By Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah,
Kintampo
A TOTAL of 172 health personnel, made up of practicing medical assistants from across the country, post basic medical assistant trainees of the Rural Health Training School (RHTS) at Kintampo as well as final year midwifery students of the Berekum Nurses Training College have successfully undergone medical education at the RHTS to sharpen their skills.
At the same programme, nine students from the University of Utah in the United States of America (USA), participated in the study of tropical medicine while the Ghanaians were taken through topics such as cervical cancer, sexually transmitted diseases (STIs), HIV in pregnancy, anaemia in women, labour and delivery, hypertension and chronic renal disease.
They were also taken through family and occupational medicine, infectious diseases and integrated disease surveillance response, US and Indian health systems model as well as ethics of medical practice and role of regulatory bodies in Ghana.
Twenty-one resource persons from the RHTS and Utah, handled the three-day intensive course, which was a collaboration between the RHTS and the University of Utah established a couple of years ago with the aim of pursuing excellence in medical education.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Director of RHTS, Dr. E.T. Adjase, noted that as primary health care practitioners they had a crucial role to play in the general health care delivery of the country.
He indicated that now that the school is able to turn out 500 medical assistants every year, at least it was contributing its quota in solving the shortage of health personnel in the health institutions.
Dr Adjase expressed the hope that, with the updated knowledge acquired, the participants would be able to apply it at their respective areas of work to the benefit of their community members.
The leader of the Utah group, Madam Nadia Miniclier, who is a Certified Physician Assistant of the University said the programme had helped the group to achieve a lot and that they would go back to their base with a new vision, adding that, “We are pleased with the commitment of RHTS to the collaboration we have charted”.
Representatives of the medical assistants and the trainees as well as the foreign partners who spoke, expressed their delight and appreciation at the collaboration since they had acquired a wealth of knowledge to assist them in their medical practices.
The Utah leader later presented teaching and learning materials, and plaques to the RHTS and also a wheelchair to Madam Akosua Saah, who is a member of the Kintampo branch of the physically challenged association.
Monday, July 28, 2008
30 GRADUATE TRAINEES RECEIVE SUPPORT (PAGE 23)
By Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Berekum
THIRTY graduate apprentices including 10 females in the Berekum Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region, who successfully completed their training in various trades, have been presented with tools and equipment worth GH¢11,000 to enable them to establish and operate their own small businesses.
The donation was made possible under the Rural Enterprises Project (REP), which is being jointly funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Government of Ghana (GOG).
The Berekum Municipal Assembly supported the programme with GH¢2,000.
The REP is part of the government’s programme to reduce poverty, create employment and thereby improve the standard of living in poor rural communities.
The graduate apprentices learnt hairdressing, dressmaking and tailoring, auto mechanics, auto electricals, vulcanizing, gas welding, television/radio mechanics, carpentry, motorbike mechanics, barbering, and heavy-duty mechanics.
The tools and equipment were given free of charge.
In a speech read on his behalf at the presentation ceremony at Berekum, Mr Kwasi Attah-Antwi, the Project Co-ordinator of REP, disclosed that so far more than 1,700 graduate apprentices had been supported with start-up kits worth about GH¢30,000, and that 34 project districts had taken advantage of it.
Mr Attah-Antwi noted that financial institutions see fresh entrepreneurs including graduate apprentices as inexperienced and high-risk borrowers and so most of the graduates are unable to raise the initial capital for the purchase of the requisite equipment, tools and raw materials to start their businesses.
This accounts for the low percentage of graduates setting up and running their own business enterprises.
The project co-ordinator pointed out that REP seeks to achieve the objective of alleviating poverty through increased income and business development services, technology promotion and support of apprenticeship training, as well as financial services and support to micro enterprises.
He disclosed that the project, since its inception in 2003, had reached out to more than 121,500 people, including 63,500 women with various project services, adding that of the number, more than 61,500 were trained in various community-based skills, small business management, improved production processes, basic engineering skills, operational safety, health and environmental management and banking culture, among others.
In the area of rural financial services, Mr Attah-Antwi indicated that the participating banks had disbursed about GH¢7.2 million credit to support more than 2,600 micro and small enterprises and that loan recovery rate was about 86 per cent.
He further indicated that for the second half of this year, the project would also make available equipment and tools worth about GH¢300,000 to more than 1,200 graduate apprentices to enable them to set up their businesses.
He, therefore, called on all participating districts to take advantage of it.
The Head of the Business Advisory Centre (BAC) of IFAD at Berekum, Miss Yaa Owusu, in her welcoming address, observed that the support to the graduates would result in more businesses being established, which in turn would generate jobs.
“Quite a lot of money has been committed to the programme all in a bid to reduce poverty levels in the country. It is therefore hoped that you will ensure that this investment will not go to waste but apply yourselves fully to the course you have chosen and to take extra care in the use of the equipment and tools to ensure their longer life span”, she advised.
THIRTY graduate apprentices including 10 females in the Berekum Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region, who successfully completed their training in various trades, have been presented with tools and equipment worth GH¢11,000 to enable them to establish and operate their own small businesses.
The donation was made possible under the Rural Enterprises Project (REP), which is being jointly funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Government of Ghana (GOG).
The Berekum Municipal Assembly supported the programme with GH¢2,000.
The REP is part of the government’s programme to reduce poverty, create employment and thereby improve the standard of living in poor rural communities.
The graduate apprentices learnt hairdressing, dressmaking and tailoring, auto mechanics, auto electricals, vulcanizing, gas welding, television/radio mechanics, carpentry, motorbike mechanics, barbering, and heavy-duty mechanics.
The tools and equipment were given free of charge.
In a speech read on his behalf at the presentation ceremony at Berekum, Mr Kwasi Attah-Antwi, the Project Co-ordinator of REP, disclosed that so far more than 1,700 graduate apprentices had been supported with start-up kits worth about GH¢30,000, and that 34 project districts had taken advantage of it.
Mr Attah-Antwi noted that financial institutions see fresh entrepreneurs including graduate apprentices as inexperienced and high-risk borrowers and so most of the graduates are unable to raise the initial capital for the purchase of the requisite equipment, tools and raw materials to start their businesses.
This accounts for the low percentage of graduates setting up and running their own business enterprises.
The project co-ordinator pointed out that REP seeks to achieve the objective of alleviating poverty through increased income and business development services, technology promotion and support of apprenticeship training, as well as financial services and support to micro enterprises.
He disclosed that the project, since its inception in 2003, had reached out to more than 121,500 people, including 63,500 women with various project services, adding that of the number, more than 61,500 were trained in various community-based skills, small business management, improved production processes, basic engineering skills, operational safety, health and environmental management and banking culture, among others.
In the area of rural financial services, Mr Attah-Antwi indicated that the participating banks had disbursed about GH¢7.2 million credit to support more than 2,600 micro and small enterprises and that loan recovery rate was about 86 per cent.
He further indicated that for the second half of this year, the project would also make available equipment and tools worth about GH¢300,000 to more than 1,200 graduate apprentices to enable them to set up their businesses.
He, therefore, called on all participating districts to take advantage of it.
The Head of the Business Advisory Centre (BAC) of IFAD at Berekum, Miss Yaa Owusu, in her welcoming address, observed that the support to the graduates would result in more businesses being established, which in turn would generate jobs.
“Quite a lot of money has been committed to the programme all in a bid to reduce poverty levels in the country. It is therefore hoped that you will ensure that this investment will not go to waste but apply yourselves fully to the course you have chosen and to take extra care in the use of the equipment and tools to ensure their longer life span”, she advised.
EU TO SUPPORT ECOWAS BORDER POST PROJECT (SPREAD)
THE European Union (EU) has accepted to provide funding for the establishment of joint border posts to facilitate transit procedures at the country’s borders.
The joint border post project is part of efforts to accelerate the implementation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocol on free movement in the sub-region.
To this end, a series of workshops have been held for member states to finalise and validate the necessary documents to that effect, while bilateral meetings have also been held among Ghana and its neighbours for the construction of the border posts.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has already been signed between Ghana and Togo in that regard since the last quarter of 2007 and an ECOWAS Commission is expected to visit Ghana, Togo and Cote d’Ivoire soon to finalise preparations for those projects
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD, Dr Charles Yaw Brempong-Yeboah, announced this in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region at the opening of a workshop on the ECOWAS protocols on free movement of persons, goods and services.
The workshop was also on the right of residence and establishment in member states for about 200 security agencies and other border operatives drawn from the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Northern regions.
Dr Brempong-Yeboah said as part of the process towards the promotion of the ECOWAS protocols relating to free movement, regional infrastructure, inter-state road facilitation and good governance, programmes had been developed and substantially implemented, while plans were also far advanced to construct railway lines between Lagos and Accra, linking Cotonou and Lome.
The deputy minister noted that many years after the adoption and ratification of the protocols, there were still numerous roadblocks and checkpoints on international highways in the sub-region,
He observed that the results of the Improved Road Transport Governance (IRTG) surveillance undertaken by the West African Trade Hub (WATH) covering the period from October to December 2007 revealed that on the Tema-Ouagadougou highway alone, there were 24 checkpoints/roadblocks, 24 checkpoints between Ouagadougou and Bamako and 17 between Lome and Ouagadougou.
According to him, what was most astonishing about some of those roadblocks and checkpoints was that they appeared to be positioned in an unco-ordinated manner, pointing out that one might see a police checkpoint between a short distance of five to 10 kilometres, together with a Custom barrier which, to any traveller, could be frustrating.
Dr Brempong-Yeboah said while it was true that some of those roadblocks were necessary for security reasons, it was also true that some of them had nothing to do with national security or public order, adding that they were simply there as non-tariff barriers to trade and a hindrance to the free movement of citizens.
“It is imperative for all of us to stop hiding under the cloak of poor conditions of service and economic difficulties and facilitate the removal of existing tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade because administrative or physical barriers to trade, whether legal or illegal, significantly slow down intra-regional trade, increase costs and reduce the competitiveness of local products. Such barriers can even encourage smuggling and other unorthodox trading activities,” he emphasised.
The deputy minister stressed that every effort ought to be made to correct the current low levels of intra-community trade, obstacles to the free movement of goods and persons, openness to dumping, cross-border smuggling and crime and other unilateral actions that tended to violate ECOWAS protocols.
Dr Brempong-Yeboah cautioned, however, that while there was the need to facilitate the entry of other ECOWAS citizens into the country, the security services, especially the Immigration Service, should be on the lookout for undesirable elements who might want to take advantage of the ECOWAS protocol on free movement to foment trouble in the country.
In a welcoming address read on his behalf, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, observed that the problem with intra-ECOWAS trade was that member states mainly produced the same things and cited the example of Ivorian plastic goods competing against those made in Nigeria on the Nigerian market, while Nigerian plastic products competed against Ivorian ones in Cote d’Ivoire.
The Regional Minister noted that the potential for ECOWAS was tremendous and that the Industrial Master Plan (IMP) adopted by ECOWAS at the 17th Session of the authority in 1994 provided a strategy, adding that it had essentially created an avenue for the industrial sector to become normative by creating more forums for business people and professionals to communicate, congregate and generally interact.
The joint border post project is part of efforts to accelerate the implementation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocol on free movement in the sub-region.
To this end, a series of workshops have been held for member states to finalise and validate the necessary documents to that effect, while bilateral meetings have also been held among Ghana and its neighbours for the construction of the border posts.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has already been signed between Ghana and Togo in that regard since the last quarter of 2007 and an ECOWAS Commission is expected to visit Ghana, Togo and Cote d’Ivoire soon to finalise preparations for those projects
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD, Dr Charles Yaw Brempong-Yeboah, announced this in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region at the opening of a workshop on the ECOWAS protocols on free movement of persons, goods and services.
The workshop was also on the right of residence and establishment in member states for about 200 security agencies and other border operatives drawn from the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Northern regions.
Dr Brempong-Yeboah said as part of the process towards the promotion of the ECOWAS protocols relating to free movement, regional infrastructure, inter-state road facilitation and good governance, programmes had been developed and substantially implemented, while plans were also far advanced to construct railway lines between Lagos and Accra, linking Cotonou and Lome.
The deputy minister noted that many years after the adoption and ratification of the protocols, there were still numerous roadblocks and checkpoints on international highways in the sub-region,
He observed that the results of the Improved Road Transport Governance (IRTG) surveillance undertaken by the West African Trade Hub (WATH) covering the period from October to December 2007 revealed that on the Tema-Ouagadougou highway alone, there were 24 checkpoints/roadblocks, 24 checkpoints between Ouagadougou and Bamako and 17 between Lome and Ouagadougou.
According to him, what was most astonishing about some of those roadblocks and checkpoints was that they appeared to be positioned in an unco-ordinated manner, pointing out that one might see a police checkpoint between a short distance of five to 10 kilometres, together with a Custom barrier which, to any traveller, could be frustrating.
Dr Brempong-Yeboah said while it was true that some of those roadblocks were necessary for security reasons, it was also true that some of them had nothing to do with national security or public order, adding that they were simply there as non-tariff barriers to trade and a hindrance to the free movement of citizens.
“It is imperative for all of us to stop hiding under the cloak of poor conditions of service and economic difficulties and facilitate the removal of existing tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade because administrative or physical barriers to trade, whether legal or illegal, significantly slow down intra-regional trade, increase costs and reduce the competitiveness of local products. Such barriers can even encourage smuggling and other unorthodox trading activities,” he emphasised.
