By Samuel Duodu, Fiapre
SIX hundred and twenty-two freshmen and women who were admitted for the 2008//2009 academic year to pursue various undergraduate and graduate programmes at the Catholic University College of Ghana (CUCG) matriculated at the permanent site of the university at Fiapre, near Sunyani, in the Brong Ahafo Region at the weekend.
Since its establishment in March 2003, academic work of the university had been taking place at the Catholic Pastoral Centre, off the Sunyani-Techiman road.
This year’s admission represents an increase of 56 per cent over the 398 students admitted during the same period last year. The freshmen and women who swore the matriculation oath, pledged to abide by the rules and regulations governing the university
Speaking at the matriculation ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of the CUCG, Professor John Hawkins Ephraim, stated that the university started in March 2003 with 50 students, but had steadily grown and now had a population of 1,280.
He stated that the CUCG would continue to provide access to tertiary education in a holistic manner and would combine innovative teaching with excellence in the utilisation of God’s knowledge for the advancement of mankind,”
Prof. Ephraim disclosed that the university would continue with its infrastructural development at the permanent campus as well attract the best brains both within the country and from international circles to be engaged as lecturers.
The Vice Chancellor further disclosed that the university in the immediate future would introduce new undergraduate programmes in Agriculture and Environmental Science, Actuarial Science (Financial Mathematics), Mathematics with Finance, Mathematics with Economics, and Nursing.
He stated that the university’s administration was transparent, and therefore urged the students to always provide their suggestions or complaints with their names to enable them to be seriously considered, since no anonymous letters would be tolerated.
The Vice Chancellor entreated the students to dress appropriately for events, saying, “Decent dressing is the law. No expensive T-shirts for classes; no Otto Pfister’s, no extensive exposure of self/potentials/physical attributes.”
Most Reverend Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, the Episcopal Chairman of the University, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Sunyani, for his part urged the students to allow the university to shape them morally, spiritually and academically to serve the nation.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
FARMER, 35, IN FREAK DEATH (MIRROR, PAGE 34)
From Samuel Duodu, Wenchi
A 35-year-old farmer, Kwaku Samuel, at Offuman in the Wenchi Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region met his untimely death when a single-barrelled gun he was carrying at his back while working on the farm went off killing him instantly.
Briefing The Mirror, the Wenchi District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Prince Osae, said the deceased went to the farm in the company of his father and some children on October 18, 2008.
He said while on the farm, the deceased decided to inspect some fresh logs that someone had given to his father to burn for charcoal.
DSP Osae said he climbed the heap of logs. While inspecting it he slipped and fell down, triggering off the gun, which blew off his forehead.
His father reported the incident to the police, who went to pick up the body and deposited it at the morgue awaiting autopsy and burial.
According to DSP Osae, the police did not suspect any foul play and described it as an unfortunate accident.
A 35-year-old farmer, Kwaku Samuel, at Offuman in the Wenchi Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region met his untimely death when a single-barrelled gun he was carrying at his back while working on the farm went off killing him instantly.
Briefing The Mirror, the Wenchi District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Prince Osae, said the deceased went to the farm in the company of his father and some children on October 18, 2008.
He said while on the farm, the deceased decided to inspect some fresh logs that someone had given to his father to burn for charcoal.
DSP Osae said he climbed the heap of logs. While inspecting it he slipped and fell down, triggering off the gun, which blew off his forehead.
His father reported the incident to the police, who went to pick up the body and deposited it at the morgue awaiting autopsy and burial.
According to DSP Osae, the police did not suspect any foul play and described it as an unfortunate accident.
TEENAGER STRANGLES FOSTER FATHER TO DEATH (MIRROR, PAGE 25)
From Samuel Duodu, Goaso.
The Goaso Magistrate’s Court presided over by Mr Albert Zoogah has remanded a 19-year-old unemployed man, Osumanu Ibrahim, in prison custody for allegedly strangling his 75-year-old foster father, Brimah Toure, to death at Nkaseim in the Asutifi District of the Brong Ahafo Region.
Ibrahim has been charged with murder under section 46 (1) of Act 29/60. His plea was not taken and he is to reappear before the court on November 5, 2008.
The accused person is alleged to have attacked the deceased, a Muslim cleric, who was asked to take care of him and his other siblings after the death of their father.
Ibrahim is alleged to have attacked the deceased two days after he had returned from a visit to his children in Accra, broken into his ‘Ecolac’ bag and a small steel box in which he kept the contributions of members of his mosque and made away with the contents.
However, Ibrahim told his girlfriend, Meli Mana Sami, a.k.a Mother, about the murder and she informed the police when she was picked for questioning.
Presenting the facts of the case in court, Chief Inspector Charles Arthur said on October 2, this year, at about 3a.m., the Nkaseim police received information that the deceased, was found dead in a supine position at house number KO/305 at Nkaseim.
He said the police visited the scene and found out that the deceased’s ‘Ecolac’ bag and a small steel trunk had been forced open and the contents stolen.
Chief Inspector Arthur said the deceased’s room was also found to have been ransacked while it looked like the deceased might have struggled with someone who strangled him.
He said Ibrahim was arrested while loitering around the deceased’s house and found with abrasions on his face and chest and his left hand bitten.
Chief Inspector Arthur said when Ibrahim was questioned by the police as to how he had those abrasions on his body, he said he fought with his girlfriend.
The prosecutor said his girlfriend however, denied that she had fought with the suspect and told the police that Ibrahim confided in her that he had murdered his foster father and asked her to tell the police that he (Ibrahim) fought with her.
Chief Inspector Arthur prayed the court to remand Ibrahim to enable the police conduct further investigations.
The Goaso Magistrate’s Court presided over by Mr Albert Zoogah has remanded a 19-year-old unemployed man, Osumanu Ibrahim, in prison custody for allegedly strangling his 75-year-old foster father, Brimah Toure, to death at Nkaseim in the Asutifi District of the Brong Ahafo Region.
Ibrahim has been charged with murder under section 46 (1) of Act 29/60. His plea was not taken and he is to reappear before the court on November 5, 2008.
The accused person is alleged to have attacked the deceased, a Muslim cleric, who was asked to take care of him and his other siblings after the death of their father.
Ibrahim is alleged to have attacked the deceased two days after he had returned from a visit to his children in Accra, broken into his ‘Ecolac’ bag and a small steel box in which he kept the contributions of members of his mosque and made away with the contents.
However, Ibrahim told his girlfriend, Meli Mana Sami, a.k.a Mother, about the murder and she informed the police when she was picked for questioning.
Presenting the facts of the case in court, Chief Inspector Charles Arthur said on October 2, this year, at about 3a.m., the Nkaseim police received information that the deceased, was found dead in a supine position at house number KO/305 at Nkaseim.
He said the police visited the scene and found out that the deceased’s ‘Ecolac’ bag and a small steel trunk had been forced open and the contents stolen.
Chief Inspector Arthur said the deceased’s room was also found to have been ransacked while it looked like the deceased might have struggled with someone who strangled him.
He said Ibrahim was arrested while loitering around the deceased’s house and found with abrasions on his face and chest and his left hand bitten.
Chief Inspector Arthur said when Ibrahim was questioned by the police as to how he had those abrasions on his body, he said he fought with his girlfriend.
The prosecutor said his girlfriend however, denied that she had fought with the suspect and told the police that Ibrahim confided in her that he had murdered his foster father and asked her to tell the police that he (Ibrahim) fought with her.
Chief Inspector Arthur prayed the court to remand Ibrahim to enable the police conduct further investigations.
60 NHIS AGENTS ATTEND WORKSHOP AT NSAWKAW (PAGE 22)
THE Scheme Manager of the Tain Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS), Mr Peter Akwasi Sarpong, has explained why some Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributors are denied free registration under the National Health Insurance Scheme.
According to him, they wrongly quote the numbers of the beneficiaries while applying for the free option under the scheme.
Mr Sarpong revealed this at Nsawkaw during a training workshop for 60 newly recruited agents who would serve in the five zones in the district.
He appealed to SSNIT contributors to endeavour to check their statements and numbers correctly in order to avoid disappointments after registering with the scheme.
The scheme manager stressed that as field officers, they were the eye of the scheme and should therefore avoid engaging in anything that would bring the name of the scheme into disrepute.
Mr Sarpong said irrespective of the low premium collected, the Tain MHIS pays seven per cent of all premium collected by its field officers as commission, describing it as one of the highest in the country, considering the client population.
He warned the field officers to avoid entrusting any amount of money into the hands of board members, warning that defaulting officers would be held liable.
“You must submit only your books and the money collected from our clients and get your receipts accordingly,” Mr Sarpong stressed.
The newly recruited field officers also appealed to the scheme to institute motivating rewards to them.
The Public Relations Officer of the scheme, Mr David Kwarteng, advised the officers to live worthy lifestyles that would earn them public trust and admiration.
According to him, they wrongly quote the numbers of the beneficiaries while applying for the free option under the scheme.
Mr Sarpong revealed this at Nsawkaw during a training workshop for 60 newly recruited agents who would serve in the five zones in the district.
He appealed to SSNIT contributors to endeavour to check their statements and numbers correctly in order to avoid disappointments after registering with the scheme.
The scheme manager stressed that as field officers, they were the eye of the scheme and should therefore avoid engaging in anything that would bring the name of the scheme into disrepute.
Mr Sarpong said irrespective of the low premium collected, the Tain MHIS pays seven per cent of all premium collected by its field officers as commission, describing it as one of the highest in the country, considering the client population.
He warned the field officers to avoid entrusting any amount of money into the hands of board members, warning that defaulting officers would be held liable.
“You must submit only your books and the money collected from our clients and get your receipts accordingly,” Mr Sarpong stressed.
The newly recruited field officers also appealed to the scheme to institute motivating rewards to them.
The Public Relations Officer of the scheme, Mr David Kwarteng, advised the officers to live worthy lifestyles that would earn them public trust and admiration.
PETTY TRADERS UPGRADE BUSINESS SKILLS (PAGE 11)
THE Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the Department of Women, Madam Victoria Owusu Kyeremaa, has advised women engaged in petty trading and other income generation activities to train themselves in good business practices in order to sustain and expand their businesses.
She observed that many women incurred losses because they lacked knowledge about their businesses, citing lack of marketing skills, lack of savings and improper record keeping as some of the factors that militate against the growth of their businesses.
She therefore entreated them to change their attitudes towards business, desist from frivolous expenditure that affected the growth of their businesses and cultivate the habit of savings.
Madam Kyeremaa made this remarks at a day’s training workshop on effective business management for market women and other women groups in the Sunyani municipality last Thursday.
Participants, who attended the workshop organised by the Department of Women on the theme “Effective Business Management”, were taken through topics such as ‘what is a business enterprise’, ‘why do we go into business’, ‘how do we ensure success in our business activities’, ‘tracking their expenditure’, ‘wealth creation’ and ‘how to improve one’s business’.
Madam Kyeremaa also entreated the women to seek expert advice when they encountered problems with their businesses and remain resolute, focusing on their business plans to enable them to grow their businesses and maximise profit.
Madam Beatrice Boakye, the Brong Ahafo Regional Manager of the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), who was also a resource person noted that most businesses had failed because their owners hardly undertook any systematic planning of their activities, and therefore urged the participants to make planning one of their priority.
Ms Esther Otuo-Acheampong, a Micro Finance Officer at the Regional Directorate of the Department of Women, urged the participants to adopt proper marketing strategies and develop good customer relations.
