Obuasi Ashgold and King Faisal shared the three points at stake when they settled for a 1-1 draw in their premier league match played at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium yesterday.
It was a match that the two teams, displayed abundant skills in ball control in the midfield and attack , but failed to take advantage of the numerous chances that came their way, causing their fans to shout at them on many occasions.
It was King Faisals’ Emmanuel Nsakie Odoi who managed to open the scores for his side in the 35th minute in a goal mouth melee to give the fans something to cheer about.
The goal gingered Faisal to carry the game to their opponents , causing the defence to retreat on most occasions but the home team failed to take advantage of the chances that came their way.
In the 43rd minute Ashgold succeeded in cancelling the lead through Owusu Sefa
The visitors were awarded a free-kick outside the box and Sefa took advantage of the poor marking of a Faisal defender by leaping high to nod home a cross at the left flank .
The two teams continued to probe for goals afterwards, but failed to connect the begging chances that came their way with Enoch Ebo Andoh, and Prince Arko being the worst offenders for the home team, with Addo Adoquaye and substitute Theophilus Anobaah of Ashgold also breaking the hearts of their fans for failing to connect the chances that came their way.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
PTA DONATES DRUMS TO SCHOOL (JUNIOR GRAPHIC, DEC 16, PAGE 3)
Parents of Kensington Temple School at Aprabon in Kumasi have donated a set of drums to the school.
The drums, estimated at GH¢550, was also meant to encourage the pupils to develop their potential in gospel music and other extra-curricular activities.
The Chairman of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), Mr Benjamin Frimpong, who made the presentation on behalf of the association, urged the teachers to encourage the pupils to learn the skills of drumming and dancing as a way of unearthing their talents in music.
He said the presentation would also enable the school to participate fully in festive occasions and appealed to the teachers to take good care of the items.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr Philip Num Acheampong, commended the PTA for their gesture, and also pledged to work with the teachers to train the pupils in the art of drumming.
He said it would also encourage them to perform cultural displays and other activities that would sustain the interest of pupils in academic programmes.
The drums, estimated at GH¢550, was also meant to encourage the pupils to develop their potential in gospel music and other extra-curricular activities.
The Chairman of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), Mr Benjamin Frimpong, who made the presentation on behalf of the association, urged the teachers to encourage the pupils to learn the skills of drumming and dancing as a way of unearthing their talents in music.
He said the presentation would also enable the school to participate fully in festive occasions and appealed to the teachers to take good care of the items.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr Philip Num Acheampong, commended the PTA for their gesture, and also pledged to work with the teachers to train the pupils in the art of drumming.
He said it would also encourage them to perform cultural displays and other activities that would sustain the interest of pupils in academic programmes.
MAKE RELIGIOUS AND MORAL EDUCATIONAL EXAMINABLE ...At basic level (PAGE 11, DEC 16)
THE Provost of College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Professor Dr Dr Daniel Buor, says Religious and Moral Education (RME) should be made examinable at the basic level in order for pupils to take moral issues seriously.
He also stressed the need for teachers to cultivate sound and healthy moral lifestyles to be in the position to mould students to acquire knowledge and skills that would make them live fulfilling lives.
Prof. Buor noted that the effective and efficient moulding of students would give them the fillip, vitality and the confidence to fully participate in political processes, as well as making them appreciate their rights and responsibilities.
This, he said, would empower students to use the appropriate channels to seek redress when the need arose to enhance the democratic dispensations in the country.
Addressing a cross-section of the public during the Golden Jubilee celebration of Atwima Manhyia D/A Junior High School, Prof. Buor pointed out that formal education “is the harmonious development of the physical, mental and spiritual forces of a person to fit him into society”.
“To be able to do this, parents, teachers, religious and community leaders must be role models,” he stressed, adding, “teachers have a Herculean task of training children for them to acquire knowledge and also live a sound and healthy moral life”.
As part of the Golden Jubilee celebration, the “Prof. Buor awards ceremony instituted last year to award hardworking teachers and students of the school, was also held.
In all, six students and four teachers who distinguished themselves during the last academic year, received awards in the form of books, cash and citations.
Commending the award winners, Prof. Buor said the present generation was in a knowledge-based era, an urged the youth to explore all avenues that would make them become proficient in all their endeavours.
This, he said, would empower them to acquire the requisite skills for them to contribute meaningfully towards societal development.
Prof. Buor pointed out that nations that had advanced in knowledge were not only conquering most material problems that confronted them, but were also overcoming poverty, unemployment, low maternal mortality ratio, infant and child mortality, as well as ethnic conflicts, superstitious beliefs that undermined sustainable socio-economic development, environmental degradation, among others.
He also advised the youth to be God-fearing and be respectful to their elders to enable them to have the peace, direction and guidance to explore their potential.
He pointed out that in spite of the feat of the industrialised nations, they are not free from child disobedience because they do not only practise homosexuality and lesbianism, but also indulge in social vices that undermine their development.
In her welcoming address, the Headmistress of the school, Mrs Hannah Asantewaah, commended Prof. Buor for his immense contribution and inspiration to both pupils and teachers in the school.
She said institution of the award scheme had brought a sense of healthy competition among pupils and the teachers.
This, she said, was enhancing academic work and, therefore, appealed to the public to initiate programmes that would encourage pupils to focus on their academic work.
The Chief Executive of Kessben Group of Companies, Mr Kwabena Kesse, who chaired the programme, gave an assurance to contribute to the accelerated development of the school.
He, therefore, urged the pupils to manage their time well to enable them to build their potential and acquire the requisite skills that would make them support sustainable socio-esconomic development in future.
He also stressed the need for teachers to cultivate sound and healthy moral lifestyles to be in the position to mould students to acquire knowledge and skills that would make them live fulfilling lives.
Prof. Buor noted that the effective and efficient moulding of students would give them the fillip, vitality and the confidence to fully participate in political processes, as well as making them appreciate their rights and responsibilities.
This, he said, would empower students to use the appropriate channels to seek redress when the need arose to enhance the democratic dispensations in the country.
Addressing a cross-section of the public during the Golden Jubilee celebration of Atwima Manhyia D/A Junior High School, Prof. Buor pointed out that formal education “is the harmonious development of the physical, mental and spiritual forces of a person to fit him into society”.
“To be able to do this, parents, teachers, religious and community leaders must be role models,” he stressed, adding, “teachers have a Herculean task of training children for them to acquire knowledge and also live a sound and healthy moral life”.
As part of the Golden Jubilee celebration, the “Prof. Buor awards ceremony instituted last year to award hardworking teachers and students of the school, was also held.
In all, six students and four teachers who distinguished themselves during the last academic year, received awards in the form of books, cash and citations.
Commending the award winners, Prof. Buor said the present generation was in a knowledge-based era, an urged the youth to explore all avenues that would make them become proficient in all their endeavours.
This, he said, would empower them to acquire the requisite skills for them to contribute meaningfully towards societal development.
Prof. Buor pointed out that nations that had advanced in knowledge were not only conquering most material problems that confronted them, but were also overcoming poverty, unemployment, low maternal mortality ratio, infant and child mortality, as well as ethnic conflicts, superstitious beliefs that undermined sustainable socio-economic development, environmental degradation, among others.
He also advised the youth to be God-fearing and be respectful to their elders to enable them to have the peace, direction and guidance to explore their potential.
He pointed out that in spite of the feat of the industrialised nations, they are not free from child disobedience because they do not only practise homosexuality and lesbianism, but also indulge in social vices that undermine their development.
In her welcoming address, the Headmistress of the school, Mrs Hannah Asantewaah, commended Prof. Buor for his immense contribution and inspiration to both pupils and teachers in the school.
She said institution of the award scheme had brought a sense of healthy competition among pupils and the teachers.
This, she said, was enhancing academic work and, therefore, appealed to the public to initiate programmes that would encourage pupils to focus on their academic work.
The Chief Executive of Kessben Group of Companies, Mr Kwabena Kesse, who chaired the programme, gave an assurance to contribute to the accelerated development of the school.
He, therefore, urged the pupils to manage their time well to enable them to build their potential and acquire the requisite skills that would make them support sustainable socio-esconomic development in future.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
TRANSPORT OPERATORS MUST USE GOOD TYRES (PAGE 30, DEC 15)
The Technical Manager of CFAO Motors, Mr Samuel L. Baiden, has urged transport owners, companies and executives of various transport unions to impress on their drivers to select tyres that enhance the safety of their vehicles to reduce the spate of accidents and loss of lives in the country.
He said it was equally important for stakeholders in the transport industry to appreciate the need of identifying the speed limit and load range of tyres selected for their vehicles and strictly comply with them to ensure the safety of road users .
He explained that the inability of vehicle owners to differentiate between tyres and their usages on the road in the country have contributed immensely to the numerous accidents that claim precious lives and destroy property on a daily basis.
“Tyres are always manufactured with different patterns and therefore, have different usages on the road network, but transport owners and companies misapply them, thus affecting their lifespan, causing preventable accidents to destroy lives and property in the country” he stressed.
Mr Baiden made the appeal during a sensitisation workshop on tyre selection and maintenance, organised by the CFAO in Kumasi. About 50 representatives from various transport unions, mining companies , timber firms and industries in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs attended the seminar .
Mr Baiden showed a documentary on the process of manufacturing tyres and the various materials used in manufacturing them to the participants, prompting series of questions on the types of tyres that suit tropical Africa, their traction , lifespan and nature of road they should be selected for.
Mr Baiden pointed out that the CFAO, which is the sole distributor of Bridgestone tyres, would continue to sensitise drivers on the right selection of tyres and maintenance to enhance safety on the road.
After educating the participants on the functions of tyres, their sizes and temperatures required to enhance safety on the road, as well as their load capacity and how they should be selected for vehicles, Mr Baiden prompted the participants to always loo kout for guidelines anytime they were selecting tyres for their vehicles.
He advised that it was important for drivers to observe the speed limits of their tyres, stressing that “speeding beyond the limits of tyres increases their temperatures, causing them to burst when least expected to cause accidents”.
He said, since tyres have their load capacity, it was important for drivers to load vehicles to conform within their limit to reduce risks on the highways.
He also took the participants through driving habits, vehicle and tyre maintenance, changing rim sizes of their vehicles, as well as alignments and thread depth of tyres .
He advised them to be guided by the best practices of tyre selection and maintenance to ensure the safety of their vehicles on the highways to make travelling more comfortable and enjoyable for themselves and other road users.
He pointed out that CFAO was ready to offer quality services to stakeholders in the transport industry and therefore, “urge drivers to implement simple safety measures before they drive”.
He assured that the company would continue to collaborate with drivers and all stakeholders in the transport industry by “ distributing safety booklets and gauges that can measure tyre pressures and thread depth as part of our contributions to prevent accidents on our roads”.
He said it was equally important for stakeholders in the transport industry to appreciate the need of identifying the speed limit and load range of tyres selected for their vehicles and strictly comply with them to ensure the safety of road users .
He explained that the inability of vehicle owners to differentiate between tyres and their usages on the road in the country have contributed immensely to the numerous accidents that claim precious lives and destroy property on a daily basis.
“Tyres are always manufactured with different patterns and therefore, have different usages on the road network, but transport owners and companies misapply them, thus affecting their lifespan, causing preventable accidents to destroy lives and property in the country” he stressed.
Mr Baiden made the appeal during a sensitisation workshop on tyre selection and maintenance, organised by the CFAO in Kumasi. About 50 representatives from various transport unions, mining companies , timber firms and industries in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs attended the seminar .
Mr Baiden showed a documentary on the process of manufacturing tyres and the various materials used in manufacturing them to the participants, prompting series of questions on the types of tyres that suit tropical Africa, their traction , lifespan and nature of road they should be selected for.
Mr Baiden pointed out that the CFAO, which is the sole distributor of Bridgestone tyres, would continue to sensitise drivers on the right selection of tyres and maintenance to enhance safety on the road.
After educating the participants on the functions of tyres, their sizes and temperatures required to enhance safety on the road, as well as their load capacity and how they should be selected for vehicles, Mr Baiden prompted the participants to always loo kout for guidelines anytime they were selecting tyres for their vehicles.
He advised that it was important for drivers to observe the speed limits of their tyres, stressing that “speeding beyond the limits of tyres increases their temperatures, causing them to burst when least expected to cause accidents”.
He said, since tyres have their load capacity, it was important for drivers to load vehicles to conform within their limit to reduce risks on the highways.
He also took the participants through driving habits, vehicle and tyre maintenance, changing rim sizes of their vehicles, as well as alignments and thread depth of tyres .
He advised them to be guided by the best practices of tyre selection and maintenance to ensure the safety of their vehicles on the highways to make travelling more comfortable and enjoyable for themselves and other road users.
He pointed out that CFAO was ready to offer quality services to stakeholders in the transport industry and therefore, “urge drivers to implement simple safety measures before they drive”.
He assured that the company would continue to collaborate with drivers and all stakeholders in the transport industry by “ distributing safety booklets and gauges that can measure tyre pressures and thread depth as part of our contributions to prevent accidents on our roads”.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
FOUR SURBURBS IN KUMASI TO BE IMPROVED (PAGE 30, DEC 14)
A sod has been cut for work to begin on a project to give four suburbs of the Kumasi metropolis a facelift.
The project, being funded by the Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) at the cost of GH¢24 million, involves the improvement of drainage systems and street lights as well as the construction of places of convenience and roads.
The suburbs are Ahinsan, Atonsu, Asokwa and Anloga. Under the project the 3.8 kilometre Aboabo-Susa drains from Anloga to Atonsu would be improved and 14 places of convenience for selected schools as well as the public would be constructed in the four beneficiary suburbs to enhance sanitation.
Additionally, a 13-kilometre road network would be contructed to ease traffic congestion and 312 street lights will be installed to enhance the beauty of the suburbs.
Furthermore, a number of bore holes will be drilled to address the problems of water supply in the four communities .
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku-Manu, who cut the sod for work to begin on the project, commended the French government for the immense contributions towards the development efforts and the management of sanitation in various parts of the country.
“In deed the AFD Partnership has provided a major fillip towards the achievement of the development objectives of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly. One significant contribution of AFD to the development of Kumasi is the Oforikrom-Asokwa Bypass and Lake Road Expansion and Sokoban Wood Village Project” he noted.
He pointed out that “poor environmental sanitation conditions of our communities has been the bane of the numerous ailments afflicting the people” stressing “ environment and sanitation management therefore represents one of the greatest developmental challenge to the management of our communities and cities”.
Mr Opoku-Manu explained that the ever increasing population of Kumasi had not only brought about “excessive pressure on the existing sanitation and other infrastructural facilities in the city with its attendant social and economic problems, but has also resulted in the massive flooding, leading to loss of many lives and properties running into millions of Ghana Cedis”.
“The situation may be attributed to the lack of adequate drains in the city to carry flood waters when it rained” he noted, adding “The commencement of the Community Infrastructure Upgrading and the Aboabo-Susa Storm drainage improvement works is therefore a welcome development, not only to the residents of the beneficiary communities, but the entire city of Kumasi and the region at large”.
In his address, the French Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Francis Hurtut, assured of his country’s continuous support to Ghana and said the current project would employ not less than 500 Ghanaians to ease the unemployment problems among the youth.
In his welcome address, the Chief Executive of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Mr Samuel Sarpong said apart from the GH¢24 million project, AFD was also funding the construction of the Oforikrom-Asokwa bypass and the Lake Road Improvement project as well as the Sokoban Wood Village project designed to accommodate displaced workers from Anloga and its environs.
He, however, appealed to AFD to consider supporting the construction of a 3.5 dual carriage road from Coca Cola area to Sawua junction “ to ease vehicular traffic congestion along that stretch of road as the current construction works terminates at Brewery”.
The project, being funded by the Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) at the cost of GH¢24 million, involves the improvement of drainage systems and street lights as well as the construction of places of convenience and roads.
The suburbs are Ahinsan, Atonsu, Asokwa and Anloga. Under the project the 3.8 kilometre Aboabo-Susa drains from Anloga to Atonsu would be improved and 14 places of convenience for selected schools as well as the public would be constructed in the four beneficiary suburbs to enhance sanitation.
Additionally, a 13-kilometre road network would be contructed to ease traffic congestion and 312 street lights will be installed to enhance the beauty of the suburbs.
Furthermore, a number of bore holes will be drilled to address the problems of water supply in the four communities .
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku-Manu, who cut the sod for work to begin on the project, commended the French government for the immense contributions towards the development efforts and the management of sanitation in various parts of the country.
“In deed the AFD Partnership has provided a major fillip towards the achievement of the development objectives of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly. One significant contribution of AFD to the development of Kumasi is the Oforikrom-Asokwa Bypass and Lake Road Expansion and Sokoban Wood Village Project” he noted.
He pointed out that “poor environmental sanitation conditions of our communities has been the bane of the numerous ailments afflicting the people” stressing “ environment and sanitation management therefore represents one of the greatest developmental challenge to the management of our communities and cities”.
Mr Opoku-Manu explained that the ever increasing population of Kumasi had not only brought about “excessive pressure on the existing sanitation and other infrastructural facilities in the city with its attendant social and economic problems, but has also resulted in the massive flooding, leading to loss of many lives and properties running into millions of Ghana Cedis”.
“The situation may be attributed to the lack of adequate drains in the city to carry flood waters when it rained” he noted, adding “The commencement of the Community Infrastructure Upgrading and the Aboabo-Susa Storm drainage improvement works is therefore a welcome development, not only to the residents of the beneficiary communities, but the entire city of Kumasi and the region at large”.
In his address, the French Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Francis Hurtut, assured of his country’s continuous support to Ghana and said the current project would employ not less than 500 Ghanaians to ease the unemployment problems among the youth.