The deputy minister stressed that every effort ought to be made to correct the current low levels of intra-community trade, obstacles to the free movement of goods and persons, openness to dumping, cross-border smuggling and crime and other unilateral actions that tended to violate ECOWAS protocols.
Dr Brempong-Yeboah cautioned, however, that while there was the need to facilitate the entry of other ECOWAS citizens into the country, the security services, especially the Immigration Service, should be on the lookout for undesirable elements who might want to take advantage of the ECOWAS protocol on free movement to foment trouble in the country.
In a welcoming address read on his behalf, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, observed that the problem with intra-ECOWAS trade was that member states mainly produced the same things and cited the example of Ivorian plastic goods competing against those made in Nigeria on the Nigerian market, while Nigerian plastic products competed against Ivorian ones in Cote d’Ivoire.
The Regional Minister noted that the potential for ECOWAS was tremendous and that the Industrial Master Plan (IMP) adopted by ECOWAS at the 17th Session of the authority in 1994 provided a strategy, adding that it had essentially created an avenue for the industrial sector to become normative by creating more forums for business people and professionals to communicate, congregate and generally interact.
JOHN MAHAMA DARES NANA AKUFO-ADDO (PAGE 16)
Mr John Dramani Mahama, the running mate to Professor J.E.A. Mills, the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has dared Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to mount a platform and ask the electorate to assess their living condition before they decide on voting for the NPP.
‘‘I challenge Nana Akufo-Addo to step on any political platform with the slogan ‘Hwe wo asetenamu na to aba’, as the NPP used to ask Ghanaians in the run-up to the 2000 elections and see whether the people would go along with the NPP in this year’s elections. I tell you he dare not venture to go by that slogan again, knowing very well that his party has woefully failed Ghanaians’’, he said.
Mr Mahama threw the challenge at a rally at the Techiman Zongo Park after a 10-day campaign tour of the Brong Ahafo Region at the weekend.
He said it was incumbent on any government to institute policies that would better the lives of the people but the ruling NPP government had failed in this respect, and urged Ghanaians to vote for the NDC and see a change.
According to him, in 2000 the NPP saw nothing good about the infrastructural developments which were undertaken by the NDC, which included the construction of roads, hospitals, school blocks, and went ahead to ask if Ghanaians would eat those development projects.
Mr Mahama pointed out that most Ghanaians had lost confidence in politicians, especially the NPP government, because all the promises they gave before assuming power had not been fulfilled, and that it was only Prof. Mills who could restore the trust of Ghanaians in politicians if he was voted into power to administer the country.
“We are fed up with vague promises by the NPP, including Nana Akufo-Addo’s promises that he would inject a substantial amount into the northern part of the country to bridge the gap between the north and south”, he said.
He said it was too late for Nana Akufo-Addo to go about telling the people that he would bridge the development gap between the north and south because the NPP presidential aspirant had been with President Kufuor for all these years but he failed to give any advice to that effect.
Mr Mahama urged supporters of the NDC to guard against inflammatory utterances during the electioneering and rather co-exist with their political opponents because they were not their enemies, adding that, “it is only by default that they belonged to other parties”.
According to him, it was not true that the NPP started the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) but rather it was the NDC which begun the scheme on a pilot basis and it was stated clearly in its 2000 manifesto to replace the cash and carry system.
He also played down on the government’s claim that the public basic schools were enjoying free education, saying that, still the pupils were made to pay for other things, including printing fees but when’’ we come to power, school children will enjoy actual free and compulsory education’’.
Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, the former NDC running mate to Prof. Mills in the 2004 elections, expressed optimism that from the tour of the region it was clear that the NDC would win the December elections because the people had realised that the NPP had deceived them for a long time.
The Member of Parliament for Asutifi South, Alhaji Collins Dauda, said the NPP had failed to render accounts of its stewardship to the people, regarding what they said in their manifesto in 2000.
‘‘I challenge Nana Akufo-Addo to step on any political platform with the slogan ‘Hwe wo asetenamu na to aba’, as the NPP used to ask Ghanaians in the run-up to the 2000 elections and see whether the people would go along with the NPP in this year’s elections. I tell you he dare not venture to go by that slogan again, knowing very well that his party has woefully failed Ghanaians’’, he said.
Mr Mahama threw the challenge at a rally at the Techiman Zongo Park after a 10-day campaign tour of the Brong Ahafo Region at the weekend.
He said it was incumbent on any government to institute policies that would better the lives of the people but the ruling NPP government had failed in this respect, and urged Ghanaians to vote for the NDC and see a change.
According to him, in 2000 the NPP saw nothing good about the infrastructural developments which were undertaken by the NDC, which included the construction of roads, hospitals, school blocks, and went ahead to ask if Ghanaians would eat those development projects.
Mr Mahama pointed out that most Ghanaians had lost confidence in politicians, especially the NPP government, because all the promises they gave before assuming power had not been fulfilled, and that it was only Prof. Mills who could restore the trust of Ghanaians in politicians if he was voted into power to administer the country.
“We are fed up with vague promises by the NPP, including Nana Akufo-Addo’s promises that he would inject a substantial amount into the northern part of the country to bridge the gap between the north and south”, he said.
He said it was too late for Nana Akufo-Addo to go about telling the people that he would bridge the development gap between the north and south because the NPP presidential aspirant had been with President Kufuor for all these years but he failed to give any advice to that effect.
Mr Mahama urged supporters of the NDC to guard against inflammatory utterances during the electioneering and rather co-exist with their political opponents because they were not their enemies, adding that, “it is only by default that they belonged to other parties”.
According to him, it was not true that the NPP started the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) but rather it was the NDC which begun the scheme on a pilot basis and it was stated clearly in its 2000 manifesto to replace the cash and carry system.
He also played down on the government’s claim that the public basic schools were enjoying free education, saying that, still the pupils were made to pay for other things, including printing fees but when’’ we come to power, school children will enjoy actual free and compulsory education’’.
Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, the former NDC running mate to Prof. Mills in the 2004 elections, expressed optimism that from the tour of the region it was clear that the NDC would win the December elections because the people had realised that the NPP had deceived them for a long time.
The Member of Parliament for Asutifi South, Alhaji Collins Dauda, said the NPP had failed to render accounts of its stewardship to the people, regarding what they said in their manifesto in 2000.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
10 APPRENTICES RECEIVE TOOLS (MIRROR, PAGE 35)
From Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Berekum
Thirty graduate apprentices including 10 females in the Berekum municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region, who have successfully completed their training with master craftspersons in various trades, have been presented with tools and equipment worth GH¢11,000 to enable them establish and operate their own small businesses.
The donation was made possible under the Rural Enterprises Project (REP) which is being jointly funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the government of Ghana (GoG). The Berekum Municipal Assembly committed GH¢2,000 to support the programme.
The REP is part of the government’s programme to reduce poverty, create employment and thereby improve living standards in poor rural communities.
The graduate apprentices learnt hairdressing, dressmaking and tailoring, auto mechanics, auto electricals, vulcanising, gas welding, Television/Radio mechanics, carpentry, motorbike mechanics, barbering and heavy duty mechanics. They received tools and equipment free of charge.
In a speech read on his behalf at the presentation ceremony at Berekum, Mr Kwasi Attah-Antwi, the Project Co-ordinator of REP, said that so far more than 1,700 graduate apprentices had been supported with start-up kits worth about GH¢30,000, and that 34 districts had taken advantage of the project.
Mr Attah-Antwi noted that financial institutions see fresh entrepreneurs, including graduate apprentices as inexperienced and high-risk borrowers and so most of the graduates are not able to raise the initial capital for equipment, tools and raw materials they need to start work and that this accounts for the low percentage of graduates setting up and running their own business enterprises.
The project co-ordinator pointed out that REP seeks to achieve the objective of alleviating poverty through increased income and business development services, technology promotion and support for apprenticeship training, moral financial services and support of micro enterprises.
He added that the project since its inception in 2003 had reached out to more than 121,500 people, including 63,500 women and added that, of the number, more than 61,500 were trained in various community-based skills trades, small-scale business management, improved production processes, basic engineering skills, operational safety, health and environmental management and banking culture, among others.
In the area of rural financial services, Mr Attah-Antwi indicated that the participating banks had disbursed about ¢7.2 billion credit to support more than 2,600 micro and small-scale enterprises and that loan recovery rate was about 86 per cent.
Thirty graduate apprentices including 10 females in the Berekum municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region, who have successfully completed their training with master craftspersons in various trades, have been presented with tools and equipment worth GH¢11,000 to enable them establish and operate their own small businesses.
The donation was made possible under the Rural Enterprises Project (REP) which is being jointly funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the government of Ghana (GoG). The Berekum Municipal Assembly committed GH¢2,000 to support the programme.
The REP is part of the government’s programme to reduce poverty, create employment and thereby improve living standards in poor rural communities.
The graduate apprentices learnt hairdressing, dressmaking and tailoring, auto mechanics, auto electricals, vulcanising, gas welding, Television/Radio mechanics, carpentry, motorbike mechanics, barbering and heavy duty mechanics. They received tools and equipment free of charge.
In a speech read on his behalf at the presentation ceremony at Berekum, Mr Kwasi Attah-Antwi, the Project Co-ordinator of REP, said that so far more than 1,700 graduate apprentices had been supported with start-up kits worth about GH¢30,000, and that 34 districts had taken advantage of the project.
Mr Attah-Antwi noted that financial institutions see fresh entrepreneurs, including graduate apprentices as inexperienced and high-risk borrowers and so most of the graduates are not able to raise the initial capital for equipment, tools and raw materials they need to start work and that this accounts for the low percentage of graduates setting up and running their own business enterprises.
The project co-ordinator pointed out that REP seeks to achieve the objective of alleviating poverty through increased income and business development services, technology promotion and support for apprenticeship training, moral financial services and support of micro enterprises.
He added that the project since its inception in 2003 had reached out to more than 121,500 people, including 63,500 women and added that, of the number, more than 61,500 were trained in various community-based skills trades, small-scale business management, improved production processes, basic engineering skills, operational safety, health and environmental management and banking culture, among others.
In the area of rural financial services, Mr Attah-Antwi indicated that the participating banks had disbursed about ¢7.2 billion credit to support more than 2,600 micro and small-scale enterprises and that loan recovery rate was about 86 per cent.
UNIVERSITY DONATES TO KINTAMPO NURSES SCHOOL (PAGE 40)
One hundred and seventy two health personnel have attended a three-day international seminar on updating medical education in Kintampo in the Brong-Ahafo Region.
The participants comprised practising medical assistants (MAs) from all parts of the country, post basic medical assistant trainees of the Rural Health Training School (RHTS) at Kintampo and final-year midwifery students of the Berekum Nurses’ Training College .
The seminar was a collaborative effort between the RHTS and the University of Utah in the USA.
The leader of the University of Utah delegation, Madam Nadia Miniclier, who is a physician assistant, presented teaching and learning materials to the Director of the RHTS, Dr E. T. Adjase, and a wheelchair to Madam Akosua Saah, a physically challenged person.
Receiving the items, Dr E.T. Adjase thanked the University of Utah for the gesture and said the materials would greatly help improve academic work of the institution.
The participants were presented with certificates.
The participants comprised practising medical assistants (MAs) from all parts of the country, post basic medical assistant trainees of the Rural Health Training School (RHTS) at Kintampo and final-year midwifery students of the Berekum Nurses’ Training College .
The seminar was a collaborative effort between the RHTS and the University of Utah in the USA.
The leader of the University of Utah delegation, Madam Nadia Miniclier, who is a physician assistant, presented teaching and learning materials to the Director of the RHTS, Dr E. T. Adjase, and a wheelchair to Madam Akosua Saah, a physically challenged person.
Receiving the items, Dr E.T. Adjase thanked the University of Utah for the gesture and said the materials would greatly help improve academic work of the institution.
The participants were presented with certificates.
ASUNAFO NORTH HONOURS OUTSTANDING TEACHERS (PAGE 40)
FOR the past three years the Asunafo North Municipal Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has not been able to organise its best teacher awards’ ceremony, apparently owing to financial constraints and other logistic problems.
However, the dust finally settled on Tuesday, July 8, 2008 for the ceremony to come off at the forecourt of the Methodist Chapel in Goaso, capital of the municipality, thanks to the Municipal Assembly for providing GH¢5,000 to assist the directorate to procure the needed items for the deserving award winners.
In all, 100 teaching and non-teaching staff, including 50 teachers from deprived schools were awarded at the function. The ceremony was on the theme: ‘‘The Teacher: a Major Partner in Quality Education”.
At the end of the day, the Overall Best Teacher Award went to Mr George Antwi Boasiako of the Asanteman Local Authority L/A Primary School, near Goaso, who received a motorcycle as his prize.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Municipal Director of Education, Mrs Elizabeth De Zouza, said the teacher, a major partner in quality education, deserved to be awarded. She said one major cause of failure of many teaching/learning endeavours was teachers’ frustration and apathy owing to lack of motivation.
Mrs De Zouza noted that, the Best Teacher awards had come to stay, and had gone a long way to avert that gruesome situation that would otherwise had befallen the municipality, adding that the gradual upward improvement in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results of 62.7 per cent passes in 2006 to 68.5 per cent in 2007 testified to that assertion.
