Story: A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Koforidua
THIS year’s bi-annual National Delegates’ Conference of the Children’s Ministry of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) has ended at Aburi in the Akuapem South District.
The two-day conference was aimed at nurturing children in line with the teachings of the church to become good Christians and useful citizens in society.
Delegates, comprising mainly children’s service teachers from all parts of the country, attended the conference.
In his welcoming address, the National Chairman of the National Conference of the Children’s Ministry (NCCM), Mr Ludwig Anang Hesse, asked children’s service teachers of the church to ensure that every child in the church grows up as a good Christian.
Basing his speech on Matthew Chapter 28, verses 19 to 20, Mr Hesse said that could only be accomplished, if such children were given teachings based on Christian principles, adding that it would go a long way in improving both the church and society.
Mr Annang Hesse stated that such an initiative was in line with the church’s mission statement.
He said the Children’s Ministry had, therefore, decided to work in partnership with other groups within the church to guide the children to be mature Christians.
Mr Anang also implored the ministry’s teachers to exhibit the spirit of humility, patience, commitment, tolerance, punctuality, love and hard work, adding, “Be role models for the children to emulate your example”.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Akuapem South, Mr Andrew Yaw Nyarko-Adu, who represented the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, asked Christians to eschew negative tendencies such as undermining and immorality; negative cultural practices like trokosi, female genital mutilation, widowhood rites, teenage marriages and polygamy.
In a speech read on her behalf by the Deputy Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Mr Daniel Dugan, the sector minister, Hajia Alima Mahama, said the government had taken several initiatives to improve the condition of the Ghanaian child.
He added that the government would continue to do so to properly address emerging issues that stood in the way of child development.
Hajia Alima briefed the gathering about Ghana’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), provision of additional school infrastructure to cater for increase in school enrolment as a result of the implementation of the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme.
She stressed the need for the church to ensure the moral upbringing of the children.
The minister praised the PCG for taking a number of measures to implement government’s efforts at addressing numerous challenges that confronted children in the country.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
UNIVERSITY GRADUATES MUST BE CREATIVE TECHNOCRATS (PAGE 11)
Story: A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Koforidua
A SUPREME Court Judge, Mr Justice Julius Ansah, has asked products of the country’s universities to be creative technocrats and entrepreneurs capable of solving hands-on problems on the field instead of spending all their time in offices pushing papers.
By the very nature of their training, he said university graduates should not rely entirely on the government for employment but to creatively think out business ideas that would transform not only themselves but society as a whole.
Mr Justice Ansah made these remarks in a keynote address at the first congregation of the All Nations University College (ANUC) at Koforidua.
In all, 202 students received degrees in various disciplines of which 12 had first class. Among them was a 75 year-old minister of the gospel, Rev Joseph Albert Appiah who obtained a Second Class Lower in Biblical Studies.
Mr Justice Ansah urged university graduates to be innovative by creating practical solutions to problems.
“Ghanaians would be the best people to find practical solutions to the problems of the country instead of foreigners”, he stated and appealed to the graduates to make good the knowledge acquired in that respect.
“Before us today are engineers who will roll up their sleeve and work in the field to tackle hands-on problems with hands-on fixes but will not spend their time in offices pushing papers”, he emphasised.
He told the graduands that they are creative entrepreneurs who should not sit at home waiting for the government to employ them but venture out and think out business ideas that would transform, not only themselves but those around them, Mr Justice Ansah stated.
He commended Dr Samuel H. Donkor, the President of the ANUC for his vision of setting up the university.
Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi said the establishment of private universities had made it possible for the numerous qualified candidates who hitherto, could not have entered state-owned universities to benefit from university education.
He said only 6,000 out of the 18,000 yearly applications to the KNUST could be admitted.
“There is the clear need for us to train the required manpower for the country’s socio- economic development, but considering that the capacity of all our public universities is limited, it is only logical that we help mentor other private sector institutions so that they can assist the nation’s manpower requirement”, Professor Adarkwa stated.
Professor Adarkwa said KNUST currently had 14 tertiary institutions affiliated to it and gave the assurance that the KNUST would continue to nurture such institutions, particularly those which are science and technology biased.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwodwo Afram Asiedu said the establishment of the ANUC at Koforidua had provided a launching pad for the socio- economic development of the Eastern Region and asked the graduands to contribute to the development of the region.
