IN Ghana, the name Akuapem is synonymous with the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG).
This is because the area composed of lofty mountain ranges was one of the first stops of the Basel Missionaries that came to the then Gold Coast more than 150 years ago to spread the gospel.
Having succeeded over the years in converting many indigenous people to Christianity (to be precise the PCG), the missionaries and the converted Africans, some of whom took to the clergy and spread the gospel to all parts of Akuapem, as well as other traditional areas in the region where churches were established.
At the same time, the PCG established a number of schools to give formal education to the people.
The PCG also set up many health facilities, making it the third largest (after the government and the Catholic Church) in the provision of such facilities in the country.
To oversee the proper administration of the area, the PCG decided to set up the Akuapem Presbytery headed by a chairperson to be in charge of the area’s spiritual and physical development.
The Akuapem Presbytery, which is also one of the oldest and largest presbyteries of the PCG, came into being with the first synod of the church at Kyebi in 1927 to cater for a vast area which now covers the whole of the Akuapem Traditional Area, New Juaben and some parts of Akyem Abuakwa. The Presbytery is composed of 18 districts.
The districts are Akropong, the headquarters, Abiriw, Aburi, Adawso, Adeiso, Adukrom, Amonokrom, Asuboi, Coaltar, Effiduase, Koforidua, Larteh, Mamfe, Mampong, Nankese, Nsawam, Nsukwao, Suhum and Tutu.
To continue with its vision of catering for the spiritual and material needs of its members and society in general, the past chairpersons of the presbytery supported by the reverend ministers, catechists and caretakers, followed that direction, especially in the establishment of additional schools and welfare service centres.
One of such chairpersons is the Rev. (Dr) J.O.Y. Mantey, who was given the mantle to lead the presbytery three years ago.
Within the limited period, Rev. (Dr) Mantey has been able to further improve the infrastructure of the schools, as well as providing other social services, primarily in the rural areas where poverty is endemic to alleviate the suffering of the poor.
Some of the facilities are a bungalow for the Aburi Girls Senior High School (SHS), a dormitory for the Aburi Senior High/Technical School, a girls’ dormitory for Mampong PRESEC, roofing of classrooms that were ripped off during rainstorm at Suhum PRESEC, a dormitory for the Adeiso Presbyterian Senior High/Technical School and a classroom block for the Coaltar Presbyterian Senior High/Technical School, as well as residential facility for the headmaster free-of-charge.
The presbytery, which also provides large quantities of books and stationery for many basic schools within its catchment area, is currently running two vocational schools at Abiriw and Adawso.
In the health sector, the presbytery has built and ran two clinics at Aburi and Obregyima, a small farming community near Teacher Mantey on the main Accra-Kumasi highway, as well as paying the premium of the health insurance scheme for many of rural dwellers who under no circumstance could afford to pay.
A hospitality centre is also being constructed near an office complex which was put up in April this year at Akropong-Akuapem to administer the presbytery.
One thing worth noting is that Rev. (Dr) Mantey, who has passion for providing for the needs of the poor in society, has personally been taking care of such unfortunate people in some of the villages, at times with the support of Samaritan Purse, an American-based non-governmental organisation.
The towns and villages which have benefited from his largesse are Dokrokyiwa, Coaltar, Adeiso, Obum and Onokwase, a deprived community near Kraboa Coaltar with about 600 people where he had distributed clothes and other items to both adults and schoolchildren.
“There are many unfortunate people, especially children from very poor parentage with no hope of making a living like the ordinary persons so sometimes I use my own money to buy items like footwear and dresses for them,” Rev. (Dr) Mantey stated.
Rev. (Dr) Mantey, who is also the chairman of the Peace Council in the region, sees traditional rulers as partners in the development of the presbytery and, therefore, dialogued with them in that respect during his first year in office.
He has advised the chiefs not to consider the power they wield to be more important than peace enjoyed by their people.
To him, traditional rulers must learn to sacrifice and stomach certain undesirable things for the sake of peace to enable society to progress.
With regard to the duration of the SHS, the reverend minister was of the view that it is currently beset with numerous challenges, especially infrastructure.
He, therefore, called for a bold decision to be taken on either to maintain the current four-year duration or three years so that the necessary infrastructure would be provided to cater for all the students.
“I believe the government has not been able to provide the required infrastructure, especially dormitories so many senior high schools within the presbytery are facing serious problems in that respect. “If fresh students, especially those from far away places are to stay in rented premises outside campus, there is the likelihood they would go wayward,” Rev. (Dr Mantey stated.
The tremendous contribution made by the Rev. (Dr) Mantey for the spiritual and material development of the Akuapem Presbytery can be attributed to his rich educational background and extensive tour to many parts of the world on ecclesiastical assignments that have well positioned him for the job.
Born in Kumasi on November 9, 1957, Rev. (Dr) Mantey attended a number of basic, secondary and tertiary educational institutions and crowned them all with two masters’ degrees in Theology and Philosophy of Religion, as well as Doctor of Philosophy in Systematic Theology and Philosophy, all from the prestigious Claremont Humanities Centre in California in 1994.
Rev. (Dr) Mantey, also a doctoral fellow of the Claremont Humanities Centre from 1992 to 1993, was ordained a reverend minister of the PCG in 1983 and made chairman of the Akuapem Presbytery in 2006.
Before his current position, Rev. (Dr) Mantey had served in several congregations and establishments of the PCG in different parts of the country.
