Story; George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
Three armed robbers who masterminded the robbery of a catechist at the Konongo Presby Church have been jailed a total of 54 years by the Kumasi High Court.
Kwasi Boateng, alias Moro, Kwabena Major and Kwame Nimara received 18 years each after the court, presided over by Justice K.A. Pobee, found them guilty of conspiracy to rob and robbing at gunpoint.
They broke into the residence of the man of God and robbed him of his money, mobile phones and other items at about 1:30 a.m on July 9, 2006.
According to Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo-Boison, a State Attorney who prosecuted, the three, who were wielding assorted guns, disguised themselves with masks and wigs and forcibly opened the doors of Mr Amoako Amponsah and threatened the family with their guns.
The prosecutor said the convicts took away personal effects contained in two bags, a cash of GH¢40.00 belonging to the catechist and a mobile phone from Mr Amponsah’s son.
Mr Otoo-Boison said Boateng was arrested three days after the crime and admitted to the offence and mentioned Major and Nimara as his accomplices. Major was also arrested on July 15, 2006.
He said Nimara was nabbed at his hideout on May 17, 2007.
Friday, July 31, 2009
TWO TO SERVE 36 YEARS IN JAIL (PAGE 20)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
A Kumasi High Court Presided over by Justice K.A. Pobee has convicted two men to serve 18 year jail terms each in hard labour for robbery.
Kwadwo Antwi and Musah Karikari who pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to rob and robbing an accountant, were found guilty of the offence after the trial.
Presenting the facts of the case to the Court, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo-Boison, a State Attorney, said the complainant, an Accountant at the Ghana Breweries Limited was awakened by sporadic gun shots and loud bangs of his door at his residence at Atonsu Kuwait, around 1:30 a.m. on November 11, 2005.
Mr Otoo- Boison said when the complainant opened the door, he saw about 15 men armed to the teeth who pointed their guns directly at his head.
The prosecutor said the victim was able to identify Antwi, whom he had known for some time and so mentioned his name.
He said just then, the robbers started firing warning shots and in the process injured the complainant. The victim however managed to escape into a nearby bush, giving the robbers a leeway to ransack his room and made away with cash totalling Gh¢25,460 and three mobile phones valued at GH¢450.
Mr Boison said investigations led to the arrest of Antwi. Karikari was later arrested and after investigations, they were charged with the offence.
A Kumasi High Court Presided over by Justice K.A. Pobee has convicted two men to serve 18 year jail terms each in hard labour for robbery.
Kwadwo Antwi and Musah Karikari who pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to rob and robbing an accountant, were found guilty of the offence after the trial.
Presenting the facts of the case to the Court, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo-Boison, a State Attorney, said the complainant, an Accountant at the Ghana Breweries Limited was awakened by sporadic gun shots and loud bangs of his door at his residence at Atonsu Kuwait, around 1:30 a.m. on November 11, 2005.
Mr Otoo- Boison said when the complainant opened the door, he saw about 15 men armed to the teeth who pointed their guns directly at his head.
The prosecutor said the victim was able to identify Antwi, whom he had known for some time and so mentioned his name.
He said just then, the robbers started firing warning shots and in the process injured the complainant. The victim however managed to escape into a nearby bush, giving the robbers a leeway to ransack his room and made away with cash totalling Gh¢25,460 and three mobile phones valued at GH¢450.
Mr Boison said investigations led to the arrest of Antwi. Karikari was later arrested and after investigations, they were charged with the offence.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
WATER COMPANY THREATENS TO STOP PRODUCTION...As KMA pollutes Owabi catchment area (PAGE 29)
the Ghana Water Company has threatened to shut down its operation if the pollution of the catchment area of the Owabi Dam by the Waste Management Department of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) continues.
The Waste Management Department of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has been dumping refuse at the catchment area of the dam.
According to a Communication Officer of the Ghana Water Company, Mr Haruna Asogli, “the deliberate dumping of refuse at the catchment area of the Owabi Dam since October last year was not only heavily polluting, but was also making the cost of treating the water for the metropolis extremely high.
He said to enhance the supply of quality water to residents in Kumasi, the company was forced to increase the chemicals used in treating the polluted water at a cost “but if this continues in future, we would be forced to stop operations.
“We fear that the level of pollution will eventually rise if the pollution continues, and that would also mean using more chemicals to treat the water . Such a situation will eventually poison the dam and when this happens, we would be forced to shut down and stop production, so it is time the KMA stopped dumping refuse into the catchment area of the Owabi Dam to enhance quality supply of water to our customers in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs”.
Mr Asogli was reacting to the questions from newsmen on the effects of dumping refuse at the catchment area of the Owabi dam.
He said apart from polluting the dam, the dumping site was also creating health hazards for residents at Ohwim and Amanfrom.
“The stench from the dumping site is unbearable, especially anytime it rains and apart from that it breeds a lot of mosquitoes and attracts houseflies that invade the households in the surrounding communities”.
In November last year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) threatened to sue the KMA if the assembly continued to dump refuse at the catchment area of the Owabi and Barekese dams but the threat is yet to be carried out.
When newsmen visited two of the dumping sites last Monday, at Amanfrom and Ohwim, dozens of trucks from Zoomlion were busily dumping refuse from the Kumasi Metropolis into the catchment area without any approval by the Environmental Protection Agency EPA.
According to officials of Zoomlion who spoke to newsmen, it was the KMA that approved the dumping of refuse at the site but when Mr Tony Mensah, the Director of the Waste Management Department of the KMA, was contacted he denied ever giving any approval to Zoomlion to dump refuse at the catchment area of the Owabi dam.
He, however, affirmed that he was aware of a proposal written by Zoomlion seeking approval from the EPA to dump refuse at the site, and gave the assurance that he would contact the waste disposal company to immediately stop its operations.
Mr Mensah said he was also aware of the health hazards their operations were creating for the residents of Ohwim and Amanfrom, and also gave the assurance that the the KMA would cover the site as early as possible.
He said the KMA had already contracted Mesk World to cover the site to reduce the stench and the mosquitoes that were attacking residents in the affected communities.
When it was detected in November last year that the KMA was dumping refuse at Ohwim and Amanfrom as well as other communities which are all in the catchment area of the Owabi Dam, and Mr Tony Mensah was contacted by newsmen, he did not only accept responsibility, but also gave the assurance that the KMA would cover up the area.
Explaining why the KMA diverted its operations to the Owabi Dam catchment area to dump refuse collected from the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs, he said, “ We were in a desperate situation to dispose of the refuse to create a clean environment in Kumasi, and since the landfill site at Dompoase is not in good condition to receive waste, we directed our attention to Ohwim to meet the demands of a certain group of people, ”he told newsmen.
