Thursday, June 25, 2009

NDC TO FULFIL PROMISE — MAHAMA (PAGE 16)

The government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has so far achieved 28 per cent out of the total 40 per cent target of appointments for women as promised in the party’s manifesto for the 2008 general election, Mr John Mahama, the Vice-President, has disclosed.
He, therefore, gave the assurance that in subsequent official appointments, the government would focus on women to meet the maximum set target of 40 per cent that the NDC promised.
“I want to encourage women to offer themselves up for such appointments when the time comes because they are known to be less corrupt than men and hardworking too when given the opportunity,” Mr Mahama said.
The Vice-President made the disclosure when he addressed a durbar of the chiefs and people of the Ahafo area in the Asutifi District in honour of Alhaji Collins Dauda, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, at Acherensua in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The ceremony, which was in recognition of Alhaji Dauda’s “Selfless and unalloyed commitment to the development of the district over the years,” was also attended by members of the Council of State, ministers of state, district chief executives, the clergy and religious groups, assembly members, supporters and students.
Mr Mahama described as propaganda, assertions by some opposition members that the NDC had failed to honour the promises made during the electioneering for the 2008 general election.
He declared, “Just within five months some people have started the propaganda that the NDC has not been able to fulfil its promises to the people that when voted into power, it will make Ghana a better place to live in. But I can assure you that in four years Ghana will be a better place than we came to meet it”.
“We have assessed the economy to be in a bad shape and we are trying to bring it back on track through pragmatic policies. We are fixing the economy and in four years I can assure you that it will be buoyant and appealing to you to vote us back again,” Mr Mahama assured.
The Vice-President pointed out that in assessing the general economic situation, the government had realised that debts owed contractors total several billions of cedis, while the accumulated Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and Volta River Authority (VRA) debts are also in trillions of cedis.
He said it was in this connection that the government had decided to reduce its expenditure, including a 30 per cent cut in fuel consumption, which he noted was a source of high government expenditure, in order to increase revenue and reserve to clear those debts.
Again, Mr Mahama indicated that it was to cut down cost drastically that the President is travelling — less, since several travels also amounted to increase in government expenditure.
The Vice-President further intimated that the government was arranging with local banks to refinance TOR while contacts were also being made with international financing institutions to assist the government’s budget.
Mr Mahama noted with satisfaction the falling rate of inflation and the stabilisation of the cedi, saying “We are indeed fixing the economy which has been in a bad state.”
The Vice-President announced a number of projects and programmes for the agricultural sector, including a forest plantation, block farming, agro-processing and accelerated infrastructure development, and explained that all those programmes would be carried out in a non-discriminatory manner.
He pointed out that the previous NDC government had been a development-oriented system and so was the current administration, adding, “We have a track record which we are vigorously going to follow, especially in the interest of the youth”.
Touching on the invitations by officials of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to operatives of the previous administration, the Vice-President stressed that the government had no ulterior motive to punish any officer but explained that the BNI was doing its legitimate job.
He pointed out that if any officer of the previous administration had not engaged in wrongdoing, there was no cause to be afraid but “If any office holder is found to have misconducted himself, President Mills will not hesitate to swiftly take the necessary action in accordance with the law.”
He gave the assurance that the government would continue to respect human rights and protect and maintain those rights, saying, “We shall not disappoint you as we promised and now that the elections are over let everybody put his or her hands to the wheel and in four years’ time we shall all see a better Ghana, which we promised”.
The Vice-President described Alhaji Dauda as a hardworking, vociferous and eloquent person in Parliament, especially on matters relating to land.
He said it was in that vein that President Mills had no difficulty in appointing him as a minister for that sector, even when there was a parliamentary election dispute pending before the court.
“I have absolutely no doubt that he will live up to expectation but he will need your prayers and support,” he said.
Alhaji Dauda, who is the Member of Parliament for Asutifi South, expressed his heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the chiefs and people in the Ahafo area for the honour done him and promised to serve his people without any political vindictiveness and acrimony.
“Let us all come together as one people to develop our area now that the political dust has settled. Let us stop the blame game and move ahead as one people with a common destiny,” he advised.
Agyewodin Prof. Adu Gyamfi Ampem, the Paramount Chief of Acherensua Traditional Area, on behalf of the chiefs and people, appealed to the government to establish an agricultural industry to process some of the food crops cultivated in the area.
He explained that agriculture employed about 82 per cent of the labour force, who are engaged in the cultivation of cocoa, plantain, cassava, cocoayam, citrus, pepper and a host of other crops but said market for most of the food crops was non-existent, resulting in gluts and rots, especially during the harvesting period.
Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, drew the attention of Nananom to the 50th anniversary celebration of the creation of the region and urged them to offer suggestions that would contribute towards the effective development of the area.
He noted that by the end of the celebration this year, many investors would have expressed their willingness to open jobs in the region for the youth to be gainfully employed.