Rev. (Dr) Mantey, who is also the current chairman of the Peace Council of the Eastern Region, is married with three children.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
GHANA EARNS $400 MILLION FROM NON-TRADDITIONAL EXPORTS (PAGE 13, OCT 23, 2010)
GHANA earned $400 million from the export of non-traditional products in the first quarter of the year.
Most of the earnings came from processed and semi-processed goods primarily agricultural products and handicrafts.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Baba Jamal Muhamed Ahmed, made this known at the inauguration of the Eastern Regional Shippers Committee in Koforidua on Wednesday.
The formation of the committee, an initiative of the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), was to cater for the interest of shippers in the Eastern Region.
He said since earnings from export of non-traditional products would boost the economy the government had taken steps to increase the value of such exports from $1 billion in 2009 to $5 billion in 2015.
Some of the government initiatives in that respect, according to Baba Jamal, were the putting up of the multi-million-cedi Aburi Craft Village to boost the carving and export of handicrafts and the construction of two pack houses in the Yilo Krobo District and the Akuapem South Municipality, areas noted for the production of mangoes, for the proper sorting and packaging for export.
He, therefore, asked the GSA to assist exporters in negotiating for better freight rates, port tariffs and shipping space.
He said such initiatives would reduce the transport cost of the products and make them competitive on the international market.
Baba Jamal also advised exporters to make use of the Export Development Initiative Fund, which had been made available, to boost production and export in the non-traditional sector.
The deputy regional minister expressed the hope that the committee would live up to expectation in improving the non-traditional export sector.
The Deputy Chief Executive of the GSA, Mr Emmanuel Martey, said the authority had developed a five-year strategic plan to facilitate the export of non-traditional products.
Shippers, he also stated, were being provided with all the necessary assistance, particularly timely vital information, to enhance the export business.
Mr Martey indicated that the GSA, which was formed about 30 years ago to primarily assist shippers had throughout the years offered tremendous assistance to shippers.
Earlier the GSA’s official in charge of the Greater Accra and Eastern regions, Mrs Naa Dansua Ayittey, mentioned lack of finance and access to the export market as some of the challenges confronting exporters in the non-traditional sector.
Mrs Ayittey, who expressed the hope that such challenges would be addressed, advised exporters of non-traditional products to be always abreast with maritime regulations.
The Omanhene of New Juaben, Daasebre (Prof.) Oti Boaten, who chaired the function, advised Ghanaian shippers to adopt the best practices, since that would go a long way to improve intra-African trade.
He also called for improvement in the Volta Lake transport to facilitate the carting of goods and services to and from the northern regions.
Most of the earnings came from processed and semi-processed goods primarily agricultural products and handicrafts.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Baba Jamal Muhamed Ahmed, made this known at the inauguration of the Eastern Regional Shippers Committee in Koforidua on Wednesday.
The formation of the committee, an initiative of the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), was to cater for the interest of shippers in the Eastern Region.
He said since earnings from export of non-traditional products would boost the economy the government had taken steps to increase the value of such exports from $1 billion in 2009 to $5 billion in 2015.
Some of the government initiatives in that respect, according to Baba Jamal, were the putting up of the multi-million-cedi Aburi Craft Village to boost the carving and export of handicrafts and the construction of two pack houses in the Yilo Krobo District and the Akuapem South Municipality, areas noted for the production of mangoes, for the proper sorting and packaging for export.
He, therefore, asked the GSA to assist exporters in negotiating for better freight rates, port tariffs and shipping space.
He said such initiatives would reduce the transport cost of the products and make them competitive on the international market.
Baba Jamal also advised exporters to make use of the Export Development Initiative Fund, which had been made available, to boost production and export in the non-traditional sector.
The deputy regional minister expressed the hope that the committee would live up to expectation in improving the non-traditional export sector.
The Deputy Chief Executive of the GSA, Mr Emmanuel Martey, said the authority had developed a five-year strategic plan to facilitate the export of non-traditional products.
Shippers, he also stated, were being provided with all the necessary assistance, particularly timely vital information, to enhance the export business.
Mr Martey indicated that the GSA, which was formed about 30 years ago to primarily assist shippers had throughout the years offered tremendous assistance to shippers.
Earlier the GSA’s official in charge of the Greater Accra and Eastern regions, Mrs Naa Dansua Ayittey, mentioned lack of finance and access to the export market as some of the challenges confronting exporters in the non-traditional sector.
Mrs Ayittey, who expressed the hope that such challenges would be addressed, advised exporters of non-traditional products to be always abreast with maritime regulations.
The Omanhene of New Juaben, Daasebre (Prof.) Oti Boaten, who chaired the function, advised Ghanaian shippers to adopt the best practices, since that would go a long way to improve intra-African trade.
He also called for improvement in the Volta Lake transport to facilitate the carting of goods and services to and from the northern regions.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
WORK ON OBO-ADUAMOA ROAD PROGRESSES (PAGE 35, OCT 13, 2010)
CONSTRUCTION work on a new four-kilometre road to link Obo and Aduamoa on the Kwahu Scarf in the Kwahu South District is progressing steadily.
When completed, the new road will shorten travel time and distance by about 18 kilometres because travellers will no longer have to pass through a semi-circular route from Nkwatia, Mpraeso and Obomeng before getting to either Obo or Aduamoa.
The project is being implemented by the Community-Based Rural Development Project (CBRDP) with funding from the World Bank at an approximate cost of GH259,000 out of which the assembly is contributing 10 per cent.
