A number of pregnant women who patronise the St. Elizabeth Hospital at Hwediem in the Asutifi District in the Brong Ahafo Region have expressed satisfaction at the government’s policy of allowing expectant mothers to attend ante-natal clinics (ANC) free of charge.
They explained that the policy had greatly relieved them of the difficulties they encountered in paying their hospital bills when they accessed medical care during pregnancy and in getting post-natal care.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in separate interviews at Hwidiem, the women, therefore commended the government for soliciting funds from the British Government to fund the scheme, describing the initiative as a show of concern to pregnant women to reduce maternal and infant mortality.
Madam Dora Kankam, a hairdresser at Mim, who is eight months pregnant, said, the free anti-natal care had encouraged her to visit the hospital regularly to access medical care.
Ms Rosina Berchie, a nurse at the St. Elizabeth Hospital, who is carrying her second pregnancy, lauded the government’s initiative and said it would improve the health of expectant mothers and infants .
A seven-month-old pregnant woman,Madam Abena Animah, a farmer at Wamahinso, who is expecting her first child indicated that apart from looking for money to pay for her transport fare to attend hospital, “I don’t pay a pesewa for whatever drugs are supplied to me any time I come here”.
She, however, advised parents not to take undue advantage of the programme but plan for their family and ensure that they empowered themselves economically.
Mr Wilberforce Mfum, an Accra-based businessman, who accompanied his wife, Madam Fatima Adams, to the hospital, said the government’s assistance had indeed lessened the burden of husbands and their pregnant wives, adding that pregnant women in rural communities who had to raise money to pay their bills when they needed to undergo emergency surgical operation would benefit most.
Madam Adwoa Pinamang, a trader from Mim, who is expecting her fourth child indicated that in time past, she paid so much on drugs supplied to her at the hospital.
“I commend the government for the gesture but that does not mean I should continue to give birth to more children” she said.
Madam Hawa Karim, a farmer from Kwaku Nyumah village, who is carrying her sixth pregnancy, also noted that, for the previous pregnancies she went through, she used to pay so much for drugs whenever she visited the Kukuom, Nobeko, Dadiesoaba and Hwideim health facilities but now she did not pay for drugs and other services.
A farmer from Acherensua, who was seeking anti-natal care said she paid GH¢12.00 in respect of laboratory tests since she had not as yet registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). She, however, gave the assurance that she would do so very soon in order to benefit from the policy.
Later in an interview, a Midwife, Mrs Cecilia Newman, said the policy had resulted in increased hospital attendance by pregnant women, adding that, before the commencement of the policy, the staff of Hwidiem St. Elizabeth Hosiptal closed between 3.00 and 5:00p.m. but now, they could stay till about 7:30p.m.
She appealed for more hands at the clinic to help relieve the pressure on the staff .
Before the implementation of the policy in July this year, anti-natal clinic attendance at the hospital in January was 731; February, 737, March, 692; April, 420; May, 741; June, 615; July, 712, with 1,050 recorded in August.
Mr Kofi Baffour Asare, the Asutifi District Manager of the NHIS, expressed concern about what he termed as the increase in the rate of teenage pregnancy in the area, and attributed the situation to immoral practices perpetrated by some immigrants who engaged in illegal mining in the area.
He advised pregnant women not to wait until they fell sick before registering with the scheme .
In another development, the management of the Asutifi NHIS has presented bicycles valued at GH¢900.00 to 15 agents of the scheme who are registering people to join the scheme .
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Murder pf Goaso Hospital Administrator..SUNYANI HIGH COURT TO TRY 11 PEOPLE (PAGE 32)
THE Sunyani High Court, presided over by Mr Justice Godwin Gabor, will, on October 24, 2008, begin hearing the case in which 11 people have been linked to the murder of Mr Anthony Yeboah-Boateng, the former Administrator of the Goaso Government Hospital.
The accused have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, murder, as well as causing unlawful damage to the car belonging to the late Yeboah-Boateng, who was also the Presiding Member of the then Asunafo North District Assembly.
They are Douglas Afriyie, Stephen Donkor, Kwasi Nyantekyi, Kwaku Agyeman Badu, Adama Hamidu and James Dankwah.
The rest are Kwame Yeboah Addae, Kwadwo Awuah, Kwame Anokye, Emmanuel Kwaku Lartey and Kwame Krah.
