Story: Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
THE staff of the Sunyani branch of the Audit Service in the Brong Ahafo Region have begun wearing red bands in their offices to press home their demands for the immediate implementation of their new salary structure by the Audit Service Board (ASB).
The decision of the workers, who are members of the Public Service Workers Union (PSWU), to put on the red bands is also in protest against the lack of response to the several petitions sent to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MFEP) and the Office of the President on the delay of the implementation of the new salary structure.
In a resolution adopted at an emergency meeting in Sunyani on Tuesday and jointly signed by Mr Joseph Anamoo, E.R. Bennin and Anne T. Ninfaabeliede, the local chairman, secretary and executive member of the PSWU of the Audit Service respectively, they said the red bands were a warning signal that the workers would advise themselves if the government failed to implement the new salary structure immediately.
The resolution said the wearing of the red bands was also in solidarity with their colleagues in the three northern regions — Tamale, Bolgatanta and Wa, who started wearing the red bands from November, last year, to press home the immediate implementation of the new salary structure.
Giving a background to the impasse, the resolution said in October, 2006, the ASB decided to review the salary of the staff of the Audit Service, and accordingly engaged a consultant to come up with proposals for the board’s consideration.
It said the consultant’s report, together with explanatory memorandum and the basis for the revision, was sent to the Public Services Commission (PSC) in accordance with Article 189 (3) (a) of the Constitution. After studying the memorandum, the PSC was convinced that a case for upward review of salary had been established.
“We were reliably informed that the office of the President, by letter No. SCR. A14/12 dated September 17, 2007, requested MOFEP for comments on the proposed salary structure, as well as the payment of the arrears but MOFEP, by a letter No. PAD/07//SAL. dated November 1, 2007, responded that the 2007 budget could not accommodate the proposed salary increase and the proposed salary structure should be referred to the Fair Wages Commission for assessment,” the resolution stated.
The resolution stated that they therefore saw the action of the Presidency and MOFEP as a deliberate ploy to frustrate the staff of the Audit Service.
Monday, January 28, 2008
DISASTER AT COP'S FUNERAL ...Stray bullet kills 2, injures 2 (1a)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
THE funeral and burial service for a police officer at Asueyi, a farming community near Techiman in the Brong-Ahafo Region, on Saturday turned fatal when one of the shots fired by some of his colleagues to show solidarity killed two mourners.
The bullet, allegedly fired by Constable Andrew Yankey of the Police Dragon Unit, who police sources say was not part of the official police delegation to the funeral, hit Opanin Kwaku Addai in the abdomen, killing the 70- year-old farmer instantly.
After killing Opanin Addai, who hailed from Mesidan, a farming community near Asueyi, the bullet hit three other persons, namely, Police Constable Owusu Ansah, Police Constable Amaniampong and Opanin Kwaku Nyamekye, a 75-year-old farmer from Kenten, near Techiman. The three injured persons were rushed to the Techiman Holy Family Hospital on Saturday, but Opanin Nyamekye died yesterday from his wounds.
The incident created commotion, with many mourners and sympathisers running to take cover. Opanin Addai was the uncle of the late Police Inspector Peter Kwabena Addai whose funeral he had attended. Inspector Addai died at Nsawkaw in the Tain District on December 25, last year through a motor accident while on night patrol.
Eyewitnesses said the body of the late Inspector Addai, who was a member of the Brong-Ahafo Regional Police Patrol Dragon Unit, had been laid in a casket at the Roman Catholic Church at Asueyi for the burial service when the incident occurred.
They said the policemen also shot through the roof of the church building, bringing the entire proceedings to an abrupt end.
According to them, the policemen, wielding loaded guns, began to fire into the air as a last respect to their dead colleague. The eyewitnesses said some of the bullets hit Opanin Addai and the two others who were all mourners at the funeral. Mourners and sympathisers who had come from far and near to pay their last respect fled the funeral grounds for their various destinations.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) James Oppong-Boanuh, confirmed that Constable Yankey had been arrested and placed in police custody and that he would be put before court for murder.
DCOP Oppong-Boanuh disclosed further that Constable Yankey, who was returning from night patrol the previous day, decided to pass by the funeral ground, carrying his duty weapon.
