THE Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Nurses and Midwives Council of Ghana, Ms Veronica Darko, has called on student nurses and midwives to work hard to enhance the image of the profession.
She said the general public had been complaining about the negative attitudes of nurses and midwives towards them, which tarnished the image of the profession.
She, therefore, advised the students to serve as the new generation of practitioners who would change the perception that members of the public had about the profession.
Ms Darko was speaking at the sixth diploma students and second clinical health assistants matriculation ceremony of the Western Hills School of Nursing (WHSN) at Ofankor.
She urged the matriculants to abide strictly by the core values of the Ghana Health Service when practising the profession.
They must be disciplined and perform their duties in a professional manner to help develop good relationships with their clients.
The Principal of the School, Mrs Ruth A. Gyang, advised the matriculants to remain focused and adopt a positive attitude towards the profession.
She described the nursing and midwifery profession as a challenge, and that nursing was a profession that gave the practitioner job satisfaction, which could be achieved when the practitioner had been able to assist patients in their time of need.
To be able to do this, she said the practitioner had to be honest, patient, tolerant and sympathetic, adding that this would also help the patient physically, emotionally and spiritually.
The Director of Nursing Services at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Mrs Grace Barnes, said the nursing and midwifery profession was not the best field for making money, yet the richness of the blessings that came with dedicated nursing could not be quantified.
She advised the students not to place their individual interests first when delivering their services but that of the profession.
One hundred and sixty students matriculated, out of which 30 are pursuing a three year diploma course in nursing and 130 pursuing a two-year certificate course as health assistants.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Open IEPA for review
THE Secretary-General of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC), Mr Kofi Asamoah, has called on the government to open up the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (IEPA), for review and consultation before it is signed into an international treaty by the end of this year.
This, he explained, is to ensure that the interest and future of the country is not jeopardised by the European Union (EU).
Mr Asamoah said this at the 12th annual TUC and GJA interaction programme at the International Press Centre on Monday.
He said TUC was alarmed by the action of the European Commission to abandon the regional negotiations framework under the auspices of the ECOWAS and were rather embarking on predatory missions on individual countries to get them to initiate a “so called stepping stone Interim EPA”.
He added that the action of the European Commission was a demonstration of bad faith and a stab in the back of the sub regional-intergration which was supposed to be one key objective of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
Mr Asamoah emphasised that what the IEPA Ghana initialled with the EU was secured in an atmosphere of considerable pressure and intimidation of public officials, some of whom privately resented the decision and content of the IEPA.
He said the initialling of the IEPA was contrary to the decision taken on October 5, 2007 by the ECOWAS Trade Ministers in Cote d’Ivoire at which the Ministers stated that the sub-region was not in the position to sign Interim or Comprehensive EPA and formally requested for the extension of the deadline.
“Ghana TUC deplores in the strongest possible terms, the non-transparent manner in which the IEPA with the EU was concluded” Mr Asamoah added.
He said given the developmental gap between Ghana and the EU, it was illogical and immoral to have a free trade agreement since it was akin to putting a flyweight boxer in the ring with a heavyweight boxer.
He stated that the removal of customs duties on import from the EU was inconsistent with the policy of Ghana to promote the private sector which provided employment for the youth and produced goods for public consumption.
The Secretary-General said any attempt to remove 80 per cent duties on imports from the EU would decimate the already small production base of the country, wipe out employment and livelihood, deny the country the most reliable source of revenue and undermine efforts towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals of the country.
He described the 100 per cent access to the EU market as cosmetic and meaningless to Ghana due to the historical levels of several non-tarrif barriers, complicated rules of origin and supply side constraints facing Ghana.
Mr Asamoah expressed concern about recent developments on the labour scene after an infamous decision of the Accra Fast Track High Court to the effect that employers could terminate the employment of their employees without reasons.
He said this was seriously undermining the compromises and consensus reached during the tripartite consultations which led to the passage of the Labour Act (Act 651, 2003).
He therefore called on the government to ratify the ILO Convention 158 and take a second look at the Labour Act which suffers from a fair degree of ambiguity which could lead to tension.
Mr Asamoah commended Ghanaians for the maturity showed in ensuring peaceful elections on December 7, and urged them to do better during the run-off for the Presidential election on Sunday.
This, he explained, is to ensure that the interest and future of the country is not jeopardised by the European Union (EU).
Mr Asamoah said this at the 12th annual TUC and GJA interaction programme at the International Press Centre on Monday.
He said TUC was alarmed by the action of the European Commission to abandon the regional negotiations framework under the auspices of the ECOWAS and were rather embarking on predatory missions on individual countries to get them to initiate a “so called stepping stone Interim EPA”.
He added that the action of the European Commission was a demonstration of bad faith and a stab in the back of the sub regional-intergration which was supposed to be one key objective of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
Mr Asamoah emphasised that what the IEPA Ghana initialled with the EU was secured in an atmosphere of considerable pressure and intimidation of public officials, some of whom privately resented the decision and content of the IEPA.
He said the initialling of the IEPA was contrary to the decision taken on October 5, 2007 by the ECOWAS Trade Ministers in Cote d’Ivoire at which the Ministers stated that the sub-region was not in the position to sign Interim or Comprehensive EPA and formally requested for the extension of the deadline.
“Ghana TUC deplores in the strongest possible terms, the non-transparent manner in which the IEPA with the EU was concluded” Mr Asamoah added.
He said given the developmental gap between Ghana and the EU, it was illogical and immoral to have a free trade agreement since it was akin to putting a flyweight boxer in the ring with a heavyweight boxer.
He stated that the removal of customs duties on import from the EU was inconsistent with the policy of Ghana to promote the private sector which provided employment for the youth and produced goods for public consumption.
The Secretary-General said any attempt to remove 80 per cent duties on imports from the EU would decimate the already small production base of the country, wipe out employment and livelihood, deny the country the most reliable source of revenue and undermine efforts towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals of the country.
He described the 100 per cent access to the EU market as cosmetic and meaningless to Ghana due to the historical levels of several non-tarrif barriers, complicated rules of origin and supply side constraints facing Ghana.
Mr Asamoah expressed concern about recent developments on the labour scene after an infamous decision of the Accra Fast Track High Court to the effect that employers could terminate the employment of their employees without reasons.
He said this was seriously undermining the compromises and consensus reached during the tripartite consultations which led to the passage of the Labour Act (Act 651, 2003).
He therefore called on the government to ratify the ILO Convention 158 and take a second look at the Labour Act which suffers from a fair degree of ambiguity which could lead to tension.
Mr Asamoah commended Ghanaians for the maturity showed in ensuring peaceful elections on December 7, and urged them to do better during the run-off for the Presidential election on Sunday.
GCB opens 148th branch
Ghana Commercial Bank Limited (GCB) has opened its 148th branch at Kisseiman in Accra.
The branch is to serve individuals and businessmen and women in and around Achimota, Kisseiman and Christian Village and also take the overflow from the Legon branch.
According to the Deputy Managing Director of Operations of GCB, Mr Samuel Sarpong, the new branch was in fulfilment of a banking strategy to serve customers and prospective ones with convenient and quality products and services.
He said as part of initiatives to meet the intense competition in the financial sector and improve upon its services, the staff of the bank had undergone special training to serve customers better.
Mr Sarpong announced GCB's intention to refurbish 30 of its old branches in 2009 to give the branches the facilities of a modern bank and to serve customers better, adding that an SMS banking service and many others would be launched early next year for convenient banking.
The Branch Manager, Mr Albert Twum, urged Ghanaians to come and enjoy the wide range of quality products and services the branch had to offer.
The branch offers products and services such as internet banking services, ATM, local and international money transfers, savings account and current account.
The branch is to serve individuals and businessmen and women in and around Achimota, Kisseiman and Christian Village and also take the overflow from the Legon branch.
According to the Deputy Managing Director of Operations of GCB, Mr Samuel Sarpong, the new branch was in fulfilment of a banking strategy to serve customers and prospective ones with convenient and quality products and services.
He said as part of initiatives to meet the intense competition in the financial sector and improve upon its services, the staff of the bank had undergone special training to serve customers better.
Mr Sarpong announced GCB's intention to refurbish 30 of its old branches in 2009 to give the branches the facilities of a modern bank and to serve customers better, adding that an SMS banking service and many others would be launched early next year for convenient banking.
The Branch Manager, Mr Albert Twum, urged Ghanaians to come and enjoy the wide range of quality products and services the branch had to offer.
The branch offers products and services such as internet banking services, ATM, local and international money transfers, savings account and current account.
Ghanaians cautioned against effects of carbon emissions(1/1/09)
Ghanaians have been cautioned against serious health threats posed by carbon emissions from vehicles .
The carbon emission which pollutes the air and results in health problems such as Asthmah is caused by the low quantity or quality of additives in petroleum products.
This was disclosed by the Health and Safety Manager of the Ghana Oil Company Limited (GOIL), Mr Kofi Nyarko, during an interactive programme held for stakeholders in the petroleum industry in Accra.
He said the polluted air, when inhaled, could negatively affect the lungs of human beings in various ways thereby leading to death.
He, therefore, called on motorists to patronise petroleum products that contained tested and guaranteed additives like Formula Plus additives in order to reduce air pollution in the country.
Mr Nyarko said products like Goil’s Diesel XP and G Plus gasoline contained Formula Plus additives, which helped to reduce emission by 42 per cent.
He said the new Diesel XP and G-Plus with the Formula Plus additives protected the engines of the vehicles, kept them clean and made travelling very healthy, smooth and economical.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Formula Plus Africa Ghana Limited, Mr Benjamin Ekow Armstrong, said the company provided the most technologically advanced fuel additives in the petroleum industry with high concern for the protection of the environment.
He said the Formula Plus additives were fuel treatments, which were made with the combination of organic chemicals and petroleum derivatives to provide the customer with optimal product performance and profitability.
He added that Formula Plus additives, which provided the gasoline and diesel additives had benefits such as ensuring air quality, health benefits and economical benefits.
An official of the Ghana Energy Foundation, Mr Stephen Duodu, who tested the Formula Plus additives guaranteed the quality of the additives and urged motorists to patronise the petroleum products with the Formula Plus additives to enhance the performance of their engines.
Motorists who gave testimonies on Diesel XP and G-Plus confirmed the quality and economical nature of the product, saying “ we have not experienced any kind of smoke coming out of our exhaust pipes”.
Moses Amartey, an “ aro glass” driver said he was able to travel long distances unlike other diesel products.
Kojo Boadi also said his car, which always released smoke no longer did so when he started using Diesel XP.
The carbon emission which pollutes the air and results in health problems such as Asthmah is caused by the low quantity or quality of additives in petroleum products.
This was disclosed by the Health and Safety Manager of the Ghana Oil Company Limited (GOIL), Mr Kofi Nyarko, during an interactive programme held for stakeholders in the petroleum industry in Accra.
He said the polluted air, when inhaled, could negatively affect the lungs of human beings in various ways thereby leading to death.
He, therefore, called on motorists to patronise petroleum products that contained tested and guaranteed additives like Formula Plus additives in order to reduce air pollution in the country.
Mr Nyarko said products like Goil’s Diesel XP and G Plus gasoline contained Formula Plus additives, which helped to reduce emission by 42 per cent.
He said the new Diesel XP and G-Plus with the Formula Plus additives protected the engines of the vehicles, kept them clean and made travelling very healthy, smooth and economical.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Formula Plus Africa Ghana Limited, Mr Benjamin Ekow Armstrong, said the company provided the most technologically advanced fuel additives in the petroleum industry with high concern for the protection of the environment.
He said the Formula Plus additives were fuel treatments, which were made with the combination of organic chemicals and petroleum derivatives to provide the customer with optimal product performance and profitability.
He added that Formula Plus additives, which provided the gasoline and diesel additives had benefits such as ensuring air quality, health benefits and economical benefits.
An official of the Ghana Energy Foundation, Mr Stephen Duodu, who tested the Formula Plus additives guaranteed the quality of the additives and urged motorists to patronise the petroleum products with the Formula Plus additives to enhance the performance of their engines.
Motorists who gave testimonies on Diesel XP and G-Plus confirmed the quality and economical nature of the product, saying “ we have not experienced any kind of smoke coming out of our exhaust pipes”.
Moses Amartey, an “ aro glass” driver said he was able to travel long distances unlike other diesel products.
Kojo Boadi also said his car, which always released smoke no longer did so when he started using Diesel XP.
(Capital O2 donates to Osu Children’s Home(30/12/08)
Capital 02 Limited has donated items worth GH¢8,000 to the Osu Children’s Home in Accra.
The items include bags of rice and sugar, crates of soft drinks, second-hand clothing, pastries and sweets.
The Managing Director of Capital 02, Mr John Daniel Otoo, said the Christmas season was an opportunity given by God to the company for it to share the joy of the occasion with the children at the home.
He told the children that the world was a struggle, adding that perseverance and determination were the only keys to success.
He said Capital 02 would continue to express love and care to under-privileged children in society every year.
The Head of the Osu Children’s Home, Mrs Sharon Abbey, who received the items, thanked Capital 02 for the wonderful affection shown towards the children.
She promised to make sure the items were put to good use for the benefit of the children.
Mrs Abbey appealed to individuals and benevolent organisations to show their love to the needy children to put smiles on their faces.
The items include bags of rice and sugar, crates of soft drinks, second-hand clothing, pastries and sweets.
The Managing Director of Capital 02, Mr John Daniel Otoo, said the Christmas season was an opportunity given by God to the company for it to share the joy of the occasion with the children at the home.
He told the children that the world was a struggle, adding that perseverance and determination were the only keys to success.
He said Capital 02 would continue to express love and care to under-privileged children in society every year.
The Head of the Osu Children’s Home, Mrs Sharon Abbey, who received the items, thanked Capital 02 for the wonderful affection shown towards the children.
She promised to make sure the items were put to good use for the benefit of the children.
Mrs Abbey appealed to individuals and benevolent organisations to show their love to the needy children to put smiles on their faces.
Monday, December 22, 2008
CJA endorses Prof. Mills (17/12/08)
Story: Stephen Sah and Jennifer Dornoo
THE Committee for Joint Action (CJA) yesterday endorsed Prof John Evans Atta Mills’ candidature for president in the December 28 run-off as someone who would use his trademark of honesty, integrity and moral authority to inspire and strengthen Ghanaians to build a better nation.
According to the committee, Prof Mills would unite and bind all Ghanaians together to fight for a Ghana of freedom and prosperity for all, and a better Ghana devoid of vindictiveness , anchored on rule of law, freedom and justice.
The endorsement by the committee was at a press conference held in Accra during which it put the eight-year rule of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) under the leadership of President J.A.Kufuor under the microscope, saying that the NPP was not the answer to the people’s hopes and dreams.
Dr Adam Gamel Nasser, a lecturer at the University of Ghana, who addressed the media on the “state of the nation and matters relating to the presidential run-off”, said the rule of the NPP had been marked by corruption and vulgar opulence while the majority of the people sunk deeper into poverty.
“Our elected leaders and their appointees are using political office to enrich themselves... The nation is rocked daily by credible media and other reports of blatant thievery and waste on the part of presidential appointees.
