By Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Sunyani.
THE wealth of a nation is increasingly being defined in terms of the educational level of its people and it is the educational base or human resource development, which has become an important component for economic, cultural and social development.
By the vision 2015 document of the country, Ghana has set itself a target of becoming a middle-income country like Malaysia, Singapore, Korea and Taiwan.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, who stated this in Sunyani, the Regional capital, pointed out that those countries are what they are now, due to the scientific and technical expertise as well as the quality of human resources they possess.
Speaking at the 25th Anniversary celebration and Speech and Prize Giving Day of the Twene Amanfo Senior High Technical School (TAMSTECH) in Sunyani last weekend, the Regional Minister, stressed that Taiwan is the world’s third largest manufacturer of computers.
The theme for the celebration was Enhancing Technical /Vocational Education for National Development.
He said as a region “We have clearly recognized the compelling need for us to tailor education, not only to the aspirations and manpower needs of our people and nation, but also to meet the needs of the global market as well as enhance our competitiveness.”
Mr Baffour-Awuah noted that since the colonial era and for the better part of independence, educational facilities were not only limited, but were also unevenly distributed in the country as a result of which some communities were deprived of the needed educational facilities.
He said successive governments have made strenuous efforts to address this imbalance and with the introduction of various policies and programmes by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, considerable progress has been made in changing the educational landscape.
For example he said, in spite of very pressing and legitimate demands from other social sectors, the government continued to devote about one third of its national budget to education.
The Headmistress of the school, Ms Georgina Boakye said accommodation for staff of the school was woefully inadequate considering the fact that out of the 63 teachers, only six were housed by the school.
She indicated that the unavailability of an administration block had compelled the school authorities, to convert classrooms into offices for administrative purposes, which she said, hadled to overcrowding in the classrooms.
Since its inception, Ms Boakye pointed out that the school had not benefited from any vehicle, except the wooden truck, which was donated by the Valco Aluminium Company (VALCO) in 1989, which had outlived its usefulness while its maintenance had become a drain on the meager resources of the school.
Mr Fosuaba Mensah Banahene, the Administrator of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND), the guest speaker, disclosed that since 2001 the GETFUND has spent a total of GH¢ 12,446,644 on infrastructural development in 20 technical institutions in the country.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
NEW HEALTH INSURANCE ID CARD OUT SOON (PAGE 35, MIRROR)
From Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Bechem
A new national membership identity card (ID), produced by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) for all new and old members of the district, municipal, sub-metropolitan and metropolitan mutual health insurance schemes, has been launched at Bechem, the capital of the Tano South District of the Brong Ahafo Region, as a pilot project.
The decision by the NHIA to phase out the old ID cards and replace them with new ones forms part of the uniform technology platform to enable members to access health services with less difficulty.
Besides, coming out with a universal membership card which can be used anywhere in the country, members will also be given health facility attendance booklet that could be used throughout the year.
The booklet will also replace the three health facility attendance card issued to members upon registration. The booklet will also enable members with chronic diseases who visit the facilities frequently to have an up-to-date record of their medical history.
The new card is designed like a credit card and is easy to be carried in one’s pocket, purse or bag and has special features such as the NHIS logo and the inscription, “Republic of Ghana National Health Insurance Membership Card.”
Speaking at the launching ceremony, the Public Affairs Manager of NHIA, Alhaji Ibrahim Wiredu, disclosed that within three years of actual implementation of the scheme, the country has attained 50 per cent coverage.
He said, as at the end of 2007, 145 mutual health schemes were implementing the programme, and that each scheme provided its members with its own ID cards and health facility attendance cards which were valid only within the district that the scheme operated.
That situation, he explained, made it very difficult for members to access health care outside their schemes, and noted that portability was possible only by special arrangements between the schemes and the providers, while members seeking health care outside their schemes had to obtain introductory letters from their schemes.
A new national membership identity card (ID), produced by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) for all new and old members of the district, municipal, sub-metropolitan and metropolitan mutual health insurance schemes, has been launched at Bechem, the capital of the Tano South District of the Brong Ahafo Region, as a pilot project.
The decision by the NHIA to phase out the old ID cards and replace them with new ones forms part of the uniform technology platform to enable members to access health services with less difficulty.
Besides, coming out with a universal membership card which can be used anywhere in the country, members will also be given health facility attendance booklet that could be used throughout the year.
The booklet will also replace the three health facility attendance card issued to members upon registration. The booklet will also enable members with chronic diseases who visit the facilities frequently to have an up-to-date record of their medical history.
The new card is designed like a credit card and is easy to be carried in one’s pocket, purse or bag and has special features such as the NHIS logo and the inscription, “Republic of Ghana National Health Insurance Membership Card.”
Speaking at the launching ceremony, the Public Affairs Manager of NHIA, Alhaji Ibrahim Wiredu, disclosed that within three years of actual implementation of the scheme, the country has attained 50 per cent coverage.
He said, as at the end of 2007, 145 mutual health schemes were implementing the programme, and that each scheme provided its members with its own ID cards and health facility attendance cards which were valid only within the district that the scheme operated.
That situation, he explained, made it very difficult for members to access health care outside their schemes, and noted that portability was possible only by special arrangements between the schemes and the providers, while members seeking health care outside their schemes had to obtain introductory letters from their schemes.
Friday, May 23, 2008
GHANA HAS ENOUGH FOODSTUFFS — AGRIC OFFICER (BACK PAGE)
Story: Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Sunyani
THE Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Mr Emmanuel Asante-Krobea, has said that Ghana has not been hit by any acute food crisis as there are enough food crops such as maize, yam, cocoyam, plantain, etc. on the market.
He pointed out that the increase in food prices was only temporary, and indicated that with the setting in of the rains, there would be fresh maize and yams on the market to normalise the situation.
Mr Asante-Krobea said even though the prices of food crops were a bit high, the situation in Ghana could not be compared to other parts of the world.
According to him, there is enough food in the Brong Ahafo Region, which serves as the food basket of the country, adding that once there is food at the producing centre, the people should not panic that there is food shortage in the country.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Sunyani, Mr Krobea-Asante pointed out that a visit to the Techiman Market, which he described as a national market, would reveal that there were all kinds of food crops, such as maize, yams, plantain, cassava and cocoyam for people to buy.
He, however, admitted that the prices of those food items had gone up, citing for instance, the price of maize which had shot up by about 200 per cent of what pertained last year; he disclosed that maize was now selling around GH¢ 60.
“But I don’t think there is much crisis in the country, and now that the rains are coming, the food situation will come to normal and the problem is going to come down as things stand now,” he assured.
He said with the rise in the price of maize, a lot of farmers had massively gone into maize production, and now that the rains had gathered momentum, farmers would start harvesting fresh maize, thereby bringing down the price drastically for consumers to buy.