He said according to police regulations, no policeman was permitted to display weapons or fire shots at the funeral of a deceased colleague, except the police arm party that could fire at the graveside of the deceased, upon order, after the casket had been lowered into the grave.
Meanwhile, the late Inspector Addai has been buried at Asueyi Catholic Cemetery, while the bodies of Opanin Addai and Opanin Nyamekye have been deposited at the Techiman Holy Family Hospital mortuary for autopsy.
The injured Constable Owusu-Ansah is on admission at the same hospital and said to be responding to treatment, while Constable Amaniampong was treated and discharged.
THE funeral and burial service for a police officer at Asueyi, a farming community near Techiman in the Brong-Ahafo Region, on Saturday turned fatal when one of the shots fired by some of his colleagues to show solidarity killed two mourners.
The bullet, allegedly fired by Constable Andrew Yankey of the Police Dragon Unit, who police sources say was not part of the official police delegation to the funeral, hit Opanin Kwaku Addai in the abdomen, killing the 70- year-old farmer instantly.
After killing Opanin Addai, who hailed from Mesidan, a farming community near Asueyi, the bullet hit three other persons, namely, Police Constable Owusu Ansah, Police Constable Amaniampong and Opanin Kwaku Nyamekye, a 75-year-old farmer from Kenten, near Techiman. The three injured persons were rushed to the Techiman Holy Family Hospital on Saturday, but Opanin Nyamekye died yesterday from his wounds.
The incident created commotion, with many mourners and sympathisers running to take cover. Opanin Addai was the uncle of the late Police Inspector Peter Kwabena Addai whose funeral he had attended. Inspector Addai died at Nsawkaw in the Tain District on December 25, last year through a motor accident while on night patrol.
Eyewitnesses said the body of the late Inspector Addai, who was a member of the Brong-Ahafo Regional Police Patrol Dragon Unit, had been laid in a casket at the Roman Catholic Church at Asueyi for the burial service when the incident occurred.
They said the policemen also shot through the roof of the church building, bringing the entire proceedings to an abrupt end.
According to them, the policemen, wielding loaded guns, began to fire into the air as a last respect to their dead colleague. The eyewitnesses said some of the bullets hit Opanin Addai and the two others who were all mourners at the funeral. Mourners and sympathisers who had come from far and near to pay their last respect fled the funeral grounds for their various destinations.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) James Oppong-Boanuh, confirmed that Constable Yankey had been arrested and placed in police custody and that he would be put before court for murder.
DCOP Oppong-Boanuh disclosed further that Constable Yankey, who was returning from night patrol the previous day, decided to pass by the funeral ground, carrying his duty weapon.
He said according to police regulations, no policeman was permitted to display weapons or fire shots at the funeral of a deceased colleague, except the police arm party that could fire at the graveside of the deceased, upon order, after the casket had been lowered into the grave.
Meanwhile, the late Inspector Addai has been buried at Asueyi Catholic Cemetery, while the bodies of Opanin Addai and Opanin Nyamekye have been deposited at the Techiman Holy Family Hospital mortuary for autopsy.
The injured Constable Owusu-Ansah is on admission at the same hospital and said to be responding to treatment, while Constable Amaniampong was treated and discharged.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
GIRL, 13, BURNT TO DEALTH ... (MIRROR PAGE 30)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Techiman
Tarko, a suburb of the Techiman municipality in the Brong-Ahafo Region, was thrown into a state of mourning and despair when a 13-year-old Primary Three pupil of the Techiman Zongo Local Authority Primary School was burnt to death last Thursday evening when a fuel tanker that had fallen into a ditch exploded and busted into flames.
The tanker went into the ditch after being hit at the rear by a tipper truck loaded with sand. At the time of the explosion the victim and others were drawing petrol from the tanker.
The Primary Three pupil, whose name was only given as Akeem, was said to have closed from school and, in the company of other children, he went to the scene of the accident at Tarko to draw some of the fuel that was dripping out of the tanker.
According to eyewitnesses, nine other people, including three children, namely, Johnson Amponsah, 12, a Primary Four pupil; Enoch Owusu Gyamfi, 14, of the Ahmadiyya Junior High School, and Fred Obideaba of the Seventh-Day Adventist School, also sustained severe burns.