It is being executed by Dan Bort Company Limited, a road construction firm.
The Kwahu South District Assembly had to initiate the project after Nana Onini Afari, the Chief of Aduamoa and Nana Afari Boadjan, the Obohene had appealed to the government through the assembly to construct the road, a distance of approximately four kilometres, to link the two towns.
According to them, the construction of the road will facilitate the carting of tiger nuts, the main agricultural produce in the area from Aduamoa to the marketing centres, as well as easing the movement of people and tourists who flock the district during the Easter period.
Speaking to media practitioners during a tour to the site, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Kwahu South, Mr Joseph Omari, said the government had to listen to the chiefs and people of the two towns after realising that the construction of the road would be beneficial to them.
He said apart from the new road making it possible for the farmers to send their produce to the marketing centres at a lesser cost, it would also boost tourism in the area.
According to the DCE, the area had many tourist attractions such as ancestral caves and lofty mountains, one of which provided a launching pad for paragliding.
Mr Omari was satisfied with work so far done on the road and expressed the hope that the project would be completed by the end of November, one month ahead of the scheduled period.
When completed, the new road will shorten travel time and distance by about 18 kilometres because travellers will no longer have to pass through a semi-circular route from Nkwatia, Mpraeso and Obomeng before getting to either Obo or Aduamoa.
The project is being implemented by the Community-Based Rural Development Project (CBRDP) with funding from the World Bank at an approximate cost of GH259,000 out of which the assembly is contributing 10 per cent.
It is being executed by Dan Bort Company Limited, a road construction firm.
The Kwahu South District Assembly had to initiate the project after Nana Onini Afari, the Chief of Aduamoa and Nana Afari Boadjan, the Obohene had appealed to the government through the assembly to construct the road, a distance of approximately four kilometres, to link the two towns.
According to them, the construction of the road will facilitate the carting of tiger nuts, the main agricultural produce in the area from Aduamoa to the marketing centres, as well as easing the movement of people and tourists who flock the district during the Easter period.
Speaking to media practitioners during a tour to the site, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Kwahu South, Mr Joseph Omari, said the government had to listen to the chiefs and people of the two towns after realising that the construction of the road would be beneficial to them.
He said apart from the new road making it possible for the farmers to send their produce to the marketing centres at a lesser cost, it would also boost tourism in the area.
According to the DCE, the area had many tourist attractions such as ancestral caves and lofty mountains, one of which provided a launching pad for paragliding.
Mr Omari was satisfied with work so far done on the road and expressed the hope that the project would be completed by the end of November, one month ahead of the scheduled period.
HUNGER PROJECT PROVIDES WATER FOR BESEASE (PAGE 35, OCT 13, 2010)
THE Hunger Project, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has provided a water reservoir and an animator for pupils of the kindergarten and primary school at Besease near Kwahu Prasu in the Kwahu South District.
The reservoir, was installed by women who were also specially trained by The Hunger Project for its maintenance.
Before the provision of the facilities, many of the pupils in the area, noted for cola nuts, were not regularly attending classes but were picking cola nuts in the bush for sale.
The facilities, especially the animator, has served as bait as a result of which enrolment and attendance in the school had increased considerably.
Inaugurating the facilities, the Country Director of The Hunger Project, Dr Naana Agyeman Mensah, said her outfit was committed primarily to the welfare of children and women that was why it had provided the facilities and also trained the women to work on the reservoir.
Dr Agyeman Mensah educated women on their rights and responsibilities and urged them to consider the education of their children as the best legacy to bequeath to them.
She also castigated men who neglected their children and called for punitive measures to be taken against such irresponsible fathers.
The Chief of Besease, Nana Owusu Kyere, the Headmistress of the school, Miss Comfort Twumwaa, the Presiding Member of the Kwahu South District Assembly, Mr Ofosu Kissi, as well as the assembly member for the town, Mr Karikari Boateng, were all grateful to The Hunger Project for assisting the school.
They, however, appealed to the NGO to see how best it could help provide residential facilities for the staff of the school.
The reservoir, was installed by women who were also specially trained by The Hunger Project for its maintenance.
Before the provision of the facilities, many of the pupils in the area, noted for cola nuts, were not regularly attending classes but were picking cola nuts in the bush for sale.
The facilities, especially the animator, has served as bait as a result of which enrolment and attendance in the school had increased considerably.
Inaugurating the facilities, the Country Director of The Hunger Project, Dr Naana Agyeman Mensah, said her outfit was committed primarily to the welfare of children and women that was why it had provided the facilities and also trained the women to work on the reservoir.
Dr Agyeman Mensah educated women on their rights and responsibilities and urged them to consider the education of their children as the best legacy to bequeath to them.
She also castigated men who neglected their children and called for punitive measures to be taken against such irresponsible fathers.
The Chief of Besease, Nana Owusu Kyere, the Headmistress of the school, Miss Comfort Twumwaa, the Presiding Member of the Kwahu South District Assembly, Mr Ofosu Kissi, as well as the assembly member for the town, Mr Karikari Boateng, were all grateful to The Hunger Project for assisting the school.
They, however, appealed to the NGO to see how best it could help provide residential facilities for the staff of the school.
BAD ROADS HINDER UPPER MANYA KROBO'S DEVELOPMENT (PAGE 35, OCT 13, 2010)
THE Upper Manya Krobo District, which was carved out of the vast Manya Krobo District as one of the newly-created districts, came into existence in February, 2008.