In his welcome address, the Chief Executive of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Mr Samuel Sarpong said apart from the GH¢24 million project, AFD was also funding the construction of the Oforikrom-Asokwa bypass and the Lake Road Improvement project as well as the Sokoban Wood Village project designed to accommodate displaced workers from Anloga and its environs.
He, however, appealed to AFD to consider supporting the construction of a 3.5 dual carriage road from Coca Cola area to Sawua junction “ to ease vehicular traffic congestion along that stretch of road as the current construction works terminates at Brewery”.
Monday, December 7, 2009
177 PASSENGERS KILLED IN ASHANTI (PAGE 39, MIRROR, DEC 5)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
A total of 177 passengers were killed through vehicular accidents in the Ashanti Region between January and September, this year.
As many as 936 others also sustained various degrees of injury in the region during the same period.
Some of the injured were maimed, making it impossible for them to make any meaningful contributions towards sustainable socio-economic development of the country.
The Ashanti Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) Police Commander, Assistant Superintend of Police (ASP) Mr Abraham Bansah, who disclosed this to The Mirror in an interview, explained that while 75 passengers were killed between January and March in the region this year, 59 died through motor accidents between April and June.
He said between July and September, 43 passengers were also killed in the region through vehicular accidents.
Mr Bansah said as many as 1,638 vehicles were also involved in accidents in the Ashanti Region between January and September this year, explaining that between January and March, 576 vehicles were involved in accidents, with 591 also being involved in accidents between April and June.
He said between July and September, 471 vehicles were involved in accidents in the region.
Mr Bansah pointed out that while some of the vehicles were slightly damaged, others were mangled beyond repairs, creating serious economic handicaps for their owners and dependants.
Expressing concern about the spate of accidents in the region and their socio-economic consequences, Mr Bansah said the police had always collaborated with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), the Road Safety Commission and executives of transport unions throughout the region to educate drivers on the need to respect road safety regulations to curb the menace of carnage on the highways.
According to Mr Bansah, wrong overtaking, overloading of vehicles, lack of maintenance culture among some motorists, as well as over speeding and drunk driving among others, are some of the causes of vehicular accidents in the region.
He said in their desire to increase revenue generation as Christmas approaches, some motorists would attempt to flout road safety regulations “ so the Police MTTU has devised means to check deviant drivers. We will not only arrest them, but will also prosecute them as soon as they are arrested to deter others”.
The MTTU regional boss said the police had a number of devices to check drunk drivers warning that “ drivers found to be drunk would be arrested and prosecuted as soon as they are arrested. This is because we will not allow them to put their lives and other road users at risk on the highway”.
Mr Bansah said the “police will also make good use of our radar guns to check those who drive beyond the recognised speed limit, both at residential areas and on the highways”.
He explained that investigations had proved that speeding and wrong overtaking had been the major contributory factors that cause accidents, leading to the loss of precious lives and the destruction of property.
According to him radar guns would be mounted at vantage points on all the highways in the region to arrest and prosecute reckless drivers.
He said motorists who do not have the required driving licence, those who use worn-out tyres or have defective brakes as well as those who load beyond the recognised height, among others, would be arrested and prosecuted immediately.
Mr Bansah said motor riders who failed to use helmets would also not be spared when arrested.
He, therefore, charged motorists to be circumspect on the road by respecting road safety regulations to make travelling more comfortable and enjoyable as Christmas approaches.
A total of 177 passengers were killed through vehicular accidents in the Ashanti Region between January and September, this year.
As many as 936 others also sustained various degrees of injury in the region during the same period.
Some of the injured were maimed, making it impossible for them to make any meaningful contributions towards sustainable socio-economic development of the country.
The Ashanti Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) Police Commander, Assistant Superintend of Police (ASP) Mr Abraham Bansah, who disclosed this to The Mirror in an interview, explained that while 75 passengers were killed between January and March in the region this year, 59 died through motor accidents between April and June.
He said between July and September, 43 passengers were also killed in the region through vehicular accidents.
Mr Bansah said as many as 1,638 vehicles were also involved in accidents in the Ashanti Region between January and September this year, explaining that between January and March, 576 vehicles were involved in accidents, with 591 also being involved in accidents between April and June.
He said between July and September, 471 vehicles were involved in accidents in the region.
Mr Bansah pointed out that while some of the vehicles were slightly damaged, others were mangled beyond repairs, creating serious economic handicaps for their owners and dependants.
Expressing concern about the spate of accidents in the region and their socio-economic consequences, Mr Bansah said the police had always collaborated with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), the Road Safety Commission and executives of transport unions throughout the region to educate drivers on the need to respect road safety regulations to curb the menace of carnage on the highways.
According to Mr Bansah, wrong overtaking, overloading of vehicles, lack of maintenance culture among some motorists, as well as over speeding and drunk driving among others, are some of the causes of vehicular accidents in the region.
He said in their desire to increase revenue generation as Christmas approaches, some motorists would attempt to flout road safety regulations “ so the Police MTTU has devised means to check deviant drivers. We will not only arrest them, but will also prosecute them as soon as they are arrested to deter others”.
The MTTU regional boss said the police had a number of devices to check drunk drivers warning that “ drivers found to be drunk would be arrested and prosecuted as soon as they are arrested. This is because we will not allow them to put their lives and other road users at risk on the highway”.
Mr Bansah said the “police will also make good use of our radar guns to check those who drive beyond the recognised speed limit, both at residential areas and on the highways”.
He explained that investigations had proved that speeding and wrong overtaking had been the major contributory factors that cause accidents, leading to the loss of precious lives and the destruction of property.
According to him radar guns would be mounted at vantage points on all the highways in the region to arrest and prosecute reckless drivers.
He said motorists who do not have the required driving licence, those who use worn-out tyres or have defective brakes as well as those who load beyond the recognised height, among others, would be arrested and prosecuted immediately.
Mr Bansah said motor riders who failed to use helmets would also not be spared when arrested.
He, therefore, charged motorists to be circumspect on the road by respecting road safety regulations to make travelling more comfortable and enjoyable as Christmas approaches.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
OTUMFUO'S GIFT OF CAMELS TO KUMASI ZOO (SHOWBIZ, PAGE 6, DEC 3)
By George Ernest Asare
Four Arabian camels which joined the animal collection of the Kumasi Zoo a couple of months ago, have started winning the hearts of local and foreign tourists as they troop into the zoo regularly to catch a glimpse of the new arrivals.
Buses full of pupils from basic and second cycle schools in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs and saloon cars that carry family members and friends, arrive at the Zoo on a daily basis, and their first point of call is always the enclosure that accommodates the four mammals which were flown across the Sahara Desert in a special chartered plane.
According to Oheneba Asampong Boakye, who handed them over to the management of the Zoo on behalf of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the camels were a special gift presented by the Libyan Leader, Col. Muamar Ghadaffi to Otumfuo.
A ceremony to formally welcome the camels was performed by the Board of the Zoo last week at which the media were briefed on how the camels had improved attendance to the Zoo.
According to the manager of the Zoo, Mr Emmanuel Darkwa Nimo, since the animals arrived on April 25 last year, there has been an upsurge in the number of tourists. The Zoo attracted over 130,000 tourists and generated an income of about GH¢40,400.
Camels which are well domesticated are herbivorous animals that can travel for about 48 kilometres a day. Also considered as Ships of the Desert, camels can travel as fast as horses and can endure harsh desert conditions. They can go without food and water for many days and can also carry heavy loads of up to about 90 kilograms.
Wool, milk and leather can be produced from them and their dung can be used for fuel when the need arises.
In his briefing, Mr Nimo said when the animals arrived in April, Otumfuo brought them to the Zoo for safe keeping but decided to donate them as his contribution to enhancing the attraction of the Zoo.
He said other animals that had added value to the tourists attraction of the Kumasi Zoo are the lions, pythons, chimpanzees and hyenas among others.
On the challenges that face his management, he mentioned poor drainage as one of the major headaches at the Zoo and appealed to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly to help improve the drainage system to make the place more attractive.
He also expressed concern about inadequate funding, making it difficult for the management to meet its expenses and appealed to philanthropists, individuals, institutions and corporate bodies to support them in that endeavour.
Some board members who graced the occasion during the formal handing over of the camels to the management of the Zoo were Professor Owusu Addo, Board Chairman, Nana Dr Effah Guakro, Vice Chairman, Mr I.K. Boateng, retired educationist, Nana Dwomo Sarpong of the Friends of Rivers and Water Bodies and Mr Edward Asare, a businessman.
Four Arabian camels which joined the animal collection of the Kumasi Zoo a couple of months ago, have started winning the hearts of local and foreign tourists as they troop into the zoo regularly to catch a glimpse of the new arrivals.
Buses full of pupils from basic and second cycle schools in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs and saloon cars that carry family members and friends, arrive at the Zoo on a daily basis, and their first point of call is always the enclosure that accommodates the four mammals which were flown across the Sahara Desert in a special chartered plane.
According to Oheneba Asampong Boakye, who handed them over to the management of the Zoo on behalf of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the camels were a special gift presented by the Libyan Leader, Col. Muamar Ghadaffi to Otumfuo.
A ceremony to formally welcome the camels was performed by the Board of the Zoo last week at which the media were briefed on how the camels had improved attendance to the Zoo.
According to the manager of the Zoo, Mr Emmanuel Darkwa Nimo, since the animals arrived on April 25 last year, there has been an upsurge in the number of tourists. The Zoo attracted over 130,000 tourists and generated an income of about GH¢40,400.
Camels which are well domesticated are herbivorous animals that can travel for about 48 kilometres a day. Also considered as Ships of the Desert, camels can travel as fast as horses and can endure harsh desert conditions. They can go without food and water for many days and can also carry heavy loads of up to about 90 kilograms.
Wool, milk and leather can be produced from them and their dung can be used for fuel when the need arises.
In his briefing, Mr Nimo said when the animals arrived in April, Otumfuo brought them to the Zoo for safe keeping but decided to donate them as his contribution to enhancing the attraction of the Zoo.
He said other animals that had added value to the tourists attraction of the Kumasi Zoo are the lions, pythons, chimpanzees and hyenas among others.
On the challenges that face his management, he mentioned poor drainage as one of the major headaches at the Zoo and appealed to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly to help improve the drainage system to make the place more attractive.
He also expressed concern about inadequate funding, making it difficult for the management to meet its expenses and appealed to philanthropists, individuals, institutions and corporate bodies to support them in that endeavour.
Some board members who graced the occasion during the formal handing over of the camels to the management of the Zoo were Professor Owusu Addo, Board Chairman, Nana Dr Effah Guakro, Vice Chairman, Mr I.K. Boateng, retired educationist, Nana Dwomo Sarpong of the Friends of Rivers and Water Bodies and Mr Edward Asare, a businessman.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
ADVENTIST SENIOR HIGH NEEDS GIRLS DOMITORY (PAGE 11, DEC 2)
THE Headmaster of the Kumasi Adventist Senior High School, Mr M. K. Addai, has appealed to the Government and benevolent organisations to support the school to construct a dormitory for girls in order to enhance admission of females to the school.
He explained that the school had a vast piece of land earmarked for expansion works, which included construction of girls dormitory but inadequate financial resources had impeded implementation of the project to accommodate more female students.
Speaking at the 25th anniversary and speech and prize-giving day of the school on the theme “Holistic Education for National Growth-The Adventist Factor,” Mr Addai appealed for a school bus to address the transportation needs of the school.
“The school is in dire need of a bus. Our number is large, so we deserve even two or more buses. This is because what we have has outlived its usefulness, but we continue to use it at the peril of our lives”.
He pointed out that the SDA “had never benefited from any government project, neither has any government vehicle been donated to it”.
Notwithstanding its financial predicament, he said the school, with the support of the parent-teacher association (PTA), had put up a science block, making it possible for them to introduce General Science as part of the school’s programmes.
Mr Addai said from its initial enrolment of 80 students a few years ago, the student population now stood at 1,800, and academically, “ students’ performance had improved, making it possible for a lot of students to qualify to enter tertiary institutions for them to develop their potentials”.
He commended the PTA of the school for its tremendous contributions towards the development of the school.
In his address, the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, commended the school authorities for their commitment to the academic programmes of students, saying “it is comparable to that of the well-endowed and the traditionally acknowledged schools in the nation”.
He said the academic prowess of the school had created a healthy competitive academic spirit required to harness the resources of the country.
Mr Tettey-Enyo, however, called for a holistic educational programme on which students would receive both academic and moral disciplines to reduce the spate of indiscipline in society.
He explained that the school had a vast piece of land earmarked for expansion works, which included construction of girls dormitory but inadequate financial resources had impeded implementation of the project to accommodate more female students.
Speaking at the 25th anniversary and speech and prize-giving day of the school on the theme “Holistic Education for National Growth-The Adventist Factor,” Mr Addai appealed for a school bus to address the transportation needs of the school.
“The school is in dire need of a bus. Our number is large, so we deserve even two or more buses. This is because what we have has outlived its usefulness, but we continue to use it at the peril of our lives”.
He pointed out that the SDA “had never benefited from any government project, neither has any government vehicle been donated to it”.
Notwithstanding its financial predicament, he said the school, with the support of the parent-teacher association (PTA), had put up a science block, making it possible for them to introduce General Science as part of the school’s programmes.
Mr Addai said from its initial enrolment of 80 students a few years ago, the student population now stood at 1,800, and academically, “ students’ performance had improved, making it possible for a lot of students to qualify to enter tertiary institutions for them to develop their potentials”.
He commended the PTA of the school for its tremendous contributions towards the development of the school.
In his address, the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, commended the school authorities for their commitment to the academic programmes of students, saying “it is comparable to that of the well-endowed and the traditionally acknowledged schools in the nation”.
He said the academic prowess of the school had created a healthy competitive academic spirit required to harness the resources of the country.
Mr Tettey-Enyo, however, called for a holistic educational programme on which students would receive both academic and moral disciplines to reduce the spate of indiscipline in society.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
KNUST SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL NEEDS HELP (PAGE 30, NOV 24)
The Headmistress of KNUST Senior High School, Mrs Joyce Owusu- Ansah, has called on the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to collaborate to call a private land developer who had been harassing and threatening the lives of school authorities and construction workers to order.
She explained that the private land developer- a native of Boadi- who claims to be the owner of an area allotted the school by the KNUST for expansion, had not only been “interfering with new projects , but has also been harassing workers at the new site by using notorious machomen to threaten them”.
That, she noted, had not only been undermining their academic programmes, but also been rendering them helpless in providing the requisite infrastructure that would have accelerated the construction of dormitories and other school facilities.
Mrs Owusu- Ansah made the appeal during the school’s second speech and prize-giving day held at the weekend.
The ceremony, which was on the theme “ Human resource development; the role of science, technical and vocational education” saw the school authorities awarding prizes to deserving staff and students.
Commending the former headmaster of the school, Mr J.A. Boamah and the former Board Chairman, Nana Agyewodin Adu Gyamfi Ampem, as well as the late Vice Chancellor of the KNUST, Professor Kwesi Andam for the significant roles they played to acquire the new site for the KNUST Senior School, Mrs Owusu- Ansah said their contributions would not yield fruitful results if noting was done to bring the private land developer to order.
“ There is an urgent need for the provision of the required facilities to give the school a boarding status, since land is available for the construction of dormitories, assembly hall dining hall and a kitchen. Staff accommodation is also inadequate and presently, only five out of a total number of 75 teachers are accommodated by the school through the PTA” she lamented
She said the rate of progress of work for the development of classrooms “ is also at a snail pace, and if nothing is done about it, the school cannot accommodate the first year students during the 2010-2011 academic year”.
Mrs Owusu-Ansah however, commended the Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa and Dr R.P. Baffour who was a former Vice Chancellor of the KNUST, “for their various assistance ranging from Staff accommodation, access to some learning facilities at the KNUST and the donation of a 52-acre piece of land for expansion”.
She also commended the government for providing the school with a 32-seater bus and some infrastructure, including a new administration block and classrooms.
She was also full of praise for the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), regional and metropolitan directors of education, as well as the Board of Governors and old students of the school for their tremendous contributions which she said was impacting positively on their programmes .
In his address, the Minister of Education, M. Alex Tettey-Enyo said the nation had no option to initiate policies and programmes that would accelerate the development of the human resource base for the promotion and growth of the industries in the country.
“Our local industries are key to our national development, hence the need for the promotion of science , technical and vocational education” he noted ,stressing “ with new knowledge and skills through science, technical and vocational education, we can have the required manpower needs like engineers, technicians and artisans from our youth instead of the usual reliance on external expertise”.
Explaining further he said government’s investment in the energy sector , including gas and hydro power generation could be derailed and Ghana would end up selling “ our birth rights to foreigners if we ignore the training of our youth in the skills and knowledge required for the energy sector “
Mr Tettey-Enyo, therefore, urged stakeholders in both the public and private sectors to actively support the government in its effort “ at revamping education delivery in this country and more importantly in providing the needed resources to promote science and Technology”.
He also urged parents to encourage their children “ to pursue science, technical and vocational education programmes at the pre-tertiary level and higher technological courses in the tertiary institutions”.
She explained that the private land developer- a native of Boadi- who claims to be the owner of an area allotted the school by the KNUST for expansion, had not only been “interfering with new projects , but has also been harassing workers at the new site by using notorious machomen to threaten them”.
That, she noted, had not only been undermining their academic programmes, but also been rendering them helpless in providing the requisite infrastructure that would have accelerated the construction of dormitories and other school facilities.
Mrs Owusu- Ansah made the appeal during the school’s second speech and prize-giving day held at the weekend.