She observed that many women incurred losses because they lacked knowledge about their businesses, citing lack of marketing skills, lack of savings and improper record keeping as some of the factors that militate against the growth of their businesses.
She therefore entreated them to change their attitudes towards business, desist from frivolous expenditure that affected the growth of their businesses and cultivate the habit of savings.
Madam Kyeremaa made this remarks at a day’s training workshop on effective business management for market women and other women groups in the Sunyani municipality last Thursday.
Participants, who attended the workshop organised by the Department of Women on the theme “Effective Business Management”, were taken through topics such as ‘what is a business enterprise’, ‘why do we go into business’, ‘how do we ensure success in our business activities’, ‘tracking their expenditure’, ‘wealth creation’ and ‘how to improve one’s business’.
Madam Kyeremaa also entreated the women to seek expert advice when they encountered problems with their businesses and remain resolute, focusing on their business plans to enable them to grow their businesses and maximise profit.
Madam Beatrice Boakye, the Brong Ahafo Regional Manager of the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), who was also a resource person noted that most businesses had failed because their owners hardly undertook any systematic planning of their activities, and therefore urged the participants to make planning one of their priority.
Ms Esther Otuo-Acheampong, a Micro Finance Officer at the Regional Directorate of the Department of Women, urged the participants to adopt proper marketing strategies and develop good customer relations.
BRONG AHAFO SET UP FUND FOR DISASTER VICTIMS (PAGE 23)
THE Brong Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) is to set up a special fund to assist victims of various disasters in the region, the Regional Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Kwasi Annan Frimpong, has stated.
He said the move formed part of measures to be put in place to mitigate the suffering of disaster victims in the region.
Mr Frimpong made this known at the inauguration of the Tain District Disaster Management Committee at Nsawkaw.
He further said when the fund was set up, all municipal and district assemblies in the region would be made to make monthly contributions to it.
“NADMO cannot meet the demand of every disaster victim in the country, hence the need for such a fund,” he stated.
Mr Frimpong charged the committee to work hard to reduce the regular occurrence of disasters in the region, especially bush fires which were rampant in the Tain District.
Earlier, in a welcoming address, the Tain District NADMO Co-ordinator, Mr Ofori Twumasi, had appealed to the national secretariat of the organisation to adequately resource the district office for it to live up to expectation.
The Tain District Information Officer, Mr Amos Mensah, also appealed to the assembly to support the Information Services Department and the anti-bush fire campaign team to intensify their educational campaigns to avert the ever increasing cases of bush fires in the district.
He said the move formed part of measures to be put in place to mitigate the suffering of disaster victims in the region.
Mr Frimpong made this known at the inauguration of the Tain District Disaster Management Committee at Nsawkaw.
He further said when the fund was set up, all municipal and district assemblies in the region would be made to make monthly contributions to it.
“NADMO cannot meet the demand of every disaster victim in the country, hence the need for such a fund,” he stated.
Mr Frimpong charged the committee to work hard to reduce the regular occurrence of disasters in the region, especially bush fires which were rampant in the Tain District.
Earlier, in a welcoming address, the Tain District NADMO Co-ordinator, Mr Ofori Twumasi, had appealed to the national secretariat of the organisation to adequately resource the district office for it to live up to expectation.
The Tain District Information Officer, Mr Amos Mensah, also appealed to the assembly to support the Information Services Department and the anti-bush fire campaign team to intensify their educational campaigns to avert the ever increasing cases of bush fires in the district.
CONFUSION AT TAIN AS DFP CANDIDATE FAILS TO FILE (PAGE 15)
CONFUSION broke out at the office of the Electoral Commission (EC) at Nsawkaw, the capital of the Tain Constituency in the Brong Ahafo Region when a 32-year-old parliamentary hopeful of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) could not find his name on the voter’s register.
The DFP parliamentary aspirant for the Tain Constituency, Mr Paul Abrebrese, a teacher at the Don Bosco School at Odumase in the Sunyani West District, had his hopes dashed when he went to the EC’s office in the company of his supporters, friends and family to file his nomination only to find out that his name had vanished from the voters register.
It took officials of the Electoral Commission, Mr Abrebrese and his supporters several hours to check his name in the voters register, the poll book and the check list but all to no avail.
Mr Abrebrese told the Daily Graphic that he registered at the Nsawkaw Health Centre but voted at Nsawkaw Methodist Primary School polling station during the 2004 general and the 2006 District level elections respectively.
When asked of his voter’s identification (ID) card, he told this reporter that it got lost a few days after the exhibition of the voters register by the EC.
He further said it was one teacher at Nsawkaw, by name Kofi Kontor, who registered him.
When contacted, Mr Rudolph Chireh, the Tain District Director of the EC, said once Mr Abrebrese could not find his name in the voters register, he could not file to contest as a parliamentary candidate in the constituency.
He said the electoral laws required that a prospective candidate must be a registered voter in the constituency where he or she wanted to contest.
In a related development, one of the independent parliamentary aspirants, Mr Thomas Nsowah-Adjei who has his posters displayed in some parts of the constituency did not show up to pick nomination forms let alone file.
By the close of nomination, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for Tain, Mr Joe Danquah of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Ahmed Ibrahim of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Joseph Kwame Duku of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Mr Abdul Suala of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) and Mr Richard Obour (independent) had filed their nominations.
The DFP parliamentary aspirant for the Tain Constituency, Mr Paul Abrebrese, a teacher at the Don Bosco School at Odumase in the Sunyani West District, had his hopes dashed when he went to the EC’s office in the company of his supporters, friends and family to file his nomination only to find out that his name had vanished from the voters register.
It took officials of the Electoral Commission, Mr Abrebrese and his supporters several hours to check his name in the voters register, the poll book and the check list but all to no avail.
Mr Abrebrese told the Daily Graphic that he registered at the Nsawkaw Health Centre but voted at Nsawkaw Methodist Primary School polling station during the 2004 general and the 2006 District level elections respectively.
When asked of his voter’s identification (ID) card, he told this reporter that it got lost a few days after the exhibition of the voters register by the EC.
He further said it was one teacher at Nsawkaw, by name Kofi Kontor, who registered him.
When contacted, Mr Rudolph Chireh, the Tain District Director of the EC, said once Mr Abrebrese could not find his name in the voters register, he could not file to contest as a parliamentary candidate in the constituency.
He said the electoral laws required that a prospective candidate must be a registered voter in the constituency where he or she wanted to contest.
In a related development, one of the independent parliamentary aspirants, Mr Thomas Nsowah-Adjei who has his posters displayed in some parts of the constituency did not show up to pick nomination forms let alone file.
By the close of nomination, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for Tain, Mr Joe Danquah of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Ahmed Ibrahim of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Joseph Kwame Duku of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Mr Abdul Suala of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) and Mr Richard Obour (independent) had filed their nominations.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
I'LL CAMPAIGN ON WOMEN, CHILDREN ISSUES — MRS AKUFO-ADDO (PAGE 17)
THE wife of the presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, has given the assurance that she would impress on Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to give importance to women and children issues when he is given the mandate to rule the nation.
She said her husband, Nana Akufo-Addo, is deeply concerned about issues that militated against the development and welfare of women and children and would therefore not turn a blind eye when given the mandate by the people.
“ I will personally ensure that as the first lady, my husband would make good all the campaign promises and also let him champion the welfare of Ghanaian women, since women are the builders of the home and society at large and also constitute the majority of the country’s population,” she stressed.
Mrs Akufo-Addo gave the assurance when she interacted with paramount and divisional queens from the various traditional areas in the Brong Ahafo Region in Sunyani recently as part of her three-day campaign tour of the region.
She was accompanied by Mrs Esther Obetsebi-Lamptey, Mrs Addo-Kufuor, Mrs Apraku, Mrs Frimpong Boateng and Mrs Osafo-Maafo.
Also in her entourage were Mrs Anna Nyamekye, a Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, and also the incumbent Member of Parliament for Jaman South in the Brong Ahafo Region as well as Madam Sophia Honneh-Sam, a Deputy Minister of Harbours and Railways.
Mrs Akufo-Addo said an NPP government retained in power would continue and improve the policies and programmes initiated by President Kufuor to improve the living conditions of Ghanaians.
He mentioned some of them as the free basic education and feeding, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the Metro Mass Transport services, free maternal health care as well as health care for children, among others.
According to her, Nana Akufo-Addo would also bring to fruition all the campaign promises he had made to Ghanaians, especially the fee-free secondary education and the pension scheme for farmers.
and therefore urged all to vote massively for her husband to take over from President Kufour, who had laid a solid foundation for the country towards her socio-economic advancement.
She pledged that as the first lady she would table their concerns and needs. Mrs Akufo-Addo appealed to the queens to continue to preach peace in their various traditional areas to ensure peace before, during and after the general election in December.
Mrs Nyamekye and Madam Honneh-Sam, both Deputy Ministers, who took turns to address the queens, urged them to speak to their subjects especially the youth to eschew violence so as to ensure a peaceful election, adding that if there was war or civil strife in the country as a result of the election it would be women and children who would be most affected.
The Paramount Queen of the Techiman Traditional Area, Nana Afia Abrafi, on behalf of her queen thanked Mrs Akufo-Addo and her team for recognising the important role of queens in society and towards national development.
She added that as traditional rulers the laws of the country debarred them from taking part in active politics but they would continue to impress on their subjects the need to ensure peace before and after the general election so that Ghana would continue to be a role model in multi-party democracy and an oasis of peace and stability in the sub-region.
Mrs Akufo-Addo also visited the Sunyani central market and business district area were she addressed the market women and a section of the public who had defied a downpour to listen to her.
Mr Kwame Twumasi Awuah, the Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, who also addressed the market women, disclosed that the government had voted GH¢4 million for the construction of a new market for Sunyani as part of the modernisation programme for Sunyani as the Brong Ahafo Regional capital.
She later addressed the Christian Women Association, hairdressers and seamstresses at the Christ the King Hall in Sunyani and also students at the Sunyani Nursing Training College explaining why there was the need to retain the NPP in power.
Mrs Akufo-Addo additionally addressed various women’s groups and market women at Bechem, Goaso and Kenyasi to solicit their votes for her husband. She assured them that her husband when voted as president would champion their cause.
She said her husband, Nana Akufo-Addo, is deeply concerned about issues that militated against the development and welfare of women and children and would therefore not turn a blind eye when given the mandate by the people.
“ I will personally ensure that as the first lady, my husband would make good all the campaign promises and also let him champion the welfare of Ghanaian women, since women are the builders of the home and society at large and also constitute the majority of the country’s population,” she stressed.
Mrs Akufo-Addo gave the assurance when she interacted with paramount and divisional queens from the various traditional areas in the Brong Ahafo Region in Sunyani recently as part of her three-day campaign tour of the region.
She was accompanied by Mrs Esther Obetsebi-Lamptey, Mrs Addo-Kufuor, Mrs Apraku, Mrs Frimpong Boateng and Mrs Osafo-Maafo.
Also in her entourage were Mrs Anna Nyamekye, a Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, and also the incumbent Member of Parliament for Jaman South in the Brong Ahafo Region as well as Madam Sophia Honneh-Sam, a Deputy Minister of Harbours and Railways.
Mrs Akufo-Addo said an NPP government retained in power would continue and improve the policies and programmes initiated by President Kufuor to improve the living conditions of Ghanaians.
He mentioned some of them as the free basic education and feeding, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the Metro Mass Transport services, free maternal health care as well as health care for children, among others.