The Omahene of New Juaben, Daasebre (Professor) Dr Oti Boateng who commissioned the Alumni of the university appealed to the members to promote the interest of their alma mater and the private sector.
The President of the University, Dr Samuel H. Donkor said currently there were about 1,900 students offering various courses, including Business Administration, Biblical Studies, Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Electronics and Communications Engineering and Computer Science.
A SUPREME Court Judge, Mr Justice Julius Ansah, has asked products of the country’s universities to be creative technocrats and entrepreneurs capable of solving hands-on problems on the field instead of spending all their time in offices pushing papers.
By the very nature of their training, he said university graduates should not rely entirely on the government for employment but to creatively think out business ideas that would transform not only themselves but society as a whole.
Mr Justice Ansah made these remarks in a keynote address at the first congregation of the All Nations University College (ANUC) at Koforidua.
In all, 202 students received degrees in various disciplines of which 12 had first class. Among them was a 75 year-old minister of the gospel, Rev Joseph Albert Appiah who obtained a Second Class Lower in Biblical Studies.
Mr Justice Ansah urged university graduates to be innovative by creating practical solutions to problems.
“Ghanaians would be the best people to find practical solutions to the problems of the country instead of foreigners”, he stated and appealed to the graduates to make good the knowledge acquired in that respect.
“Before us today are engineers who will roll up their sleeve and work in the field to tackle hands-on problems with hands-on fixes but will not spend their time in offices pushing papers”, he emphasised.
He told the graduands that they are creative entrepreneurs who should not sit at home waiting for the government to employ them but venture out and think out business ideas that would transform, not only themselves but those around them, Mr Justice Ansah stated.
He commended Dr Samuel H. Donkor, the President of the ANUC for his vision of setting up the university.
Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi said the establishment of private universities had made it possible for the numerous qualified candidates who hitherto, could not have entered state-owned universities to benefit from university education.
He said only 6,000 out of the 18,000 yearly applications to the KNUST could be admitted.
“There is the clear need for us to train the required manpower for the country’s socio- economic development, but considering that the capacity of all our public universities is limited, it is only logical that we help mentor other private sector institutions so that they can assist the nation’s manpower requirement”, Professor Adarkwa stated.
Professor Adarkwa said KNUST currently had 14 tertiary institutions affiliated to it and gave the assurance that the KNUST would continue to nurture such institutions, particularly those which are science and technology biased.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwodwo Afram Asiedu said the establishment of the ANUC at Koforidua had provided a launching pad for the socio- economic development of the Eastern Region and asked the graduands to contribute to the development of the region.
The Omahene of New Juaben, Daasebre (Professor) Dr Oti Boateng who commissioned the Alumni of the university appealed to the members to promote the interest of their alma mater and the private sector.
The President of the University, Dr Samuel H. Donkor said currently there were about 1,900 students offering various courses, including Business Administration, Biblical Studies, Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Electronics and Communications Engineering and Computer Science.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
MICRO BUSINESSES URGED TO PAY TAX (SPREAD)
Story: A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Koforidua
THE New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive, Nana Adjei Boateng, has stated that although the assembly is not a profit-making organisation, it must operate in such a way that it would generate income to improve the provision of social amenities for the people.
He has therefore called on proprietors of Micro and Small Scale Enterprises (MSSEs) in the municipality to honour their tax obligations to the assembly to enable it to achieve that goal.
Nana Adjei Boateng made the remarks at a roundtable discussion between the media and MSSEs in Koforidua.
The conference, which was to empower the media to strengthen business advocacy in the municipality, was organised by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) with funding from the BUSAC Fund and facilitated by KAB Governance Consult.
It was attended by media practitioners and a cross-section of operators of MSSEs in the municipality
According to Nana Adjei Boateng, the assembly had a lot to do in terms of providing social amenities and keeping a clean environment devoid of diseases and the only way to accomplish such a goal was for the people, especially operators of MSSSEs to honour their tax obligations to the assembly.
“We have to clear refuse daily at a huge cost and at the same time provide social amenities to the people and we can only do that if people living in the municipality, especially traders and owners of micro businesses, honour their tax obligations to us,” Nana Adjei Boateng stated.
On allegations that the assembly imposed high and unrealistic tax on businesses in the area, he said taxpayers were normally consulted before taxes were implemented.