Explaining, he said, last year, “there was a crises with regards to the disposal of refuse in Kumasi, especially during the CAN 2008 tournament, during which period there was also the ‘Citywide Solid Waste Collection Scheme’.
He said “with residents refusing to pay for the disposal of refuse and the assembly facing serious financial difficulties to pay some of their contractors, coupled with the landfill site at Dompoase where heaps of solid waste had piled up with more still being dumped there, it became urgent to look out for another dumping site to take the excess solid waste.”
Explaining further, he said, it was at that point that they received offers from a section of the residents at Ohwim and Amanfrom to fill portions of their valley, so we quickly jumped at the offer, which had now created problems.
Mr Mensah gave the assurance that the KMA would comply with the directive of the EPA “to cover the solid waste dumped there. We will start early this week, and also stop dumping any waste at the catchment area”.
However, almost eight months after Mr Tony Mensah’s assurances, the KMA has refused to cover the dump and stop dumping at the site and the threat by the EPA to sue the assembly for neglecting its social responsibilities is yet to materialise.
According to the EPA, some of the materials that had been dumped at the catchment area contained some poisonous chemicals, which would be very difficult to treat if the dam is polluted.
Both the Owabi and Barekese dams are the main sources of potable water for residents within the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs.
The Ashanti Regional Director of the EPA, Mrs Philomina Boakye Appiah, who gave the order also directed the KMA to stop dumping any solid waste within the catchment area of the dam, and threatened that it would institute legal action against the assembly if it flouted the EPA order.
Mrs Boakye Appiah told the Daily Graphic that apart from the danger of polluting the Barekese dam, it also increased the cost of treating water at the expense of the health of
residents of Ohwim and Amanfrom.
“ The stench that fills their homes, coupled with the insects they attract and implications on their health, informed the decision to stop the KMA from dumping refuse at the place and completely seal off what they have dumped to avoid any menace, ” she stressed.
The Waste Management Department of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has been dumping refuse at the catchment area of the dam.
According to a Communication Officer of the Ghana Water Company, Mr Haruna Asogli, “the deliberate dumping of refuse at the catchment area of the Owabi Dam since October last year was not only heavily polluting, but was also making the cost of treating the water for the metropolis extremely high.
He said to enhance the supply of quality water to residents in Kumasi, the company was forced to increase the chemicals used in treating the polluted water at a cost “but if this continues in future, we would be forced to stop operations.
“We fear that the level of pollution will eventually rise if the pollution continues, and that would also mean using more chemicals to treat the water . Such a situation will eventually poison the dam and when this happens, we would be forced to shut down and stop production, so it is time the KMA stopped dumping refuse into the catchment area of the Owabi Dam to enhance quality supply of water to our customers in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs”.
Mr Asogli was reacting to the questions from newsmen on the effects of dumping refuse at the catchment area of the Owabi dam.
He said apart from polluting the dam, the dumping site was also creating health hazards for residents at Ohwim and Amanfrom.
“The stench from the dumping site is unbearable, especially anytime it rains and apart from that it breeds a lot of mosquitoes and attracts houseflies that invade the households in the surrounding communities”.
In November last year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) threatened to sue the KMA if the assembly continued to dump refuse at the catchment area of the Owabi and Barekese dams but the threat is yet to be carried out.
When newsmen visited two of the dumping sites last Monday, at Amanfrom and Ohwim, dozens of trucks from Zoomlion were busily dumping refuse from the Kumasi Metropolis into the catchment area without any approval by the Environmental Protection Agency EPA.
According to officials of Zoomlion who spoke to newsmen, it was the KMA that approved the dumping of refuse at the site but when Mr Tony Mensah, the Director of the Waste Management Department of the KMA, was contacted he denied ever giving any approval to Zoomlion to dump refuse at the catchment area of the Owabi dam.
He, however, affirmed that he was aware of a proposal written by Zoomlion seeking approval from the EPA to dump refuse at the site, and gave the assurance that he would contact the waste disposal company to immediately stop its operations.
Mr Mensah said he was also aware of the health hazards their operations were creating for the residents of Ohwim and Amanfrom, and also gave the assurance that the the KMA would cover the site as early as possible.
He said the KMA had already contracted Mesk World to cover the site to reduce the stench and the mosquitoes that were attacking residents in the affected communities.
When it was detected in November last year that the KMA was dumping refuse at Ohwim and Amanfrom as well as other communities which are all in the catchment area of the Owabi Dam, and Mr Tony Mensah was contacted by newsmen, he did not only accept responsibility, but also gave the assurance that the KMA would cover up the area.
Explaining why the KMA diverted its operations to the Owabi Dam catchment area to dump refuse collected from the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs, he said, “ We were in a desperate situation to dispose of the refuse to create a clean environment in Kumasi, and since the landfill site at Dompoase is not in good condition to receive waste, we directed our attention to Ohwim to meet the demands of a certain group of people, ”he told newsmen.
Explaining, he said, last year, “there was a crises with regards to the disposal of refuse in Kumasi, especially during the CAN 2008 tournament, during which period there was also the ‘Citywide Solid Waste Collection Scheme’.
He said “with residents refusing to pay for the disposal of refuse and the assembly facing serious financial difficulties to pay some of their contractors, coupled with the landfill site at Dompoase where heaps of solid waste had piled up with more still being dumped there, it became urgent to look out for another dumping site to take the excess solid waste.”
Explaining further, he said, it was at that point that they received offers from a section of the residents at Ohwim and Amanfrom to fill portions of their valley, so we quickly jumped at the offer, which had now created problems.
Mr Mensah gave the assurance that the KMA would comply with the directive of the EPA “to cover the solid waste dumped there. We will start early this week, and also stop dumping any waste at the catchment area”.
However, almost eight months after Mr Tony Mensah’s assurances, the KMA has refused to cover the dump and stop dumping at the site and the threat by the EPA to sue the assembly for neglecting its social responsibilities is yet to materialise.
According to the EPA, some of the materials that had been dumped at the catchment area contained some poisonous chemicals, which would be very difficult to treat if the dam is polluted.
Both the Owabi and Barekese dams are the main sources of potable water for residents within the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs.
The Ashanti Regional Director of the EPA, Mrs Philomina Boakye Appiah, who gave the order also directed the KMA to stop dumping any solid waste within the catchment area of the dam, and threatened that it would institute legal action against the assembly if it flouted the EPA order.
Mrs Boakye Appiah told the Daily Graphic that apart from the danger of polluting the Barekese dam, it also increased the cost of treating water at the expense of the health of
residents of Ohwim and Amanfrom.