KOTOKO OVERPOWER CHELSEA IN SUNYANI (BACK PAGE)

Rejuvenated Kumasi Asante Kotoko continued to produce their magic in the Glo Premier League after registering a painful 1-0 away win over Bechem Chelsea at their adopted Sunyani Coronation Park yesterday.
Tall and lanky Stephen Manu came from the bench to unleash a powerful left-footer to beat goalkeeper Abukari Iddrisu in the 87th minute following a beautiful Kwabena Yaro back-heel.
Before then Chelsea had dictated the pace of the game, especially in the first half, requiring the rich experience of Coach Herbert Addo to reverse the trend in the second half.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

CHELSEA BEAT WISE 1-0 (BACK PAGE)

Bechem Chelsea Football Club collected the maximum three points at the expense of visiting Sekondi Eleven Wise when they subdued their opponents 1-0 in their mid week encounter of the Glo Premier League at the Coronation Park in Sunyani yesterday.
Substitute Ernest Adomah snatched the winner in the dying minutes of the game when he tapped the ball into the net after a cross from the right flank hit the cross bar with Wise goalie, Mohammed Alhassan beaten.
The goal came shortly after FIFA Referee, Seidu Bomison from Wa, had red carded Wise substitute, Solomon Opoku, for a dangerous play.
The players of Wise who had judged the goal to be unfair then charged on the referee, but the timely intervention of the Police and coach C.K. Akonnor saved the situation.

Monday, June 15, 2009

REMAN PRISONERS RESORT TO VANDALISM (PAGE 3)