Nana Adjei Boateng, however, asked operators of MSSEs to assist the assembly to identify their counterparts operating at home to bring them into the tax net, adding that it would make it possible for the assembly to reduce the tax burden on others.
With regard to assisting operators of MSSEs in the municipality with funds to operate their businesses, he said the assembly took that initiative sometime ago by making available poverty alleviation funds, but expressed regret that only a few beneficiaries paid back their advances, making it unwise to continue with such an initiative.
He, however, gave the assurance that people in the area would be considered in any future disbursement of such a facility.
The BUSAC Fund Manager, Dr Dale Rachmer, said his outfit, which was set up in 2004 with the view of promoting the private sector, would continue in that direction.
That, he stated, would enable the sector to pay tax to the government to carry out its development programmes.
The Presiding Member of the New Juaben Municipal Assembly, Odeefo Boadi Asiedu, called on all stakeholders to help Koforidua to regain its position as the leading commercial centre in the region while the General Secretary of the GJA, Mr Bright Blewu, appealed to journalists in the region to be actively involved in the promotion of small-scale businesses.
Representatives of the SMMEs expressed their dissatisfaction about what they called a high rate of taxation in the municipality, which, according to them, was too high, and appealed to the assembly for reduction.
In a welcoming address, the President of the GJA, Mr Ransford Tetteh, said the Koforidua dialogue and several others that would be organised would, among other things, develop the capacity of a core team of journalists in business advocacy and create a multimedia platform to discuss the concerns of businesses.
He said the GJA considered its engagements in galvanising the media into focusing attention on business concerns and development to be a noble one capable of making a real difference in business culture in Ghana.
He said the project — which would help journalists with a much deeper understanding and monitoring ability of the Ghanaian business sector to enable them to provide a reliable, educative, informed analysis on economic, financial and business issues and improve access of Ghanaians to information on national and international economic trends — was also in line with its efforts at promoting specialisation in journalism and strengthening coverage in all important sectors other than politics.
Such interaction and engagements, Mr Tetteh said, would enable media practitioners to learn at first-hand the prospects and challenges of the micro and small-scale sector and help to draw the attention of policy makers to them.
He expressed the GJA’s gratitude to the BUSAC Fund and KAB Consult for their support for the project.
THE New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive, Nana Adjei Boateng, has stated that although the assembly is not a profit-making organisation, it must operate in such a way that it would generate income to improve the provision of social amenities for the people.
He has therefore called on proprietors of Micro and Small Scale Enterprises (MSSEs) in the municipality to honour their tax obligations to the assembly to enable it to achieve that goal.
Nana Adjei Boateng made the remarks at a roundtable discussion between the media and MSSEs in Koforidua.
The conference, which was to empower the media to strengthen business advocacy in the municipality, was organised by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) with funding from the BUSAC Fund and facilitated by KAB Governance Consult.
It was attended by media practitioners and a cross-section of operators of MSSEs in the municipality
According to Nana Adjei Boateng, the assembly had a lot to do in terms of providing social amenities and keeping a clean environment devoid of diseases and the only way to accomplish such a goal was for the people, especially operators of MSSSEs to honour their tax obligations to the assembly.
“We have to clear refuse daily at a huge cost and at the same time provide social amenities to the people and we can only do that if people living in the municipality, especially traders and owners of micro businesses, honour their tax obligations to us,” Nana Adjei Boateng stated.
On allegations that the assembly imposed high and unrealistic tax on businesses in the area, he said taxpayers were normally consulted before taxes were implemented.
Nana Adjei Boateng, however, asked operators of MSSEs to assist the assembly to identify their counterparts operating at home to bring them into the tax net, adding that it would make it possible for the assembly to reduce the tax burden on others.
With regard to assisting operators of MSSEs in the municipality with funds to operate their businesses, he said the assembly took that initiative sometime ago by making available poverty alleviation funds, but expressed regret that only a few beneficiaries paid back their advances, making it unwise to continue with such an initiative.
He, however, gave the assurance that people in the area would be considered in any future disbursement of such a facility.
The BUSAC Fund Manager, Dr Dale Rachmer, said his outfit, which was set up in 2004 with the view of promoting the private sector, would continue in that direction.
That, he stated, would enable the sector to pay tax to the government to carry out its development programmes.