“ The stench that fills their homes, coupled with the insects they attract and implications on their health, informed the decision to stop the KMA from dumping refuse at the place and completely seal off what they have dumped to avoid any menace, ” she stressed.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
PEACE SEMINAR HELD AT DOMEABRA (NSEMPA, PAGE 10)
By George Ernest Asare, Domeabra
YOUTH Network for Human Rights and Democracy, a non governmental organisation (NGO), in collaboration with the German Development Service (DED) has organised a forum at Domeabra in the Asante Akim North District of the Ashanti Region to sensitise the youth in the area to the need to refrain from actions likely to cause violence and disturb the peace.
The seminar, which was attended by traditional rulers in the Domeabra Traditional Area, departmental heads, members of the district assembly, heads of institutions, as well as a section of the police, fire officers, students and farmers, among other groups, was also meant to bring the traditional authorities and district assembly on the same platform to dialogue to enhance transparency in decision making, thereby facilitating socio-economic development in the area.
Not even a four-hour heavy downpour moments before the beginning of the forum could disrupt the programme, which was the second in a series organised by Peace and Governance and its collaborators in the Ashanti Region since May this year.
The heavy downpour, however, forced the organisers to relocate the venue of the forum from the Presbyterian School Park to the spacious Presbyterian Church where all the participants, including the Domeabra Paramount Chief, Nana Frimpong Afoakwa, and his sub chiefs converged.
Apart from Domeabra, other participants from Adiembra, Pekyerekye and Kwaikoko also attended the forum in their numbers.
In the first forum organised at Adankranya in the Amansie East District, political heads, traditional rulers, students, security officers, the youth and farmers in the surrounding communities at Adankranya traditional area attended in their numbers and interacted positively.
In their interaction through poetry recitals, drama and speeches, the youth, traditional rulers and politicians as well as the peace officers promised to eschew any form of action likely to inflame passion in the traditional area, especially during election years.
In his address, the programmes officer of Youth Network for Human Rights and Democracy, Mr Sefa Boama, urged the youth to be actively involved in activities that enhance socio-economic development in their respective communities instead of indulging in actions likely to lead to violence and the destruction of lives and property.
He pointed out that by taking actions that promoted socio-economic development in their communities, there would be transparency in decision making on issues that affected their welfare, thereby demystifying the issue of governance.
Mr Boama explained that because the youth “are sometimes alienated from decision making on issues that affected their welfare, and are not regularly given any platform to seek tangible explanations, they sometimes fall prey to adventurers who use them to promote their selfish interest.”
He said while some of the youth were used as tools to cause mayhem over political issues, others used to fan ethnic violence and chieftaincy disputes, thus undermining the peace that prevailed in their immediate environment.
He, therefore, urged the youth to collaborate with traditional rulers, the district assembly and security officers in their localities so as to create a peaceful environment for meaningful socio-economic development in their areas.
He said it was equally important for the district assemblies to see traditional rulers as development partners by collaborating with them on issues that affected the development of the various communities in the district.
The Divisional Crime Officer of Asante Akim North, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr Maxwell Agyemang, urged the youth to see the police as partners in the socio-economic development of their respective communities by offering them useful information that could lead to the prevention of crime.
He said since the perpetuation of crime undermined socio-economic development, there was the need for the youth to always offer useful information to the police so as to prevent crime or help the police to detect them.
YOUTH Network for Human Rights and Democracy, a non governmental organisation (NGO), in collaboration with the German Development Service (DED) has organised a forum at Domeabra in the Asante Akim North District of the Ashanti Region to sensitise the youth in the area to the need to refrain from actions likely to cause violence and disturb the peace.
The seminar, which was attended by traditional rulers in the Domeabra Traditional Area, departmental heads, members of the district assembly, heads of institutions, as well as a section of the police, fire officers, students and farmers, among other groups, was also meant to bring the traditional authorities and district assembly on the same platform to dialogue to enhance transparency in decision making, thereby facilitating socio-economic development in the area.
Not even a four-hour heavy downpour moments before the beginning of the forum could disrupt the programme, which was the second in a series organised by Peace and Governance and its collaborators in the Ashanti Region since May this year.
The heavy downpour, however, forced the organisers to relocate the venue of the forum from the Presbyterian School Park to the spacious Presbyterian Church where all the participants, including the Domeabra Paramount Chief, Nana Frimpong Afoakwa, and his sub chiefs converged.
Apart from Domeabra, other participants from Adiembra, Pekyerekye and Kwaikoko also attended the forum in their numbers.
In the first forum organised at Adankranya in the Amansie East District, political heads, traditional rulers, students, security officers, the youth and farmers in the surrounding communities at Adankranya traditional area attended in their numbers and interacted positively.
In their interaction through poetry recitals, drama and speeches, the youth, traditional rulers and politicians as well as the peace officers promised to eschew any form of action likely to inflame passion in the traditional area, especially during election years.
In his address, the programmes officer of Youth Network for Human Rights and Democracy, Mr Sefa Boama, urged the youth to be actively involved in activities that enhance socio-economic development in their respective communities instead of indulging in actions likely to lead to violence and the destruction of lives and property.
He pointed out that by taking actions that promoted socio-economic development in their communities, there would be transparency in decision making on issues that affected their welfare, thereby demystifying the issue of governance.
Mr Boama explained that because the youth “are sometimes alienated from decision making on issues that affected their welfare, and are not regularly given any platform to seek tangible explanations, they sometimes fall prey to adventurers who use them to promote their selfish interest.”
He said while some of the youth were used as tools to cause mayhem over political issues, others used to fan ethnic violence and chieftaincy disputes, thus undermining the peace that prevailed in their immediate environment.
He, therefore, urged the youth to collaborate with traditional rulers, the district assembly and security officers in their localities so as to create a peaceful environment for meaningful socio-economic development in their areas.
He said it was equally important for the district assemblies to see traditional rulers as development partners by collaborating with them on issues that affected the development of the various communities in the district.
The Divisional Crime Officer of Asante Akim North, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr Maxwell Agyemang, urged the youth to see the police as partners in the socio-economic development of their respective communities by offering them useful information that could lead to the prevention of crime.
He said since the perpetuation of crime undermined socio-economic development, there was the need for the youth to always offer useful information to the police so as to prevent crime or help the police to detect them.
ACTRESS LAMENTS DIFFICULTIES IN FILM INDUSTRY (NSEMPA, PAGE 3)
By George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
A KUMASI based actress, Ms Gloria Agyemang, has dispelled the notion that the film industry in Ghana is principally centred on witchcraft.
She said, “ Our activities are rather conscientising our numerous fans on the need to be highly religious to ensure maximum protection by the Holy Spirit to defeat any attacks by evil spirits.”
Known in the movie circles as ‘Aso’ for the impact she made in the film ‘Abuburo Kosua’, Ms Agyemang who started active acting ten years ago explained that the socio-cultural environment in Ghana is saturated with perceived practice of witchcraft, such that, those who are not highly religious are easily manipulated by evil spirits, thereby thwarting the development of the potentials of their victims.