“Impartial apolitical organisations like the Ghana Integrity Initiative, the Centre for Democratic Development, the Institute of Chartered Accountants and Ghana Anti Corruption Coalition, have all spoken about the dangerous growth of corruption in our public life”, the committee said.
The committee said the only conclusion that could be arrived at by Ghanaians when they look back on the eight year administration of the NPP was that of veritable disaster in almost all facets of national development such that the electorate took that into consideration when they went to the polls on December 7.
“As we move into the next round of elections, there is evidence of panic within the ranks of the NPP. This is because despite its best efforts to subvert the will of the people, the vigilance of the opposition frustrated this sinister objective”, it said.
The CJA said in obvious desperation the government had recently announced its intention to release from prison custody some 5000 commercial drivers serving various jail sentences and the refund of fines that had previously been imposed on others.
That, it noted, was intended to assuage the feelings of the victims of earlier police and judicial extremism in the hope that that would uplift the dwindled fortunes of the NPP at the polls during the run-off, adding that the recent reduction in ex-pump prices of petroleum products was also intended to achieve the same purpose.
“This particular move has had the boomerang effect of exposing the NPP as not only dishonest but also insensitive”, the CJA said.
The committee said the desperation of the NPP was evident and its presidential candidate Nana Akufo Addo was going to fight tooth, nail and claw in a frantic attempt to prevent history from happening and that the NPP would attempt to do by fair or foul means.
“But it should be made unequivocally clear to the NPP that any attempt to subvert the democratic will of the people would be tantamount to a coup d’etat, which the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana was very clear about what constitutes a high treason”, it said.
The CJA stated that the time had come for the voices of the Ghanaian conscience to rally to the side of democracy and an honest national leadership, adding that the political opposition was prepared to provide the leadership of integrity and courage under the governance of Prof Mills.
THE Committee for Joint Action (CJA) yesterday endorsed Prof John Evans Atta Mills’ candidature for president in the December 28 run-off as someone who would use his trademark of honesty, integrity and moral authority to inspire and strengthen Ghanaians to build a better nation.
According to the committee, Prof Mills would unite and bind all Ghanaians together to fight for a Ghana of freedom and prosperity for all, and a better Ghana devoid of vindictiveness , anchored on rule of law, freedom and justice.
The endorsement by the committee was at a press conference held in Accra during which it put the eight-year rule of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) under the leadership of President J.A.Kufuor under the microscope, saying that the NPP was not the answer to the people’s hopes and dreams.
Dr Adam Gamel Nasser, a lecturer at the University of Ghana, who addressed the media on the “state of the nation and matters relating to the presidential run-off”, said the rule of the NPP had been marked by corruption and vulgar opulence while the majority of the people sunk deeper into poverty.
“Our elected leaders and their appointees are using political office to enrich themselves... The nation is rocked daily by credible media and other reports of blatant thievery and waste on the part of presidential appointees.
“Impartial apolitical organisations like the Ghana Integrity Initiative, the Centre for Democratic Development, the Institute of Chartered Accountants and Ghana Anti Corruption Coalition, have all spoken about the dangerous growth of corruption in our public life”, the committee said.
The committee said the only conclusion that could be arrived at by Ghanaians when they look back on the eight year administration of the NPP was that of veritable disaster in almost all facets of national development such that the electorate took that into consideration when they went to the polls on December 7.
“As we move into the next round of elections, there is evidence of panic within the ranks of the NPP. This is because despite its best efforts to subvert the will of the people, the vigilance of the opposition frustrated this sinister objective”, it said.
The CJA said in obvious desperation the government had recently announced its intention to release from prison custody some 5000 commercial drivers serving various jail sentences and the refund of fines that had previously been imposed on others.
That, it noted, was intended to assuage the feelings of the victims of earlier police and judicial extremism in the hope that that would uplift the dwindled fortunes of the NPP at the polls during the run-off, adding that the recent reduction in ex-pump prices of petroleum products was also intended to achieve the same purpose.
“This particular move has had the boomerang effect of exposing the NPP as not only dishonest but also insensitive”, the CJA said.
The committee said the desperation of the NPP was evident and its presidential candidate Nana Akufo Addo was going to fight tooth, nail and claw in a frantic attempt to prevent history from happening and that the NPP would attempt to do by fair or foul means.
“But it should be made unequivocally clear to the NPP that any attempt to subvert the democratic will of the people would be tantamount to a coup d’etat, which the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana was very clear about what constitutes a high treason”, it said.
The CJA stated that the time had come for the voices of the Ghanaian conscience to rally to the side of democracy and an honest national leadership, adding that the political opposition was prepared to provide the leadership of integrity and courage under the governance of Prof Mills.
Publishers honour distinguished writers (10/11/08)
Daily Graphic pub
THE Ghana Book Publishers Association at the weekend held an awards dinner/dance to honour Ghanaian authors and publishers as part of efforts to inculcate the habit of writing and reading in Ghanaians.
The awards were categorised into four parts: The Picture Story Book for Children, Junior Fiction, Adult Fiction and General Book of the Year.
Mr Meshack Asare won the Picture Story Book for Children award with his book, Tawiah Goes to Sea, published by Sub Saharan Publishers, while Nana Ama Afua Osae’s, The Storyteller, published by Sam Woode Limited, won the Junior Fiction award.
Mr Alex Darko’s Not without flowers, published by Sub Saharan Publishers, won the Adult Fiction prize, with Professor Noah Komla Dzobo’s African Proverbs, published by Woeli Publishing Services, winning the General Book of the Year award.
For their prizes, the winners were presented with certificates, cash and plaques.
Three other personalities in the industry were honoured for contributing to make the industry successful.
They were Professor Atukwei Okai, Mr Sam Woode and Mr F.K. Segbawu, while 14 other authors and publishers received certificates for having been nominated for the awards.
Addressing the gathering, the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Tawiah III, urged Ghanaians to make reading a habit in order to progress in life.
“A nation that does not read does not progress,” he said.
He noted that “reading refreshes the memory, gives us food for thought, informs and tells us how to plan our future and become winners”.
King Tackie Tawiah, therefore, entreated all Ghanaians to take a particular interest in reading.
THE Ghana Book Publishers Association at the weekend held an awards dinner/dance to honour Ghanaian authors and publishers as part of efforts to inculcate the habit of writing and reading in Ghanaians.
The awards were categorised into four parts: The Picture Story Book for Children, Junior Fiction, Adult Fiction and General Book of the Year.
Mr Meshack Asare won the Picture Story Book for Children award with his book, Tawiah Goes to Sea, published by Sub Saharan Publishers, while Nana Ama Afua Osae’s, The Storyteller, published by Sam Woode Limited, won the Junior Fiction award.
Mr Alex Darko’s Not without flowers, published by Sub Saharan Publishers, won the Adult Fiction prize, with Professor Noah Komla Dzobo’s African Proverbs, published by Woeli Publishing Services, winning the General Book of the Year award.
For their prizes, the winners were presented with certificates, cash and plaques.
Three other personalities in the industry were honoured for contributing to make the industry successful.
They were Professor Atukwei Okai, Mr Sam Woode and Mr F.K. Segbawu, while 14 other authors and publishers received certificates for having been nominated for the awards.
Addressing the gathering, the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Tawiah III, urged Ghanaians to make reading a habit in order to progress in life.
“A nation that does not read does not progress,” he said.
He noted that “reading refreshes the memory, gives us food for thought, informs and tells us how to plan our future and become winners”.
King Tackie Tawiah, therefore, entreated all Ghanaians to take a particular interest in reading.
60 EU Observers for Ghana (30/10/08)
Story: Donald Ato Dapatem & Jennifer Dornoo
FOR the first time in Ghana’s Fourth Republican democratic dispensation, the European Union (EU) is to send a 60-member Electoral Observer Mission for the December 7 polls.
The first batch of 24 will be in the country from November, 2008 to January, 2009 while the second batch known as the short-term group will monitor from December 4, 2008 to December 9, 2008.
Mr Filiberto C. Sebregondi, Ambassador and Head of the EU delegation in Ghana, announced this at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the EU and the Electoral Commission (EC) in Accra yesterday.
Mr Sebregondi signed for the EU while Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan, the Chairman of the EC, initialled for the EC.
Apart from the EU, the Economic Community of West African States has indicated its readiness to send in a 200-member observer team, while the Carter Centre will also send a team.
Mr Sebregondi said EU election observations were based on the principles of independence, impartiality, transparency, long-term observation and professionalism.
In 2000, the EU developed a standard methodology for election observation, which covers all phases of the election cycle from pre-election, election day and immediate post-election.
Mr Sebregondi said EU Election Observation Missions did not interfere in the organisation of any election but collected and analysed factual information concerning the election process and provided public assessment.
Dr Afari Gyan said although Ghana had come far with elections, both local and international observer teams were still needed in the December polls to give an independent and objective assessment of the election.
He said a team like the EU was needed because of its experience in monitoring 58 elections worldwide, its time-tested and objective systematic monitoring techniques and pronouncement of verdict.
He said EU observer teams offered objective verdict “because they do not have immediate stakes in the elections”.
FOR the first time in Ghana’s Fourth Republican democratic dispensation, the European Union (EU) is to send a 60-member Electoral Observer Mission for the December 7 polls.
The first batch of 24 will be in the country from November, 2008 to January, 2009 while the second batch known as the short-term group will monitor from December 4, 2008 to December 9, 2008.
Mr Filiberto C. Sebregondi, Ambassador and Head of the EU delegation in Ghana, announced this at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the EU and the Electoral Commission (EC) in Accra yesterday.
Mr Sebregondi signed for the EU while Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan, the Chairman of the EC, initialled for the EC.
Apart from the EU, the Economic Community of West African States has indicated its readiness to send in a 200-member observer team, while the Carter Centre will also send a team.
Mr Sebregondi said EU election observations were based on the principles of independence, impartiality, transparency, long-term observation and professionalism.
In 2000, the EU developed a standard methodology for election observation, which covers all phases of the election cycle from pre-election, election day and immediate post-election.
Mr Sebregondi said EU Election Observation Missions did not interfere in the organisation of any election but collected and analysed factual information concerning the election process and provided public assessment.
Dr Afari Gyan said although Ghana had come far with elections, both local and international observer teams were still needed in the December polls to give an independent and objective assessment of the election.
He said a team like the EU was needed because of its experience in monitoring 58 elections worldwide, its time-tested and objective systematic monitoring techniques and pronouncement of verdict.
He said EU observer teams offered objective verdict “because they do not have immediate stakes in the elections”.
Empower women to participate in governance -Sackey (18/12/08)
Daily Graphic pub
The incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for Okaikwei North Constituency, Mrs Elizabeth Kwatsoe Sackey, has stressed the need for more women to be empowered to get involved in governance.
"This is because women excel in everything they do and this can improve the development of the country” she stated.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the 50-year-old MP who retained her seat in the just ended elections with 44,172 votes, said she believed she had done very well in representing the interests of people in her constituency in parliament, and that had encouraged the electorate to give her another term.
She said Ghana could only move forward when women were empowered and given the chance to massively take part in the country’s decision-making process.
Mrs Sackey said this would improve the livelihood of Ghanaians and prevent the youth from migrating to the west to seek greener pastures.
She urged Ghanaian women to be courageous enough to take up challenging positions in order to contribute their quota to the development of the country.
The MP, who worked with the Controller and Accountant General’s Department, and as a Chief Clerk of the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) between 1983 and 2004 congratulated Ghanaians for the maturity showed in this year's elections, and said that was a sign that Ghanaians now had a better understanding of democracy and governance.
She also commended the Electoral Commission (EC) and the security agencies for the good work done in ensuring a violence-free election in the country.
The incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for Okaikwei North Constituency, Mrs Elizabeth Kwatsoe Sackey, has stressed the need for more women to be empowered to get involved in governance.
"This is because women excel in everything they do and this can improve the development of the country” she stated.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the 50-year-old MP who retained her seat in the just ended elections with 44,172 votes, said she believed she had done very well in representing the interests of people in her constituency in parliament, and that had encouraged the electorate to give her another term.
She said Ghana could only move forward when women were empowered and given the chance to massively take part in the country’s decision-making process.
Mrs Sackey said this would improve the livelihood of Ghanaians and prevent the youth from migrating to the west to seek greener pastures.
She urged Ghanaian women to be courageous enough to take up challenging positions in order to contribute their quota to the development of the country.
The MP, who worked with the Controller and Accountant General’s Department, and as a Chief Clerk of the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) between 1983 and 2004 congratulated Ghanaians for the maturity showed in this year's elections, and said that was a sign that Ghanaians now had a better understanding of democracy and governance.
She also commended the Electoral Commission (EC) and the security agencies for the good work done in ensuring a violence-free election in the country.
Two sign MoU on freebooks distribution of books (13/11/08)
Daily Graphic pub
Story: Jennifer Dornoo & Leticia Ohene-Asiedu
THE Rotary Club of Tema, in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) is to distribute supplementary readers free of charge from kindergarten to the tertiary level in the country.
The books form part of contributions from publishers in the USA and donated through the Brothers’ Brother Foundation (BBF) with the shipment cost borne by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The cost of the project is estimated at between $150,000 and $160,000.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to that effect with the President of the Rotary Club of Tema, Mr Ben Aniegyei, signing for his organisation while the Director General of the GES, Mr Samuel Bannerman-Mensah, initialled for the GES.
Mr Aniagyei said this year’s theme; “Make Dreams Real” , emphasised the importance of child education and added that books ought to be made available for students to ensure quality education.
He said “every child dreams to become someone in future, and it depends on the level of education one is able to attain and the facilities available to make the dreams come true”.
That, he said, motivated the club to distribute the books at no cost to schools in Ghana.
Mr Bannerman-Mensah expressed his profound gratitude to the Rotary Club for the kind gesture and promised to ensure that the books were distributed to the various schools.
Story: Jennifer Dornoo & Leticia Ohene-Asiedu
THE Rotary Club of Tema, in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) is to distribute supplementary readers free of charge from kindergarten to the tertiary level in the country.
The books form part of contributions from publishers in the USA and donated through the Brothers’ Brother Foundation (BBF) with the shipment cost borne by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The cost of the project is estimated at between $150,000 and $160,000.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to that effect with the President of the Rotary Club of Tema, Mr Ben Aniegyei, signing for his organisation while the Director General of the GES, Mr Samuel Bannerman-Mensah, initialled for the GES.
Mr Aniagyei said this year’s theme; “Make Dreams Real” , emphasised the importance of child education and added that books ought to be made available for students to ensure quality education.
He said “every child dreams to become someone in future, and it depends on the level of education one is able to attain and the facilities available to make the dreams come true”.
That, he said, motivated the club to distribute the books at no cost to schools in Ghana.
Mr Bannerman-Mensah expressed his profound gratitude to the Rotary Club for the kind gesture and promised to ensure that the books were distributed to the various schools.
American NGO donates to Cardio Centre (10/11/08)
Daily Graphic pub
A United States of America-based non-governmental organisation has donated $10,000 worth of assorted medical and treatment products to the National Cardiothoracic Centre.