According to her, when children received quality education, poverty would reduce, health would improve, the status of women would be enhanced and national status would also rise as well as productivity.
Mrs De Zouza emphasised that the future development of nations, including Ghana , therefore, hinged more on the capacity of that nation and individuals to acquire, adapt and advance in relevant knowledge, skills and attitudes.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Alhaji Ishak Abubakar Bonsu, disclosed that the municipality had a total number of 971 teachers, adding that there were 92 kindergartens, 92 primary, 51 junior high, two senior high and two public technical schools.
He added that there were also 18 private primary,15 junior high, two commercial and one vocational school in the area.
The Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Prof Dominic Fobih, in a speech read on his behalf, noted that quality education was not achieved by mere availability of classrooms, textbooks and other teaching and learning materials, but through the ingenuity, dedication and commitment of the teacher that would result in the development of a responsible, disciplined and nationalism-oriented citizenry with the requisite knowledge, skills, values and attitudes to become functional and productive.
However, the dust finally settled on Tuesday, July 8, 2008 for the ceremony to come off at the forecourt of the Methodist Chapel in Goaso, capital of the municipality, thanks to the Municipal Assembly for providing GH¢5,000 to assist the directorate to procure the needed items for the deserving award winners.
In all, 100 teaching and non-teaching staff, including 50 teachers from deprived schools were awarded at the function. The ceremony was on the theme: ‘‘The Teacher: a Major Partner in Quality Education”.
At the end of the day, the Overall Best Teacher Award went to Mr George Antwi Boasiako of the Asanteman Local Authority L/A Primary School, near Goaso, who received a motorcycle as his prize.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Municipal Director of Education, Mrs Elizabeth De Zouza, said the teacher, a major partner in quality education, deserved to be awarded. She said one major cause of failure of many teaching/learning endeavours was teachers’ frustration and apathy owing to lack of motivation.
Mrs De Zouza noted that, the Best Teacher awards had come to stay, and had gone a long way to avert that gruesome situation that would otherwise had befallen the municipality, adding that the gradual upward improvement in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results of 62.7 per cent passes in 2006 to 68.5 per cent in 2007 testified to that assertion.
According to her, when children received quality education, poverty would reduce, health would improve, the status of women would be enhanced and national status would also rise as well as productivity.
Mrs De Zouza emphasised that the future development of nations, including Ghana , therefore, hinged more on the capacity of that nation and individuals to acquire, adapt and advance in relevant knowledge, skills and attitudes.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Alhaji Ishak Abubakar Bonsu, disclosed that the municipality had a total number of 971 teachers, adding that there were 92 kindergartens, 92 primary, 51 junior high, two senior high and two public technical schools.
He added that there were also 18 private primary,15 junior high, two commercial and one vocational school in the area.
The Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Prof Dominic Fobih, in a speech read on his behalf, noted that quality education was not achieved by mere availability of classrooms, textbooks and other teaching and learning materials, but through the ingenuity, dedication and commitment of the teacher that would result in the development of a responsible, disciplined and nationalism-oriented citizenry with the requisite knowledge, skills, values and attitudes to become functional and productive.
24 SUSPECTED CRIMINALS ARRESTED IN SUNYANI (PAGE 40)
THE Brong Ahafo Regional Police Command has arrested 24 suspected criminals including a woman following a dawn swoop embarked upon by a team of police personnel around the Bosoma Market in the Sunyani Municipality.
The exercise, which was led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ASP) Martin Dafeamekpor, was part of a number of measures designed by the command to rid the municipality and its environs in particular and the region at large of suspected criminals.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Charles Seth Oteng, who has just assumed office as the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Commander, the suspects were being screened and those found culpable would be prosecuted.
Briefing newsmen in Sunyani, he alleged that some of the arrested persons had in their possession cables suspected to be the property of the Ghana Telecom, roofing sheets, a gas cylinder, mobile phones, leaves suspected to be Cannabis (wee), torches, sound systems, bicycles, pairs of scissors and unspecified amount of money.
Mr Obeng stated that the action by the police was ‘‘just the beginning of many things to happen in Sunyani and its environs as well as the entire region as the general election and Christmas approach”.
He, therefore, appealed to the peace-loving general public and the media not to hesitate to volunteer information to the police about the nefarious activities of suspected criminals in their respective vicinities, to enable the police to act swiftly.
In another development, the Regional Police Commander has disclosed that the police has taken delivery of three brand new vehicles from the government for highway patrols in the region.
He said the police would focus their attention on the Techiman-Kintampo, Tanoso-Kumasi and the Yeji-Ejura main roads, which, he said, were prone to highway robberies.
The exercise, which was led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ASP) Martin Dafeamekpor, was part of a number of measures designed by the command to rid the municipality and its environs in particular and the region at large of suspected criminals.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Charles Seth Oteng, who has just assumed office as the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Commander, the suspects were being screened and those found culpable would be prosecuted.
Briefing newsmen in Sunyani, he alleged that some of the arrested persons had in their possession cables suspected to be the property of the Ghana Telecom, roofing sheets, a gas cylinder, mobile phones, leaves suspected to be Cannabis (wee), torches, sound systems, bicycles, pairs of scissors and unspecified amount of money.
Mr Obeng stated that the action by the police was ‘‘just the beginning of many things to happen in Sunyani and its environs as well as the entire region as the general election and Christmas approach”.
He, therefore, appealed to the peace-loving general public and the media not to hesitate to volunteer information to the police about the nefarious activities of suspected criminals in their respective vicinities, to enable the police to act swiftly.
In another development, the Regional Police Commander has disclosed that the police has taken delivery of three brand new vehicles from the government for highway patrols in the region.
He said the police would focus their attention on the Techiman-Kintampo, Tanoso-Kumasi and the Yeji-Ejura main roads, which, he said, were prone to highway robberies.
34 EMPLOYERS OWE GOASE SSNIT GH¢17,343.71 (PAGE 40)
THE administration of social security was introduced in the country about 43 years ago, to be precise, July 1, 1965.
Before 1972, the administration of the scheme was entrusted to the then Department of Pensions and the State Insurance Company.
However, in 1972, with the passing of NRC decree 127, the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNT) was established to administer the National Security Scheme.
All this while, SSNIT was operating what was called the “Provident Fund Scheme,” which later on became the SSNIT Pension Scheme. Since the passage of PNDC Law 247 in 1991, the membership of the scheme has been increasing steadily year after year.
As the largest non-financial institution in the country with nearly 900,000 enrolment and over 84,248 pensioners, there is the urgent need to strive for efficiency in the delivery services, taking into consideration customer satisfaction as the hallmark.
As a human institution, SSNIT is confronted with a number of challenges. Some of the problems have to do with the failure or refusal of some employers to register with SSNIT or allow their employees to be covered under the scheme, the failure on the part of some employers to declare actual salaries of their staff, invalid social security transactions resulting from inaccurate financial data as well as the failure on the part of some employers to pay workers’ contributions promptly and the settlement of arrears or indebtedness, resulting in uncontrollable increase in employer indebtedness.
It must be stressed that even though much improvement has been recorded over the years in the service delivery and other operational activities of SSNIT, the increasing rate of employer indebtedness remains a bigger challenge to the scheme.
As of May, this year, approximately 8,600 employers were owing SSNIT a whopping GH¢61,901,475.82
With a vision of becoming a world class financial institution dedicated to the provision of economic security of the Ghanaian worker, it is imperative that employers are reminded of their obligations under the scheme to make the vision a reality since the complementary effort of both SSNIT and employers is crucial.
All over the world, institutional policies and programmes are being tailored, especially in service delivery institutions so as to meet the desired needs and expectations of customers to ensure their survival and continuous stay in the industry.
Really, SSNIT is not being left behind in this direction. For this reason, its customers, both employers and employees, need to be informed about the new policies and programmes, which are all geared towards achieving the best quality service within the shortest possible time.
In this regard, the institution has streamlined some core functions to provide quality service to meet the expectation of its customers. They include the registration of employers and employees, collection of monthly contributions, keeping of records of members, managing the funds of the scheme and processing and paying benefits promptly.
A significant innovation of its operation is the introduction of the Employer Member Account Reconciliation (EMAR) system in the country, under which SSNIT is able to ascertain the indebtedness of employers through the monthly billing system and would, therefore issue bills to the indebted employers to pay the contributions of their employees.
Again, under the EMAR, the grand summary of total employer indebtedness based on inspections, up-to-date and the last known contribution reports received from employers will be calculated and a monthly bills issued to prevent the mounting of debts
At a recent seminar at Goaso in the Brong Ahafo Region for employers on the EMAR, the acting Area Manager of SSNIT, Mr Amos Donkor, disclosed that the total outstanding amount owed to SSNIT by 34 employers of the Goaso branch alone as of December 2007 was GH¢17,343.71.
The theme for the seminar was: ‘‘The Role of Employers under the SSNIT EMAR.”
According to Mr Donkor, who is also the Regional Accountant of SSNIT, some of the reasons which accounted for employer indebtedness was that they did not attach to the payment of social security contributions.
According to him, some of the employers appeared to give priority to other financial commitments rather than the payment of contributions while some of them delayed in the payment, thus attracting penalties for delayed payments.
Some of them, he said, made under payments and under declare their labour force, which when detected often, led to employer indebtedness, stressing that some of them were recalcitrant and simply refused to pay their contributions, even when they were notified of their indebtedness.
Again, Mr Donkor noted that, some indebted employers were elusive and difficult for SSNIT to promptly notify them of how much they owed the company while others made irregular payments leading to arrears of contributions.
He pointed out that employer indebtedness had some serious effects on the social security scheme, explaining that the contributions were used to defray costs incurred in the administration of the scheme such as staff recruitment and other staff costs, procurement of vital logistics and the acquisition of property and other fixed assets.
The acting area manager stated that SSNIT had taken measures to deal with employer indebtedness, which would include the publication in the national newspapers of the names of indebted employers from time to time in the media to get them to pay.
He, therefore, appealed to employers to do everything possible to pay up or come for negotiations to prevent their names from being published since that could lead to embarrassment.
The Goaso SSNIT Branch Manager, Mr Victor Agbenu, explained that the EMAR would help determine total employer indebtedness at any given time, determine accurately arrears retrievals in any given month and would also lead to a reduction in employer’s indebtedness.
He, however, admitted that so much time would be required for printing bills on a monthly basis and the frequent reconciliation with employer records, an increase in administrative cost by the frequent generation of reports, printing and distribution of bills and that a lot of efforts would be required to carry out data cleaning activities effectively.
A Public Relations Officer (PRO) of SSNIT, Mr Eugene Boakye, advised employers to ensure that all their workers were registered with valid social security or reference numbers.
He added that the total number of employees declared to SSNIT should reflect the actual number of employees the employers had on their payrolls.
Before 1972, the administration of the scheme was entrusted to the then Department of Pensions and the State Insurance Company.
However, in 1972, with the passing of NRC decree 127, the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNT) was established to administer the National Security Scheme.
All this while, SSNIT was operating what was called the “Provident Fund Scheme,” which later on became the SSNIT Pension Scheme. Since the passage of PNDC Law 247 in 1991, the membership of the scheme has been increasing steadily year after year.
As the largest non-financial institution in the country with nearly 900,000 enrolment and over 84,248 pensioners, there is the urgent need to strive for efficiency in the delivery services, taking into consideration customer satisfaction as the hallmark.
As a human institution, SSNIT is confronted with a number of challenges. Some of the problems have to do with the failure or refusal of some employers to register with SSNIT or allow their employees to be covered under the scheme, the failure on the part of some employers to declare actual salaries of their staff, invalid social security transactions resulting from inaccurate financial data as well as the failure on the part of some employers to pay workers’ contributions promptly and the settlement of arrears or indebtedness, resulting in uncontrollable increase in employer indebtedness.
It must be stressed that even though much improvement has been recorded over the years in the service delivery and other operational activities of SSNIT, the increasing rate of employer indebtedness remains a bigger challenge to the scheme.
As of May, this year, approximately 8,600 employers were owing SSNIT a whopping GH¢61,901,475.82
With a vision of becoming a world class financial institution dedicated to the provision of economic security of the Ghanaian worker, it is imperative that employers are reminded of their obligations under the scheme to make the vision a reality since the complementary effort of both SSNIT and employers is crucial.
All over the world, institutional policies and programmes are being tailored, especially in service delivery institutions so as to meet the desired needs and expectations of customers to ensure their survival and continuous stay in the industry.
Really, SSNIT is not being left behind in this direction. For this reason, its customers, both employers and employees, need to be informed about the new policies and programmes, which are all geared towards achieving the best quality service within the shortest possible time.
In this regard, the institution has streamlined some core functions to provide quality service to meet the expectation of its customers. They include the registration of employers and employees, collection of monthly contributions, keeping of records of members, managing the funds of the scheme and processing and paying benefits promptly.
A significant innovation of its operation is the introduction of the Employer Member Account Reconciliation (EMAR) system in the country, under which SSNIT is able to ascertain the indebtedness of employers through the monthly billing system and would, therefore issue bills to the indebted employers to pay the contributions of their employees.
