THE Chairman of the Pension Reform Implementation Committee, Mr Thomas Ango Bediako, has called on members of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) to work hard to improve upon the delivery of quality education in the country.
He stated that teachers had a responsibility to deliver quality education as part of the country’s educational reforms.
Mr Bediako said this at the opening ceremony of the first Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Accra West Metro District of GNAT in Accra last Thursday.
It was held on the theme “Improved conditions of service-Key to the success of the new education reforms”.
The conference was to reflect on work and activities of the association, make future plans and elect delegates to attend the national conference of GNAT in October, 2009.
Mr Bediako said though teachers deserved to be paid very well they also had to play their roles effectively and work professionally as teachers.
He noted that teaching was fast losing its decency as a service to people, especially in the public funded basic schools.
Mr Bediako stressed the need for teachers to make use of decentralised institutions such as the district assemblies and other institutions provided for in the Education Act to help them to work effectively.
He advised them to improve upon their methods of negotiations and increase their knowledge on issues that affect their work.
The Assistant Director of Finance and Administration of the Accra Metro Education Unit, Mr Eric Amponsah, who chaired the ceremony, called on teachers to make good use of their lesson periods to enable their students to excel like their colleagues in the private schools, adding “as we continue to fight for our rights, let us also try hard to do our work well”.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
GRIDCo rehabilitates Achimota Substation (7/5/09)
THE Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) has begun major rehabilitation works at the Achimota Substation as part of efforts to improve power supply in Accra.
The exercise, which is expected to take eight weeks, involves the upgrading of a 33 Mega Volt Ampere (MVA) transformer that supplies seven per cent of power to Accra to 66 MVA.
In view of the exercise, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) on Monday, May 4, 2009, began a power rationing programme to pave the way for the upgrading works.
Under the rationing exercise, one part of Accra would experience power outage from 9a.m. to 6p.m. while the other part would go off from 6p.m. to 11p.m. to enable GRIDCo to install a new transformer at the substation.
The Head of Public Relations of GRIDCo, Mr Albert Kwesi Quainoo, in a facility tour with media personnel at the substation, said once the 33 MVA was upgraded the ECG would be able to meet the increasing demand for power and reduce power outages.
He said the 33 MVA transformer, which was manufactured in 1962 and mounted in 1965, was the smallest at the station and had worked effectively over the years until now that the load had become very heavy, thereby resulting in power outages.
He announced that a new substation would be built at Adjringanor in Accra where four transformers would be mounted to supply power due to the increasing load, adding that two more 66 MVA transformers would be added to the present transformers at the Mallam Substation.
Mr Quainoo appealed to Ghanaians to use power efficiently in order to save electricity to minimise the power outages in the country.
He advised the general public to stop using second-hand electrical appliances, since they consumed more electricity than they were supposed to, in order to conserve power.
The exercise, which is expected to take eight weeks, involves the upgrading of a 33 Mega Volt Ampere (MVA) transformer that supplies seven per cent of power to Accra to 66 MVA.
In view of the exercise, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) on Monday, May 4, 2009, began a power rationing programme to pave the way for the upgrading works.
Under the rationing exercise, one part of Accra would experience power outage from 9a.m. to 6p.m. while the other part would go off from 6p.m. to 11p.m. to enable GRIDCo to install a new transformer at the substation.
The Head of Public Relations of GRIDCo, Mr Albert Kwesi Quainoo, in a facility tour with media personnel at the substation, said once the 33 MVA was upgraded the ECG would be able to meet the increasing demand for power and reduce power outages.
He said the 33 MVA transformer, which was manufactured in 1962 and mounted in 1965, was the smallest at the station and had worked effectively over the years until now that the load had become very heavy, thereby resulting in power outages.
He announced that a new substation would be built at Adjringanor in Accra where four transformers would be mounted to supply power due to the increasing load, adding that two more 66 MVA transformers would be added to the present transformers at the Mallam Substation.
Mr Quainoo appealed to Ghanaians to use power efficiently in order to save electricity to minimise the power outages in the country.
He advised the general public to stop using second-hand electrical appliances, since they consumed more electricity than they were supposed to, in order to conserve power.