The Presiding Member of the New Juaben Municipal Assembly, Odeefo Boadi Asiedu, called on all stakeholders to help Koforidua to regain its position as the leading commercial centre in the region while the General Secretary of the GJA, Mr Bright Blewu, appealed to journalists in the region to be actively involved in the promotion of small-scale businesses.
Representatives of the SMMEs expressed their dissatisfaction about what they called a high rate of taxation in the municipality, which, according to them, was too high, and appealed to the assembly for reduction.
In a welcoming address, the President of the GJA, Mr Ransford Tetteh, said the Koforidua dialogue and several others that would be organised would, among other things, develop the capacity of a core team of journalists in business advocacy and create a multimedia platform to discuss the concerns of businesses.
He said the GJA considered its engagements in galvanising the media into focusing attention on business concerns and development to be a noble one capable of making a real difference in business culture in Ghana.
He said the project — which would help journalists with a much deeper understanding and monitoring ability of the Ghanaian business sector to enable them to provide a reliable, educative, informed analysis on economic, financial and business issues and improve access of Ghanaians to information on national and international economic trends — was also in line with its efforts at promoting specialisation in journalism and strengthening coverage in all important sectors other than politics.
Such interaction and engagements, Mr Tetteh said, would enable media practitioners to learn at first-hand the prospects and challenges of the micro and small-scale sector and help to draw the attention of policy makers to them.
He expressed the GJA’s gratitude to the BUSAC Fund and KAB Consult for their support for the project.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Koforidua Kassadjan dual carriageway to be ready in April
Story: A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Koforidua
March 28
CONSTRUCTION work on the GH¢380,000 bridge over the rail line on the Kassadjan dual carriageway at Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital, would be completed by the end of April, this year.
The bridge, which is the government's biggest single project being constructed under the New Juaben Roads Rehabilitation Programme, is being executed by A. Naggesten Limited, a Koforidua-based civil engineering firm, with Deoke Consult as the consulting engineers.
According to the New Juaben Municipal Chief Engineer, Mr Abass Awolu, the construction of the bridge on the Kassadjan Road, a by-pass round the Asokore, Effiduasi and Koforidua town, would ease heavy traffic on the current road that passes through the centres of the three town, when completed.
Mr Awolu, who visited the site of the project to acquaint himself with the progress of work, stated that provision had been made under the bridge for the construction of additional rail line in the future.
The construction of the Kassadjan Road, which was going on smoothly, could not, however, progress as expected due to the presence of huge rocks (boulders) at the tail end of it near the Oyoko Junction, which were being blasted with explosive devices.
A visit by the Daily Graphic to the area revealed huge pile of rocks that had been blasted on the road and stone contractors and the local people including children, had taken advantage to cart them away free of charge.
The Deputy Project Manager of China International Water and Electric Corporation, the construction firm, Mr Liu Shunyi, said 30 per cent of work had been done and that it would take one month to complete the rest.
March 28
CONSTRUCTION work on the GH¢380,000 bridge over the rail line on the Kassadjan dual carriageway at Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital, would be completed by the end of April, this year.
The bridge, which is the government's biggest single project being constructed under the New Juaben Roads Rehabilitation Programme, is being executed by A. Naggesten Limited, a Koforidua-based civil engineering firm, with Deoke Consult as the consulting engineers.
According to the New Juaben Municipal Chief Engineer, Mr Abass Awolu, the construction of the bridge on the Kassadjan Road, a by-pass round the Asokore, Effiduasi and Koforidua town, would ease heavy traffic on the current road that passes through the centres of the three town, when completed.
Mr Awolu, who visited the site of the project to acquaint himself with the progress of work, stated that provision had been made under the bridge for the construction of additional rail line in the future.
The construction of the Kassadjan Road, which was going on smoothly, could not, however, progress as expected due to the presence of huge rocks (boulders) at the tail end of it near the Oyoko Junction, which were being blasted with explosive devices.
A visit by the Daily Graphic to the area revealed huge pile of rocks that had been blasted on the road and stone contractors and the local people including children, had taken advantage to cart them away free of charge.
The Deputy Project Manager of China International Water and Electric Corporation, the construction firm, Mr Liu Shunyi, said 30 per cent of work had been done and that it would take one month to complete the rest.