Mr Asante-Krobea further gave the assurance that within the next one-and-a-half months, the other fresh staples would be in the market.
He said there was plenty of plantain and other food crops at Goaso, the capital of the Asunafo North District and its environs in the region to cushion the perceived nationwide situation.
The regional director of MoFA, however, noted that what was now worrying was the decision by poultry farmers to reduce their stock, as a result of the high cost of maize and other feed ingredients to feed their birds.
He said with such a decision in place, there was going to be a drastic reduction in bird population in the country, thereby resulting in high prices for poultry products.
THE Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Mr Emmanuel Asante-Krobea, has said that Ghana has not been hit by any acute food crisis as there are enough food crops such as maize, yam, cocoyam, plantain, etc. on the market.
He pointed out that the increase in food prices was only temporary, and indicated that with the setting in of the rains, there would be fresh maize and yams on the market to normalise the situation.
Mr Asante-Krobea said even though the prices of food crops were a bit high, the situation in Ghana could not be compared to other parts of the world.
According to him, there is enough food in the Brong Ahafo Region, which serves as the food basket of the country, adding that once there is food at the producing centre, the people should not panic that there is food shortage in the country.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Sunyani, Mr Krobea-Asante pointed out that a visit to the Techiman Market, which he described as a national market, would reveal that there were all kinds of food crops, such as maize, yams, plantain, cassava and cocoyam for people to buy.
He, however, admitted that the prices of those food items had gone up, citing for instance, the price of maize which had shot up by about 200 per cent of what pertained last year; he disclosed that maize was now selling around GH¢ 60.
“But I don’t think there is much crisis in the country, and now that the rains are coming, the food situation will come to normal and the problem is going to come down as things stand now,” he assured.
He said with the rise in the price of maize, a lot of farmers had massively gone into maize production, and now that the rains had gathered momentum, farmers would start harvesting fresh maize, thereby bringing down the price drastically for consumers to buy.
Mr Asante-Krobea further gave the assurance that within the next one-and-a-half months, the other fresh staples would be in the market.
He said there was plenty of plantain and other food crops at Goaso, the capital of the Asunafo North District and its environs in the region to cushion the perceived nationwide situation.
The regional director of MoFA, however, noted that what was now worrying was the decision by poultry farmers to reduce their stock, as a result of the high cost of maize and other feed ingredients to feed their birds.
He said with such a decision in place, there was going to be a drastic reduction in bird population in the country, thereby resulting in high prices for poultry products.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
AMANKWAH ELECTED PM FOR SUNYANI MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY (PAGE 16)
An Architect Consultant in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr Isaac Kwadwo Amankwah, has been elected the new Presiding Member for the Sunyani Municipal Assembly, after securing 92.29 per cent of the votes cast by the 28-member assembly.
Another member of the house, Mr Isaac Yaw Brenya, who wanted to contest the vacant position, stepped down at the last minute.
In his post election address after he had been sworn-in by the Supervising High Court Judge, Mr Justice Lawrence Ladzaglah, Mr Amakwah expressed his gratitude to the members for the trust reposed in him and pledged to work harmoniously with the entire members so as to ensure the effective development of the Sunyani Municipality.
He, however, called for co-operation from the members in order to achieve their goal of developing the area, adding that it was incumbent on the members to leave a legacy for posterity as the future generation would not forgive them if they failed in their duty to develop the municipality.
Later in his sessional address at the assembly’s ordinary general meeting, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Sunyani, Mr Kwame Twumasi-Awuah, indicated that out of an estimated revenue of GH¢2,185,254.78, an amount of GH¢453,975.25, representing about 20.8 per cent was collected for the first quarter of the year.
He explained that the shortfall of 4.2 per cent in the revenue performance was due to the shortfall in the common fund, saying that, out of the expected GH¢250,000 for the fourth quarter, only GH¢41,660.60 was released.
Secondly, Mr Twumasi-Awuah noted that following the inauguration and take off of the newly created Sunyani West District Assembly in February this year, revenues generated in March from that area did not come to the Sunyani Municipal Assembly.
He said efforts had been made towards the provision of good quality classrooms and other educational facilities, both at the basic and second cycle levels.
The MCE also indicated that the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment had assisted the assembly with funds to undertake a street light project in the municipality, not only to beautify the city but also to improve security.
Mr Twumasi – Awuah pointed out that in spite of the assembly’s efforts to check bush fires, over 80 bush fire outbreaks were recorded from November, 2007 to March 2008 and 28 fire offenders were arrested and were being prosecuted under the assembly’s bye-laws.
Another member of the house, Mr Isaac Yaw Brenya, who wanted to contest the vacant position, stepped down at the last minute.
In his post election address after he had been sworn-in by the Supervising High Court Judge, Mr Justice Lawrence Ladzaglah, Mr Amakwah expressed his gratitude to the members for the trust reposed in him and pledged to work harmoniously with the entire members so as to ensure the effective development of the Sunyani Municipality.
He, however, called for co-operation from the members in order to achieve their goal of developing the area, adding that it was incumbent on the members to leave a legacy for posterity as the future generation would not forgive them if they failed in their duty to develop the municipality.
Later in his sessional address at the assembly’s ordinary general meeting, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Sunyani, Mr Kwame Twumasi-Awuah, indicated that out of an estimated revenue of GH¢2,185,254.78, an amount of GH¢453,975.25, representing about 20.8 per cent was collected for the first quarter of the year.
He explained that the shortfall of 4.2 per cent in the revenue performance was due to the shortfall in the common fund, saying that, out of the expected GH¢250,000 for the fourth quarter, only GH¢41,660.60 was released.
Secondly, Mr Twumasi-Awuah noted that following the inauguration and take off of the newly created Sunyani West District Assembly in February this year, revenues generated in March from that area did not come to the Sunyani Municipal Assembly.
He said efforts had been made towards the provision of good quality classrooms and other educational facilities, both at the basic and second cycle levels.
The MCE also indicated that the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment had assisted the assembly with funds to undertake a street light project in the municipality, not only to beautify the city but also to improve security.
Mr Twumasi – Awuah pointed out that in spite of the assembly’s efforts to check bush fires, over 80 bush fire outbreaks were recorded from November, 2007 to March 2008 and 28 fire offenders were arrested and were being prosecuted under the assembly’s bye-laws.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
QUIZ MARKS MALARIA DAY (JUNIOR GRAPHIC, PAGE 5)
Story: Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Kenyasi
Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) has organised an inter-school malaria quiz for four second- cycle schools in the Asutifi District of the Brong Ahafo Region.
The competing schools were Ola Girls’ Senior High, Gyamfi Kumanin Senior High, Hwediem Senior High and Yamfo Senior High.