The creation of the new political entity, which is wholly a rural area with limited social amenities, was to provide more infrastructural facilities to hasten its development and make life worth living for the people in the communities, who are mostly peasant farmers.
Although the creation of the district was timely and appreciated by the people, the basic and necessary infrastructure for the smooth administration of the area was not put in place before it took off, making it very difficult for the assembly to administer it. The District lacks residential facility for the District Chief Executive (DCE), the District Co-ordinating Director (DCD) and other technocrats to direct the area’s development, and the rest of the staff are residing in Koforidua, a distance of about 40 kilometres away.They have to make a return journey to and from work with its attendant problems.
The area lacks most of the basic necessities of life such as school buildings and potable water, although the previous government did its best in that respect.
With the exception of one health facility, that is, the Asesewa Government Hospital, which primarily serves the Asesewa town and its environs, there are virtually no clinics or health posts in most of the communities.
The deplorable nature of the roads in the area has also been a major problem of the people because apart from the Koforidua-Asesewa main road and seven kilometre stretch of the Asesewa-Akateng road, which have been tarred, the rest connecting the various communities with Asesewa, the district capital, can best be described as death traps.
The roads, which are full of wide and deep pot holes, become dusty during the harmattan season, and almost impassable during the rainy season.
As a result of the situation, food stuffs such as maize, cassava, cocoyam, plantain and all types of yams produced in the area described as the bread basket of the region, usually get rotten at the farm gates.
Some of the numerous bad and almost impassable routes are the Asesewa-Konkoneh road, Akatawia-Sekesua Road, a major road tarred more than 50 years ago, which has since not been rehabilitated, the 17-kilometre Asesewa-Odometa road, the 21-kilometre Sekesua-Sutapon-Sumer road, the 10-kilometre Asesewa-Bisa road and the seven-kilometre Bisa Junction-Aframase road.
Although these roads have to be rehabilitated periodically, they still remain almost impassable, especially during the raining season because the rains wash away the top soil and create water filled pot holes.
What is more worrying is that all the streets at Asesewa, the district capital, are still not tarred because the construction firm, Modern Times, which was awarded the contract by the previous government to execute them, has abandoned it.
To remedy the situation, the district assembly has acquired a tractor to regularly reshape the roads to facilitate the transportation of foodstuffs to the main marketing centres at Asesewa, Akateng and Sekesua.
Despite the efforts by the assembly to put the roads in good shape, not much has been achieved because the rocky nature of some of the roads such as the one linking Asesewa and Konkoney makes it impossible for the tractor to work on them.
The rehabilitation of such roads requires the use of heavy construction equipment which can only be done with a heavy financial outlay which can only be met by the central government.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Joseph Angmor Tetteh is very much worried about the bad nature of the roads in the district.
He said the bad roads had been the main challenge of the assembly, compelling it to put them on its priority list.
The DCE said “We are providing more social amenities in an area where most of the communities lack the basic necessities of life, but the bad nature of the roads are hindering our efforts and progress because it is very difficult for one to move from one end to the other.
“This is also driving away investors because they can simply not go to the communities where land is available to embark upon large scale farming and other ventures,” Mr Tetteh said.
On the whole, the newly created district is forging ahead with respect to the provision of other social amenities like electricity, which is being extended to some of the communities, as well as potable water.
In the area of education, the assembly and other development partners such as Plan Ghana are putting up school buildings in most of the deprived communities. With the government initiatives like the capitation grant, free exercise books and school uniforms for pupils, of which most of them have already benefitted, parents are now relieved of their major problem—the acquisition of such items for their children.
Another point worth noting is that, some of the communities have also started putting up school buildings. One of such communities is Akateng where the people, mostly fishermen on the Volta Lake have used proceeds from the sale of pre-mix fuel to construct a six-classroom block for the local junior high school to replace a dilapidated structure.
On health, the Asesewa Government Hospital is being refurbished and an X-Ray Department has been established while an ultra-modern nutrition centre funded by a Canadian philanthropist, had also been constructed at Asesewa.
The assembly, for its part, has put up a number of social amenities. They include the renovation and construction of numerous school buildings,an Information Communication Technology (ICT) centre at Asesewa, a modern abattoir with baths and toilet facilities as well as a dressing room said to be the first of its kind for butchers also at Asesewa.
However, with all such facilities, if the road network is not improved, the inhabitants, mostly farmers will not be able to send their produce to the markets, especially during the rainy season to earn money for their livelihood and poverty will continue to be endemic in the area.
It is in this respect that the assembly should be given the necessary support to tackle the issue, especially the rehabilitation of the roads composed of rocks.
The creation of the new political entity, which is wholly a rural area with limited social amenities, was to provide more infrastructural facilities to hasten its development and make life worth living for the people in the communities, who are mostly peasant farmers.
Although the creation of the district was timely and appreciated by the people, the basic and necessary infrastructure for the smooth administration of the area was not put in place before it took off, making it very difficult for the assembly to administer it. The District lacks residential facility for the District Chief Executive (DCE), the District Co-ordinating Director (DCD) and other technocrats to direct the area’s development, and the rest of the staff are residing in Koforidua, a distance of about 40 kilometres away.They have to make a return journey to and from work with its attendant problems.
The area lacks most of the basic necessities of life such as school buildings and potable water, although the previous government did its best in that respect.