The children, including the four adults who sustained injuries, are currently on admission at the Techiman Holy Family Hospital.
The tanker driver, Godwin Obeng, who sustained a minor injury, said the tanker was loaded with petrol from Tema to Tamale and it was hit at the back by the tipper truck when it attempted to overtake the tanker at Tarko.
The accident attracted many people to the scene, including children, some of whom began to draw the fuel when a towing truck was called in to remove the tanker from the ditch.
In the process of towing the tanker from the ditch, it fell back into the ditch and burst into flames which resulted in Akeem’s death and injury to the nine people who were said to be part of the people who were drawing the fuel from the tanker.
Fire men from the Techiman Fire Service Station who had been called to the scene took an hour to put out the flames, by which time the tanker had been burnt beyond recognition.
Tarko, a suburb of the Techiman municipality in the Brong-Ahafo Region, was thrown into a state of mourning and despair when a 13-year-old Primary Three pupil of the Techiman Zongo Local Authority Primary School was burnt to death last Thursday evening when a fuel tanker that had fallen into a ditch exploded and busted into flames.
The tanker went into the ditch after being hit at the rear by a tipper truck loaded with sand. At the time of the explosion the victim and others were drawing petrol from the tanker.
The Primary Three pupil, whose name was only given as Akeem, was said to have closed from school and, in the company of other children, he went to the scene of the accident at Tarko to draw some of the fuel that was dripping out of the tanker.
According to eyewitnesses, nine other people, including three children, namely, Johnson Amponsah, 12, a Primary Four pupil; Enoch Owusu Gyamfi, 14, of the Ahmadiyya Junior High School, and Fred Obideaba of the Seventh-Day Adventist School, also sustained severe burns.
The children, including the four adults who sustained injuries, are currently on admission at the Techiman Holy Family Hospital.
The tanker driver, Godwin Obeng, who sustained a minor injury, said the tanker was loaded with petrol from Tema to Tamale and it was hit at the back by the tipper truck when it attempted to overtake the tanker at Tarko.
The accident attracted many people to the scene, including children, some of whom began to draw the fuel when a towing truck was called in to remove the tanker from the ditch.
In the process of towing the tanker from the ditch, it fell back into the ditch and burst into flames which resulted in Akeem’s death and injury to the nine people who were said to be part of the people who were drawing the fuel from the tanker.
Fire men from the Techiman Fire Service Station who had been called to the scene took an hour to put out the flames, by which time the tanker had been burnt beyond recognition.
WOMEN'S GROUPS URGED TO SUPPORT FIGHT AGAINST HIV (Page 11)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Sampa
THE District Chief Executive (DCE) for Jaman North District in the Brong Ahafo Region, Madam Elizabeth Obah, has called on women’s groups to relentlessly work in support of the fight against stigmatisation of persons living with HIV.
She also asked them to collaborate with health officials to mount intensive public education campaign to help control the spread of the disease.
She said, “I strongly believe that if women decide to play active role in public education against HIV, the fight will eventually be won, because women are caring, peace lovers and are focused on whatever we decide to do, and we do it well.”
Madam Obah stated this at a day’s sensitisation seminar organised by the Brong Ahafo Regional Directorate of the Department of Women on the theme “Womanhood, Reducing Stigmatisation and HIV and AIDS” held at Sampa, the district capital.
She described the theme for the seminar as appropriate and important, and pointed out that women could not be ignored in society if the nation seriously wanted to tackle the fight against any epidemic.
Madam Obah said it was important to deal with the issue of stigmatisation against People Living with HIV and AIDS, so that HIV positive persons would not hide their status in order to continue to spread the disease.
She said there was a shred of evidence that some HIV positive persons had lived a healthy and positive life for more than 15 years after testing HIV positive, and pointed out that if the disease was accepted like any other chronic diseases such as TB, diabetes or hypertension, then those living with the virus would equally feel accepted by their own communities.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the Department of Women, Madam Victoria Owusu-Kyeremaa, for her part, stated that the regional prevalence rate of the disease reduced from 3.2 per cent in 2005 to 2.7 per cent in 2006, and the worst affected people were women, adding that the most important lesson to be learnt was to prevent new infection and improve the quality of care for people living with HIV and AIDS.