When they appeared before the court on October 13, 2008, four of them indicated that they had counsel, two of whom were in court, but the remaining seven had no representation.
Until their indictment, the 11 were among 30 suspects who had been standing trial at the Sunyani Magistrate Court for their alleged involvement in the murder of Yeboah-Boateng on Easter Sunday, last year.
A source close to the court in Sunyani, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic, said because of the nature of the case, and in accordance with procedure, the presiding judge had informed the Attorney-General’s Office to apply to the Legal Aid Board to provide lawyers to represent the seven.
According to the source, a five-member jury had been empanelled to hear the case and that all the prosecution witnesses, including the deceased’s wife and a Catholic nun who were in his car at the time of the incident, were in court.
On April 8, 2007, Yeboah-Boateng, in the company of his wife and two other women, was travelling from Goaso to Sunyani to convey the corpse of a relative from the Sunyani Regional Hospital to the Goaso Hospital mortuary.
When they got to Atronie, the accused persons, who had blocked the road, forced Yeboah-Boateng to stop.
According to the police, the accused persons rushed on him and accused him of being a ritual murderer because he was carrying a corpse in his car.
Before the deceased could offer any explanation, the accused pulled him out of the vehicle, clubbed him to death and attempted to set his body ablaze.
The accused persons then vandalised his car and the corpse, after which they bolted from the town.
The accused have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, murder, as well as causing unlawful damage to the car belonging to the late Yeboah-Boateng, who was also the Presiding Member of the then Asunafo North District Assembly.
They are Douglas Afriyie, Stephen Donkor, Kwasi Nyantekyi, Kwaku Agyeman Badu, Adama Hamidu and James Dankwah.
The rest are Kwame Yeboah Addae, Kwadwo Awuah, Kwame Anokye, Emmanuel Kwaku Lartey and Kwame Krah.
When they appeared before the court on October 13, 2008, four of them indicated that they had counsel, two of whom were in court, but the remaining seven had no representation.
Until their indictment, the 11 were among 30 suspects who had been standing trial at the Sunyani Magistrate Court for their alleged involvement in the murder of Yeboah-Boateng on Easter Sunday, last year.
A source close to the court in Sunyani, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic, said because of the nature of the case, and in accordance with procedure, the presiding judge had informed the Attorney-General’s Office to apply to the Legal Aid Board to provide lawyers to represent the seven.
According to the source, a five-member jury had been empanelled to hear the case and that all the prosecution witnesses, including the deceased’s wife and a Catholic nun who were in his car at the time of the incident, were in court.
On April 8, 2007, Yeboah-Boateng, in the company of his wife and two other women, was travelling from Goaso to Sunyani to convey the corpse of a relative from the Sunyani Regional Hospital to the Goaso Hospital mortuary.
When they got to Atronie, the accused persons, who had blocked the road, forced Yeboah-Boateng to stop.
According to the police, the accused persons rushed on him and accused him of being a ritual murderer because he was carrying a corpse in his car.
Before the deceased could offer any explanation, the accused pulled him out of the vehicle, clubbed him to death and attempted to set his body ablaze.
The accused persons then vandalised his car and the corpse, after which they bolted from the town.
Murder pf Goaso Hospital Administrator..PO
THE Sunyani High Court, presided over by Mr Justice Godwin Gabor, will, on October 24, 2008, begin hearing the case in which 11 people have been linked to the murder of Mr Anthony Yeboah-Boateng, the former Administrator of the Goaso Government Hospital.
The accused have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, murder, as well as causing unlawful damage to the car belonging to the late Yeboah-Boateng, who was also the Presiding Member of the then Asunafo North District Assembly.
They are Douglas Afriyie, Stephen Donkor, Kwasi Nyantekyi, Kwaku Agyeman Badu, Adama Hamidu and James Dankwah.
The rest are Kwame Yeboah Addae, Kwadwo Awuah, Kwame Anokye, Emmanuel Kwaku Lartey and Kwame Krah.
When they appeared before the court on October 13, 2008, four of them indicated that they had counsel, two of whom were in court, but the remaining seven had no representation.
Until their indictment, the 11 were among 30 suspects who had been standing trial at the Sunyani Magistrate Court for their alleged involvement in the murder of Yeboah-Boateng on Easter Sunday, last year.