According to her, Nana Akufo-Addo would also bring to fruition all the campaign promises he had made to Ghanaians, especially the fee-free secondary education and the pension scheme for farmers.
and therefore urged all to vote massively for her husband to take over from President Kufour, who had laid a solid foundation for the country towards her socio-economic advancement.
She pledged that as the first lady she would table their concerns and needs. Mrs Akufo-Addo appealed to the queens to continue to preach peace in their various traditional areas to ensure peace before, during and after the general election in December.
Mrs Nyamekye and Madam Honneh-Sam, both Deputy Ministers, who took turns to address the queens, urged them to speak to their subjects especially the youth to eschew violence so as to ensure a peaceful election, adding that if there was war or civil strife in the country as a result of the election it would be women and children who would be most affected.
The Paramount Queen of the Techiman Traditional Area, Nana Afia Abrafi, on behalf of her queen thanked Mrs Akufo-Addo and her team for recognising the important role of queens in society and towards national development.
She added that as traditional rulers the laws of the country debarred them from taking part in active politics but they would continue to impress on their subjects the need to ensure peace before and after the general election so that Ghana would continue to be a role model in multi-party democracy and an oasis of peace and stability in the sub-region.
Mrs Akufo-Addo also visited the Sunyani central market and business district area were she addressed the market women and a section of the public who had defied a downpour to listen to her.
Mr Kwame Twumasi Awuah, the Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, who also addressed the market women, disclosed that the government had voted GH¢4 million for the construction of a new market for Sunyani as part of the modernisation programme for Sunyani as the Brong Ahafo Regional capital.
She later addressed the Christian Women Association, hairdressers and seamstresses at the Christ the King Hall in Sunyani and also students at the Sunyani Nursing Training College explaining why there was the need to retain the NPP in power.
Mrs Akufo-Addo additionally addressed various women’s groups and market women at Bechem, Goaso and Kenyasi to solicit their votes for her husband. She assured them that her husband when voted as president would champion their cause.
STUDENTS ADVISED TO DRESS DECENTLY (PAGE 11)
THE Catholic University College of Ghana (CUCG) at Fiapre, near Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region, has held its 7th matriculation ceremony with a call on the students to dress decently for all school programmes.
The students have been reminded that “decent dressing was the law on the university’s campus, they must dress appropriately, no expensive T-shirts for classes or events, no ‘autofistas’, no extensive exposure of their bodies or potential and physical attributes”.
The Vice Chancellor of the CUCG, Prof. John Hawkins Ephraim, made the call at the matricultaion ceremony of the university, which took place at its permanent site at Fiapre.
Since its establishment in March 2003, academic work of the university has been taking place at the Catholic Pastoral Centre, off the Sunyani-Techiman main road.
In all, 622 freshmen and women were admitted for the 2008//2009 academic year to pursue various undergraduate and graduate programmes in Public Health and Allied Sciences, Information Communication Sciences and Technology, Education, Economics and Business Administration and Master of Science (M. Sc) in Administration respectively.
This year’s number of students admitted represents an increase of 56 per cent over the 398 students admitted during the same period last year.
The fresh students swore the matriculation oath and pledged to abide by the rules and regulations governing the university.
The Vice Chancellor said in the immediate future, the university would introduce new undergraduate programmes in Agriculture and Environmental Science, Actuarial Science (Financial Mathematics), Mathematics with Finance, Mathematics with Economics and Nursing.
Prof. Ephraim urged the students to study hard and develop a critical thinking habit and also use their time wisely.
He asked them to aim at striking a balance between study and play, saying even with a bit of luck, they can learn a lot in their play.
“Discipline should be your key word and moderation must underpin all your activities”, he stated.
He said the university’s administration was transparent and therefore urged the students to always provide their names to any suggestions or complaints they made to the authorities, to enable serious considerations to be made, since anonymous letters would not be tolerated.
Prof. Ephraim noted that the CUCG would continue to provide access to tertiary education in a holistic manner and would combine innovative teaching with excellence in the utilisation of God’s knowledge for the advancement of mankind.
He said the university would engage the best brains both within the country and from international circles as lecturers.
The university started in March 2003 with 50 students, but has steadily increased to 1,280, the Vice Chancellor disclosed.
The Episcopal Chairman of the University, the Most Reverend Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Sunyani, for his part urged the students to allow the university to shape them morally, spiritually and academically to serve their nation.
The students have been reminded that “decent dressing was the law on the university’s campus, they must dress appropriately, no expensive T-shirts for classes or events, no ‘autofistas’, no extensive exposure of their bodies or potential and physical attributes”.
The Vice Chancellor of the CUCG, Prof. John Hawkins Ephraim, made the call at the matricultaion ceremony of the university, which took place at its permanent site at Fiapre.
Since its establishment in March 2003, academic work of the university has been taking place at the Catholic Pastoral Centre, off the Sunyani-Techiman main road.
In all, 622 freshmen and women were admitted for the 2008//2009 academic year to pursue various undergraduate and graduate programmes in Public Health and Allied Sciences, Information Communication Sciences and Technology, Education, Economics and Business Administration and Master of Science (M. Sc) in Administration respectively.
This year’s number of students admitted represents an increase of 56 per cent over the 398 students admitted during the same period last year.
The fresh students swore the matriculation oath and pledged to abide by the rules and regulations governing the university.
The Vice Chancellor said in the immediate future, the university would introduce new undergraduate programmes in Agriculture and Environmental Science, Actuarial Science (Financial Mathematics), Mathematics with Finance, Mathematics with Economics and Nursing.
Prof. Ephraim urged the students to study hard and develop a critical thinking habit and also use their time wisely.
He asked them to aim at striking a balance between study and play, saying even with a bit of luck, they can learn a lot in their play.
“Discipline should be your key word and moderation must underpin all your activities”, he stated.
He said the university’s administration was transparent and therefore urged the students to always provide their names to any suggestions or complaints they made to the authorities, to enable serious considerations to be made, since anonymous letters would not be tolerated.
Prof. Ephraim noted that the CUCG would continue to provide access to tertiary education in a holistic manner and would combine innovative teaching with excellence in the utilisation of God’s knowledge for the advancement of mankind.
He said the university would engage the best brains both within the country and from international circles as lecturers.
The university started in March 2003 with 50 students, but has steadily increased to 1,280, the Vice Chancellor disclosed.
The Episcopal Chairman of the University, the Most Reverend Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Sunyani, for his part urged the students to allow the university to shape them morally, spiritually and academically to serve their nation.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
NPP TAIN CONSTITUENCY LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN (PAGE 17)
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary candidate for Tain Constituency in the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr Joe Danquah, has launched his campaign with a call on the people of the area to vote massively for him and the party’s presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
This, he said, would reciprocate the numerous development projects they benefited from under President Kufuor’s Administration.
He noted that it was under the NPP administration that the various towns and villages in the district witnessed massive infrastructural development in terms of roads, school buildings, electricity, potable water and a modern market, among others, and the only way for the people of the district to reciprocate what the government had done for them was to retain him and the NPP in power.
“A vote for Joe Danquah and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the constituency is a vote for rapid development and a remarkable improvement in your living conditions, which the constituency under the NDC regime and its Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, now General Secretary of the party, failed to provide under his 12 years as the MP for the area”, he stressed.
Mr Danquah, who made the call at a rally at Seikwa in the Tain Constituency on Sunday to launch his campaign, said it was during his four-year term as the MP for the area that the constituency was given a separate district and also saw the construction of the Bui Dam Hydro Electric power project, which several governments, including the NDC, failed to bring into fruition.
That, he said, had created over 1,000 jobs for people in the area, and was also poised to transform the dam area into a modern city.
He said under the NDC regime, with Mr Asiedu Nketiah as the MP for the area, it was only two towns in the constituency that were connected to the national grid, but under the NPP’s eight years in office and his four year term as their MP, 16 communities had benefited from electricity, while another 15 communities would be connected to the national grid.
“It was also under the NPP government that Seikwa and its surrounding villages benefited from potable water, and the tarring of the Seikwa township road and a modern market, so if anybody says they want a change, then what change are they talking about?” he questioned.
Mr Danquah continued that Mr Asiedu Nketiah could not even renovate or build a new school block for the very primary school he attended.
The incumbent MP for Tain therefore urged the people to vote massively for the NPP to retain power to ensure the orderly development of the area.
.
was a vote for rapid socio-economic advancement of the area.
He urged supporters of the party to close their ranks, unite and intensify their campaigns in order to win more people into their fold.
Mr Kwame Ampofo Twumasi, a Deputy Minister of Energy and the NPP Parliamentary candidate for Nkoranza South in the Brong Ahafo Region, urged the people not to make the mistake to vote what he termed “skirt and blouse”, since Mr Joe Danquah as their MP had been able to lobby for more development projects to the area under his tenure, and that they stood to benefit from more projects if they retained him.
Mr Kofi Darko, the Brong Ahafo Regional Organiser of the NPP, for his part urged the people to ignore the vile propaganda and the lies being peddled about the NPP by the NDC, since the area had witnessed tremendous infrastructure development under the NPP, and therefore they must vote massively for Mr Danquah and Nana Akufo-Addo to continue with the good works.
Madam Ama Amponsah, a Member of the Brong Ahafo Regional Monitoring Campaign Team, for her part appealed to the party supporters in the area to bury their differences, unite and intensify their house-to-house campaign to ensure a resounding victory for the party in the December 7 general elections.
This, he said, would reciprocate the numerous development projects they benefited from under President Kufuor’s Administration.
He noted that it was under the NPP administration that the various towns and villages in the district witnessed massive infrastructural development in terms of roads, school buildings, electricity, potable water and a modern market, among others, and the only way for the people of the district to reciprocate what the government had done for them was to retain him and the NPP in power.
“A vote for Joe Danquah and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the constituency is a vote for rapid development and a remarkable improvement in your living conditions, which the constituency under the NDC regime and its Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, now General Secretary of the party, failed to provide under his 12 years as the MP for the area”, he stressed.
Mr Danquah, who made the call at a rally at Seikwa in the Tain Constituency on Sunday to launch his campaign, said it was during his four-year term as the MP for the area that the constituency was given a separate district and also saw the construction of the Bui Dam Hydro Electric power project, which several governments, including the NDC, failed to bring into fruition.
That, he said, had created over 1,000 jobs for people in the area, and was also poised to transform the dam area into a modern city.
He said under the NDC regime, with Mr Asiedu Nketiah as the MP for the area, it was only two towns in the constituency that were connected to the national grid, but under the NPP’s eight years in office and his four year term as their MP, 16 communities had benefited from electricity, while another 15 communities would be connected to the national grid.
“It was also under the NPP government that Seikwa and its surrounding villages benefited from potable water, and the tarring of the Seikwa township road and a modern market, so if anybody says they want a change, then what change are they talking about?” he questioned.
Mr Danquah continued that Mr Asiedu Nketiah could not even renovate or build a new school block for the very primary school he attended.
The incumbent MP for Tain therefore urged the people to vote massively for the NPP to retain power to ensure the orderly development of the area.
.
was a vote for rapid socio-economic advancement of the area.
He urged supporters of the party to close their ranks, unite and intensify their campaigns in order to win more people into their fold.
Mr Kwame Ampofo Twumasi, a Deputy Minister of Energy and the NPP Parliamentary candidate for Nkoranza South in the Brong Ahafo Region, urged the people not to make the mistake to vote what he termed “skirt and blouse”, since Mr Joe Danquah as their MP had been able to lobby for more development projects to the area under his tenure, and that they stood to benefit from more projects if they retained him.