Report activities of internet fraudsters (7/5/09)
THE Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Omane Boamah, has urged the public to report all forms of sophisticated crime on the Internet otherwise known as “Sakawa” to the police.
That is to help the security agencies to deal effectively with such activities and complement government’s efforts in reducing the increasing rate of internet fraud in the country.
Launching the three-day Computer and Technology Fair by the Dot II Dot Company in Accra yesterday, the deputy minister said such activities were hindering the effectiveness and purpose of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the country.
The fair, which is scheduled to be held from May 14 to 16 at the National Theatre, is designed to give the business community hands-on experience with the latest technology.
On the theme “Innovative Technologies and Application Accelerated Development”, it is to introduce international computer, technology and electronic manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers and distributors to the market with the aim of making Ghana the hub of ICT by 2015.
Fifty technology vendors from all parts of the country are expected to display latest software, hardware and services from the best in the industry.
Products to be displayed include laptops, MP3 players, LCDs and plasma TVs and services ranging from online, banking and brokerage and basic storage solutions.
Dr Boamah said the high rate of poverty in the society was as a result of “information poverty”, adding that “the more people were informed about the changing nature of the society, the easier it would be to alleviate poverty in the country”.
He said his ministry would work in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications to help to make Ghana the ICT hub of Africa.
He noted that most tertiary institutions in the country were doing their best to foster ICT compliance, adding that the government was working hard towards ensuring that basic tenets of ICT were incorporated into junior high school curriculum.
The Communications Director of the Dot II Dot Company, Mrs Ewurama Greenslade, said the fair was to keep them up to date on the ever changing world of technology.
Mrs Greenslade said demonstrations would take place for business operators to gain an understanding of the new technologies that could assist in growing their profits.
That is to help the security agencies to deal effectively with such activities and complement government’s efforts in reducing the increasing rate of internet fraud in the country.
Launching the three-day Computer and Technology Fair by the Dot II Dot Company in Accra yesterday, the deputy minister said such activities were hindering the effectiveness and purpose of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the country.
The fair, which is scheduled to be held from May 14 to 16 at the National Theatre, is designed to give the business community hands-on experience with the latest technology.
On the theme “Innovative Technologies and Application Accelerated Development”, it is to introduce international computer, technology and electronic manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers and distributors to the market with the aim of making Ghana the hub of ICT by 2015.
Fifty technology vendors from all parts of the country are expected to display latest software, hardware and services from the best in the industry.
Products to be displayed include laptops, MP3 players, LCDs and plasma TVs and services ranging from online, banking and brokerage and basic storage solutions.
Dr Boamah said the high rate of poverty in the society was as a result of “information poverty”, adding that “the more people were informed about the changing nature of the society, the easier it would be to alleviate poverty in the country”.
He said his ministry would work in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications to help to make Ghana the ICT hub of Africa.
He noted that most tertiary institutions in the country were doing their best to foster ICT compliance, adding that the government was working hard towards ensuring that basic tenets of ICT were incorporated into junior high school curriculum.
The Communications Director of the Dot II Dot Company, Mrs Ewurama Greenslade, said the fair was to keep them up to date on the ever changing world of technology.
Mrs Greenslade said demonstrations would take place for business operators to gain an understanding of the new technologies that could assist in growing their profits.
School feeding programme faces challenges (7/5/09)
THE latest report on the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) has painted a gloomy picture about the future of the programme unless the current state of complementary services are improved.
According to the report which was launched in Accra last Tuesday,the state of complementary services such as basic infrastructure like kitchen facilities, a hygienic environment, safe water, supply of food by farmers and availability of teachers and teaching materials needed to support the programme is currently unsatisfactory.
The report entitled “Challenges of Institutional Collaboration: An assessment of the state of complementary services in the Ghana School Feeding Programme” was prepared by SEND-Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
The report stated that the unsatisfactory complementary services in the GSFP was a result of the weakness in the collaboration between the GSFP and Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ministry of Education (MoE), especially at the district level.
The report was based on a study of the school feeding programme in twenty-three schools in 21 districts purposely selected from the three northern regions and the Greater Accra Region in the last quarter of 2008.