A source close to the court in Sunyani, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic, said because of the nature of the case, and in accordance with procedure, the presiding judge had informed the Attorney-General’s Office to apply to the Legal Aid Board to provide lawyers to represent the seven.
According to the source, a five-member jury had been empanelled to hear the case and that all the prosecution witnesses, including the deceased’s wife and a Catholic nun who were in his car at the time of the incident, were in court.
On April 8, 2007, Yeboah-Boateng, in the company of his wife and two other women, was travelling from Goaso to Sunyani to convey the corpse of a relative from the Sunyani Regional Hospital to the Goaso Hospital mortuary.
When they got to Atronie, the accused persons, who had blocked the road, forced Yeboah-Boateng to stop.
According to the police, the accused persons rushed on him and accused him of being a ritual murderer because he was carrying a corpse in his car.
Before the deceased could offer any explanation, the accused pulled him out of the vehicle, clubbed him to death and attempted to set his body ablaze.
The accused persons then vandalised his car and the corpse, after which they bolted from the town.
The accused have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, murder, as well as causing unlawful damage to the car belonging to the late Yeboah-Boateng, who was also the Presiding Member of the then Asunafo North District Assembly.
They are Douglas Afriyie, Stephen Donkor, Kwasi Nyantekyi, Kwaku Agyeman Badu, Adama Hamidu and James Dankwah.
The rest are Kwame Yeboah Addae, Kwadwo Awuah, Kwame Anokye, Emmanuel Kwaku Lartey and Kwame Krah.
When they appeared before the court on October 13, 2008, four of them indicated that they had counsel, two of whom were in court, but the remaining seven had no representation.
Until their indictment, the 11 were among 30 suspects who had been standing trial at the Sunyani Magistrate Court for their alleged involvement in the murder of Yeboah-Boateng on Easter Sunday, last year.
A source close to the court in Sunyani, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic, said because of the nature of the case, and in accordance with procedure, the presiding judge had informed the Attorney-General’s Office to apply to the Legal Aid Board to provide lawyers to represent the seven.
According to the source, a five-member jury had been empanelled to hear the case and that all the prosecution witnesses, including the deceased’s wife and a Catholic nun who were in his car at the time of the incident, were in court.
On April 8, 2007, Yeboah-Boateng, in the company of his wife and two other women, was travelling from Goaso to Sunyani to convey the corpse of a relative from the Sunyani Regional Hospital to the Goaso Hospital mortuary.
When they got to Atronie, the accused persons, who had blocked the road, forced Yeboah-Boateng to stop.
According to the police, the accused persons rushed on him and accused him of being a ritual murderer because he was carrying a corpse in his car.
Before the deceased could offer any explanation, the accused pulled him out of the vehicle, clubbed him to death and attempted to set his body ablaze.
The accused persons then vandalised his car and the corpse, after which they bolted from the town.
GUINEA WORM CASES REDUCE IN PRU DISTRICT (MIRROR, PAGE 35)
From Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Yeji
The health system in the Pru District in the Brong Ahafo Region recorded a reduction in guinea worm cases from 169 in 2005 to 97 cases in 2006 and down to 12 in 2007.
Only two cases were recorded by June, this year.
The Pru District Director of Health Services, Dr Prince Quarshie, explained that the two were “imported cases” as the patients had contracted the disease from outside the district before relocating somewhere in January, this year. Three years ago the district was leading in guinea worm cases in the country with 169 cases. Ghana is second to Sudan in Africa in terms of guinea worm infections.
Dr Quarshie, who disclosed the statistics at the second annual general meeting of the District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme, said if by the end of December no more cases had been recorded then it would be understood that the disease had been eradicated in the area.
On tuberculosis (TB) control, he said 115 and 117 cases were recorded in 2006 and 2007 respectively and 119 thus far in 2008, while 9,494, 14,194 and 16,945 malaria cases were recorded in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively.
In the case of treatment of malaria, Dr Quarshie read statistics to the effect that 9,494 cases were handled in 2006; 14,194 in 2007 and 16,945 cases thus far in 2008, adding that, to reduce the burden of malaria infection, the district carried out intensive education on the preventive treatment of pregnant mothers.
He also mentioned the sale of insecticide treated bed nets (ITBNs) to prevent pregnant mothers and children under five from being infected; re-treatment of bed nets during the National Child Health Promotion Week celebration as well as monitoring of the use of some malaria treatment drugs by pregnant mothers as some of the programmes organised to help reduce the incidence of malaria in the district.