The ceremony, which was on the theme “ Human resource development; the role of science, technical and vocational education” saw the school authorities awarding prizes to deserving staff and students.
Commending the former headmaster of the school, Mr J.A. Boamah and the former Board Chairman, Nana Agyewodin Adu Gyamfi Ampem, as well as the late Vice Chancellor of the KNUST, Professor Kwesi Andam for the significant roles they played to acquire the new site for the KNUST Senior School, Mrs Owusu- Ansah said their contributions would not yield fruitful results if noting was done to bring the private land developer to order.
“ There is an urgent need for the provision of the required facilities to give the school a boarding status, since land is available for the construction of dormitories, assembly hall dining hall and a kitchen. Staff accommodation is also inadequate and presently, only five out of a total number of 75 teachers are accommodated by the school through the PTA” she lamented
She said the rate of progress of work for the development of classrooms “ is also at a snail pace, and if nothing is done about it, the school cannot accommodate the first year students during the 2010-2011 academic year”.
Mrs Owusu-Ansah however, commended the Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa and Dr R.P. Baffour who was a former Vice Chancellor of the KNUST, “for their various assistance ranging from Staff accommodation, access to some learning facilities at the KNUST and the donation of a 52-acre piece of land for expansion”.
She also commended the government for providing the school with a 32-seater bus and some infrastructure, including a new administration block and classrooms.
She was also full of praise for the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), regional and metropolitan directors of education, as well as the Board of Governors and old students of the school for their tremendous contributions which she said was impacting positively on their programmes .
In his address, the Minister of Education, M. Alex Tettey-Enyo said the nation had no option to initiate policies and programmes that would accelerate the development of the human resource base for the promotion and growth of the industries in the country.
“Our local industries are key to our national development, hence the need for the promotion of science , technical and vocational education” he noted ,stressing “ with new knowledge and skills through science, technical and vocational education, we can have the required manpower needs like engineers, technicians and artisans from our youth instead of the usual reliance on external expertise”.
Explaining further he said government’s investment in the energy sector , including gas and hydro power generation could be derailed and Ghana would end up selling “ our birth rights to foreigners if we ignore the training of our youth in the skills and knowledge required for the energy sector “
Mr Tettey-Enyo, therefore, urged stakeholders in both the public and private sectors to actively support the government in its effort “ at revamping education delivery in this country and more importantly in providing the needed resources to promote science and Technology”.
He also urged parents to encourage their children “ to pursue science, technical and vocational education programmes at the pre-tertiary level and higher technological courses in the tertiary institutions”.
Monday, November 23, 2009
DWARFS TEAM APPEAL TO TARKWA GOLDFIELDS (PAGE 14, NSEMPA, NOV 23)
By George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
The Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Dwarfs Sports Team has appealed to Tarkwa Goldfields to sponsor the team to enable it participate in local and international competitions.
Commending Goldfields for their financial support to the senior national team that had made it possible for the Black Stars to achieve many laurels for the nation, the Dwarfs’ team, a.k.a, Little Black Stars, said similar financial support to it would enable them develop their potentials to the fullest.
The team’s National Coach, Mr Adu Akyeampong who made the appeal on their behalf when they paid a familiarisation visit to the Graphic Communications Group Limited’s (GCGL) Kumasi offices, said it was time various companies, institutions and firms extended financial support to the Dwarfs’ team which is made up of football stars, athletes and table tennis players.
The visit to the Kumasi office was also in appreciation of the tremendous support the company had been offering them since the team was formed a few years ago.
It also created a platform for their officials to appeal to the GCGL to continue supporting the physically challenged in terms of publicity for society to appreciate their worth.
Mr Akyeampong, who is also the Sports Development Co-ordinator noted, “it takes both the able and the disabled to develop a nation, but in sports, the disabled are always neglected and sidelined, making it impossible for them to nurture and develop their talents to support national development”.
“ We may lack the physical structures, but in terms of skills, know-how, ability, zeal and commitment, we have them in abundance” he added.
Expressing concern about their neglect when it came to sponsorship in sporting programmes in particular and other socio-economic development in general, Mr Akyeampong pointed out that, “when we participated in the Benin games a few months ago, we won trophies in football by beating Benin 9-0 to win the trophy at stake and in table tennis, we won it hands down, a feat that we are eager to further explore to enable us win more laurels for the country in future”.
“Apart from boxing and wrestling, we can participate in any sporting programme because we have the potentials and the ability to excel” adding, “since we are always referred to as the little Stars, we deserve a little of the national cake in the form of sponsorship to enable us participate in both local and international tournaments”.
Lamenting on the lack of sponsorship which he said undermined the development of the team, he said, “we have only one football for the team. Our players also train with different colours because we have no jerseys, boots and other sports kits”.
He said it was due to the problems they had been encountering in terms of sponsorship that “we have now decided to launch ourselves for the public to appreciate our worth. This is because we have been neglected for far too long”.
Mr Akyeampong commended Mr Daniel Arhin, who is the Chief Executive of Friends for the Physically Challenged Foundation and his wife Mrs Elizabeth Arhin for their continuous support for the team.
He said the couple had sponsored their team to participate in major local and international tournaments “but looking at the situation they cannot do it alone, hence our appeal to every Ghanaian to come on board to support us with sponsorship packages”.
The sports co-ordinator said it was equally important for premier clubs in Ghana to adopt them to play curtain raisers during their matches as a way of creating interest for football fans who might be willing to support them.
He pointed out that keeping interest in sports that promoted the Dwarfs’ team and those who were handicapped physically would reduce the stigma associated with such members.
The Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Dwarfs Sports Team has appealed to Tarkwa Goldfields to sponsor the team to enable it participate in local and international competitions.
Commending Goldfields for their financial support to the senior national team that had made it possible for the Black Stars to achieve many laurels for the nation, the Dwarfs’ team, a.k.a, Little Black Stars, said similar financial support to it would enable them develop their potentials to the fullest.
The team’s National Coach, Mr Adu Akyeampong who made the appeal on their behalf when they paid a familiarisation visit to the Graphic Communications Group Limited’s (GCGL) Kumasi offices, said it was time various companies, institutions and firms extended financial support to the Dwarfs’ team which is made up of football stars, athletes and table tennis players.
The visit to the Kumasi office was also in appreciation of the tremendous support the company had been offering them since the team was formed a few years ago.
It also created a platform for their officials to appeal to the GCGL to continue supporting the physically challenged in terms of publicity for society to appreciate their worth.
Mr Akyeampong, who is also the Sports Development Co-ordinator noted, “it takes both the able and the disabled to develop a nation, but in sports, the disabled are always neglected and sidelined, making it impossible for them to nurture and develop their talents to support national development”.
“ We may lack the physical structures, but in terms of skills, know-how, ability, zeal and commitment, we have them in abundance” he added.
Expressing concern about their neglect when it came to sponsorship in sporting programmes in particular and other socio-economic development in general, Mr Akyeampong pointed out that, “when we participated in the Benin games a few months ago, we won trophies in football by beating Benin 9-0 to win the trophy at stake and in table tennis, we won it hands down, a feat that we are eager to further explore to enable us win more laurels for the country in future”.
“Apart from boxing and wrestling, we can participate in any sporting programme because we have the potentials and the ability to excel” adding, “since we are always referred to as the little Stars, we deserve a little of the national cake in the form of sponsorship to enable us participate in both local and international tournaments”.
Lamenting on the lack of sponsorship which he said undermined the development of the team, he said, “we have only one football for the team. Our players also train with different colours because we have no jerseys, boots and other sports kits”.
He said it was due to the problems they had been encountering in terms of sponsorship that “we have now decided to launch ourselves for the public to appreciate our worth. This is because we have been neglected for far too long”.
Mr Akyeampong commended Mr Daniel Arhin, who is the Chief Executive of Friends for the Physically Challenged Foundation and his wife Mrs Elizabeth Arhin for their continuous support for the team.
He said the couple had sponsored their team to participate in major local and international tournaments “but looking at the situation they cannot do it alone, hence our appeal to every Ghanaian to come on board to support us with sponsorship packages”.
The sports co-ordinator said it was equally important for premier clubs in Ghana to adopt them to play curtain raisers during their matches as a way of creating interest for football fans who might be willing to support them.
He pointed out that keeping interest in sports that promoted the Dwarfs’ team and those who were handicapped physically would reduce the stigma associated with such members.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
SD HONOURS GRAPHIC, OTHER MEDIA HOUSES (PAGE 40, NOV 23)
THE Central Ghana Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church, has honoured Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) in particular and other media establishments in general, for their contributions towards the socio–economic development of the country.
A citation signed jointly by the Communication Director, Pastor Peter Obeng Manu, and the President, Pastor Emmanuel Denteh of the church said the SDA Church, acknowledged and appreciated the positive contributions the GCGL and other media houses were making towards evangelisation of the church in Ghana.
“We also recognise your contributions in the promotion of health, education, agriculture, social issues and many others, that are crucial to the healthy development of our great nation. We pray for the salvation of your entire staff and the success of your daily operations,” it stressed.
The ceremony took place at a special church service organised in Kumasi at the weekend, dubbed: “Media appreciation day”.
Other media houses which were honoured alongside GCGL were the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, TV3, TV Africa, Metro TV, OTEC FM, ANGEL FM, Garden City Radio, KESBEN FM and HELLO FM. The rest were FOX and Liberty FM stations as well as Ghana News Agency, News Times Corporation and the Pioneer.
In his address, Pastor Denteh of the church said over the years, the media in Ghana had collaborated with various governments to initiate policies and programmes that had promoted national development.
He said the media had also not only kept the public abreast with both local and foreign news, but had also provided civic education that had enabled Ghanaians to live up to their civic rights and responsibilities.
Pastor Denteh challenged the media to continue to play their assigned roles as the watchdogs in the country as a way of promoting “God fearing principles among the youth in particular and society in general”.
On health issues, Pastor Denteh said the media had a crucial role to play to initiate health reform principles among Ghanaians.
He stated that the media had successfully carried out an anti-smoking campaign that had considerably reduced the smoking of cigarettes at public places in the country .
Pastor Denteh, however, said the media was yet to initiate programmes and policies that would ward society off the intake of alcohol and hard drugs which had become the order of the day.
“Both radio and television have been using their media to advertise the potency of different brands of alcoholic beverages on daily basis, creating the impression that they are very good for the body. Such false impressions make society, including the youth patronise alcohol in large quantities, which directly and indirectly affect their health,” he stated.
He, therefore, urged the media to propagate the effects of quaffing quantities of alcohol just as they did for smoking, to enable society to appreciate the need to refrain from patronising alcohol.
Pastor Denteh said it was very important for the media to actively support the campaign of preventive principles to enable Ghanaians to enjoy good health.
He mentioned good environmental conditions, adequate rest, regular exercises and good diet, among others, as some of the measures that should be regularly practised by society to enhance good health among them.
He said the church on its part , has constructed four hospitals, 14 clinics and a Nursing Training College in the Ashanti as their contribution of meeting the heath needs of society.
On education, Pastor Denteh said the SDA Church had established 250 public and private schools at the basic level in the Ashanti Region alone, stressing that it also had set up six Senior High Schools, as well as a private university to complement the government’s efforts in bringing education to the doorsteps of the ordinary Ghanaian.
He urged the media to continue playing its role as watchdogs to enhance accelerated social development, but however, said in doing so, the media needed to check the accuracy of their reportage and should also be selective in the music played on air.
“Be selective in the kind of music presented and discard music which tends to lower morals,” Pastor Denteh said, adding “Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the service of the Lord and not to men”.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Nana Yaw Osei, commended the Central Ghana Conference of the SDA Church for recognising the crucial role the media play in accelerated national development.
He said the historic ceremony would not only ginger the media to work harder than before to enhance social stability and rapid economic growth, but would also bring the media closer to the church to promote values that would firmly entrench democratic principles in the country.
A citation signed jointly by the Communication Director, Pastor Peter Obeng Manu, and the President, Pastor Emmanuel Denteh of the church said the SDA Church, acknowledged and appreciated the positive contributions the GCGL and other media houses were making towards evangelisation of the church in Ghana.
“We also recognise your contributions in the promotion of health, education, agriculture, social issues and many others, that are crucial to the healthy development of our great nation. We pray for the salvation of your entire staff and the success of your daily operations,” it stressed.
The ceremony took place at a special church service organised in Kumasi at the weekend, dubbed: “Media appreciation day”.
Other media houses which were honoured alongside GCGL were the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, TV3, TV Africa, Metro TV, OTEC FM, ANGEL FM, Garden City Radio, KESBEN FM and HELLO FM. The rest were FOX and Liberty FM stations as well as Ghana News Agency, News Times Corporation and the Pioneer.
In his address, Pastor Denteh of the church said over the years, the media in Ghana had collaborated with various governments to initiate policies and programmes that had promoted national development.
He said the media had also not only kept the public abreast with both local and foreign news, but had also provided civic education that had enabled Ghanaians to live up to their civic rights and responsibilities.
Pastor Denteh challenged the media to continue to play their assigned roles as the watchdogs in the country as a way of promoting “God fearing principles among the youth in particular and society in general”.
On health issues, Pastor Denteh said the media had a crucial role to play to initiate health reform principles among Ghanaians.
He stated that the media had successfully carried out an anti-smoking campaign that had considerably reduced the smoking of cigarettes at public places in the country .
Pastor Denteh, however, said the media was yet to initiate programmes and policies that would ward society off the intake of alcohol and hard drugs which had become the order of the day.
“Both radio and television have been using their media to advertise the potency of different brands of alcoholic beverages on daily basis, creating the impression that they are very good for the body. Such false impressions make society, including the youth patronise alcohol in large quantities, which directly and indirectly affect their health,” he stated.
He, therefore, urged the media to propagate the effects of quaffing quantities of alcohol just as they did for smoking, to enable society to appreciate the need to refrain from patronising alcohol.
Pastor Denteh said it was very important for the media to actively support the campaign of preventive principles to enable Ghanaians to enjoy good health.
He mentioned good environmental conditions, adequate rest, regular exercises and good diet, among others, as some of the measures that should be regularly practised by society to enhance good health among them.
He said the church on its part , has constructed four hospitals, 14 clinics and a Nursing Training College in the Ashanti as their contribution of meeting the heath needs of society.
On education, Pastor Denteh said the SDA Church had established 250 public and private schools at the basic level in the Ashanti Region alone, stressing that it also had set up six Senior High Schools, as well as a private university to complement the government’s efforts in bringing education to the doorsteps of the ordinary Ghanaian.
He urged the media to continue playing its role as watchdogs to enhance accelerated social development, but however, said in doing so, the media needed to check the accuracy of their reportage and should also be selective in the music played on air.
“Be selective in the kind of music presented and discard music which tends to lower morals,” Pastor Denteh said, adding “Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the service of the Lord and not to men”.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Nana Yaw Osei, commended the Central Ghana Conference of the SDA Church for recognising the crucial role the media play in accelerated national development.
He said the historic ceremony would not only ginger the media to work harder than before to enhance social stability and rapid economic growth, but would also bring the media closer to the church to promote values that would firmly entrench democratic principles in the country.
COURT RESTRAINS NPP, ASOKWA CONSTITUENCY (PAGE 13, NOV 21)
A Kumasi High Court has granted an application restraining both the Ashanti Regional Executive Committee for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Asokwa Constituency Executive of the party from holding any election of new executive members for the Asokwa Constituency of the party.
A suit filed by Mr Kwame Owusu Sekyere, on behalf of the applicants who are polling station executives of eight polling stations of the Asokwa Constituency, also sought an order to declare the polling station membership register compiled between September and October 2009 by the Ashanti Regional Executive Committee of the NPP and the Executive Committee of the Asokwa Constituency of the party null and void.
The plaintiffs are Messrs Gyamfi Marfo of Kaasi, Nana Kwaku Frimpong of F170102, Charles Damptey of Gyinase M/A Primary, Luke Kofi Fofie of SDA Church, Osei Efah Amponsah of F170708, Yaw Boakye of Gyinase , Frank Bosompem Danso of F10109 and Madam Lydia Efa Amponsah of Atonsu S-Line polling station.
Other claims that the court, presided over by Justice Imoru Ziblim, has granted an order compelling the defendants to compile and validate the Polling Station Membership Register of the Asokwa Constituency of the NPP in accordance with the NPP constitution, rules and regulations, and an order restraining the defendants, their agents and assigns from conducting the Asokwa Constituency Executive Elections of the NPP, pending the final determination of the suit and general damages.
In their statement of claim, the plaintiff explained that they were elected in 2005 in their respective polling stations of the Asokwa Constituency as polling station executives, and, therefore, form part of the Electoral College for the selection and election of constituency executives and parliamentary candidates, as well as the selection and election of delegates who select and elect national executive and the presidential candidate for the party.
It said being card-bearing members of the party, they also qualify to stand for any election within the party, including election to select polling station and constituency executives.
It said even though they remained at post as polling station executives, they were sidelined by the constituency executives during the compilation and validation of the polling station register.
The statement further explained that contrary to the party’s constitution, rules and regulations, the Executive Committee of the Asokwa Constituency and the Member of Parliament of the constituency, designed and compiled the membership register without any reference to the plaintiffs who form part of the polling station executives.
The statement also explained that following the action of the Asokwa Executive Committee members and the MP, they (Plaintiffs) petitioned the Regional Executive Committee and the National Secretariat, as well as the Council of Elders of the party, but had not received any response, and in spite of the petition to the party executives at the regional and national levels, the defendants were bent on using the illegal register to elect constituency executives.
It said if the defendants were allowed to use that register for the selection and election of constituency executives, they (Plaintiffs) would be denied their fundamental human rights to belong to the party of their choice and a right to vote and be voted for in any executive position.