Ghacem pays compensation to farmers
Story: A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Koforidua
March 25, 2008
GHACEM, a cement-producing company which is currently mining limestone at Odugblase, a farming village along the borders of the Manya Krobo and the Yilo Krobo districts of the Eastern Region, has paid GH¢70,078 as compensation to 60 farmers in the area whose crops have been destroyed as a result of the company's operations.
In addition, the company has made available 3,800 bags of cement, valued at GH¢30,400, for the maintenance of houses, schools, churches, health facilities and other social infrastructure in the area.
Other social amenities that the company has provided for the affected communities are a 10-seater modern place of convenience, valued at GH¢8,039, and a GH¢16,000 borehole.
The Strategy and Corporate Affairs Director of GHACEM, Dr George Dawson-Ahmoah, who gave out the cheque for crop compensation in Koforidua, said in all the company had spent GH¢124,517 to improve social services within the Odugblase area.
Dr Dawson-Ahmoah stated that the Odugblase area accounted for 20 per cent of the raw materials for cement production in Ghana and that the company would continue to honour its social responsibility for the betterment of the people in its operational area.
He assured the people that the company would always be in touch with the communities to know their problems for redress.
He expressed GHACEM's appreciation to the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Afram Asiedu, his deputy, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, Messrs David Sackitey Asare and Joseph Adu Tawiah, the district chief executives for Manya and Yilo Krobo, respectively, as well as the affected farmers, for their understanding and co-operation.
A spokesman for the farmers, Nene Tetteh Agblezee III, who thanked GHACEM for paying compensation for crops destroyed, said owing to the ownership dispute over the area between Manya and Yilo Krobo, the farmers could not be paid royalties and called for an early solution to the impasse to enable them to have their royalties paid.
Mr Asare was hopeful that the impasse over ownership of the area would soon be resolved and appealed to GHACEM to make available cement for the rehabilitation of other schools in the area.
March 25, 2008
GHACEM, a cement-producing company which is currently mining limestone at Odugblase, a farming village along the borders of the Manya Krobo and the Yilo Krobo districts of the Eastern Region, has paid GH¢70,078 as compensation to 60 farmers in the area whose crops have been destroyed as a result of the company's operations.
In addition, the company has made available 3,800 bags of cement, valued at GH¢30,400, for the maintenance of houses, schools, churches, health facilities and other social infrastructure in the area.
Other social amenities that the company has provided for the affected communities are a 10-seater modern place of convenience, valued at GH¢8,039, and a GH¢16,000 borehole.
The Strategy and Corporate Affairs Director of GHACEM, Dr George Dawson-Ahmoah, who gave out the cheque for crop compensation in Koforidua, said in all the company had spent GH¢124,517 to improve social services within the Odugblase area.
Dr Dawson-Ahmoah stated that the Odugblase area accounted for 20 per cent of the raw materials for cement production in Ghana and that the company would continue to honour its social responsibility for the betterment of the people in its operational area.
He assured the people that the company would always be in touch with the communities to know their problems for redress.
He expressed GHACEM's appreciation to the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Afram Asiedu, his deputy, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, Messrs David Sackitey Asare and Joseph Adu Tawiah, the district chief executives for Manya and Yilo Krobo, respectively, as well as the affected farmers, for their understanding and co-operation.
A spokesman for the farmers, Nene Tetteh Agblezee III, who thanked GHACEM for paying compensation for crops destroyed, said owing to the ownership dispute over the area between Manya and Yilo Krobo, the farmers could not be paid royalties and called for an early solution to the impasse to enable them to have their royalties paid.
Mr Asare was hopeful that the impasse over ownership of the area would soon be resolved and appealed to GHACEM to make available cement for the rehabilitation of other schools in the area.
Prosecute pastors who keep AIDS sufferers
Story: A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Koforidua
March 25, 2008
THE Eastern Regional Director of the National AIDS Control Programme, Dr S.E. Ofori, has advocated the legislation for the prosecution of pastors and operators of prayer centres that keep AIDS sufferers till they reach terminal stages.
He said that would compel such pastors and prayer house operators to release the AIDS sufferers on time for treatment at the hospitals.
Dr Ofori made the call at a one-day sensitisation workshop on HIV/AIDS at Koforidua.
The workshop, which was on the theme: “Using the media to strengthen HIV/AIDS advocacy in the Eastern Region”, also focused on the need for one to know his or her HIV status.
It was attended by members of the media and District Directors of Health Services in the region.