Again, under the EMAR, the grand summary of total employer indebtedness based on inspections, up-to-date and the last known contribution reports received from employers will be calculated and a monthly bills issued to prevent the mounting of debts
At a recent seminar at Goaso in the Brong Ahafo Region for employers on the EMAR, the acting Area Manager of SSNIT, Mr Amos Donkor, disclosed that the total outstanding amount owed to SSNIT by 34 employers of the Goaso branch alone as of December 2007 was GH¢17,343.71.
The theme for the seminar was: ‘‘The Role of Employers under the SSNIT EMAR.”
According to Mr Donkor, who is also the Regional Accountant of SSNIT, some of the reasons which accounted for employer indebtedness was that they did not attach to the payment of social security contributions.
According to him, some of the employers appeared to give priority to other financial commitments rather than the payment of contributions while some of them delayed in the payment, thus attracting penalties for delayed payments.
Some of them, he said, made under payments and under declare their labour force, which when detected often, led to employer indebtedness, stressing that some of them were recalcitrant and simply refused to pay their contributions, even when they were notified of their indebtedness.
Again, Mr Donkor noted that, some indebted employers were elusive and difficult for SSNIT to promptly notify them of how much they owed the company while others made irregular payments leading to arrears of contributions.
He pointed out that employer indebtedness had some serious effects on the social security scheme, explaining that the contributions were used to defray costs incurred in the administration of the scheme such as staff recruitment and other staff costs, procurement of vital logistics and the acquisition of property and other fixed assets.
The acting area manager stated that SSNIT had taken measures to deal with employer indebtedness, which would include the publication in the national newspapers of the names of indebted employers from time to time in the media to get them to pay.
He, therefore, appealed to employers to do everything possible to pay up or come for negotiations to prevent their names from being published since that could lead to embarrassment.
The Goaso SSNIT Branch Manager, Mr Victor Agbenu, explained that the EMAR would help determine total employer indebtedness at any given time, determine accurately arrears retrievals in any given month and would also lead to a reduction in employer’s indebtedness.
He, however, admitted that so much time would be required for printing bills on a monthly basis and the frequent reconciliation with employer records, an increase in administrative cost by the frequent generation of reports, printing and distribution of bills and that a lot of efforts would be required to carry out data cleaning activities effectively.
A Public Relations Officer (PRO) of SSNIT, Mr Eugene Boakye, advised employers to ensure that all their workers were registered with valid social security or reference numbers.
He added that the total number of employees declared to SSNIT should reflect the actual number of employees the employers had on their payrolls.
BA READY FOR VOTERS REGISTER (PAGE 14)
THE Brong Ahafo Regional Office of the Electoral Commission (EC) has said it is ready for the reopening of the voters register, which will go on nation-wide between July 30 and August 10, 2008.
The Deputy Regional Director of the EC, Mr James Arthur-Yeboah, told the Daily Graphic that the office had already taken delivery of some materials for the exercise, such as digital cameras, printers, registration forms, among others.
The deputy regional director, who disclosed this in Sunyani on Thursday, said to ensure a smooth start of the programme, about 1,278 field officers, including all the 19 district directors of the commission in the region, were to be trained from July 26 to July 30, 2008.
He pointed out that even though some of the district officers, cameramen and other field officers had already undergone a similar training, they still needed a brush up, in view of the important nature of the exercise..
Mr Arthur-Yeboah explained that there would be one registration team to take care of two electoral areas and that each team was made up of one cameraman, a registration officer and a shader/laminator.
He said the team would not be stationary but was expected to move within the electoral vicinity to take care of voters in distant villages.
“As usual there are bound to be challenges but we are prepared to surmount any problems, such as the inaccessibility of some the areas. We are relying on the various district assemblies to assist the commission with vehicles and other logistics in order to reach out to all the difficult areas to make the exercise a success,” he said.
The Deputy Regional EC Director also indicated that there would be a meeting with representatives of all the political parties for them to know whatever was going on regarding the exercise and also solicit their support and co-operation, since they were crucial to the whole programme.
Mr Arthur-Yeboah intimated that the political parties could be free to send their agents to observe the exercise at the various designated registrations centres but cautioned that they had no right whatsoever to interfere with the work of the EC officials, adding, however, that the EC was not bound to pay any money or provide anything for those observers sent by the parties
According to the EC officer, there would be adequate publicity on the exercise in both the local and national media to increase the awareness of the public of it, pointing out that the EC also needed the support of everyone in order to make the national exercise a success.
The Deputy Regional Director of the EC, Mr James Arthur-Yeboah, told the Daily Graphic that the office had already taken delivery of some materials for the exercise, such as digital cameras, printers, registration forms, among others.
The deputy regional director, who disclosed this in Sunyani on Thursday, said to ensure a smooth start of the programme, about 1,278 field officers, including all the 19 district directors of the commission in the region, were to be trained from July 26 to July 30, 2008.
He pointed out that even though some of the district officers, cameramen and other field officers had already undergone a similar training, they still needed a brush up, in view of the important nature of the exercise..
Mr Arthur-Yeboah explained that there would be one registration team to take care of two electoral areas and that each team was made up of one cameraman, a registration officer and a shader/laminator.
He said the team would not be stationary but was expected to move within the electoral vicinity to take care of voters in distant villages.
“As usual there are bound to be challenges but we are prepared to surmount any problems, such as the inaccessibility of some the areas. We are relying on the various district assemblies to assist the commission with vehicles and other logistics in order to reach out to all the difficult areas to make the exercise a success,” he said.
The Deputy Regional EC Director also indicated that there would be a meeting with representatives of all the political parties for them to know whatever was going on regarding the exercise and also solicit their support and co-operation, since they were crucial to the whole programme.
Mr Arthur-Yeboah intimated that the political parties could be free to send their agents to observe the exercise at the various designated registrations centres but cautioned that they had no right whatsoever to interfere with the work of the EC officials, adding, however, that the EC was not bound to pay any money or provide anything for those observers sent by the parties
According to the EC officer, there would be adequate publicity on the exercise in both the local and national media to increase the awareness of the public of it, pointing out that the EC also needed the support of everyone in order to make the national exercise a success.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
1,000 NEEDY PUPILS RECEIVE SCHOOL UNIFORMS (PAGE 11)
ABOUT 1,000 needy kindergarten and primary school pupils from 12 schools in the Tano North District in the Brong Ahafo Region have been presented with school uniforms by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for the Tano North Constituency, Mr Ernest Akubour Debrah, who is also the Minister of Food and Agriculture.
Mr Debrah, who was assisted by the District Chief Executive, Mr Anane Adjei, made the presentation at separate ceremonies.
The beneficiary pupils were from the Sereso, Koforidua, Twabidi, Susuaho, Bomoden, B.K.K. Camposo, Duayaw Nkwanta Presby A& B, Methodist, Anglican, Pentecost, Bomoden and Bredi schools.
Mr Debrah asked the children to be disciplined, obedient and respect their teachers and also be serious with their studies, since they were the future leaders of the country.
He also appealed to their teachers to exercise patience in their work and take good care of the pupils, adding that they should show commitment and dedication when handling the children.
The authorities of the school thanked the MP for the kind gesture and expressed the hope that the uninforms would boost the morale of the pupils to regularly attend school and study hard.
In another development, Mr Debrah has cut the sod to mark the commencement of the construction of a 100-capacity girls’ hostel at the Boakye Tromo Senior High School at Duayaw Nkwanta.
It is estimated at over GH¢45,000 and it will be financed from his share of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
Mr Debrah is providing support to 15 needy, brilliant students of the school.
Mr Debrah, who was assisted by the District Chief Executive, Mr Anane Adjei, made the presentation at separate ceremonies.
The beneficiary pupils were from the Sereso, Koforidua, Twabidi, Susuaho, Bomoden, B.K.K. Camposo, Duayaw Nkwanta Presby A& B, Methodist, Anglican, Pentecost, Bomoden and Bredi schools.
Mr Debrah asked the children to be disciplined, obedient and respect their teachers and also be serious with their studies, since they were the future leaders of the country.
He also appealed to their teachers to exercise patience in their work and take good care of the pupils, adding that they should show commitment and dedication when handling the children.
The authorities of the school thanked the MP for the kind gesture and expressed the hope that the uninforms would boost the morale of the pupils to regularly attend school and study hard.
In another development, Mr Debrah has cut the sod to mark the commencement of the construction of a 100-capacity girls’ hostel at the Boakye Tromo Senior High School at Duayaw Nkwanta.
It is estimated at over GH¢45,000 and it will be financed from his share of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
Mr Debrah is providing support to 15 needy, brilliant students of the school.
Monday, July 21, 2008
DON'T SHIRK RESPONSIBILITY — AKYIRE (PAGE 40)
PUBLIC relations officers (PROs) of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) have been called upon not to shirk their responsibility of informing members of the association about their rights and duties under the prevailing labour legislation and practices.
They have also been advised to disseminate policies and programmes on all other labour issues to the people and make constructive comments on the general economic and social developments in the country.
The Head of the Public Relations (PR) Section of GNAT, Mr Nicholas Kodzo Akyire, made the call at the opening of a five-day seminar for about 40 PROs of the association in Sunyani.
The theme for the seminar is: “Using PR to Reach out for Effective Organisation”, and it is to assist the participants to acquire useful knowledge of the basics of PR practice, enable them to relate management and PR to each other, as well as realise that managers cannot perform effectively without public support.
It will also make the participants to have a clearer perception of the continuous functions and activities which they are expected to perform as representatives of GNAT.
Among the topics being treated are “What PR Is All About”, “Corporate Image of GNAT”, “Media Relations”, “Crises Management”, “Business Communication”, “Event Management”, “Social Skills” and “Public Speaking”.
Mr Akyire emphasised that a well-trained PR official, especially in a labour union such as GNAT, should fully understand and associate himself/herself with the aims and aspirations of the union, its structure and functions, policies, as well as actions.
According to him, the bottom line of PR is the result that comes from putting theories and principles to work in a manner that benefits the organisation, adding that each individual ought to be able to respond to requests for information and should also be able to provide it in a way that promotes the pursuit of the organisational goals.
He stated that the programme to orient PROs to the basic rudiments of their practice started in May 1993, adding that almost all the current full-time staff of GNAT had benefited.
In another development, members of the Brong Ahafo Regional branch of GNAT undertook a clean-up exercise at Odumase, the capital of the newly created Sunyani West District, during which they swept and cleared choked gutters.
The two-hour exercise formed part of the regional celebration of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Teachers’ Fund by GNAT.
Briefing newsmen before the commencement of the exercise, the Brong Ahafo Regional Secretary of GNAT, Mr Kwaku Asante-Nketia, stated that the fund had helped members of the association to access loans for their housing projects, purchase of cars, investment in business ventures and other emergency needs.
He, therefore, appealed to members of the association to increase their individual contributions to the fund in view of the immense benefits they stood to gain from it.
They have also been advised to disseminate policies and programmes on all other labour issues to the people and make constructive comments on the general economic and social developments in the country.
The Head of the Public Relations (PR) Section of GNAT, Mr Nicholas Kodzo Akyire, made the call at the opening of a five-day seminar for about 40 PROs of the association in Sunyani.
The theme for the seminar is: “Using PR to Reach out for Effective Organisation”, and it is to assist the participants to acquire useful knowledge of the basics of PR practice, enable them to relate management and PR to each other, as well as realise that managers cannot perform effectively without public support.
It will also make the participants to have a clearer perception of the continuous functions and activities which they are expected to perform as representatives of GNAT.
Among the topics being treated are “What PR Is All About”, “Corporate Image of GNAT”, “Media Relations”, “Crises Management”, “Business Communication”, “Event Management”, “Social Skills” and “Public Speaking”.
Mr Akyire emphasised that a well-trained PR official, especially in a labour union such as GNAT, should fully understand and associate himself/herself with the aims and aspirations of the union, its structure and functions, policies, as well as actions.
According to him, the bottom line of PR is the result that comes from putting theories and principles to work in a manner that benefits the organisation, adding that each individual ought to be able to respond to requests for information and should also be able to provide it in a way that promotes the pursuit of the organisational goals.
He stated that the programme to orient PROs to the basic rudiments of their practice started in May 1993, adding that almost all the current full-time staff of GNAT had benefited.
In another development, members of the Brong Ahafo Regional branch of GNAT undertook a clean-up exercise at Odumase, the capital of the newly created Sunyani West District, during which they swept and cleared choked gutters.
The two-hour exercise formed part of the regional celebration of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Teachers’ Fund by GNAT.
Briefing newsmen before the commencement of the exercise, the Brong Ahafo Regional Secretary of GNAT, Mr Kwaku Asante-Nketia, stated that the fund had helped members of the association to access loans for their housing projects, purchase of cars, investment in business ventures and other emergency needs.
He, therefore, appealed to members of the association to increase their individual contributions to the fund in view of the immense benefits they stood to gain from it.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
FREEE SCHOOL BAGS FOR ASUTIFI PUPILS (PAGE 11)
TWO thousand pupils from six selected basic schools in the Asutifi District of the Brong Ahafo Region have been presented with school bags, known as “blue packs” which contain learning materials such as pencils and exercise books, totalling GH¢10,000.
The beneficiary children attend the Kenyasi Number One Presbyterian Basic, Kodiwohia D/A Basic, Kenyasi Number Two RC Basic and Kwakyekrom D/A Basic Schools.
Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL), operating the Ahafo Mine in the Brong Ahafo Region, in collaboration with Academy for Education and Management organised the ceremony at Kenyasi with the aim to assist in the improvement of teaching and learning in those basic schools.