A suit filed by Mr Kwame Owusu Sekyere, on behalf of the applicants who are polling station executives of eight polling stations of the Asokwa Constituency, also sought an order to declare the polling station membership register compiled between September and October 2009 by the Ashanti Regional Executive Committee of the NPP and the Executive Committee of the Asokwa Constituency of the party null and void.
The plaintiffs are Messrs Gyamfi Marfo of Kaasi, Nana Kwaku Frimpong of F170102, Charles Damptey of Gyinase M/A Primary, Luke Kofi Fofie of SDA Church, Osei Efah Amponsah of F170708, Yaw Boakye of Gyinase , Frank Bosompem Danso of F10109 and Madam Lydia Efa Amponsah of Atonsu S-Line polling station.
Other claims that the court, presided over by Justice Imoru Ziblim, has granted an order compelling the defendants to compile and validate the Polling Station Membership Register of the Asokwa Constituency of the NPP in accordance with the NPP constitution, rules and regulations, and an order restraining the defendants, their agents and assigns from conducting the Asokwa Constituency Executive Elections of the NPP, pending the final determination of the suit and general damages.
In their statement of claim, the plaintiff explained that they were elected in 2005 in their respective polling stations of the Asokwa Constituency as polling station executives, and, therefore, form part of the Electoral College for the selection and election of constituency executives and parliamentary candidates, as well as the selection and election of delegates who select and elect national executive and the presidential candidate for the party.
It said being card-bearing members of the party, they also qualify to stand for any election within the party, including election to select polling station and constituency executives.
It said even though they remained at post as polling station executives, they were sidelined by the constituency executives during the compilation and validation of the polling station register.
The statement further explained that contrary to the party’s constitution, rules and regulations, the Executive Committee of the Asokwa Constituency and the Member of Parliament of the constituency, designed and compiled the membership register without any reference to the plaintiffs who form part of the polling station executives.
The statement also explained that following the action of the Asokwa Executive Committee members and the MP, they (Plaintiffs) petitioned the Regional Executive Committee and the National Secretariat, as well as the Council of Elders of the party, but had not received any response, and in spite of the petition to the party executives at the regional and national levels, the defendants were bent on using the illegal register to elect constituency executives.
It said if the defendants were allowed to use that register for the selection and election of constituency executives, they (Plaintiffs) would be denied their fundamental human rights to belong to the party of their choice and a right to vote and be voted for in any executive position.
Friday, November 20, 2009
DWARFS TEAM VISITS GRAPHIC (GRAPHIC SPORTS, PAGE 11, NOV 20)
The Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Dwarfs Sports team has paid a familiarisation visit to the Kumasi office of Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) with a call on sports enthusiasts to actively support the development of the team to enable them develop their potentials effectively and efficiently.
The visit to the Kumasi office was in appreciation of the tremendous support the GCGL has been offering them since the team was formed a few years ago .
It also created a platform for their officials to appeal to the GCGL to continue supporting the disabled in terms of publicity for society to appreciate their worth.
This, according to their National Coach, Mr Adu Akyeampong, “ will encourage sports philanthropists , organisations, institutions and individuals to sponsor members of the team in diverse ways for them to nurture and develop their potentials”.
The team comprised soccer stars, table tennis players and athletes .
Mr Akyeampong , who is also the Sports Development Coordinator, noted, “ it takes both the able and the disabled to develop a nation, but in sports the disabled are always neglected and sidelined, making it impossible for them to nurture and develop their talents to support national development”
“We may lack the physical stature, but in terms of skills , know-how, ability , zeal and commitment , we have them in abundance,” he noted.
Expressing concern about their neglect when it comes to sponsorship in sporting programmes in particular and other socio-economic development in general, Mr Akyeampong noted, “ when we participated in the Benin games a few months ago, we won trophies in soccer by beating Benin 9-0 to win the trophy at stake , and in table tennis too we won it hands down, a feat that we are eager to further explore to enable us win more laurels for the country in future”.
The visit to the Kumasi office was in appreciation of the tremendous support the GCGL has been offering them since the team was formed a few years ago .
It also created a platform for their officials to appeal to the GCGL to continue supporting the disabled in terms of publicity for society to appreciate their worth.
This, according to their National Coach, Mr Adu Akyeampong, “ will encourage sports philanthropists , organisations, institutions and individuals to sponsor members of the team in diverse ways for them to nurture and develop their potentials”.
The team comprised soccer stars, table tennis players and athletes .
Mr Akyeampong , who is also the Sports Development Coordinator, noted, “ it takes both the able and the disabled to develop a nation, but in sports the disabled are always neglected and sidelined, making it impossible for them to nurture and develop their talents to support national development”
“We may lack the physical stature, but in terms of skills , know-how, ability , zeal and commitment , we have them in abundance,” he noted.
Expressing concern about their neglect when it comes to sponsorship in sporting programmes in particular and other socio-economic development in general, Mr Akyeampong noted, “ when we participated in the Benin games a few months ago, we won trophies in soccer by beating Benin 9-0 to win the trophy at stake , and in table tennis too we won it hands down, a feat that we are eager to further explore to enable us win more laurels for the country in future”.
4 DIE IN ACCIDEENT (PAGE 3, NOV 20)
FOUR persons died on the spot yesterday when a Nissan Urvan bus in which they were travelling from Kumasi to Sankore collided with a Renault timber truck at the outskirts of Mpasatia on the Kumasi-Bibiani trunk road.
The bodies of the deceased, made up of three females and a male, have been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital mortuary for autopsy.
According to the police, the driver of the bus, with registration number AS 3157 X, escaped unhurt, but 10 passengers who were on board suffered various degrees of injury and were rushed to the Nkawie Government Hospital where they are receiving treatment.
The Ashanti Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service, Mr Abraham Bansah, told the Daily Graphic that the accident occurred around 6:30 a.m.
He said initial investigations revealed that the driver of the bus was overtaking another vehicle at the outskirts of Mpasatia, in the process of which he entered the lane of the oncoming timber truck, with registration number AS 1877 R.
He said the driver of the timber truck attempted to save the situation by branching off the road when he saw the bus in his lane, but in the process the trailer hit the bus, dragging it into the bush.
Mr Bansah said it took a lot of time for sympathisers who were attracted to the scene to remove both the deceased passengers and the injured from the mangled bus.
The bodies of the deceased, made up of three females and a male, have been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital mortuary for autopsy.
According to the police, the driver of the bus, with registration number AS 3157 X, escaped unhurt, but 10 passengers who were on board suffered various degrees of injury and were rushed to the Nkawie Government Hospital where they are receiving treatment.
The Ashanti Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service, Mr Abraham Bansah, told the Daily Graphic that the accident occurred around 6:30 a.m.
He said initial investigations revealed that the driver of the bus was overtaking another vehicle at the outskirts of Mpasatia, in the process of which he entered the lane of the oncoming timber truck, with registration number AS 1877 R.
He said the driver of the timber truck attempted to save the situation by branching off the road when he saw the bus in his lane, but in the process the trailer hit the bus, dragging it into the bush.
Mr Bansah said it took a lot of time for sympathisers who were attracted to the scene to remove both the deceased passengers and the injured from the mangled bus.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
THREATRE STUDENTS PLAY TO KUMASI SCHOOLS (GRAPHIC SHOWBIZ, NOV 19, PAGE 3)
By George Ernest Asare
Students of the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana visited the Dwabrem theatre at the Centre for National Culture in Kumasi last Saturday where they dished out a mix of traditional music, dance and drama to entertain and educate the youth on the effects of drug abuse, parental irresponsibility and truancy.
The programme, which attracted students from Kumasi Academy Senior High School and a number of second cycle institutions in the metropolis, saw the audience glued to their seats and totally engrossed in the performance as they watched the unfolding of various scenes.
It was a drama which involved a powerful spirit who after being thrown down from heaven, vowed to take revenge on man by putting all his powers into leaves so as to destroy anyone who uses such leaves .
A student, who became frustrated after his father refused to cater for his education, joined a gang of drug addicts, and eventually became addicted himself, destroying his future and getting arrested for various crimes committed.
Intermittent applause during the performance and the spontaneous clamour for more of such performances by both students and a cross section of the public who watched the show, was an indication that Kumasi was hungry for such shows as a way of encouraging the youth to refrain from drugs and bad company which eventually destroys their lives.
Commenting on the programme, Mr T. B. Ofosu who was in charge of the group told Showbiz about the need to use entertainment to educate the youth, especially students on the dangers of drug abuse.
Expressing concern about the problems that drug abuse was creating in the country, Mr Ofosu noted “ we want to reach out to the youth with such performances and inform them about the hazards of drug abuse, hoping that they will accept the message and refrain from such activities”.
He said the School of Performing Arts had put up a number of such shows in Accra “and with the positive response we received, we decided to extend our tentacles to Kumasi before venturing into other parts of the country”.
Mr Ofosu said their main headache was sponsorship saying “ we want to reach out to the youth, especially students in both the second cycle and tertiary institutions throughout the country, but lack of sponsorship is undermining our effort”.
He said it was therefore important for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s), firms, Institutions, and individuals to actively support them with funds to enable them start the nationwide tour as soon as possible.
On his part, the Vice President of the Association of School of Performing Arts (ASPA), Mr Richmond Amoako said using theatre as a platform to reach out to the youth was yielding positive results.
Describing their programme as a “soul winning” one to entice the youth to stay away from drugs, Mr Amoako said they would not relent in their efforts to interact with as many students as possible for them to appreciate the dangers of getting closer to any form of drug.
Students of the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana visited the Dwabrem theatre at the Centre for National Culture in Kumasi last Saturday where they dished out a mix of traditional music, dance and drama to entertain and educate the youth on the effects of drug abuse, parental irresponsibility and truancy.
The programme, which attracted students from Kumasi Academy Senior High School and a number of second cycle institutions in the metropolis, saw the audience glued to their seats and totally engrossed in the performance as they watched the unfolding of various scenes.
It was a drama which involved a powerful spirit who after being thrown down from heaven, vowed to take revenge on man by putting all his powers into leaves so as to destroy anyone who uses such leaves .
A student, who became frustrated after his father refused to cater for his education, joined a gang of drug addicts, and eventually became addicted himself, destroying his future and getting arrested for various crimes committed.
Intermittent applause during the performance and the spontaneous clamour for more of such performances by both students and a cross section of the public who watched the show, was an indication that Kumasi was hungry for such shows as a way of encouraging the youth to refrain from drugs and bad company which eventually destroys their lives.
Commenting on the programme, Mr T. B. Ofosu who was in charge of the group told Showbiz about the need to use entertainment to educate the youth, especially students on the dangers of drug abuse.
Expressing concern about the problems that drug abuse was creating in the country, Mr Ofosu noted “ we want to reach out to the youth with such performances and inform them about the hazards of drug abuse, hoping that they will accept the message and refrain from such activities”.
He said the School of Performing Arts had put up a number of such shows in Accra “and with the positive response we received, we decided to extend our tentacles to Kumasi before venturing into other parts of the country”.
Mr Ofosu said their main headache was sponsorship saying “ we want to reach out to the youth, especially students in both the second cycle and tertiary institutions throughout the country, but lack of sponsorship is undermining our effort”.
He said it was therefore important for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s), firms, Institutions, and individuals to actively support them with funds to enable them start the nationwide tour as soon as possible.
On his part, the Vice President of the Association of School of Performing Arts (ASPA), Mr Richmond Amoako said using theatre as a platform to reach out to the youth was yielding positive results.
Describing their programme as a “soul winning” one to entice the youth to stay away from drugs, Mr Amoako said they would not relent in their efforts to interact with as many students as possible for them to appreciate the dangers of getting closer to any form of drug.
KNUST INSTALLS DNA EQUIPMENT (PAGE 6, NOV 19)
THE Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Tchnology (KNUST) has installed equipment capable of conducting DNA tests in the country.
Financed through the university’s internally generated funds, the equipment, and others installed and refurbished under a project called, “The Turnkey Project” were inaugurated at the College of Sciences of the KNUST yesterday.
Estimated at GH¢15 million, the equipment also included those that could conduct glaucoma tests, undertake assorted seed propagation, as well as water and quality food analysis.
The Physics, Chemistry, Optometry and Visual Science as well as the Theoretical and Applied Biology Laboratories of the College of Science benefited from the project.
Also, installed at the laboratory were 132 modern computers and their accessories, as well as 13 SDC projectors and other facilities that enhance research work.
According to the Vice Chancellor of the KNUST, Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, the university would soon instal CCTV cameras at all the laboratories to avoid pilfering of any of the laboratory equipment to enable the university to fully benefit from the investments made.
In an address to inaugurate the equipment , Professor Adarkwa said the facilities would not only give the students the requisite exposure, but would also help to bring teaching and learning in the college to international standards.
He said apart from the laboratory equipment, there were other physical works carried out at the laboratories as a way of creating a conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning.
He mentioned fixing of sliding windows and doors, changing of bench tops for the installation of computers, electrical re—wiring for stabiliser installation, as well as installation of split-air conditioners and polishing of terrazzo floors.
The Vice Chancellor stated that other works carried out also included networking of all the laboratories, fitting of audio visual equipment in all the laboratories, painting and re-roofing and tiling of the floors .
Professor Adarkwa expressed hope that the project which was carried out through their internally generated funds would boost the enthusiasm of the staff to conduct a series of research works that would impact positively on the operations of the university.
In his address the Provost of the College of Science Professor Aboagye Menyeh, commended Professor Adarkwa “ for sustaining the momentum to modernise our laboratories”.
He explained that the priority given to the project by the Vice Chancellor facilitated its completion, thereby creating an environment that had made laboratory work interesting .
He advised the students to take advantage of the modern facilities and focus on their academic programmes for their own good and that of the nation, saying “ with these facilities, you have no excuse to grumble”.
Stressing, he said “ you are to use these facilities to enable you to acquire practical and experimental skills as well as better understand the theories you learn in the classrooms”.
“ Your parents, the Government and, indeed, the university are investing heavily in your training We hope your training will pay the nation the best interest to he noted .
Financed through the university’s internally generated funds, the equipment, and others installed and refurbished under a project called, “The Turnkey Project” were inaugurated at the College of Sciences of the KNUST yesterday.
Estimated at GH¢15 million, the equipment also included those that could conduct glaucoma tests, undertake assorted seed propagation, as well as water and quality food analysis.
The Physics, Chemistry, Optometry and Visual Science as well as the Theoretical and Applied Biology Laboratories of the College of Science benefited from the project.
Also, installed at the laboratory were 132 modern computers and their accessories, as well as 13 SDC projectors and other facilities that enhance research work.
According to the Vice Chancellor of the KNUST, Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, the university would soon instal CCTV cameras at all the laboratories to avoid pilfering of any of the laboratory equipment to enable the university to fully benefit from the investments made.
In an address to inaugurate the equipment , Professor Adarkwa said the facilities would not only give the students the requisite exposure, but would also help to bring teaching and learning in the college to international standards.
He said apart from the laboratory equipment, there were other physical works carried out at the laboratories as a way of creating a conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning.
He mentioned fixing of sliding windows and doors, changing of bench tops for the installation of computers, electrical re—wiring for stabiliser installation, as well as installation of split-air conditioners and polishing of terrazzo floors.
The Vice Chancellor stated that other works carried out also included networking of all the laboratories, fitting of audio visual equipment in all the laboratories, painting and re-roofing and tiling of the floors .
Professor Adarkwa expressed hope that the project which was carried out through their internally generated funds would boost the enthusiasm of the staff to conduct a series of research works that would impact positively on the operations of the university.
In his address the Provost of the College of Science Professor Aboagye Menyeh, commended Professor Adarkwa “ for sustaining the momentum to modernise our laboratories”.
He explained that the priority given to the project by the Vice Chancellor facilitated its completion, thereby creating an environment that had made laboratory work interesting .
He advised the students to take advantage of the modern facilities and focus on their academic programmes for their own good and that of the nation, saying “ with these facilities, you have no excuse to grumble”.
Stressing, he said “ you are to use these facilities to enable you to acquire practical and experimental skills as well as better understand the theories you learn in the classrooms”.
“ Your parents, the Government and, indeed, the university are investing heavily in your training We hope your training will pay the nation the best interest to he noted .
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
FEMALE TEACHERS CHALLENGED TO RE-ORIENT THEMSELVES (PAGE 32, NOV 19)
THE General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Mrs Irene Duncan-Adanusa, has challenged women in the teaching profession to re-orient themselves by regularly upgrading and building their capacities.
That, she noted, would enable them to acquire the requisite status, experience and confidence to be at the forefront of influencing decision-making, policies and programmes at the highest level to contribute to addressing the challenges posed by the world.
She pointed out that since women and children had always borne the brunt of global crises such as economic recession, environmental degradation, political upheaval, energy crisis, food insecurity, among others, it was important for them to forge a united front to enable them to influence policy formulation and implementation at all levels of human endeavour.
Addressing delegates to the second National Women’s GNAT Ladies roundtable conference in Kumasi on Monday, Mrs Duncan-Adanusa noted, “Women are still struggling with the scourge of low education in the 21st century and as such they are by-passed on basic issues that affect their survival.”
The three-day conference will afford participants the opportunity to take stock of their programmes and activities to enable them to set targets before they meet in four years’ time.
It will also afford them the opportunity to pass resolutions on critical issues affecting the progress of women in the union in particular and society in general.
The conference, which is on the theme, “Strengthening female teachers’ participation in union activities in the face of the global crisis”, is also intended to afford members the opportunity to educate Ghanaians on the activities of GNAT-LAS and other women’s groups in the West African sub-region.
About 700 members nation-wide attended the conference, while delegates from The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire, as well as representatives from sister unions, such as the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), the Ghana Registered Nurses Association and the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), also attended the conference and read solidarity messages.