A number of remand prisoners at the Sunyani Central Prison in the Brong Ahafo Region have allegedly resorted to acts of vandalism because of frustration resulting from long delays in the adjudication of their cases in the law courts.
A convict at the prison, Eric Quaye, who painted a sordid picture of the frustrations of the prisoners and conditions of the remand prison to the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, last Thursday, said some of the cases had been pending before the courts for between seven and 12 years.
Quaye told the minister, who was visiting the prison, that without any provocation, some remand prisoners who had been there for those periods allegedly fought other inmates to relieve themselves of their frustration.
He alleged that some dockets on the cases which were in the custody of the police were missing, while some of the police investigators had refused to escort those on remand to the courts.
Currently, there are 839 inmates at the Sunyani Central Prison, out of which 635 are convicts, 176 on remand and 28 facing trial. The number of prisoners in the region, including those at the Duayaw Nkwanta, Kenyasi and Yeji camps, stands at 1,293.
Quaye, who acted as the spokesperson for the inmates, further alleged that even when the police came for prisoners on remand for court, the police returned with the excuse that they did not meet any judges to hear the cases.
He intimated that some of the police investigators were in league with the complainants in some of the cases and alleged that some of those complainants had paid money to the policemen handling the cases for them to delay their early adjudication or discontinue with the investigations.
In one instance, the spokesperson, who was once working with a mining company in the Brong Ahafo Region but has been incarcerated because of financial malfeasance, said a man who had committed a crime with another person had long completed his prison term of 10 years while his accomplice, who is currently suffering from stroke, was on remand.
According to him, remand prisoners were a source of worry to the other inmates, pointing out that “they are difficult to control by the selected leaders of the inmates”.
On other problems in the prison, Quaye indicated that some of the convicts were grappling with communicable diseases such as tuberculosis (TB) but the only available drug administered to them was paracetamol, adding that “para is used to serve all sick prisoners”.
He emphasised that characteristic of all TB patients, those suffering from the disease coughed and spat anywhere but there were no detergents and soap to clean the cells and other areas.
“We use raw water to bath, wash and clean the place,” he said.
Quaye said because there were limited toilet facilities for the inmates, some of them soiled themselves while they were in the queue waiting for their turn, while others fought to secure their positions in the queue.
One startling revelation he made was that there were minors staying and mingling with the hardened criminals, pointing out that human rights activists did not visit the prison to know the plight of the minors and fight for them.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Commander of the Ghana Prison Service, Mr Jacob Agambire, who conducted the regional minister round the premises, corroborated the story told by the spokesperson and said his outfit was using the available resources to manage the prison.
According to him, on three occasions he had rejected some minors who had been sent in by the police by citing the Children’s Act but later he had to be made to appear before the court, where he was cautioned to desist from interference or face sanctions.
Mr Agambire called for the replacement of the Prison Service Decree of 1972 with an Act of Parliament to reflect the constitutional dispensation of the country.
According to him, the prison yard was originally designed to accommodate a maximum of 400 inmates and, therefore, urged the government to address the situation as a matter of urgency.
He suggested that the courts should down suspended and community sentences, and impose fines, as was practised in other jurisdictions, saying that “in Ghana the only way to punish criminals is to imprison them, which is not the best”.
Meanwhile, the Brong Ahafo Regional Office of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has presented 10 packets of roofing sheets, 40 student mattresses and 40 mini bags of rice to the prison authorities to help solve some of their problems.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

VANGUARD REWARDS OUTSTANDING DRIVERS IN SUNYANI (PAGE 40)

THE third Vanguard Assurance best taxi driver awards has taken place in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region.
At the ceremony, a total of 20 taxi drivers from the region, as well as those from the Northern and Upper East regions, were honoured for distinguishing themselves in their profession.
The theme for the ceremony was: “Defensive driving, the answer to road safety and tourism development”.
The award winners were presented with refrigerators, television sets and standing fans.
They included Messrs Joseph Appiah, John Lamptey and Alex Wilson Agyei from Bechem, Wenchi and Sunyani branches of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU).
Others were Messrs Alhassan Abdul Majed and Dyawine Martin from the Picorna GPRTU in the Northern Region, and Mr John K. Bodjah from the Bolgatanga GPRTU.
In a speech read for the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, he noted with regret that between January and April, this year, a total of 400 lives were lost through motor accidents.
Referring to a report, the minister stated that about 80 per cent of those accidents could be attributed to human factor, adding that indiscipline, ignorance and sheer bravado, had been identified as accounting for the greater number of the accidents.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo stated that the government had over the years, taken road safety seriously by working through agencies such as the National Road Safety Commission, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service, to reduce road accidents in the country.
He, however, stated that the recent spate of fatal accidents throughout the country strongly suggested that “Our road safety campaigns have a long way to go in achieving the desired results”, adding that those fatalities had heightened the need for all to join forces to halt the carnage on the roads.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo said the unfortunate thing was that most of those accidents could have been avoided if drivers had adhered to some basic “don’ts” of driving.
The regional minister urged the executives of the various transport unions to organise regular workshops and meetings for their members to enable those who had been trained as trainers of trainers to impart their knowledge to their colleagues.
He also advised the award winners to see themselves as apostles and disciples of the road safety campaign and again charged them to become lifesavers on the roads and at the various taxi terminals so that there could be an end to the carnage on the roads.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo commended the management of the insurance company for the bold programme it had initiated to lend support to the government’s efforts.
He gave the assurance that his administration would lend support to the company’s award scheme to make it successful.
The Regional Police Commander of the MTTU, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ASP) Paul Wesley Baah, stated that the region lost 82 lives through road accidents in the first quarter of the year while more people were also injured during the period as against 53 lives which were lost last year and fewer injuries.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