Mr Kofi Darko, the Brong Ahafo Regional Organiser of the NPP, for his part urged the people to ignore the vile propaganda and the lies being peddled about the NPP by the NDC, since the area had witnessed tremendous infrastructure development under the NPP, and therefore they must vote massively for Mr Danquah and Nana Akufo-Addo to continue with the good works.
Madam Ama Amponsah, a Member of the Brong Ahafo Regional Monitoring Campaign Team, for her part appealed to the party supporters in the area to bury their differences, unite and intensify their house-to-house campaign to ensure a resounding victory for the party in the December 7 general elections.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
REDUCE TARRIFS ON WATER (PAGE 40)
THE President of the Association of Small Town Water Systems, Mr Hamizah Zakari, has urged the government to reduce the high tariffs on water supply so that the management of the projects can sustain the systems.
Mr Zakari, who is also the Managing Director of the Bimbilla Water System in the Northern Region, made the appeal at the inauguration of the association at Kintampo, in the Kintampo North Municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The theme for the ceremony was: “Ensuring the Sustainability of the Small Town Water Supply Systems in Ghana — The Role of the Government and Stakeholders”.
Mr Zakari noted with concern that the major threat to the systems was the high bills from the Volta River Authority (VRA) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
He said if the government did not take a serious look at the problem and address it, the projects could collapse, looking at their income which he described as unrealistic compared to their expenditure.
Mr Zakari stated that about 44 small town water communities across the country had come together to form the association so that their management could co-ordinate activities to improve their performance and address common challenges that they might face them.
He said the registered communities of the systems were from the Ashanti, Western, Brong Ahafo, Northern and Upper East regions.
The president expressed concerns about the reluctance of the municipal and district assemblies to offer the necessary support for water systems in their areas even though they owned the projects.
He, therefore, pleaded with all the stakeholders to play their roles for the sustainability of the projects.
The Kintampo North Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Awudulai Razak, commended members of the association and the managers of the water systems for their hard work.
He urged them to continue with their good work to improve the living conditions of the people in the rural communities.
Mr Awudulai implored them to develop a national policy framework that would enable them to extend the systems to many places to promote the health of the people and enhance the development of the nation.
He paid a glowing tribute to the various foreign donors who were offering support to the projects, stressing that the assemblies would also not relent in their efforts to provide the necessary assistance to sustain the systems.
The Municipal Chief Environmental Health Officer, Mr Mahamudu Mahama, who chaired the function, advised assemblies to pay the needed attention to the provision of sanitation facilities in the communities to improve the health of the people, adding that water and sanitation are life-enhancing.
He emphasised the need for house owners to provide all their households with toilet facilities.
Mr Zakari, who is also the Managing Director of the Bimbilla Water System in the Northern Region, made the appeal at the inauguration of the association at Kintampo, in the Kintampo North Municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The theme for the ceremony was: “Ensuring the Sustainability of the Small Town Water Supply Systems in Ghana — The Role of the Government and Stakeholders”.
Mr Zakari noted with concern that the major threat to the systems was the high bills from the Volta River Authority (VRA) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
He said if the government did not take a serious look at the problem and address it, the projects could collapse, looking at their income which he described as unrealistic compared to their expenditure.
Mr Zakari stated that about 44 small town water communities across the country had come together to form the association so that their management could co-ordinate activities to improve their performance and address common challenges that they might face them.
He said the registered communities of the systems were from the Ashanti, Western, Brong Ahafo, Northern and Upper East regions.
The president expressed concerns about the reluctance of the municipal and district assemblies to offer the necessary support for water systems in their areas even though they owned the projects.
He, therefore, pleaded with all the stakeholders to play their roles for the sustainability of the projects.
The Kintampo North Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Awudulai Razak, commended members of the association and the managers of the water systems for their hard work.
He urged them to continue with their good work to improve the living conditions of the people in the rural communities.
Mr Awudulai implored them to develop a national policy framework that would enable them to extend the systems to many places to promote the health of the people and enhance the development of the nation.
He paid a glowing tribute to the various foreign donors who were offering support to the projects, stressing that the assemblies would also not relent in their efforts to provide the necessary assistance to sustain the systems.
The Municipal Chief Environmental Health Officer, Mr Mahamudu Mahama, who chaired the function, advised assemblies to pay the needed attention to the provision of sanitation facilities in the communities to improve the health of the people, adding that water and sanitation are life-enhancing.
He emphasised the need for house owners to provide all their households with toilet facilities.
MODERN MARKET FOR SUNYANI (PAGE 40)
SUNYANI, the capital of the Brong Ahafo Region, is to benefit from a GH¢4 million modern market to replace the old one as part of the government’s efforts to modernise the regional capital.
In this regard contract preliminaries are going on to select a contractor for the project, which would commence in the early part of next year.
The Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Kwame Twumasi-Awuah, disclosed this to the Daily Graphic in Sunyani. He assured traders at the old market that the project would be managed in such a way that their businesses would not be destabilised.
He debunked the assertion that traders would not be allowed to use the old market, which would be pulled down to make way for the new one during the Christmas period.
Mr Twumasi-Awuah assured traders doing business in the area not to panic, since the project would start after the Christmas and New Year festivities.
He was grateful to the government for giving the municipality, especially the regional capital, a face-lift to befit its status as an emerging conference destination in the country.
The MCE stated that apart from the new market to be built in Sunyani, the Sunyani Municipal Assembly had also begun a massive electrification project to replace all concrete low-tension poles in the area with metal ones to enhance security at night, adding that it was part of the measures to promote tourism, safety and beautification of the municipality.
He said further that in collaboration with the Department of Urban Roads, the assembly had also embarked on a traffic management project in the municipality to manage congestion and facilitate mobility.
According to him, as part of that project to control both vehicular and pedestrian movements in the municipality, a number of access roads had been constructed and drainage systems improved, while the Sunyani Magazine (garages) roads were being upgraded and tarred to give the area also a face-lift.
Mr Twumasi-Awuah added that the assembly in partnership with Zoomlion, a waste management company, had worked tirelessly to improve sanitation in the municipality while all the mountain of refuse dumps in the area had been evacuated.
According to him, a number of water closet public toilets were being provided at the various lorry parks to replace pit latrines to improve sanitation in the municipality.
Touching on education, Mr Twumasi-Awuah stated that a number of school blocks had been constructed for some basic schools in the municipality, while the Sunyani and Twene Amanfo Senior High schools (SHSs) had benefited from an assembly hall and administration block, respectively sponsored by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
He said health centres had been built for a number of rural communities while new clinics under construction at Atronie, Nkrankrom and Wawasua were about 60 per cent complete.
Mr Twumasi-Awuah stated that Sunyani was fast growing into a commercial and business centre as many financial institutions based in Accra were moving into the municipality.
He advised the people to take advantage of the numerous rural and commercial banks and the peaceful atmosphere in the municipality to do business.
In this regard contract preliminaries are going on to select a contractor for the project, which would commence in the early part of next year.
The Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Kwame Twumasi-Awuah, disclosed this to the Daily Graphic in Sunyani. He assured traders at the old market that the project would be managed in such a way that their businesses would not be destabilised.
He debunked the assertion that traders would not be allowed to use the old market, which would be pulled down to make way for the new one during the Christmas period.
Mr Twumasi-Awuah assured traders doing business in the area not to panic, since the project would start after the Christmas and New Year festivities.
He was grateful to the government for giving the municipality, especially the regional capital, a face-lift to befit its status as an emerging conference destination in the country.
The MCE stated that apart from the new market to be built in Sunyani, the Sunyani Municipal Assembly had also begun a massive electrification project to replace all concrete low-tension poles in the area with metal ones to enhance security at night, adding that it was part of the measures to promote tourism, safety and beautification of the municipality.
He said further that in collaboration with the Department of Urban Roads, the assembly had also embarked on a traffic management project in the municipality to manage congestion and facilitate mobility.
According to him, as part of that project to control both vehicular and pedestrian movements in the municipality, a number of access roads had been constructed and drainage systems improved, while the Sunyani Magazine (garages) roads were being upgraded and tarred to give the area also a face-lift.
Mr Twumasi-Awuah added that the assembly in partnership with Zoomlion, a waste management company, had worked tirelessly to improve sanitation in the municipality while all the mountain of refuse dumps in the area had been evacuated.
According to him, a number of water closet public toilets were being provided at the various lorry parks to replace pit latrines to improve sanitation in the municipality.
Touching on education, Mr Twumasi-Awuah stated that a number of school blocks had been constructed for some basic schools in the municipality, while the Sunyani and Twene Amanfo Senior High schools (SHSs) had benefited from an assembly hall and administration block, respectively sponsored by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
He said health centres had been built for a number of rural communities while new clinics under construction at Atronie, Nkrankrom and Wawasua were about 60 per cent complete.
Mr Twumasi-Awuah stated that Sunyani was fast growing into a commercial and business centre as many financial institutions based in Accra were moving into the municipality.
He advised the people to take advantage of the numerous rural and commercial banks and the peaceful atmosphere in the municipality to do business.
WORK ON BUI POWER PROJECT PROGRESSES (PAGE 40)
CONSTRUCTION works on the Bui power project is progressing steadily in spite of the increase in the volume of water in the Black Volta due to recent downpour in the general area.
According to the authorities of the new dam, work on the project is on course and would be completed on schedule.
A visit by the Daily Graphic to the project site revealed that the project had shifted focus slightly from the construction of residential accommodation to the dam itself.
All things being equal, the course of the Black Volta on which the dam is being built would be diverted at the mouth of the gorge to enable massive construction work to be carried out by the end of this month (October), the authorities have stated.
Ghanaian workers, however, continue to agitate for better salaries and job security. The 800 Ghanaian workers have raised a lot of concerns about the unfair termination of their appointments, coupled with the reluctance of the Chinese employers to implement the collective bargaining agreement which was tabled recently by the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
With the arrival of Pakistani workers to beef up the Chinese workforce, the local workers have become very worried about job security.
Security at the workplace has improved as all the workers on site were seen appropriately dressed in conformity with safety requirements. With the introduction of an outboard motor coupled with adequate supply of safety jackets, the security on the river itself has also improved considerably.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, an assistant Civil Engineer at the Bui Power Authority (BPA), Mr Kwaku Sarpong Akosa, said work at the resettlement camp for the construction of a community centre and the nursery school had been completed.
He urged media practitioners to always cross-check their information with the BPA in order to publish the truth at all times instead of relying on hearsay.
Mr Akosa added that the state of the project currently required the support of all citizens to ensure its completion on schedule.
It will be recalled that on August 25, 2007, President J.A. Kufuor cut the sod to mark the commencement of the Bui power project.
The aim is to give practical expression to 100 years of planning and speculations over a project intended to provide 400 megawatts of hydro-electric power and employment to about 2,900 Ghanaians.
Apart from generating electricity, the site is also to be developed into Bui City, with facilities for irrigation, fisheries and eco-tourism.
The project is being funded by the Ghana government with a loan facility of $562 million from the People’s Republic of China and internal resources of $60 million.
It is in fulfilment of the campaign promise made by President Kufuor to the people of Brong Ahafo in 2000 to construct the Bui Dam, which had remained on the drawing board since the 1920s.
According to the authorities of the new dam, work on the project is on course and would be completed on schedule.
A visit by the Daily Graphic to the project site revealed that the project had shifted focus slightly from the construction of residential accommodation to the dam itself.
All things being equal, the course of the Black Volta on which the dam is being built would be diverted at the mouth of the gorge to enable massive construction work to be carried out by the end of this month (October), the authorities have stated.