Making the presentation, the General Manager, Environment and Social Responsibility of NGGL, Mr Michealsen, said developing people in pursuit of excellence was a core corporate value of the company.
He said the company also applied that principle to the communities in which it operated.
He explained that the donation formed part of a three-year collaboration venture between Newmont and AED, under which the company was offering a total of $54,000 to support the pupils in the selected schools in the area.
He asked the children to remember the parable in the Bible that talks about using talents, and that, “if you work hard and put the tool to good use, you will be the better for it, but if you let them idle and consider them as additional toys, you will have only yourselves to blame. It is time to work hard to make yourselves and your parents proud”.
Mr Michaelsen urged the teachers and parents to jointly nurture and inspire the children for adult life, saying that the quality of their adult life depended to a very large extent on how they delivered on their responsibility to them.
The Executive Director of AED, Mr Stephen Yaw Manu, noted with satisfaction that with the variety of instructional materials supplied to teachers and pupils as well as the availability of teachers and the continuing support by parents and the communities, the standard of education in those six schools had improved.
He charged teachers and parents to impress upon their wards to attend school every day.
The beneficiary children attend the Kenyasi Number One Presbyterian Basic, Kodiwohia D/A Basic, Kenyasi Number Two RC Basic and Kwakyekrom D/A Basic Schools.
Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL), operating the Ahafo Mine in the Brong Ahafo Region, in collaboration with Academy for Education and Management organised the ceremony at Kenyasi with the aim to assist in the improvement of teaching and learning in those basic schools.
Making the presentation, the General Manager, Environment and Social Responsibility of NGGL, Mr Michealsen, said developing people in pursuit of excellence was a core corporate value of the company.
He said the company also applied that principle to the communities in which it operated.
He explained that the donation formed part of a three-year collaboration venture between Newmont and AED, under which the company was offering a total of $54,000 to support the pupils in the selected schools in the area.
He asked the children to remember the parable in the Bible that talks about using talents, and that, “if you work hard and put the tool to good use, you will be the better for it, but if you let them idle and consider them as additional toys, you will have only yourselves to blame. It is time to work hard to make yourselves and your parents proud”.
Mr Michaelsen urged the teachers and parents to jointly nurture and inspire the children for adult life, saying that the quality of their adult life depended to a very large extent on how they delivered on their responsibility to them.
The Executive Director of AED, Mr Stephen Yaw Manu, noted with satisfaction that with the variety of instructional materials supplied to teachers and pupils as well as the availability of teachers and the continuing support by parents and the communities, the standard of education in those six schools had improved.
He charged teachers and parents to impress upon their wards to attend school every day.
Monday, July 14, 2008
KEEP FIT CLUBS HOLD FUN GAMES (NSEMPA, PAGE 11)
By Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Wenchi
TWENTY-SIX keep fit clubs in the Brong Ahafo Region have met at the Wenchi Town Park to participate in various fun games including soccer, volleyball and indoor games, as part of activities marking the Republic Day celebration in the region.
The clubs, which took part in the games included Techiman Keep Fit Club (KFC) Bechem KFC, Wenchi Adehyee, Mim KFC, Odumase Gentle KFC, Berekum Peace and Love, Dormaa Classic, Odumasi Top View, Sunyani Central and Goaso Catholic.
Indeed, it was real fun when elderly men and women stormed the park to exhibit their good old skills in the games, especially in the non-competitive soccer.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Wenchi, Nana Ata Afena, in his remarks before the start of the games, observed that, the programme was a real unifying event, coming at a time when Ghana was celebrating her 48th Republic Day.
He expressed the hope that the peace and tranquility that had prevailed in the country so far would be maintained during the December 7 general elections adding that, there would not be any bloodshed as some people were speculating.
TWENTY-SIX keep fit clubs in the Brong Ahafo Region have met at the Wenchi Town Park to participate in various fun games including soccer, volleyball and indoor games, as part of activities marking the Republic Day celebration in the region.
The clubs, which took part in the games included Techiman Keep Fit Club (KFC) Bechem KFC, Wenchi Adehyee, Mim KFC, Odumase Gentle KFC, Berekum Peace and Love, Dormaa Classic, Odumasi Top View, Sunyani Central and Goaso Catholic.
Indeed, it was real fun when elderly men and women stormed the park to exhibit their good old skills in the games, especially in the non-competitive soccer.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Wenchi, Nana Ata Afena, in his remarks before the start of the games, observed that, the programme was a real unifying event, coming at a time when Ghana was celebrating her 48th Republic Day.
He expressed the hope that the peace and tranquility that had prevailed in the country so far would be maintained during the December 7 general elections adding that, there would not be any bloodshed as some people were speculating.
HUNDREDS WITNESS UNVEILING OF BUSIA'S STATUE (PAGE 14)
Hundreds of people from various parts of the Brong Ahafo Region in particular and elsewhere in the country, last Friday converged on the Jubilee Park in Sunyani to witness a solemn ceremony for the unveiling of the statue of the late Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia.
The unveiling of the statue, which was performed by the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, was in commemoration of the 95th Birthday of Dr Busia and the 30th anniversary of his death. It was jointly organised by the Busia Foundation International, with the Brong Ahafo Regional Council and Ambassador Jimmy Aggrey Orleans in collaboration.
As early as 7:30 p.m. the people had started making their way to the park, which is opposite the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Headquarters on the Sunyani Kumasi main road, to take their seats.
When the Daily Graphic got to the durbar grounds at about 8:30 a.m. there was a deafening sound of fontomfrom and kete being performed by the drumming group of the Sunyani Centre for National Culture (CNC), which treated the audience to splendid and spectacular dances.
At the ark where the eight-foot statue had been erected were the two sculptors, Messrs Emmanuel Obeng Bonsai, a research fellow at the Faculty of Fine Art at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and G.A. Sekyere, a holder of Masters of Philosophy in Art Education, who had dressed the all-concrete bespectacled figure of the late Dr Busia in cloth, with the right hand raised.
The two sculptors, who are natives of Ayerede, near Nkoranza, and Acherensua respectively indicated to this reporter that it took them eight months to complete the project at a highly subsidised cost of GH¢1,000.
According to them they decided to work on the statue at a reduced cost because they were citizens of the region, and had also taken inspiration from the late prime minister during their studies, adding that the actual cost of the work would have been over GH¢ 20,000
The statue was designed by Mr I.K. Amankwah, an architect of Ice Consult in Sunyani, who is also the presiding member of the Sunyani Municipal Assembly, and sponsored by the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC)
Among the personalities who graced the occasion were a Member of the Council of State, Madam Amma Busia, who is also a younger sister of Dr Busia, and other family members as well as ministers of state, Members of Parliament (MPs), Municipal and District Chief Executives from the area. Others were the President of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, Okatakyie Agyemang Kudom IV, and other chiefs, queens, the clergy and dignitaries from the United States of America.
The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Rt. Rev. Dr Robert Aboagye Mensah, led a team of Methodist bishops in the region to usher in the programme, with Bible quotations and prayers, because the late Dr Busia was a devout member of the church.
Songs from the Methodist Hymn Book such as Lead kindly light and Rock of ages played by the 3rd Infantry Brigade Band in Sunyani, kept the arena solemn.
In an address the Vice-President said he felt overwhelmed by the emotions of the day and probably the greatest recognition one could achieve was to be immortalised after one's death in ways that sought to perpetuate one's life in the memory of a society.
Alhaji Mahama also noted that the unveiling of the statue was to help sustain the memory of the late prime minister as it encouraged the citizenry to reflect on his ideals in governance.
That moment, he said, came to complement other events, activities and organisations dedicated to the late Dr Busia, including the Busia Foundation International itself as well as the delivery of an annual memorial lecture.
He pointed out that Dr Busia was also known to have been a prolific writer and wrote copiously not only in his area of expertise but also on politics and religion, and that many people placed his accommodating, yet tenacious leadership style to his long association with religion.
Alhaji Mahama stressed that considering that he was a member of the royal family of Wenchi he lived his early years in service with missionaries who amply rewarded him with opportunities to advance his studies.
Indeed, the Vice President noted that Dr Busia was a colossal character who excelled in whatever he touched.
"For me, perhaps the most important justification for his enduring memory was the depth of his political and social development ideals. Many do not know that he and A. I. Adu of blessed memory were the first Ghanaians to be appointed to the high offices of assistant district commissioners in the colonial services as far back as 1942", Alhaji Mahama observed.
The unveiling of the statue, which was performed by the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, was in commemoration of the 95th Birthday of Dr Busia and the 30th anniversary of his death. It was jointly organised by the Busia Foundation International, with the Brong Ahafo Regional Council and Ambassador Jimmy Aggrey Orleans in collaboration.
As early as 7:30 p.m. the people had started making their way to the park, which is opposite the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Headquarters on the Sunyani Kumasi main road, to take their seats.
When the Daily Graphic got to the durbar grounds at about 8:30 a.m. there was a deafening sound of fontomfrom and kete being performed by the drumming group of the Sunyani Centre for National Culture (CNC), which treated the audience to splendid and spectacular dances.
At the ark where the eight-foot statue had been erected were the two sculptors, Messrs Emmanuel Obeng Bonsai, a research fellow at the Faculty of Fine Art at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and G.A. Sekyere, a holder of Masters of Philosophy in Art Education, who had dressed the all-concrete bespectacled figure of the late Dr Busia in cloth, with the right hand raised.
The two sculptors, who are natives of Ayerede, near Nkoranza, and Acherensua respectively indicated to this reporter that it took them eight months to complete the project at a highly subsidised cost of GH¢1,000.
According to them they decided to work on the statue at a reduced cost because they were citizens of the region, and had also taken inspiration from the late prime minister during their studies, adding that the actual cost of the work would have been over GH¢ 20,000
The statue was designed by Mr I.K. Amankwah, an architect of Ice Consult in Sunyani, who is also the presiding member of the Sunyani Municipal Assembly, and sponsored by the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC)
Among the personalities who graced the occasion were a Member of the Council of State, Madam Amma Busia, who is also a younger sister of Dr Busia, and other family members as well as ministers of state, Members of Parliament (MPs), Municipal and District Chief Executives from the area. Others were the President of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, Okatakyie Agyemang Kudom IV, and other chiefs, queens, the clergy and dignitaries from the United States of America.
The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Rt. Rev. Dr Robert Aboagye Mensah, led a team of Methodist bishops in the region to usher in the programme, with Bible quotations and prayers, because the late Dr Busia was a devout member of the church.
Songs from the Methodist Hymn Book such as Lead kindly light and Rock of ages played by the 3rd Infantry Brigade Band in Sunyani, kept the arena solemn.
In an address the Vice-President said he felt overwhelmed by the emotions of the day and probably the greatest recognition one could achieve was to be immortalised after one's death in ways that sought to perpetuate one's life in the memory of a society.
Alhaji Mahama also noted that the unveiling of the statue was to help sustain the memory of the late prime minister as it encouraged the citizenry to reflect on his ideals in governance.
That moment, he said, came to complement other events, activities and organisations dedicated to the late Dr Busia, including the Busia Foundation International itself as well as the delivery of an annual memorial lecture.
He pointed out that Dr Busia was also known to have been a prolific writer and wrote copiously not only in his area of expertise but also on politics and religion, and that many people placed his accommodating, yet tenacious leadership style to his long association with religion.
Alhaji Mahama stressed that considering that he was a member of the royal family of Wenchi he lived his early years in service with missionaries who amply rewarded him with opportunities to advance his studies.
Indeed, the Vice President noted that Dr Busia was a colossal character who excelled in whatever he touched.
"For me, perhaps the most important justification for his enduring memory was the depth of his political and social development ideals. Many do not know that he and A. I. Adu of blessed memory were the first Ghanaians to be appointed to the high offices of assistant district commissioners in the colonial services as far back as 1942", Alhaji Mahama observed.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
BUSIA WAS COMMITTED TO STRUGGLE FOR LIBERTY (SPREAD)
A Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Wayo Seini, has described the late Prime Minister of the Second Republic of Ghana, Prof. Kofi Abrefa Busia, as a man of extreme humility, an academic giant, and an extraordinary politician who committed himself to the struggle for the liberty of Ghana.
He also observed that Prof. Busia was a visionary whose pronouncements had been vindicated in contemporary continental and global politics, a God-fearing leader who believed that nothing could be achieved without the blessing of the creator, as well as a man who believed in the progress and rapid development of Ghana.
“His commitment to nation-building will forever become part and parcel of the history of Ghana’s struggle for liberty, free speech and democratic governance,” Prof. Seini stressed.
Speaking at a symposium to commemorate the 95th birthday of the late Prime Minister, the Senior Lecturer, who said Prof. Busia was his model, emphasised, “Indeed, just as Dr J.B. Danquah is the Doyen of Ghana’s Politics, Prof. Busia is without doubt the father of democracy in Ghana and stood for fairness, equity, liberty, freedom and the rule of law.
The well-attended symposium, which was jointly organised in Sunyani by the Brong Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) in collaboration with the Busia Foundation International, attracted Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, traditional authorities, the clergy and religious organisations, the academia, politicians, family members and people from all walks of life.
The theme for the symposium was, “The Prof. A man remembered; The Life, Vision and Legacy of Dr K.A. Busia”.