ZOOMLION STARTS DISINFECTION EXERCISE IN BA (PAGE 20)

THE Brong Ahafo Regional office of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a waste management company, has embarked on a two-week massive disinfection and fumigation exercise in the region to drastically reduce the larvae and adult mosquitoes, the vector which causes malaria.
The programme, which started in the Sunyani Municipality, is targeting public toilets, marketplaces, slaughter houses, valleys, drains, final disposal sites, refuse container sites, as well as all residential areas, including those of the Regional Minister, Municipal and District Chief Executives, heads of departments and palaces of traditional authorities.
Already, 440 recruited spraying gangs have successfully undergone training with the assistance of Valent Biosciences, experts in vector control from the United States (US), and other local institutions and agencies.
The recruits were trained to handle assorted equipment including 200 Solo spraying machines, hudson and forgger machines, which when mounted, could cover a wider area of between 30 and 50 metres.
Besides, the company has acquired a variety of biological and chemical insecticides that could adequately take care of the mosquito vector while a number of vehicles have also been procured for the effective running of the programme.
The Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Operations Supervisor of Zoomlion, Mr Nicholas Ofori, and the Pest Control Officer of the company, Mr Ernest Osei Brenya, made this known to the Daily Graphic in Sunyani at the weekend.
They also stated that with the assistance of the Sunyani Municipal Environmental Health Officer, Mr Simon Opoku, all the targeted sites had been identified for the smooth start of the programme.
According to Messrs Ofori and Brenya, the regional spraying programme was a prelude to a nationwide mosquito control programme to be undertaken by the company soon.
They stated that in the course of the regional spraying exercise, “We are mapping mosquito larvae and adult mosquito surveillance in the region and later tackle them holistically.”
For the exercise to be effective, the two officers said the spraying gang would adopt a method known as “internal residual spraying” that would take care of every home.
Giving reasons for the whole programme, Messrs Ofori and Brenya said, “When we are attacking the filth, which we are doing now, we have to also deal with other environmental nuisance, such as the mosquito.”
They said in so doing, there would be “Anaesthetic” environment and reduction of out-patient department (OPD) attendance at the various health facilities and thereby improve qualitative health of the people.
According to them, the project was basically and essentially an attack on the vector mosquito, adding that the exercise would be sustained until “we realise that the mosquito population has been reduced drastically if not eradicated”.

CHURCHES URGED TO PAY TAXES (PAGE 20)

RELIGIOUS bodies in the country are required by law to disclose all their incomes that are not related to their core function of providing ecclesiastical services and accordingly pay taxes on them.
Among the taxable incomes of religious bodies are monies in respect of running of transport business, bookshops, guest houses, schools, farms, printing presses and bakery.
A chief inspector of training of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Mr F.E.K. Akoto, who made this known in Sunyani, added that pastors’ appreciation days and all gifts received should also attract tax.
Speaking at a day’s seminar, on income tax laws for religious bodies, Mr Akoto again stated that incomes arising out of pastors, priests and Imams’ employment, their private businesses, and as resource persons and authorship, should attract the requisite tax regime.
The theme for the seminar organised by the IRS and the Value Added tax (VAT) Service, was “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s”.
Mr Akoto, who spoke on the topic: “Obligations of religious bodies in Ghana’s tax system”, therefore, urged the participants to file their tax returns at the end of the year and pay the requisite taxes, including those on all gifts received and capital gains realised.
He said the participants were obliged to register their churches’ non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other businesses, keep clear records and report all earnings correctly to the Commissioner of Taxes and also file all tax returns by the due dates.
According to Mr Akoto, the taxpayer, however, ought to enjoy certain rights, including courtesy and consideration, fairness and transparency, objections and appeal; claim personal tax relief’s, deduct all allowable expenses, claim refund of ascertained taxes overpaid, as well as privacy and confidentiality.
On personal tax reliefs, he explained that they were approved deductible allowance from the assessable incomes of an individual which was intended to reduce the taxable income and thereby lessen the individual tax burden.
Mr Akoto added that reliefs were not given automatically but the taxpayer ought to fulfil certain laid down conditions.
The chief inspector of taxes further explained that funds provided by taxation had been used by states and their functional equivalents throughout history to carry out many functions, such as the enforcement of law and public order and the protection of property, the development of economic infrastructure, as well as operation of government itself.