Ghanaian workers, however, continue to agitate for better salaries and job security. The 800 Ghanaian workers have raised a lot of concerns about the unfair termination of their appointments, coupled with the reluctance of the Chinese employers to implement the collective bargaining agreement which was tabled recently by the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
With the arrival of Pakistani workers to beef up the Chinese workforce, the local workers have become very worried about job security.
Security at the workplace has improved as all the workers on site were seen appropriately dressed in conformity with safety requirements. With the introduction of an outboard motor coupled with adequate supply of safety jackets, the security on the river itself has also improved considerably.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, an assistant Civil Engineer at the Bui Power Authority (BPA), Mr Kwaku Sarpong Akosa, said work at the resettlement camp for the construction of a community centre and the nursery school had been completed.
He urged media practitioners to always cross-check their information with the BPA in order to publish the truth at all times instead of relying on hearsay.
Mr Akosa added that the state of the project currently required the support of all citizens to ensure its completion on schedule.
It will be recalled that on August 25, 2007, President J.A. Kufuor cut the sod to mark the commencement of the Bui power project.
The aim is to give practical expression to 100 years of planning and speculations over a project intended to provide 400 megawatts of hydro-electric power and employment to about 2,900 Ghanaians.
Apart from generating electricity, the site is also to be developed into Bui City, with facilities for irrigation, fisheries and eco-tourism.
The project is being funded by the Ghana government with a loan facility of $562 million from the People’s Republic of China and internal resources of $60 million.
It is in fulfilment of the campaign promise made by President Kufuor to the people of Brong Ahafo in 2000 to construct the Bui Dam, which had remained on the drawing board since the 1920s.
CAT MEAT LANDS DRIVER IN TROUBLE (MIRROR, LEAD STORY)
From Samuel Duodu, Sunyani.
THE desire for ‘Cat meat’ has landed a taxi driver at Fiapre in the Sunyani West District in the grips of the law.
Yaw Kusi had offered to buy the cat from Madam Yaa Pokua, a trader but she refused to sell it. And so when Madam Pokua could not find her pet three days later, she suspected Kusi.
Madam Pokuaa confronted Kusi on the whereabouts of her pet and he admitted having killed the animal to prepare a meal, resulting in verbal exchanges and Kusi beating her to unconsciousness.
He was arrested and arraigned before the Sunyani Magistrate’s Court ‘B’, presided over by Mr Albert Zoogah, for causing harm and sentenced to a fine of Gh¢120.00 or in default serve six months’ imprisonment in hard labour.
He pleaded guilty to the charge of causing harm and apologised to the Madam Pokuaa.
Presenting the facts of the case, the prosecutor, Chief Inspector Grace Cofie, said Kusi had a friend resident in the same house as the complainant.
The prosecutor said Kusi saw the cat while visiting his friend and offered to buy it but Madam Pokuaa declined to sell her pet.
Chief Inspector Cofie said three days later the complainant could not find her cat, so she suspected the convict and when she approached him he admitted that he had killed the cat and used its meat to prepare some food.
The prosecutor told the court that upon hearing this, the complainant became annoyed with Kusi which led to ‘hot’ exchanges of words, but the complainant left the convict for her shop.
She said Kusi followed up to the complainant’s shop and assaulted her mercilessly, which made her unconscious. She was rushed by a good Samaritan to the Regional Hospital, where she was admitted.
Chief Inspector Cofie said the case was reported to the police and Kusi was arrested and after investigations charged with the offence.
Mr Zoogah, in passing judgement, said he took into consideration the fact that the convict had apologised in the open court to Madam Pokuaa.
THE desire for ‘Cat meat’ has landed a taxi driver at Fiapre in the Sunyani West District in the grips of the law.
Yaw Kusi had offered to buy the cat from Madam Yaa Pokua, a trader but she refused to sell it. And so when Madam Pokua could not find her pet three days later, she suspected Kusi.
Madam Pokuaa confronted Kusi on the whereabouts of her pet and he admitted having killed the animal to prepare a meal, resulting in verbal exchanges and Kusi beating her to unconsciousness.
He was arrested and arraigned before the Sunyani Magistrate’s Court ‘B’, presided over by Mr Albert Zoogah, for causing harm and sentenced to a fine of Gh¢120.00 or in default serve six months’ imprisonment in hard labour.
He pleaded guilty to the charge of causing harm and apologised to the Madam Pokuaa.
Presenting the facts of the case, the prosecutor, Chief Inspector Grace Cofie, said Kusi had a friend resident in the same house as the complainant.
The prosecutor said Kusi saw the cat while visiting his friend and offered to buy it but Madam Pokuaa declined to sell her pet.
Chief Inspector Cofie said three days later the complainant could not find her cat, so she suspected the convict and when she approached him he admitted that he had killed the cat and used its meat to prepare some food.
The prosecutor told the court that upon hearing this, the complainant became annoyed with Kusi which led to ‘hot’ exchanges of words, but the complainant left the convict for her shop.
She said Kusi followed up to the complainant’s shop and assaulted her mercilessly, which made her unconscious. She was rushed by a good Samaritan to the Regional Hospital, where she was admitted.
Chief Inspector Cofie said the case was reported to the police and Kusi was arrested and after investigations charged with the offence.
Mr Zoogah, in passing judgement, said he took into consideration the fact that the convict had apologised in the open court to Madam Pokuaa.
POLICEMEN ON TRIAL FOR EXTORTION (MIRROR, PAGE 34)
From Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
The Sunyani Magistrate’s Court has adjourned hearing of the case in which five policemen and a businessman allegedly extorted 550,000 CFA franc from two Ivorian traders in Techiman, to October 27, 2008.
Sergeant Peter Okanta, Corporal Martin Adjei, Lance Corporal Richard Oppong, Constables Gabriel Yaw Ansong and William Nutakor of the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Command, and Kwadwo Adjei, a Techiman-based businessman, are currently on bail.
The presiding judge, Mr Albert Zoogah, explained that the case had to be adjourned to wait for the Attorney-General’s advice, which is expected to be ready by next week.
The facts of the case were that the traders, Amadu Watara and Seidu Watara, from the Northern part of La Cote d’Ivoire, came to Kaba, a border town in Ghana, to change their higher CFA franc notes into coins.
They met a middleman called Adama who told them that he knew someone who would help them to get the coins.
On June 1, 2008 Adama allegedly took them to Techiman at about 2.30p.m to meet Adjei, who assured the complainants that he could get them the coins.
Adjei took them to a house at Dwomo, a suburb in the Techiman municipality and collected CFA450,000 francs from them with the intention of changing it into coins for them. While waiting for Adjei in the house, a taxicab with three occupants pulled up and they told the complainants that Adjei had asked them to bring them to his office.
On the way, they met Adjei, who signalled them to stop but they did not and while on the road, the five policemen who were in a police vehicle, overtook them and asked them to stop.
The policemen jumped out of their vehicle with their rifles and the complainants took to their heels, but Amadu was arrested. They searched him and collected CFA 100,000 francs from him.
Thereafter, the policemen took Amadu to the Tuobodom Police Station but returned at about 8.10 p.m. to release him from the police station and took him to Adjei.
Adjei then took Amadu to Jakoline, a suburb in Techiman, and abandoned him there.
A report was made to the police which led to the arrest of the five policemen and Adjei.
The Sunyani Magistrate’s Court has adjourned hearing of the case in which five policemen and a businessman allegedly extorted 550,000 CFA franc from two Ivorian traders in Techiman, to October 27, 2008.
Sergeant Peter Okanta, Corporal Martin Adjei, Lance Corporal Richard Oppong, Constables Gabriel Yaw Ansong and William Nutakor of the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Command, and Kwadwo Adjei, a Techiman-based businessman, are currently on bail.
The presiding judge, Mr Albert Zoogah, explained that the case had to be adjourned to wait for the Attorney-General’s advice, which is expected to be ready by next week.
The facts of the case were that the traders, Amadu Watara and Seidu Watara, from the Northern part of La Cote d’Ivoire, came to Kaba, a border town in Ghana, to change their higher CFA franc notes into coins.
They met a middleman called Adama who told them that he knew someone who would help them to get the coins.
On June 1, 2008 Adama allegedly took them to Techiman at about 2.30p.m to meet Adjei, who assured the complainants that he could get them the coins.
Adjei took them to a house at Dwomo, a suburb in the Techiman municipality and collected CFA450,000 francs from them with the intention of changing it into coins for them. While waiting for Adjei in the house, a taxicab with three occupants pulled up and they told the complainants that Adjei had asked them to bring them to his office.
On the way, they met Adjei, who signalled them to stop but they did not and while on the road, the five policemen who were in a police vehicle, overtook them and asked them to stop.
The policemen jumped out of their vehicle with their rifles and the complainants took to their heels, but Amadu was arrested. They searched him and collected CFA 100,000 francs from him.
Thereafter, the policemen took Amadu to the Tuobodom Police Station but returned at about 8.10 p.m. to release him from the police station and took him to Adjei.
Adjei then took Amadu to Jakoline, a suburb in Techiman, and abandoned him there.
A report was made to the police which led to the arrest of the five policemen and Adjei.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
POLICE DESTROY SEIZED INDIAN HEMP (PAGE 50)
THE Techiman Municipal Police Command has destroyed 40 maxi bags of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp on the outskirts of Tuobodom in the Techiman municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region.
The bags, which were abandoned by their owners during patrols by police and military teams, were set ablaze in the presence of newsmen and police officers.
Briefing newsmen after the exercise, the Deputy Techiman Municipal Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police Mr Osman Mohammed, said the dried leaves had been kept in police custody for over 12 months.
Mr Mohammed said since the bags occupied space in the police exhibition store at the Techiman Municipal Police Headquarters, the command decided to seek a court order from the Tuobodom Magistrate Court for their destruction.
He said no arrest had been made in connection with the abandoned dried leaves.
Mr Mohammed, therefore, appealed to the public to give information to the police to clamp down on all drug peddlers in the municipality, since their business was becoming a social menace.
The bags, which were abandoned by their owners during patrols by police and military teams, were set ablaze in the presence of newsmen and police officers.
Briefing newsmen after the exercise, the Deputy Techiman Municipal Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police Mr Osman Mohammed, said the dried leaves had been kept in police custody for over 12 months.
Mr Mohammed said since the bags occupied space in the police exhibition store at the Techiman Municipal Police Headquarters, the command decided to seek a court order from the Tuobodom Magistrate Court for their destruction.
He said no arrest had been made in connection with the abandoned dried leaves.
Mr Mohammed, therefore, appealed to the public to give information to the police to clamp down on all drug peddlers in the municipality, since their business was becoming a social menace.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
NEW SCHOOL BLOCKS FOR POMAAKROM, TIPOKROM (PAGE 35)
THE Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Asunafo North, Alhaji Ishak Abubakar Bonsu, has inaugurated two school projects at Pomaakrom and Tipokrom, both major cocoa growing areas in the Brong Ahafo Region, at a total cost of GH¢111,000.
The Pomaakrom Presbyterian Primary School benefited from a GH¢72,000 six-unit classroom block, a store and staff common rooms.
It was funded by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) as part of its Schools Under Trees projects.
The GH¢29,000 Tipokrom Local Authority (L/A) Primary School block comprising three classrooms, an office and toilet facilities, was financed through the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF).
With the provision of the modern classroom blocks, schoolchildren at Pomaakrom and its environs would no longer learn in an old dilapidated structure that posed danger to their lives.