Dr Ofori said although HIV/AIDS sufferers could be put on treatment at the hospitals to prolong their life, some pastors and operators of prayer houses normally kept them at their places until they reached terminal stages before releasing them.
He added that such sick persons who only reported to the hospitals almost in the terminal stages unfortunately passed away in no time, adding that an early response to treatment at the hospitals could have prevented such deaths.
He, therefore, called for the passage of a legislation for the prosecution of such pastors and prayer leaders who, he said, could not cure those who had contracted AIDS.
“Now orthodox medicine can help prolong the life of such unfortunate persons but most often they are kept at these prayer houses for long periods for their conditions to be deteriorated so when they finally come to the hospitals to be put on antiretroviral drugs, they soon pass away,” Dr Ofori stated.
He also advised AIDS sufferers not to combine medical treatment with that of herbs, since that method was not the best, stressing that the sufferers must always report to the hospitals for treatment on time.
The regional director appealed to health workers not to discriminate against AIDS sufferers at the hospitals.
A medical officer at the Koforidua Regional Hospital, Dr Efua Asabea Amoabeng, took the participants through the rudiments of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care, and advised that every person should go for HIV counselling and testing to know their status.
She said that would make it possible for them to better plan their life.
The Eastern Region Focal Person on HIV/AIDS, Miss Golda Asante, who spoke on stigma and discrimination, said it was unfortunate that some health workers, relatives, landlords and employers discriminated against AIDS sufferers.
She, therefore, called for a change of such habit, which, she said, among others, infringed on the rights of the sufferers.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, asked the media to drum home the negative effects of HIV/AIDS, which had now become a development problem, to curb its spread.
March 25, 2008
THE Eastern Regional Director of the National AIDS Control Programme, Dr S.E. Ofori, has advocated the legislation for the prosecution of pastors and operators of prayer centres that keep AIDS sufferers till they reach terminal stages.
He said that would compel such pastors and prayer house operators to release the AIDS sufferers on time for treatment at the hospitals.
Dr Ofori made the call at a one-day sensitisation workshop on HIV/AIDS at Koforidua.
The workshop, which was on the theme: “Using the media to strengthen HIV/AIDS advocacy in the Eastern Region”, also focused on the need for one to know his or her HIV status.
It was attended by members of the media and District Directors of Health Services in the region.
Dr Ofori said although HIV/AIDS sufferers could be put on treatment at the hospitals to prolong their life, some pastors and operators of prayer houses normally kept them at their places until they reached terminal stages before releasing them.
He added that such sick persons who only reported to the hospitals almost in the terminal stages unfortunately passed away in no time, adding that an early response to treatment at the hospitals could have prevented such deaths.
He, therefore, called for the passage of a legislation for the prosecution of such pastors and prayer leaders who, he said, could not cure those who had contracted AIDS.
“Now orthodox medicine can help prolong the life of such unfortunate persons but most often they are kept at these prayer houses for long periods for their conditions to be deteriorated so when they finally come to the hospitals to be put on antiretroviral drugs, they soon pass away,” Dr Ofori stated.
He also advised AIDS sufferers not to combine medical treatment with that of herbs, since that method was not the best, stressing that the sufferers must always report to the hospitals for treatment on time.
The regional director appealed to health workers not to discriminate against AIDS sufferers at the hospitals.
A medical officer at the Koforidua Regional Hospital, Dr Efua Asabea Amoabeng, took the participants through the rudiments of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care, and advised that every person should go for HIV counselling and testing to know their status.
She said that would make it possible for them to better plan their life.
The Eastern Region Focal Person on HIV/AIDS, Miss Golda Asante, who spoke on stigma and discrimination, said it was unfortunate that some health workers, relatives, landlords and employers discriminated against AIDS sufferers.
She, therefore, called for a change of such habit, which, she said, among others, infringed on the rights of the sufferers.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, asked the media to drum home the negative effects of HIV/AIDS, which had now become a development problem, to curb its spread.
Prosecute pastors who keep AIDS sufferers
Story: A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Koforidua
March 25, 2008
THE Eastern Regional Director of the National AIDS Control Programme, Dr S.E. Ofori, has advocated the legislation for the prosecution of pastors and operators of prayer centres that keep AIDS sufferers till they reach terminal stages.