The competition formed part of activities that marked the celebration of this year’s World Malaria Day in the district.
The theme for the celebration was, “Malaria — a disease without borders”.
Ola Girls’ Senior High School (SHS), the host school, emerged the champion with 44 points and received a flat screen Dell Computer, valued at GH¢1,300, two calculators, T–shirts and insecticide treated mosquito nets (ITN).
They were followed by Gyamfi Kumanin SHS with 34 points which received a 29-inch colour television set (TV), T–shirts, calculators and ITN.
Hwediem SHS which placed third was presented with a 21-inch colour TV set, calculators, T –shirts and ITN. Yamfo SHS took the fourth position and had two calculators, T–shirts and ITN.
In a presentation on malaria after the competition, Ms Gifty Konamah, a National Service person attached to NGGL, disclosed that 41 per cent of the world’s population was at risk of contracting the disease each day and that about three million malaria cases were reported annually in Ghanaian hospitals.
She further pointed out that more than 40 per cent of cases reported at the Out-Patients Department (OPD) at the various health facilities were malaria, and added that the number could be higher as most people with suspected malaria cases did not report at the hospitals for treatment.
The General Manager in charge of Environment and Social Responsibility of NGGL, Dr Dan Michaelson, emphasised that Newmont was committed to the welfare of its partner communities and actively involved in the development of the people in its operational area.
Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) has organised an inter-school malaria quiz for four second- cycle schools in the Asutifi District of the Brong Ahafo Region.
The competing schools were Ola Girls’ Senior High, Gyamfi Kumanin Senior High, Hwediem Senior High and Yamfo Senior High.
The competition formed part of activities that marked the celebration of this year’s World Malaria Day in the district.
The theme for the celebration was, “Malaria — a disease without borders”.
Ola Girls’ Senior High School (SHS), the host school, emerged the champion with 44 points and received a flat screen Dell Computer, valued at GH¢1,300, two calculators, T–shirts and insecticide treated mosquito nets (ITN).
They were followed by Gyamfi Kumanin SHS with 34 points which received a 29-inch colour television set (TV), T–shirts, calculators and ITN.
Hwediem SHS which placed third was presented with a 21-inch colour TV set, calculators, T –shirts and ITN. Yamfo SHS took the fourth position and had two calculators, T–shirts and ITN.
In a presentation on malaria after the competition, Ms Gifty Konamah, a National Service person attached to NGGL, disclosed that 41 per cent of the world’s population was at risk of contracting the disease each day and that about three million malaria cases were reported annually in Ghanaian hospitals.
She further pointed out that more than 40 per cent of cases reported at the Out-Patients Department (OPD) at the various health facilities were malaria, and added that the number could be higher as most people with suspected malaria cases did not report at the hospitals for treatment.
The General Manager in charge of Environment and Social Responsibility of NGGL, Dr Dan Michaelson, emphasised that Newmont was committed to the welfare of its partner communities and actively involved in the development of the people in its operational area.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
COURTS ALONE CANNOT RESOLVE CHIEFTAINCY DISPUTES (PAGE 20)
Story: Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Wenchi
THE Bishop of the Wenchi Diocese of the Methodist Church of Ghana, Right Reverend Kwasi Konadu, has stated that the law courts alone cannot resolve the myriad of chieftaincy disputes and litigations across the country.
“I am absolutely convinced that the courts can’t solve chieftaincy disputes for a lasting peace to prevail One faction wins and the other loses, hence there is always an aggrieved party and that brings divisions in a community,” he observed.
The bishop, therefore, suggested that it was only through proper record keeping and documentation that we would ensure that the right successors to vacant stools and skins had taken their rightful places, which had normally been the bane of chieftaincy litigation in the country.
He said this when he addressed the fifth annual synod of the diocese at Wenchi.
The theme for the synod was: “The Role of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit in Mission.”
Bishop Konadu said many individuals, including royals to stools and skins could not trace their ancestral lineages or genealogies when they were called upon to do that when the need arose, especially when it came to chieftaincy issues, which he described as “thorny” throughout the country.
He, however, noted with satisfaction that “the Hebrews and other nations, were able to keep records for about 4000 years”.
The Bible, Bishop Konadu said, was full of records of genealogies of families and if those people, limited by writing, could do this 4000 years ago, then we in the 21st century did not have any excuse, adding, “How many of us here can go over five generations of our families?”
According to the bishop, it was possible to have what he termed a “win-win” solution to the many chieftaincy disputes, and that it was for the parties involved in the disputes to come together to sort out their differences, “battle” them out, reach a compromise and begin to live together.
Bishop Konadu stressed the need for Ghanaians to thank God for the prevailing democracy and the peace the country was enjoying so far.
He, however, said, “We need to continue to pray so that what happened in Kenya and the current development in Zimbabwe would not be seen in Ghana.
“We need to go in for people who are capable God-fearing, honest and are not covetous and selfish to lead the nation during the forthcoming general election,” the bishop stressed.
Bishop Konadu advised the congregation that even though they belonged to different political persuasions, they should respect the positions of others.
“Let love prevail during this preparation process to the December elections, and politicians should not promise heaven for us on earth. They need to be sincere when they desire to come to power to serve Ghana not to “Milk” Ghana,” he stated.
Bishop Konadu said with the assistance of the whole Methodist Connexion, including the dioceses, circuits and societies, the Bishop’s Manse, which was burnt down last year, had been rehabilitated.
In his welcoming address, the Circuit Steward, Brother Adu Baffo Twum, said as the country was about to go to the polls in December, this year, to elect Members of Parliament and a President, it was their duty as a church to educate its members, families and friends on the need to choose good leaders.
Mr Twum admitted that the Methodist Church was old enough to set up business enterprises to generate funds to assist needy members of the church and also create jobs for the youth as well as cater for the elderly.
THE Bishop of the Wenchi Diocese of the Methodist Church of Ghana, Right Reverend Kwasi Konadu, has stated that the law courts alone cannot resolve the myriad of chieftaincy disputes and litigations across the country.
“I am absolutely convinced that the courts can’t solve chieftaincy disputes for a lasting peace to prevail One faction wins and the other loses, hence there is always an aggrieved party and that brings divisions in a community,” he observed.
The bishop, therefore, suggested that it was only through proper record keeping and documentation that we would ensure that the right successors to vacant stools and skins had taken their rightful places, which had normally been the bane of chieftaincy litigation in the country.
He said this when he addressed the fifth annual synod of the diocese at Wenchi.
The theme for the synod was: “The Role of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit in Mission.”
Bishop Konadu said many individuals, including royals to stools and skins could not trace their ancestral lineages or genealogies when they were called upon to do that when the need arose, especially when it came to chieftaincy issues, which he described as “thorny” throughout the country.