She disclosed that the regional secretariat had decided to choose Sampa for the seminar, since it was a border town where many people might pass through to their various destinations and, therefore, the residents needed to be extra careful with their behaviour.
Madam Owusu-Kyeremaa further stated that education on the disease was important at the time that the nation was hosting the Ghana 2008 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, and urged all, especially parents, to take good care of their children so as not to expose them (the children) to situations which could result in their trafficking.
She also urged the people in the district to take all recommended precautionary measures to curb the spread of HIV and AIDS, and urged the youth to stay away from risky sexual and other immoral behaviour.
An HIV/AIDS Counsellor at Sampa, Hajia Amina Amadu, who presented a paper on the theme, called for education for community members on the effects of stigmatisation and discrimination, and urged all to show love, compassion, care and support for persons living with HIV/AIDS.
THE District Chief Executive (DCE) for Jaman North District in the Brong Ahafo Region, Madam Elizabeth Obah, has called on women’s groups to relentlessly work in support of the fight against stigmatisation of persons living with HIV.
She also asked them to collaborate with health officials to mount intensive public education campaign to help control the spread of the disease.
She said, “I strongly believe that if women decide to play active role in public education against HIV, the fight will eventually be won, because women are caring, peace lovers and are focused on whatever we decide to do, and we do it well.”
Madam Obah stated this at a day’s sensitisation seminar organised by the Brong Ahafo Regional Directorate of the Department of Women on the theme “Womanhood, Reducing Stigmatisation and HIV and AIDS” held at Sampa, the district capital.
She described the theme for the seminar as appropriate and important, and pointed out that women could not be ignored in society if the nation seriously wanted to tackle the fight against any epidemic.
Madam Obah said it was important to deal with the issue of stigmatisation against People Living with HIV and AIDS, so that HIV positive persons would not hide their status in order to continue to spread the disease.
She said there was a shred of evidence that some HIV positive persons had lived a healthy and positive life for more than 15 years after testing HIV positive, and pointed out that if the disease was accepted like any other chronic diseases such as TB, diabetes or hypertension, then those living with the virus would equally feel accepted by their own communities.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the Department of Women, Madam Victoria Owusu-Kyeremaa, for her part, stated that the regional prevalence rate of the disease reduced from 3.2 per cent in 2005 to 2.7 per cent in 2006, and the worst affected people were women, adding that the most important lesson to be learnt was to prevent new infection and improve the quality of care for people living with HIV and AIDS.
She disclosed that the regional secretariat had decided to choose Sampa for the seminar, since it was a border town where many people might pass through to their various destinations and, therefore, the residents needed to be extra careful with their behaviour.
Madam Owusu-Kyeremaa further stated that education on the disease was important at the time that the nation was hosting the Ghana 2008 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, and urged all, especially parents, to take good care of their children so as not to expose them (the children) to situations which could result in their trafficking.
She also urged the people in the district to take all recommended precautionary measures to curb the spread of HIV and AIDS, and urged the youth to stay away from risky sexual and other immoral behaviour.
An HIV/AIDS Counsellor at Sampa, Hajia Amina Amadu, who presented a paper on the theme, called for education for community members on the effects of stigmatisation and discrimination, and urged all to show love, compassion, care and support for persons living with HIV/AIDS.
DEVELOP APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGIES TO MANAGE WASTE (PAGE 20)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
THE Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment (MLGRDE), Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, has challenged waste management experts in the country to come up with appropriate, low-cost sanitation technologies for the management of the ever-increasing quantities of the waste generated in the country.
“It is time for us to move away from the traditional ways of waste management and see waste as resources, which could be used to create wealth and generate employment opportunities. The concept of Waste Stock Exchange must be vigorously pursued,” he stressed.
Mr Adjei-Darko threw the challenge at the opening ceremony of a two-day annual review and planning meeting of the Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate (EHSD) of the MLGRDE in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The meeting was attended by about 43 participants, including Regional Health Environmental Officers, their deputies, programme officers from the MLGRDE/EHSD and civil society groups. Others were coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other related agencies in water and sanitation, representatives of some development partners, namely United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and the Royal Netherlands Embassy.
UNICEF sponsored the meeting.