The donation, by Lily and Louis Baah Foundation based in North Carolina, USA, was facilitated by the Accra City Chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International and Dakoma Ventures Limited, local representatives of the foundation.
The items included belted undergarments, new-born ostomy pouches, protective underwears, pouchkins-paediatric skin barriers, fistula and wound management systems and suction catheters with control ports.
Messrs Isaac Mawunyega and Mr David Kulego of Dakoma Ventures Limited and the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International made the donation on behalf of the donors, while Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, director of the centre received the items.
According to the representatives, this was the first time the foundation was making a donation to the country as part of its social responsibility to the nation.
They said the foundation was jointly established by Louis Baah, a Ghanaian, and his African-American wife, Lily, three years ago to solicit funds to help Africa.
The Director of the National Cardiothoracic Centre, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, thanked the foundation for the donation.
He appealed to other philanthropists to support the centre to enable it to discharge its functions efficiently and effectively.
A United States of America-based non-governmental organisation has donated $10,000 worth of assorted medical and treatment products to the National Cardiothoracic Centre.
The donation, by Lily and Louis Baah Foundation based in North Carolina, USA, was facilitated by the Accra City Chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International and Dakoma Ventures Limited, local representatives of the foundation.
The items included belted undergarments, new-born ostomy pouches, protective underwears, pouchkins-paediatric skin barriers, fistula and wound management systems and suction catheters with control ports.
Messrs Isaac Mawunyega and Mr David Kulego of Dakoma Ventures Limited and the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International made the donation on behalf of the donors, while Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, director of the centre received the items.
According to the representatives, this was the first time the foundation was making a donation to the country as part of its social responsibility to the nation.
They said the foundation was jointly established by Louis Baah, a Ghanaian, and his African-American wife, Lily, three years ago to solicit funds to help Africa.
The Director of the National Cardiothoracic Centre, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, thanked the foundation for the donation.
He appealed to other philanthropists to support the centre to enable it to discharge its functions efficiently and effectively.
538 Cases settled through Alternative Dispute Resolution (22/11/08)
Story: Mary Mensah & Jennifer Dornoo
THE Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) settlement mechanism instituted by the Judicial Service disposed of 583 cases between January and September this year.
The cases were settled through mediation in nine district courts within the Accra /Tema metropolis.
Most of the cases had been pending before the law courts for more than 11 years but were settled within two hours or one week by the ADR mechanism.
The ADR was set up in 2003 to determine an appropriate ADR system for the Judicial Service with the aim of reducing the number of cases in the backlog in Courts, provide justice at cheaper, faster and more satisfactory ways to the poor and vulnerable in the communities.
The National Co-ordinator of the ADR, Mr Senyo M. Adjabeng made this known at a press briefing in Accra as part of activities commemorating ADR Week which started on Monday November 17, 2008.
He said most of the cases were civil cases such as property settlement, divorce, land litigation, family dispute and very minor criminal cases such as minor assault.
According to him, as part of the ADR Week, parties with cases pending in court who had not entered any appearance within the past 12 conservative months were afforded to appear in court or had their cases struck out for want of prosecution.
As a result of this summons exercise, more than 1,000 cases were struck out nation-wide during each term of the ADR week.
Mr Adjabeng said the ADR programme of the Judicial Service aims at offering parties in court an opportunity to resolve their disputes by means other than court room trial.
He said in recognition of the need for efficient mechanism for adjudication of cases pending in the courts, the Lord Chief Justice in 2003 set up the ADR Task Force with the objective to determine an appropriate and customised policy direction that incorporated the ADR in the court adjudication process.
Mr Adjabeng said the Task Force recommended the adoption of a court connected ADR system which would use private neutrals in mediating cases referred to the ADR by Magistrates and Judges.
He said based on the recommendations of the Task Force, the Lord Chief Justice issued a policy directive which adopted and incorporated ADR as part of the adjudication process of the Judicial Service of Ghana.
He said the ADR had become an available option to parties in disputes who filed cases in the courts or whose cases were already pending in court.
Mr. Adjabeng said in 2006, the Lord Chief Justice directed that the first week of each legal term be set aside as ADR week during which cases were referred to ADR in selected Magistrate courts to be settled through ADR, and especially through mediation.
He stated that the programme had proven to be one of the most suitable ways of making justice accessible to the poor in the districts and communities because it was free, voluntary, informal and faster for persons with cases before the courts.
He said the programme had resulted in the reduction of a backlog of cases pending before the law courts.
Mr Adjabeng mentioned delay in payments of allowances as some of the challenges facing the programme but indicated that DANIDA was in the process of setting up a fund to take care of the mediators and the ADR programme.
THE Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) settlement mechanism instituted by the Judicial Service disposed of 583 cases between January and September this year.
The cases were settled through mediation in nine district courts within the Accra /Tema metropolis.
Most of the cases had been pending before the law courts for more than 11 years but were settled within two hours or one week by the ADR mechanism.
The ADR was set up in 2003 to determine an appropriate ADR system for the Judicial Service with the aim of reducing the number of cases in the backlog in Courts, provide justice at cheaper, faster and more satisfactory ways to the poor and vulnerable in the communities.
The National Co-ordinator of the ADR, Mr Senyo M. Adjabeng made this known at a press briefing in Accra as part of activities commemorating ADR Week which started on Monday November 17, 2008.
He said most of the cases were civil cases such as property settlement, divorce, land litigation, family dispute and very minor criminal cases such as minor assault.
According to him, as part of the ADR Week, parties with cases pending in court who had not entered any appearance within the past 12 conservative months were afforded to appear in court or had their cases struck out for want of prosecution.
As a result of this summons exercise, more than 1,000 cases were struck out nation-wide during each term of the ADR week.
Mr Adjabeng said the ADR programme of the Judicial Service aims at offering parties in court an opportunity to resolve their disputes by means other than court room trial.
He said in recognition of the need for efficient mechanism for adjudication of cases pending in the courts, the Lord Chief Justice in 2003 set up the ADR Task Force with the objective to determine an appropriate and customised policy direction that incorporated the ADR in the court adjudication process.
Mr Adjabeng said the Task Force recommended the adoption of a court connected ADR system which would use private neutrals in mediating cases referred to the ADR by Magistrates and Judges.
He said based on the recommendations of the Task Force, the Lord Chief Justice issued a policy directive which adopted and incorporated ADR as part of the adjudication process of the Judicial Service of Ghana.
He said the ADR had become an available option to parties in disputes who filed cases in the courts or whose cases were already pending in court.
Mr. Adjabeng said in 2006, the Lord Chief Justice directed that the first week of each legal term be set aside as ADR week during which cases were referred to ADR in selected Magistrate courts to be settled through ADR, and especially through mediation.
He stated that the programme had proven to be one of the most suitable ways of making justice accessible to the poor in the districts and communities because it was free, voluntary, informal and faster for persons with cases before the courts.
He said the programme had resulted in the reduction of a backlog of cases pending before the law courts.
Mr Adjabeng mentioned delay in payments of allowances as some of the challenges facing the programme but indicated that DANIDA was in the process of setting up a fund to take care of the mediators and the ADR programme.
Graphic to attach reporters to presidential candidates (24/11/08)
THE Daily Graphic will assign its reporters to all the eight presidential candidates contesting in this year’s general elections.
This is to ensure equitable coverage of all the activities of the presidential candidates in the Daily Graphic.
The General Manager in charge of Newspapers of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, announced this yesterday when the Youth Network for Human Rights and Democracy (You-net) and representatives of the youth wing of all the political parties paid a courtesy call on the GCGL to present awards to the company.
He said this would help the presidential aspirants to sell themselves to the general public.
Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh said it was also to present the aspirants to the general public as part of the company’s obligations as a state-owned media to keep the public informed about their favourite presidential candidates.
He noted that the company would not deprive any candidate from reaching out to the eligible voters in order for Ghanaians to listen to what they had for them and for the public to make informed decisions.
He advised the youth wings of the political parties to refrain from activities that would undermine the confidence of the people who looked up to them.
Four awards were presented to the GCGL for its contribution to the development of peace in Ghana and for supporting party youth movements.
The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Randsford Tetteh, was presented with an award for his leadership as the Editor of the Daily Graphic.
The Managing Director of the company, Mr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, and Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh were also rewarded.
The co-ordinator of You-net, Mr Sampson Kwabah, said the network had for six years been organising training sessions and workshops for the youth wings of the various political parties to create awareness for their political career and how best they could maintain peace in the country.
The programmes co-ordinator, Mr Theophilus Aperkor, said the aim of You-net was to bring youth groups together for the purpose of youth development and to encourage the youth to participate in issues of national interest, democracy and the promotion of peace among themselves.
This is to ensure equitable coverage of all the activities of the presidential candidates in the Daily Graphic.
The General Manager in charge of Newspapers of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, announced this yesterday when the Youth Network for Human Rights and Democracy (You-net) and representatives of the youth wing of all the political parties paid a courtesy call on the GCGL to present awards to the company.
He said this would help the presidential aspirants to sell themselves to the general public.
Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh said it was also to present the aspirants to the general public as part of the company’s obligations as a state-owned media to keep the public informed about their favourite presidential candidates.
He noted that the company would not deprive any candidate from reaching out to the eligible voters in order for Ghanaians to listen to what they had for them and for the public to make informed decisions.
He advised the youth wings of the political parties to refrain from activities that would undermine the confidence of the people who looked up to them.
Four awards were presented to the GCGL for its contribution to the development of peace in Ghana and for supporting party youth movements.
The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Randsford Tetteh, was presented with an award for his leadership as the Editor of the Daily Graphic.
The Managing Director of the company, Mr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, and Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh were also rewarded.
The co-ordinator of You-net, Mr Sampson Kwabah, said the network had for six years been organising training sessions and workshops for the youth wings of the various political parties to create awareness for their political career and how best they could maintain peace in the country.
The programmes co-ordinator, Mr Theophilus Aperkor, said the aim of You-net was to bring youth groups together for the purpose of youth development and to encourage the youth to participate in issues of national interest, democracy and the promotion of peace among themselves.
Experts worried about proliferation of small arms(18/11/08)
Daily Graphic publication
Story: Donald Ato Dapatem & Jennifer Dornoo
Security experts in West Africa are still worried about what they describe as high proliferation of small arms and light weapons in many unauthorised hands in the sub-region.
They describe the situation as worrisome, especially in the era of delicate elections in the sub-region, adding that small arms and light weapons could facilitate illicit activities such as narcotics trade, organised crime and brute violence.
They mentioned some of the countries where small arms and light weapons had been used to cause mass destruction and undermine development as Sierra Leone, the Niger Delta in Nigeria, Liberia and some parts of Ghana.
The experts were speaking at the opening of a 10-day training programme to build the capacity of security personnel to control the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in ECOWAS in Accra yesterday.
Participants comprised members of National Commissions of Small Arms and Light Weapons in member countries as well as staff of partner institutions at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC).
The first to speak was the Commandant of the KAIPTC, Major General John Attipoe, who said the multiplication of small arms and light weapons was prevalent and a disturbing phenomenon in the sub-region.
He said the centre had decided to take up the responsibility to build the capacities of National Commissions for Small Arms and Light Weapons as well as staff of partner institutions in West Africa because of the “era of delicate elections around the sub-region”.
Major General Attipoe commended the Japanese government for supporting the three-year programme targeted at training 400 people.
For his part, the Assistant Director of the Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution Department of the KAIPTC, Dr Thomas Jaye, described small arms and light weapons as “our weapons of mass destruction” and a major cause of post-election violence in West Africa.
He said the menace had had serious impacts and was thwarting the advancement of the political as well as economic progress of member countries.
He said experiences in West Africa showed that the small arms and light weapons in the hands of unauthorised people were factors in the eruption of civil wars, communal conflicts and instability in Sierra Leone, Liberia, the Niger Delta and parts of Ghana.
Dr Jaye said the menace of small arms and light weapons should not be isolated from the wider issues of security but be treated as a major national issue.
Mr Keiichi Katakami, the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, expressed worry that despite the encouraging levels of development in the region, protracted conflicts and their escalation were becoming more pronounced in the affected countries.
He pledged his country’s commitment to assist in all efforts aimed at combating the menace, hence the provision of over $3 million to support the programme.
Story: Donald Ato Dapatem & Jennifer Dornoo
Security experts in West Africa are still worried about what they describe as high proliferation of small arms and light weapons in many unauthorised hands in the sub-region.
They describe the situation as worrisome, especially in the era of delicate elections in the sub-region, adding that small arms and light weapons could facilitate illicit activities such as narcotics trade, organised crime and brute violence.
They mentioned some of the countries where small arms and light weapons had been used to cause mass destruction and undermine development as Sierra Leone, the Niger Delta in Nigeria, Liberia and some parts of Ghana.
The experts were speaking at the opening of a 10-day training programme to build the capacity of security personnel to control the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in ECOWAS in Accra yesterday.
Participants comprised members of National Commissions of Small Arms and Light Weapons in member countries as well as staff of partner institutions at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC).
The first to speak was the Commandant of the KAIPTC, Major General John Attipoe, who said the multiplication of small arms and light weapons was prevalent and a disturbing phenomenon in the sub-region.
He said the centre had decided to take up the responsibility to build the capacities of National Commissions for Small Arms and Light Weapons as well as staff of partner institutions in West Africa because of the “era of delicate elections around the sub-region”.
Major General Attipoe commended the Japanese government for supporting the three-year programme targeted at training 400 people.
For his part, the Assistant Director of the Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution Department of the KAIPTC, Dr Thomas Jaye, described small arms and light weapons as “our weapons of mass destruction” and a major cause of post-election violence in West Africa.
He said the menace had had serious impacts and was thwarting the advancement of the political as well as economic progress of member countries.
He said experiences in West Africa showed that the small arms and light weapons in the hands of unauthorised people were factors in the eruption of civil wars, communal conflicts and instability in Sierra Leone, Liberia, the Niger Delta and parts of Ghana.
Dr Jaye said the menace of small arms and light weapons should not be isolated from the wider issues of security but be treated as a major national issue.
Mr Keiichi Katakami, the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, expressed worry that despite the encouraging levels of development in the region, protracted conflicts and their escalation were becoming more pronounced in the affected countries.
He pledged his country’s commitment to assist in all efforts aimed at combating the menace, hence the provision of over $3 million to support the programme.
Calvary Presby marks 25th anniversary(17/11/08)
Daily Graphic publication
THE Haatso Calvary Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) has marked its 25th anniversary, with a call on Ghanaians to prepare for an expansion and growth in their spiritual lives.
Speaking on the theme, “Enlarge your territories”, the Chairman of the Ga Presbytery (PCG), Reverend Professor Emmanuel Martey, said, “God is about to bring an unprecedented expansion and growth. Therefore, His people must prepare. They are to extend all boundaries and make their dwelling places larger to accommodate such an extraordinary growth.”
He said ‘the church’ stood for the people of God and, therefore, the enlargement of territories meant winning more souls for God.
He took the opportunity to challenge Christians to intensify their passion for evangelism, as well as their evangelistic commitment, adding that the theme rightly expressed God’s love and restoration for His people.
Rev Prof Martey observed that the tremendous structural changes made by the church indicated that it was extending its territories, adding that the people should, therefore, trust the Lord to increase their growth.