He, however, noted with satisfaction that “the Hebrews and other nations, were able to keep records for about 4000 years”.
The Bible, Bishop Konadu said, was full of records of genealogies of families and if those people, limited by writing, could do this 4000 years ago, then we in the 21st century did not have any excuse, adding, “How many of us here can go over five generations of our families?”
According to the bishop, it was possible to have what he termed a “win-win” solution to the many chieftaincy disputes, and that it was for the parties involved in the disputes to come together to sort out their differences, “battle” them out, reach a compromise and begin to live together.
Bishop Konadu stressed the need for Ghanaians to thank God for the prevailing democracy and the peace the country was enjoying so far.
He, however, said, “We need to continue to pray so that what happened in Kenya and the current development in Zimbabwe would not be seen in Ghana.
“We need to go in for people who are capable God-fearing, honest and are not covetous and selfish to lead the nation during the forthcoming general election,” the bishop stressed.
Bishop Konadu advised the congregation that even though they belonged to different political persuasions, they should respect the positions of others.
“Let love prevail during this preparation process to the December elections, and politicians should not promise heaven for us on earth. They need to be sincere when they desire to come to power to serve Ghana not to “Milk” Ghana,” he stated.
Bishop Konadu said with the assistance of the whole Methodist Connexion, including the dioceses, circuits and societies, the Bishop’s Manse, which was burnt down last year, had been rehabilitated.
In his welcoming address, the Circuit Steward, Brother Adu Baffo Twum, said as the country was about to go to the polls in December, this year, to elect Members of Parliament and a President, it was their duty as a church to educate its members, families and friends on the need to choose good leaders.
Mr Twum admitted that the Methodist Church was old enough to set up business enterprises to generate funds to assist needy members of the church and also create jobs for the youth as well as cater for the elderly.
Monday, May 19, 2008
KINTAMPO NORTH NHIS HOLDS AGM (PAGE 40)
Story: Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Kintampo
THE Kintampo North District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (KNDMHIS) has registered 44.9 per cent of the district’s population, as of December 2007, as against the initial low coverage of 11.5 per cent.
It is envisaged that with the support of all stakeholders, the board of directors and management would exceed a set target of 60 per cent coverage by the close of the year.
Until then, the Kintampo District was split into two, namely Kintampo North and Kintampo South in 2004, the scheme was managed together till March, 2006.
At the time of the split, the population of the Kintampo North was 75,415 out of the total population of 146,770, according to the 2000 Population Census, with a three per cent population growth rate.
As of December 2007, the Kintampo North scheme had registered 35,989 people, representing 44.98 per cent of the North District population.
Addressing the fourth annual general meeting of the scheme at Kintampo, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr Emmanuel Teye Adjase, disclosed that the scheme had so far mobilised GH¢ 480,982.92 from both the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and local sources.
He said for the 2007 operational year, a total of 62,673 clients received treatment from the accredited health facilities.
According to Dr Adjase, more than GH¢ 453,219.9494 was paid to the various health facilities in and outside the district to cater for bills submitted on health care services provided to clients under the year under review.
He stated that the top 10 diseases for out-patients attendance were malaria, eye infection, acute respiratory infection, diarrhoea, intestinal worms, upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), pregnancy-related complications, hypertension and pneumonia.
Dr Adjase cited the successes of the scheme to include the enrolment coverage of about 45 per cent, good and cordial working relations with clients and health care providers, prompt vetting of claims forms, prompt payment of medical bills, prompt and timely preparation of financial statements, among others.
He mentioned distorted information to communities by unknown people on the operation of the scheme and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) benefit package, poor attitude of some community collectors towards the registration process and premium collection and politicisation of the NHIS policy as some of the challenges facing the scheme in the district.
The board chairman gave the assurance that for the 2008/2009 registration period, the management expected to cover and maintain at least 60 per cent of the entire district population in the scheme as contained in its three-year business plan.
To achieve that, Dr Adjase said the board and the management would consciously pursue vigorous enrolment policies such as work place registration to capture all SSNIT contributors within the district and strengthen payment in instalments through the use of membership contribution cards to soften the burden of full payment of registered members during renewal.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Kintampo North, Mr Awudulai Razak, commended the board and the management as well as staff of the scheme for their hard work.
Earlier, the DCE and the board chairman jointly inaugurated an office complex for the scheme, constructed by the district assembly at GH¢ 49,800 from its share of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund.
Picture:
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THE Kintampo North District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (KNDMHIS) has registered 44.9 per cent of the district’s population, as of December 2007, as against the initial low coverage of 11.5 per cent.
It is envisaged that with the support of all stakeholders, the board of directors and management would exceed a set target of 60 per cent coverage by the close of the year.
Until then, the Kintampo District was split into two, namely Kintampo North and Kintampo South in 2004, the scheme was managed together till March, 2006.
At the time of the split, the population of the Kintampo North was 75,415 out of the total population of 146,770, according to the 2000 Population Census, with a three per cent population growth rate.
As of December 2007, the Kintampo North scheme had registered 35,989 people, representing 44.98 per cent of the North District population.
Addressing the fourth annual general meeting of the scheme at Kintampo, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr Emmanuel Teye Adjase, disclosed that the scheme had so far mobilised GH¢ 480,982.92 from both the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and local sources.
He said for the 2007 operational year, a total of 62,673 clients received treatment from the accredited health facilities.
According to Dr Adjase, more than GH¢ 453,219.9494 was paid to the various health facilities in and outside the district to cater for bills submitted on health care services provided to clients under the year under review.
He stated that the top 10 diseases for out-patients attendance were malaria, eye infection, acute respiratory infection, diarrhoea, intestinal worms, upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), pregnancy-related complications, hypertension and pneumonia.
Dr Adjase cited the successes of the scheme to include the enrolment coverage of about 45 per cent, good and cordial working relations with clients and health care providers, prompt vetting of claims forms, prompt payment of medical bills, prompt and timely preparation of financial statements, among others.
He mentioned distorted information to communities by unknown people on the operation of the scheme and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) benefit package, poor attitude of some community collectors towards the registration process and premium collection and politicisation of the NHIS policy as some of the challenges facing the scheme in the district.
The board chairman gave the assurance that for the 2008/2009 registration period, the management expected to cover and maintain at least 60 per cent of the entire district population in the scheme as contained in its three-year business plan.
To achieve that, Dr Adjase said the board and the management would consciously pursue vigorous enrolment policies such as work place registration to capture all SSNIT contributors within the district and strengthen payment in instalments through the use of membership contribution cards to soften the burden of full payment of registered members during renewal.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Kintampo North, Mr Awudulai Razak, commended the board and the management as well as staff of the scheme for their hard work.