Mr Adjei-Darko expressed concern about the filth that had engulfed cities and towns in the country; drains choked with garbage and excreta; open spaces, which should serve as recreational grounds turned into defecating and dumping sites, and littering at lorry parks and streets, among others, that had become a great source of public health concerns.
He added that more than 60 per cent of such morbidity cases as malaria and diarrhaeal diseases, which were reported at health facilities, were as a result of poor sanitation, which also accounted for most of the infant mortalities.
“Though low funding and inadequate capacity at the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) could be some of the factors militating against effective service delivery in the country, indiscipline and ignorance on the part of the citizenry had been the major setback,” Mr Adjei-Darko stressed.
He stated that his ministry, in collaboration with other sector players and development partners, had put in place the required strategies to improve the situation.
The minister stated that, apart from those strategies to improve sanitation, the ministry had also put in place the necessary legal and regulatory framework to ensure that sanitation laws of the MMDAs were rigidly enforced.
He said to prove the ministry’s commitment to ensuring sanitation discipline in all communities throughout the country, 2,000 sanitation guards had been deployed in the 138 MMDAs to assist environmental health officers in education and law enforcement.
According to the minister, reports reaching him from most of the MMDAs indicated very positive results.
The Director, EHSD of the MLGRDE, Naa Leneson Demedeme, said the meeting was to evaluate the impact of the programmes and activities put in place last year by the directorate, as well as evolve new strategies for the year.
He said the United Nations had declared 2008 as an international year of sanitation to sensitise politicians to make sanitation a top priority.
Naa Demedeme stated that plans were underway to start Bachelor of Science degree programme in Environmental Sanitation at the School of Public Health (SPH), Legon, and a diploma course in Water and Sanitation at the University of Cape Coast.
He said the primary aim was to build the capacity of the staff and the graduates from the School of Hygiene.
THE Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment (MLGRDE), Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, has challenged waste management experts in the country to come up with appropriate, low-cost sanitation technologies for the management of the ever-increasing quantities of the waste generated in the country.
“It is time for us to move away from the traditional ways of waste management and see waste as resources, which could be used to create wealth and generate employment opportunities. The concept of Waste Stock Exchange must be vigorously pursued,” he stressed.
Mr Adjei-Darko threw the challenge at the opening ceremony of a two-day annual review and planning meeting of the Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate (EHSD) of the MLGRDE in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The meeting was attended by about 43 participants, including Regional Health Environmental Officers, their deputies, programme officers from the MLGRDE/EHSD and civil society groups. Others were coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other related agencies in water and sanitation, representatives of some development partners, namely United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and the Royal Netherlands Embassy.
UNICEF sponsored the meeting.
Mr Adjei-Darko expressed concern about the filth that had engulfed cities and towns in the country; drains choked with garbage and excreta; open spaces, which should serve as recreational grounds turned into defecating and dumping sites, and littering at lorry parks and streets, among others, that had become a great source of public health concerns.
He added that more than 60 per cent of such morbidity cases as malaria and diarrhaeal diseases, which were reported at health facilities, were as a result of poor sanitation, which also accounted for most of the infant mortalities.
“Though low funding and inadequate capacity at the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) could be some of the factors militating against effective service delivery in the country, indiscipline and ignorance on the part of the citizenry had been the major setback,” Mr Adjei-Darko stressed.
He stated that his ministry, in collaboration with other sector players and development partners, had put in place the required strategies to improve the situation.
The minister stated that, apart from those strategies to improve sanitation, the ministry had also put in place the necessary legal and regulatory framework to ensure that sanitation laws of the MMDAs were rigidly enforced.
He said to prove the ministry’s commitment to ensuring sanitation discipline in all communities throughout the country, 2,000 sanitation guards had been deployed in the 138 MMDAs to assist environmental health officers in education and law enforcement.
According to the minister, reports reaching him from most of the MMDAs indicated very positive results.
The Director, EHSD of the MLGRDE, Naa Leneson Demedeme, said the meeting was to evaluate the impact of the programmes and activities put in place last year by the directorate, as well as evolve new strategies for the year.
He said the United Nations had declared 2008 as an international year of sanitation to sensitise politicians to make sanitation a top priority.
Naa Demedeme stated that plans were underway to start Bachelor of Science degree programme in Environmental Sanitation at the School of Public Health (SPH), Legon, and a diploma course in Water and Sanitation at the University of Cape Coast.