He said that would compel such pastors and prayer house operators to release the AIDS sufferers on time for treatment at the hospitals.
Dr Ofori made the call at a one-day sensitisation workshop on HIV/AIDS at Koforidua.
The workshop, which was on the theme: “Using the media to strengthen HIV/AIDS advocacy in the Eastern Region”, also focused on the need for one to know his or her HIV status.
It was attended by members of the media and District Directors of Health Services in the region.
Dr Ofori said although HIV/AIDS sufferers could be put on treatment at the hospitals to prolong their life, some pastors and operators of prayer houses normally kept them at their places until they reached terminal stages before releasing them.
He added that such sick persons who only reported to the hospitals almost in the terminal stages unfortunately passed away in no time, adding that an early response to treatment at the hospitals could have prevented such deaths.
He, therefore, called for the passage of a legislation for the prosecution of such pastors and prayer leaders who, he said, could not cure those who had contracted AIDS.
“Now orthodox medicine can help prolong the life of such unfortunate persons but most often they are kept at these prayer houses for long periods for their conditions to be deteriorated so when they finally come to the hospitals to be put on antiretroviral drugs, they soon pass away,” Dr Ofori stated.
He also advised AIDS sufferers not to combine medical treatment with that of herbs, since that method was not the best, stressing that the sufferers must always report to the hospitals for treatment on time.
The regional director appealed to health workers not to discriminate against AIDS sufferers at the hospitals.
A medical officer at the Koforidua Regional Hospital, Dr Efua Asabea Amoabeng, took the participants through the rudiments of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care, and advised that every person should go for HIV counselling and testing to know their status.
She said that would make it possible for them to better plan their life.
The Eastern Region Focal Person on HIV/AIDS, Miss Golda Asante, who spoke on stigma and discrimination, said it was unfortunate that some health workers, relatives, landlords and employers discriminated against AIDS sufferers.
She, therefore, called for a change of such habit, which, she said, among others, infringed on the rights of the sufferers.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, asked the media to drum home the negative effects of HIV/AIDS, which had now become a development problem, to curb its spread.
March 25, 2008
THE Eastern Regional Director of the National AIDS Control Programme, Dr S.E. Ofori, has advocated the legislation for the prosecution of pastors and operators of prayer centres that keep AIDS sufferers till they reach terminal stages.
He said that would compel such pastors and prayer house operators to release the AIDS sufferers on time for treatment at the hospitals.
Dr Ofori made the call at a one-day sensitisation workshop on HIV/AIDS at Koforidua.
The workshop, which was on the theme: “Using the media to strengthen HIV/AIDS advocacy in the Eastern Region”, also focused on the need for one to know his or her HIV status.
It was attended by members of the media and District Directors of Health Services in the region.
Dr Ofori said although HIV/AIDS sufferers could be put on treatment at the hospitals to prolong their life, some pastors and operators of prayer houses normally kept them at their places until they reached terminal stages before releasing them.
He added that such sick persons who only reported to the hospitals almost in the terminal stages unfortunately passed away in no time, adding that an early response to treatment at the hospitals could have prevented such deaths.
He, therefore, called for the passage of a legislation for the prosecution of such pastors and prayer leaders who, he said, could not cure those who had contracted AIDS.
“Now orthodox medicine can help prolong the life of such unfortunate persons but most often they are kept at these prayer houses for long periods for their conditions to be deteriorated so when they finally come to the hospitals to be put on antiretroviral drugs, they soon pass away,” Dr Ofori stated.
He also advised AIDS sufferers not to combine medical treatment with that of herbs, since that method was not the best, stressing that the sufferers must always report to the hospitals for treatment on time.
The regional director appealed to health workers not to discriminate against AIDS sufferers at the hospitals.
A medical officer at the Koforidua Regional Hospital, Dr Efua Asabea Amoabeng, took the participants through the rudiments of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care, and advised that every person should go for HIV counselling and testing to know their status.
She said that would make it possible for them to better plan their life.
The Eastern Region Focal Person on HIV/AIDS, Miss Golda Asante, who spoke on stigma and discrimination, said it was unfortunate that some health workers, relatives, landlords and employers discriminated against AIDS sufferers.
She, therefore, called for a change of such habit, which, she said, among others, infringed on the rights of the sufferers.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, asked the media to drum home the negative effects of HIV/AIDS, which had now become a development problem, to curb its spread.
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