“ Our films rekindle the spirits of our viewers for them to appreciate the spiritual and physical realms of their immediate environments, as well as their cultural and traditional values, and respond appropriately to enable them make meaningful impact in life as sons and daughters of the living God,” she stressed.
“ It also help them to relate very well with their neighbours, friends and sympathisers as well as their perceived enemies and ginger them to appreciate their strengths and weaknesses to make life more meaningful,” she explained further.
Speaking to Graphic Nsempa in an interview on the nature of the movie industry, Ms Agyemang noted that, “we have the potentials and ability to achieve greater laurels but certain challenges militate against our forward march.”
She said their activities in the industry are highly educative and had contributed immensely to sensitise their fans to the importance of traditional, cultural and moral values and how to sustain it for the benefit of the present and future generations.
She mentioned inadequate investment by some location managers as one of the major constraints affecting the industry.
Ms Agyemang also pointed out that without adequate investment as is happening in other countries in West Africa, actress and actors in Ghana could not exhibit their potentials to the maximum.
“ We have the potentials to perform to the satisfaction of our viewers, but sometimes the location to perform, costumes that would enhance our image and even common water to drink at locations are not easily available,” she said.
“ People are not ready to offer their premises to us to enable us perform for fear of exposing their apartments to armed robbers. some location managers are also reluctant to invest in the industry, and the motivation is inadequate as compared to what happen else where. She explained further.
She noted that with the abundant talents in the country, it was time location managers invested adequately to enable actresses and actors put up their best to accelerate the development of the industry.
On weather they were swimming in wealth, Ms Agyemang said “ I stay in a rented apartment and my car which broke down some time ago is still parked somewhere due to financial difficulties.”
“We do not attract much fees as compared to others elsewhere so I have no house on my own and no means of transport. I am surviving just like many others in the industry, but I hope that things would change for the better to enable some of us enjoy the fruits of our labour,” she revealed
Ms Agyemang who is a mother of one assured that notwithstanding the challenges facing the profession, “I will continue to put up my best in any movie I feature so fans should expect more from me.”
Among the movies she featured prominently are ‘ Asew 419, Asoreba, Asem, Obaa Hemaa, Obantanpa, and Abuburo Kosua.
A KUMASI based actress, Ms Gloria Agyemang, has dispelled the notion that the film industry in Ghana is principally centred on witchcraft.
She said, “ Our activities are rather conscientising our numerous fans on the need to be highly religious to ensure maximum protection by the Holy Spirit to defeat any attacks by evil spirits.”
Known in the movie circles as ‘Aso’ for the impact she made in the film ‘Abuburo Kosua’, Ms Agyemang who started active acting ten years ago explained that the socio-cultural environment in Ghana is saturated with perceived practice of witchcraft, such that, those who are not highly religious are easily manipulated by evil spirits, thereby thwarting the development of the potentials of their victims.
“ Our films rekindle the spirits of our viewers for them to appreciate the spiritual and physical realms of their immediate environments, as well as their cultural and traditional values, and respond appropriately to enable them make meaningful impact in life as sons and daughters of the living God,” she stressed.
“ It also help them to relate very well with their neighbours, friends and sympathisers as well as their perceived enemies and ginger them to appreciate their strengths and weaknesses to make life more meaningful,” she explained further.
Speaking to Graphic Nsempa in an interview on the nature of the movie industry, Ms Agyemang noted that, “we have the potentials and ability to achieve greater laurels but certain challenges militate against our forward march.”
She said their activities in the industry are highly educative and had contributed immensely to sensitise their fans to the importance of traditional, cultural and moral values and how to sustain it for the benefit of the present and future generations.
She mentioned inadequate investment by some location managers as one of the major constraints affecting the industry.
Ms Agyemang also pointed out that without adequate investment as is happening in other countries in West Africa, actress and actors in Ghana could not exhibit their potentials to the maximum.
“ We have the potentials to perform to the satisfaction of our viewers, but sometimes the location to perform, costumes that would enhance our image and even common water to drink at locations are not easily available,” she said.
“ People are not ready to offer their premises to us to enable us perform for fear of exposing their apartments to armed robbers. some location managers are also reluctant to invest in the industry, and the motivation is inadequate as compared to what happen else where. She explained further.
She noted that with the abundant talents in the country, it was time location managers invested adequately to enable actresses and actors put up their best to accelerate the development of the industry.
On weather they were swimming in wealth, Ms Agyemang said “ I stay in a rented apartment and my car which broke down some time ago is still parked somewhere due to financial difficulties.”
“We do not attract much fees as compared to others elsewhere so I have no house on my own and no means of transport. I am surviving just like many others in the industry, but I hope that things would change for the better to enable some of us enjoy the fruits of our labour,” she revealed
Ms Agyemang who is a mother of one assured that notwithstanding the challenges facing the profession, “I will continue to put up my best in any movie I feature so fans should expect more from me.”
Among the movies she featured prominently are ‘ Asew 419, Asoreba, Asem, Obaa Hemaa, Obantanpa, and Abuburo Kosua.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
25-YEAR-OLD JAILED FOR ROBBERY (PAGE 44)
THE Kumasi High Court has sentenced a 25-year-old man to 18 years in jail for conspiring with three accomplices to rob a Kumasi-based taxi driver of his car.
The convict, Maxwell Chibsah, alias Ebo, together with the accomplices who were identified as Buckman, Redbone and Cyborg Killer, now at large, pleaded not guilty to the conspiracy and robbery when he appeared before the court but the court ,found him guilty of the offences after the trial and convicted him accordingly.
Armed with locally manufactured pistols and knives, Chibsah, who resides at Moshie Zongo, and his accomplices attacked the complainant, Mr Kwaku Appiah, and robbed him of his KIA Avella taxi with registration number AW 5154 Y, a Nokia cell phone valued at GH¢20.00 and GH¢35.00 cash.
Presenting the facts before the court presided over by Mr Justice R. C. Azumah, a State Attorney, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo-Boison, said around 8:30 p.m. on January 31, 2007, the convict and his accomplices hired the taxi with Kwaku Appiah in charge, at Tafo, and directed the driver to take them to Moshie Zongo, but on reaching the Komfo Anokye Senior High School, the convict and his accomplices asked the driver to stop for them to alight.
He said as soon as the driver stopped, the convict, who was at the passenger seat, pulled the ignition key while one of his accomplices pulled out a locally manufactured pistol and directed it at his head, warning that he would blow his (driver’s) head if he made any noise.
Mr Otoo-Boison said before the taxi driver could react, one of the accomplices hit his eyebrow and injured him.