On HIV/AIDS, Dr Quarshie said 90 patients were screened in 2006 with 40 positive cases; 547 in 2007 with 80 positive cases and 191 so far this year with 46 testing positive.
Presenting the operational report, Alhaji Oathmah Adams, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the scheme, said the scheme had a total active membership of 59,539 of the district’s population of 98,304, realising a total premium of GH¢78,883.05.
He said the total health attendance recorded was 49,205 with 46,965 being Out-patients while patients below 18 formed more than 50 per cent of the total attendance followed by clients from the informal sector.
He said GH¢436,665.86 was paid to service providers of the scheme.
The health system in the Pru District in the Brong Ahafo Region recorded a reduction in guinea worm cases from 169 in 2005 to 97 cases in 2006 and down to 12 in 2007.
Only two cases were recorded by June, this year.
The Pru District Director of Health Services, Dr Prince Quarshie, explained that the two were “imported cases” as the patients had contracted the disease from outside the district before relocating somewhere in January, this year. Three years ago the district was leading in guinea worm cases in the country with 169 cases. Ghana is second to Sudan in Africa in terms of guinea worm infections.
Dr Quarshie, who disclosed the statistics at the second annual general meeting of the District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme, said if by the end of December no more cases had been recorded then it would be understood that the disease had been eradicated in the area.
On tuberculosis (TB) control, he said 115 and 117 cases were recorded in 2006 and 2007 respectively and 119 thus far in 2008, while 9,494, 14,194 and 16,945 malaria cases were recorded in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively.
In the case of treatment of malaria, Dr Quarshie read statistics to the effect that 9,494 cases were handled in 2006; 14,194 in 2007 and 16,945 cases thus far in 2008, adding that, to reduce the burden of malaria infection, the district carried out intensive education on the preventive treatment of pregnant mothers.
He also mentioned the sale of insecticide treated bed nets (ITBNs) to prevent pregnant mothers and children under five from being infected; re-treatment of bed nets during the National Child Health Promotion Week celebration as well as monitoring of the use of some malaria treatment drugs by pregnant mothers as some of the programmes organised to help reduce the incidence of malaria in the district.
On HIV/AIDS, Dr Quarshie said 90 patients were screened in 2006 with 40 positive cases; 547 in 2007 with 80 positive cases and 191 so far this year with 46 testing positive.
Presenting the operational report, Alhaji Oathmah Adams, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the scheme, said the scheme had a total active membership of 59,539 of the district’s population of 98,304, realising a total premium of GH¢78,883.05.
He said the total health attendance recorded was 49,205 with 46,965 being Out-patients while patients below 18 formed more than 50 per cent of the total attendance followed by clients from the informal sector.
He said GH¢436,665.86 was paid to service providers of the scheme.
WATCHMAN JAILED 10 YEARS FOR DEFILEMENT (PAGE 35)
From Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Sunyani
A watchman, Baba Mamudu, has been jailed 10 years with hard labour for defiling a 12-year-old girl.
The 45-year-old watchman from Kotokrom, near Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region, blindfolded, gagged and tore the girl’s panties before sexually abusing her.
He was sentenced on his own plea of guilty by the Sunyani Circuit Court ‘A’ presided over by Mr Kwame Ohene-Essel.
Mr Ohene-Essel, convicting Mamudu, said he considered the age of the victim and advised parents who send their children on errands to be wary of people like the accused.
The facts of the case were that the girl lived with her brother at Kotokrom, while Mamudu worked as a watchman in the vicinity.
According to the prosecution, Mamudu invited the girl to his house at about 1 p.m. on Monday, September 29, 2008, forced her into his room and abused her. She was rushed to the hospital for treatment and later discharged.
A doctor’s report, the prosecution said, indicated that the hymen of the girl had been broken and there were blood clots and requested the girl’s parents to deal leniently with her, since she was traumatised.
Mamudu was charged with defiling a female under 16 years of age under section 101 of Act 29/60 of the criminal code.
A watchman, Baba Mamudu, has been jailed 10 years with hard labour for defiling a 12-year-old girl.
The 45-year-old watchman from Kotokrom, near Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region, blindfolded, gagged and tore the girl’s panties before sexually abusing her.