He said the primary aim was to build the capacity of the staff and the graduates from the School of Hygiene.
Friday, January 25, 2008
SACKEY LAUDS ICT POLICY IN EDUCATIONAL REFORMS (Page 31)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
The Executive President of e-toys and more, Mr George Sackey Jnr, has stated that the inclusion of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and the strong foundation in pre-school in the new educational reform was a step in the right direction.
He observed that education in recent times had undergone a global transformation, where modern methods of delivery were being employed to replace the traditional ones and added that it was therefore commendable that the government saw the need to make ICT education an integral part of the new reforms.
Mr Sackey made the observation at the inauguration of a state-of-the-art e-learning centre at a cost of GH¢50,000 for the Peprah Agyemang (PA) Capital School at Abesim, near Sunyani in the Brong-Ahafo Region.
The construction of the centre — equipped with latest multimedia with powerful e-learning software suite, broadband internet facility, multimedia junior computers and electronic educational toys, digital library and interactive video learning resources among others — has been made possible through a collaboration between the school, e-toys and more and Ghana Leasing Company.
Mr Sackey noted that education had become completely technology-driven and adopting technological resources, as well as the Internet. It was, therefore, the corporate mission of his organisation to provide technological solutions to the educational needs of children and schools.
This way, he said, the Ghanaian child could also benefit from the huge technological explosion taking place globally.
The centre, Mr Sackey explained, would develop critical thinking, stimulate creativity, ignite imagination, correct slow development and build confidence in the child, adding that early learning was greatly inspired and the full potential of our children was greatly explored.
“An e-learning centre is the perfect learning environment for today’s digital child. It takes the routine and boredom out of teaching and learning and simplified, as well as created more option for children and teachers. The reference and research skills of both the teacher and children are greatly developed at the centre,” the executive president stressed.
The Board Chairman of the school, Dr E. Yaw Peprah-Agyemang , who spoke on the theme; “Preparing future leaders adequately for tomorrow”, said it was the aim of the school to achieve academic excellence, and go beyond that to produce well-grounded people ready to lead their society to the next level of human development by way of strong moral values, competence and confidence in their own capabilities.
He stated that the school would focus on computer training as a linchpin of education for all pupils and students, since appropriate training in computer and their usage would drastically improve the students’ horizon and tremendously enhance their capabilities.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the school, Mrs Patricia Peprah-Agyemang, thanked e-toys and more and Ghana Leasing Company for the collaboration and added that the centre would enable the pupils in the school to learn modern communication skills.
The Executive President of e-toys and more, Mr George Sackey Jnr, has stated that the inclusion of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and the strong foundation in pre-school in the new educational reform was a step in the right direction.
He observed that education in recent times had undergone a global transformation, where modern methods of delivery were being employed to replace the traditional ones and added that it was therefore commendable that the government saw the need to make ICT education an integral part of the new reforms.
Mr Sackey made the observation at the inauguration of a state-of-the-art e-learning centre at a cost of GH¢50,000 for the Peprah Agyemang (PA) Capital School at Abesim, near Sunyani in the Brong-Ahafo Region.
The construction of the centre — equipped with latest multimedia with powerful e-learning software suite, broadband internet facility, multimedia junior computers and electronic educational toys, digital library and interactive video learning resources among others — has been made possible through a collaboration between the school, e-toys and more and Ghana Leasing Company.
Mr Sackey noted that education had become completely technology-driven and adopting technological resources, as well as the Internet. It was, therefore, the corporate mission of his organisation to provide technological solutions to the educational needs of children and schools.
This way, he said, the Ghanaian child could also benefit from the huge technological explosion taking place globally.
The centre, Mr Sackey explained, would develop critical thinking, stimulate creativity, ignite imagination, correct slow development and build confidence in the child, adding that early learning was greatly inspired and the full potential of our children was greatly explored.
“An e-learning centre is the perfect learning environment for today’s digital child. It takes the routine and boredom out of teaching and learning and simplified, as well as created more option for children and teachers. The reference and research skills of both the teacher and children are greatly developed at the centre,” the executive president stressed.