In all, 40 people were rewarded at the service for their distinguished service to the church.
The anniversary was marked with activities such as a revival service, a march through Haatso and Papao, a clean-up exercise, as well as a candle-light procession.
The anniversary is scheduled to end with a dinner and awards night which will take place at the forecourt of the church at Haatso, near Accra, on November 29, 2008.
THE Haatso Calvary Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) has marked its 25th anniversary, with a call on Ghanaians to prepare for an expansion and growth in their spiritual lives.
Speaking on the theme, “Enlarge your territories”, the Chairman of the Ga Presbytery (PCG), Reverend Professor Emmanuel Martey, said, “God is about to bring an unprecedented expansion and growth. Therefore, His people must prepare. They are to extend all boundaries and make their dwelling places larger to accommodate such an extraordinary growth.”
He said ‘the church’ stood for the people of God and, therefore, the enlargement of territories meant winning more souls for God.
He took the opportunity to challenge Christians to intensify their passion for evangelism, as well as their evangelistic commitment, adding that the theme rightly expressed God’s love and restoration for His people.
Rev Prof Martey observed that the tremendous structural changes made by the church indicated that it was extending its territories, adding that the people should, therefore, trust the Lord to increase their growth.
In all, 40 people were rewarded at the service for their distinguished service to the church.
The anniversary was marked with activities such as a revival service, a march through Haatso and Papao, a clean-up exercise, as well as a candle-light procession.
The anniversary is scheduled to end with a dinner and awards night which will take place at the forecourt of the church at Haatso, near Accra, on November 29, 2008.
New Apostolic Church head wishes Ghana well in elections(27/11/08)
THE international President of the New Apostolic Church, Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber, has stated that Ghana is one of the most peaceful countries in the world and expressed the hope that Ghanaians would go about the December elections peacefully.
He prayed to God to strengthen the Electoral Commission (EC) , political parties and the security agencies and grant them wisdom so as to carry out their mandate successfully and thus, enhance peace in the country.
Chief Apostle Leber made the remark at a special service organised by the church in Accra as part of his official visit to the country.
He was in the country from November 14 to 16, 2008, on his first ever visit to Ghana and has since left for London.
The visit was also to offer him the opportunity to share his blessings with the Ghana branch of the church and the country, especially as the nation prepares for the December elections.
During his visit, he attended the church’s Festive Divine Service at the Accra Central branch and performed various ceremonies for the retirement of two bishops, as well as the ordination of four Bishops and two Apostles.
In a sermon, the Chief Apostle expressed joy at the growth and development of the church globally, describing it as a great development, and emphasised the need for members to experience spiritual growth.
“It is more important that we have growth inside, so we may be filled with God’s strength and power in doing all things,” he stated.
Chief Apostle Leber said despite the fact that there were obstacles in achieving great strides, having faith and strength in the Lord could make all things possible.
Making reference to the Bible when David defeated Goliath to support his submission, he said, “to man it was impossible for David with such a small stature to defeat a giant like Goliath but because David had strength in the Lord, nothing was impossible”.
He prayed to God to strengthen the Electoral Commission (EC) , political parties and the security agencies and grant them wisdom so as to carry out their mandate successfully and thus, enhance peace in the country.
Chief Apostle Leber made the remark at a special service organised by the church in Accra as part of his official visit to the country.
He was in the country from November 14 to 16, 2008, on his first ever visit to Ghana and has since left for London.
The visit was also to offer him the opportunity to share his blessings with the Ghana branch of the church and the country, especially as the nation prepares for the December elections.
During his visit, he attended the church’s Festive Divine Service at the Accra Central branch and performed various ceremonies for the retirement of two bishops, as well as the ordination of four Bishops and two Apostles.
In a sermon, the Chief Apostle expressed joy at the growth and development of the church globally, describing it as a great development, and emphasised the need for members to experience spiritual growth.
“It is more important that we have growth inside, so we may be filled with God’s strength and power in doing all things,” he stated.
Chief Apostle Leber said despite the fact that there were obstacles in achieving great strides, having faith and strength in the Lord could make all things possible.
Making reference to the Bible when David defeated Goliath to support his submission, he said, “to man it was impossible for David with such a small stature to defeat a giant like Goliath but because David had strength in the Lord, nothing was impossible”.
Apostle Onyina interacts with market women (1/11/08)
Story: Gifty Bamfo & Jennifer Dornoo
The Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Dr Opoku Onyinah, has paid a visit to the Makola and Kaneshie markets in Accra to interact with market women and to exhort them to continue to play their crucial roles in national development.
He said the leadership of the church had designed the programme to reach more people with the gospel. He urged the market women to seek the lord’s guidance in their daily activities, urging them to pray for God’s protection anytime they sat to sell.
On the December elections, he urged those seeking political office to stop condemning each other and address the issue of what they would do for the country and the electorate.
“The best way of promoting yourselves is to tell the people what you can do instead of condemning what someone has done and also not saying things that will incite violence in the coming elections”,he added.
Apostle Dr Onyinah asked leaders of political parties to promote peace and tranquility among themselves and the electorate. He said the Church of Pentecost had launched a monthly prayer session to pray for peace for the December polls.
The Women’s Director of the church, Mrs Beatrice Kwaffo, advised the women to endeavour to do the will of God, while selling their wares.
The Queen of the Makola Market, Yemoteley Quaye, said she was grateful to the church for its initiative and appealed to other churches to emulate the example and visit them from time to time.
Commenting on the elections, Yemoteley said ”we ask for peace during this year’s election since anything that would bring violence would affect women and children”.
The Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Dr Opoku Onyinah, has paid a visit to the Makola and Kaneshie markets in Accra to interact with market women and to exhort them to continue to play their crucial roles in national development.
He said the leadership of the church had designed the programme to reach more people with the gospel. He urged the market women to seek the lord’s guidance in their daily activities, urging them to pray for God’s protection anytime they sat to sell.
On the December elections, he urged those seeking political office to stop condemning each other and address the issue of what they would do for the country and the electorate.
“The best way of promoting yourselves is to tell the people what you can do instead of condemning what someone has done and also not saying things that will incite violence in the coming elections”,he added.
Apostle Dr Onyinah asked leaders of political parties to promote peace and tranquility among themselves and the electorate. He said the Church of Pentecost had launched a monthly prayer session to pray for peace for the December polls.
The Women’s Director of the church, Mrs Beatrice Kwaffo, advised the women to endeavour to do the will of God, while selling their wares.
The Queen of the Makola Market, Yemoteley Quaye, said she was grateful to the church for its initiative and appealed to other churches to emulate the example and visit them from time to time.
Commenting on the elections, Yemoteley said ”we ask for peace during this year’s election since anything that would bring violence would affect women and children”.
Ghana, India to build Foreign Policy Institute(12/11/08)
GHANA and India yesterday laid the foundation for the construction of a $5 million Foreign Policy Institute at Okponglo in Accra to train Ghanaian diplomats.
The ceremony was jointly performed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD, Mr Akwasi Osei-Adjei, and his Indian counterpart, Mr Anand Sharma.
The institute, which would be called the John Agyekum Kufuor Foreign Policy Institute, would be in recognition of the President’s contribution to the enhancement of Ghana’s image in order to advocate the stability and development of Africa in the councils of the world.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Osei-Adjei said the accomplishment of the President had earned him respect and recognition from his peers around the world.
The minister said the decision to establish the institute arose from the need to develop a repository for the ideas and experiences of Ghanaian diplomats after they retired from active service.
He said this was because the knowledge and experiences acquired by the ambassadors during their years were lost and added that the institute would, as a faculty, train young diplomats in the practical aspects of the profession.
The training facility will differ in concept from the Legon Centre for International Affairs (LECIA), but will focus on the practical preparedness of the young diplomats to serve at post effectively, the minister stated.
He also said that it would complement what LECIA offered, which essentially, was to promote academic excellence in international affairs.
Mr Osei-Adjei said the institute, which would be completed in nine months, would possess a language laboratory and a first-class auditorium, which would be named after Jawaharal Nehru, a distinguished Indian Statesman, whose collaboration with Dr Kwame Nkrumah and others, gave moral and political leadership to the world and championed the establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement.
For his part, Mr Anand Sharma urged Ghanaians to invest in training more people and building more schools to be able to harness effective human resource.
The project would be undertaken by Mohan Export (India) Pvt. Limited, a leading international business house in India.
The ceremony was jointly performed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD, Mr Akwasi Osei-Adjei, and his Indian counterpart, Mr Anand Sharma.
The institute, which would be called the John Agyekum Kufuor Foreign Policy Institute, would be in recognition of the President’s contribution to the enhancement of Ghana’s image in order to advocate the stability and development of Africa in the councils of the world.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Osei-Adjei said the accomplishment of the President had earned him respect and recognition from his peers around the world.
The minister said the decision to establish the institute arose from the need to develop a repository for the ideas and experiences of Ghanaian diplomats after they retired from active service.
He said this was because the knowledge and experiences acquired by the ambassadors during their years were lost and added that the institute would, as a faculty, train young diplomats in the practical aspects of the profession.
The training facility will differ in concept from the Legon Centre for International Affairs (LECIA), but will focus on the practical preparedness of the young diplomats to serve at post effectively, the minister stated.
He also said that it would complement what LECIA offered, which essentially, was to promote academic excellence in international affairs.
Mr Osei-Adjei said the institute, which would be completed in nine months, would possess a language laboratory and a first-class auditorium, which would be named after Jawaharal Nehru, a distinguished Indian Statesman, whose collaboration with Dr Kwame Nkrumah and others, gave moral and political leadership to the world and championed the establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement.
For his part, Mr Anand Sharma urged Ghanaians to invest in training more people and building more schools to be able to harness effective human resource.
The project would be undertaken by Mohan Export (India) Pvt. Limited, a leading international business house in India.
Ministry standardises curriculum of hospitality schools.(22/12/08)
THE Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations has standardised and improved the curriculum of all the hospitality training institutions at the pre-tertiary level in the country.
This is to provide students in the hospitality and tourism industry with the appropriate skills to produce world-class professionals needed in the sector.
The sector Minister, Mrs Oboshie Sai Cofie, who announced this in a speech read on her behalf at the graduation ceremony of the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management at the weekend in Accra, said the ministry strategy sought to establish accreditation for institutions to reflect the quality training and specialised knowledge gained for the advancement of hospitality industry.
She explained that the strategy was developed against the background of the different curricula, examinations and certificates that various institutions in the country used in training students in the field.
That, she noted, had resulted in a lack of adequate and requisite skills for students in the industry.
She said the strategy was aimed at filling the vacuum by blending theory and practice to produce professional personnel needed in the sector.
Mrs Sai-Cofie said although the ministry was facing some financial constraints, “the ministry and its agencies have been committed to the vigorous promotion and marketing of the country and what it offered both locally and at various international fora”.
She, therefore, urged practitioners and tourism enterprises to respond to policies and strides in the industry by providing professional customer service, which she believed, could only come through exceptionally trained staff.
The Executive Director of the school, Mr Goyimwole Enukomeko Kpodo, advised the graduates to exhibit professionalism in their service, with no regard to one’s country of origin, race, tribe or religion.
He said all customers, particularly tourists needed to be served and treated without discrimination.
One hundred and forty-five students graduated, with 79 receiving certificates, 50 with diploma certificates and 16 short course certificates.
Seven of them were given special awards for academic excellence.
Ms Helene Senami Zinsou was awarded the Overall Best Student for the 2007/2008 academic year; Ms Elizabeth Darley Baah and Mr Maxwell Amo-Mensah being the best students in the diploma category; Ms Mawuana Donney Aryee and Ms Yemoteley Odoi were best project work presenters.
For the certificate category, Ms Ophelia Foli and Mr Frank Obeng were awarded certificates for being the best students.
This is to provide students in the hospitality and tourism industry with the appropriate skills to produce world-class professionals needed in the sector.
The sector Minister, Mrs Oboshie Sai Cofie, who announced this in a speech read on her behalf at the graduation ceremony of the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management at the weekend in Accra, said the ministry strategy sought to establish accreditation for institutions to reflect the quality training and specialised knowledge gained for the advancement of hospitality industry.
She explained that the strategy was developed against the background of the different curricula, examinations and certificates that various institutions in the country used in training students in the field.
That, she noted, had resulted in a lack of adequate and requisite skills for students in the industry.
She said the strategy was aimed at filling the vacuum by blending theory and practice to produce professional personnel needed in the sector.
Mrs Sai-Cofie said although the ministry was facing some financial constraints, “the ministry and its agencies have been committed to the vigorous promotion and marketing of the country and what it offered both locally and at various international fora”.
She, therefore, urged practitioners and tourism enterprises to respond to policies and strides in the industry by providing professional customer service, which she believed, could only come through exceptionally trained staff.
The Executive Director of the school, Mr Goyimwole Enukomeko Kpodo, advised the graduates to exhibit professionalism in their service, with no regard to one’s country of origin, race, tribe or religion.
He said all customers, particularly tourists needed to be served and treated without discrimination.
One hundred and forty-five students graduated, with 79 receiving certificates, 50 with diploma certificates and 16 short course certificates.
Seven of them were given special awards for academic excellence.
Ms Helene Senami Zinsou was awarded the Overall Best Student for the 2007/2008 academic year; Ms Elizabeth Darley Baah and Mr Maxwell Amo-Mensah being the best students in the diploma category; Ms Mawuana Donney Aryee and Ms Yemoteley Odoi were best project work presenters.
For the certificate category, Ms Ophelia Foli and Mr Frank Obeng were awarded certificates for being the best students.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
GAEC takes inventory of radioactive materials(25/11/08)
Story: Abdul Aziz & Jennifer Dornoo
THE Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) has identified more than 1000 radioactive sources in the industry, health and agricultural sectors of the country.
Furthermore, as part of national and international security action plan, the GAEC is taking inventory of all the radioactive materials and those not in use transported to GAEC headquarters in Accra for safe-keeping and disposal.
Professor Yaw Serfor Armah, the Deputy Director General of the GAEC, who announced this in Accra yesterday, said the measure had become necessary because since September 11, 2001, the control and usage of radioactive sources had become an emerging global issue, particularly on the possible use of radioactive materials in terrorist activities.
He pointed out that the government was fully committed to the multilateral non-proliferation treaty on nuclear safeguards.
The Deputy Director General, who was speaking at the opening ceremony of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and GAEC regional workshop on regulatory control of radiation sources, said the Commission would also ensure that while developing and promoting nuclear science and technology, nuclear safety and security were not compromised.
He stressed that the Radiation Protection Board (RPB) was the sole regulatory body in Ghana established to ensure control and use of radioactive sources.
He reminded the public that RPB had the authority under the legislative instrument (LI 1559 of 1993) to authorise, license, inspect and control all activities and practices involving radiation source, radioactive materials and X-ray facilities in hospitals, industries and others in Ghana.
Professor Armah said the Radiation Protection Institute (RPI) of the GAEC considered it a privilege to host the workshop being organised under the auspices of the IAEA, in collaboration with the Government of Ghana.
He said the purpose of the workshop was to build competence and expertise needed by the national bodies for the establishment and operation of adequate regulatory programme for the safety and security of radioactive sources.