Earlier, the DCE and the board chairman jointly inaugurated an office complex for the scheme, constructed by the district assembly at GH¢ 49,800 from its share of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund.
Picture:
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ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCAION PROJECT FOR SUNYANI (PAGE 40)
Story: Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Sunyani
AN Environmental Education Project, jointly undertaken by the Malaspina University College in Canada, the Sunyani Campus of the Faculty of Forest Resource Technology (FFRT) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi and the Sunyani Polytechnic (S-Poly) in the Brong Ahafo Region, has started in the Sunyani Municipality.
The Project, being financed by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) at 500,000 Canadian dollars, has five thematic areas, namely waste management, with special reference to plastics, HIV/AIDS awareness creation, bushfire/wildfire, management, eco-tourism development and village water project.
The major aim of the five-year project is to reduce poverty in four selected communities in the Sunyani Municipality, namely Sunyani Zongo, Abesim, Chiraa and Fiapre.
At a briefing on the project at the Sunyani Polytechnic, the Rector of the institution, Professor Kwasi Nsiah-Gyabaah, explained that the project was one of the efforts by the FFRT and the polytechnic to provide extension education to the local communities and fulfil their mission of providing service to society.
He stated that the real value of the polytechnic and the FFRT would be felt only when the institutions were able to assist the rural communities to overcome their challenges, which included the five mentioned thematic areas.
For instance, Prof. Nsiah-Gyabaah said the Sunyani Municipality was faced with the problem of urban expansion and growing piles of garbage just like other cities in Ghana, and that its disposal was a real challenge, which should be solved at all costs.
He added that the forest-savanna transition zone was vulnerable to frequent annual bush burning.
The rector noted that a lot of progress had been made since the inception of the project, with the capacities of staff and students for research being developed, while those students were engaging in cultural exchanges with their counterparts from Canada.
Prof. Nsiah-Gyabaah pointed out that the project communities, the municipal assembly and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) involved in the project were now feeling the impact of the two tertiary institutions in the region.
The rector stressed that knowledge transfer was being facilitated through the co-operation of partner institutions, adding that as part of the project, students and staff exchange programmes had been planned.
He stated that some project staff from the polytechnic had already visited Canada, and that two groups of students and staff from Malaspina had also visited Ghana.
AN Environmental Education Project, jointly undertaken by the Malaspina University College in Canada, the Sunyani Campus of the Faculty of Forest Resource Technology (FFRT) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi and the Sunyani Polytechnic (S-Poly) in the Brong Ahafo Region, has started in the Sunyani Municipality.
The Project, being financed by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) at 500,000 Canadian dollars, has five thematic areas, namely waste management, with special reference to plastics, HIV/AIDS awareness creation, bushfire/wildfire, management, eco-tourism development and village water project.
The major aim of the five-year project is to reduce poverty in four selected communities in the Sunyani Municipality, namely Sunyani Zongo, Abesim, Chiraa and Fiapre.
At a briefing on the project at the Sunyani Polytechnic, the Rector of the institution, Professor Kwasi Nsiah-Gyabaah, explained that the project was one of the efforts by the FFRT and the polytechnic to provide extension education to the local communities and fulfil their mission of providing service to society.
He stated that the real value of the polytechnic and the FFRT would be felt only when the institutions were able to assist the rural communities to overcome their challenges, which included the five mentioned thematic areas.
For instance, Prof. Nsiah-Gyabaah said the Sunyani Municipality was faced with the problem of urban expansion and growing piles of garbage just like other cities in Ghana, and that its disposal was a real challenge, which should be solved at all costs.
He added that the forest-savanna transition zone was vulnerable to frequent annual bush burning.
The rector noted that a lot of progress had been made since the inception of the project, with the capacities of staff and students for research being developed, while those students were engaging in cultural exchanges with their counterparts from Canada.
Prof. Nsiah-Gyabaah pointed out that the project communities, the municipal assembly and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) involved in the project were now feeling the impact of the two tertiary institutions in the region.
The rector stressed that knowledge transfer was being facilitated through the co-operation of partner institutions, adding that as part of the project, students and staff exchange programmes had been planned.
He stated that some project staff from the polytechnic had already visited Canada, and that two groups of students and staff from Malaspina had also visited Ghana.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
NDUOM: ...CPP WILL DEVELOP 3 NORTHERN REGIONS (PAGE 13)
Story: Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Sunyani
The flag bearer of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, has given the assurance that the CPP will embark on an effective development of the three northern regions if the party is voted into power in the December general election.
He noted that there were fertile lands in those areas which, when developed, would provide food security for the people and allow some for export which could earn the country foreign exchange for infrastructural development.
Addressing supporters of the CPP in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region, the flag bearer also observed that if the Mole National Park received the needed attention, it would serve as a tourist attraction which could also bring in money to develop the economy, saying that if he was voted into power, his government would concentrate on the development of the park.
“I have been to Kenya and seen things for myself, as people pay $120 to watch lions. So why can’t we turn things around at the Mole National Park for foreigners to come here to pay and watch animals?” he asked.
He pointed out that Ghanaians were really suffering, as there was no money in their pockets, contrary to what was promised by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that its government would ensure that there was money in their pockets.
Dr Nduom said the NPP government had got some few months left to leave the scene and yet it had done nothing to please the people and that given the chance to rule the country, the CPP would ensure that Ghanaians really enjoyed life by putting in place sound economic policies.
The flag bearer told the supporters that the CPP had in its fold men and women who were capable of turning the economy around within the shortest possible time after taking over the reins of government.
He stressed that the CPP, under Dr Kwame Nkrumah, put in place sound economic policies that made Ghana the beacon of hope for the whole of Africa and so under his leadership Ghana would bounce back as an economic giant in Africa.
The flag bearer of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, has given the assurance that the CPP will embark on an effective development of the three northern regions if the party is voted into power in the December general election.
He noted that there were fertile lands in those areas which, when developed, would provide food security for the people and allow some for export which could earn the country foreign exchange for infrastructural development.
Addressing supporters of the CPP in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region, the flag bearer also observed that if the Mole National Park received the needed attention, it would serve as a tourist attraction which could also bring in money to develop the economy, saying that if he was voted into power, his government would concentrate on the development of the park.
“I have been to Kenya and seen things for myself, as people pay $120 to watch lions. So why can’t we turn things around at the Mole National Park for foreigners to come here to pay and watch animals?” he asked.
He pointed out that Ghanaians were really suffering, as there was no money in their pockets, contrary to what was promised by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that its government would ensure that there was money in their pockets.
Dr Nduom said the NPP government had got some few months left to leave the scene and yet it had done nothing to please the people and that given the chance to rule the country, the CPP would ensure that Ghanaians really enjoyed life by putting in place sound economic policies.