He was sentenced on his own plea of guilty by the Sunyani Circuit Court ‘A’ presided over by Mr Kwame Ohene-Essel.
Mr Ohene-Essel, convicting Mamudu, said he considered the age of the victim and advised parents who send their children on errands to be wary of people like the accused.
The facts of the case were that the girl lived with her brother at Kotokrom, while Mamudu worked as a watchman in the vicinity.
According to the prosecution, Mamudu invited the girl to his house at about 1 p.m. on Monday, September 29, 2008, forced her into his room and abused her. She was rushed to the hospital for treatment and later discharged.
A doctor’s report, the prosecution said, indicated that the hymen of the girl had been broken and there were blood clots and requested the girl’s parents to deal leniently with her, since she was traumatised.
Mamudu was charged with defiling a female under 16 years of age under section 101 of Act 29/60 of the criminal code.
Monday, October 13, 2008
BEST TEACHERS RECEIVE AWARDS IN SUNYANI (NSEMPA, PAGES 8 & 9)
By Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah-Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
HUNDREDS of people from various parts of the country converged at the Sunyani Jubilee Park in the Brong Ahafo Region last Tuesday to witness the 14th edition of the National Best Teacher Awards ceremony, where 42-year-old Mr Sadique Boateng, an Integrated Science and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) teacher of the T.I. Ahmadiyaa Senior High School (SHS) in Kumasi, emerged the Overall Best Teacher for 2008.
Winner
Mr Boateng, who is currently pursuing a Masters degree in ICT at the University of Cape Coast in the Central Region, received a cheque for GH¢60,000 to be used for the construction of a house at a place of his choice, while the first runner-up, Madam Magdalene Mensah, 48, a French teacher at the Opoku Ware SHS, also in Kumasi, was presented with a Nissan Pick-up vehicle, a computer and its accessories.
Madam Alice Dzifa Gligui Denueme, 40, who is the Head of Department of Home Economics at the Awudome SHS at Tsito in the Volta Region, received a Nissan Sunny Saloon car valued at $18,000 plus a computer and its accessories.
As early as 7.00a.m. on the day, people from all walks of life had started arriving to witness the ceremony, which was instituted by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) to bestow honours on teachers for their hard work, commitment and dedication to their profession.
Before converging on the park, members of the GNAT from various parts of the country went on a float through the principal streets of Sunyani, while dancing to tunes provided by a brass band.
Among the large audience were Members of the Council of State, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament (MPs), Municipal and District Chief Executives, the Clergy, retired educationists, regional and district Directors of Education, heads of educational institutions, traditional authorities, heads of the various security agencies, schoolchildren and students.
Also present were the Tanokrom Agoromaa of the Sunyani Centre for National Culture and other traditional drummers, as well as the Sunyani SHS Choir, which entertained the crowd with some thrilling performances while waiting for the arrival of President J.A. Kufuor, the guest of honour.
Patience
Having waited patiently over three hours, President Kufuor and his entourage arrived at the venue to a standing ovation amidst drumming as he went round the park to exchange pleasantries with the people.
In all, a total of 92 teachers, workers of the Ghana Education Service (GES), as well as foreign volunteers, National Service personnel and retire teachers from the host region who had distinguished themselves were honoured.
The awardees were presented with sets of computers, gas cookers, double and single-door fridges, native carvings, artifacts, certificates, ghetto blasters plus cash prizes.
The GNAT also used the occasion to present school bags containing school uniforms, exercise books and shoes to 20 needy pupils selected from two deprived communities, namely Nkrankrom in the Sunyani Municipality and Ashiayem in the Tano North District of the Brong Ahafo Region.
The Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) was the major sponsor of the event while the MTN Ghana Foundation provided the prize for the 2nd runner-up.
Other sponsors were SEDCO/Longman, Ultimate Supplies Limited, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the French Embassy.
In a brief interview with newsmen, the Overall Best Teacher, Mr Boateng, said he was very happy to be the winner of the 2008 Overall Best National Teacher award.
According to him, he had received several offers with juicy conditions of service from financial institutions to work with them, but had turned down all those offers since he was committed to teaching.
Okatakyie Agyeman Kodom IV, President of the Brong Ahafo House of Chiefs and the Omanhene of the Nkoranza Traditional Area, who advised awardees to put in their best in the ensuing years, chaired the function.