These included nuclear medicine, radiotherapy, industrial radiography, nuclear gauges and well logging in accordance with the requirements, recommendations and guidance of international standards.
The Minister of Health, Major Courage Quashigah (retd), said despite benefits from various applications of radioactive sources, there were hazards associated with their use.
He appealed to the experts not to exceed the dose of the radioactive materials and also not to be careless when using the materials.
The minister, therefore, urged the participants to endeavour to learn more useful lessons at the workshop, so that they could return to their various countries and institutions to assist in handling dangerous radioactive materials to protect lives.
THE Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) has identified more than 1000 radioactive sources in the industry, health and agricultural sectors of the country.
Furthermore, as part of national and international security action plan, the GAEC is taking inventory of all the radioactive materials and those not in use transported to GAEC headquarters in Accra for safe-keeping and disposal.
Professor Yaw Serfor Armah, the Deputy Director General of the GAEC, who announced this in Accra yesterday, said the measure had become necessary because since September 11, 2001, the control and usage of radioactive sources had become an emerging global issue, particularly on the possible use of radioactive materials in terrorist activities.
He pointed out that the government was fully committed to the multilateral non-proliferation treaty on nuclear safeguards.
The Deputy Director General, who was speaking at the opening ceremony of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and GAEC regional workshop on regulatory control of radiation sources, said the Commission would also ensure that while developing and promoting nuclear science and technology, nuclear safety and security were not compromised.
He stressed that the Radiation Protection Board (RPB) was the sole regulatory body in Ghana established to ensure control and use of radioactive sources.
He reminded the public that RPB had the authority under the legislative instrument (LI 1559 of 1993) to authorise, license, inspect and control all activities and practices involving radiation source, radioactive materials and X-ray facilities in hospitals, industries and others in Ghana.
Professor Armah said the Radiation Protection Institute (RPI) of the GAEC considered it a privilege to host the workshop being organised under the auspices of the IAEA, in collaboration with the Government of Ghana.
He said the purpose of the workshop was to build competence and expertise needed by the national bodies for the establishment and operation of adequate regulatory programme for the safety and security of radioactive sources.
These included nuclear medicine, radiotherapy, industrial radiography, nuclear gauges and well logging in accordance with the requirements, recommendations and guidance of international standards.
The Minister of Health, Major Courage Quashigah (retd), said despite benefits from various applications of radioactive sources, there were hazards associated with their use.
He appealed to the experts not to exceed the dose of the radioactive materials and also not to be careless when using the materials.
The minister, therefore, urged the participants to endeavour to learn more useful lessons at the workshop, so that they could return to their various countries and institutions to assist in handling dangerous radioactive materials to protect lives.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Put Ghana First-Moderator (17/12/08)
THE Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Rt Rev Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, has called on Ghanaians to put the country first in all political endeavours to engender peace in the country.
“Let us pursue our partisan agenda in the framework of national unity to engender peace and tolerance in our country,” he stated.
He added that Ghanaians must be true to themselves at all times when debating issues by accepting the obvious facts and ensuring that their criticisms were fair, just and constructive to keep the peace.
The Moderator said this when he delivered this year’s Christmas and New Year message at the PCG Head Office in Accra.
He reminded Ghanaians that the feast of Christmas was a very special occasion and a time for them not only to reflect on Jesus’ love for them but also respond to His love by demonstrating love for their fellow human beings.
He noted that the nation had to look back with hearts of gratitude to God because He had projected Ghana into the limelight of excellence all over the world.
“Our President Kufuor and other distinguished citizens of Ghana have been honoured in various capacities, both locally and internationally, for successes that they attained which had gone a long way to raise the image of our dear nation,” Rt Rev Dr Frimpong-Manso stated.
He said the peaceful elections on December 7, 2008 were as a result of the cry of the people of Ghana through prayers, peace walks, discussions and appeals from the opinion leaders, children and other generational groups of the country as the various political parties geared themselves up for the elections.
He added that the standard that was set by the whole world for Ghana to become the beacon of democracy in Africa had been attained and, therefore, prayed that the run-off would also be smooth and peaceful.
The Moderator commended the leadership and supporters of all the political parties for the determination and love demonstrated during the election.
“Let us resolve to comport ourselves even better and carry the same spirit to the run-off so that we can give our dear nation a handsome New Year package, for the whole world is still watching us,” he added.
He said the end of the elections and the beginning of a new year should bring together people who had split into partisan camps as a result of the elections.
The Moderator congratulated newly elected parliamentarians on their success and reminded them that power was meant for service and not for vengeance or suppression of those who disagreed with them.
He urged all Ghanaians to dedicate themselves to the rule of God as they prepared to enter into a new year and allow the peace of God, justice and righteousness to increase in the land.
“Let us pursue our partisan agenda in the framework of national unity to engender peace and tolerance in our country,” he stated.
He added that Ghanaians must be true to themselves at all times when debating issues by accepting the obvious facts and ensuring that their criticisms were fair, just and constructive to keep the peace.
The Moderator said this when he delivered this year’s Christmas and New Year message at the PCG Head Office in Accra.
He reminded Ghanaians that the feast of Christmas was a very special occasion and a time for them not only to reflect on Jesus’ love for them but also respond to His love by demonstrating love for their fellow human beings.
He noted that the nation had to look back with hearts of gratitude to God because He had projected Ghana into the limelight of excellence all over the world.
“Our President Kufuor and other distinguished citizens of Ghana have been honoured in various capacities, both locally and internationally, for successes that they attained which had gone a long way to raise the image of our dear nation,” Rt Rev Dr Frimpong-Manso stated.
He said the peaceful elections on December 7, 2008 were as a result of the cry of the people of Ghana through prayers, peace walks, discussions and appeals from the opinion leaders, children and other generational groups of the country as the various political parties geared themselves up for the elections.
He added that the standard that was set by the whole world for Ghana to become the beacon of democracy in Africa had been attained and, therefore, prayed that the run-off would also be smooth and peaceful.
The Moderator commended the leadership and supporters of all the political parties for the determination and love demonstrated during the election.
“Let us resolve to comport ourselves even better and carry the same spirit to the run-off so that we can give our dear nation a handsome New Year package, for the whole world is still watching us,” he added.
He said the end of the elections and the beginning of a new year should bring together people who had split into partisan camps as a result of the elections.
The Moderator congratulated newly elected parliamentarians on their success and reminded them that power was meant for service and not for vengeance or suppression of those who disagreed with them.
He urged all Ghanaians to dedicate themselves to the rule of God as they prepared to enter into a new year and allow the peace of God, justice and righteousness to increase in the land.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Canadian High Commission donates to Korle Bu (16/12/08)
THE Canadian High Commissioner, Mr Darren Schemmer, has presented a cheque for $ 2500 to the Child Health Department (CHD) of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.
The cheque which was a contribution by the entire staff of the Canadian High Commission was to facilitate the Child Health Emergency Room Project of the department.
Receiving the Cheque, the Head of the CHD, Professor Jennifer Welbeck thanked the High Commissioner and his staff for coming to their aid just after two months of visiting the department.
She said that the department was one of the many that needed great attention and massive support because it took care of children who are vulnerable and very important in the society.
She urged Ghanaians to emulate the kind gesture by the Canadians as soon as possible to save the children who needed urgent attention.
The cheque which was a contribution by the entire staff of the Canadian High Commission was to facilitate the Child Health Emergency Room Project of the department.
Receiving the Cheque, the Head of the CHD, Professor Jennifer Welbeck thanked the High Commissioner and his staff for coming to their aid just after two months of visiting the department.
She said that the department was one of the many that needed great attention and massive support because it took care of children who are vulnerable and very important in the society.
She urged Ghanaians to emulate the kind gesture by the Canadians as soon as possible to save the children who needed urgent attention.
Let's grow, develop as one nation (15/12/08)
Story: Jennifer Dornoo
THE Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Rt Reverend Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, has called on Ghanaians to stop harping on their historical achievements in order to move the country forward.
"Let us not depend on our history but take steps to move the country forward towards the realisation of our dreams," he stated.
The Moderator, who was speaking at the joint 30th anniversary and thanksgiving service of the Accra New Town District of the church at the Kotobabi Swag Park in Accra yesterday, stressed the need for Ghanaians to grow and develop as one people and one nation.
Speaking on the theme, "Break Camp and Advance", he said Ghanaians needed to change from the uncertainties that thwarted their forward march and development.
He urged Ghanaians to acquire more skills and work very had to develop the country politically, economically, socially and spiritually in order to take possession of the promised land.
Rt Rev Dr Frimpong-Manso said Ghanaians should rather learn lessons from where they fell short in their history and work hard towards correcting those mistakes in order to achieve success.
He advised Ghanaians not to be complacent with what the country had achieved so far, since that might hinder their quest to achieve greater things for the development of the nation.
He congratulated the country on maintaining the peace during the December 7 polls and expressed the hope that the run-off would be peaceful and successful too.
The District Minister of the New Town District of the PCG, Rev Kwabena Ayeh, said it was the aim of the district to win more souls for Christ, hence the theme.
He attributed the unwanted behaviours and indiscipline among the youth to the fact that they had not encountered God in their lives.
He said the church undertook projects such as the construction of schools to train children from the nursery level to the tertiary level to develop them socially, morally and spiritually.
The District Session Clerk, Mr Philip R. Addai, paid tribute to all the pastors who had contributed to the success of the district.
He said the district took its roots from the formation of the Accra New Town Congregation (formerly Lagos Town), founded by Mrs Kate Otemma Brenya and officially inaugurated in 1952 by Rev T. T. Laryea of the Adabraka District.
He said the congregation grew in size and stature by embarking on evangelism activities, which led to its elevation to a district status by the a former Moderator, Rt Rev G. K. Sintim-Misa, on January 1, 1978, with Rev W.E. Okae-Anti as the first District Minister.
Mr Addai said the district, which currently had over 13,000 members, consisted of seven congregations — the Accra New Town, Alajo, Alajo North, Abelenkpe, Redemption, Kotobabi and Gethsemane congregations — and three preaching posts at Dzorwulu North, Accra New Town Northern Outreach Post and the Alajo Northern Outreach Post.
THE Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Rt Reverend Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, has called on Ghanaians to stop harping on their historical achievements in order to move the country forward.
"Let us not depend on our history but take steps to move the country forward towards the realisation of our dreams," he stated.
The Moderator, who was speaking at the joint 30th anniversary and thanksgiving service of the Accra New Town District of the church at the Kotobabi Swag Park in Accra yesterday, stressed the need for Ghanaians to grow and develop as one people and one nation.
Speaking on the theme, "Break Camp and Advance", he said Ghanaians needed to change from the uncertainties that thwarted their forward march and development.
He urged Ghanaians to acquire more skills and work very had to develop the country politically, economically, socially and spiritually in order to take possession of the promised land.
Rt Rev Dr Frimpong-Manso said Ghanaians should rather learn lessons from where they fell short in their history and work hard towards correcting those mistakes in order to achieve success.
He advised Ghanaians not to be complacent with what the country had achieved so far, since that might hinder their quest to achieve greater things for the development of the nation.
He congratulated the country on maintaining the peace during the December 7 polls and expressed the hope that the run-off would be peaceful and successful too.
The District Minister of the New Town District of the PCG, Rev Kwabena Ayeh, said it was the aim of the district to win more souls for Christ, hence the theme.
He attributed the unwanted behaviours and indiscipline among the youth to the fact that they had not encountered God in their lives.
He said the church undertook projects such as the construction of schools to train children from the nursery level to the tertiary level to develop them socially, morally and spiritually.
The District Session Clerk, Mr Philip R. Addai, paid tribute to all the pastors who had contributed to the success of the district.
He said the district took its roots from the formation of the Accra New Town Congregation (formerly Lagos Town), founded by Mrs Kate Otemma Brenya and officially inaugurated in 1952 by Rev T. T. Laryea of the Adabraka District.
He said the congregation grew in size and stature by embarking on evangelism activities, which led to its elevation to a district status by the a former Moderator, Rt Rev G. K. Sintim-Misa, on January 1, 1978, with Rev W.E. Okae-Anti as the first District Minister.
Mr Addai said the district, which currently had over 13,000 members, consisted of seven congregations — the Accra New Town, Alajo, Alajo North, Abelenkpe, Redemption, Kotobabi and Gethsemane congregations — and three preaching posts at Dzorwulu North, Accra New Town Northern Outreach Post and the Alajo Northern Outreach Post.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Involvement of children in commercial sex (14/11/08)
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Odododiodioo Constituency, Mr Jonathan Tackie-Komme, has expressed grave concern about the increasing trend of the exploitation of children through commercial sex.
He said apart from the fact that it was in violation of the rights of the child as enshrined in the ratified documents such as The International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention on the rights of the child, it was also jeopardising the future of the country’s human resources.
The MP stated this at a community durbar on Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children organised by International Needs Ghana at James Town in Accra on Tuesday.
The durbar was to educate the youth on harmful effects of child prostitution and also to present equipment to some people who were being assisted by International Needs Ghana in different training institutions to acquire vocational skills.
In all, three sub metros benefited from this project, namely Ablekuma South, Kpeshie and Ashiedu Keteke sub metros.
The items which included sewing machines, bags, towels, carpentry , hairdressing and automechanic tools were presented free of charge to the beneficiaries.
The MP said between 2002 and 2004 the ILO/PEC supported 304 children, 65 of whom were given vocational skills training while 239 enrolled in basic schools in Chorkor, James Town and La.
He, therefore, appealed to parents, opinion leaders and assembly members to advise the beneficiaries to concentrate on their training and studies for the period of three years, for which full payments had been made. The MP also thanked the donors for their wonderful gesture.
The project, which was organised by International Needs Ghana, was in collaboration with their counterpart in New Zealand, International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour (PEC).
In all, 272 people from the Ablekuma South, Kpeshie and Ashiedu Keteke Sub metros benefited from the project, which cost GH¢444,000.
The project assisted 72 children in basic schools by paying their school fees and providing them with uniforms and books.
It also assisted 200 people undergoing vocational training in dressmaking, carpentry and hairdressing.
The parents of the beneficiaries were made to sign consent forms to pay back funds that had been spent on their wards when they were not able to complete the training due to the incidence of pregnancies to enable other people who needed the opportunity to benefit from it.
The Executive Director of International Needs Ghana, Reverend Walter Pimpong, advised children to abstain from sex since it could ruin their future, and added that concentrating on their education and training were key to a bright future.
He said apart from the fact that it was in violation of the rights of the child as enshrined in the ratified documents such as The International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention on the rights of the child, it was also jeopardising the future of the country’s human resources.
The MP stated this at a community durbar on Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children organised by International Needs Ghana at James Town in Accra on Tuesday.
The durbar was to educate the youth on harmful effects of child prostitution and also to present equipment to some people who were being assisted by International Needs Ghana in different training institutions to acquire vocational skills.
In all, three sub metros benefited from this project, namely Ablekuma South, Kpeshie and Ashiedu Keteke sub metros.
The items which included sewing machines, bags, towels, carpentry , hairdressing and automechanic tools were presented free of charge to the beneficiaries.