Mrs Duncan-Adanusa noted that the GNAT-LAS conference was heading towards the goal of becoming an integral part of the quadrennial delegates conference of GNAT.
She pointed out that the struggle for women’s emancipation had never been easy “and we should not be deceived into thinking that any human endeavour could succeed through short-cuts”.
“It is important for us to make use of the skills acquired through workshops and seminars to build our capacities in a way that will make us exude an incomparable level of confidence and sophistication for doors to open for us anytime we make any attempt,” she stressed.
Earlier in her welcome address, the National Co-ordinator for Gender Programmes of GNAT-LAS, Mrs Helene Awurasa, had said the need to entrench organisational rules and policies, inadequate funding of their activities and programmes, lack of proper child-care facilities for babies of female teachers, as well as male chauvinism, the disproportionate burden of family responsibilities borne by many women and the impact of the HIV/AIDS on female teachers, remained their biggest challenges.
She said to address some of the challenges, GNAT-LAS had, since 2006, organised some programmes such as policy development, training and sensitisation, advocacy, research and networking, among others, for its members as a way of improving their skills.
She expressed the hope that the conference would provide the requisite experience in trade union politics and procedures for the members as a way of boosting their confidence to enable them to explore and address issues that affected them.
That, she noted, would enable them to acquire the requisite status, experience and confidence to be at the forefront of influencing decision-making, policies and programmes at the highest level to contribute to addressing the challenges posed by the world.
She pointed out that since women and children had always borne the brunt of global crises such as economic recession, environmental degradation, political upheaval, energy crisis, food insecurity, among others, it was important for them to forge a united front to enable them to influence policy formulation and implementation at all levels of human endeavour.
Addressing delegates to the second National Women’s GNAT Ladies roundtable conference in Kumasi on Monday, Mrs Duncan-Adanusa noted, “Women are still struggling with the scourge of low education in the 21st century and as such they are by-passed on basic issues that affect their survival.”
The three-day conference will afford participants the opportunity to take stock of their programmes and activities to enable them to set targets before they meet in four years’ time.
It will also afford them the opportunity to pass resolutions on critical issues affecting the progress of women in the union in particular and society in general.
The conference, which is on the theme, “Strengthening female teachers’ participation in union activities in the face of the global crisis”, is also intended to afford members the opportunity to educate Ghanaians on the activities of GNAT-LAS and other women’s groups in the West African sub-region.
About 700 members nation-wide attended the conference, while delegates from The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire, as well as representatives from sister unions, such as the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), the Ghana Registered Nurses Association and the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), also attended the conference and read solidarity messages.
Mrs Duncan-Adanusa noted that the GNAT-LAS conference was heading towards the goal of becoming an integral part of the quadrennial delegates conference of GNAT.
She pointed out that the struggle for women’s emancipation had never been easy “and we should not be deceived into thinking that any human endeavour could succeed through short-cuts”.
“It is important for us to make use of the skills acquired through workshops and seminars to build our capacities in a way that will make us exude an incomparable level of confidence and sophistication for doors to open for us anytime we make any attempt,” she stressed.
Earlier in her welcome address, the National Co-ordinator for Gender Programmes of GNAT-LAS, Mrs Helene Awurasa, had said the need to entrench organisational rules and policies, inadequate funding of their activities and programmes, lack of proper child-care facilities for babies of female teachers, as well as male chauvinism, the disproportionate burden of family responsibilities borne by many women and the impact of the HIV/AIDS on female teachers, remained their biggest challenges.
She said to address some of the challenges, GNAT-LAS had, since 2006, organised some programmes such as policy development, training and sensitisation, advocacy, research and networking, among others, for its members as a way of improving their skills.
She expressed the hope that the conference would provide the requisite experience in trade union politics and procedures for the members as a way of boosting their confidence to enable them to explore and address issues that affected them.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
DEALERS, FARMERS UNDERGO TRAINING IN CHEMICAL APPLICATION (NOV 17, PAGE 34)
FIVE hundred and ninety-four agro chemical dealers and seed producers have undergone training in agro-chemical application and service delivery in Kumasi.
The training workshop was organised by the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Department (PPRSD) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), the Chemical Control and Management Centre, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Each of the 594 agro chemical dealers and seed producers was given a certificate of participation.
The certification ceremony which was co-sponsored by the International Centre for Soil Fertility and Agriculture Development (IFDC) and held at Ejisu at the weekend, also provided evidence of authenticity, affirming the competence and recognition of the agro-chemical dealers in the application of their products and efficient service delivery to farmers.
The expectation is that they will not serve farmers with agro-chemicals that pose undue risk to human health and the environment, and also adhere to laid-down regulations on the applications of their products to facilitate increased agricultural production and income generation for farmers.
In his address, the IFDC representative in Ghana, Dr Kofi Debrah, said the capacity building programme for the agro-chemical dealers had facilitated the formation of the Ghana Agro-Input Dealer Association (GAIDA) to differentiate them from those who had not acquired any form of training.
He said to enhance the supply of quality products, the Ghana Agribusiness Associations Business Information Centre (GAABIC) had also been formed as a consortium and a one-stop centre for GAIDA.
Dr Debrah said as part of their efforts to sustain the capacity building for agro-chemical distributors, the IFDC had also received funds from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
The financial support, he said, would also ensure that GAABIC is strengthened to become a unique and home-grown company that would continue to provide valuable services to the agricultural associations in a sustainable manner.
He said in less than a year that the Ghana Agro-Dealers Development (GADD) Project started, it had been influential in getting the Seed and Fertiliser Bill to the stage of being passed.
He said it had also mapped out the locations and sales points of products, thereby enhancing their distribution and accessibility to farmers.
He advised the agro-chemical dealers to use their newly acquired skills to provide quality service to farmers and also collaborate with them to “ smoke out fake agro-dealers from your midst”, stressing that,
“You need to set good examples through your activities as true professionals for others to follow”.
Speaking on the importance of the certification, the Pesticides Registrar of the EPA, Mr John Pwamang, said it provided evidence that the holder “has the necessary facilities and processes in place to deal in quality agro-products and services”.
“It also indicates that the operation of the dealer does not pose undue risks to human health and the environment”, he added and stressed that training should be undertaken on a regular basis and not to be considered as a one-off event.
The training workshop was organised by the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Department (PPRSD) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), the Chemical Control and Management Centre, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Each of the 594 agro chemical dealers and seed producers was given a certificate of participation.
The certification ceremony which was co-sponsored by the International Centre for Soil Fertility and Agriculture Development (IFDC) and held at Ejisu at the weekend, also provided evidence of authenticity, affirming the competence and recognition of the agro-chemical dealers in the application of their products and efficient service delivery to farmers.
The expectation is that they will not serve farmers with agro-chemicals that pose undue risk to human health and the environment, and also adhere to laid-down regulations on the applications of their products to facilitate increased agricultural production and income generation for farmers.
In his address, the IFDC representative in Ghana, Dr Kofi Debrah, said the capacity building programme for the agro-chemical dealers had facilitated the formation of the Ghana Agro-Input Dealer Association (GAIDA) to differentiate them from those who had not acquired any form of training.
He said to enhance the supply of quality products, the Ghana Agribusiness Associations Business Information Centre (GAABIC) had also been formed as a consortium and a one-stop centre for GAIDA.
Dr Debrah said as part of their efforts to sustain the capacity building for agro-chemical distributors, the IFDC had also received funds from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
The financial support, he said, would also ensure that GAABIC is strengthened to become a unique and home-grown company that would continue to provide valuable services to the agricultural associations in a sustainable manner.
He said in less than a year that the Ghana Agro-Dealers Development (GADD) Project started, it had been influential in getting the Seed and Fertiliser Bill to the stage of being passed.
He said it had also mapped out the locations and sales points of products, thereby enhancing their distribution and accessibility to farmers.
He advised the agro-chemical dealers to use their newly acquired skills to provide quality service to farmers and also collaborate with them to “ smoke out fake agro-dealers from your midst”, stressing that,
“You need to set good examples through your activities as true professionals for others to follow”.
Speaking on the importance of the certification, the Pesticides Registrar of the EPA, Mr John Pwamang, said it provided evidence that the holder “has the necessary facilities and processes in place to deal in quality agro-products and services”.
“It also indicates that the operation of the dealer does not pose undue risks to human health and the environment”, he added and stressed that training should be undertaken on a regular basis and not to be considered as a one-off event.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
GERMAN MEDICAL TEAM OPERATES ON 54 PATIENTS (PAGE 29, NOV 11)
A Team of surgeons, anaesthetists and nurses from Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Camp (RPSC) in Rotenburg, Germany, has operated on 54 patients to remove their tumours and correct facial deformities of others.
Thirty-two of the surgical operations which lasted for a week were performed at the Tamale Regional Hospital, while 22 operations were also performed at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.
The surgeries, which were performed free of charge, were through the initiatives of a German-based Ghanaian anaesthetists, Dr Jacob Fofie Siaw, who was part of the team.
Other members of the team were Dr Christian Schippers, a surgeon, who was the leader of the team, Dr Alexander Rudolf, another surgeon, Dr Michael Paland, and anaesthetist, Dr Casten Schrieber, also an anaesthetist, Ms Baebel Ulbricht, a nurse, Ms Yohanna Schippers, a student and Ms Andrea Martin, a nurse anaesthetist.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in an interview after operating on a-34-year-old woman with a tumour at the KATH, Dr Fofie Siaw said the team had been visiting developing countries to perform special services for children and adults who had facial defects and head tumours.
Dr Fofie Siaw said, "Many of the beneficiaries had lot of swellings on their faces, with others having problems with their jaws, making it impossible for them to open their mouth properly”.
He said “one of the patients had not been able to open her jaws for the past 25 year, because both the upper and the lower bones of the jaws were completely fused together, but now, she can do everything after the surgery".
He said each of the patients would have paid between GH¢400 and GH¢1,500, depending on the their conditions, explaining that some of the tumours were so big that it took them over six hours to remove them.
He said apart from the free surgical operation, they also provided the patients with drugs and offered some medical supplies to the KATH and Tamale hospitals.
Thirty-two of the surgical operations which lasted for a week were performed at the Tamale Regional Hospital, while 22 operations were also performed at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.
The surgeries, which were performed free of charge, were through the initiatives of a German-based Ghanaian anaesthetists, Dr Jacob Fofie Siaw, who was part of the team.
Other members of the team were Dr Christian Schippers, a surgeon, who was the leader of the team, Dr Alexander Rudolf, another surgeon, Dr Michael Paland, and anaesthetist, Dr Casten Schrieber, also an anaesthetist, Ms Baebel Ulbricht, a nurse, Ms Yohanna Schippers, a student and Ms Andrea Martin, a nurse anaesthetist.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in an interview after operating on a-34-year-old woman with a tumour at the KATH, Dr Fofie Siaw said the team had been visiting developing countries to perform special services for children and adults who had facial defects and head tumours.
Dr Fofie Siaw said, "Many of the beneficiaries had lot of swellings on their faces, with others having problems with their jaws, making it impossible for them to open their mouth properly”.
He said “one of the patients had not been able to open her jaws for the past 25 year, because both the upper and the lower bones of the jaws were completely fused together, but now, she can do everything after the surgery".
He said each of the patients would have paid between GH¢400 and GH¢1,500, depending on the their conditions, explaining that some of the tumours were so big that it took them over six hours to remove them.
He said apart from the free surgical operation, they also provided the patients with drugs and offered some medical supplies to the KATH and Tamale hospitals.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
NO RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION (SPREAD, NOV 7)
THE government has given the assurance that it will not leave out members of any religious denomination in its quest to revamp the national economy.
According to President J. E. A. Mills, since no religious denomination could lay absolute claim to wisdom and scholarship, it was incumbent on the government to pool ideas from these backgrounds to breath life into the economy and improve the lot of the people.
President Mills, who made these remarks at a durbar organised by the chiefs and people of Asawase Constituency in Kumasi, pointed out that the various religious denominations had members endowed with some of the finest brains in the country.
The interaction with the chiefs and people of Asawase formed part of the President Mills’s visit to the Ashanti Region where he was expected to thank the people for voting for the National Democratic Congress.
President Mills explained government policies and programmes, as well as learnt at first-hand problems confronting the people.
According to the President, the government would accord equal opportunities of development to the people irrespective of their religious backgrounds, since the nation needed the collective efforts of its citizens to restructure the various sectors.
He said paying equal attention to the expectations of people from diverse religious faiths was the duty of every responsible government which was committed to engaging its citizens in national reconstruction and development.
President Mills said the government would continue to promote religious harmony and tolerance, which were needed to ensure the full participation of the entire citizenry in nation building.
He briefed the people on the state of the national economy the government inherited from the previous administration, describing it as distorted and full of contradictions.
President Mills, however, assured the gathering that the government had taken the necessary measures to arrest the decline of the economy and inject sanity into all critical sectors of society.
He asked the people to exercise restrained whilst the government continued to take the appropriate interventions which would stabilise the economy and provide opportunities of employment for the people, especially the youth.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, expressed confidence in the Mills administration to tackle the various problems plaguing society and restore confidence in the economy.
Alhaji Muntaka also assured the people of the government’s commitment to provide them with facilities which would open up the economy of the area, as well as improve their quality of life.
A representative of the Sarkin of the area thanked the government for the arrangements put in place especially at the Kotoka International Airport to ensure a successful Hajj.
According to President J. E. A. Mills, since no religious denomination could lay absolute claim to wisdom and scholarship, it was incumbent on the government to pool ideas from these backgrounds to breath life into the economy and improve the lot of the people.
President Mills, who made these remarks at a durbar organised by the chiefs and people of Asawase Constituency in Kumasi, pointed out that the various religious denominations had members endowed with some of the finest brains in the country.
The interaction with the chiefs and people of Asawase formed part of the President Mills’s visit to the Ashanti Region where he was expected to thank the people for voting for the National Democratic Congress.
President Mills explained government policies and programmes, as well as learnt at first-hand problems confronting the people.
According to the President, the government would accord equal opportunities of development to the people irrespective of their religious backgrounds, since the nation needed the collective efforts of its citizens to restructure the various sectors.
He said paying equal attention to the expectations of people from diverse religious faiths was the duty of every responsible government which was committed to engaging its citizens in national reconstruction and development.
President Mills said the government would continue to promote religious harmony and tolerance, which were needed to ensure the full participation of the entire citizenry in nation building.
He briefed the people on the state of the national economy the government inherited from the previous administration, describing it as distorted and full of contradictions.
President Mills, however, assured the gathering that the government had taken the necessary measures to arrest the decline of the economy and inject sanity into all critical sectors of society.
He asked the people to exercise restrained whilst the government continued to take the appropriate interventions which would stabilise the economy and provide opportunities of employment for the people, especially the youth.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, expressed confidence in the Mills administration to tackle the various problems plaguing society and restore confidence in the economy.
Alhaji Muntaka also assured the people of the government’s commitment to provide them with facilities which would open up the economy of the area, as well as improve their quality of life.
A representative of the Sarkin of the area thanked the government for the arrangements put in place especially at the Kotoka International Airport to ensure a successful Hajj.
Friday, November 6, 2009
WE'LL ENSURE FAIR DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES - Says Prez Mills (SPREAD)
PRESIDENT John Evans Atta Mills yesterday began a four-day working tour of the Ashanti Region with a pledge that the distribution of the nation’s resources would not be influenced by any partisan considerations, saying he would harness both the human and natural resources of the nation for effective and efficient development.
He explained that the country’s resources were a collective contribution of the people, for which his government was duty-bound to ensure its equitable distribution.
President Mills made the remarks during a durbar organised in his honour at the Manhyia Palace.
The visit, which was meant to thank the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, in particular and the chiefs and people of Ashanti in general for their support during the 2008 electioneering, was also meant to solicit their support for the President’s four-year term in office.
President Mills, who was full of gratitude for the Asantehene for organising the grand durbar in his honour, noted, “The time has come for all Ghanaians to put their political affiliations aside and unite to ensure the effective and efficient development of the country.”
Expressing concern over the rancour and bitterness associated with a section of the populace, he said such an attitude undermined the peace and tranquillity in the country.
He pointed out that “it is important for people to respect the elderly and those in responsible positions”, stressing that “it is equally important for the present generation to leave a legacy that will be cherished by the next generation”.
He promised to initiate policies and programmes that would accelerate sustainable national development, saying, “I was elected to serve the people and not to lord it over them.”
President Mills told the chiefs and people that he would facilitate the revival of both the Jute and Shoe factories in Kumasi as a way of providing employment for the youth.
That, he said, would please Otumfuo Osei Tutu, whose desire was to support initiatives that would reduce problems associated with unemployment among the youth.
The President urged Ghanaians to be committed to the nation’s development, just as the players of the Black Satellites did in Egypt recently by conquering the world.
He said with the commitment of all Ghanaians, coupled with good governance and stability, the country would soon achieve accelerated development.
He paid tribute to past governments for bringing the country to this level and promised to play his part to facilitate national development.
Commending President Mills for his formal visit to the region, Otumfuo Osei Tutu said the people of Ashanti “are not enemies of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government”.
He said like other ethnic groups in the country, many Ashantis belonged to all the political parties, including the NDC.
The Asantehene said partisan politics was by choice, adding that with the acceptance of democracy as the only form of governance, there was the need for Ghanaians to accept and respect the choice of Ghanaians in terms of the political parties they joined.
He advised President Mills to be strong and bold in discharging his responsibilities, saying, “You should beware of bootlickers and praise singers who are only interested in pursing their selfish interest at the expense of your government.”
“They did it to Rawlings and Kufuor and they will not spare you if you do not put your feet firmly down,” he noted.