Computers
Addressing the gathering, President J.A. Kufuor announced that all school children between the ages of five and 12 in public schools would be provided with personnel computers by the government soon.
He said the computers, designed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States of America (USA), would enable the children to acquire knowledge in ICT, which is currently the most critical basic instrument of education worldwide.
The President disclosed further that the deal for the supply of the computers was negotiated by the late Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, two years ago.
To acknowledge the role the late minister played, the project would be called “Baah-Wiredu’s Computer a child” in his memory.
President Kufuor further announced that the first batch of 10,000 units of what he described as “Magic Computers for Children” would soon arrive in the country in fulfilment of the government’s promise.
The President said “Baah-Wiredu, was assigned the responsibility two years ago, to negotiate with MIT, the creators of this machine, to supply all children of Ghana. Rather tragically and sadly, the very day the producers came to present a sample of the wonder machine to me in New York two weeks ago, was when news of the minister’s demise reached me and here is the sample which I brought to show you”.
Happily, the President noted that, the emphasis placed on ICT in the educational reform was beginning to show the needed encouragement to make ICT user-friendly. Likewise, technical schools and the science resource centres in the 10 regional capitals were also being rehabilitated and resourced to give school leavers, the rounded education, that the global market demanded.
HUNDREDS of people from various parts of the country converged at the Sunyani Jubilee Park in the Brong Ahafo Region last Tuesday to witness the 14th edition of the National Best Teacher Awards ceremony, where 42-year-old Mr Sadique Boateng, an Integrated Science and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) teacher of the T.I. Ahmadiyaa Senior High School (SHS) in Kumasi, emerged the Overall Best Teacher for 2008.
Winner
Mr Boateng, who is currently pursuing a Masters degree in ICT at the University of Cape Coast in the Central Region, received a cheque for GH¢60,000 to be used for the construction of a house at a place of his choice, while the first runner-up, Madam Magdalene Mensah, 48, a French teacher at the Opoku Ware SHS, also in Kumasi, was presented with a Nissan Pick-up vehicle, a computer and its accessories.
Madam Alice Dzifa Gligui Denueme, 40, who is the Head of Department of Home Economics at the Awudome SHS at Tsito in the Volta Region, received a Nissan Sunny Saloon car valued at $18,000 plus a computer and its accessories.
As early as 7.00a.m. on the day, people from all walks of life had started arriving to witness the ceremony, which was instituted by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) to bestow honours on teachers for their hard work, commitment and dedication to their profession.
Before converging on the park, members of the GNAT from various parts of the country went on a float through the principal streets of Sunyani, while dancing to tunes provided by a brass band.
Among the large audience were Members of the Council of State, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament (MPs), Municipal and District Chief Executives, the Clergy, retired educationists, regional and district Directors of Education, heads of educational institutions, traditional authorities, heads of the various security agencies, schoolchildren and students.
Also present were the Tanokrom Agoromaa of the Sunyani Centre for National Culture and other traditional drummers, as well as the Sunyani SHS Choir, which entertained the crowd with some thrilling performances while waiting for the arrival of President J.A. Kufuor, the guest of honour.
Patience
Having waited patiently over three hours, President Kufuor and his entourage arrived at the venue to a standing ovation amidst drumming as he went round the park to exchange pleasantries with the people.
In all, a total of 92 teachers, workers of the Ghana Education Service (GES), as well as foreign volunteers, National Service personnel and retire teachers from the host region who had distinguished themselves were honoured.
The awardees were presented with sets of computers, gas cookers, double and single-door fridges, native carvings, artifacts, certificates, ghetto blasters plus cash prizes.
The GNAT also used the occasion to present school bags containing school uniforms, exercise books and shoes to 20 needy pupils selected from two deprived communities, namely Nkrankrom in the Sunyani Municipality and Ashiayem in the Tano North District of the Brong Ahafo Region.
The Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) was the major sponsor of the event while the MTN Ghana Foundation provided the prize for the 2nd runner-up.
Other sponsors were SEDCO/Longman, Ultimate Supplies Limited, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the French Embassy.
In a brief interview with newsmen, the Overall Best Teacher, Mr Boateng, said he was very happy to be the winner of the 2008 Overall Best National Teacher award.
According to him, he had received several offers with juicy conditions of service from financial institutions to work with them, but had turned down all those offers since he was committed to teaching.