The MP said between 2002 and 2004 the ILO/PEC supported 304 children, 65 of whom were given vocational skills training while 239 enrolled in basic schools in Chorkor, James Town and La.
He, therefore, appealed to parents, opinion leaders and assembly members to advise the beneficiaries to concentrate on their training and studies for the period of three years, for which full payments had been made. The MP also thanked the donors for their wonderful gesture.
The project, which was organised by International Needs Ghana, was in collaboration with their counterpart in New Zealand, International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour (PEC).
In all, 272 people from the Ablekuma South, Kpeshie and Ashiedu Keteke Sub metros benefited from the project, which cost GH¢444,000.
The project assisted 72 children in basic schools by paying their school fees and providing them with uniforms and books.
It also assisted 200 people undergoing vocational training in dressmaking, carpentry and hairdressing.
The parents of the beneficiaries were made to sign consent forms to pay back funds that had been spent on their wards when they were not able to complete the training due to the incidence of pregnancies to enable other people who needed the opportunity to benefit from it.
The Executive Director of International Needs Ghana, Reverend Walter Pimpong, advised children to abstain from sex since it could ruin their future, and added that concentrating on their education and training were key to a bright future.
Shun violence Dec 7(17/11/08)
THE Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal Assembly, Mr E.A.Osekre, has advised the youth to avoid violence during the December 7 polls because their future is dependent on the peaceful elections.
"To the youth, your future is dependent on this election, that is why you must avoid violence, no matter the provocation and do not assault your opponents with insults or physical attacks," he stressed.
Mr Osekre gave the advice when addressing a crowd at the Nungua Authority Park to round off a peace walk organised by the Municipal Assembly, Political Parties and the Civil Society Organisations on Saturday, November 15, 2008.
The walk, which started from the Coca Cola Bottling Company at Spintex and culminated in a rally at the park, was to foster unity among the various political parties in the Municipality and spread the common goal of the party leaders, which was peaceful elections.
Five parliamentary candidates from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) and an independent candidate participated in the peace walk.
The MCE advised the political party leaders to sell their ideas to the voters whom he described as king-makers since the final decision to choose leaders rested with them.
He added that the party leaders should campaign on issues and not personalities since the destiny of the country depended on how well they could solve the various problems the country currently faced under their leadership and not the personalities.
Mr Osekre further cautioned the media to beware of the "hot beds of tension in the communities and try hard not to inflame the embers of fire".
He reminded the people that the December 7 general election was only an open, fair and time-tested method in the selection of leaders and not war, saying that the legally registered voters were entitled to exercise their franchise without hindrances because voting was their civic right and responsibility.
"To the youth, your future is dependent on this election, that is why you must avoid violence, no matter the provocation and do not assault your opponents with insults or physical attacks," he stressed.
Mr Osekre gave the advice when addressing a crowd at the Nungua Authority Park to round off a peace walk organised by the Municipal Assembly, Political Parties and the Civil Society Organisations on Saturday, November 15, 2008.
The walk, which started from the Coca Cola Bottling Company at Spintex and culminated in a rally at the park, was to foster unity among the various political parties in the Municipality and spread the common goal of the party leaders, which was peaceful elections.
Five parliamentary candidates from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) and an independent candidate participated in the peace walk.
The MCE advised the political party leaders to sell their ideas to the voters whom he described as king-makers since the final decision to choose leaders rested with them.
He added that the party leaders should campaign on issues and not personalities since the destiny of the country depended on how well they could solve the various problems the country currently faced under their leadership and not the personalities.
Mr Osekre further cautioned the media to beware of the "hot beds of tension in the communities and try hard not to inflame the embers of fire".
He reminded the people that the December 7 general election was only an open, fair and time-tested method in the selection of leaders and not war, saying that the legally registered voters were entitled to exercise their franchise without hindrances because voting was their civic right and responsibility.
Students hold peace walk (1/12/08)
Peace Walk (Met) Read byLHA
21/11/08
Story : Jennifer Dornoo
A large group of students have undertaken a peace walk in Accra to draw public attention to the need for peace during the December7, 2008 polls.
They started from the Ghana School of Law (GSL) and walked through the principal streets of Accra.
Addressing the youth, the National Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Haruna Iddrisu, called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to be neutral and impartial to ensure peace during and after the elections.
“We the NDC are committed to peace and we call upon the EC to act in a neutral and impartial manner that will assure us of free and fair elections on December 7, 2008”, he stated.
Mr Iddrisu explained that the youth and political parties’ quest for peace would not succeed if the EC failed to play its part to promote peace.
He called on the security agencies to also play their role effectively to ensure peace and stability after the elections.
He commended the Students Representative Council (SRC) of the Ghana School of Law for organising the peace walk and advised the youth to behave in a civil and decent manner while sending the message of peace across all parts of the country.
Mr Iddrisu said they could not have chosen a better theme for the walk than peace since that was what every Ghanaian was crying for, adding that peace had prevailed in all the elections in the Ghana and would continue to prevail.
The SRC President of GSL, Miss Vida Agyekum, urged the youth to live violence- free lives and not allow themselves to be used by any political party to destroy themselves.
“Let your conduct depict that you are one people despite your different political affiliations”, she said and added that they should not see themselves as enemies because of their political affiliations.
Miss Agyekum advised all Ghanaians to cooperate with the security agencies and resort to the courts designated by the Chief Justice for all election disputes.
The Principal Electoral Officer of the Public Affairs Department of the ????EC,?? Nana Kofi Karikari, gave the assurance that the EC was prepared to go about its duties as it had always done to ensure free and fair elections.
The peace walk was attended by youth leaders, members of the various political parties in the tertiary institutions and students in senior high schools.
Schools that attended included the Ghana Institute of Journalism; Accra Polytechnic; University of Ghana, Legon; Ashaiman Senior High and Rahmaniiya Islamic School.
The walk which started from the premises of the Ghana School of Law through the principal streets of Accra, was aimed at promoting peace before, during and after the December elections.
The peace walk was sponsored by the German Technical Corporation (GTZ).
21/11/08
Story : Jennifer Dornoo
A large group of students have undertaken a peace walk in Accra to draw public attention to the need for peace during the December7, 2008 polls.
They started from the Ghana School of Law (GSL) and walked through the principal streets of Accra.
Addressing the youth, the National Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Haruna Iddrisu, called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to be neutral and impartial to ensure peace during and after the elections.
“We the NDC are committed to peace and we call upon the EC to act in a neutral and impartial manner that will assure us of free and fair elections on December 7, 2008”, he stated.
Mr Iddrisu explained that the youth and political parties’ quest for peace would not succeed if the EC failed to play its part to promote peace.
He called on the security agencies to also play their role effectively to ensure peace and stability after the elections.
He commended the Students Representative Council (SRC) of the Ghana School of Law for organising the peace walk and advised the youth to behave in a civil and decent manner while sending the message of peace across all parts of the country.
Mr Iddrisu said they could not have chosen a better theme for the walk than peace since that was what every Ghanaian was crying for, adding that peace had prevailed in all the elections in the Ghana and would continue to prevail.
The SRC President of GSL, Miss Vida Agyekum, urged the youth to live violence- free lives and not allow themselves to be used by any political party to destroy themselves.
“Let your conduct depict that you are one people despite your different political affiliations”, she said and added that they should not see themselves as enemies because of their political affiliations.
Miss Agyekum advised all Ghanaians to cooperate with the security agencies and resort to the courts designated by the Chief Justice for all election disputes.
The Principal Electoral Officer of the Public Affairs Department of the ????EC,?? Nana Kofi Karikari, gave the assurance that the EC was prepared to go about its duties as it had always done to ensure free and fair elections.
The peace walk was attended by youth leaders, members of the various political parties in the tertiary institutions and students in senior high schools.
Schools that attended included the Ghana Institute of Journalism; Accra Polytechnic; University of Ghana, Legon; Ashaiman Senior High and Rahmaniiya Islamic School.
The walk which started from the premises of the Ghana School of Law through the principal streets of Accra, was aimed at promoting peace before, during and after the December elections.
The peace walk was sponsored by the German Technical Corporation (GTZ).
CIVIL servants gear up to welcome a new governmen (10/12/08)
9/12/08 Read by E. agyeI
Aftermath of election (GN)
Story: Gifty Bamfo & Jennifer Dornoo
CIVIL servants in state institutions are gearing up to welcome a new government, come January 7, 2009.
Some officials at the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) told the Daily Graphic yesterday that as per the Constitution of Ghana, they would work with any government, be it that formed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Convention People’s Party (CPP) or the People’s National Convention (PNC).
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Defence, Mr E.F. Ofosu-Appeah, said the ministry was ready to work with any government that would take over after the just-ended elections.
He noted that it was the role of the Civil Service to serve any government elected into power by the people with neutrality.
He said this in an interview with the Daily Graphic as it went round to assess the atmosphere at the ministries after Sunday’s polls.
Mr Ofosu-Appeah said the ministry was ready to work with any political party that would be declared winner by the Electoral Commission (EC).
He further said work at the ministry was going on smoothly, as all the workers had reported to work, adding that they were not affected by the anxiety and suspense created by the unannounced election results.
The Director of Finance at the Ministry of Health, Alhaji Siddique, said he was impressed about the peaceful outcome of the elections and commended the EC, as well as Ghanaians, for the peaceful manner in which the elections were conducted.
He also said the ministry was ready to serve any government to contribute to the development of the country.
The Head of Public Relations at the Ministry of Health, Mr Dan Osman, urged Ghanaians to be patient, remain calm and await the declaration of the results because it was the duty of the EC to announce them within 72 hours.
He said civil servants were hopeful that the new government would improve upon their working conditions, adding that they were prepared to work effectively with the next government.
A Senior Private Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Christabel Quaye, said she was anxious to know the outcome of the elections.
She urged Ghanaians not to engage in any violent acts to disturb the prevailing peace in the country.
As of 11.00 a.m. when the Daily Graphic was leaving the ministries, the atmosphere was quiet, with workers going about their normal duties without discussing the elections.
The usual brisk activities by hawkers, drivers and passengers at the Tema Station Bus Terminal in Accra were absent two days after the elections.
The atmosphere was quiet, as few traders were seen discussing the election results, with station masters listening to some of the results on radio.
Most of the traders and “trotro” drivers expressed worry over the way the elections had affected their businesses.
A second-hand clothes seller, Aunty Mary, said, “A lot of people are not in the market today and the few here are not buying anything.”
She attributed the situation to the anxiety and suspense in the country as Ghanaians waited for the final results from the EC.
When asked about who was going to win the polls, she said she was confused because of the ‘skirt and blouse’ voting pattern and could not tell who was going to emerge the winner.
Kofi Asamoah, a “tro-tro” driver, said he was surprised at the many parliamentary seats being won by the NDC.
He, however, said it was good, since the NPP and the NDC would learn to work together in building the nation.
Aftermath of election (GN)
Story: Gifty Bamfo & Jennifer Dornoo
CIVIL servants in state institutions are gearing up to welcome a new government, come January 7, 2009.
Some officials at the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) told the Daily Graphic yesterday that as per the Constitution of Ghana, they would work with any government, be it that formed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Convention People’s Party (CPP) or the People’s National Convention (PNC).
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Defence, Mr E.F. Ofosu-Appeah, said the ministry was ready to work with any government that would take over after the just-ended elections.
He noted that it was the role of the Civil Service to serve any government elected into power by the people with neutrality.
He said this in an interview with the Daily Graphic as it went round to assess the atmosphere at the ministries after Sunday’s polls.
Mr Ofosu-Appeah said the ministry was ready to work with any political party that would be declared winner by the Electoral Commission (EC).
He further said work at the ministry was going on smoothly, as all the workers had reported to work, adding that they were not affected by the anxiety and suspense created by the unannounced election results.
The Director of Finance at the Ministry of Health, Alhaji Siddique, said he was impressed about the peaceful outcome of the elections and commended the EC, as well as Ghanaians, for the peaceful manner in which the elections were conducted.
He also said the ministry was ready to serve any government to contribute to the development of the country.
The Head of Public Relations at the Ministry of Health, Mr Dan Osman, urged Ghanaians to be patient, remain calm and await the declaration of the results because it was the duty of the EC to announce them within 72 hours.
He said civil servants were hopeful that the new government would improve upon their working conditions, adding that they were prepared to work effectively with the next government.
A Senior Private Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Christabel Quaye, said she was anxious to know the outcome of the elections.
She urged Ghanaians not to engage in any violent acts to disturb the prevailing peace in the country.
As of 11.00 a.m. when the Daily Graphic was leaving the ministries, the atmosphere was quiet, with workers going about their normal duties without discussing the elections.
The usual brisk activities by hawkers, drivers and passengers at the Tema Station Bus Terminal in Accra were absent two days after the elections.
The atmosphere was quiet, as few traders were seen discussing the election results, with station masters listening to some of the results on radio.
Most of the traders and “trotro” drivers expressed worry over the way the elections had affected their businesses.
A second-hand clothes seller, Aunty Mary, said, “A lot of people are not in the market today and the few here are not buying anything.”
She attributed the situation to the anxiety and suspense in the country as Ghanaians waited for the final results from the EC.
When asked about who was going to win the polls, she said she was confused because of the ‘skirt and blouse’ voting pattern and could not tell who was going to emerge the winner.
Kofi Asamoah, a “tro-tro” driver, said he was surprised at the many parliamentary seats being won by the NDC.
He, however, said it was good, since the NPP and the NDC would learn to work together in building the nation.
Rice cooking competition held for poly students (20/11/08)
Story: Jennifer Dornoo
The Catering Department of Accra Polytechnic last Monday emerged the winner of the first National Rice Cooking Competiton held among all the eight polytechnic institutions in Ghana.
The one-day contest organised by the polytechnics in partnership with the USA Rice Federation (USARF) and Continental Commodity Trading Company (CCTC), saw delegates from the various polytechnics using US rice to create original recipes that were tasty, healthy, appealing and well presented.
Some of the dishes were Rice Paptart, Rice Aprapransa, Rice Bread Rolls, Rice Kebbe and Rice Balls Suprise.
Close on the heels of winner Accra Polytechnic came Koforidua Polytechnic and Kumasi Polytechnic taking the second and third places, respectively.
Dishes such as Aprapransa, biscuits, kish and cake, all prepared with rice, by students of Accra Polytechnic scored the highest marks in the categories of tastiness, health, appeal and presentation of the dishes.
Ms Roselyn Quarcoopome, who represented Accra Polytechnic, was rewarded with a four-burner gas stove with oven, a 50- kilogramme bag of rice and cash of GH¢200.
Mercy Nana Boateng, who came second for Koforidua Polytechnic, took home a table-top refrigerator, a rice cooker and a 50-kilogramme bag of rice.
Third was Simon Opoku Nyame from Kumasi Polytechnic, who had, as his prize, a set of ice chest, a rice cooker and a 50 kilogramme bag of rice.
The three winning polytechnics received a deep freezer each and trophies for their institurions. The other participating polytechnics each received a set of cooking utensils and 50 kilogramme bags of rice with souvenirs from CCTC.