The study observed that the current state of complementary services in the various beneficiary schools and communities adversely affected quality education, with negative implications on the health of pupils and the sustainability of the programme.
The findings revealed that 61 per cent of beneficiary schools did not have good kitchen structures, a situation which adversely affected the maintenance of hygienic environment for the preparation of food.
It revealed that about 78 per cent of the schools did not have adequate plates and cups, resulting in eating in turns which leads finally to prolonged lunch breaks.
It revealed that about 43 per cent of the schools lacked access to safe water which compelled pupils to trek for water to support the feeding programme.
Supervisory inspection in about 96 per cent of schools did not focus on any health related service or adherence to health standards in the feeding programme but mainly on getting pupils fed, the study showed.
In terms of agricultural services, 91 per cent of schools indicated during the study that foodstuffs were not obtained directly from farmers in the beneficiary districts.
The supply of quality education was lacking in about 85 per cent of beneficiary schools as teachers were inadequate and classrooms were not enough to shelter the increasing number of the pupils in the schools.
The study therefore stressed the need to find innovative ways to strengthen the collaboration between the GSFP and the various stakeholders to ensure that food is not just delivered to the pupils but prepared under hygienic conditions.
The collaboration is also to ensure the smooth supply of foodstuffs from farmers in the beneficiary districts to accelerate agricultural activities in the country.
The study also recommended that an effective monitoring team which comprises of all the stakeholders be formed to monitor all areas of the programme.
The Country Director of SEND-Ghana, Mr Samuel Zan Akologo, said the assessment was to monitor and evaluate the GSFP to ensure that the government was able to achieve its goals.
He said it was part of civil society’s watchdog role to ensure that government policies were well implemented and corrected if necessary for the development of the country.
He said some of the stakeholders of the programme were not well informed about the roles expected of them to ensure the success of the programme while others lacked resources to play their roles effectively.
Mr Akologo however stressed the need for the necessary infrastructure to be put in place to bring all the stakeholders together and ensure an effective collaboration.
According to the report which was launched in Accra last Tuesday,the state of complementary services such as basic infrastructure like kitchen facilities, a hygienic environment, safe water, supply of food by farmers and availability of teachers and teaching materials needed to support the programme is currently unsatisfactory.
The report entitled “Challenges of Institutional Collaboration: An assessment of the state of complementary services in the Ghana School Feeding Programme” was prepared by SEND-Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
The report stated that the unsatisfactory complementary services in the GSFP was a result of the weakness in the collaboration between the GSFP and Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ministry of Education (MoE), especially at the district level.
The report was based on a study of the school feeding programme in twenty-three schools in 21 districts purposely selected from the three northern regions and the Greater Accra Region in the last quarter of 2008.
The study observed that the current state of complementary services in the various beneficiary schools and communities adversely affected quality education, with negative implications on the health of pupils and the sustainability of the programme.
The findings revealed that 61 per cent of beneficiary schools did not have good kitchen structures, a situation which adversely affected the maintenance of hygienic environment for the preparation of food.
It revealed that about 78 per cent of the schools did not have adequate plates and cups, resulting in eating in turns which leads finally to prolonged lunch breaks.
It revealed that about 43 per cent of the schools lacked access to safe water which compelled pupils to trek for water to support the feeding programme.
Supervisory inspection in about 96 per cent of schools did not focus on any health related service or adherence to health standards in the feeding programme but mainly on getting pupils fed, the study showed.
In terms of agricultural services, 91 per cent of schools indicated during the study that foodstuffs were not obtained directly from farmers in the beneficiary districts.
The supply of quality education was lacking in about 85 per cent of beneficiary schools as teachers were inadequate and classrooms were not enough to shelter the increasing number of the pupils in the schools.
The study therefore stressed the need to find innovative ways to strengthen the collaboration between the GSFP and the various stakeholders to ensure that food is not just delivered to the pupils but prepared under hygienic conditions.
The collaboration is also to ensure the smooth supply of foodstuffs from farmers in the beneficiary districts to accelerate agricultural activities in the country.
The study also recommended that an effective monitoring team which comprises of all the stakeholders be formed to monitor all areas of the programme.