He said they pulled the driver out from the vehicle and beat him mercilessly, adding that after subjecting the driver to severe beating, Chibsah took control of the vehicle and sped off to Dechemso, Kenyasi, Asokore Mampong, Krofrom and other suburbs of the Kumasi metropolis where they robbed about 23 victims of their mobile phones, cash and other personal items.
He said in the course of their robbery spree, they encountered a Police Patrol Team at Dechemso, and in an attempt to arrest them an exchange of gunfire ensued, resulting in the death of one of the robbers.
He said the robber was identified as Muhammed Muntari, alias Sofo.
Mr Otoo-Boison said just then, the convict abandoned the taxi and, together with his accomplices, managed to escape from the scene, and during a search on the vehicle, the police retrieved 25 assorted mobile phones and two locally manufactured pistols.
He said police investigations led to the arrest of the convict on May 19, 2009, but in his caution statement, he categorically denied the charges levelled against him.
The convict, Maxwell Chibsah, alias Ebo, together with the accomplices who were identified as Buckman, Redbone and Cyborg Killer, now at large, pleaded not guilty to the conspiracy and robbery when he appeared before the court but the court ,found him guilty of the offences after the trial and convicted him accordingly.
Armed with locally manufactured pistols and knives, Chibsah, who resides at Moshie Zongo, and his accomplices attacked the complainant, Mr Kwaku Appiah, and robbed him of his KIA Avella taxi with registration number AW 5154 Y, a Nokia cell phone valued at GH¢20.00 and GH¢35.00 cash.
Presenting the facts before the court presided over by Mr Justice R. C. Azumah, a State Attorney, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo-Boison, said around 8:30 p.m. on January 31, 2007, the convict and his accomplices hired the taxi with Kwaku Appiah in charge, at Tafo, and directed the driver to take them to Moshie Zongo, but on reaching the Komfo Anokye Senior High School, the convict and his accomplices asked the driver to stop for them to alight.
He said as soon as the driver stopped, the convict, who was at the passenger seat, pulled the ignition key while one of his accomplices pulled out a locally manufactured pistol and directed it at his head, warning that he would blow his (driver’s) head if he made any noise.
Mr Otoo-Boison said before the taxi driver could react, one of the accomplices hit his eyebrow and injured him.
He said they pulled the driver out from the vehicle and beat him mercilessly, adding that after subjecting the driver to severe beating, Chibsah took control of the vehicle and sped off to Dechemso, Kenyasi, Asokore Mampong, Krofrom and other suburbs of the Kumasi metropolis where they robbed about 23 victims of their mobile phones, cash and other personal items.
He said in the course of their robbery spree, they encountered a Police Patrol Team at Dechemso, and in an attempt to arrest them an exchange of gunfire ensued, resulting in the death of one of the robbers.
He said the robber was identified as Muhammed Muntari, alias Sofo.
Mr Otoo-Boison said just then, the convict abandoned the taxi and, together with his accomplices, managed to escape from the scene, and during a search on the vehicle, the police retrieved 25 assorted mobile phones and two locally manufactured pistols.
He said police investigations led to the arrest of the convict on May 19, 2009, but in his caution statement, he categorically denied the charges levelled against him.
Monday, July 20, 2009
ENCROACHERS INVADE KWADASO PARK (PAGE 11, GRAPHIC SPORTS JULY 17)
A Kumasi-based businesswoman, Madam Sakaa and Sons, has extended her business operations to the Kwadaso Estate community sports park, making it difficult for citizens in the area to undertake sporting activities.
Apart from blocking the entrance to the pitch with assorted metal containers, making it difficult for vehicles to either convey sportsmen and women to the pitch or evacuate injured sports men and women from the park in case of emergency, the businesswoman has also turned the entrance into a sales point for culverts and cement blocks.
The entrance also serves as a dumping ground for sand, stones and gravels used for the moulding of the culverts and cement blocks, compounding the problems of the people in the community.
When Graphic Sports paid a familiarisation visit to the Kwadaso Estate Community Park last Sunday, members of the Kwadaso Estate Keep Fit Club who had arrived for morning training found it difficult to even park their vehicles due to the invasion.
Speaking to this paper, the Chairman of the club, Mr Abeiku White, expressed concern about the inability of the Ashanti Regional Sports Council and the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly to call the businesswoman who had invaded the Kwadaso Estate Community park to order by preventing her from conducting her business operations at the main entrance of the park.
He said apart from the members of the Keep Fit Club who used the pitch to exercise in order to stay healthy to enable them to increase productivity, the various educational institutions in the Kwadaso Estate also use the park regularly.
He mentioned Jesus The king, Holy Lutheran Trinity and Kwadaso Estate Community basic schools, as well as Prince of Peace Senior High School, as some of the educational institutions in the locality which regularly use the Kwadaso Estate Community park for their sporting activities.
Mr White said the park also serves as training ground for third division soccer clubs such as Great Africans and Yegoala to promote the development of soccer for the youth in the community, “but the selfish interest of this businesswoman is seriously undermining the effective and efficient development of sporting programmes here”.
He, therefore, pleaded with both the Regional Sports Council and the KMA to intervene urgently to prevent the encroachers from that act.
Apart from blocking the entrance to the pitch with assorted metal containers, making it difficult for vehicles to either convey sportsmen and women to the pitch or evacuate injured sports men and women from the park in case of emergency, the businesswoman has also turned the entrance into a sales point for culverts and cement blocks.
The entrance also serves as a dumping ground for sand, stones and gravels used for the moulding of the culverts and cement blocks, compounding the problems of the people in the community.
When Graphic Sports paid a familiarisation visit to the Kwadaso Estate Community Park last Sunday, members of the Kwadaso Estate Keep Fit Club who had arrived for morning training found it difficult to even park their vehicles due to the invasion.
Speaking to this paper, the Chairman of the club, Mr Abeiku White, expressed concern about the inability of the Ashanti Regional Sports Council and the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly to call the businesswoman who had invaded the Kwadaso Estate Community park to order by preventing her from conducting her business operations at the main entrance of the park.
He said apart from the members of the Keep Fit Club who used the pitch to exercise in order to stay healthy to enable them to increase productivity, the various educational institutions in the Kwadaso Estate also use the park regularly.
He mentioned Jesus The king, Holy Lutheran Trinity and Kwadaso Estate Community basic schools, as well as Prince of Peace Senior High School, as some of the educational institutions in the locality which regularly use the Kwadaso Estate Community park for their sporting activities.
Mr White said the park also serves as training ground for third division soccer clubs such as Great Africans and Yegoala to promote the development of soccer for the youth in the community, “but the selfish interest of this businesswoman is seriously undermining the effective and efficient development of sporting programmes here”.
He, therefore, pleaded with both the Regional Sports Council and the KMA to intervene urgently to prevent the encroachers from that act.