The Board Chairman of the school, Dr E. Yaw Peprah-Agyemang , who spoke on the theme; “Preparing future leaders adequately for tomorrow”, said it was the aim of the school to achieve academic excellence, and go beyond that to produce well-grounded people ready to lead their society to the next level of human development by way of strong moral values, competence and confidence in their own capabilities.
He stated that the school would focus on computer training as a linchpin of education for all pupils and students, since appropriate training in computer and their usage would drastically improve the students’ horizon and tremendously enhance their capabilities.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the school, Mrs Patricia Peprah-Agyemang, thanked e-toys and more and Ghana Leasing Company for the collaboration and added that the centre would enable the pupils in the school to learn modern communication skills.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
CALL ON CEPS OFFICERS TO BE VIGILANT ... (Page 30)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
THE acting Brong Ahafo Regional Sector Commander of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Mr Alorchie Apetor, has urged personnel of the service to be vigilant and professional in the conduct of their duties at the various frontiers and checkpoints, since soccer fans from the sub-region will pass through the region to Kumasi and Tamale, which are host cities for the Ghana 2008 tournament.
He noted that CEPS officials stationed at the various entry points of the country were the first ports of call, as well as 'ambassadors' to all visitors, and, therefore, they must be professional in the discharge of their duties to leave a lasting impression on the minds of visitors, since their inaction or actions would damage the reputation of the country.
Mr Apetor, who is a Chief Collector, made the call at the regional sector command end-of-year dinner and awards night held in Sunyani over the weekend.
He stated that although Brong Ahafo was not playing host to Ghana 2008, there was the likelihood of football fans passing through the region to Kumasi and Tamale and, therefore, there was the need for CEPS officials to be professional in the conduct of their duties.
The acting sector commander disclosed that the command exceeded its revenue target when it collected GH¢2,696,232.37, as against the GH¢2,360,00 set for last year, representing an increase of 14.29 per cent.
He stated that it was the first time in two years that the Sunyani collection point had exceeded its targeted for the year, in spite of the political crisis in Cote d’Ivoire.
Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, also congratulated officials of the Sunyani collection point on exceeding the target for last year and urged them not to rest on their laurels.
He noted that despite the hard conditions under which CEPS officials stationed at the frontier stations in the region worked, they still found time to assist the communities where the border posts were located by helping the people to repair their access roads.
Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawire II, the Omanhene of the Sunyani Traditional Area, who chaired the function, was full of praise for the officials of the command and urged them to map out more effective strategies to enable them to exceed the target set for this year.
Some officials of the command were rewarded for their hard work and dedication to duty.
THE acting Brong Ahafo Regional Sector Commander of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Mr Alorchie Apetor, has urged personnel of the service to be vigilant and professional in the conduct of their duties at the various frontiers and checkpoints, since soccer fans from the sub-region will pass through the region to Kumasi and Tamale, which are host cities for the Ghana 2008 tournament.
He noted that CEPS officials stationed at the various entry points of the country were the first ports of call, as well as 'ambassadors' to all visitors, and, therefore, they must be professional in the discharge of their duties to leave a lasting impression on the minds of visitors, since their inaction or actions would damage the reputation of the country.
Mr Apetor, who is a Chief Collector, made the call at the regional sector command end-of-year dinner and awards night held in Sunyani over the weekend.
He stated that although Brong Ahafo was not playing host to Ghana 2008, there was the likelihood of football fans passing through the region to Kumasi and Tamale and, therefore, there was the need for CEPS officials to be professional in the conduct of their duties.
The acting sector commander disclosed that the command exceeded its revenue target when it collected GH¢2,696,232.37, as against the GH¢2,360,00 set for last year, representing an increase of 14.29 per cent.
He stated that it was the first time in two years that the Sunyani collection point had exceeded its targeted for the year, in spite of the political crisis in Cote d’Ivoire.
Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, also congratulated officials of the Sunyani collection point on exceeding the target for last year and urged them not to rest on their laurels.
He noted that despite the hard conditions under which CEPS officials stationed at the frontier stations in the region worked, they still found time to assist the communities where the border posts were located by helping the people to repair their access roads.
Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawire II, the Omanhene of the Sunyani Traditional Area, who chaired the function, was full of praise for the officials of the command and urged them to map out more effective strategies to enable them to exceed the target set for this year.
Some officials of the command were rewarded for their hard work and dedication to duty.
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