to contend with in the daily discharge of one’s duties’’.

Monday, January 17, 2011

CHELSEA OVERPOWER KOTOKO (BACK PAGE, JAN 17, 2011)

Berekum Chelsea continued their winning spree to remain on top when they recorded a 1-0 victory over an overhauled Asante Kotoko side in a Glo Premiership thriller at their favourite Golden City Park yesterday.
An 18th minute goal fetched by dependable striker, Emmanuel Clottey, as a result of a midfield blunder by Kotoko completed a back-to-back triumph of the Berekum Blues over the Porcupine Warriors.
An earlier knockdown of Kotoko’s livewire, Nathaniel Asamoah, and his continuous policing by the Chelsea defence largely contributed to the visitors’ defeat. Kotoko, however, had a chance to level up in the 33rd minute but a powerful left-footer by Michael Akuffo missed target.
Chelsea’s strong man, Bismark Idan, in the thick of affairs nearly doubled the lead for Chelsea but his 89th minute drive flew over the bar, while a freekick in added time by Daniel Nii Adjei found Asamoah whose shot was blocked by goalkeeper Ernest Sowah.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

HEARTS SNATCH CRUCIAL AWAY WIN (BACK PAGE, JAN 13, 2011)

Accra Hearts of Oak put behind them their technical problems to trek courageously to the Berekum Golden City Park to inflict a painful 1-0 defeat on Arsenal in their 17th week Glo Premier League clash yesterday.
By courtesy of a low cross from veteran Hearts winger, Douglas Nkrumah from the left, returnee striker Mahatma Otoo made no mistake to hit the back of the net for the Phobians on the 71st minute to the disbelief of the home fans.
Hearts never looked back after the goal, while Arsenal, who had the better part of the second half after a balanced first half, tried to contain the visitors’ onslaughts but fate befell midfielder Osei Bonsu as Ho-based class one referee, Solomon Modey, showed him the red card for a savage tackle on Mahatma Otoo.
The referee’s decision attracted vehement protests from Arsenal players who charged on him, but security men managed to restore sanity for play to continue.

Friday, December 31, 2010

52 DRIVERS FINED FOR TRAFFIC OFFENCES (MIRROR, DEC 31, 2010, PAGE 21)

From Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Sunyani.

The Sunyani and Goaso Magistrate Courts in the Brong Ahafo Region have imposed a total fine of GH¢2,020.00 on a number of drivers who were arraigned before them separately for committing various motor and traffic offences.
The recalcitrant drivers were arrested during a special exercise conducted by the regional Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service on the Goaso-Kukuom road, Goaso-Kumasi road, and the Berekum- Dormaa Ahenkro road and at the Bechem Junction.
They were charged for driving without license, use of motor vehicles with worn-out tyres, failing to equip their vehicles with fire extinguishers and warning triangle, use of vehicles with crashed windscreens, among other traffic offences.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Paul Wesley Baah, the Regional MTTU Commander, told The Mirror in Sunyani that a total of 52 drivers were arrested during the first exercise on the Goaso-Kukuom and Goaso-Kumasi roads, out of which 39 were processed for the Goaso court, presided over by Mr Sydney Braimah.
 ASP Baah indicated that the court then convicted 16 of the drivers who were found guilty to pay a total fine of GH¢1, 120.00 and issued a bench warrant for the arrest of 20 others who failed to appear before the court.
For the exercise carried out on the Berekum-Dormaa Ahenkro road and at the Bechem Junction, the MTTU Regional Commander explained that, in all, 38 drivers were arrested for indiscipline but 25 of them were sent to the Sunyani Magistrate Court ‘‘B’’, presided over by Mr J. Mensah.
He said the court then convicted nine of them to pay a total of GH¢900 and issued a bench warrant for the arrest of 16 while he directed the police to write warning letters to 13 others.
According to Mr Baah, his outfit would continue to instil discipline on the roads, especially with the approach of Christmas and even after the festivities.                           

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

KENYASE HEALTH CENTRE UPGRADED (PAGE 22, DEC 29, 2010)

THE Kenyase Health Centre in the Asutifi District in the Brong Ahafo Region has been rehabilitated and upgraded at a cost of $85,000.
The project involved re-roofing of the building, extension of water to the centre from the main Small Town Water System at Kenyasi, the provision of water closet toilet facility as well as the construction of new male and female wards and two nurses quarters, among other expansion works.
Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) operating the Ahafo Mine in the district financed the project after being given the green light by the District Assembly and the Ghana Health Service.
Speaking at a ceremony to hand over the new look facility at a ceremony at Kenyase, the External Affairs Manager of NGGL, Mr Kojo Bedu-Addo, said it was the aim of the company to ensure a sustainable development of communities within the operational area of the mine concession.
He stressed that the assistance to the health centre was a demonstration of the company’s commitment towards the promotion of quality healthcare delivery in its operational area.
Mr Bedu-Addo added: ‘‘We hope this contribution will go a long way to make health care more accessible to the community and at the same time, attract qualified health personnel to reside in the community.”
He said Newmont in partnership with the GHS and other stakeholders such as the International Finance Company had broadened the scope of education and prevention of malaria control, through its treated bed net distribution programme in local communities and workplaces.
Mr Bedu-Addo disclosed that the Global Business Coalition (GBC) on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria voted NGGL as a leading company in the fight against HIV/AIDS and malaria prevention this year.
He stated that the worldwide coalition of 200 corporate organisations, including the United Nations (UN) and its affiliates, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) also voted the company’s work place HIV/AIDS and malaria programme as the best in the work place HIV/AIDS and malaria category.
The District Co-ordinating Director, Mr D. Aquaye, said health issues were paramount in the effective development of any nation hence the government’s intervention to provide the necessary infrastructure in the health sector.
He, however, said the central government could not shoulder the burden alone and, therefore, urged private individuals and groups to contribute their quota in the development of all facets of the economy.
Mr Aquaye commended the management of Newmont for the gesture and gave the assurance that the assembly would contribute towards the maintenance of the facility to prolong its lifespan.