POLICE ARREST THREE SUSPECTED COW THIEVES (PAGE 35, MIRROR)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
A routine motor check on the Kumasi-Sunyani trunk road by personnel of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service has led to the arrest of two suspected cattle thieves.
The two, who were identified as Adama Issah and Mamudu Salifu, were alleged to have stolen two fat bulls from a community in the Atwima District and attempted to transport them to Kumasi.
They are currently in police custody helping in investigations.
Also arrested was the driver of a Nissan Primera caravan, Maxwell Akakpo, who was using his vehicle to transport the booty from Daabaa in the Atwima District of the Ashanti Region, where the animals had been stolen, to Kumasi.
The police have impounded the Nissan Primera caravan, with registration number AS 4986 Z, pending further investigations into the case, but the driver of the vehicle has been granted bail and is assisting the police in their investigations.
The suspects, who were arrested around 4 a.m. on Friday, July 3, 2009, attempted to offer GH¢20 bribe to the police for their possible release but the police refused the offer.
Briefing The Mirror on the arrests, the Ashanti Regional MTTU Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abraham Bansah, said while the MTTU was on its routine motor checks on the Kumasi-Sunyani trunk road, it spotted the Nissan Primera caravan loaded with two fat bulls heading towards Kumasi.
He said after flagging the driver to stop, the police enquired about the owner of the bulls and why they were being transported without any document and at such an odd hour.
Supt Bansah said while being interrogated, Adama and Salifu, who claimed to be transporting the bulls to their owner in Kumasi for a ceremony, hurriedly offered GH¢20 to the police but they refused the offer and insisted on knowing the owner of the animals.
He said while the suspects were being interrogated, they quickly called someone on their cell phone who claimed to be the owner of the bulls, but when the MTTU personnel invited that person to appear before them in person, he failed to come.
That, he said, convinced the MTTU personnel that the suspects had stolen the bulls. Meanwhile, before the police could take any action, Adama and Salifu bolted, abandoning the bulls in the process.
He said the police, however, managed to arrest Akakpo and impounded the Nissan Primera, adding that during investigations, Adama and Salifu were later arrested at their hideout.
Supt Bansah said a radio announcement on the stolen bulls also received positive response because the owners of the stolen bulls, who identified themselves as Stephen Anachona and John Anachoba, went to the Kumasi Central Police Station to identify the animals as theirs.
He said the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service had already taken over the case and was conducting further investigations in order to arraign the suspects.
A routine motor check on the Kumasi-Sunyani trunk road by personnel of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service has led to the arrest of two suspected cattle thieves.
The two, who were identified as Adama Issah and Mamudu Salifu, were alleged to have stolen two fat bulls from a community in the Atwima District and attempted to transport them to Kumasi.
They are currently in police custody helping in investigations.
Also arrested was the driver of a Nissan Primera caravan, Maxwell Akakpo, who was using his vehicle to transport the booty from Daabaa in the Atwima District of the Ashanti Region, where the animals had been stolen, to Kumasi.
The police have impounded the Nissan Primera caravan, with registration number AS 4986 Z, pending further investigations into the case, but the driver of the vehicle has been granted bail and is assisting the police in their investigations.
The suspects, who were arrested around 4 a.m. on Friday, July 3, 2009, attempted to offer GH¢20 bribe to the police for their possible release but the police refused the offer.
Briefing The Mirror on the arrests, the Ashanti Regional MTTU Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abraham Bansah, said while the MTTU was on its routine motor checks on the Kumasi-Sunyani trunk road, it spotted the Nissan Primera caravan loaded with two fat bulls heading towards Kumasi.
He said after flagging the driver to stop, the police enquired about the owner of the bulls and why they were being transported without any document and at such an odd hour.
Supt Bansah said while being interrogated, Adama and Salifu, who claimed to be transporting the bulls to their owner in Kumasi for a ceremony, hurriedly offered GH¢20 to the police but they refused the offer and insisted on knowing the owner of the animals.
He said while the suspects were being interrogated, they quickly called someone on their cell phone who claimed to be the owner of the bulls, but when the MTTU personnel invited that person to appear before them in person, he failed to come.
That, he said, convinced the MTTU personnel that the suspects had stolen the bulls. Meanwhile, before the police could take any action, Adama and Salifu bolted, abandoning the bulls in the process.
He said the police, however, managed to arrest Akakpo and impounded the Nissan Primera, adding that during investigations, Adama and Salifu were later arrested at their hideout.
Supt Bansah said a radio announcement on the stolen bulls also received positive response because the owners of the stolen bulls, who identified themselves as Stephen Anachona and John Anachoba, went to the Kumasi Central Police Station to identify the animals as theirs.
He said the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service had already taken over the case and was conducting further investigations in order to arraign the suspects.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
ISLAMIC SCHOLAR ADVICES POLITICIANS (NSEMPA, PAGE 10)
By George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
AN Islamic scholar resident at Aboabo in Kumasi, Alhaji Baba Atta, has expressed concern about the incessant attacks and insults heaped on past governments as soon as they leave office.
Speaking to Graphic Nsempa when he called at the Kumasi office of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Alhaji Atta pointed out that discrediting immediate past governments and labelling then as corrupt without considering any of their achievements was counter productive and could go a long way in discouraging the youth who had the desire to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country.
Explaining further, he said “I was very disturbed when immediately after the NPP government took over the reins of governance from the Rawlings administration, the leadership of the new regime told Ghanaians that they had inherited trillions of cedis as debt from the NDC without explaining what the money was used for”.
“I think the NPP government ought to have told Ghanaians the number of schools they also inherited, the number of bridges they built to facilitate road transport, the length of asphalted roads they constructed that enhanced the transportation of goods and services during that period, as well as the number of students who benefited from scholarships during the Rawlings regime, as a way of building their capacity.
That enabled them to contribute more meaningfully towards socio-economic development of the country, among others,” he stressed.
Explaining further, Alhaji Atta stated that as if by coincidence, the NDC government was also labelling the immediate past government as corrupt and saying they inherited billions of cedis as debt “without telling us what the money was used for”.
According to the 75-year-old Islamic scholar, his careful observation during the reign of the NPP government indicated that a lot of development projects were initiated.
“These are some of the things that our politicians should consider when they assume leadership position and make the public aware, but not condemn their opponents as if they did not play any significant role as politicians”.
Alhaji Atta also called on politicians to be patriotic by considering what they could offer the country when given the opportunity.
That, he said, would enable them leave a mark and a legacy for themselves for the present and future generations to appreciate.
AN Islamic scholar resident at Aboabo in Kumasi, Alhaji Baba Atta, has expressed concern about the incessant attacks and insults heaped on past governments as soon as they leave office.
Speaking to Graphic Nsempa when he called at the Kumasi office of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Alhaji Atta pointed out that discrediting immediate past governments and labelling then as corrupt without considering any of their achievements was counter productive and could go a long way in discouraging the youth who had the desire to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country.