Prof. Seini noted that the humility of Dr Busia was infectious and that those who were associated with him, particularly his political colleagues, took up his humility and were ready to sacrifice for the interest of the nation.
However, he pointed out that Dr Busia’s life as the Prime Minister of the Second Republic should particularly serve as a lesson to all politicians.
According to Prof. Seini, the late Prime Minister dedicated his political life to the progress and development of Ghana and recognising that the country could not develop without developing the rural communities, he took the bold and pioneering step in introducing a ministry that was dedicated to that purpose.
He noted that in 27 months Prof. Busia left his development mark in every rural area of Ghana without borrowing a cent from outside Ghana and by this, he demonstrated abundantly that development could be truly intrinsic.
Prof. Seini emphasised that Dr Busia’s eagerness to bring development to the doorstep of the rural people led him to introduce the national development levy that was intended to solicit the assistance of the urban elite in the development of rural Ghana.
According to Prof. Seini, the late Prime Minister also realised that corruption was the number one enemy of development and that any nation that seriously wanted to embark on development should necessarily fight corruption.
The former Head of the Sociology Department of the University of Ghana, Prof. K.E. De Graft Johnson, also observed that Dr Busia reflected his talents in different ways and at different times and even as a little boy, the late Prime Minister showed interest in education.
As a politician, Prof. De Graft Johnson noted that the late Prime Minister spoke against one party state and had to flee into exile in 1959 because he vehemently opposed dictatorship.
For his part, Mr J.H. Mensah, who served in the Busia Administration in 1969 as the Minister of Economic Planning, observed that the late Prime Minister had an extraordinary discipline and was a hardworking man.
Madam Amma Bame Busia, a Member of the Council of State and a sister of Dr Busia, recalled that his brother was a man who saw in governance a sense of national sacrifice, and that saw him and members of his government sacrificing a third of their approved salary for the purpose of earmarking a seed money for a rural development fund.
She noted that Dr Busia was so keen in the education of his siblings and that even in his days in exile; his brother never lost sight of the fact that education remained a major vehicle towards the self actualisation of humanity.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, in his welcoming address noted that the late Prime Minister effectively combined his academic career with his Christian and family lives, as well as his political ambition and cultural practice.
He also observed that Prof. Busia was a visionary whose pronouncements had been vindicated in contemporary continental and global politics, a God-fearing leader who believed that nothing could be achieved without the blessing of the creator, as well as a man who believed in the progress and rapid development of Ghana.
“His commitment to nation-building will forever become part and parcel of the history of Ghana’s struggle for liberty, free speech and democratic governance,” Prof. Seini stressed.
Speaking at a symposium to commemorate the 95th birthday of the late Prime Minister, the Senior Lecturer, who said Prof. Busia was his model, emphasised, “Indeed, just as Dr J.B. Danquah is the Doyen of Ghana’s Politics, Prof. Busia is without doubt the father of democracy in Ghana and stood for fairness, equity, liberty, freedom and the rule of law.
The well-attended symposium, which was jointly organised in Sunyani by the Brong Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) in collaboration with the Busia Foundation International, attracted Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, traditional authorities, the clergy and religious organisations, the academia, politicians, family members and people from all walks of life.
The theme for the symposium was, “The Prof. A man remembered; The Life, Vision and Legacy of Dr K.A. Busia”.
Prof. Seini noted that the humility of Dr Busia was infectious and that those who were associated with him, particularly his political colleagues, took up his humility and were ready to sacrifice for the interest of the nation.
However, he pointed out that Dr Busia’s life as the Prime Minister of the Second Republic should particularly serve as a lesson to all politicians.
According to Prof. Seini, the late Prime Minister dedicated his political life to the progress and development of Ghana and recognising that the country could not develop without developing the rural communities, he took the bold and pioneering step in introducing a ministry that was dedicated to that purpose.
He noted that in 27 months Prof. Busia left his development mark in every rural area of Ghana without borrowing a cent from outside Ghana and by this, he demonstrated abundantly that development could be truly intrinsic.
Prof. Seini emphasised that Dr Busia’s eagerness to bring development to the doorstep of the rural people led him to introduce the national development levy that was intended to solicit the assistance of the urban elite in the development of rural Ghana.
According to Prof. Seini, the late Prime Minister also realised that corruption was the number one enemy of development and that any nation that seriously wanted to embark on development should necessarily fight corruption.
The former Head of the Sociology Department of the University of Ghana, Prof. K.E. De Graft Johnson, also observed that Dr Busia reflected his talents in different ways and at different times and even as a little boy, the late Prime Minister showed interest in education.
As a politician, Prof. De Graft Johnson noted that the late Prime Minister spoke against one party state and had to flee into exile in 1959 because he vehemently opposed dictatorship.
For his part, Mr J.H. Mensah, who served in the Busia Administration in 1969 as the Minister of Economic Planning, observed that the late Prime Minister had an extraordinary discipline and was a hardworking man.
Madam Amma Bame Busia, a Member of the Council of State and a sister of Dr Busia, recalled that his brother was a man who saw in governance a sense of national sacrifice, and that saw him and members of his government sacrificing a third of their approved salary for the purpose of earmarking a seed money for a rural development fund.
She noted that Dr Busia was so keen in the education of his siblings and that even in his days in exile; his brother never lost sight of the fact that education remained a major vehicle towards the self actualisation of humanity.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, in his welcoming address noted that the late Prime Minister effectively combined his academic career with his Christian and family lives, as well as his political ambition and cultural practice.
Friday, July 11, 2008
GROUPS ROOT FOR HAJIA ALIMA (PAGE 15)
Four women’s groups in the Brong Ahafo Region have passionately appealed to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the December elections, to seriously consider choosing Hajia Alima Mahama, the Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, as his running mate.
They expressed the hope that with the pair of Nana Akufo-Addo and Hajia Mahama, Ghanaian women and, indeed, all girls who had attained the voting age of 18, would definitely vote for the NPP to retain power, come December.
Speaking on behalf of the groups in an interaction with the Daily Graphic in Sunyani, the Brong Ahafo Regional Organiser of the NPP, Madam Felicia Adoma, maintained that Hajia Mahama possessed the qualities needed to partner the flag bearer to win the presidency in the upcoming elections.
She further explained that the minister, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Nalerigu, had served diligently and conscientiously wherever she had been assigned by President Kufuor in his administration, noting that “this is a clear testimony that Hajia is capable of going beyond ministerial portfolios to become the Vice-President of Ghana”.
According to Madam Adoma, the Nalerigu MP had been a role model for girls in the country, especially those from the northern sector, and that her position had served as a catalyst for an increase in girl-child enrolment in schools in the north.
The NPP Regional Organiser said if Hajia Mahama became the running mate of Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP won the elections, many more girls would be encouraged to attend school, in the hope of becoming future leaders.
She pointed out that as the Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Hajia Mahama had impressed upon the President to look for assistance for pregnant women in the country and that explained why President Kufuor also fought tooth and nail to solicit financial help from the British government for free medical care for pregnant women which had just started under the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Madam Adoma also indicated that Hajia Mahama had made sure that many girls in the country who, hitherto, were vulnerable were gainfully employed after learning trades such as dressmaking, batik, tie and dye making, hairdressing and others.
According to her, the MP was still working around the clock to get those girls who were still engaged in menial jobs in the cities, especially those from the north, to learn trades to reduce their poverty levels.
They expressed the hope that with the pair of Nana Akufo-Addo and Hajia Mahama, Ghanaian women and, indeed, all girls who had attained the voting age of 18, would definitely vote for the NPP to retain power, come December.
Speaking on behalf of the groups in an interaction with the Daily Graphic in Sunyani, the Brong Ahafo Regional Organiser of the NPP, Madam Felicia Adoma, maintained that Hajia Mahama possessed the qualities needed to partner the flag bearer to win the presidency in the upcoming elections.
She further explained that the minister, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Nalerigu, had served diligently and conscientiously wherever she had been assigned by President Kufuor in his administration, noting that “this is a clear testimony that Hajia is capable of going beyond ministerial portfolios to become the Vice-President of Ghana”.
According to Madam Adoma, the Nalerigu MP had been a role model for girls in the country, especially those from the northern sector, and that her position had served as a catalyst for an increase in girl-child enrolment in schools in the north.
The NPP Regional Organiser said if Hajia Mahama became the running mate of Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP won the elections, many more girls would be encouraged to attend school, in the hope of becoming future leaders.
She pointed out that as the Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Hajia Mahama had impressed upon the President to look for assistance for pregnant women in the country and that explained why President Kufuor also fought tooth and nail to solicit financial help from the British government for free medical care for pregnant women which had just started under the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Madam Adoma also indicated that Hajia Mahama had made sure that many girls in the country who, hitherto, were vulnerable were gainfully employed after learning trades such as dressmaking, batik, tie and dye making, hairdressing and others.
According to her, the MP was still working around the clock to get those girls who were still engaged in menial jobs in the cities, especially those from the north, to learn trades to reduce their poverty levels.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
TAMALE HIGH TRIUMPHS ...In Milo soccer games (GRAPHIC SPORTS, PAGE 16)
Tamale Senior High School last Saturday defeated defending champions, Potsin T.I. Ahmediyya Senior High School, 2-0 to win this year’s edition of the Milo Schools’ Sports Festival, at the Sunyani Coronation Park in the Brong Ahafo Region.
Mumuni S. Salisu and Sulemana Ibrahim scored for thier side in the 15th and 53th minutes respectively in the final match of the tournament sponsored by Nestle Ghana Limited.
Cape Coast Technical defeated Odumaseman 4-3 on penalties for the third position after the game ended goaless in regulation time.
In the final game of the Girls’ U-15 competition, Ashanti Region beat Greater Accra 5-4 on penalties after the game ended 1-1 in regulation time, while Western Region took the third place after beating Upper East Region 2-1.
In the boys’ U-12 encounter, Brong Ahafo Region defeated Greater Accra 3-2 on penalties after settling for a 1-1 draw, while Northern Region defeated Western Region 2-0.
The teams were presented with trophies, medals as well as Milo branded jerseys, footballs, bags and products and cash.
A total of 800 boys and girls and officials from the 10 regions in the country participated in the week-long championship which was on the theme,”Nourishing Future Champions Together.”
Professor Dominic Fobih, the Minister of Education, Science and Sports who performed the closing ceremony, noted that since its inception in 1989, the Milo Schools Sports Festival has become a very important and popular programme on the school’s calendar which many students look forward to each year.
He, therefore, paid glowing tribute to Nestle Ghana Limited for sustaining their sponsorship which now included Under-12 boy’s soccer and second cycle schools boys and girls volleyball.
He said a cursory reflection of the impact of the Milo games will reveal the tremendous impact on talent identification and development and its subsequent positive influence on the results of the national soccer teams.
The Minster observed that one glaring and strong testimony could be found in the current girls’ Under-17 national soccer team, which is made up of products of the Milo schools programme, adding that the programme undoubtedly helped young boys and girls to acquire the basic skills that are required for high level sports performance in future.
To this end, Prof. Fobih indicated that the Ministry would continue to collaborate with Nestle Ghana to use sports not only for talent identification and development, but also for healthy living, recreation and leisure.
The Human Resource and Corporate Affairs Manager of Nestle Ghana, Mr Sarfo Prempeh, pointed out that teamwork had been the key element and heartbeat of the brand.
He disclosed that Nestle had invested over GH¢100,000 through sponsorship to demonstrate its commitment to sports development in schools.
Mumuni S. Salisu and Sulemana Ibrahim scored for thier side in the 15th and 53th minutes respectively in the final match of the tournament sponsored by Nestle Ghana Limited.
Cape Coast Technical defeated Odumaseman 4-3 on penalties for the third position after the game ended goaless in regulation time.
In the final game of the Girls’ U-15 competition, Ashanti Region beat Greater Accra 5-4 on penalties after the game ended 1-1 in regulation time, while Western Region took the third place after beating Upper East Region 2-1.
In the boys’ U-12 encounter, Brong Ahafo Region defeated Greater Accra 3-2 on penalties after settling for a 1-1 draw, while Northern Region defeated Western Region 2-0.
The teams were presented with trophies, medals as well as Milo branded jerseys, footballs, bags and products and cash.
A total of 800 boys and girls and officials from the 10 regions in the country participated in the week-long championship which was on the theme,”Nourishing Future Champions Together.”
Professor Dominic Fobih, the Minister of Education, Science and Sports who performed the closing ceremony, noted that since its inception in 1989, the Milo Schools Sports Festival has become a very important and popular programme on the school’s calendar which many students look forward to each year.
He, therefore, paid glowing tribute to Nestle Ghana Limited for sustaining their sponsorship which now included Under-12 boy’s soccer and second cycle schools boys and girls volleyball.
He said a cursory reflection of the impact of the Milo games will reveal the tremendous impact on talent identification and development and its subsequent positive influence on the results of the national soccer teams.
The Minster observed that one glaring and strong testimony could be found in the current girls’ Under-17 national soccer team, which is made up of products of the Milo schools programme, adding that the programme undoubtedly helped young boys and girls to acquire the basic skills that are required for high level sports performance in future.
To this end, Prof. Fobih indicated that the Ministry would continue to collaborate with Nestle Ghana to use sports not only for talent identification and development, but also for healthy living, recreation and leisure.