The flag bearer told the supporters that the CPP had in its fold men and women who were capable of turning the economy around within the shortest possible time after taking over the reins of government.
He stressed that the CPP, under Dr Kwame Nkrumah, put in place sound economic policies that made Ghana the beacon of hope for the whole of Africa and so under his leadership Ghana would bounce back as an economic giant in Africa.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
MINISTRY REVISES FOOD, AGRIC POLICY (PAGE 47)
Story: Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Wenchi
The Faculty of Agriculture of the Methodist University College based at Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo Region has held its 1st congregation and 2nd matriculation at a ceremony at the Wenchi campus of the university.
Addressing the ceremony, the Minister of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Mr Ernest Akubour Debrah, observed that despite the importance of agriculture in Ghana, tertiary agricultural education has not been “spared the erosion caused by decades of under investment, loss of staff incentive, and failure to recruit replacements for an ageing cadre of professors”.
According to the sector minister, the critical question was how to reinvigorate tertiary agricultural education so that Ghana and Africa would be capable of sustained innovation in agriculture and natural resource management.
Twenty-seven students were matriculated to pursue programmes in BSc General Agriculture, Agro-Processing, Agri Business and Horticulture while a total of 13 students received certificates in their various disciplines.
Mr Debrah stressed that if agriculture was to be the engine of development in Africa as envisaged by the African Union, agricultural graduates should be the drivers of development, whether they go into industry or politics, or pursue higher degrees for research and teaching careers.
Mr Debrah also emphasised that agriculture graduates would have to understand the consequences of rapid technological change in the contexts of globalisation and the risks and uncertainties associated with demographic structures and climate.
The minister said since the Wenchi campus of the university was “hands-on”, MoFA would liaise with MUCG to train the youth in the rudiments of agriculture.
Mr Debrah noted with satisfaction that the MUCG was pursuing programmes that fell within the educational policies of the government, adding that the MUCG was currently collaborating with MoFA on the Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programme (RTIMP), in the multiplication of improved cassava planting materials.
Very Reverend Professor Samuel K. Adjepong, the Principal of MUCG, explained that the Faculty of Agriculture at Wenchi was to prepare students to engage in farming as a business and prepare them to manage agricultural enterprises and related industries.
The university is also striving to develop the students ability to think critically and develop the highest ethical and human values and excellent aesthetic taste, as well as provide them with the best academic, professional and practical training, including the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation, he added.
He disclosed that with funding from the Export Development Investment Fund, an old structure at the campus had been renovated for use as a seed store and that a three-room structure had also been rehabilitated for use as a laboratory for Physics, Chemistry and Nutrition.
The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ghana, Most Rev. Dr Robert Aboagye-Mensah, who is also chairman of the MUCG Council, observed with satisfaction that the MUCG staff and students had started taking positive steps to impact on rural development.
The Managing Director of the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), Mr Yaw Opoku Atuahene, explained that it was the objective of the bank to finance and modernise agriculture and so it had a vested interest in the faculty at Wenchi.
He, therefore, gave the assurance that the bank would provide an effective co-operation and collaboration with the university by sending resource persons to teach some selected subjects, adding that students at the faculty were encouraged to apply to do their attachment at the ADB.
The Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Abraham Kwadwo Kwakye, urged the administrators of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) to provide more funding to the universities to enable them to carry out more research work.
The Faculty of Agriculture of the Methodist University College based at Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo Region has held its 1st congregation and 2nd matriculation at a ceremony at the Wenchi campus of the university.
Addressing the ceremony, the Minister of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Mr Ernest Akubour Debrah, observed that despite the importance of agriculture in Ghana, tertiary agricultural education has not been “spared the erosion caused by decades of under investment, loss of staff incentive, and failure to recruit replacements for an ageing cadre of professors”.
According to the sector minister, the critical question was how to reinvigorate tertiary agricultural education so that Ghana and Africa would be capable of sustained innovation in agriculture and natural resource management.
Twenty-seven students were matriculated to pursue programmes in BSc General Agriculture, Agro-Processing, Agri Business and Horticulture while a total of 13 students received certificates in their various disciplines.
Mr Debrah stressed that if agriculture was to be the engine of development in Africa as envisaged by the African Union, agricultural graduates should be the drivers of development, whether they go into industry or politics, or pursue higher degrees for research and teaching careers.
Mr Debrah also emphasised that agriculture graduates would have to understand the consequences of rapid technological change in the contexts of globalisation and the risks and uncertainties associated with demographic structures and climate.
The minister said since the Wenchi campus of the university was “hands-on”, MoFA would liaise with MUCG to train the youth in the rudiments of agriculture.
Mr Debrah noted with satisfaction that the MUCG was pursuing programmes that fell within the educational policies of the government, adding that the MUCG was currently collaborating with MoFA on the Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programme (RTIMP), in the multiplication of improved cassava planting materials.
Very Reverend Professor Samuel K. Adjepong, the Principal of MUCG, explained that the Faculty of Agriculture at Wenchi was to prepare students to engage in farming as a business and prepare them to manage agricultural enterprises and related industries.
The university is also striving to develop the students ability to think critically and develop the highest ethical and human values and excellent aesthetic taste, as well as provide them with the best academic, professional and practical training, including the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation, he added.
He disclosed that with funding from the Export Development Investment Fund, an old structure at the campus had been renovated for use as a seed store and that a three-room structure had also been rehabilitated for use as a laboratory for Physics, Chemistry and Nutrition.
The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ghana, Most Rev. Dr Robert Aboagye-Mensah, who is also chairman of the MUCG Council, observed with satisfaction that the MUCG staff and students had started taking positive steps to impact on rural development.
The Managing Director of the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), Mr Yaw Opoku Atuahene, explained that it was the objective of the bank to finance and modernise agriculture and so it had a vested interest in the faculty at Wenchi.
He, therefore, gave the assurance that the bank would provide an effective co-operation and collaboration with the university by sending resource persons to teach some selected subjects, adding that students at the faculty were encouraged to apply to do their attachment at the ADB.
The Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Abraham Kwadwo Kwakye, urged the administrators of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) to provide more funding to the universities to enable them to carry out more research work.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
GRAPHIC NSEMPA MARKS ANNIVERSARY WITH FLOAT (PAGE 31)
STORY: Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Berekum
THE Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) has launched the first anniversary of its community newspaper, Graphic
Nsempa.
The paper, which is circulated in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions, was first published in April last year.
The one-week celebration started with a float in Berekum in the Brong Ahafo Region which attracted all manner of people.
The theme for the celebration is, “Facilitating National Development Agenda Through Community Newspapers”.