The Asunafo North Municipal Assembly has provided the Tipokrom L/A Primary School with dual desks and office furniture. Speaking at separate durbars at Pomaakrom and Tipokrom to inaugurate the two projects, Alhaji Bonsu stated that the government was committed to the human resource development of the country and that was why it had created a congenial environment to enhance teaching and learning.
He said the projects were in fulfilment of a promise made by the government to provide every rural community with a modern school infrastructure.
The MCE gave the assurance that the government would ensure fair distribution of development projects in all parts of the country.
Alhaji Bonsu noted that the provision of quality education was not the sole responsibility of the government, and for that matter, urged parents and teachers to play their roles in that direction.
He said in collaboration with the Ghana Cocoa Board and the Department of Feeder Roads, the government would reshape all feeder roads in the cocoa growing communities in the municipality, adding that the Akrodie-Fawoyeden-Ayomso-Goaso road which was under construction, would be tarred.
The Asunafo North Municipal Director of Education, Mrs Elizabeth De Souza, thanked the government for promoting education in every nook and cranny of the country.
Mrs De Souza called for co-operation among the School Management Committees (SMCs) of the two communities, the teachers and parents to ensure the smooth running of the schools.
She advised them to regularly maintain the buildings to prolong their lifespan.
The Pomaakrom Presbyterian Primary School benefited from a GH¢72,000 six-unit classroom block, a store and staff common rooms.
It was funded by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) as part of its Schools Under Trees projects.
The GH¢29,000 Tipokrom Local Authority (L/A) Primary School block comprising three classrooms, an office and toilet facilities, was financed through the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF).
With the provision of the modern classroom blocks, schoolchildren at Pomaakrom and its environs would no longer learn in an old dilapidated structure that posed danger to their lives.
The Asunafo North Municipal Assembly has provided the Tipokrom L/A Primary School with dual desks and office furniture. Speaking at separate durbars at Pomaakrom and Tipokrom to inaugurate the two projects, Alhaji Bonsu stated that the government was committed to the human resource development of the country and that was why it had created a congenial environment to enhance teaching and learning.
He said the projects were in fulfilment of a promise made by the government to provide every rural community with a modern school infrastructure.
The MCE gave the assurance that the government would ensure fair distribution of development projects in all parts of the country.
Alhaji Bonsu noted that the provision of quality education was not the sole responsibility of the government, and for that matter, urged parents and teachers to play their roles in that direction.
He said in collaboration with the Ghana Cocoa Board and the Department of Feeder Roads, the government would reshape all feeder roads in the cocoa growing communities in the municipality, adding that the Akrodie-Fawoyeden-Ayomso-Goaso road which was under construction, would be tarred.
The Asunafo North Municipal Director of Education, Mrs Elizabeth De Souza, thanked the government for promoting education in every nook and cranny of the country.
Mrs De Souza called for co-operation among the School Management Committees (SMCs) of the two communities, the teachers and parents to ensure the smooth running of the schools.
She advised them to regularly maintain the buildings to prolong their lifespan.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
GOVT TO ENSURE IMPROVEMENT IN COMMUNICATIONS SECTOR (PAGE 20)
THE government would continue to pursue policies and programmes in the telecommunications sector to bring competition, improved services and lower prices.
The Minister of Communications, Dr Benjamin Aggrey Ntim, gave the assurance when he inaugurated one out of the 40 Common Telecommunications Facility Sites completed across the country at Fetentaa, a farming community in the Berekum Municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region, last weekend.
The centres which were funded through the Ghana Investment Fund for Telecommunications (GIFTEL) at a cost of $110,000 each, are meant to provide co-location access to telecommunications operators willing to operate in the beneficiary communities, provide telecommunications access and connectivity to the communities.
The sites are also to assist operators to cut down the cost of putting up a mast in every community as well as checking the proliferation of masts in the country.
Fetentaa can have access to all the various mobile networks as well as access to Internet connectivity, which had no access previously.
Dr Ntim said even though there had been a major expansion in the country’s telecommunications sector, the distribution of fixed and mobile phone infrastructure was still concentrated in major economic centres, whereas rural areas lacked telecommunications facility.
“It is for this reason that the government set up the Ghana Investment Fund for Telecommunications (GIFTEL) to mobilise funds for the provision of Universal Access to Telecommunications to serve remote communities,” he stressed.
Dr Ntim noted further that the fund would achieve universal access to telecommunications throughout all communities and regions in the country by the year 2010 as well as facilitating the expansion of telephone service penetration to at least 50 per cent of the country’s population by the same period.
The minister commended the chiefs and people of Fetentaa for donating the land for the construction of the site and called on all the telecommunications operators to take advantage to co-locate on the facilities to benefit from the economy of scale so that communications penetration in rural areas would move faster and at affordable rates.
He also entreated the people to help protect the facility and consider it as their own project and not that of the telecommunications operators or the government.
Dr Ntim appealed to municipal and district assemblies not to charge exorbitant business operating permit rates from telecommunication companies willing to operate in their various communities so as to encourage them to move into deprived areas.
He pledged that now that the facility was ready for use, the Fetentaa Junior High and the Jinjini Senior High schools would have connectivity to the Internet.
The Berekum Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Kwabena Kyere-Yeboah, on behalf of the chiefs and people of Fetentaa, thanked the government for providing the facility.
He, however, appealed to the Ministry of Communications to speed up the construction of the Berekum Community Information Centre (CIC), which is still at the foundation level.
The Minister of Communications, Dr Benjamin Aggrey Ntim, gave the assurance when he inaugurated one out of the 40 Common Telecommunications Facility Sites completed across the country at Fetentaa, a farming community in the Berekum Municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region, last weekend.
The centres which were funded through the Ghana Investment Fund for Telecommunications (GIFTEL) at a cost of $110,000 each, are meant to provide co-location access to telecommunications operators willing to operate in the beneficiary communities, provide telecommunications access and connectivity to the communities.
The sites are also to assist operators to cut down the cost of putting up a mast in every community as well as checking the proliferation of masts in the country.
Fetentaa can have access to all the various mobile networks as well as access to Internet connectivity, which had no access previously.
Dr Ntim said even though there had been a major expansion in the country’s telecommunications sector, the distribution of fixed and mobile phone infrastructure was still concentrated in major economic centres, whereas rural areas lacked telecommunications facility.
“It is for this reason that the government set up the Ghana Investment Fund for Telecommunications (GIFTEL) to mobilise funds for the provision of Universal Access to Telecommunications to serve remote communities,” he stressed.
Dr Ntim noted further that the fund would achieve universal access to telecommunications throughout all communities and regions in the country by the year 2010 as well as facilitating the expansion of telephone service penetration to at least 50 per cent of the country’s population by the same period.
The minister commended the chiefs and people of Fetentaa for donating the land for the construction of the site and called on all the telecommunications operators to take advantage to co-locate on the facilities to benefit from the economy of scale so that communications penetration in rural areas would move faster and at affordable rates.
He also entreated the people to help protect the facility and consider it as their own project and not that of the telecommunications operators or the government.
Dr Ntim appealed to municipal and district assemblies not to charge exorbitant business operating permit rates from telecommunication companies willing to operate in their various communities so as to encourage them to move into deprived areas.
He pledged that now that the facility was ready for use, the Fetentaa Junior High and the Jinjini Senior High schools would have connectivity to the Internet.
The Berekum Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Kwabena Kyere-Yeboah, on behalf of the chiefs and people of Fetentaa, thanked the government for providing the facility.
He, however, appealed to the Ministry of Communications to speed up the construction of the Berekum Community Information Centre (CIC), which is still at the foundation level.
SUNYANI EAST NPP LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN (PAGE 15)
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Aspirant for Sunyani East, Mr Kwasi Ameyaw Cheremeh, has launched his campaign for the December 7 general election, with a call on supporters of the party to intensify their campaign in their various communities to win more eligible voters into their fold.
He urged the party supporters not to shun those who did not share their views, but rather engage them constantly in conversations with respect and love so as to get them on their side to enable the party to win the forthcoming election with a landslide victory.
Addressing a rally at Abesim, on the outskirts of Sunyani, to officially launch the NPP Sunyani East Constituency campaign for the 2008 general election, Mr Cheremeh called on the people not to give in to the vile propaganda and lies being peddled against the NPP government by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), since it had nothing to offer Ghanaians, judging from the eight years track record of the government.
He said it was the NPP government that had lined up comprehensive and credible plans and programmes in its manifesto to move the country forward as well as bring a remarkable improvement in the living conditions of all Ghanaians.
Mr Cheremeh, therefore, urged the people to vote massively for the Presidential aspirant of the party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to make good all his promises, especially the free education at the senior high school level, the institution of a pension scheme for farmers and the establishment of a university for the Brong Ahafo Region.
The Sunyani East NPP parliamentary aspirant also called on all registered voters to go out and cross-check whether their names were on the voters register during the exhibition period, since that was the only way they could cast their votes in the forthcoming election and retain the NPP in power to continue with its good works.SUNYANI
Mr Cheremeh said it was during the era of the NPP government that cocoa farmers in the country reaped benefits of the cocoa industry, saying a bag of cocoa was now sold for GH¢132, and pledged that education, health, agriculture would be his focus when given the mandate by the people to represent them in Parliament and also used his advocacy skills as a lawyer to lobby for more development projects for the area.
For their part, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, who is also the NPP parliamentary aspirant for Sunyani West, and Mr Kwasi Adu Gyan, the NPP Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman, urged the electorate to vote massively for the NPP and reject the NDC at the polls, since it had nothing to offer the country, but would only spike the wheels of progress of the nation.
They also reiterated the call on party supporters to intensify their campaign to win more people into their fold to ensure a landslide victory for the party in the December 7 general election.
A minute’s silent was, however, observed at the rally for the death of the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu.
He urged the party supporters not to shun those who did not share their views, but rather engage them constantly in conversations with respect and love so as to get them on their side to enable the party to win the forthcoming election with a landslide victory.
Addressing a rally at Abesim, on the outskirts of Sunyani, to officially launch the NPP Sunyani East Constituency campaign for the 2008 general election, Mr Cheremeh called on the people not to give in to the vile propaganda and lies being peddled against the NPP government by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), since it had nothing to offer Ghanaians, judging from the eight years track record of the government.
He said it was the NPP government that had lined up comprehensive and credible plans and programmes in its manifesto to move the country forward as well as bring a remarkable improvement in the living conditions of all Ghanaians.
Mr Cheremeh, therefore, urged the people to vote massively for the Presidential aspirant of the party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to make good all his promises, especially the free education at the senior high school level, the institution of a pension scheme for farmers and the establishment of a university for the Brong Ahafo Region.
The Sunyani East NPP parliamentary aspirant also called on all registered voters to go out and cross-check whether their names were on the voters register during the exhibition period, since that was the only way they could cast their votes in the forthcoming election and retain the NPP in power to continue with its good works.SUNYANI
Mr Cheremeh said it was during the era of the NPP government that cocoa farmers in the country reaped benefits of the cocoa industry, saying a bag of cocoa was now sold for GH¢132, and pledged that education, health, agriculture would be his focus when given the mandate by the people to represent them in Parliament and also used his advocacy skills as a lawyer to lobby for more development projects for the area.
For their part, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, who is also the NPP parliamentary aspirant for Sunyani West, and Mr Kwasi Adu Gyan, the NPP Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman, urged the electorate to vote massively for the NPP and reject the NDC at the polls, since it had nothing to offer the country, but would only spike the wheels of progress of the nation.
They also reiterated the call on party supporters to intensify their campaign to win more people into their fold to ensure a landslide victory for the party in the December 7 general election.