Also in the competition, Koforidua Polytechnic won the prize for the most innovative, while Kumasi Polytechnic won the most hygienic category, with Accra Polytechnic winning the best table layout. Koforidua Polytechnic won the best side attraction category with Jollof cake.
According to a representative of USARF, Ms Jennifer Wadie, the main objective of the competition was to support the development of young talents from the various polytechnics to feed into the growing hospitality industry in Ghana.
She said judges for the event were drawn from the hospitality industry in Ghana and were made up of seasoned men and women with proven track record in catering.
She said the programme would be an annual one.
The Catering Department of Accra Polytechnic last Monday emerged the winner of the first National Rice Cooking Competiton held among all the eight polytechnic institutions in Ghana.
The one-day contest organised by the polytechnics in partnership with the USA Rice Federation (USARF) and Continental Commodity Trading Company (CCTC), saw delegates from the various polytechnics using US rice to create original recipes that were tasty, healthy, appealing and well presented.
Some of the dishes were Rice Paptart, Rice Aprapransa, Rice Bread Rolls, Rice Kebbe and Rice Balls Suprise.
Close on the heels of winner Accra Polytechnic came Koforidua Polytechnic and Kumasi Polytechnic taking the second and third places, respectively.
Dishes such as Aprapransa, biscuits, kish and cake, all prepared with rice, by students of Accra Polytechnic scored the highest marks in the categories of tastiness, health, appeal and presentation of the dishes.
Ms Roselyn Quarcoopome, who represented Accra Polytechnic, was rewarded with a four-burner gas stove with oven, a 50- kilogramme bag of rice and cash of GH¢200.
Mercy Nana Boateng, who came second for Koforidua Polytechnic, took home a table-top refrigerator, a rice cooker and a 50-kilogramme bag of rice.
Third was Simon Opoku Nyame from Kumasi Polytechnic, who had, as his prize, a set of ice chest, a rice cooker and a 50 kilogramme bag of rice.
The three winning polytechnics received a deep freezer each and trophies for their institurions. The other participating polytechnics each received a set of cooking utensils and 50 kilogramme bags of rice with souvenirs from CCTC.
Also in the competition, Koforidua Polytechnic won the prize for the most innovative, while Kumasi Polytechnic won the most hygienic category, with Accra Polytechnic winning the best table layout. Koforidua Polytechnic won the best side attraction category with Jollof cake.
According to a representative of USARF, Ms Jennifer Wadie, the main objective of the competition was to support the development of young talents from the various polytechnics to feed into the growing hospitality industry in Ghana.
She said judges for the event were drawn from the hospitality industry in Ghana and were made up of seasoned men and women with proven track record in catering.
She said the programme would be an annual one.
Lincoln School institutes scholarship scheme (14/11/08)
THE Lincoln Community School at Abelemkpe in Accra has instituted a two-year scholarship scheme for needy, brilliant Ghanaian students.
The scholarship scheme, which will begin early next year, will cover the last two years of the beneficiary students’ education before entering a university of their choice.
The Superintendent of the school, Mr John Roberts, disclosed this during the school’s annual International Festival.
The festival forms part of activities marking the school’s 40th anniversary and which brought together parents and children from over 50 countries to celebrate their diversity and learn from one another.
The school, an American international school, primarily serves diplomats and people in the business community, with 80 per cent of the students coming from the international community.
According to the superintendent, one thing the school valued most was teaching the children to respect other people’s culture and live with others peacefully.
He said the school helped to reduce the cultural shock that most children experienced when they moved to different countries.
Consequently, Mr Roberts noted that the high quality of education helped the students to settle in quickly and comfortably in any international school or higher educational institution.
The festival began with a parade of nations by children from different countries dressed in their national colours and traditional clothes and carrying their national flags.
Some nations whose citizens took part in the parade were Ghana, India, China, Holland, Nigeria and the USA.
There were also cultural displays and a food bazaar where parents and students had the opportunity to taste cultural dishes from different countries.
The climax the day’s activities was an all-nations cup tournament among the different countries, with Holland emerging the overall winner.
The scholarship scheme, which will begin early next year, will cover the last two years of the beneficiary students’ education before entering a university of their choice.
The Superintendent of the school, Mr John Roberts, disclosed this during the school’s annual International Festival.
The festival forms part of activities marking the school’s 40th anniversary and which brought together parents and children from over 50 countries to celebrate their diversity and learn from one another.
The school, an American international school, primarily serves diplomats and people in the business community, with 80 per cent of the students coming from the international community.
According to the superintendent, one thing the school valued most was teaching the children to respect other people’s culture and live with others peacefully.
He said the school helped to reduce the cultural shock that most children experienced when they moved to different countries.
Consequently, Mr Roberts noted that the high quality of education helped the students to settle in quickly and comfortably in any international school or higher educational institution.
The festival began with a parade of nations by children from different countries dressed in their national colours and traditional clothes and carrying their national flags.
Some nations whose citizens took part in the parade were Ghana, India, China, Holland, Nigeria and the USA.
There were also cultural displays and a food bazaar where parents and students had the opportunity to taste cultural dishes from different countries.
The climax the day’s activities was an all-nations cup tournament among the different countries, with Holland emerging the overall winner.
Ghana to take part in Mental Arithmetic Competition (21/11/08)
Story: Jennifer Dornoo
TWENTY children below the age of 14 will represent Ghana at an international mental arithmetic competition in Malaysia on Sunday, November 23, 2008.
The children, who are from nine selected schools in Accra, will compete with more than 3,000 children from 40 different countries around the world.
The competition is being organised under the Universal Concept of Mental Arithmetic System (UCMAS) programme which involves calculation solely by the human mind without the aid of instruments.
The 20 children representing Ghana are from the Rect Academy, Morning Glory School, St Bernadette School, Christ the King International School, Queensland International School, Faith Montessori School, Mary Mother of Good Counsel School, Mothercare School and Danem Royal Montessori.
They will be the first African children to compete in the programme since its inception in 1993.
The Director of Koios International Limited (KOIOS), the sole organiser of the UCMAS programme in Ghana, Mr Girish Gurbani, who announced this at a press briefing in Accra on Tuesday, said the children had been trained to do calculations using a counting tool called Abacus which the children visualised to master the skill of calculating mentally.
He explained that the UCMAS programme provided well-rounded education to develop children’s concentration, creative thinking, memory power, logical reasoning abilities and boost their confidence to face challenges.
He said the programme concentrated on what he described as the right brain, which was the long-term memory used in imagining, day-dreaming and keeping songs such as the nursery rhyme “Twinkle, twinkle little stars” which a lot of people remembered even after 20 years.
Mr Gurbani announced that KOIOS and UCMAS Ghana were sponsoring one of the participants, Denick Nii Kotey Amon, 11, who had been able to complete 150 questions within eight minutes.
The participants, after the competition, would be sent to a museum in Egypt. They will also see the Great Pyramids.
TWENTY children below the age of 14 will represent Ghana at an international mental arithmetic competition in Malaysia on Sunday, November 23, 2008.
The children, who are from nine selected schools in Accra, will compete with more than 3,000 children from 40 different countries around the world.
The competition is being organised under the Universal Concept of Mental Arithmetic System (UCMAS) programme which involves calculation solely by the human mind without the aid of instruments.
The 20 children representing Ghana are from the Rect Academy, Morning Glory School, St Bernadette School, Christ the King International School, Queensland International School, Faith Montessori School, Mary Mother of Good Counsel School, Mothercare School and Danem Royal Montessori.
They will be the first African children to compete in the programme since its inception in 1993.
The Director of Koios International Limited (KOIOS), the sole organiser of the UCMAS programme in Ghana, Mr Girish Gurbani, who announced this at a press briefing in Accra on Tuesday, said the children had been trained to do calculations using a counting tool called Abacus which the children visualised to master the skill of calculating mentally.
He explained that the UCMAS programme provided well-rounded education to develop children’s concentration, creative thinking, memory power, logical reasoning abilities and boost their confidence to face challenges.
He said the programme concentrated on what he described as the right brain, which was the long-term memory used in imagining, day-dreaming and keeping songs such as the nursery rhyme “Twinkle, twinkle little stars” which a lot of people remembered even after 20 years.
Mr Gurbani announced that KOIOS and UCMAS Ghana were sponsoring one of the participants, Denick Nii Kotey Amon, 11, who had been able to complete 150 questions within eight minutes.
The participants, after the competition, would be sent to a museum in Egypt. They will also see the Great Pyramids.
Scripture Union inaugurates camp meeting committee
28/11/08
Story: Jennifer Dornoo
The Scripture Union (SU) of Ghana has inaugurated an eight-member committee to organise camp meetings for the union.
The committee, known as the National Camps and Conferences Committee (NCCC), would organise camp meetings yearly to reach out to all children in the country.
The committee members comprise Professor Kobina Nkyekyer, Dr Godfred Lartey, Nana Yaw Offei Awuku, Mrs Lucy Asibey, Mr Nicholas Gyadu, Mrs Rose Osafo, Mr Kingsley Kwayisi and Mamme Hutchful.
The committee was commissioned on November 27, 2008, by the Chairman of the Ga Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Professor Emmanuel Martey.
He said the call to serve on the committee was a special call from God to serve Him and to make a positive impact on the lives of the upcoming generation.
Prof. Martey urged the members to work diligently and faithfully to help the work of God in order to receive God's abundant blessings.
The Chairman of the NCCC, Prof. Kobina Nkyekyer, thanked all for the opportunity to serve the Lord in their capacity as members of the committee.
He assured the leadership of the SU of his commitment and promised to work hard with his team to ensure that children all over the country were reached with the gospel through the camping ministry.
The General Director of SU, Apostle Jude Hama, said the Camping Ministry was one of the activities of the union that brought together different people from different churches and tribes together to have fun and fellowship in the Lord.
He said the aims of the Camping Ministry was to present the gospel to campers in the context of an enjoyable and worthwhile holiday.
Apostle Hama said it was also to promote Christian discipleship including prayer and Bible reading, and to train children for leadership positions in the future.
Story: Jennifer Dornoo
The Scripture Union (SU) of Ghana has inaugurated an eight-member committee to organise camp meetings for the union.
The committee, known as the National Camps and Conferences Committee (NCCC), would organise camp meetings yearly to reach out to all children in the country.
The committee members comprise Professor Kobina Nkyekyer, Dr Godfred Lartey, Nana Yaw Offei Awuku, Mrs Lucy Asibey, Mr Nicholas Gyadu, Mrs Rose Osafo, Mr Kingsley Kwayisi and Mamme Hutchful.
The committee was commissioned on November 27, 2008, by the Chairman of the Ga Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Professor Emmanuel Martey.
He said the call to serve on the committee was a special call from God to serve Him and to make a positive impact on the lives of the upcoming generation.
Prof. Martey urged the members to work diligently and faithfully to help the work of God in order to receive God's abundant blessings.
The Chairman of the NCCC, Prof. Kobina Nkyekyer, thanked all for the opportunity to serve the Lord in their capacity as members of the committee.
He assured the leadership of the SU of his commitment and promised to work hard with his team to ensure that children all over the country were reached with the gospel through the camping ministry.
The General Director of SU, Apostle Jude Hama, said the Camping Ministry was one of the activities of the union that brought together different people from different churches and tribes together to have fun and fellowship in the Lord.
He said the aims of the Camping Ministry was to present the gospel to campers in the context of an enjoyable and worthwhile holiday.
Apostle Hama said it was also to promote Christian discipleship including prayer and Bible reading, and to train children for leadership positions in the future.
STANBIC opens new branch (15/11/08)
STANBIC Bank Ghana Limited has opened a new branch at Makola in Accra .
Located in the old PZ Building, the new branch is targeted at serving the banking and financial needs of traders, businessmen and women in the area, which is the nerve centre of Accra, where a lot of people transact business.
The Branch Manager, Mr Nii Odartey Lamptey, said the opening of the branch was in line with the bank’s aim of affording both the banked and unbanked members of the society the opportunity to experience banking services.
This, he said, would reduce the liquidity in the system.
The Managing Director of the bank, Mr Alhassan Andani, said Stanbic Bank wanted to make a difference in every country in which it did business.
He said the bank had a well trained staff, a strong team behind their activities and proper systems for operations which had been tried, tested and seen to be effective and efficient.
Mr Andani said the bank, which had three branches in 2007, had added 10 more and would end the year with a total of 24 branches.
Mr Andani said although the bank had many branches outside Africa, it would not be influenced to become European because it was proud of its African descent and would maintain it.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Odododiodioo Constituency, Mr Jonathan Nii Tackie-Komme, thanked Stanbic Bank for extending its services to Makola which is the Central Business District of Accra.
He added that it was prudent for Makola to have such a facility to assist market women to have a convenient and safe place to save their cash in order to prevent theft and robbery.
The MP advised all, especially the traders, to patronise the bank so that they would be assured of the safety of their money.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank, Mr Emmanuel Asiedu Mantey, threw a challenge to the people present to come and do business with them.
Located in the old PZ Building, the new branch is targeted at serving the banking and financial needs of traders, businessmen and women in the area, which is the nerve centre of Accra, where a lot of people transact business.
The Branch Manager, Mr Nii Odartey Lamptey, said the opening of the branch was in line with the bank’s aim of affording both the banked and unbanked members of the society the opportunity to experience banking services.
This, he said, would reduce the liquidity in the system.
The Managing Director of the bank, Mr Alhassan Andani, said Stanbic Bank wanted to make a difference in every country in which it did business.
He said the bank had a well trained staff, a strong team behind their activities and proper systems for operations which had been tried, tested and seen to be effective and efficient.
Mr Andani said the bank, which had three branches in 2007, had added 10 more and would end the year with a total of 24 branches.
Mr Andani said although the bank had many branches outside Africa, it would not be influenced to become European because it was proud of its African descent and would maintain it.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Odododiodioo Constituency, Mr Jonathan Nii Tackie-Komme, thanked Stanbic Bank for extending its services to Makola which is the Central Business District of Accra.
He added that it was prudent for Makola to have such a facility to assist market women to have a convenient and safe place to save their cash in order to prevent theft and robbery.
The MP advised all, especially the traders, to patronise the bank so that they would be assured of the safety of their money.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank, Mr Emmanuel Asiedu Mantey, threw a challenge to the people present to come and do business with them.
Project on Problem Solving launched for students (12/12/08)
26/11/08 Read by E. agyeI
3EQ Project (Edu)
Story: Jennifer Dornoo
A project aimed at developing quality human resource for the country’s development agenda has been launched to help students to understand the link among skills, attitudes and behaviour.
Dubbed the “3E High Flyers Project”, the project, which focuses on a series of interactive developmental programmes involving junior high school, senior high school and undergraduate students, will also help the students to succeed in the current business environment.
The project covers Problem Solving, Reasoning and Literacy, Communication and Interpersonal Skills, Creative and Physical Development and Social and Emotional Development.
It seeks to provide the necessary professional and job skills for the future development and growth of industries in the country in particular and the West African sub-region in general.
“The project will develop the best quality human resource base in the country and the sub-region by 2020,” the Chief Executive Officer of 3E Quantum Associates Limited, Mr Shola Peregrino-Taiwo, stated.
He stressed the need for Ghanaians to be competitive and excel in their various professions.