Okatakyie Agyeman Kodom IV, President of the Brong Ahafo House of Chiefs and the Omanhene of the Nkoranza Traditional Area, who advised awardees to put in their best in the ensuing years, chaired the function.
Computers
Addressing the gathering, President J.A. Kufuor announced that all school children between the ages of five and 12 in public schools would be provided with personnel computers by the government soon.
He said the computers, designed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States of America (USA), would enable the children to acquire knowledge in ICT, which is currently the most critical basic instrument of education worldwide.
The President disclosed further that the deal for the supply of the computers was negotiated by the late Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, two years ago.
To acknowledge the role the late minister played, the project would be called “Baah-Wiredu’s Computer a child” in his memory.
President Kufuor further announced that the first batch of 10,000 units of what he described as “Magic Computers for Children” would soon arrive in the country in fulfilment of the government’s promise.
The President said “Baah-Wiredu, was assigned the responsibility two years ago, to negotiate with MIT, the creators of this machine, to supply all children of Ghana. Rather tragically and sadly, the very day the producers came to present a sample of the wonder machine to me in New York two weeks ago, was when news of the minister’s demise reached me and here is the sample which I brought to show you”.
Happily, the President noted that, the emphasis placed on ICT in the educational reform was beginning to show the needed encouragement to make ICT user-friendly. Likewise, technical schools and the science resource centres in the 10 regional capitals were also being rehabilitated and resourced to give school leavers, the rounded education, that the global market demanded.
BARCLAYS HOLDS SECOND MINI DRAW (NSEMPA, PAGE 20)
By Akwasi Ampratwum Mensah, Berekum
THE second mini-draw of the “Wheels of Surprise” promotion by Barclays Bank of Ghana Limited, has been held at the premises of the Berekum Branch of the bank, in the Brong Ahafo Region, with Mr Michael Ayisi, a customer of the Makola branch in Accra, emerging the winner with a DSTV-Dish, decoder and free installation as well as three months free subscription as his prize.
Mr Jeffery Telly Quainoo of the Maamobi branch, and Mr Jim Blankson Hemans of the Legon branch of the bank, both in Accra, won the second and third prizes in that order and have received the same items and services from the bank as their prizes.
The fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh prizes were taken by Messrs George Asare of the Berekum branch, Emmanuel Osei, Agoogo in Ashanti, Tabi Tawiah William of the Darkuman branch and Robot Enterprise in Tema and for their prizes, Mr Asare and Mr Osei were presented with 21-inch colour television (TV) set each while Mr Tawiah and Robot Enterprise took home mobile phones each.
The first mini draw of the bank’s promotion was held a couple of weeks ago at Kasoa in the Central Region, and the winners of the two draws qualified for the final draw to be held before the end of the year and which has a Jaguar Saloon car at stake as the ultimate prize.
Speaking at the function, the Head of Consumer Banking of Barclays, Nana Dwommon Benneh, said it was the intention of the bank to move to every corner of the country to do business with the people.
He stressed that with the bank’s 91 years operation in Ghana, it would continue to work harder to satisfy the aspirations of its numerous customers, adding that, there were lots of products that both current customers and prospective ones would enjoy.
“We cherish our dear customers so we want to provide quality services to them, especially in the coming years, Mr Benneh emphasised.
In his welcome address, Mr E.O. Lamptey, the Berekum Branch Manager of Barclays disclosed that a little over one year now when the bank opened a branch at Berekum, it could boast of about 12,000 customers in the municipality who were enjoying a variety of their products.
He indicated that, as a new branch and starting with three officials and a cashier, “we did extremely well to cope with the anticipated pressure to balance our work even though in the end we closed from the office at about 11:00p.m. This baptism of fire became our resolve that we would aim at hard work and excellence.
In another development, Capital Rural Bank Limited, a privately owned financial institution with its headquarters at Abesim, near Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region, has opened its third agency at Fiapre also in the Sunyani Municipality with the second one in the Sunyani township itself, in its fifth year of operations.
The chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr Yaw Peprah-Agyemang, disclosed at the ceremony that, even though the bank was one of the youngest rural banks in the country, it had been able to meet the minimum capital requirement of GH¢150,000 by the Bank of Ghana (BoG).