With the exception of one health facility, that is, the Asesewa Government Hospital, which primarily serves the Asesewa town and its environs, there are virtually no clinics or health posts in most of the communities.
The deplorable nature of the roads in the area has also been a major problem of the people because apart from the Koforidua-Asesewa main road and seven kilometre stretch of the Asesewa-Akateng road, which have been tarred, the rest connecting the various communities with Asesewa, the district capital, can best be described as death traps.
The roads, which are full of wide and deep pot holes, become dusty during the harmattan season, and almost impassable during the rainy season.
As a result of the situation, food stuffs such as maize, cassava, cocoyam, plantain and all types of yams produced in the area described as the bread basket of the region, usually get rotten at the farm gates.
Some of the numerous bad and almost impassable routes are the Asesewa-Konkoneh road, Akatawia-Sekesua Road, a major road tarred more than 50 years ago, which has since not been rehabilitated, the 17-kilometre Asesewa-Odometa road, the 21-kilometre Sekesua-Sutapon-Sumer road, the 10-kilometre Asesewa-Bisa road and the seven-kilometre Bisa Junction-Aframase road.
Although these roads have to be rehabilitated periodically, they still remain almost impassable, especially during the raining season because the rains wash away the top soil and create water filled pot holes.
What is more worrying is that all the streets at Asesewa, the district capital, are still not tarred because the construction firm, Modern Times, which was awarded the contract by the previous government to execute them, has abandoned it.
To remedy the situation, the district assembly has acquired a tractor to regularly reshape the roads to facilitate the transportation of foodstuffs to the main marketing centres at Asesewa, Akateng and Sekesua.
Despite the efforts by the assembly to put the roads in good shape, not much has been achieved because the rocky nature of some of the roads such as the one linking Asesewa and Konkoney makes it impossible for the tractor to work on them.
The rehabilitation of such roads requires the use of heavy construction equipment which can only be done with a heavy financial outlay which can only be met by the central government.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Joseph Angmor Tetteh is very much worried about the bad nature of the roads in the district.
He said the bad roads had been the main challenge of the assembly, compelling it to put them on its priority list.
The DCE said “We are providing more social amenities in an area where most of the communities lack the basic necessities of life, but the bad nature of the roads are hindering our efforts and progress because it is very difficult for one to move from one end to the other.
“This is also driving away investors because they can simply not go to the communities where land is available to embark upon large scale farming and other ventures,” Mr Tetteh said.
On the whole, the newly created district is forging ahead with respect to the provision of other social amenities like electricity, which is being extended to some of the communities, as well as potable water.
In the area of education, the assembly and other development partners such as Plan Ghana are putting up school buildings in most of the deprived communities. With the government initiatives like the capitation grant, free exercise books and school uniforms for pupils, of which most of them have already benefitted, parents are now relieved of their major problem—the acquisition of such items for their children.
Another point worth noting is that, some of the communities have also started putting up school buildings. One of such communities is Akateng where the people, mostly fishermen on the Volta Lake have used proceeds from the sale of pre-mix fuel to construct a six-classroom block for the local junior high school to replace a dilapidated structure.
On health, the Asesewa Government Hospital is being refurbished and an X-Ray Department has been established while an ultra-modern nutrition centre funded by a Canadian philanthropist, had also been constructed at Asesewa.
The assembly, for its part, has put up a number of social amenities. They include the renovation and construction of numerous school buildings,an Information Communication Technology (ICT) centre at Asesewa, a modern abattoir with baths and toilet facilities as well as a dressing room said to be the first of its kind for butchers also at Asesewa.
However, with all such facilities, if the road network is not improved, the inhabitants, mostly farmers will not be able to send their produce to the markets, especially during the rainy season to earn money for their livelihood and poverty will continue to be endemic in the area.
It is in this respect that the assembly should be given the necessary support to tackle the issue, especially the rehabilitation of the roads composed of rocks.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
POLYTECHNICS NOT PREPARATORY SCHOOLS FOR UNIVERSITIES (PAGE 11, OCT 6, 2010)
THE Chief Inspector of Schools, Dr George Afeti has said polytechnics are not preparatory schools to prepare senior high school students to enter the universities.
Dr Afeti also emphasised that polytechnics were not bus stops where students would have to wait to enter other preferred tertiary institutions.
Rather, he said they were tertiary educational institutions awarding work-related professional qualifications of higher national diplomas for the holders to earn a decent living and also help in national development.
Dr Afeti, a former principal of the Ho Polytechnic made the remark at the 15th matriculation of the Koforidua Polytechnic at Koforidua.
In all, 2,026 new students out of which 794 are women have been admitted to pursue various courses.
According to Dr Afeti, polytechnic education was career-focused, which enabled the graduates to acquire knowledge and skills in areas such as Accountancy, Automobile Engineering, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Banking and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), after which they worked to support national development.
He said polytechnic students were already in the right institutions and that they could further their studies to obtain higher qualification such as bachelor’s degrees in other fields at the polytechnic institutions.
Dr Afeti said what was needed was for polytechnic graduates to re-assert themselves in their chosen field and excel to move society forward, adding that they should cultivate the spirit of voluntarism and help resolve crises.
Earlier, the acting Rector of the Koforidua Polytechnic, Mr Samuel Okae-Adjei said two new Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes in Secretaryship and Management Studies and Building Technology had been introduced, increasing the number of HND courses from 11 to 13.