“We only need good governance and policies that will facilitate road construction, the distribution of potable water, energy, educational infrastructure, improvement of agriculture, among others,” he added.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu said the problems facing President Mills were difficult but not insurmountable and, therefore, charged him to be focused, assuring him that he was solidly behind him.
He explained that the country’s resources were a collective contribution of the people, for which his government was duty-bound to ensure its equitable distribution.
President Mills made the remarks during a durbar organised in his honour at the Manhyia Palace.
The visit, which was meant to thank the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, in particular and the chiefs and people of Ashanti in general for their support during the 2008 electioneering, was also meant to solicit their support for the President’s four-year term in office.
President Mills, who was full of gratitude for the Asantehene for organising the grand durbar in his honour, noted, “The time has come for all Ghanaians to put their political affiliations aside and unite to ensure the effective and efficient development of the country.”
Expressing concern over the rancour and bitterness associated with a section of the populace, he said such an attitude undermined the peace and tranquillity in the country.
He pointed out that “it is important for people to respect the elderly and those in responsible positions”, stressing that “it is equally important for the present generation to leave a legacy that will be cherished by the next generation”.
He promised to initiate policies and programmes that would accelerate sustainable national development, saying, “I was elected to serve the people and not to lord it over them.”
President Mills told the chiefs and people that he would facilitate the revival of both the Jute and Shoe factories in Kumasi as a way of providing employment for the youth.
That, he said, would please Otumfuo Osei Tutu, whose desire was to support initiatives that would reduce problems associated with unemployment among the youth.
The President urged Ghanaians to be committed to the nation’s development, just as the players of the Black Satellites did in Egypt recently by conquering the world.
He said with the commitment of all Ghanaians, coupled with good governance and stability, the country would soon achieve accelerated development.
He paid tribute to past governments for bringing the country to this level and promised to play his part to facilitate national development.
Commending President Mills for his formal visit to the region, Otumfuo Osei Tutu said the people of Ashanti “are not enemies of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government”.
He said like other ethnic groups in the country, many Ashantis belonged to all the political parties, including the NDC.
The Asantehene said partisan politics was by choice, adding that with the acceptance of democracy as the only form of governance, there was the need for Ghanaians to accept and respect the choice of Ghanaians in terms of the political parties they joined.
He advised President Mills to be strong and bold in discharging his responsibilities, saying, “You should beware of bootlickers and praise singers who are only interested in pursing their selfish interest at the expense of your government.”
“They did it to Rawlings and Kufuor and they will not spare you if you do not put your feet firmly down,” he noted.
“We only need good governance and policies that will facilitate road construction, the distribution of potable water, energy, educational infrastructure, improvement of agriculture, among others,” he added.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu said the problems facing President Mills were difficult but not insurmountable and, therefore, charged him to be focused, assuring him that he was solidly behind him.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
KATH ATTENDS TO 701 BREAST CANCER CASES (PAGE 11, NOV 5)
The Ashanti Regional Women’s branch of the Timber and Wood Workers Union has held a seminar in Kumasi, during which the participants were enlightened on the treatment and cure of breast and cervical cancers.
The Head of the Oncology Department of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Dr Baffour Awua, said breast and cervical cancers were the most common cancers among women, which put the lives of patients at risk when they were detected late.
According to him, the department had attended to 701 breast cancer cases since it was established in 2004, adding that about 80 per cent of the cases were reported late, leading to high cost of treatment.
Dr Baffour Awua pointed out that it was important for women to undertake breast examination regularly to enable them to detect any abnormal changes such as lumps in their breasts early to enable them to seek medical care, adding that breast cancer could be cured if patients sought early treatment.
“Many of the patients report only when the disease has reached an advanced state. Such situations put the lives of the patients at high risk. The cost of treatment at the advanced stage is also very high because a single dose of some drugs used for the treatment cost GH¢8,000,” he noted.
He explained that treating breast cancer at the advanced stage was very difficult “because it spreads very fast to other parts of the body, such as the armpit, lungs and brains”.
He said women, especially those above 35 and those with a family history of breast cancer, were at high risk and, therefore, advised them to appreciate the need to consult medical experts at regular intervals.
Dr Baffour Awua explained that “because the disease is not painful at the initial stages, many patients tend to wait until it reaches the advanced stages before seeking medica attentionl, and even at that level they prefer consulting prophets and Mallams”.
He said like breast cancer, cervical cancer was equally dangerous and its treatment was costly, especially when it was reported late, and advised women to undertake regular self-examination and check up at the hospitals since, according to him, prevention was better than cure.
Earlier, the National Vice-Chairman of the Timber and Wood Workers Union, Mr Owusu Bempah, had said the breast was one of the important organs of women and advised the participants to take the knowledge acquired seriously to enable them to take good care of themselves and also help to enlighten other women.
The Head of the Oncology Department of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Dr Baffour Awua, said breast and cervical cancers were the most common cancers among women, which put the lives of patients at risk when they were detected late.
According to him, the department had attended to 701 breast cancer cases since it was established in 2004, adding that about 80 per cent of the cases were reported late, leading to high cost of treatment.
Dr Baffour Awua pointed out that it was important for women to undertake breast examination regularly to enable them to detect any abnormal changes such as lumps in their breasts early to enable them to seek medical care, adding that breast cancer could be cured if patients sought early treatment.
“Many of the patients report only when the disease has reached an advanced state. Such situations put the lives of the patients at high risk. The cost of treatment at the advanced stage is also very high because a single dose of some drugs used for the treatment cost GH¢8,000,” he noted.
He explained that treating breast cancer at the advanced stage was very difficult “because it spreads very fast to other parts of the body, such as the armpit, lungs and brains”.
He said women, especially those above 35 and those with a family history of breast cancer, were at high risk and, therefore, advised them to appreciate the need to consult medical experts at regular intervals.
Dr Baffour Awua explained that “because the disease is not painful at the initial stages, many patients tend to wait until it reaches the advanced stages before seeking medica attentionl, and even at that level they prefer consulting prophets and Mallams”.
He said like breast cancer, cervical cancer was equally dangerous and its treatment was costly, especially when it was reported late, and advised women to undertake regular self-examination and check up at the hospitals since, according to him, prevention was better than cure.
Earlier, the National Vice-Chairman of the Timber and Wood Workers Union, Mr Owusu Bempah, had said the breast was one of the important organs of women and advised the participants to take the knowledge acquired seriously to enable them to take good care of themselves and also help to enlighten other women.
KATH ATTENDS TO 701 BREAST CANCER CASES (PAGE 11, NOV 5)
The Ashanti Regional Women’s branch of the Timber and Wood Workers Union has held a seminar in Kumasi, during which the participants were enlightened on the treatment and cure of breast and cervical cancers.
The Head of the Oncology Department of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Dr Baffour Awua, said breast and cervical cancers were the most common cancers among women, which put the lives of patients at risk when they were detected late.
According to him, the department had attended to 701 breast cancer cases since it was established in 2004, adding that about 80 per cent of the cases were reported late, leading to high cost of treatment.
Dr Baffour Awua pointed out that it was important for women to undertake breast examination regularly to enable them to detect any abnormal changes such as lumps in their breasts early to enable them to seek medical care, adding that breast cancer could be cured if patients sought early treatment.
“Many of the patients report only when the disease has reached an advanced state. Such situations put the lives of the patients at high risk. The cost of treatment at the advanced stage is also very high because a single dose of some drugs used for the treatment cost GH¢8,000,” he noted.
He explained that treating breast cancer at the advanced stage was very difficult “because it spreads very fast to other parts of the body, such as the armpit, lungs and brains”.
He said women, especially those above 35 and those with a family history of breast cancer, were at high risk and, therefore, advised them to appreciate the need to consult medical experts at regular intervals.
Dr Baffour Awua explained that “because the disease is not painful at the initial stages, many patients tend to wait until it reaches the advanced stages before seeking medica attentionl, and even at that level they prefer consulting prophets and Mallams”.
He said like breast cancer, cervical cancer was equally dangerous and its treatment was costly, especially when it was reported late, and advised women to undertake regular self-examination and check up at the hospitals since, according to him, prevention was better than cure.
Earlier, the National Vice-Chairman of the Timber and Wood Workers Union, Mr Owusu Bempah, had said the breast was one of the important organs of women and advised the participants to take the knowledge acquired seriously to enable them to take good care of themselves and also help to enlighten other women.
The Head of the Oncology Department of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Dr Baffour Awua, said breast and cervical cancers were the most common cancers among women, which put the lives of patients at risk when they were detected late.
According to him, the department had attended to 701 breast cancer cases since it was established in 2004, adding that about 80 per cent of the cases were reported late, leading to high cost of treatment.
Dr Baffour Awua pointed out that it was important for women to undertake breast examination regularly to enable them to detect any abnormal changes such as lumps in their breasts early to enable them to seek medical care, adding that breast cancer could be cured if patients sought early treatment.
“Many of the patients report only when the disease has reached an advanced state. Such situations put the lives of the patients at high risk. The cost of treatment at the advanced stage is also very high because a single dose of some drugs used for the treatment cost GH¢8,000,” he noted.
He explained that treating breast cancer at the advanced stage was very difficult “because it spreads very fast to other parts of the body, such as the armpit, lungs and brains”.
He said women, especially those above 35 and those with a family history of breast cancer, were at high risk and, therefore, advised them to appreciate the need to consult medical experts at regular intervals.
Dr Baffour Awua explained that “because the disease is not painful at the initial stages, many patients tend to wait until it reaches the advanced stages before seeking medica attentionl, and even at that level they prefer consulting prophets and Mallams”.
He said like breast cancer, cervical cancer was equally dangerous and its treatment was costly, especially when it was reported late, and advised women to undertake regular self-examination and check up at the hospitals since, according to him, prevention was better than cure.
Earlier, the National Vice-Chairman of the Timber and Wood Workers Union, Mr Owusu Bempah, had said the breast was one of the important organs of women and advised the participants to take the knowledge acquired seriously to enable them to take good care of themselves and also help to enlighten other women.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
GHANA NEEDS SCIENCE-BASED PROFESSIONALS (PAGE 11, NOV 4)
A FORMER Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Professor Emmanuel Addo Obeng, has noted that the recent development in the Ghanian body politic demands an educational system that infuses academic excellence with ethical standards.
"We need medical doctors, engineers, scientists and other science and technologically based professionals, but they must be grounded in ethics and exemplify good morals, "he noted.
Professor Addo Obeng made the remarks during the 34th matriculation ceremony of the Christian Service University College (CSUC) in Kumasi.
In all, 757 freshmen and women were admitted into the school to pursue degree programmes in Communication Studies, Theology, Computer Science and Business Studies. The recent admission has increased the student population of 1,584 to 1,951.
He explained that infusing moral values with science and technology would enable Ghana to produce principled, honest and dedicated graduates ready to support the stability of the country, national unity and sustainable socio-economic development.
"Much emphasis has been placed on science and technology, and rightly so because they are catalysts to development, but no nation can develop effectively if morality is extricated from body politic, or if the ethical standard of a people is ignored," stated.
Explaining, he said, because science and technology had been identified as the catalyst to the socio-economic development of every nation, tertiary institutions in Ghana and the educational system have generally focused on them to the neglect of moral values.
The former Vice Chancellor noted that the purpose of education was the total development of the individual, which includes the mind, hands and heart.
He said the need for the educational system to promote good moral behaviour among students "is much more pressing now than ever before because of recent developments that characterises violence during elections".
Professor Addo Obeng advised that divisive politics that had polarised the populace along two of the major political parties, the rising incidence of armed robbery, perceived corruption, discrimination on ethic and religious lines, as well as moral decadence, call for the inculcation of moral values into the educational system.
"The present situation does not augur well for the growth and stability of the country," he noted.
"What could have been a volatile situation can be averted by a well-educated person whose emotions have undergone modification programme, "he noted, adding, "it involves the inculcation of the principles of righteousness, morality and justice.
It ensures human dignity, freedom, truth, personal responsibility and stewardship."
Explaining, he said, while training the hands of students implied equipping individuals with practical and technological skills that enabled them to make a living in this modern and highly technological world, developing their minds and equip them with the requisite intellectual capabilities that help critical and analytical thinking to enable them take informed decisions to enhance their career.
In his address, the President of CSUC, Professor Emmanuel Frempong, advised the students to refrain from peddling in narcotic drugs, saying “offenders will face a disciplinary panel for appropriate punishment which may include expulsion and police prosecution."
He urged them to hold the core values of the university in high esteem, stressing that they should not only be God fearing, but should also work hard and manage their time efficiently to enhance academic and moral excellence.
He gave the assurance that the university would create the enabling environment which would enable them nurture and develop their potentials to the fullest.
"We need medical doctors, engineers, scientists and other science and technologically based professionals, but they must be grounded in ethics and exemplify good morals, "he noted.
Professor Addo Obeng made the remarks during the 34th matriculation ceremony of the Christian Service University College (CSUC) in Kumasi.
In all, 757 freshmen and women were admitted into the school to pursue degree programmes in Communication Studies, Theology, Computer Science and Business Studies. The recent admission has increased the student population of 1,584 to 1,951.
He explained that infusing moral values with science and technology would enable Ghana to produce principled, honest and dedicated graduates ready to support the stability of the country, national unity and sustainable socio-economic development.
"Much emphasis has been placed on science and technology, and rightly so because they are catalysts to development, but no nation can develop effectively if morality is extricated from body politic, or if the ethical standard of a people is ignored," stated.
Explaining, he said, because science and technology had been identified as the catalyst to the socio-economic development of every nation, tertiary institutions in Ghana and the educational system have generally focused on them to the neglect of moral values.
The former Vice Chancellor noted that the purpose of education was the total development of the individual, which includes the mind, hands and heart.
He said the need for the educational system to promote good moral behaviour among students "is much more pressing now than ever before because of recent developments that characterises violence during elections".
Professor Addo Obeng advised that divisive politics that had polarised the populace along two of the major political parties, the rising incidence of armed robbery, perceived corruption, discrimination on ethic and religious lines, as well as moral decadence, call for the inculcation of moral values into the educational system.
"The present situation does not augur well for the growth and stability of the country," he noted.
"What could have been a volatile situation can be averted by a well-educated person whose emotions have undergone modification programme, "he noted, adding, "it involves the inculcation of the principles of righteousness, morality and justice.
It ensures human dignity, freedom, truth, personal responsibility and stewardship."
Explaining, he said, while training the hands of students implied equipping individuals with practical and technological skills that enabled them to make a living in this modern and highly technological world, developing their minds and equip them with the requisite intellectual capabilities that help critical and analytical thinking to enable them take informed decisions to enhance their career.
In his address, the President of CSUC, Professor Emmanuel Frempong, advised the students to refrain from peddling in narcotic drugs, saying “offenders will face a disciplinary panel for appropriate punishment which may include expulsion and police prosecution."
He urged them to hold the core values of the university in high esteem, stressing that they should not only be God fearing, but should also work hard and manage their time efficiently to enhance academic and moral excellence.
He gave the assurance that the university would create the enabling environment which would enable them nurture and develop their potentials to the fullest.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
14 CHILDREN UNDERGO FREE HEART SERVICE (page 11, oct 29)
THE cost of open heart surgery, which is sometimes beyond the reach of some patients, makes it impossible for those suffering from various cardio vascular diseases in the country, to seek medical care.
As a result the relatives of these patients, most of whom are children launch various appeals in the media to raise funds from philanthropists and organisations to bear the cost of such treatment.
To help alleviate the plight of such patients, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi has collaborated with a team of specialists from Boston Children Hospital in the United States of America, for the performance of free open heart surgery at the Accident and Emergency Centre at KATH.
The annual programme, which started three years ago, has benefited 44 Ghanaian children and others from the West African sub-Region.
This year, a team of 32 specialists from the USA, in collaboration with their counterparts at KATH has performed free open heart surgery for 14 children suffering from various cardio vascular diseases on October 16.
The team included heart specialists, physicians, nurses, pharmacists and volunteers among others, who paid for their own airfares.
All the patients, including three, who have already been discharged, are responding positively to treatment. According to the leader of the team, Dr Francis Fynn-Thompson, the others, including a 13 -year -old girl who are still on admission, are likely to be discharged soon.
The beneficiaries who reside in various parts of the country, were among many others who were screened by the medical team when they arrived in the country.
Dr Fynn-Thompson, who took newsmen round to see the conditions of some of the patients who were still in admission, said “each of the patients would have paid about $8,000 for the surgical operation”.
He said patients who were operated on since the exercise started always came for review “ and they are all doing very well”
He said the team spent about $70,000.00 on each mission, and in terms of medical equipment and suppliers, they spent a total of $ one million.
He said all equipment brought in for the surgical operations were left behind to enhance further exercises in future.
“ Our main goal is not only to perform free open heart surgery for children suffering from various heart problems, but also to build the capacity of medical officers at the KATH to enable them acquire the skills to treat such patients in future”, Dr Fynn-Thompson told newsmen.
On whether they are on course so far as their mission was concerned, Dr Fynn-Thompson noted, “ in terms of the care, we have been able to provide successful surgery for some children suffering from heart diseases for the past three years. We have some more human resource components to work on . We need to train both physicians , nurses and other medical personnel to enhance their technical skill in taking care of children with heart diseases”, adding that “the discussions are on-going and we hope to achieve results in the next couple of years”.
On their ultimate goal, Dr Thompson, who is a Ghanaian, noted “ we want to establish a cardiothoracic centre at the KATH with a particular focus on taking care of children with heart diseases”
On why they selected Ghana and Kumasi in particular, he said “we started this programme because we felt that there were a large number of children with congenial heart diseases who did not have access to the specific care compared to what we can provide in the US. We felt that we could provide that type of care , and also use the opportunity to train local Ghanaian counterparts with the requisite skills to adequately cater for such children”.