He added that, as the second youngest bank in the Brong Ahafo Region, it could boast of an asset base of about GH¢3million and also indicated that the bank was among the few rural banks in Ghana that, had fully computerised its operations, saying that, providing efficient services, high interest on savings and easy access to loans, was in conformity with the avowed aim of the bank to provide affordable and accessible banking services, relevant to the needs and aspirations of the people in its catchment area and Ghana as a whole.
Dr Peprah-Agyeman pointed out that, apart from the banks first year when it suffered a minor loss, Capital had been very profitable in the remaining years, stating that, for the past two years, “we emerged the most profitable rural bank in the Brong Ahafo Region, despite being the youngest,”
The Vice Chairman of the Regional Chapter of the Association of Rural Banks, Mr Kofi Bonsu Boakye-Boateng, advised the youth in the area to invest their money in profitable ventures such as buying shares in the bank rather than engaging in alcoholism, drug abuse and other social vices, which would in the end ruin their lives.
THE second mini-draw of the “Wheels of Surprise” promotion by Barclays Bank of Ghana Limited, has been held at the premises of the Berekum Branch of the bank, in the Brong Ahafo Region, with Mr Michael Ayisi, a customer of the Makola branch in Accra, emerging the winner with a DSTV-Dish, decoder and free installation as well as three months free subscription as his prize.
Mr Jeffery Telly Quainoo of the Maamobi branch, and Mr Jim Blankson Hemans of the Legon branch of the bank, both in Accra, won the second and third prizes in that order and have received the same items and services from the bank as their prizes.
The fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh prizes were taken by Messrs George Asare of the Berekum branch, Emmanuel Osei, Agoogo in Ashanti, Tabi Tawiah William of the Darkuman branch and Robot Enterprise in Tema and for their prizes, Mr Asare and Mr Osei were presented with 21-inch colour television (TV) set each while Mr Tawiah and Robot Enterprise took home mobile phones each.
The first mini draw of the bank’s promotion was held a couple of weeks ago at Kasoa in the Central Region, and the winners of the two draws qualified for the final draw to be held before the end of the year and which has a Jaguar Saloon car at stake as the ultimate prize.
Speaking at the function, the Head of Consumer Banking of Barclays, Nana Dwommon Benneh, said it was the intention of the bank to move to every corner of the country to do business with the people.
He stressed that with the bank’s 91 years operation in Ghana, it would continue to work harder to satisfy the aspirations of its numerous customers, adding that, there were lots of products that both current customers and prospective ones would enjoy.
“We cherish our dear customers so we want to provide quality services to them, especially in the coming years, Mr Benneh emphasised.
In his welcome address, Mr E.O. Lamptey, the Berekum Branch Manager of Barclays disclosed that a little over one year now when the bank opened a branch at Berekum, it could boast of about 12,000 customers in the municipality who were enjoying a variety of their products.
He indicated that, as a new branch and starting with three officials and a cashier, “we did extremely well to cope with the anticipated pressure to balance our work even though in the end we closed from the office at about 11:00p.m. This baptism of fire became our resolve that we would aim at hard work and excellence.
In another development, Capital Rural Bank Limited, a privately owned financial institution with its headquarters at Abesim, near Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region, has opened its third agency at Fiapre also in the Sunyani Municipality with the second one in the Sunyani township itself, in its fifth year of operations.
The chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr Yaw Peprah-Agyemang, disclosed at the ceremony that, even though the bank was one of the youngest rural banks in the country, it had been able to meet the minimum capital requirement of GH¢150,000 by the Bank of Ghana (BoG).
He added that, as the second youngest bank in the Brong Ahafo Region, it could boast of an asset base of about GH¢3million and also indicated that the bank was among the few rural banks in Ghana that, had fully computerised its operations, saying that, providing efficient services, high interest on savings and easy access to loans, was in conformity with the avowed aim of the bank to provide affordable and accessible banking services, relevant to the needs and aspirations of the people in its catchment area and Ghana as a whole.
Dr Peprah-Agyeman pointed out that, apart from the banks first year when it suffered a minor loss, Capital had been very profitable in the remaining years, stating that, for the past two years, “we emerged the most profitable rural bank in the Brong Ahafo Region, despite being the youngest,”
The Vice Chairman of the Regional Chapter of the Association of Rural Banks, Mr Kofi Bonsu Boakye-Boateng, advised the youth in the area to invest their money in profitable ventures such as buying shares in the bank rather than engaging in alcoholism, drug abuse and other social vices, which would in the end ruin their lives.
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