Explaining further, he said “I was very disturbed when immediately after the NPP government took over the reins of governance from the Rawlings administration, the leadership of the new regime told Ghanaians that they had inherited trillions of cedis as debt from the NDC without explaining what the money was used for”.
“I think the NPP government ought to have told Ghanaians the number of schools they also inherited, the number of bridges they built to facilitate road transport, the length of asphalted roads they constructed that enhanced the transportation of goods and services during that period, as well as the number of students who benefited from scholarships during the Rawlings regime, as a way of building their capacity.
That enabled them to contribute more meaningfully towards socio-economic development of the country, among others,” he stressed.
Explaining further, Alhaji Atta stated that as if by coincidence, the NDC government was also labelling the immediate past government as corrupt and saying they inherited billions of cedis as debt “without telling us what the money was used for”.
According to the 75-year-old Islamic scholar, his careful observation during the reign of the NPP government indicated that a lot of development projects were initiated.
“These are some of the things that our politicians should consider when they assume leadership position and make the public aware, but not condemn their opponents as if they did not play any significant role as politicians”.
Alhaji Atta also called on politicians to be patriotic by considering what they could offer the country when given the opportunity.
That, he said, would enable them leave a mark and a legacy for themselves for the present and future generations to appreciate.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
GHANAIAN DOCTOR PARTICIPATES IN US BREAST CANCER WALK (PAGE 11)
THE President of Breast Care International, (BCI) Dr Mrs Beatrice Wiafe Addai, has returned from the United States of America after joining the US Vice-President, Mr Joe Bidden, and other dignitaries to participate in a walk to highlight the world-wide growing breast cancer crisis and its effect on women in particular.
According to Dr Addai, about 45,000 people participated in the 20th walk dubbed Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure, which took place in Washington, D.C.
“They came to honour a loved one, to celebrate survival of victims and to make an impact in the global fight against breast cancer. In the end, the event raised USD 4.3 million to fund breast cancer programmes around the globe and throughout the Washington, D.C. metro area.”, she told the Daily Graphic.
She explained that Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, founded Susan G. Komen for the Cure more than 27 years ago as a promise to her sister Susan, who died of breast cancer at age 36.
Dr Addai pointed out that “the statistics on the disease is staggering. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women world-wide. Somewhere in the world, a woman dies from breast cancer every 68 seconds. In all, nearly half million people die from the disease each year”.
She announced that as part of the walk, the Komen Global Race for the Cure paid tribute to the nearly 4,000 breast cancer survivors that participated in the race, including 21 global survivors representing 18 countries.
Dr Addai who represented Ghana is a breast cancer specialist and a surgeon who has been championing the fight against breast cancer in the country over the years .
On how to reduce the effect of breast cancer on women, she said “early detection can save the woman’s breast and her life as well” stressing “ignorance is killing our women and we have to fight it by empowering them with knowledge about the disease to appreciate breast self -examination and screening.”
She said apart from the US Vice-President and his wife who honoured the event, Dr Jill Biden, a long-time advocate for breast health education addressed the massive crowd of survivors and supporters, “telling them that they are paving the way for a breast cancer-free world through their efforts."
She said as part of her address, Ambassador Nancy Brinker, called on each participant to find a way to make an impact on this deadly disease, stressing that “Without a cure, in the next 25 years, an estimated 11 million will die from the disease world-wide.
According to Dr Addai, about 45,000 people participated in the 20th walk dubbed Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure, which took place in Washington, D.C.
“They came to honour a loved one, to celebrate survival of victims and to make an impact in the global fight against breast cancer. In the end, the event raised USD 4.3 million to fund breast cancer programmes around the globe and throughout the Washington, D.C. metro area.”, she told the Daily Graphic.
She explained that Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, founded Susan G. Komen for the Cure more than 27 years ago as a promise to her sister Susan, who died of breast cancer at age 36.
Dr Addai pointed out that “the statistics on the disease is staggering. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women world-wide. Somewhere in the world, a woman dies from breast cancer every 68 seconds. In all, nearly half million people die from the disease each year”.
She announced that as part of the walk, the Komen Global Race for the Cure paid tribute to the nearly 4,000 breast cancer survivors that participated in the race, including 21 global survivors representing 18 countries.
Dr Addai who represented Ghana is a breast cancer specialist and a surgeon who has been championing the fight against breast cancer in the country over the years .
On how to reduce the effect of breast cancer on women, she said “early detection can save the woman’s breast and her life as well” stressing “ignorance is killing our women and we have to fight it by empowering them with knowledge about the disease to appreciate breast self -examination and screening.”
She said apart from the US Vice-President and his wife who honoured the event, Dr Jill Biden, a long-time advocate for breast health education addressed the massive crowd of survivors and supporters, “telling them that they are paving the way for a breast cancer-free world through their efforts."
She said as part of her address, Ambassador Nancy Brinker, called on each participant to find a way to make an impact on this deadly disease, stressing that “Without a cure, in the next 25 years, an estimated 11 million will die from the disease world-wide.
Friday, July 3, 2009
TEACHERS NEED FAIR WAGES TO PROVIDE QUALITY EDUCATION (PAGE 11)
Policy makers have been urged to always factor the remuneration of teachers into their policies on how to improve the quality of education to make such policies more successful and sustainable.
The Provost of the College of Art and Social Sciences of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Professor Dr Dr Daniel Buor, who said this, noted that it was only when teachers were adequately motivated that Colleges of Education would attract the best brains who would not regard the teaching profession as a stepping stone to more lucrative jobs.
“Colleges of Education should not be the dumping grounds for applicants with poor grades. Applicants must not see the Colleges of Education as stepping stones to land into universities. Entry into Colleges of Education should be by choice, rather than convenience, and to achieve such goals and make entry into the colleges attractive would require enhancement of conditions of service in the Ghana Education Service,” he stressed.
He explained that if we failed to motivate and invest in teachers by providing them with the requisite incentives, remuneration, logistics and facilities that would enhance quality delivery of services, “we should expect a hollow training of students which will be detrimental to the realisation of educational goals”.
Professor Dr Dr Buor gave the advice during the combined 12th, 13th and 14th Ashanti Regional Best Teacher Awards ceremony which took place at the Kumasi Anglican Senior High School.
The Best Teacher Awards in the region was suspended in 2006 due to inadequate financial resources to sponsor it.
In all, about 70 teachers in the region were recognised for their tremendous contribution towards quality delivery of academic work and they received items such as refrigerators, colour television sets, and gas cookers, among others.
Prof. Dr Dr Buor, who was the guest speaker, pointed out that educational policies and programmes “however sophisticated, flamboyant and vivacious, would not achieve their goals without the effective operation of the teacher”.