The Human Resource and Corporate Affairs Manager of Nestle Ghana, Mr Sarfo Prempeh, pointed out that teamwork had been the key element and heartbeat of the brand.
He disclosed that Nestle had invested over GH¢100,000 through sponsorship to demonstrate its commitment to sports development in schools.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
100 SENIOR CITIZENS FETED AT WENCHI (PAGE 40)
ABOUT 100 senior citizens within the Wenchi municipality have been treated to a luncheon, organised by the municipal assembly as part of the Republic Day celebration in the area.
The oldies, including World War veterans, retired educationalists and security officers, as well as civil and public servants, also enjoyed all types of music while they took their drinks and meals.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Wenchi, Nana Ata Afena, in his remarks before the meals were served, noted that the old men and women had played their respective roles in the development of Wenchi in particular and the country as a whole, hence the need to set aside the Republic Day to honour them exclusively.
Nana Afena stressed that the senior citizens laid down their lives to serve the country in their various fields of endeavour, and that they selflessly contributed in no small measure towards the growth and progress of the nation.
The MCE further observed that most of the senior men and women took good care of themselves during their youthful days and that explained why they still looked strong and healthy.
He, therefore, advised the young men and women of today to take a cue from the senior citizens in order to live longer.
According to Nana Afena, owing to the rush and greed for wealth, most young people nowadays died prematurely without contributing their quota towards national development.
The MCE used the occasion to advise the old men and women not to allow politics and chieftaincy matters to divide them but rather pass on their rich experiences and depth of knowledge to the younger generation for the overall development of the municipality.
Some of the senior citizens who gave optional speeches advised the MCE to ensure that the municipality received its share of the national cake, by providing educational facilities, roads, markets, health institutions and water and sanitation infrastructure.
Present at the meeting was Mr Andrews Adjei-Yeboah, the Deputy Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines. Other officials of the ministry who attended the meeting were Mr Ahmed Bin Salih, the Chief Director of the ministry; Mr Robert Yakubu, the Technical Director in charge of Mines; Mr Augustine Appiah Adu, the Technical Director in charge of Lands; Mr Charles Wereko, the Public Relations Officer of the ministry, and Mr Ellis Paul Atiglah, Principal Planning and Policy Officer of the Minerals Commission.
The oldies, including World War veterans, retired educationalists and security officers, as well as civil and public servants, also enjoyed all types of music while they took their drinks and meals.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Wenchi, Nana Ata Afena, in his remarks before the meals were served, noted that the old men and women had played their respective roles in the development of Wenchi in particular and the country as a whole, hence the need to set aside the Republic Day to honour them exclusively.
Nana Afena stressed that the senior citizens laid down their lives to serve the country in their various fields of endeavour, and that they selflessly contributed in no small measure towards the growth and progress of the nation.
The MCE further observed that most of the senior men and women took good care of themselves during their youthful days and that explained why they still looked strong and healthy.
He, therefore, advised the young men and women of today to take a cue from the senior citizens in order to live longer.
According to Nana Afena, owing to the rush and greed for wealth, most young people nowadays died prematurely without contributing their quota towards national development.
The MCE used the occasion to advise the old men and women not to allow politics and chieftaincy matters to divide them but rather pass on their rich experiences and depth of knowledge to the younger generation for the overall development of the municipality.
Some of the senior citizens who gave optional speeches advised the MCE to ensure that the municipality received its share of the national cake, by providing educational facilities, roads, markets, health institutions and water and sanitation infrastructure.
Present at the meeting was Mr Andrews Adjei-Yeboah, the Deputy Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines. Other officials of the ministry who attended the meeting were Mr Ahmed Bin Salih, the Chief Director of the ministry; Mr Robert Yakubu, the Technical Director in charge of Mines; Mr Augustine Appiah Adu, the Technical Director in charge of Lands; Mr Charles Wereko, the Public Relations Officer of the ministry, and Mr Ellis Paul Atiglah, Principal Planning and Policy Officer of the Minerals Commission.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
SPECULATORS HAMPER NEWMONT OPERATIONS (PAGE 57)
The Management of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) operators of the Ahafo Mine in the Brong Ahafo Region, have expressed concern about the emergence of speculative structures on its mining concession by communities in its operational area.
It has described as alarming, the rate at which some people have within a short period put up structures on its duly acquired land for mining activities with the intention of collecting compensation.
Briefing newsmen about the situation the company was encountering at the mine site at Ntotroso in the Asutifi District, the External Affairs Manager of NGGL, Mr Randy Barnes, said soon after the company declared the pit area of the Ahafo South lease portion as moratorium on June 18, 2008, the company counted about 400 structures whose owners were expecting compensation.
Mr Barnes said the people had decided to put up those structures while some had hurriedly started farming on various portions of the leased land, with the intention that they would be adequately compensated once the company declared that it was ready to mine in the areas they were farming.
Mr Barnes described as worrisome and frustrating, the way people speculatively built and farmed in mining concessions, a situation he said, was not peculiar to NGGL but other mining companies in the country.
“We came in with goodwill and started negotiations extensively with the various communities the government, agencies and all other stakeholders to address the problem but certain groups of people are manipulating the system to benefit themselves by putting up structures and farming on the land which frustrates the company,” he stated.
The External Affairs Manager indicated that in the past couple of years since the company started the Ahafo operations, the company had tried to build a very good relationship with the communities but “we still have people doing things which they shouldn’t be doing, to the detriment of our mutual benefit”.
He recounted the establishment of the Ahafo Social Responsibility Forum (ASRF), the Agricultural Improvement Land Access Programme (AILAP), the Ahafo Social Responsibility Agreement, the Vulnerable Programme for NGGL Ahafo Project Area and the setting aside of $1 per an ounce of gold sold by the company and one per cent of the profit from the mine, as some of the initiatives the company had undertaken to build a healthy relationship with the people.
According to Mr Barnes, the company had paid a total of $14million as compensation for crops which were affected during its operations between 2004 and 2006, adding that the company would not renege on its commitment and obligation to pay the necessary compensation to those who deserve it.
The External Affairs Manager said the company would only compensate those who had structures on the land before the moratorium declaration in accordance with the provisions of the 1992 constitution of Ghana and the new Minerals and Mining Act (Act 703) of 2006.
Quoting section 72(4) of the Mineral and Mining Law, Mr Barnes indicated that, in the case of a mining area, the owner or lawful occupier of the land within the mining area shall not erect a building or a structure without the consent of the minister.
He said the government had the right to minerals and wanted companies such as Newmont to come in to mine them and obtain profit for their mutual benefit.
The External Affairs Manager and other officials of the company led newsmen to various sites where some of the speculative structures had been put up.
At the Subriagya portion of the leased land, some farmers who claimed they had stayed there for three years now, alleged that the operations of NGGL was negatively affecting their lives and, therefore, appealed to the company to resettle them.
It has described as alarming, the rate at which some people have within a short period put up structures on its duly acquired land for mining activities with the intention of collecting compensation.
Briefing newsmen about the situation the company was encountering at the mine site at Ntotroso in the Asutifi District, the External Affairs Manager of NGGL, Mr Randy Barnes, said soon after the company declared the pit area of the Ahafo South lease portion as moratorium on June 18, 2008, the company counted about 400 structures whose owners were expecting compensation.
Mr Barnes said the people had decided to put up those structures while some had hurriedly started farming on various portions of the leased land, with the intention that they would be adequately compensated once the company declared that it was ready to mine in the areas they were farming.
Mr Barnes described as worrisome and frustrating, the way people speculatively built and farmed in mining concessions, a situation he said, was not peculiar to NGGL but other mining companies in the country.
“We came in with goodwill and started negotiations extensively with the various communities the government, agencies and all other stakeholders to address the problem but certain groups of people are manipulating the system to benefit themselves by putting up structures and farming on the land which frustrates the company,” he stated.
The External Affairs Manager indicated that in the past couple of years since the company started the Ahafo operations, the company had tried to build a very good relationship with the communities but “we still have people doing things which they shouldn’t be doing, to the detriment of our mutual benefit”.
He recounted the establishment of the Ahafo Social Responsibility Forum (ASRF), the Agricultural Improvement Land Access Programme (AILAP), the Ahafo Social Responsibility Agreement, the Vulnerable Programme for NGGL Ahafo Project Area and the setting aside of $1 per an ounce of gold sold by the company and one per cent of the profit from the mine, as some of the initiatives the company had undertaken to build a healthy relationship with the people.
According to Mr Barnes, the company had paid a total of $14million as compensation for crops which were affected during its operations between 2004 and 2006, adding that the company would not renege on its commitment and obligation to pay the necessary compensation to those who deserve it.
The External Affairs Manager said the company would only compensate those who had structures on the land before the moratorium declaration in accordance with the provisions of the 1992 constitution of Ghana and the new Minerals and Mining Act (Act 703) of 2006.
Quoting section 72(4) of the Mineral and Mining Law, Mr Barnes indicated that, in the case of a mining area, the owner or lawful occupier of the land within the mining area shall not erect a building or a structure without the consent of the minister.
He said the government had the right to minerals and wanted companies such as Newmont to come in to mine them and obtain profit for their mutual benefit.
The External Affairs Manager and other officials of the company led newsmen to various sites where some of the speculative structures had been put up.
At the Subriagya portion of the leased land, some farmers who claimed they had stayed there for three years now, alleged that the operations of NGGL was negatively affecting their lives and, therefore, appealed to the company to resettle them.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
REDUCTION IN TUBERCULOSIS CASES BA (PAGE 11)
By Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Pamdu
A TOTAL of 210 cases of Tuberculosis (TB) are expected in the Kintampo South district of the Brong Ahafo Region every year. However, out of the total number of 150 people screened in 2007, only 10 had contracted the disease and so far for this year, four cases have been recorded in the district.
The Medical Director of the Jema Hospital, Dr Kofi Amoako Gyamfi who disclosed this at the Kintampo South District’s celebration of this year’s World TB Day at Pamdu near Jema, the district capital, pointed out that, the main objectives of the TB control outfit were to reduce mortality and morbidity due to the disease, reduce the transmission of infection until it no longer poses a threat to the public and also to prevent the development of drug resistance.
According to Dr Gyampah, 50 per cent of the people with TB of the lungs will die in five years and that 25 per cent of them will have chronic TB and continue to spread the disease while another 25 per cent will get better but may fall sick again.
The Medical Director further noted that, most cases of TB and HIV occur between the economically productive age ranges from 15-50 year, adding that, one untreated TB case would infect approximately 10-15 people every year.
Dr Gyampah disclosed that, in 2005, Ghana only detected 31 per cent of patients and the treatment success rate was 72.6 per cent while 66.7 per cent were cured and either 9.3 died or 11.4 per cent defaulted from treatment.
According to him, some of the challenges facing the control of the disease were that, many people do not report to health facilities while others were malnourished due to poverty, the increase of HIV/AIDS cases in the district, the lack of technical staff to help laboratory diagnosis, lack of motivation for staff as well as the stigma attached to the disease.
He, therefore, suggested the training of laboratory personnel to improve upon diagnosis, education of community members on the disease and its relationship with HIV/AIDS, motivation of staff to follow-up cases and educate patients on the consequence of defaults.
Mr Andy Seglah, the Project Co-ordinator of Foundation for Better Tomorrow (FOBET), a local Non-governmental Organization (NGO), which is actively involved in the control of TB, disclosed that, his organization had so far trained 30 volunteers to undertake house-to-house education and that another 30 volunteers would also receive training.
He noted that, one factor that was contributing to TB resurgence was the failure of patients to complete the full six to nine months of antibiotic therapy required to cure the disease.
According to Mr Seglah, many people stop taking antibiotics when they begin to feel healthier but pointed out that, successful treatment of TB requires therapy beyond the stipulated period for obvious reasons, and stressed that, when patients fail to follow the prescribed treatment, they may become actively infectious and spread the disease to others.
The Project Co-ordinator further observed that, migration, international air travel and tourism have also contributed to the global spread of TB, and that, the extreme difficulty of screening immigrants and travelers for TB, allows the disease to cross international borders easily.
A TOTAL of 210 cases of Tuberculosis (TB) are expected in the Kintampo South district of the Brong Ahafo Region every year. However, out of the total number of 150 people screened in 2007, only 10 had contracted the disease and so far for this year, four cases have been recorded in the district.
The Medical Director of the Jema Hospital, Dr Kofi Amoako Gyamfi who disclosed this at the Kintampo South District’s celebration of this year’s World TB Day at Pamdu near Jema, the district capital, pointed out that, the main objectives of the TB control outfit were to reduce mortality and morbidity due to the disease, reduce the transmission of infection until it no longer poses a threat to the public and also to prevent the development of drug resistance.
According to Dr Gyampah, 50 per cent of the people with TB of the lungs will die in five years and that 25 per cent of them will have chronic TB and continue to spread the disease while another 25 per cent will get better but may fall sick again.
The Medical Director further noted that, most cases of TB and HIV occur between the economically productive age ranges from 15-50 year, adding that, one untreated TB case would infect approximately 10-15 people every year.
Dr Gyampah disclosed that, in 2005, Ghana only detected 31 per cent of patients and the treatment success rate was 72.6 per cent while 66.7 per cent were cured and either 9.3 died or 11.4 per cent defaulted from treatment.