Leading the float was the General Manager (GM) in charge of Newspapers of the GCGL, Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, accompanied by the GM, Marketing and Public Affairs, Mr Kwasi Owusu Asare; Messrs Albert Sam, the Public Affairs Manager; Hope Adusu, the Manager in charge of Research; the Zonal Manager for the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions, Alhaji Hashim Amissah, the Brong Ahafo Regional Manager, Mr Charles Bampoe, as well as other members of staff of the company.
From Berekum, the float continued to the Sunyani municipality, travelling through the central business district of Sunyani and other principal streets, during which copies of Graphic Nsempa were distributed to the public.
Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh indicated that it was the intention of the company to alert the public to the existence of the paper.
The Public Affairs Manager explained that the anniversary was primarily to evaluate the performance of the newspaper as a pilot in the two regions for the past year in order to chart a new way forward.
He also pointed out that as a community-based newspaper, it was intended to attract advertisements from the district and municipal assemblies and also serve as an avenue for them to outline their development programmes.
Mr Sam further explained that the company had divided the country into zones, comprising Ashanti/Brong Ahafo, the North (Upper East, Upper West and Northern regions,) Eastern and Volta, as well as Western and Central, and that based on the performance of the paper in the pilot Ashanti and Brong Ahafo zone, it would be replicated in the other zones.
A similar float is expected to be organised in the Kumasi metropolis and other parts of the Ashanti Region.
THE Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) has launched the first anniversary of its community newspaper, Graphic
Nsempa.
The paper, which is circulated in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions, was first published in April last year.
The one-week celebration started with a float in Berekum in the Brong Ahafo Region which attracted all manner of people.
The theme for the celebration is, “Facilitating National Development Agenda Through Community Newspapers”.
Leading the float was the General Manager (GM) in charge of Newspapers of the GCGL, Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, accompanied by the GM, Marketing and Public Affairs, Mr Kwasi Owusu Asare; Messrs Albert Sam, the Public Affairs Manager; Hope Adusu, the Manager in charge of Research; the Zonal Manager for the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions, Alhaji Hashim Amissah, the Brong Ahafo Regional Manager, Mr Charles Bampoe, as well as other members of staff of the company.
From Berekum, the float continued to the Sunyani municipality, travelling through the central business district of Sunyani and other principal streets, during which copies of Graphic Nsempa were distributed to the public.
Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh indicated that it was the intention of the company to alert the public to the existence of the paper.
The Public Affairs Manager explained that the anniversary was primarily to evaluate the performance of the newspaper as a pilot in the two regions for the past year in order to chart a new way forward.
He also pointed out that as a community-based newspaper, it was intended to attract advertisements from the district and municipal assemblies and also serve as an avenue for them to outline their development programmes.
Mr Sam further explained that the company had divided the country into zones, comprising Ashanti/Brong Ahafo, the North (Upper East, Upper West and Northern regions,) Eastern and Volta, as well as Western and Central, and that based on the performance of the paper in the pilot Ashanti and Brong Ahafo zone, it would be replicated in the other zones.
A similar float is expected to be organised in the Kumasi metropolis and other parts of the Ashanti Region.
Monday, May 5, 2008
US AMBASSADOR BIDS FAREWELL TO BA MINISTER (PAGE 40)
STORY: Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Sunyani
United States (US) Ambassador to Ghana, Madam Pamela E. Bridgwater, has admitted that she also encountered the challenges of water shortages, electricity power outages and drought during her three-year duty tour of the country, just like the ordinary Ghanaian living in Accra or elsewhere in the country.
She, however, stated that the only advantage for her was that she had standby generators and other facilities that supported her when there were power cuts and other utility failures.
The ambassador who made the admission at Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region, was quick to add that every Ghanaian had the responsibility of contributing towards the solution of the problems that confronted the country.
Answering questions from journalists at the office of the Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, during a farewell call on him, Madam Bridgwater observed that the problem of the environment being choked with plastic materials, was not peculiar to Ghana, but also existed in many parts of the world.
She said the only solution to the problem of plastic waste was the recycling of rubber materials.
Madam Bridgewater gave the assurance that some cities in the US were ready to share their experiences with the various district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies in Ghana to solve the problem.
According to the ambassador, she had had a wonderful and enjoyable stay in Ghana, where she paid more than one working visit to the various regions and had learnt a lot about education, health, agriculture, water and sanitation, among other issues in the country.
Madam Bridgwater expressed her country’s commitment to strengthening the cordial relations that had existed between Ghana and America over the past decades.
She commended all the parties that had contributed in diverse ways in the fight against guinea worm infection in the country and expressed the hope that the incidence would be eradicated once and for all.
For his part, the regional minister noted with satisfaction that under the ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund, most of the projects initiated in some deprived parts of the region in particular and the country as a whole, had been completed.
Mr Baffour-Awuah reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening democracy and good governance in the country, adding that Ghana would continue to become the beacon of hope for Africa and many parts of the world.
The regional minister stated that the lack of technical educational institutes in the region, was a source of worry to the Regional Co-ordinating Council.
He, therefore, urged the US Embassy to explore ways to assist the region to establish some of those institutions in some parts of the region.
The Regional Directors of Health Services, Agriculture and Education, Alhaji Dr Mohammed Bin Ibrahim, Mr Asante Krobea and Mrs Akua Debrah, respectively, took turns to brief the ambassador and her entourage on the success stories and challenges of their sectors.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Sunyani, Mr Kwame Twumasi Awuah, appealed for a linkage between a city in the US and Sunyani to enable them share experiences.
Earlier on, the Co-ordinator for the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund, Madam Peace Adwoa Nunoo, and the Press Attache at the embassy, Mr Benjamin A. East, had told the press that in the past three years, a total of $210,000 had been earmarked to assist deprived communities across the country to undertake their own initiated self-help projects in the areas of health, education, water and sanitation.
United States (US) Ambassador to Ghana, Madam Pamela E. Bridgwater, has admitted that she also encountered the challenges of water shortages, electricity power outages and drought during her three-year duty tour of the country, just like the ordinary Ghanaian living in Accra or elsewhere in the country.
She, however, stated that the only advantage for her was that she had standby generators and other facilities that supported her when there were power cuts and other utility failures.
The ambassador who made the admission at Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region, was quick to add that every Ghanaian had the responsibility of contributing towards the solution of the problems that confronted the country.
Answering questions from journalists at the office of the Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, during a farewell call on him, Madam Bridgwater observed that the problem of the environment being choked with plastic materials, was not peculiar to Ghana, but also existed in many parts of the world.
She said the only solution to the problem of plastic waste was the recycling of rubber materials.
Madam Bridgewater gave the assurance that some cities in the US were ready to share their experiences with the various district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies in Ghana to solve the problem.
According to the ambassador, she had had a wonderful and enjoyable stay in Ghana, where she paid more than one working visit to the various regions and had learnt a lot about education, health, agriculture, water and sanitation, among other issues in the country.