Prof. Dr Dr Buor also stated that it was equally important for educational policy makers to institute effective monitoring and supervisory mechanisms to check punctuality, teaching methods, quantum of assignments, marking assignments, as well as scrutinising teachers’ attitudes and moral behaviour.
These, he said, would go a long way to maintain high standards of education in the country, explaining that “human nature is such that he behaves recklessly if he realises that no one is watching”.
In his welcoming address, the Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Mr Joseph Kwabena Onyinah, said the lack of respect for teachers and lack of appreciation for their work in several communities in the country “account significantly for the general malaise in the teaching profession”.
“The difference between the teacher of yesteryear and the teacher of today is that the former was respected as a person, and his work deeply appreciated by both pupils and parents.”
He pointed out that in spite of the many deprivations and difficulties under which teachers worked on daily basis, there are many quality teachers “whose outstanding performance have held high the banner of quality education in Ghana and such teachers need to be recognised to ginger them to continue working hard”.
He said the search for trained quality teachers to raise the standard of education had never been greater or more urgent than now.
He said it was based on this that the Best Teacher Award had been recognised to motivate teachers to be more committed to their chosen profession.
Mr Onyinah, therefore, advised teachers to apply their professional knowledge and skills “to create a psychological environment that makes teaching and learning a pleasure and not drudgery for themselves and their students”.
The Provost of the College of Art and Social Sciences of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Professor Dr Dr Daniel Buor, who said this, noted that it was only when teachers were adequately motivated that Colleges of Education would attract the best brains who would not regard the teaching profession as a stepping stone to more lucrative jobs.
“Colleges of Education should not be the dumping grounds for applicants with poor grades. Applicants must not see the Colleges of Education as stepping stones to land into universities. Entry into Colleges of Education should be by choice, rather than convenience, and to achieve such goals and make entry into the colleges attractive would require enhancement of conditions of service in the Ghana Education Service,” he stressed.
He explained that if we failed to motivate and invest in teachers by providing them with the requisite incentives, remuneration, logistics and facilities that would enhance quality delivery of services, “we should expect a hollow training of students which will be detrimental to the realisation of educational goals”.
Professor Dr Dr Buor gave the advice during the combined 12th, 13th and 14th Ashanti Regional Best Teacher Awards ceremony which took place at the Kumasi Anglican Senior High School.
The Best Teacher Awards in the region was suspended in 2006 due to inadequate financial resources to sponsor it.
In all, about 70 teachers in the region were recognised for their tremendous contribution towards quality delivery of academic work and they received items such as refrigerators, colour television sets, and gas cookers, among others.
Prof. Dr Dr Buor, who was the guest speaker, pointed out that educational policies and programmes “however sophisticated, flamboyant and vivacious, would not achieve their goals without the effective operation of the teacher”.
Prof. Dr Dr Buor also stated that it was equally important for educational policy makers to institute effective monitoring and supervisory mechanisms to check punctuality, teaching methods, quantum of assignments, marking assignments, as well as scrutinising teachers’ attitudes and moral behaviour.
These, he said, would go a long way to maintain high standards of education in the country, explaining that “human nature is such that he behaves recklessly if he realises that no one is watching”.
In his welcoming address, the Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Mr Joseph Kwabena Onyinah, said the lack of respect for teachers and lack of appreciation for their work in several communities in the country “account significantly for the general malaise in the teaching profession”.
“The difference between the teacher of yesteryear and the teacher of today is that the former was respected as a person, and his work deeply appreciated by both pupils and parents.”
He pointed out that in spite of the many deprivations and difficulties under which teachers worked on daily basis, there are many quality teachers “whose outstanding performance have held high the banner of quality education in Ghana and such teachers need to be recognised to ginger them to continue working hard”.
He said the search for trained quality teachers to raise the standard of education had never been greater or more urgent than now.
He said it was based on this that the Best Teacher Award had been recognised to motivate teachers to be more committed to their chosen profession.
Mr Onyinah, therefore, advised teachers to apply their professional knowledge and skills “to create a psychological environment that makes teaching and learning a pleasure and not drudgery for themselves and their students”.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
OFFINSO COLLEGE OF EDUCATION HOLDS 2ND GRADUATION (PAGE 17, JUNE 26)
TWO hundred and three teachers, including 39 females, were last Saturday awarded diplomas by the Offinso College of Education in the Ashanti Region to join the teaching profession.
The ceremony, which attracted a cross-section of the public, was the second of its kind since the diploma education programme was introduced into teacher training colleges a few years ago.
Mr Seth Yeboah was the only one who graduated with Second Class honours (Upper Division), while 17 of the graduates received Second Class honours, (Lower Division). While 108 of the graduates received Third Class honours.
Speaking at the ceremony which had the theme, “Positive role modelling; a challenge to the teacher”, the Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Mr Joseph Kwabena Onyinah, said the time had come for teachers “to be committed to their duty by regarding teaching and learning as a pleasure to enable them to mould the human resource capital which Ghana requires for its socio-economic development”.
He said that it was important for teachers to put up positive behaviour in their immediate environments because their actions did not only impact strongly on the impressionable minds of their students but also affected their future endeavours directly or indirectly.
He implored them to refrain from using school hours to pursue their individual interests, stressing that such behaviour had a negative effect on the academic excellence of their students.
The Principal of the college, Mr P.K. Opoku, commended the new graduates and urged them to put up positive attitudes in their respective communities to be good ambassadors of the college.
He expressed concern over the inadequate infrastructure in the college, particularly accommodation for male students, and said the problem was undermining the admission of new students.
The ceremony, which attracted a cross-section of the public, was the second of its kind since the diploma education programme was introduced into teacher training colleges a few years ago.
Mr Seth Yeboah was the only one who graduated with Second Class honours (Upper Division), while 17 of the graduates received Second Class honours, (Lower Division). While 108 of the graduates received Third Class honours.
Speaking at the ceremony which had the theme, “Positive role modelling; a challenge to the teacher”, the Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Mr Joseph Kwabena Onyinah, said the time had come for teachers “to be committed to their duty by regarding teaching and learning as a pleasure to enable them to mould the human resource capital which Ghana requires for its socio-economic development”.
He said that it was important for teachers to put up positive behaviour in their immediate environments because their actions did not only impact strongly on the impressionable minds of their students but also affected their future endeavours directly or indirectly.
He implored them to refrain from using school hours to pursue their individual interests, stressing that such behaviour had a negative effect on the academic excellence of their students.
The Principal of the college, Mr P.K. Opoku, commended the new graduates and urged them to put up positive attitudes in their respective communities to be good ambassadors of the college.
He expressed concern over the inadequate infrastructure in the college, particularly accommodation for male students, and said the problem was undermining the admission of new students.
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