The Country Director of SEND-Ghana, Mr Samuel Zan Akologo, said the assessment was to monitor and evaluate the GSFP to ensure that the government was able to achieve its goals.
He said it was part of civil society’s watchdog role to ensure that government policies were well implemented and corrected if necessary for the development of the country.
He said some of the stakeholders of the programme were not well informed about the roles expected of them to ensure the success of the programme while others lacked resources to play their roles effectively.
Mr Akologo however stressed the need for the necessary infrastructure to be put in place to bring all the stakeholders together and ensure an effective collaboration.
Ablekuma Cntral MP organises clean-up exercise(7/5/09)
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma Central constituency, Mr Theophilius Tetteh Chaie, has organised a massive clean-up exercise in the Gbortsui Electoral Area.
The exercise is part of his one year clean-up campaign in the five electoral areas of his constituency which takes place every two weeks to improve the sanitation condition in the constituency.
When the Daily Graphic got to the area, some of the gutters were choked with plastic waste, empty tins of milk, fruits like oranges and sand which made it difficult for water to flow through the gutters.
The MP said sanitation was poor in the area because the place was highly populated.
He said he had collaborated with Zoomlion Ghana Limited to recruit some youth to clean up the major roads in the area adding that, more people would be recruited to clean up the whole constituency.
He noted that the tools for the exercise were inadequate and added that participation in the exercise was high.
He said vans from the Information Services Department (ISD) were working hard and going round to educate the people on good sanitation practises to keep the area clean.
Mr Tetteh Chaie stressed the need for all leaders and MPs to mobilise people in their constituencies and organise regular clean-up exercises to compliment government’s efforts in ensuring a clean environment.
He said he would soon mandate traders along the streets in his constituency to clean the gutters and the streets infront of them everyday before they go about their duties to ensure that the constituency is always kept clean.
Caption: Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma Central constituency, Mr Theophilius Tetteh Chaie ( left) and some members of the Gbortui Electoral Area collecting waste from the gutter.
The exercise is part of his one year clean-up campaign in the five electoral areas of his constituency which takes place every two weeks to improve the sanitation condition in the constituency.
When the Daily Graphic got to the area, some of the gutters were choked with plastic waste, empty tins of milk, fruits like oranges and sand which made it difficult for water to flow through the gutters.
The MP said sanitation was poor in the area because the place was highly populated.
He said he had collaborated with Zoomlion Ghana Limited to recruit some youth to clean up the major roads in the area adding that, more people would be recruited to clean up the whole constituency.
He noted that the tools for the exercise were inadequate and added that participation in the exercise was high.
He said vans from the Information Services Department (ISD) were working hard and going round to educate the people on good sanitation practises to keep the area clean.
Mr Tetteh Chaie stressed the need for all leaders and MPs to mobilise people in their constituencies and organise regular clean-up exercises to compliment government’s efforts in ensuring a clean environment.
He said he would soon mandate traders along the streets in his constituency to clean the gutters and the streets infront of them everyday before they go about their duties to ensure that the constituency is always kept clean.
Caption: Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma Central constituency, Mr Theophilius Tetteh Chaie ( left) and some members of the Gbortui Electoral Area collecting waste from the gutter.
IRS organises tax campaign (7/5/09)
THE Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has organised a tax campaign as part of its Revenue week celebration to sensitise owners of businesses on their tax obligations.
The campaign was also to collect revenue from the informal sector.
The campaign took place at the Tema Community Market, Madina Market and the Makola Market.
The Revenue Week celebration which began on Monday April 27, 2009 was on the theme “Enhancing tax Compliance: The responsibility of the income earning property owner”.
Activities for the week-long celebration included a forum on tax, seminar for religious bodies and other media activities.
The Chief Inspector of Taxes of the Tema Main District branch of the IRS, Mr Stephen Yaw Boateng, said the voluntary compliance of tax payers was low in the district.
He said the branch faced challenges such as inadequate logistics and manpower which made revenue collection difficult.
He stated that the informal sector was a difficult group to deal with in terms of revenue collection, stressing that the company would embark on such exercises regularly to collect revenue from people at market places, shops and others.
Mr Boateng therefore appealed to the public to honour their quarterly tax obligations to help in the provision of social amenities and infrastructure for the development of the country.