A minute’s silent was, however, observed at the rally for the death of the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu.
COMPUTER PER CHILD...Govt's initiative to boost ICT skills in public schools (LEAD STORY)
ALL school children between the ages of five and 12 in public schools will soon be provided with personal computers by the government.
Designed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States of America (USA), the computers are to enable the children to acquire skills in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), which is currently the most critical basic instrument of education world-wide.
Making the disclosure in Sunyani yesterday, President J. A. Kufuor said the deal for the supply of the computers was negotiated by the late Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, two years ago.
To acknowledge the role the late minister played, the machines are to be called “Baah-Wiredu’s Computer a child” to honour his memory.
Speaking at the 14th annual Teachers Awards ceremony in Sunyani yesterday, President Kufuor 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 the machine, to supply all children in 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. Here is the sample which I brought to show you,” he said.
The President then called for a minute’s silence to be observed in Mr Baah-Wiredu’s memory and remarked, “We cannot honour his memory enough. He was a dedicated public servant.”
In all, 52 teachers selected from 12 categories, as well as workers in education, were honoured for their hard work, patriotism and dedication to duty, with the Overall National Best Teacher award going to Mr Sadique Boateng, a 42- year-old Integrated Science and ICT teacher of the T.I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School (SHS) in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
The theme for the celebration was, “Quality Teachers for Quality Education: Teachers Matter”.
At the same ceremony, 40 retired teachers selected from the various districts of the host region were honoured.
President Kufuor also announced that textbooks and supplementary reading materials for all levels of education, from kindergarten, through primary and junior high school (JHS) to SHS, had been procured and were being distributed from district to district.
Happily, the President noted, the emphasis on ICT in the educational reform was beginning to show the need to make ICT user friendly, adding that 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 the global market needed.
President Kufuor again announced that the government aimed at providing every teacher with a personal computer, pointing out that “teachers must master the magic machine before they can guide their pupils to make any headway in it. Indeed, government intends to sustain the progress made thus far by motivating teachers in different ways”.
He said he had directed that the October 2006 salaries of some teachers which were suspended due to a strike they had embarked on be restored forthwith, adding that it was the government’s show of solidarity with the teachers as they celebrated the awards day.
According to President Kufuor, a progressive review of teachers’ salaries continued to engage government’s attention and further announced that preparations were underway to implement the recommendations for a single-spine salary structure to ensure that all workers received equal pay for equal work next year.
Other incentives for the teacher, he said, included 130 units of accommodation for them, free bicycles for those in deprived schools and motorbikes for circuit supervisors for purchase on manageable terms.
The President said to enhance management efficiency, 200 buses had been provided for the district education offices, while 100 Toyota 4x4 pick-up vehicles had been supplied to the district directorates of education and heads of selected SHS and that 40 Mahindra 4x4 Jeeps were expected for distribution to other SHS.
“These are only some of the things government is trying to do to rationalise the teaching service and make it more attractive,” he added.
He paid tribute to the award winners and urged them to work harder than before by returning to their classrooms and offices more committed than before.
“Let me take this opportunity, at this stage, to thank our development partners who have also been contributing to government’s efforts at improving and modernising education in the country. Their continued assistance is proof that truly the international community is evolving into an interdependent world,” he noted.
President Kufuor said by the operations of the national Constitution, his tenure as the President of the Republic was coming to an end in two months’ time and that he could not leave the scene without expressing his sincere appreciation and acknowledgement to the leadership and the rank and file of the educational sector, both public and private, for the dramatic growth in the sector.
He pointed out that the future of the nation was bright, with great prospects for industrialisation on the back of the petro-chemical industry and an integrated bauxite-aluminium industry.
The President of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Mr Joseph Kwaku Adjei, noted that a dedicated teacher was the key to good education and that explained why there had been an innovative way to reward successful teachers, as well as encourage those who were striving to improve themselves.
The Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Prof Dominic Fobih, launched a 60-page reader-friendly book which was designed to address some of the good practices in teaching and community service.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, in his welcoming address, urged teachers to gird their loins towards the successful implementation of the new educational reform.
The function was chaired by the President of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, Okatakyie Agyeman Kudom IV, who is also the Omanhene of the Nkoranza Traditional Area.
Designed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States of America (USA), the computers are to enable the children to acquire skills in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), which is currently the most critical basic instrument of education world-wide.
Making the disclosure in Sunyani yesterday, President J. A. Kufuor said the deal for the supply of the computers was negotiated by the late Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, two years ago.
To acknowledge the role the late minister played, the machines are to be called “Baah-Wiredu’s Computer a child” to honour his memory.
Speaking at the 14th annual Teachers Awards ceremony in Sunyani yesterday, President Kufuor 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 the machine, to supply all children in 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. Here is the sample which I brought to show you,” he said.
The President then called for a minute’s silence to be observed in Mr Baah-Wiredu’s memory and remarked, “We cannot honour his memory enough. He was a dedicated public servant.”
In all, 52 teachers selected from 12 categories, as well as workers in education, were honoured for their hard work, patriotism and dedication to duty, with the Overall National Best Teacher award going to Mr Sadique Boateng, a 42- year-old Integrated Science and ICT teacher of the T.I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School (SHS) in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
The theme for the celebration was, “Quality Teachers for Quality Education: Teachers Matter”.
At the same ceremony, 40 retired teachers selected from the various districts of the host region were honoured.
President Kufuor also announced that textbooks and supplementary reading materials for all levels of education, from kindergarten, through primary and junior high school (JHS) to SHS, had been procured and were being distributed from district to district.
Happily, the President noted, the emphasis on ICT in the educational reform was beginning to show the need to make ICT user friendly, adding that 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 the global market needed.
President Kufuor again announced that the government aimed at providing every teacher with a personal computer, pointing out that “teachers must master the magic machine before they can guide their pupils to make any headway in it. Indeed, government intends to sustain the progress made thus far by motivating teachers in different ways”.
He said he had directed that the October 2006 salaries of some teachers which were suspended due to a strike they had embarked on be restored forthwith, adding that it was the government’s show of solidarity with the teachers as they celebrated the awards day.
According to President Kufuor, a progressive review of teachers’ salaries continued to engage government’s attention and further announced that preparations were underway to implement the recommendations for a single-spine salary structure to ensure that all workers received equal pay for equal work next year.
Other incentives for the teacher, he said, included 130 units of accommodation for them, free bicycles for those in deprived schools and motorbikes for circuit supervisors for purchase on manageable terms.
The President said to enhance management efficiency, 200 buses had been provided for the district education offices, while 100 Toyota 4x4 pick-up vehicles had been supplied to the district directorates of education and heads of selected SHS and that 40 Mahindra 4x4 Jeeps were expected for distribution to other SHS.
“These are only some of the things government is trying to do to rationalise the teaching service and make it more attractive,” he added.
He paid tribute to the award winners and urged them to work harder than before by returning to their classrooms and offices more committed than before.
“Let me take this opportunity, at this stage, to thank our development partners who have also been contributing to government’s efforts at improving and modernising education in the country. Their continued assistance is proof that truly the international community is evolving into an interdependent world,” he noted.
President Kufuor said by the operations of the national Constitution, his tenure as the President of the Republic was coming to an end in two months’ time and that he could not leave the scene without expressing his sincere appreciation and acknowledgement to the leadership and the rank and file of the educational sector, both public and private, for the dramatic growth in the sector.
He pointed out that the future of the nation was bright, with great prospects for industrialisation on the back of the petro-chemical industry and an integrated bauxite-aluminium industry.
The President of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Mr Joseph Kwaku Adjei, noted that a dedicated teacher was the key to good education and that explained why there had been an innovative way to reward successful teachers, as well as encourage those who were striving to improve themselves.
The Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Prof Dominic Fobih, launched a 60-page reader-friendly book which was designed to address some of the good practices in teaching and community service.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, in his welcoming address, urged teachers to gird their loins towards the successful implementation of the new educational reform.
The function was chaired by the President of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, Okatakyie Agyeman Kudom IV, who is also the Omanhene of the Nkoranza Traditional Area.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
BEREKUM-SANASE ROAD PROJECT COMMENCES (PAGE 21)
THE Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Berekum, Mr Kwabena Kyere–Yeboah, on Friday, cut the sod for the commencement of the construction of the 2.7 kilometre feeder road linking Berekum with Senase in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The GH¢517,000 project is being financed by the government.
Even though the project is expected to be completed in 12 months time, Mr Yaw Damoah, the Managing Director of Damoah Enterprise Limited, a Sunyani-based construction firm, which is undertaking the project, promised to complete it within eight months.
The project involves the construction of drains along the road and resealing the road.
Addressing a durbar preceding the sod-cutting ceremony, Mr Kyere-Yeboah dilated on the economic benefits that the construction of the road would bring to the people.
He, therefore, appealed to the people to co-operate with the contractor to ensure the early completion of the project.
The MCE stressed that even though the construction of the road might create some inconveniences for them, they must cope with the problems to ensure that the contractor completed the project on schedule.
Mr Kyere-Yeboah urged the contractor not to delay the project but to work hard to deliver on schedule since the construction of the road was dear to the hearts of the people of Senase.
The MCE also presented a quantity of diamond bulbs for the rehabilitation of the streetlights in the town, which the people had rejected earlier on the basis that until the road was constructed they would not accept them.
Mr Kyere-Yeboah assured the people of prodiving more development projects in the area to enhance their living condition and expressed gratitude to the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Professor George Gyan Baffour, for being instrumental in the construction of the road.
The Adontemanhene of Senase, Nana Adoma Kyere, on behalf of the chiefs and people, thanked the government for honouring its promise to construct the Senase-Berekum road and urged the contractor to fulfil his promise to employ the people in the area while undertaking the project.
Nana Kyere appealed for the construction of a modern market, drilling of more boreholes and the provision of school blocks for the community.
The GH¢517,000 project is being financed by the government.
Even though the project is expected to be completed in 12 months time, Mr Yaw Damoah, the Managing Director of Damoah Enterprise Limited, a Sunyani-based construction firm, which is undertaking the project, promised to complete it within eight months.
The project involves the construction of drains along the road and resealing the road.
Addressing a durbar preceding the sod-cutting ceremony, Mr Kyere-Yeboah dilated on the economic benefits that the construction of the road would bring to the people.
He, therefore, appealed to the people to co-operate with the contractor to ensure the early completion of the project.
The MCE stressed that even though the construction of the road might create some inconveniences for them, they must cope with the problems to ensure that the contractor completed the project on schedule.
Mr Kyere-Yeboah urged the contractor not to delay the project but to work hard to deliver on schedule since the construction of the road was dear to the hearts of the people of Senase.
The MCE also presented a quantity of diamond bulbs for the rehabilitation of the streetlights in the town, which the people had rejected earlier on the basis that until the road was constructed they would not accept them.
Mr Kyere-Yeboah assured the people of prodiving more development projects in the area to enhance their living condition and expressed gratitude to the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Professor George Gyan Baffour, for being instrumental in the construction of the road.
The Adontemanhene of Senase, Nana Adoma Kyere, on behalf of the chiefs and people, thanked the government for honouring its promise to construct the Senase-Berekum road and urged the contractor to fulfil his promise to employ the people in the area while undertaking the project.
Nana Kyere appealed for the construction of a modern market, drilling of more boreholes and the provision of school blocks for the community.
Monday, October 6, 2008
CITIZENS CRY OVER HIGH DOG POPULATION (MIRROR, PAGE 35)
From Samuel Duodu, Nsawkaw.