Madam Bridgwater expressed her country’s commitment to strengthening the cordial relations that had existed between Ghana and America over the past decades.
She commended all the parties that had contributed in diverse ways in the fight against guinea worm infection in the country and expressed the hope that the incidence would be eradicated once and for all.
For his part, the regional minister noted with satisfaction that under the ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund, most of the projects initiated in some deprived parts of the region in particular and the country as a whole, had been completed.
Mr Baffour-Awuah reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening democracy and good governance in the country, adding that Ghana would continue to become the beacon of hope for Africa and many parts of the world.
The regional minister stated that the lack of technical educational institutes in the region, was a source of worry to the Regional Co-ordinating Council.
He, therefore, urged the US Embassy to explore ways to assist the region to establish some of those institutions in some parts of the region.
The Regional Directors of Health Services, Agriculture and Education, Alhaji Dr Mohammed Bin Ibrahim, Mr Asante Krobea and Mrs Akua Debrah, respectively, took turns to brief the ambassador and her entourage on the success stories and challenges of their sectors.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Sunyani, Mr Kwame Twumasi Awuah, appealed for a linkage between a city in the US and Sunyani to enable them share experiences.
Earlier on, the Co-ordinator for the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund, Madam Peace Adwoa Nunoo, and the Press Attache at the embassy, Mr Benjamin A. East, had told the press that in the past three years, a total of $210,000 had been earmarked to assist deprived communities across the country to undertake their own initiated self-help projects in the areas of health, education, water and sanitation.
WORLD MALARIA DAY HELD AT WAMAHINSO (PAGE 40)
Story: Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Wamahinso
NEWMONT Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) operating in the Ahafo area of the Brong Ahafo Region, in collaboration with the Asutifi District Health Service and the Asutifi District Assembly, has organised a series of activities at Wamahinso to commemorate World Malaria Day.
As part of the activities, on the theme: “Malaria — a Disease Without Borders,” workers of the company joined the people of Wamahinso to undertake a clean-up exercise in the town and also went on a float through the principal streets of the town.
Newmont later distributed 800 insecticide treated bed-nets to children under five years.
The General Manager in charge of the Environment and Social Responsibility at NGGL, Mr Dan V. Michaelson, who sponsored the event, stated that during last year’s Africa Malaria Day celebration, his company in partnership with Netmark, a USAID sponsored project, launched a $35,000 insecticide treated bed nets project, under the company’s community and well-being initiative.
He said the company also trained 239 community volunteers and 29 health workers to conduct the treatment of the mosquito nets in October, 2007, adding that a total of 21,444 nets were treated in 11 communities in the Asutifi and Tano North districts, exceeding the company’s target of 20,000.
The Asutifi District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Opoku Pepra, and the acting District Director of Health Service, Mrs Margaret Osei Anim, also delivered addresses at the ceremony.
NEWMONT Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) operating in the Ahafo area of the Brong Ahafo Region, in collaboration with the Asutifi District Health Service and the Asutifi District Assembly, has organised a series of activities at Wamahinso to commemorate World Malaria Day.
As part of the activities, on the theme: “Malaria — a Disease Without Borders,” workers of the company joined the people of Wamahinso to undertake a clean-up exercise in the town and also went on a float through the principal streets of the town.
Newmont later distributed 800 insecticide treated bed-nets to children under five years.
The General Manager in charge of the Environment and Social Responsibility at NGGL, Mr Dan V. Michaelson, who sponsored the event, stated that during last year’s Africa Malaria Day celebration, his company in partnership with Netmark, a USAID sponsored project, launched a $35,000 insecticide treated bed nets project, under the company’s community and well-being initiative.
He said the company also trained 239 community volunteers and 29 health workers to conduct the treatment of the mosquito nets in October, 2007, adding that a total of 21,444 nets were treated in 11 communities in the Asutifi and Tano North districts, exceeding the company’s target of 20,000.
The Asutifi District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Opoku Pepra, and the acting District Director of Health Service, Mrs Margaret Osei Anim, also delivered addresses at the ceremony.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
MN. 55. NURSING MOTHER, REMANDED FOR POSSESSING 'WEE' (MIRROR, PAGE 28)
From Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Wenchi
The Wenchi police have arrested a 55-year-old man, Abraham Kwartey Quartey, alias “Rasta”, 55, and Adwoa Vuoruh, 21 a nursing mother of a 11-month-old baby, for possessing narcotic drugs without authority.
According to the Wenchi District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Prince Sam Kwame Osae, while Rasta was caught red-handed holding a parcel of suspected narcotics drugs, a search in the room of Adwoa revealed a quantity of parcels suspected to be cannabis hidden under her husband’s bed.
Mr Osae said the arrest of the two followed a tip-off that Rasta and one Kwaku Atta, now at large, were dealing in the forbidden drugs at Badu, near Wenchi. When the police went in to look for Atta, he was nowhere to be found but rather came across the wife in the house.
He alleged that in the first instance when Rasta was interrogated by the police, he denied knowledge of dealing in drugs.
However, according to the police, when the police went in again to Rasta’s place he was caught holding a parcel of the suspected narcotic drugs.
Meanwhile, he said the two had been put before the Wenchi Magistrate’s Court presided over by Mr Essel Walker and remanded into police custody pending further investigations.
In a brief interview with Adwoa, she told The Mirror that she was an apprentice hairdresser at the Badu market and that the husband was a farmer, and denied knowledge of the suspected narcotics drugs.
The Wenchi police have arrested a 55-year-old man, Abraham Kwartey Quartey, alias “Rasta”, 55, and Adwoa Vuoruh, 21 a nursing mother of a 11-month-old baby, for possessing narcotic drugs without authority.
According to the Wenchi District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Prince Sam Kwame Osae, while Rasta was caught red-handed holding a parcel of suspected narcotics drugs, a search in the room of Adwoa revealed a quantity of parcels suspected to be cannabis hidden under her husband’s bed.
Mr Osae said the arrest of the two followed a tip-off that Rasta and one Kwaku Atta, now at large, were dealing in the forbidden drugs at Badu, near Wenchi. When the police went in to look for Atta, he was nowhere to be found but rather came across the wife in the house.
He alleged that in the first instance when Rasta was interrogated by the police, he denied knowledge of dealing in drugs.
However, according to the police, when the police went in again to Rasta’s place he was caught holding a parcel of the suspected narcotic drugs.
Meanwhile, he said the two had been put before the Wenchi Magistrate’s Court presided over by Mr Essel Walker and remanded into police custody pending further investigations.
In a brief interview with Adwoa, she told The Mirror that she was an apprentice hairdresser at the Badu market and that the husband was a farmer, and denied knowledge of the suspected narcotics drugs.
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