According to him, some of the challenges facing the control of the disease were that, many people do not report to health facilities while others were malnourished due to poverty, the increase of HIV/AIDS cases in the district, the lack of technical staff to help laboratory diagnosis, lack of motivation for staff as well as the stigma attached to the disease.
He, therefore, suggested the training of laboratory personnel to improve upon diagnosis, education of community members on the disease and its relationship with HIV/AIDS, motivation of staff to follow-up cases and educate patients on the consequence of defaults.
Mr Andy Seglah, the Project Co-ordinator of Foundation for Better Tomorrow (FOBET), a local Non-governmental Organization (NGO), which is actively involved in the control of TB, disclosed that, his organization had so far trained 30 volunteers to undertake house-to-house education and that another 30 volunteers would also receive training.
He noted that, one factor that was contributing to TB resurgence was the failure of patients to complete the full six to nine months of antibiotic therapy required to cure the disease.
According to Mr Seglah, many people stop taking antibiotics when they begin to feel healthier but pointed out that, successful treatment of TB requires therapy beyond the stipulated period for obvious reasons, and stressed that, when patients fail to follow the prescribed treatment, they may become actively infectious and spread the disease to others.
The Project Co-ordinator further observed that, migration, international air travel and tourism have also contributed to the global spread of TB, and that, the extreme difficulty of screening immigrants and travelers for TB, allows the disease to cross international borders easily.
MASLOC GOES TO BRONG AHAFO REGION (PAGE 15)
By Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah,
Sunyani.
THE official launch of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) in the Brong Ahafo Region, took place at the auditorium of the Sunyani Polytechnic with a total of GH¢1.8 million slated to be disbursed among 3,500 successful individuals and groups who applied for the facility.
At the well-attended function, the elated beneficiaries from all the 19 districts in the region were issued with slips that would enable them access the loan from accredited banks in the region to either start or expand their respective enterprises.
Microfinance is universally acknowledged to be one of the most effective and sustainable strategies for poverty reduction since it brings financial services to the grass roots.
Accordingly, the government adopted this strategy in its Ghana Poverty Reduction programme now called Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy. Unfortunately, a very large segment of the rural community still has no access to micro- financial services.
A couple of years ago, the President J.A. Kufour launched MASLOC in Accra for the programme to take off in all the regions of the country.
Mr Lawrence Prempeh, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MASLOC, who performed the launch, disclosed that about 600 people had so far been employed to take care of the scheme at the various centres in the country.
He cautioned the beneficiaries that the loans were not for free and therefore, urged them to endeavour to pay back the money when the time was due so that other people would also benefit from the scheme. He said adequate measures had been put in place for repayment of the loans.
According to the CEO, nobody had the right to cash the money on behalf of another person and even in the case of those who applied in groups; the leaders of those groups had no right to access the money for the group members.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Sunyani, Mr Kwame Twumasi-Awuah, observed that many people wanted to establish their own businesses in order to earn a decent living but lack of capital had not made their dream come true.
Basically, he said, it had become difficult for potential businessmen and women to provide collateral security to enable them access loans from the financial institutions and pointed out that, MASLOC did not emphasize the provision of collateral before one could access the money.
He, however, cautioned that, the loan was not meant for the purchase of expensive funeral cloths or for any unproductive venture, adding that the money was to be used to establish businesses that would bring about better returns for the beneficiaries.
The Regional Coordinator of MASLOC, Mr Osei Bonsu, explained that MASLOC was an intervention by the government, and was not discriminatory. He said the centre considered every application received before approval was given.
He therefore, appealed to those whose application had not been approved yet to exercise restraint as they were receiving attention.
Sunyani.
THE official launch of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) in the Brong Ahafo Region, took place at the auditorium of the Sunyani Polytechnic with a total of GH¢1.8 million slated to be disbursed among 3,500 successful individuals and groups who applied for the facility.
At the well-attended function, the elated beneficiaries from all the 19 districts in the region were issued with slips that would enable them access the loan from accredited banks in the region to either start or expand their respective enterprises.
Microfinance is universally acknowledged to be one of the most effective and sustainable strategies for poverty reduction since it brings financial services to the grass roots.
Accordingly, the government adopted this strategy in its Ghana Poverty Reduction programme now called Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy. Unfortunately, a very large segment of the rural community still has no access to micro- financial services.
A couple of years ago, the President J.A. Kufour launched MASLOC in Accra for the programme to take off in all the regions of the country.
Mr Lawrence Prempeh, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MASLOC, who performed the launch, disclosed that about 600 people had so far been employed to take care of the scheme at the various centres in the country.
He cautioned the beneficiaries that the loans were not for free and therefore, urged them to endeavour to pay back the money when the time was due so that other people would also benefit from the scheme. He said adequate measures had been put in place for repayment of the loans.
According to the CEO, nobody had the right to cash the money on behalf of another person and even in the case of those who applied in groups; the leaders of those groups had no right to access the money for the group members.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Sunyani, Mr Kwame Twumasi-Awuah, observed that many people wanted to establish their own businesses in order to earn a decent living but lack of capital had not made their dream come true.
Basically, he said, it had become difficult for potential businessmen and women to provide collateral security to enable them access loans from the financial institutions and pointed out that, MASLOC did not emphasize the provision of collateral before one could access the money.
He, however, cautioned that, the loan was not meant for the purchase of expensive funeral cloths or for any unproductive venture, adding that the money was to be used to establish businesses that would bring about better returns for the beneficiaries.
The Regional Coordinator of MASLOC, Mr Osei Bonsu, explained that MASLOC was an intervention by the government, and was not discriminatory. He said the centre considered every application received before approval was given.
He therefore, appealed to those whose application had not been approved yet to exercise restraint as they were receiving attention.
PREZ KUFUOR TO UNVEIL BUSIA'S STATUE (NSEMPA, PAGE 10)
By Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Sunyani.
THE President, Mr J.A. Kufuor, is expected to unveil a statue on July 11, 2008, in honour of the late Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia, the Prime Minister in the Second Republic of Ghana under the Progress Party (PP) Administration. He is noted for his political astuteness, as a great academician, a statesman and a royal.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council (BARCC) which is bestowing the honour on the Late prime minister, has also said that Dr Busia immensely contributed towards uplifting the image of the Brong Ahafo Region in particular and Ghana as a whole.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, who made this known to newsmen at his office in Sunyani on Wednesday, further pointed out that the life of Dr Busia in all spheres had been a model for the citizens of Brong Ahafo, especially the young ones who had come to hear about him, and that it was incumbent on the RCC to recognise whatever he stood for and accordingly honour him posthumously.
According to Mr Baffour-Awuah, preparations for the programme, which is scheduled to take place at the Ghana @ 50 Jubilee Park, where the statue has also been erected, had been completed and that personalities including Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, traditional authorities, representatives of the various political parties, the clergy and religious, the academia, among other dignitaries would grace the occasion.
The regional minister intimated that as a prelude to the ceremony, a symposium would be held on July10, 2008 by the organisers in conjunction with the Busia Foundation, at which contemporaries of the late prime minister would speak on topics such as Busia as an Academician/Researcher, Busia as an Academician/Statesman, Busia as a Christian, and Busia as a Royal/family man.
Again, Mr Baffour-Awuah said, excerpts of the film on the Life of Dr Busia by Akosua Busia will be shown as well as a photo exhibition of his life and works.
THE President, Mr J.A. Kufuor, is expected to unveil a statue on July 11, 2008, in honour of the late Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia, the Prime Minister in the Second Republic of Ghana under the Progress Party (PP) Administration. He is noted for his political astuteness, as a great academician, a statesman and a royal.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council (BARCC) which is bestowing the honour on the Late prime minister, has also said that Dr Busia immensely contributed towards uplifting the image of the Brong Ahafo Region in particular and Ghana as a whole.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, who made this known to newsmen at his office in Sunyani on Wednesday, further pointed out that the life of Dr Busia in all spheres had been a model for the citizens of Brong Ahafo, especially the young ones who had come to hear about him, and that it was incumbent on the RCC to recognise whatever he stood for and accordingly honour him posthumously.
According to Mr Baffour-Awuah, preparations for the programme, which is scheduled to take place at the Ghana @ 50 Jubilee Park, where the statue has also been erected, had been completed and that personalities including Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, traditional authorities, representatives of the various political parties, the clergy and religious, the academia, among other dignitaries would grace the occasion.
The regional minister intimated that as a prelude to the ceremony, a symposium would be held on July10, 2008 by the organisers in conjunction with the Busia Foundation, at which contemporaries of the late prime minister would speak on topics such as Busia as an Academician/Researcher, Busia as an Academician/Statesman, Busia as a Christian, and Busia as a Royal/family man.
Again, Mr Baffour-Awuah said, excerpts of the film on the Life of Dr Busia by Akosua Busia will be shown as well as a photo exhibition of his life and works.
POLICE GRAB TWO CAR SNATCHERS (PAGE 3)
By Akwasi Ampratwum- Mensah, Sunyani
TWO men, Rockson Arthur, 28, and Alhassan Mustapha (alias Burger) 37, finding the snatching of mobile cellular phones from unsuspecting victims no longer lucrative, decided to go into armed robbery, using force to take away peoples vehicles especially, taxi cabs, from them for sale.
However, luck eluded them on Friday, May 30, 2008 at about 4pm when they decided to snatch a beautiful taxicab with registration number BA 1490 Y and offer it for sale.
The suspected armed robbers succeeded alright in throwing the driver of the taxi cab out of his car after tying him with a rope and blindfolding him, but they were finally apprehended by the police and arraigned before the circuit court at Fiapre near Sunyani, where they pleaded guilty to the charge of robbery.
Mr Owusu Gyamfi, the Presiding Judge, accordingly sentenced them to 15 years each in hard labour on their own plea.
A source close to the court told Graphic Nsempa in Sunyani that, the accused spotted the taxi somewhere in the Sunyani Municipality and observed that it was nice and marketable, so they stopped the driver, Kwaku Edward, and told him that their own taxi had developed a fault at Asufufu, a town off the Sunyani – Atronie main road and so they wanted to hire his taxi.
The source indicated that Edward agreed to drive them there, but after going a few metres off Attakrom on the main road towards Asufufu, the driver decided to slow down owing to the potholes filled with stagnant water in them.
Rockson, who was seated at the back with a nylon rope hidden in his pocket, removed it and threw it around the neck of Edward and with the help of Mustapha who was sitting in front with the driver, tied him to the seat and again blindfolded him with the driver’s own duster.
According to the source, the robbers then brought an implement with which they threatened to pierce the cheeks of Edward and kill him if he dared make any noise. The source said the driver kept quiet and the accused persons threw him out of the taxi into a bush.
He said a woman who was later returning from her farm came across Edward and managed to untie him after which the two went to a local FM station in Sunyani to make an announcement about the snatching of the driver’s taxicab and later made a report to the police.
The source pointed out that policemen at a check point at Yawhima on the Sunyani–Techiman road, on hearing the announcement intensified their operations at the barrier and in the process came across the two persons occupying the taxi and moving in the direction of Techiman.
He said after interrogation they were arrested and handed over to the Sunyani Municipal Police who, after investigations, put them before the Fiapre Circuit Court.
TWO men, Rockson Arthur, 28, and Alhassan Mustapha (alias Burger) 37, finding the snatching of mobile cellular phones from unsuspecting victims no longer lucrative, decided to go into armed robbery, using force to take away peoples vehicles especially, taxi cabs, from them for sale.
However, luck eluded them on Friday, May 30, 2008 at about 4pm when they decided to snatch a beautiful taxicab with registration number BA 1490 Y and offer it for sale.
The suspected armed robbers succeeded alright in throwing the driver of the taxi cab out of his car after tying him with a rope and blindfolding him, but they were finally apprehended by the police and arraigned before the circuit court at Fiapre near Sunyani, where they pleaded guilty to the charge of robbery.
Mr Owusu Gyamfi, the Presiding Judge, accordingly sentenced them to 15 years each in hard labour on their own plea.
A source close to the court told Graphic Nsempa in Sunyani that, the accused spotted the taxi somewhere in the Sunyani Municipality and observed that it was nice and marketable, so they stopped the driver, Kwaku Edward, and told him that their own taxi had developed a fault at Asufufu, a town off the Sunyani – Atronie main road and so they wanted to hire his taxi.
The source indicated that Edward agreed to drive them there, but after going a few metres off Attakrom on the main road towards Asufufu, the driver decided to slow down owing to the potholes filled with stagnant water in them.
Rockson, who was seated at the back with a nylon rope hidden in his pocket, removed it and threw it around the neck of Edward and with the help of Mustapha who was sitting in front with the driver, tied him to the seat and again blindfolded him with the driver’s own duster.
According to the source, the robbers then brought an implement with which they threatened to pierce the cheeks of Edward and kill him if he dared make any noise. The source said the driver kept quiet and the accused persons threw him out of the taxi into a bush.
He said a woman who was later returning from her farm came across Edward and managed to untie him after which the two went to a local FM station in Sunyani to make an announcement about the snatching of the driver’s taxicab and later made a report to the police.
The source pointed out that policemen at a check point at Yawhima on the Sunyani–Techiman road, on hearing the announcement intensified their operations at the barrier and in the process came across the two persons occupying the taxi and moving in the direction of Techiman.
He said after interrogation they were arrested and handed over to the Sunyani Municipal Police who, after investigations, put them before the Fiapre Circuit Court.
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