RESTRUCTURE CURRICULAR OF COLLEGES OF EDUCATION (PAGE 20)

THE Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education of Winneba (UEW), Professor Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw has suggested the restructuring of the curricular of Colleges of Education in the country for them to produce skilful, well informed and confident teachers.
Such teachers, he said, could then contextualise their teaching to make teaching and learning in schools relevant to the needs of the society and the learners.
Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw also suggested that the organisational structure of the colleges should be re-examined to reflect in the change from Teacher Training Colleges to Colleges of Education, adding “There is the need for a total transformation from a non-tertiary to tertiary institutions”.
The vice-chancellor made the suggestions when he addressed the maiden graduation ceremony of the Berekum College of Education (BETCO) in the Brong Ahafo Region.
He called for honesty on the part of staff in terms of students’ continuous assessment and the conduct of end of semester examinations.
In all, 256 graduates were awarded diplomas.
Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw further stated that as a matter of urgency, principals of the various colleges should set up committees from among their staff to plan for the reshaping of the institutions to befit their tertiary status.
He stressed the need for teachers to be empowered so that they could help the nation to realise the purpose for which the government embarked on the current educational reforms.
Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw observed that teacher empowerment was a process which made school participants develop the competence to take charge of their own professional growth and resolve their own problems.
According to the vice-chancellor, issues that readily came to mind on teacher empowerment included teacher participation in curricular development, assessment participation, providing the right training and retraining (in-service training), economic empowerment and conducive teaching environment such as providing the right equipment, adequate facilities and right leadership.
He stressed that, the staff of the various colleges should be well motivated, well trained and retrained and equipped with all the necessary requirements to be functional teachers in tertiary institutions.
Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw emphasised that excellence in any learning enterprise, whether at the pre-school or university level was directly linked to the professional preparedness, dedication and willingness of the teacher.
The Principal of BETCO, Mr Yaw Adjei-Sarkodie stated that the college which started in 1953 with an intake of 51 students and seven-member teaching staff, now had a population of 932 regular students and 1,359 sandwich residential students and staff strength of 39.
He, however, said there had not been a corresponding expansion in the residential facilities for students and staff of the school.
According to Mr Adjei-Sarkodie, in most cases, two members of staff shared a two-bedroom bungalow with their families.
He said for that reason, the college was not able to attract its full complement of staff and retain tutors in subject areas where the competition was high.

GALAMSEY ACTIVITIES AFFECTS EDUCATION IN ASUTIFI (PAGE 20)