He said members of the team had collaborated effectively with their counterparts at KATH and pointed out that, “ we have identified specific people who are being trained for the past three years in specific skills. We will continue to train them, and with the support from the Chief Executive, physicians and nurses who are actively supporting us, we hope to achieve results very soon”.
The Chief Executive of KATH, Professor Ohene Adjei, commended Dr Fynn –Thompson and his team for their humanitarian gesture, saying, “ their presence is always seen as a blessing because we cannot imagine what would have happened to the children who had benefited from their gesture so far”.
We said KATH would be expecting them to continue the programme next year “ to help other children who have similar problems”.
He gave the assurance that KATH was on course of putting measures in place to establish the cardio centre to complement that of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra to treat both children and adults suffering from various heart problems.
As a result the relatives of these patients, most of whom are children launch various appeals in the media to raise funds from philanthropists and organisations to bear the cost of such treatment.
To help alleviate the plight of such patients, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi has collaborated with a team of specialists from Boston Children Hospital in the United States of America, for the performance of free open heart surgery at the Accident and Emergency Centre at KATH.
The annual programme, which started three years ago, has benefited 44 Ghanaian children and others from the West African sub-Region.
This year, a team of 32 specialists from the USA, in collaboration with their counterparts at KATH has performed free open heart surgery for 14 children suffering from various cardio vascular diseases on October 16.
The team included heart specialists, physicians, nurses, pharmacists and volunteers among others, who paid for their own airfares.
All the patients, including three, who have already been discharged, are responding positively to treatment. According to the leader of the team, Dr Francis Fynn-Thompson, the others, including a 13 -year -old girl who are still on admission, are likely to be discharged soon.
The beneficiaries who reside in various parts of the country, were among many others who were screened by the medical team when they arrived in the country.
Dr Fynn-Thompson, who took newsmen round to see the conditions of some of the patients who were still in admission, said “each of the patients would have paid about $8,000 for the surgical operation”.
He said patients who were operated on since the exercise started always came for review “ and they are all doing very well”
He said the team spent about $70,000.00 on each mission, and in terms of medical equipment and suppliers, they spent a total of $ one million.
He said all equipment brought in for the surgical operations were left behind to enhance further exercises in future.
“ Our main goal is not only to perform free open heart surgery for children suffering from various heart problems, but also to build the capacity of medical officers at the KATH to enable them acquire the skills to treat such patients in future”, Dr Fynn-Thompson told newsmen.
On whether they are on course so far as their mission was concerned, Dr Fynn-Thompson noted, “ in terms of the care, we have been able to provide successful surgery for some children suffering from heart diseases for the past three years. We have some more human resource components to work on . We need to train both physicians , nurses and other medical personnel to enhance their technical skill in taking care of children with heart diseases”, adding that “the discussions are on-going and we hope to achieve results in the next couple of years”.
On their ultimate goal, Dr Thompson, who is a Ghanaian, noted “ we want to establish a cardiothoracic centre at the KATH with a particular focus on taking care of children with heart diseases”
On why they selected Ghana and Kumasi in particular, he said “we started this programme because we felt that there were a large number of children with congenial heart diseases who did not have access to the specific care compared to what we can provide in the US. We felt that we could provide that type of care , and also use the opportunity to train local Ghanaian counterparts with the requisite skills to adequately cater for such children”.
He said members of the team had collaborated effectively with their counterparts at KATH and pointed out that, “ we have identified specific people who are being trained for the past three years in specific skills. We will continue to train them, and with the support from the Chief Executive, physicians and nurses who are actively supporting us, we hope to achieve results very soon”.
The Chief Executive of KATH, Professor Ohene Adjei, commended Dr Fynn –Thompson and his team for their humanitarian gesture, saying, “ their presence is always seen as a blessing because we cannot imagine what would have happened to the children who had benefited from their gesture so far”.
We said KATH would be expecting them to continue the programme next year “ to help other children who have similar problems”.
He gave the assurance that KATH was on course of putting measures in place to establish the cardio centre to complement that of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra to treat both children and adults suffering from various heart problems.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
ONE PERSON KILLED IN SHOOT-OUT OVER LAND (PAGE 3, OCT 26)
ONE person died during a shoot-out over a land dispute which occurred at Atwima Koforidua in the Ashanti Region last Saturday.
Seven others, including an 80-year-old woman who was identified as Maame Ntoaduru and one Diana, sustained various degrees of injury and were treated at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and discharged.
The deceased, identified as Akoto, bled profusely and died on the spot after he had been allegedly shot in the chest and legs.
Another woman, identified as Alice, and a poultry farmer, identified only as Asiedu, who sustained serious injuries are on admission at the Intensive Care Unit of the KATH.
A poultry farm said to belong to Asiedu which had about 1,500 birds was set ablaze by the other faction in the conflict.
The body of the deceased has been deposited at the KATH mortuary for autopsy, while the police are searching for one Asante, suspected to be Akoto’s killer and said to have bolted with his loaded rifle moments after he allegedly shot the deceased.
A source at Atwima Koforidua told the Daily Graphic that the incident occurred about 11 a.m. on Saturday following a dispute over the land situated at the outskirts of the community.
The source said in the course of the quarrel, some people intervened, making it possible for the deceased to take to his heels, with the intention of reporting the incident to family members.
It said the suspect was alleged to have chased the deceased to the basic school park where he allegedly shot Akoto in the legs, causing him to fall in the process.
The source said the suspect again shot the deceased in the chest at close range, causing him to bleed to death on the spot.
It said the incident incensed the family members of the deceased, who also took locally manufactured guns and started firing, as a result of which some innocent members of the community got injured.
A police source told the Daily Graphic that the incident was reported hours after the shooting, making it possible for the main suspects to escape.
“But we are doing everything possible to apprehend them,” it added.
Seven others, including an 80-year-old woman who was identified as Maame Ntoaduru and one Diana, sustained various degrees of injury and were treated at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and discharged.
The deceased, identified as Akoto, bled profusely and died on the spot after he had been allegedly shot in the chest and legs.
Another woman, identified as Alice, and a poultry farmer, identified only as Asiedu, who sustained serious injuries are on admission at the Intensive Care Unit of the KATH.
A poultry farm said to belong to Asiedu which had about 1,500 birds was set ablaze by the other faction in the conflict.
The body of the deceased has been deposited at the KATH mortuary for autopsy, while the police are searching for one Asante, suspected to be Akoto’s killer and said to have bolted with his loaded rifle moments after he allegedly shot the deceased.
A source at Atwima Koforidua told the Daily Graphic that the incident occurred about 11 a.m. on Saturday following a dispute over the land situated at the outskirts of the community.
The source said in the course of the quarrel, some people intervened, making it possible for the deceased to take to his heels, with the intention of reporting the incident to family members.
It said the suspect was alleged to have chased the deceased to the basic school park where he allegedly shot Akoto in the legs, causing him to fall in the process.
The source said the suspect again shot the deceased in the chest at close range, causing him to bleed to death on the spot.
It said the incident incensed the family members of the deceased, who also took locally manufactured guns and started firing, as a result of which some innocent members of the community got injured.
A police source told the Daily Graphic that the incident was reported hours after the shooting, making it possible for the main suspects to escape.
“But we are doing everything possible to apprehend them,” it added.
FAISAL WIN 2-1 (BACK PAGE, OCT 26)
Hamza Mohammed’s beautiful 30-metre volley, and Frank Akyeampong’s low grounder in the box, revived the fortunes of King Faisal at their favourite Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi as they won their first match, defeating Sekondi Hasaccas 2-1 in their Glo Premier League match yesterday.
After near misses by strikers of both teams, Hamza rose to the occasion when his volley on the half hour mark hit the upright corner of the net before Wilson Yeboah, in post for Hasaccas, could react.
Ten minutes later, Frank Akyeampong added his name to the score sheet when his low grounder in the box passed through a forest of legs before entering the net to give King Faisal a comfortable lead.
Back from recess, Hasaccas threw more men upfront, pinning their opponents into their own half and succeeded in reducing the tally through Joseph Bisah in the 60th minute.
The goal gingered the visitors to probe for the equaliser but Faisal withdrew more men in defence, denying the Sekondi boys the chance to share the three points at stake.
• Sekondi Eleven Wise yesterday beat Accra Great Olympics 2-1 at the Sekondi Sports Stadium. Wise’s first goal was scored through Kwabena Okyere on the 43rd minute, with William Owusu making it two in the 77th minute, reports Moses Dotse Aklorbortu, Sekondi.
Charles Amanquah of olympics got a consolation for his side on the 89th minute. However, the visiting team had to play ten against eleven from the 80th minute due to a bad tackle by Ernest Kpertwu which attracted a second yellow card followed by a red.
After near misses by strikers of both teams, Hamza rose to the occasion when his volley on the half hour mark hit the upright corner of the net before Wilson Yeboah, in post for Hasaccas, could react.
Ten minutes later, Frank Akyeampong added his name to the score sheet when his low grounder in the box passed through a forest of legs before entering the net to give King Faisal a comfortable lead.
Back from recess, Hasaccas threw more men upfront, pinning their opponents into their own half and succeeded in reducing the tally through Joseph Bisah in the 60th minute.
The goal gingered the visitors to probe for the equaliser but Faisal withdrew more men in defence, denying the Sekondi boys the chance to share the three points at stake.
• Sekondi Eleven Wise yesterday beat Accra Great Olympics 2-1 at the Sekondi Sports Stadium. Wise’s first goal was scored through Kwabena Okyere on the 43rd minute, with William Owusu making it two in the 77th minute, reports Moses Dotse Aklorbortu, Sekondi.
Charles Amanquah of olympics got a consolation for his side on the 89th minute. However, the visiting team had to play ten against eleven from the 80th minute due to a bad tackle by Ernest Kpertwu which attracted a second yellow card followed by a red.
FIX ATTRACTIVE SALARIES FOR PLAYERS (PAGE 31, OCT 24)
A former Vice Chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Nana Yaw Owusu, has suggested to the GFA to collaborate with Premier League club managers to fix attractive salaries for local players.
He pointed out that fixing a minimum salary for players would not only reduce their movements to other Premier league clubs, but would also motivate them to offer their best to improve the standard of play.
“The GFA should find a way of deciding with the clubs what should be the minimum salary for players. Their salary should be attractive enough to prevent those yearning to go outside at all cost to play for foreign clubs to stay a bit longer and play in the country. This will make the league more exciting to entice fans into the stadium” he explained.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on how to improve standards in the Premier league, Nana Yaw Owusu noted, “the standard of play counts in soccer in enticing fans into the stadium, but as key players get attractive offers from foreign clubs and leave the country midway when the Premier league starts, or is about to start, it reduces the interest that fans have in attending matches. It is therefore important for club management to pay their players well and instil a sense of nationalism in them.”
He said, “once players are adequately motivated and provided with the requisite remuneration and incentives, it would balance their desire to go outside, and rather play in the Glo Premier league.”
He also suggested to the GFA to discourage club officials from protesting against what he described as unqualified players.
Explaining, he said, prior to the starting of the league, all clubs advertised their registered players and a dead line was given for club management to query those deemed to be unqualified to register and play in the Premier league.
“What it meant was that, if there was any problem on any of the registered players, clubs would raise objection. As it were , it appears there was no objection regarding unqualified players because no team raised any objection on any of them.
He pointed out that fixing a minimum salary for players would not only reduce their movements to other Premier league clubs, but would also motivate them to offer their best to improve the standard of play.
“The GFA should find a way of deciding with the clubs what should be the minimum salary for players. Their salary should be attractive enough to prevent those yearning to go outside at all cost to play for foreign clubs to stay a bit longer and play in the country. This will make the league more exciting to entice fans into the stadium” he explained.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on how to improve standards in the Premier league, Nana Yaw Owusu noted, “the standard of play counts in soccer in enticing fans into the stadium, but as key players get attractive offers from foreign clubs and leave the country midway when the Premier league starts, or is about to start, it reduces the interest that fans have in attending matches. It is therefore important for club management to pay their players well and instil a sense of nationalism in them.”
He said, “once players are adequately motivated and provided with the requisite remuneration and incentives, it would balance their desire to go outside, and rather play in the Glo Premier league.”
He also suggested to the GFA to discourage club officials from protesting against what he described as unqualified players.
Explaining, he said, prior to the starting of the league, all clubs advertised their registered players and a dead line was given for club management to query those deemed to be unqualified to register and play in the Premier league.
“What it meant was that, if there was any problem on any of the registered players, clubs would raise objection. As it were , it appears there was no objection regarding unqualified players because no team raised any objection on any of them.
Friday, October 23, 2009
14 CHILDREN RECEIVE FREE HEART SURGERY (PAGE 25, OCT 23)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
Fourteen children, suffering from various cardio vascular diseases, have benefited from a free open-heart surgery performed at the accident and emergency centre at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.
The surgery was performed by a team of 32 specialists from the Boston Children’s Hospital in the United States of America, in collaboration with their counterparts at KATH.
The team included Physicians, Nurses, Pharmacists and volunteers among others, who paid for their own airfares.
All the children including three who have already been discharged are responding to treatment.
The others, including a 13-year-old girl, who were still at the hospital at the time of going to the press, are likely to be discharged today, according to the leader of the team, Dr. Francis Fynn-Thompson.
The beneficiaries who reside in various parts of the country, were among others who were screened by the medical team when they arrived in the country last week end.
Since the exercise started three years ago, the hearts specialist from Boston Children Hospital and their KATH counterparts, have provided free heart surgery to about 44 Ghanaian children and others from the West African sub region.
According to Dr Fynn-Thompson, who took newsmen around to see the conditions of some of the patients, each of the patients would have paid $8000 for the operation.
He said patients who were operated since the exercise started always come for review " and are all doing well".
He said the team spends about $70,000.00 on each mission, and in terms of medical equipment and supplies, they have spent a total of $1million.
He said all equipment brought in for the exercise are left behind to enhance further exercises in future.
On why they selected Ghana in general and Kumasi in particular, he said "we started this programme because we felt that there were a large number of children with congenital heart diseases who did not have access to specific care that we can provide in the US.
We felt that we could provide that type of care, and also use the opportunity to train local Ghanaian counterpart with the requisite skills to adequately cater for such children".
The Chief Executive of KATH, Professor Ohene Adjei, commended Dr Fynn- Thompson and his team for their humanitarian gesture, saying "their presence is always seen as a blessing because we cannot imagine what would have happened to the children who had benefited from their gesture so far".
Fourteen children, suffering from various cardio vascular diseases, have benefited from a free open-heart surgery performed at the accident and emergency centre at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.
The surgery was performed by a team of 32 specialists from the Boston Children’s Hospital in the United States of America, in collaboration with their counterparts at KATH.
The team included Physicians, Nurses, Pharmacists and volunteers among others, who paid for their own airfares.
All the children including three who have already been discharged are responding to treatment.
The others, including a 13-year-old girl, who were still at the hospital at the time of going to the press, are likely to be discharged today, according to the leader of the team, Dr. Francis Fynn-Thompson.
The beneficiaries who reside in various parts of the country, were among others who were screened by the medical team when they arrived in the country last week end.
Since the exercise started three years ago, the hearts specialist from Boston Children Hospital and their KATH counterparts, have provided free heart surgery to about 44 Ghanaian children and others from the West African sub region.
According to Dr Fynn-Thompson, who took newsmen around to see the conditions of some of the patients, each of the patients would have paid $8000 for the operation.
He said patients who were operated since the exercise started always come for review " and are all doing well".
He said the team spends about $70,000.00 on each mission, and in terms of medical equipment and supplies, they have spent a total of $1million.
He said all equipment brought in for the exercise are left behind to enhance further exercises in future.
On why they selected Ghana in general and Kumasi in particular, he said "we started this programme because we felt that there were a large number of children with congenital heart diseases who did not have access to specific care that we can provide in the US.
We felt that we could provide that type of care, and also use the opportunity to train local Ghanaian counterpart with the requisite skills to adequately cater for such children".
The Chief Executive of KATH, Professor Ohene Adjei, commended Dr Fynn- Thompson and his team for their humanitarian gesture, saying "their presence is always seen as a blessing because we cannot imagine what would have happened to the children who had benefited from their gesture so far".
Thursday, October 22, 2009
KINDERGARTEN GIRL KILLED BY 207 BENZ BUS (OCT 22, Pge 30)
A FIVE-year-old kindergarten girl died on the spot when a 207 Mercedes Benz bus ran over her at Asafo in Kumasi about five weeks ago.
She got trapped by the back tyres of the bus and smashed her head. The girl, an only child of her parents met her untimely death from the bus which was full of passengers.
The accident occurred behind the Neoplan Station which is one of the commercial hubs in the Kumasi metropolis.
The bus had just taken off from the Neoplan Station about a minute earlier, and was ascending a hill on the single lane adjacent to the station, while the deceased and her elder brother were on their way to buy food from a vendor at the station.
As they descended the road, they walked on the shoulders and passed by a number of Neoplan buses which had been parked along the road.
Just before they got to the food vendor, they attempted to cross to the other side of the road and the brother managed to do so on time. Unfortunately for the little girl who comes from Feyiase in the Bosomtwe district of the Ashanti Region, while trying to cross the road, the driver of the Benz bus which was approaching did not see her early enough to stop for her.
The drivers park their buses along the single lane road, adjacent to the station and other areas at Asafo. When their passengers alight, they leave the buses on these busy roads for hours.
This selfish attitude forces motorists and pedestrians to compete for the little space left, creating a lot of inconveniences which sometimes lead to fatal accidents.