The campaign was also to collect revenue from the informal sector.
The campaign took place at the Tema Community Market, Madina Market and the Makola Market.
The Revenue Week celebration which began on Monday April 27, 2009 was on the theme “Enhancing tax Compliance: The responsibility of the income earning property owner”.
Activities for the week-long celebration included a forum on tax, seminar for religious bodies and other media activities.
The Chief Inspector of Taxes of the Tema Main District branch of the IRS, Mr Stephen Yaw Boateng, said the voluntary compliance of tax payers was low in the district.
He said the branch faced challenges such as inadequate logistics and manpower which made revenue collection difficult.
He stated that the informal sector was a difficult group to deal with in terms of revenue collection, stressing that the company would embark on such exercises regularly to collect revenue from people at market places, shops and others.
Mr Boateng therefore appealed to the public to honour their quarterly tax obligations to help in the provision of social amenities and infrastructure for the development of the country.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Chemical Sellers to use txtNPay system (4/05/09)
AFRIC Xpress, a Ghana incorporated electronic payment solution specialist and a pioneer in mobile phone-based payment solutions in Ghana, has signed a partnership agreement with the National Chemical Sellers Association to enable 10,000 members of the association nationwide to transact business with customers using the txtNpay mobile phone-based electronic payment system.
The contract will also enable customers to transfer money to relatives all over the country in about five minutes, withdraw money, purchase goods, top up mobile phone credit, pay bills and check account balance all with the use of a mobile phone.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of GSMF International, Mr Alex Banful said money transfer over the years had become inconvenient in the country.
He said people no longer had to send money through people and drivers to relatives in the rural areas and noted that customers could now send money in the comfort of their homes to any part of the country with a text message.
The Finance and Administration Manager of Afric Xpress, Mr Michael Asiedu promised to offer quality services to customers.
He said users of all mobile phone networks in the country except Zain, could register and have access to the txtNpay system.
He said hundreds of MultiChoice subscribers had began experiencing the simplicity and convenience of the txtNpay service as they texted in to pay their bills without having to pay cash at any service counter.
He added that the barriers of distance, time and space had finally been eliminated from the routine transactions of settling bills for services bought.
The Customer Service Manager of Afric Xpress, Mrs Vida Assan, said all mobile phone users had to do was to register for a txtNpay electronic wallet.
She said the electronic wallet would enable them to have money on their mobile phones which they could use to top up credit, pay for goods and bills, check account balance, transfer money and withdraw money from any of their agents nationwide.
Caption: Torgbi Adela Dartey III, President of the National Chemical Sellers Association (left) and Mr Asiedu (right) exchanging files after signing the contract while Mrs Assan and Mr John Ofori Atta, Secretary of the Association looks on.
The contract will also enable customers to transfer money to relatives all over the country in about five minutes, withdraw money, purchase goods, top up mobile phone credit, pay bills and check account balance all with the use of a mobile phone.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of GSMF International, Mr Alex Banful said money transfer over the years had become inconvenient in the country.
He said people no longer had to send money through people and drivers to relatives in the rural areas and noted that customers could now send money in the comfort of their homes to any part of the country with a text message.
The Finance and Administration Manager of Afric Xpress, Mr Michael Asiedu promised to offer quality services to customers.
He said users of all mobile phone networks in the country except Zain, could register and have access to the txtNpay system.
He said hundreds of MultiChoice subscribers had began experiencing the simplicity and convenience of the txtNpay service as they texted in to pay their bills without having to pay cash at any service counter.
He added that the barriers of distance, time and space had finally been eliminated from the routine transactions of settling bills for services bought.
The Customer Service Manager of Afric Xpress, Mrs Vida Assan, said all mobile phone users had to do was to register for a txtNpay electronic wallet.
She said the electronic wallet would enable them to have money on their mobile phones which they could use to top up credit, pay for goods and bills, check account balance, transfer money and withdraw money from any of their agents nationwide.
Caption: Torgbi Adela Dartey III, President of the National Chemical Sellers Association (left) and Mr Asiedu (right) exchanging files after signing the contract while Mrs Assan and Mr John Ofori Atta, Secretary of the Association looks on.
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