Mr Peregrino-Taiwo said the company had introduced the project as part of its social responsibility to nurture the future leaders of this country.
The students will be taken through different educational programmes such as attitudinal change, social behaviour, effective communication, leadership skills and time management.
The Executive Director of 3E Quantum Associates Limited, Madam Zayna Brimah, educated the students on how to prepare for examinations and advised them to listen attentively in class and make good use of their evenings and weekends.
She said the project would become a national programme that would be held annually for senior high school students.
3EQ Project (Edu)
Story: Jennifer Dornoo
A project aimed at developing quality human resource for the country’s development agenda has been launched to help students to understand the link among skills, attitudes and behaviour.
Dubbed the “3E High Flyers Project”, the project, which focuses on a series of interactive developmental programmes involving junior high school, senior high school and undergraduate students, will also help the students to succeed in the current business environment.
The project covers Problem Solving, Reasoning and Literacy, Communication and Interpersonal Skills, Creative and Physical Development and Social and Emotional Development.
It seeks to provide the necessary professional and job skills for the future development and growth of industries in the country in particular and the West African sub-region in general.
“The project will develop the best quality human resource base in the country and the sub-region by 2020,” the Chief Executive Officer of 3E Quantum Associates Limited, Mr Shola Peregrino-Taiwo, stated.
He stressed the need for Ghanaians to be competitive and excel in their various professions.
Mr Peregrino-Taiwo said the company had introduced the project as part of its social responsibility to nurture the future leaders of this country.
The students will be taken through different educational programmes such as attitudinal change, social behaviour, effective communication, leadership skills and time management.
The Executive Director of 3E Quantum Associates Limited, Madam Zayna Brimah, educated the students on how to prepare for examinations and advised them to listen attentively in class and make good use of their evenings and weekends.
She said the project would become a national programme that would be held annually for senior high school students.
Victory Bible Church donates to the disabled (11/12/08)
Proofread by KGE
Donation (Met)
28/11/08
Story: Jennifer Dornoo
THE Victory Bible Church International (VBCI) has donated a computer and accessories worth GH¢ 1000 to the Disabled Christian Fellowship International.
The computer is to facilitate the collection and processing of data to complement the free flow of information in the fellowship.
The General Secretary of the VBCI, Rev Cornellius Adja Cofie, who did the presentation, said the gesture was part of their social responsibility.
He said it was also the desire of the church to meet the needs of the disabled.
Rev. Adja Cofie said the Church believed there were lots of potential in the disabled.
He said six disabled persons were benefiting from a scholarship programme instituted by the church and it is a sponsorship package from the Junior High to the tertiary level.
He appealed to all individuals and organisations to donate towards the disabled in society to make them have a sense of belonging and be confident about themselves.
The Executive Director of the fellowship, Mr Francis Adjetey Sowah, thanked VBCI for responding to their appeal for the computer.
He appealed to the church and other corporate organisations to support the disabled in the society to empower them, especially in the education sector.
Donation (Met)
28/11/08
Story: Jennifer Dornoo
THE Victory Bible Church International (VBCI) has donated a computer and accessories worth GH¢ 1000 to the Disabled Christian Fellowship International.
The computer is to facilitate the collection and processing of data to complement the free flow of information in the fellowship.
The General Secretary of the VBCI, Rev Cornellius Adja Cofie, who did the presentation, said the gesture was part of their social responsibility.
He said it was also the desire of the church to meet the needs of the disabled.
Rev. Adja Cofie said the Church believed there were lots of potential in the disabled.
He said six disabled persons were benefiting from a scholarship programme instituted by the church and it is a sponsorship package from the Junior High to the tertiary level.
He appealed to all individuals and organisations to donate towards the disabled in society to make them have a sense of belonging and be confident about themselves.
The Executive Director of the fellowship, Mr Francis Adjetey Sowah, thanked VBCI for responding to their appeal for the computer.
He appealed to the church and other corporate organisations to support the disabled in the society to empower them, especially in the education sector.
Scout Boss removed
Proofread by era
Scout
23/11/08
Story: Jennifer Dornoo
THE Chief Scout Commissioner (CSC) of the Ghana Scout Association (GSA), Mr Isaac Newton Addy, and his Deputy, Mrs Jemimah Nartey, have been asked to handover their positions to an Interim Management Committee (IMC).
“This is because they have over stayed their two terms in office which ended on May 21, 2008”.
The Chairman of the IMC, Commissioner Samuel Seshie Sowah, told the Daily Graphic at the National headquarters in Accra.
He said the IMC which is a seven- member committee was appointed by the Regional delegates of the GSA on Saturday, November 22,2008 to take over the administration of the association till a new Chief Scout Commissioner and deputy were elected as stated in their constitution.
The Chairman of the Committee said the Regional delegates met upon the invitation of the CSC and his Deputy to discuss the way forward for the association, hand over their positions to a newly appointed IMC and introduce them to the Africa Regional office of the Scout in Senegal.
He said the two refused to show up as planned during their last meeting.
The House then went on to appoint the IMC in the persons of Commissioners Samuel Seshie Sowah, George Akakpo, Louis Okyere, T.M. Apenyo, Mercy Mensah, Mohamed Sany Issifu and a representative from the National Youth Council.
Scout
23/11/08
Story: Jennifer Dornoo
THE Chief Scout Commissioner (CSC) of the Ghana Scout Association (GSA), Mr Isaac Newton Addy, and his Deputy, Mrs Jemimah Nartey, have been asked to handover their positions to an Interim Management Committee (IMC).
“This is because they have over stayed their two terms in office which ended on May 21, 2008”.
The Chairman of the IMC, Commissioner Samuel Seshie Sowah, told the Daily Graphic at the National headquarters in Accra.
He said the IMC which is a seven- member committee was appointed by the Regional delegates of the GSA on Saturday, November 22,2008 to take over the administration of the association till a new Chief Scout Commissioner and deputy were elected as stated in their constitution.
The Chairman of the Committee said the Regional delegates met upon the invitation of the CSC and his Deputy to discuss the way forward for the association, hand over their positions to a newly appointed IMC and introduce them to the Africa Regional office of the Scout in Senegal.
He said the two refused to show up as planned during their last meeting.
The House then went on to appoint the IMC in the persons of Commissioners Samuel Seshie Sowah, George Akakpo, Louis Okyere, T.M. Apenyo, Mercy Mensah, Mohamed Sany Issifu and a representative from the National Youth Council.
Wisconsin varsity holds 1st congregation (5/12/08)
Story: Jennifer Dornoo
THE Wisconsin International University College (WIUC), Ghana has held its first congregation with a call on graduates to impact positively on the economy of the country.
The Chancellor of the university, Dr Paul Fynn, who made the call in Accra yesterday, challenged the graduates to make good use of the knowledge they had acquired in developing the country.
“A degree is meaningless when you hold it without putting it into action,” he told them.
He advised the graduates to be effective in all fields as tertiary education was not just about specialising in one field but being able to do many things.
One hundred and fifty eight (158) students graduated, with 25 acquiring a Masters of Arts (Adult Education) and Masters of Business Administration.
Thirty students received Bachelors of Arts in Computer Science and Management, 49 students had Bachelor of Arts in Management and Computer Studies and 54 in Bachelor of Business Studies.
Five continuing students received half scholarships each for one academic year for being the best students in the university.
Mr Kwame Nkansa-Simpeh received the Best Teacher Award, Mr Amidu Kpandana, the Best Worker Award, Mr Felix Apau Awuku, the Cadbury Award for the Over All Best Graduating Student with Mr Jeremiah Salifu and Nana Aba Welbourne receiving awards as the Wisconsin Role Models.
The Principal of the university, Mr John Sackey, said in the previous years, graduates were made to join their counterparts in the University of Ghana, Legon and the University of Cape Coast due to their small number.
He said the increase in the students population, which now stands between 1500 and 2000, made it necessary to hold the university’s own congregation and showcase its unique achievements in complementing the government’s efforts at opening up more opportunities for tertiary education in Ghana.
While expressing his appreciation to the government for supporting the university, Mr Sackey appealed for the formalisation of the assistance package for private universities to enable the university to benefit from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND).
He said the majority of students studying at WIUC were Ghanaians who directly or indirectly had paid their taxes and therefore deserved to benefit from the fund.
The principal announced that the university would open another campus near the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) at Kanda in January, next year, and noted that the campus would serve a lot of workers in the area who were not able to attend the university full-time during the working day.
He added that the school would introduce a weekend MBA programme to reach out to people who lived outside Accra.
To address the falling standards in English language in the university, Mr Sackey said English would be made a compulsory subject throughout the undergraduate years in WIUC.
He said a Diploma course in Chinese Language would be organised for Ghanaian business people due to the mounting global importance of China.
The principal thanked the University of Ghana, Legon and University Cape Coast Business Schools for their distinguished efforts for their affiliations.
THE Wisconsin International University College (WIUC), Ghana has held its first congregation with a call on graduates to impact positively on the economy of the country.
The Chancellor of the university, Dr Paul Fynn, who made the call in Accra yesterday, challenged the graduates to make good use of the knowledge they had acquired in developing the country.
“A degree is meaningless when you hold it without putting it into action,” he told them.
He advised the graduates to be effective in all fields as tertiary education was not just about specialising in one field but being able to do many things.
One hundred and fifty eight (158) students graduated, with 25 acquiring a Masters of Arts (Adult Education) and Masters of Business Administration.
Thirty students received Bachelors of Arts in Computer Science and Management, 49 students had Bachelor of Arts in Management and Computer Studies and 54 in Bachelor of Business Studies.
Five continuing students received half scholarships each for one academic year for being the best students in the university.
Mr Kwame Nkansa-Simpeh received the Best Teacher Award, Mr Amidu Kpandana, the Best Worker Award, Mr Felix Apau Awuku, the Cadbury Award for the Over All Best Graduating Student with Mr Jeremiah Salifu and Nana Aba Welbourne receiving awards as the Wisconsin Role Models.
The Principal of the university, Mr John Sackey, said in the previous years, graduates were made to join their counterparts in the University of Ghana, Legon and the University of Cape Coast due to their small number.
He said the increase in the students population, which now stands between 1500 and 2000, made it necessary to hold the university’s own congregation and showcase its unique achievements in complementing the government’s efforts at opening up more opportunities for tertiary education in Ghana.
While expressing his appreciation to the government for supporting the university, Mr Sackey appealed for the formalisation of the assistance package for private universities to enable the university to benefit from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND).
He said the majority of students studying at WIUC were Ghanaians who directly or indirectly had paid their taxes and therefore deserved to benefit from the fund.
The principal announced that the university would open another campus near the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) at Kanda in January, next year, and noted that the campus would serve a lot of workers in the area who were not able to attend the university full-time during the working day.
He added that the school would introduce a weekend MBA programme to reach out to people who lived outside Accra.
To address the falling standards in English language in the university, Mr Sackey said English would be made a compulsory subject throughout the undergraduate years in WIUC.
He said a Diploma course in Chinese Language would be organised for Ghanaian business people due to the mounting global importance of China.
The principal thanked the University of Ghana, Legon and University Cape Coast Business Schools for their distinguished efforts for their affiliations.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
(Involvement of children in commercial sex worrying) (14/11/08)
Story: Jennifer Dornoo
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Odododiodioo Constituency, Mr Jonathan Tackie-Komme, has expressed grave concern about the increasing trend of the exploitation of children through commercial sex.
He said apart from the fact that it was in violation of the rights of the child as enshrined in the ratified documents such as The International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention on the rights of the child, it was also jeopardising the future of the country’s human resources.
The MP stated this at a community durbar on Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children organised by International Needs Ghana at James Town in Accra on Tuesday.
The durbar was to educate the youth on harmful effects of child prostitution and also to present equipment to some people who were being assisted by International Needs Ghana in different training institutions to acquire vocational skills.
In all, three sub metros benefited from this project, namely Ablekuma South, Kpeshie and Ashiedu Keteke sub metros.
The items which included sewing machines, bags, towels, carpentry , hairdressing and automechanic tools were presented free of charge to the beneficiaries.
The MP said between 2002 and 2004 the ILO/PEC supported 304 children, 65 of whom were given vocational skills training while 239 enrolled in basic schools in Chorkor, James Town and La.
He, therefore, appealed to parents, opinion leaders and assembly members to advise the beneficiaries to concentrate on their training and studies for the period of three years, for which full payments had been made. The MP also thanked the donors for their wonderful gesture.
The project, which was organised by International Needs Ghana, was in collaboration with their counterpart in New Zealand, International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour (PEC).
In all, 272 people from the Ablekuma South, Kpeshie and Ashiedu Keteke Sub metros benefited from the project, which cost GH¢444,000.
The project assisted 72 children in basic schools by paying their school fees and providing them with uniforms and books.
It also assisted 200 people undergoing vocational training in dressmaking, carpentry and hairdressing.
The parents of the beneficiaries were made to sign consent forms to pay back funds that had been spent on their wards when they were not able to complete the training due to the incidence of pregnancies to enable other people who needed the opportunity to benefit from it.
The Executive Director of International Needs Ghana, Reverend Walter Pimpong, advised children to abstain from sex since it could ruin their future, and added that concentrating on their education and training were key to a bright future.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Odododiodioo Constituency, Mr Jonathan Tackie-Komme, has expressed grave concern about the increasing trend of the exploitation of children through commercial sex.
He said apart from the fact that it was in violation of the rights of the child as enshrined in the ratified documents such as The International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention on the rights of the child, it was also jeopardising the future of the country’s human resources.
The MP stated this at a community durbar on Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children organised by International Needs Ghana at James Town in Accra on Tuesday.
The durbar was to educate the youth on harmful effects of child prostitution and also to present equipment to some people who were being assisted by International Needs Ghana in different training institutions to acquire vocational skills.
In all, three sub metros benefited from this project, namely Ablekuma South, Kpeshie and Ashiedu Keteke sub metros.
The items which included sewing machines, bags, towels, carpentry , hairdressing and automechanic tools were presented free of charge to the beneficiaries.
The MP said between 2002 and 2004 the ILO/PEC supported 304 children, 65 of whom were given vocational skills training while 239 enrolled in basic schools in Chorkor, James Town and La.
He, therefore, appealed to parents, opinion leaders and assembly members to advise the beneficiaries to concentrate on their training and studies for the period of three years, for which full payments had been made. The MP also thanked the donors for their wonderful gesture.
The project, which was organised by International Needs Ghana, was in collaboration with their counterpart in New Zealand, International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour (PEC).
In all, 272 people from the Ablekuma South, Kpeshie and Ashiedu Keteke Sub metros benefited from the project, which cost GH¢444,000.
The project assisted 72 children in basic schools by paying their school fees and providing them with uniforms and books.
It also assisted 200 people undergoing vocational training in dressmaking, carpentry and hairdressing.
The parents of the beneficiaries were made to sign consent forms to pay back funds that had been spent on their wards when they were not able to complete the training due to the incidence of pregnancies to enable other people who needed the opportunity to benefit from it.
The Executive Director of International Needs Ghana, Reverend Walter Pimpong, advised children to abstain from sex since it could ruin their future, and added that concentrating on their education and training were key to a bright future.
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