He also hinted that plans were far advanced for the award of HND in Civil Engineering this academic year and that the required equipment for the smooth take-off of the programmes had been put in place to give the students the much-needed learning experience to be relevant in the working world.
Other infrastructural projects such as a four-storey lecture hall/office and another five-storey building for the School of Engineering as well as staff bungalows were being built to enhance teaching and learning.
With regard to academic performance and discipline on the part of students, he noted that those who did not do well in their programmes as well as those who flouted the rules of the institution had to be withdrawn.
Mr Okae-Adjei, therefore, asked the students to be serious with their studies and also be disciplined at all times.
Dr Afeti also emphasised that polytechnics were not bus stops where students would have to wait to enter other preferred tertiary institutions.
Rather, he said they were tertiary educational institutions awarding work-related professional qualifications of higher national diplomas for the holders to earn a decent living and also help in national development.
Dr Afeti, a former principal of the Ho Polytechnic made the remark at the 15th matriculation of the Koforidua Polytechnic at Koforidua.
In all, 2,026 new students out of which 794 are women have been admitted to pursue various courses.
According to Dr Afeti, polytechnic education was career-focused, which enabled the graduates to acquire knowledge and skills in areas such as Accountancy, Automobile Engineering, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Banking and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), after which they worked to support national development.
He said polytechnic students were already in the right institutions and that they could further their studies to obtain higher qualification such as bachelor’s degrees in other fields at the polytechnic institutions.
Dr Afeti said what was needed was for polytechnic graduates to re-assert themselves in their chosen field and excel to move society forward, adding that they should cultivate the spirit of voluntarism and help resolve crises.
Earlier, the acting Rector of the Koforidua Polytechnic, Mr Samuel Okae-Adjei said two new Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes in Secretaryship and Management Studies and Building Technology had been introduced, increasing the number of HND courses from 11 to 13.
He also hinted that plans were far advanced for the award of HND in Civil Engineering this academic year and that the required equipment for the smooth take-off of the programmes had been put in place to give the students the much-needed learning experience to be relevant in the working world.
Other infrastructural projects such as a four-storey lecture hall/office and another five-storey building for the School of Engineering as well as staff bungalows were being built to enhance teaching and learning.
With regard to academic performance and discipline on the part of students, he noted that those who did not do well in their programmes as well as those who flouted the rules of the institution had to be withdrawn.
Mr Okae-Adjei, therefore, asked the students to be serious with their studies and also be disciplined at all times.
BARGAIN FOR BETTER SALARIES...But be mindful of budgetary constraints, Veep tells teachers (LEAD STORY, OCT 6, 2010)
THE Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, yesterday urged the leadership of teacher associations to be circumspect in their negotiations with the government over the payment of higher salaries and allowances.
He said although teachers had bargaining powers to demand higher salaries, they should be mindful of budgetary constraints and limitations of the government.
“I urge you to continue to negotiate with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, but this must be done in tandem with the budgetary constraints of the government,” he stressed.
Mr Mahama said this when he joined thousands of teachers to celebrate the 16th National Best Teacher Award and the World Teachers Day in Koforidua.
Mr Kingsley Akom, a tutor of the Kumasi Technical Institute, was adjudged the Overall Best Teacher for this year’s edition of the awards scheme, while Mr Samuel Addae of the Suame Methodist Junior High School and Mr Peter Amponsah of Akompanin L/A Primary became the first and second runners-up, respectively.
Mr Mahama said Ghana had made significant progress towards attaining a middle income status and reminded teachers of their role towards achieving that goal.
The Vice-President said the government was collecting data to provide the basis for it to satisfy teachers in respect of their professional allowances and provide other incentives to enhance their welfare.
He said the nation’s success depended on its education and called on teachers to approach their task with dedication, eschew laissez faire attitude and work towards the development of the nation’s human resource.
Additionally, he said the recovery of the nation’s gains in education could only centre on the teacher, adding, “It is only through the dedication of the teacher that we can build a better nation and bring the children back on track”.
He said the success of education required the collective efforts of all stakeholders, including district assemblies, communities, traditional rulers and religious bodies, stressing that “the modest gains chalked up should be sustained”.
Mr Mahama said between now and 2012, the government intended to construct more than 4,200 classrooms to eliminate schools under trees and also eliminate the shift system.
He said 214 senior high schools had been targeted to be provided with accommodation to supplement existing ones and gave the assurance that those projects would be completed in the next few months.
He said the free school uniforms, the capitation grant and the free exercise books projects would continue and be sustained, while new interventions would be introduced to improve education.
The Vice-President commended teachers for their immense contribution to the development of education in the country.
In a message delivered on behalf of teacher associations, including the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), the President of GNAT, Mr Paul Apanga, praised the government for its efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly regarding education for all.
He said although teachers had bargaining powers to demand higher salaries, they should be mindful of budgetary constraints and limitations of the government.
“I urge you to continue to negotiate with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, but this must be done in tandem with the budgetary constraints of the government,” he stressed.
Mr Mahama said this when he joined thousands of teachers to celebrate the 16th National Best Teacher Award and the World Teachers Day in Koforidua.
Mr Kingsley Akom, a tutor of the Kumasi Technical Institute, was adjudged the Overall Best Teacher for this year’s edition of the awards scheme, while Mr Samuel Addae of the Suame Methodist Junior High School and Mr Peter Amponsah of Akompanin L/A Primary became the first and second runners-up, respectively.