The District Environmental Health Officer for Tain, Mr R.E. Appiah-Sam, has raised concerns over the growing number of dogs at Nsawkaw, the district capital, describing it as a threat to good environmental sanitation.
In an interview with The Mirror at Nsawkaw, Mr Appiah-Sam expressed concern about o how these dogs defecate on the streets, thereby causing an unhealthy scene for the inhabitants. “Our staff who sweep the streets every morning suffer so much because the dogs always defecate at clean and dry places,” he stated.
He, therefore, appealed to the Tain District Assembly to enact bye-laws to limit the number of dogs expected to be kept per household.
When contacted, the District Veterinary Officer, Mr Alfred Dery also shared similar sentiments and called for legislation against the control of the population of dogs in the district.
Mr Dery expressed concern about the reluctance of dog owners to avail their dogs for anti-rabbis vaccination. “Out of over 200 dogs at Nsawkaw, only 30 have been brought for vaccination,” he lamented.
When The Mirror tried to find out why people kept large numbers of dogs at Nsawkaw and the Banda areas, it was revealed that various households kept them for economic reasons. Apart from offering security, dogs kept in the district are highly demanded during the dry season for hunting purposes.
Similarly, the growing number of settlers from northern Ghana in the district has also accounted for the demand for dog meat.
The District Environmental Health Officer for Tain, Mr R.E. Appiah-Sam, has raised concerns over the growing number of dogs at Nsawkaw, the district capital, describing it as a threat to good environmental sanitation.
In an interview with The Mirror at Nsawkaw, Mr Appiah-Sam expressed concern about o how these dogs defecate on the streets, thereby causing an unhealthy scene for the inhabitants. “Our staff who sweep the streets every morning suffer so much because the dogs always defecate at clean and dry places,” he stated.
He, therefore, appealed to the Tain District Assembly to enact bye-laws to limit the number of dogs expected to be kept per household.
When contacted, the District Veterinary Officer, Mr Alfred Dery also shared similar sentiments and called for legislation against the control of the population of dogs in the district.
Mr Dery expressed concern about the reluctance of dog owners to avail their dogs for anti-rabbis vaccination. “Out of over 200 dogs at Nsawkaw, only 30 have been brought for vaccination,” he lamented.
When The Mirror tried to find out why people kept large numbers of dogs at Nsawkaw and the Banda areas, it was revealed that various households kept them for economic reasons. Apart from offering security, dogs kept in the district are highly demanded during the dry season for hunting purposes.
Similarly, the growing number of settlers from northern Ghana in the district has also accounted for the demand for dog meat.
DON'T MIGRATE FROM RURAL TO URBAN CENTRES...Co-ordinator tells girls (PAGE11)
The Tain District Girl Child Co-ordinator, Madam Comfort Manu, has called for intensive sensitisation programmes to curb the rampant migration of girls from the rural areas to urban centres such as Techiman, Sunyani and Kumasi, in search of jobs that are non-existent.
She said it was unfortunate that a number of girls in the area, aged between 12 and 18, decide to move from their homes because of what they term as ‘financial problems confronting their parents’ to the cities to undertake menial jobs.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic after persuading 28 girls she met at Wenchi, who were migrating from Banda Sabie and Banda Sagba to Techiman, Sunyani and Kumasi in search of jobs, to return to their parents, she conceded that such children were mostly from highly deprived homes who trooped to big towns to do menial jobs such as cleaning and selling at the expense of their education.
Madam Manu said, “This is clearly not a case of child trafficking, but an issue of hazardous child labour,” adding that due to the poverty level of their parents, they were unable to provide their children with school uniforms, books and school bags.
She said some of the children used the income they generated from carrying out such menial jobs to support their parents.
She said although some of them decided to make money to meet their educational needs, they unfortunately ended up as school dropouts as a result of teenage pregnancies and natural dislike for schooling as well.
“While in the cities they are vulnerable to sexual assaults, which make them prone to the deadly HIV/AIDS,” Madam Manu observed.
When the Daily Graphic interacted with the children before they returned home, they said situations at home were unbearable for them. “My father is old and we can’t get even enough food to eat at times”, said a 13-year-old girl amongst the group.
Asked how they got transport fares, one of them said they generated money from the shea-butter business that is prevalent in the Banda areas, while others said their relatives supported them.
The Tain District Chief Executive (DCE), Madam Farizana Bintu Ibrahim, who equally expressed concern about the situation, pointed out, “What we need to do is to sensitise parents to realise the dangers that confront such children.”
Some parents interviewed stated that the government’s poverty reduction policies were far from their reach, and therefore appealed to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that had the interest of women at heart to come to their aid. They further appealed to the government and NGOs to consider setting up a shea-butter processing industry in the area to help reduce their poverty levels.
In a related development, records at the offices of the Tain District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme indicate that about five per cent of pregnant women who have registered with the scheme since July were mostly teenagers, reports Samuel Duodu, Nsawkaw.
Most health centres in the district where the Daily Graphic visited revealed that the situation was not a new development in the district. Social workers said the problem was likely to have a negative impact on government efforts to increase access to education through the introduction of the Capitation Grant.
Mr David Kwarteng, the Public Relations Officer of the scheme, said some were as young as 13-years who had stopped schooling as a result of their pregnancies.
Some of the girls interviewed blamed their parents for lack of parental care. Mrs Joyce Arthur, a senior nursing officer at the Badu Health Centre, who also attributed the problem to similar reasons, as well as the attendance of video shows and ‘dance’ especially in the villages, pointed out that the situation kept on worsening every year.
While urging parents to be more responsible, she urged the district assembly to enact bye-laws to control the attendance of children to entertainment spots to help instil discipline in them.
She said it was unfortunate that a number of girls in the area, aged between 12 and 18, decide to move from their homes because of what they term as ‘financial problems confronting their parents’ to the cities to undertake menial jobs.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic after persuading 28 girls she met at Wenchi, who were migrating from Banda Sabie and Banda Sagba to Techiman, Sunyani and Kumasi in search of jobs, to return to their parents, she conceded that such children were mostly from highly deprived homes who trooped to big towns to do menial jobs such as cleaning and selling at the expense of their education.
Madam Manu said, “This is clearly not a case of child trafficking, but an issue of hazardous child labour,” adding that due to the poverty level of their parents, they were unable to provide their children with school uniforms, books and school bags.
She said some of the children used the income they generated from carrying out such menial jobs to support their parents.
She said although some of them decided to make money to meet their educational needs, they unfortunately ended up as school dropouts as a result of teenage pregnancies and natural dislike for schooling as well.
“While in the cities they are vulnerable to sexual assaults, which make them prone to the deadly HIV/AIDS,” Madam Manu observed.
When the Daily Graphic interacted with the children before they returned home, they said situations at home were unbearable for them. “My father is old and we can’t get even enough food to eat at times”, said a 13-year-old girl amongst the group.
Asked how they got transport fares, one of them said they generated money from the shea-butter business that is prevalent in the Banda areas, while others said their relatives supported them.
The Tain District Chief Executive (DCE), Madam Farizana Bintu Ibrahim, who equally expressed concern about the situation, pointed out, “What we need to do is to sensitise parents to realise the dangers that confront such children.”
Some parents interviewed stated that the government’s poverty reduction policies were far from their reach, and therefore appealed to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that had the interest of women at heart to come to their aid. They further appealed to the government and NGOs to consider setting up a shea-butter processing industry in the area to help reduce their poverty levels.
In a related development, records at the offices of the Tain District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme indicate that about five per cent of pregnant women who have registered with the scheme since July were mostly teenagers, reports Samuel Duodu, Nsawkaw.
Most health centres in the district where the Daily Graphic visited revealed that the situation was not a new development in the district. Social workers said the problem was likely to have a negative impact on government efforts to increase access to education through the introduction of the Capitation Grant.
Mr David Kwarteng, the Public Relations Officer of the scheme, said some were as young as 13-years who had stopped schooling as a result of their pregnancies.
Some of the girls interviewed blamed their parents for lack of parental care. Mrs Joyce Arthur, a senior nursing officer at the Badu Health Centre, who also attributed the problem to similar reasons, as well as the attendance of video shows and ‘dance’ especially in the villages, pointed out that the situation kept on worsening every year.
While urging parents to be more responsible, she urged the district assembly to enact bye-laws to control the attendance of children to entertainment spots to help instil discipline in them.
Friday, October 3, 2008
CHIEFS URGED TO PROMOTE EDUCATION OF GIRLS (PAGE 17)
THE Tain District Chief Executive (DCE), Madam Farizana Ibrahim Bintu, has appealed to chiefs in the area to use their influence in society to promote the education of girls in order to place them at decision-making positions in the country.
She noted that Nananom, as partners in development, had a major role to play in the quest to place women at a better position in society to enable them contribute their quota towards the socio-economic advancement of the nation.
Madam Bintu said this when she handed over two mini-buses to the Nkoranman and Baduman Senior High Schools (SHS) respectively at a brief ceremony at Nsawkaw, the district capital, in the Brong Ahafo Region. The two schools are among the deprived schools in the region.
She noted that the notion held by people that the place of a girl and a woman was in the kitchen still persisted in some parts of the district and, therefore, called on the chiefs to help erase that line of thinking from the minds of the people.
‘While government is eager to provide all the facilities to enhance education in the district, we are appealing to our chiefs to continue to sensitise the people in their various communities to see the need to place premium on the education of their children, especially the girls to the highest level,” she stressed
Madam Bintu observed that the greatest legacy that every parent could bequeath to their children was education and, therefore, urged parents in the district not to spend their monies on funeral clothes, but use them to educate their children.
She said the district assembly, in collaboration with the District Directorate of Education, was working hard to achieve gender parity between boys and girls at the basic and secondary levels of education in the district, but called for the assistance of chiefs in the area in that direction.
The Oyokohene of Seikwa, Nana Twum Barima, on behalf of Nananom, thanked the government for the gesture and commended the DCE for acknowledging the presence of Nananom in their efforts to promote quality education.
He, therefore, appealed to parents to sponsor their children’s education rather than spend their monies on things that would not secure their future.
She noted that Nananom, as partners in development, had a major role to play in the quest to place women at a better position in society to enable them contribute their quota towards the socio-economic advancement of the nation.
Madam Bintu said this when she handed over two mini-buses to the Nkoranman and Baduman Senior High Schools (SHS) respectively at a brief ceremony at Nsawkaw, the district capital, in the Brong Ahafo Region. The two schools are among the deprived schools in the region.
She noted that the notion held by people that the place of a girl and a woman was in the kitchen still persisted in some parts of the district and, therefore, called on the chiefs to help erase that line of thinking from the minds of the people.
‘While government is eager to provide all the facilities to enhance education in the district, we are appealing to our chiefs to continue to sensitise the people in their various communities to see the need to place premium on the education of their children, especially the girls to the highest level,” she stressed
Madam Bintu observed that the greatest legacy that every parent could bequeath to their children was education and, therefore, urged parents in the district not to spend their monies on funeral clothes, but use them to educate their children.
She said the district assembly, in collaboration with the District Directorate of Education, was working hard to achieve gender parity between boys and girls at the basic and secondary levels of education in the district, but called for the assistance of chiefs in the area in that direction.
The Oyokohene of Seikwa, Nana Twum Barima, on behalf of Nananom, thanked the government for the gesture and commended the DCE for acknowledging the presence of Nananom in their efforts to promote quality education.
He, therefore, appealed to parents to sponsor their children’s education rather than spend their monies on things that would not secure their future.
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