ILLEGAL mining (galamsey) activities in the Asutifi District in the Brong Ahafo Region is adversely affecting educational development in the area.
Some basic schoolchildren absent themselves from school in order to sell or work at galamsey sites in the district, particularly on market days.
Studies conducted by the District Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) have shown that since the inception of galamsey in the area, some pupils and students engaged in the mining had shown gross disrespect for their teachers, refused to abide by rules and regulations, fought in school and openly defied school authorities.
The Asutifi District Director of the GES, Mr George Amano-Kyeremeh, made this known at an education forum at Kenyasi.
Action Aid Ghana organised the forum on the theme: “Galamsey: A misplaced priority for schoolchildren”.
According to Mr Amano-Kyeremeh, the behaviour of the children was as a result of their apparent wealth as a result of the sale of the gold particles they obtained from the illegal activities.
Speaking on the topic “The state of education in Asutifi District”, the district director observed that “pit or ghetto owners” as he described them, engaged some of the school boys to do all manner of menial jobs at the galamsey sites.
He alleged that before the boys went about their labour, they took in alcoholic beverages of all kinds, while others smoked hard drugs, so that they would not feel the difficulty and danger in the assignment.
Mr Amano-Kyeremeh also stated that some of the boys and girls went to the site to sell sachet water, kerosene, provisions, food and virtually everything that they could lay hands on.
According to him, some of the boys boasted of flashy mobile cell phones and displayed large sums of pocket money in school, adding that they openly disregarded their teachers’ instructions since they claimed to be better off than the teachers.
The director said there was an upsurge of sexual promiscuity and AIDS in the area.
“Another worrying aspect of the situation is that some of the pupils and students were on the verge of dropping out of school,” he stated.
Mr Amano-Kyeremeh stressed that truancy had become the order of the day, citing that for two academic years, four girls had dropped out of school at Hwediem, eight at Nkaseim and two at Kenyasi.
He said a total of 21 schoolgirls had become pregnant at Hwediem, Nkaseim, Acherensua, Gyedu and Ntotroso.
The director criticised some of the parents who were known to have encouraged their children to go into the illegal galamsey operations to help in keeping the household, describing such parents as irresponsible and shameful.
Mr Amano-Kyeremeh said the academic performance of the district was very encouraging until the inception of the illegal mining business, adding, “The effect of mining activities, if not monitored and remedied, would undo the successes chalked up so far”.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Asutifi North, Mr Paul Okoh, stated that it was against the laws of the country to engage children under 18 years in any form of labour.
He said both the Constitution and the Labour Act of 2003 enjoined adults to protect the rights and lives of children.
Mr Okoh expressed regrets that some parents in the district could no longer control their own children because of their so-called wealth in the galamsey activities.
The MP, therefore, impressed upon parents to insist that their children were enrolled and retained in school, so that they could plan for their future after acquiring the necessary educational qualification.
The Programme Manager of Action Aid Ghana, Madam Christina Amarchey, earlier in a welcoming address, noted with satisfaction that the district took the first position when the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results in the region were released in 2004 and 2006.
“However, everyone is concerned that the tide has since changed and the results are getting worse and worse,” she stressed.
Madam Amarchey observed that the reason for the change of event might be many and varied, but clearly, the recent rise in galamsey in the district could be a major contributory factor.