Mr Mahama said Ghana had made significant progress towards attaining a middle income status and reminded teachers of their role towards achieving that goal.
The Vice-President said the government was collecting data to provide the basis for it to satisfy teachers in respect of their professional allowances and provide other incentives to enhance their welfare.
He said the nation’s success depended on its education and called on teachers to approach their task with dedication, eschew laissez faire attitude and work towards the development of the nation’s human resource.
Additionally, he said the recovery of the nation’s gains in education could only centre on the teacher, adding, “It is only through the dedication of the teacher that we can build a better nation and bring the children back on track”.
He said the success of education required the collective efforts of all stakeholders, including district assemblies, communities, traditional rulers and religious bodies, stressing that “the modest gains chalked up should be sustained”.
Mr Mahama said between now and 2012, the government intended to construct more than 4,200 classrooms to eliminate schools under trees and also eliminate the shift system.
He said 214 senior high schools had been targeted to be provided with accommodation to supplement existing ones and gave the assurance that those projects would be completed in the next few months.
He said the free school uniforms, the capitation grant and the free exercise books projects would continue and be sustained, while new interventions would be introduced to improve education.
The Vice-President commended teachers for their immense contribution to the development of education in the country.
In a message delivered on behalf of teacher associations, including the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), the President of GNAT, Mr Paul Apanga, praised the government for its efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly regarding education for all.
AKON — OVERALL BEST TEACHER (1B)
A 40-YEAR-OLD tutor of the Kumasi Technical Institute, Mr Kingsley Akom, was declared the national overall best teacher for 2009 at the National Best Teacher Awards ceremony held in Koforidua yesterday.
For his prize, he took home a cheque for GH¢60,000 to put up a three-bedroom house at a place of his choice.
In addition, he was presented with a laptop and a modem for his personal use, as well as a computer for his school.
Mr Samuel Addai of the Suame Methodist Junior High School, also in the Ashanti Region, who was the first runner-up, drove home a double-cabin pick-up.
He also received a personal laptop and a modem, as well as a computer for his school, while Mr Peter Amponsah of the Akompanin D/A Primary School in the Brong Ahafo Region, who was adjudged the second runner-up, also drove home a saloon car, in addition to a laptop and a modem for his personal use and a computer for his school.
Eighty-one other teaching and non-teaching staff, some of them retired, were also honoured and presented with either GH¢100 cash or items such as gas cookers, refrigerators, ghetto blasters, laptops and television sets, while three foreign volunteers in teaching and community work from the United States of America and Japan were given plaques and citations in recognition of their work.
The heavily patronised event, which brought together teachers from all parts of the region, municipal and district chief executives and some Members of Parliament from the Eastern Region, was also graced by a number of dignitaries, including the Vice-President, Mr John Mahama, and the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo.
A number of chiefs, including the Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre (Prof) Oti Boateng, who chaired the function, and the Konor of Manya Krobo, Nene Sakite II, gave a traditional touch to the event, which was on the theme, “Recovery Begins with Teachers”.
An elated Kingsley Akom expressed his appreciation to the government for initiating the awards scheme which, according to him, would boost the morale of teachers and help improve the standard of education in the country.
In his welcoming address, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, traced the history of the awards scheme, which he said had been initiated by the National Democratic Congress under the presidency of former President Jerry John Rawlings to motivate teachers.
Daasebre Oti Boateng, for his part, called on parents to support their children’s education and appealed to the government to do its best to solve the challenges in the educational sector.
For his prize, he took home a cheque for GH¢60,000 to put up a three-bedroom house at a place of his choice.
In addition, he was presented with a laptop and a modem for his personal use, as well as a computer for his school.
Mr Samuel Addai of the Suame Methodist Junior High School, also in the Ashanti Region, who was the first runner-up, drove home a double-cabin pick-up.
He also received a personal laptop and a modem, as well as a computer for his school, while Mr Peter Amponsah of the Akompanin D/A Primary School in the Brong Ahafo Region, who was adjudged the second runner-up, also drove home a saloon car, in addition to a laptop and a modem for his personal use and a computer for his school.
Eighty-one other teaching and non-teaching staff, some of them retired, were also honoured and presented with either GH¢100 cash or items such as gas cookers, refrigerators, ghetto blasters, laptops and television sets, while three foreign volunteers in teaching and community work from the United States of America and Japan were given plaques and citations in recognition of their work.
The heavily patronised event, which brought together teachers from all parts of the region, municipal and district chief executives and some Members of Parliament from the Eastern Region, was also graced by a number of dignitaries, including the Vice-President, Mr John Mahama, and the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo.
A number of chiefs, including the Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre (Prof) Oti Boateng, who chaired the function, and the Konor of Manya Krobo, Nene Sakite II, gave a traditional touch to the event, which was on the theme, “Recovery Begins with Teachers”.
An elated Kingsley Akom expressed his appreciation to the government for initiating the awards scheme which, according to him, would boost the morale of teachers and help improve the standard of education in the country.
In his welcoming address, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, traced the history of the awards scheme, which he said had been initiated by the National Democratic Congress under the presidency of former President Jerry John Rawlings to motivate teachers.
Daasebre Oti Boateng, for his part, called on parents to support their children’s education and appealed to the government to do its best to solve the challenges in the educational sector.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
MAKE YOURSELVES AVAILABLE TO BE ENUMERATED (PAGE 22, OCT 5, 2010)
THE Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has urged people in the region to make themselves available to be enumerated since that would make it possible for the government to effectively plan for the needs of people in the area.