Pedestrians, especially minors, who want to cross from one end of the road to the other at areas where the buses have taken over the roads are always at the mercy of drivers.
Apart from washing of vehicles on the Asafo roads, faulty vehicles are also repaired there. This situation causes spillage of oil onto the road.
The executive of Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) at the Asafo Neoplan Station have been notified on countless occasions about how their operations undermined road traffic regulations, especially the numerous accidents that results from the wrong parking of their buses at Asafo .
Anytime such fatal accident which could be traced to the door steps of drivers of the Neoplan Station occured at Asafo, officials from both the KMA and MTTU rush there, just to save their faces.
Under Act 462 section 79 of the KMA bye-laws, “no person shall spill oil on any road in the Metropolis”
On wrongful parking of vehicles. the KMA bye-laws state that, “every driver of a motor vehicle shall park his motor vehicle in the lorry park indicated to him“.
“Any person contravening any of the provisions of these bye-laws, “ according to the KMA “ shall be guilty on an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of ¢ 100,000.00 or in default, to a term of imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months”.
When contacted on what the KMA was doing to curb the menace of the Neoplan Station drivers, the Transport Officer, Mr Atta Boafo said, the decongestion which started in earnest at the Central Business District would soon be extended to the Neoplan station.
She got trapped by the back tyres of the bus and smashed her head. The girl, an only child of her parents met her untimely death from the bus which was full of passengers.
The accident occurred behind the Neoplan Station which is one of the commercial hubs in the Kumasi metropolis.
The bus had just taken off from the Neoplan Station about a minute earlier, and was ascending a hill on the single lane adjacent to the station, while the deceased and her elder brother were on their way to buy food from a vendor at the station.
As they descended the road, they walked on the shoulders and passed by a number of Neoplan buses which had been parked along the road.
Just before they got to the food vendor, they attempted to cross to the other side of the road and the brother managed to do so on time. Unfortunately for the little girl who comes from Feyiase in the Bosomtwe district of the Ashanti Region, while trying to cross the road, the driver of the Benz bus which was approaching did not see her early enough to stop for her.
The drivers park their buses along the single lane road, adjacent to the station and other areas at Asafo. When their passengers alight, they leave the buses on these busy roads for hours.
This selfish attitude forces motorists and pedestrians to compete for the little space left, creating a lot of inconveniences which sometimes lead to fatal accidents.
Pedestrians, especially minors, who want to cross from one end of the road to the other at areas where the buses have taken over the roads are always at the mercy of drivers.
Apart from washing of vehicles on the Asafo roads, faulty vehicles are also repaired there. This situation causes spillage of oil onto the road.
The executive of Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) at the Asafo Neoplan Station have been notified on countless occasions about how their operations undermined road traffic regulations, especially the numerous accidents that results from the wrong parking of their buses at Asafo .
Anytime such fatal accident which could be traced to the door steps of drivers of the Neoplan Station occured at Asafo, officials from both the KMA and MTTU rush there, just to save their faces.
Under Act 462 section 79 of the KMA bye-laws, “no person shall spill oil on any road in the Metropolis”
On wrongful parking of vehicles. the KMA bye-laws state that, “every driver of a motor vehicle shall park his motor vehicle in the lorry park indicated to him“.
“Any person contravening any of the provisions of these bye-laws, “ according to the KMA “ shall be guilty on an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of ¢ 100,000.00 or in default, to a term of imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months”.
When contacted on what the KMA was doing to curb the menace of the Neoplan Station drivers, the Transport Officer, Mr Atta Boafo said, the decongestion which started in earnest at the Central Business District would soon be extended to the Neoplan station.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
KOMFO ANOKYE TEACHING HOSPITAL UNDER PRESSURE (PAGE 30)
INADEQUATE facilities and logistics at public health institutions in the Kumasi metropolis have put pressure on the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), making it diffficult for medical workers there to deliver to the satisfaction of patients.
It is, therefore, important at this time for other health institutions in the metropolis to be adequately equipped to enable them complement KATH in providing quality health services.
The acting Chief Executive of KATH, Professor Ohene Adjei, told the Daily Graphic that unlike Accra where the 37 Military Hospital, the Police Hospital, the Ridge Hospital, the La Polyclinic, among others were adequately staffed with medical workers, logistics and facilities to complement the work of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in its healthcare delivery, Kumasi had only KATH.
He, therefore, appealed to the Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services to collaborate with the Ministry of Health to initiate projects that would strengthen public health institutions in the metropolis.
"When I took office, I realised that there were serious challenges affecting quality healthcare at both the KATH Polyclinic and laboratories," he stated, adding that problems at both places needed to be addressed, urgently to ensure that medical workers provided the kind of services their patients needed from them.
Prof. Adjei said these were two critical areas which needed serious attention, saying the polyclinic was always choked with patients, while the laboratories were not functioning due to the lack of reagents, adding that some of the equipment at the laboratories had also broken down, making it impossible for them to operate effectively.
He said due to inadequate logistics and facilities at the other public health institutions such as the Sofoline, Tafo, Manhyia and Agogo hospitals, even common malaria was sent to KATH for treatment, thus swelling the number of patients.
"This is affecting the quality of service delivery at KATH because it is the only public health institution with the capacity and medical staff to provide the requisite healthcare services for patients," he stated.
He said the problem at the polyclinic was the delay in serving patients and gave the assurance that his office was looking for means of addressing human resource constraints base to enhance quick service delivery.
It is, therefore, important at this time for other health institutions in the metropolis to be adequately equipped to enable them complement KATH in providing quality health services.
The acting Chief Executive of KATH, Professor Ohene Adjei, told the Daily Graphic that unlike Accra where the 37 Military Hospital, the Police Hospital, the Ridge Hospital, the La Polyclinic, among others were adequately staffed with medical workers, logistics and facilities to complement the work of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in its healthcare delivery, Kumasi had only KATH.
He, therefore, appealed to the Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services to collaborate with the Ministry of Health to initiate projects that would strengthen public health institutions in the metropolis.
"When I took office, I realised that there were serious challenges affecting quality healthcare at both the KATH Polyclinic and laboratories," he stated, adding that problems at both places needed to be addressed, urgently to ensure that medical workers provided the kind of services their patients needed from them.
Prof. Adjei said these were two critical areas which needed serious attention, saying the polyclinic was always choked with patients, while the laboratories were not functioning due to the lack of reagents, adding that some of the equipment at the laboratories had also broken down, making it impossible for them to operate effectively.
He said due to inadequate logistics and facilities at the other public health institutions such as the Sofoline, Tafo, Manhyia and Agogo hospitals, even common malaria was sent to KATH for treatment, thus swelling the number of patients.
"This is affecting the quality of service delivery at KATH because it is the only public health institution with the capacity and medical staff to provide the requisite healthcare services for patients," he stated.
He said the problem at the polyclinic was the delay in serving patients and gave the assurance that his office was looking for means of addressing human resource constraints base to enhance quick service delivery.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Story: Kweku Tsen & A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Akropong
PRESIDENT John Evans Atta Mills yesterday assured Ghanaians that his government would never renege on its electoral promise of transforming the economy and ensuring qualitative improvement in the material conditions of the people.
He, therefore, asked Ghanaians to remain steadfast and calm while the government continued to put its act together in order to place the economy on an even keel to address their social concerns and problems.
Addressing the chiefs and people of the Akuapem Traditional Area at Akropong during a courtesy call on the Okuapehene, Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III, President Mills said the government had already identified the crucial sectors of the economy which needed immediate and prompt attention, adding that the necessary measures had been instituted to remove and correct the distortions in those sectors.
The call on the Okuapehene formed part of a three-day official visit by the President to the Eastern Region, during which he is expected to spell out policies and programmes designed by the government to improve the lot of the people, as well as ascertain at first-hand the problems militating against their social advancement.
According to President Mills, the contradictions in the economy which the government inherited from the previous administration were being resolved to create the necessary conducive environment which would encourage, motivate and attract direct foreign investment into the country.
He explained that the implementation of those measures needed to be gradual to ensure that the nation derived maximum benefit and was not hoodwinked by individuals and groups of investors.
President Mills further explained that transactions which the government would undertake on behalf of the people of Ghana during his term of office would be very open and transparent, bereft of graft, nepotism and favouritism.
He said as a result of increasing population growth, the government was duty bound to expand educational facilities to offer more opportunities to every Ghanaian, since the nation needed a strong corps of skilled workers to ensure its forward march and development.
He pointed out that the government was also required to find appropriate resources to shore up the private sector to expand its capacity which, in a way, would boost productivity and also encourage the players in that sector to offer more employment opportunities to the people, especially the youth.
He thanked the people for electing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) into political office during the last general election and stressed that the government would not shirk its responsibility to address their plight.
President Mills called on the people to do away with all divisive tendencies which had the potential of polarising the country and sowing seeds of bitterness and animosity among the people.
The Okuapehene thanked President Mills for the courtesy call, stressing that the President had, during the short period of time that he had administered the affairs of the country, shown beyond every reasonable doubt that he was a man of humility and great vision.
He said the people in the area would rally behind the government to ensure that it prosecuted its development agenda intended to eradicate poverty from society and ensure the social renewal of the people.
President Mills was accompanied by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, his deputy, Mr Baba Jamal, as well as other high-ranking government officials.
The President also addressed a durbar of the chiefs and people of the Manya and Yilo Krobo Traditional areas in Somanya.
He said the country needed a common platform for the articulation of national concerns that would address the weaknesses in the economy and solve the myriad of social problems facing the people.
He explained that the people could not afford the luxury of concentrating all their efforts and energies on issues which divided them, instead of focusing on those which would advance the national cause.
President Mills said the polarisation of the country along political lines had the detrimental effect of creating bad blood among the people and stalling unity and harmony in society.
The acting Konor of the Yilo Krobo Traditional Area, Nene Tumeh, commended President Mills for the visit and implored him to provide the area with the necessary infrastructure which would open up the local economy and offer jobs to the people.
PRESIDENT John Evans Atta Mills yesterday assured Ghanaians that his government would never renege on its electoral promise of transforming the economy and ensuring qualitative improvement in the material conditions of the people.
He, therefore, asked Ghanaians to remain steadfast and calm while the government continued to put its act together in order to place the economy on an even keel to address their social concerns and problems.
Addressing the chiefs and people of the Akuapem Traditional Area at Akropong during a courtesy call on the Okuapehene, Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III, President Mills said the government had already identified the crucial sectors of the economy which needed immediate and prompt attention, adding that the necessary measures had been instituted to remove and correct the distortions in those sectors.
The call on the Okuapehene formed part of a three-day official visit by the President to the Eastern Region, during which he is expected to spell out policies and programmes designed by the government to improve the lot of the people, as well as ascertain at first-hand the problems militating against their social advancement.
According to President Mills, the contradictions in the economy which the government inherited from the previous administration were being resolved to create the necessary conducive environment which would encourage, motivate and attract direct foreign investment into the country.
He explained that the implementation of those measures needed to be gradual to ensure that the nation derived maximum benefit and was not hoodwinked by individuals and groups of investors.
President Mills further explained that transactions which the government would undertake on behalf of the people of Ghana during his term of office would be very open and transparent, bereft of graft, nepotism and favouritism.
He said as a result of increasing population growth, the government was duty bound to expand educational facilities to offer more opportunities to every Ghanaian, since the nation needed a strong corps of skilled workers to ensure its forward march and development.
He pointed out that the government was also required to find appropriate resources to shore up the private sector to expand its capacity which, in a way, would boost productivity and also encourage the players in that sector to offer more employment opportunities to the people, especially the youth.
He thanked the people for electing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) into political office during the last general election and stressed that the government would not shirk its responsibility to address their plight.
President Mills called on the people to do away with all divisive tendencies which had the potential of polarising the country and sowing seeds of bitterness and animosity among the people.
The Okuapehene thanked President Mills for the courtesy call, stressing that the President had, during the short period of time that he had administered the affairs of the country, shown beyond every reasonable doubt that he was a man of humility and great vision.
He said the people in the area would rally behind the government to ensure that it prosecuted its development agenda intended to eradicate poverty from society and ensure the social renewal of the people.
President Mills was accompanied by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, his deputy, Mr Baba Jamal, as well as other high-ranking government officials.
The President also addressed a durbar of the chiefs and people of the Manya and Yilo Krobo Traditional areas in Somanya.
He said the country needed a common platform for the articulation of national concerns that would address the weaknesses in the economy and solve the myriad of social problems facing the people.
He explained that the people could not afford the luxury of concentrating all their efforts and energies on issues which divided them, instead of focusing on those which would advance the national cause.
President Mills said the polarisation of the country along political lines had the detrimental effect of creating bad blood among the people and stalling unity and harmony in society.
The acting Konor of the Yilo Krobo Traditional Area, Nene Tumeh, commended President Mills for the visit and implored him to provide the area with the necessary infrastructure which would open up the local economy and offer jobs to the people.
COCOA FARMERS HAIL DEAL (1B, OCT 16)
Story: Kofi Yeboah
THE Ghana Cocoa, Coffee and Sheanut Farmers Association (GCCSFA) has described the recent cocoa price increase and other incentive packages announced by the government for cocoa farmers as adequate and commendable.
This is contrary to claims in some quarters that the new producer price of cocoa announced by the government last Wednesday is inadequate.
“Cocoa farmers are happy about the new producer price. It is good for us,” the acting President of the association, Alhaji Alhassan Bukari, told the Daily Graphic in a telephone interview yesterday.
Last Wednesday, the government announced a new producer price of GH¢138 per 64-kilogramme bag of cocoa, representing a 35.29 per cent increase over the previous price.
This means Ghanaian cocoa farmers will earn GH¢2,208 per tonne of cocoa, representing 71.06 per cent of the world selling price.
The government further announced the establishment of a social security fund for cocoa farmers with seed money of GH¢15 million.
However, some cocoa farmers are not enthused by the package because, according to them, the new producer price is inadequate, compared to what pertains in neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire.
Responding to those concerns, Alhaji Bukari said the critics were myopic because if they could look far enough and consider the incentive package, they would realise that the government had given cocoa farmers a good deal.
He said the new bonus, compulsory scholarship for children of cocoa farmers and the pension scheme for cocoa farmers announced by the government were packages that would help boost cocoa production in the country.
Alhaji Bukari urged the government to involve cocoa farmers in the mass cocoa spraying exercise to make it more successful.
He admitted that some cocoa farmers had been smuggling the produce outside the country and expressed the association’s commitment to help address the problem.
Ghana is the second largest producer of cocoa in the world after Cote d’Ivoire and the country is seeking to increase its production from the current level of about 650,000 metric tonnes per annum to one million metric tonnes.
In a related development, cocoa farmers in the Western Region have welcomed the new producer price and the novelty insurance package, reports Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu from Takoradi.
However, they said the 35 per cent price increase was below their expectation.
The farmers warned that given the current price difference between what pertained in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, coupled with the rate of exchange of the CFA against the cedi, the smuggling of cocoa along the Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire border might increase.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, a section of the farmers in the region said the government had demonstrated its readiness to help them to secure a good price for their produce but they wished that the price had been pushed to GH¢150 instead of GH¢138.
Cocoa farmers in Akontombra and other Sefwi areas, Mampon-Abotariye, Adum-Bansu, Nzema and Amenfi areas commended the government but wished the price had been higher than the GH¢138 offered them.
THE Ghana Cocoa, Coffee and Sheanut Farmers Association (GCCSFA) has described the recent cocoa price increase and other incentive packages announced by the government for cocoa farmers as adequate and commendable.
This is contrary to claims in some quarters that the new producer price of cocoa announced by the government last Wednesday is inadequate.
“Cocoa farmers are happy about the new producer price. It is good for us,” the acting President of the association, Alhaji Alhassan Bukari, told the Daily Graphic in a telephone interview yesterday.
Last Wednesday, the government announced a new producer price of GH¢138 per 64-kilogramme bag of cocoa, representing a 35.29 per cent increase over the previous price.
This means Ghanaian cocoa farmers will earn GH¢2,208 per tonne of cocoa, representing 71.06 per cent of the world selling price.
The government further announced the establishment of a social security fund for cocoa farmers with seed money of GH¢15 million.
However, some cocoa farmers are not enthused by the package because, according to them, the new producer price is inadequate, compared to what pertains in neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire.
Responding to those concerns, Alhaji Bukari said the critics were myopic because if they could look far enough and consider the incentive package, they would realise that the government had given cocoa farmers a good deal.
He said the new bonus, compulsory scholarship for children of cocoa farmers and the pension scheme for cocoa farmers announced by the government were packages that would help boost cocoa production in the country.
Alhaji Bukari urged the government to involve cocoa farmers in the mass cocoa spraying exercise to make it more successful.
He admitted that some cocoa farmers had been smuggling the produce outside the country and expressed the association’s commitment to help address the problem.
Ghana is the second largest producer of cocoa in the world after Cote d’Ivoire and the country is seeking to increase its production from the current level of about 650,000 metric tonnes per annum to one million metric tonnes.
In a related development, cocoa farmers in the Western Region have welcomed the new producer price and the novelty insurance package, reports Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu from Takoradi.
However, they said the 35 per cent price increase was below their expectation.
The farmers warned that given the current price difference between what pertained in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, coupled with the rate of exchange of the CFA against the cedi, the smuggling of cocoa along the Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire border might increase.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, a section of the farmers in the region said the government had demonstrated its readiness to help them to secure a good price for their produce but they wished that the price had been pushed to GH¢150 instead of GH¢138.
Cocoa farmers in Akontombra and other Sefwi areas, Mampon-Abotariye, Adum-Bansu, Nzema and Amenfi areas commended the government but wished the price had been higher than the GH¢138 offered them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)