Monday, June 8, 2009

22 BA MDCES SWORN IN (NSEMPA, PAGE 15)

By Akwasi Ampratwum –Mensah,
Sunyani

The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, has on behalf of the president, Professor J.E.A. Mills, sworn into office all the 22 municipal and district chief executives (MDCEs) in the region at a short ceremony at the residency.
He administered the oaths of office, oath of allegiance and oath of secrecy and also presented their respective instruments of appointment to them.
The MDCEs are: Hajia Amina Amadu for Jaman North; Messers Kwasi Oppong Asibey, Sunyani Municipality; Alex Kyeremeh, Techiman Municipality; Kwadwo Osei Asibey, Sunyani West; Mohammed Kwaku Doku, Asunafo North; Eric Addae, Asutifi; I.K Kyeremeh, Dormaa East, and Bukari Anaba Zakaria for Tano North.
Others are Messers Dominic Owusu Amoako, Tano North; Yaw Osei Adjei Wenchi; Jones Samuel Tawiah, Tain; Julius Atta Bediako; Jaman South; Kwadwo Adjei Dwomoh, Nkoranza North; Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, Nkoransa South, Stephen Lord Oppong, Berekum, Alhassan Seidu Harrison, Kintampo North, Kojo Nyame Datiakwa and Kintampo South.
The rest are: Sanja Nanja, Atebubu Amantin Kaseim; Masawud Mohammed, Pru; Dominic Nasare, Sene; Vicent Oppong Asamoah, Dormaa West, and Fleance Danso, Asunafo South.
In his remarks, the regional minister charged the MDCEs to be humble and respectful to the people in their communities, take a critical look at their felt needs and respond positively to them, adding “make sure to develop the culture of respect and not to throw your weight about.”
He said their nomination and subsequent confirmation by their various assemblies was not just an honour but a great responsibility and challenge, pointing out that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was endowed with many talents and experienced people, but the President, in his wisdom, decided to nominate them to represent him in the respective municipalities and districts.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Katipo North, Mr Stephen Kusi, described the MDCEs as the ambassadors of the president and therefore urged them to live above reproach
“We want to stay in power for as long as possible but that will depend on you as well”, he added
The Omanhene of Techiman Traditional Area, Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw observed that the work of the MDCEs required that they should depend on the resources of their respective assemblies in order to succeed.
The Regional Vice Chairman of the NDC, Mr Opoku Atuahene, cautioned the MDCEs not to forget the party on whose wings they had been appointed, by assisting members of the party in diverse ways.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

CURRICULA OF COLLEGES MUST PRODUCE SKILFUL TEACHERS (PAGE 11)

THE Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Professor Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw, has suggested that the curricula of the Colleges of Education in the country be structured to enable the institutions to produce skilful, well-informed and confident teachers.
He said such skills would better prepare the teachers to make teaching and learning in schools relevant to the needs of the society and the learners.
Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw also suggested that the organisational structure of the colleges be re-examined to reflect the change from teacher training colleges to colleges of education.
“There is the need for a total transformation from non-tertiary to tertiary institutions,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor, who made these suggestions when he addressed the maiden graduation ceremony of the Berekum College of Education (BETCO) in the Brong Ahafo Region on Saturday, also asked staff to be honest in computing students’ continuous assessment and conducting end-of- semester examinations.
In all, 256 graduates were awarded with diploma certificates.
He further pointed out that as a matter of urgency, principals of the various colleges should set up committees that comprised members of their staff to plan the upgrading of the colleges to befit their tertiary status.
Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw added, “Unnecessary rituals that are counter to the training of well-informed, self-motivated, independent and resourceful teachers should be done away with”.
The Vice Chancellor reiterated the view that teachers should be empowered to be able to help the nation to realise the purpose for which the government embarked on the current massive educational reform.
He said teachers’ empowerment involved giving them the right to participate in the determination of school goals and policies and exercise professional judgement on what and how to teach.
According to the Vice Chancellor, issues that readily come to mind on teacher empowerment include teacher participation in curricula development, assessment participation, providing the right training and retraining (in-service training), economic empowerment, and a conducive teaching environment, such as providing the right equipment, adequate facilities and right leadership.
He stressed that the staff of the various colleges should be well motivated, well trained and equipped with the needed materials to enable them to perform effectively.
He said the UEW had mounted programmes and courses for tutors in the colleges of education and emphasised that excellence in any learning enterprise, whether at the pre-school or university level, was directly linked to the professional preparedness, dedication and willingness of the teacher.
He pointed out that teachers were responsible for providing an enabling environment for students to learn by using the appropriate goals to enrich the national curricula.
Mr Yaw Adjei-Sarkodie, the Principal of BETCO, indicated that the college, which started in 1953 with an intake of 51 students and a seven-member teaching staff, now had 39,932 regular and 1,359 residential students undertaking sandwich programmes but there had not been a corresponding expansion in residential facilities for students and staff.
He added that in most cases two members of staff shared a two-bedroom bungalow with their families so the college was not able to attract its full complement of staff and retain teachers in subject areas where competition for staff was keen.