He also stated that it would be ideal if the people were enumerated where they lived.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo made the call when the Eastern Regional Statistician, Mr Alexander Awotwi, called at his office to enumerate him.
The regional minister stated that although it took some time for people to answer few questions during the enumeration process, it was necessary for those to be enumerated to have time for the exercise since the data obtained would be used to provide the necessary social amenities and other poverty alleviation interventions for the communities.
“Your total number, economic status and any other information demanded by the enumerators must be known to enable the government to effectively plan and execute projects, as well as provide other social interventions that will reduce poverty in the communities,” he stated.
Briefing the media after his enumeration, Mr Ofosu Ampofo said on the whole, the exercise had been successful in the region.
He stated that the only problems were at the Digya Island in the Kwahu North District, where enumerators from the nearby Sene District attempted to cover and some villages which were being claimed by both Lower Manya Krobo and Yilo Krobo, which have been resolved.
The regional minister appealed to opinion, religious and traditional leaders to encourage people in their communities to make themselves available for the census.
He also stated that it would be ideal if the people were enumerated where they lived.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo made the call when the Eastern Regional Statistician, Mr Alexander Awotwi, called at his office to enumerate him.
The regional minister stated that although it took some time for people to answer few questions during the enumeration process, it was necessary for those to be enumerated to have time for the exercise since the data obtained would be used to provide the necessary social amenities and other poverty alleviation interventions for the communities.
“Your total number, economic status and any other information demanded by the enumerators must be known to enable the government to effectively plan and execute projects, as well as provide other social interventions that will reduce poverty in the communities,” he stated.
Briefing the media after his enumeration, Mr Ofosu Ampofo said on the whole, the exercise had been successful in the region.
He stated that the only problems were at the Digya Island in the Kwahu North District, where enumerators from the nearby Sene District attempted to cover and some villages which were being claimed by both Lower Manya Krobo and Yilo Krobo, which have been resolved.
The regional minister appealed to opinion, religious and traditional leaders to encourage people in their communities to make themselves available for the census.
Friday, October 1, 2010
GALAMSEY OPERATORS AT KYEBI TO BE FLUSHED OUT (PAGE 22, OCT 1, 2010)
THE Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has stated that his outfit has taken the necessary steps to flush out illegal gold miners “galamsey” operators in the region, especially within the Kyebi area.
The “galamsey” operators had extended their activities to the Kyebi town where even parts of the compound of the Abuakwa State College and the School For the Deaf had been destroyed.
The illegal mining activities had created deep pits covered with muddy water which has created a death trap for students.
Such a dangerous situation compelled Mr Ofosu Ampofo to call in the police and the military personnel at the weekend to flush out the “galamsey” operators during which mining equipment such as excavators and water pumps were confiscated.
The East Akyem Municipal Director of Education, Mrs Kate Agyeman Badu, and the Headmaster of Abuakwa State College, Mr Nicholas Anim Adjei led the staff of the college to express their appreciation to the regional minister for his rapid response to the needs of the school when fire recently gutted the boys’ dormitory.
He said although his outfit would not prevent anybody from earning a living, it was necessary to curb the activities of the illegal miners since they had not only destroyed land and polluted water bodies such as the Birim River, but had also created deep pits which had become death traps.
According to Mr Ofosu Ampofo, the “galamsey” operators should rather acquire the necessary documents for their operations to be regulated to serve the needs of the people.
“We are not against anybody earning a living but the proper thing must be done so that we do not destroy the environment, pollute water bodies and create death traps just because of money,” Mr Ofosu Ampofo stated.
He also said the security would be called in periodically to flush out the illegal miners, warning that anybody apprehended would face the full rigours of the law.
Both Mrs Agyeman Badu and Mr Anim Adjei were grateful to Mr Ofosu Ampofo for his timely intervention which had made it possible for the two schools to continue to function properly.
The “galamsey” operators had extended their activities to the Kyebi town where even parts of the compound of the Abuakwa State College and the School For the Deaf had been destroyed.
The illegal mining activities had created deep pits covered with muddy water which has created a death trap for students.
Such a dangerous situation compelled Mr Ofosu Ampofo to call in the police and the military personnel at the weekend to flush out the “galamsey” operators during which mining equipment such as excavators and water pumps were confiscated.
The East Akyem Municipal Director of Education, Mrs Kate Agyeman Badu, and the Headmaster of Abuakwa State College, Mr Nicholas Anim Adjei led the staff of the college to express their appreciation to the regional minister for his rapid response to the needs of the school when fire recently gutted the boys’ dormitory.
He said although his outfit would not prevent anybody from earning a living, it was necessary to curb the activities of the illegal miners since they had not only destroyed land and polluted water bodies such as the Birim River, but had also created deep pits which had become death traps.
According to Mr Ofosu Ampofo, the “galamsey” operators should rather acquire the necessary documents for their operations to be regulated to serve the needs of the people.
“We are not against anybody earning a living but the proper thing must be done so that we do not destroy the environment, pollute water bodies and create death traps just because of money,” Mr Ofosu Ampofo stated.
He also said the security would be called in periodically to flush out the illegal miners, warning that anybody apprehended would face the full rigours of the law.
Both Mrs Agyeman Badu and Mr Anim Adjei were grateful to Mr Ofosu Ampofo for his timely intervention which had made it possible for the two schools to continue to function properly.
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