THE Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) added flavour to this year’s Valentine’s day in Kumasi when it organised Chocofest—a quiz, fashion and dance competition to mark the celebration.
Chocofest, a two-day programme, was hosted at Fourth Gardens at Ridge last Saturday, February 13 and Queens Gate Restaurant and Pub at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday, February 14.
The celebration of Valentine’s Day, which had been associated with heavy downpour in Kumasi in the past, was this time blessed with favourable weather conditions throughout the weekend in the Garden City.
This gingered up the youth especially to venture out in their numbers on Saturday to usher in the festive of love. As usual, the dominant colours were red. The ladies especially wore beautiful head styles and trendy clothes.
With live bands belting out different styles of music, revellers took to the dance floor in rapid succession and displayed their dancing skills .
With their appetite whetted and desirous to outdo each other to win the prizes at stake patrons put up their best and at the end, some of them succeeded in attracting the organisers to win various awards.
For being the best dressed couple award on Saturday, Mr and Mrs Derrick Frimpong received a prize to wine and dine at Moti Maha Restaurant. Mr James Babbe, a German was adjudged best dancer and received a prize to have lunch with two friends at Queens Gate Restaurant and Pub. Mr Augustine Osei Owusu who came second, received a prize to dine at Abusua Restaurant.
At the Queens Gate Restaurant and Pop on Sunday, Mr and Mrs Lord Adika won the best dressed couple and received a night stay at Noda Hotel, Fumeasua.
Rev Dr. and Mrs Adu Agyei who emerged well behaved couple received a night stay at the Anita Hotel, Ejisu. Abigail Sarfo and partner who won the dance competition received a night stay at the Cetakel Hotel.
For emerging tops during the quiz competition, Messrs Kwadwo Asante, Emmanuel Opoku , Anthony Kwaku Kyem and Ms Afia Asantewaa, were given hampers of chocolate products as prizes.
In a chat with Showbiz, the Acting Ashanti Regional Manager of the GTB, Mr Ekow Sampson said GTB was more determined than ever to put decency into the celebration of Valentine day for the benefit of the nation at large.
“ We would not only intensify the campaign to use chocolate to celebrate the day but would also motivate the youth to refrain from using the day to indulge in immorality.
“ Putting decency into Valentine’s day would not only make the youth lead healthy lifestyles, but would also increase the patronage of chocolate, thus increasing productivity for the industry to generate the requisite resources to sustain the growth of the economy”,he said.
On the selection of the Fourth Gardens and Queens Gate Restaurant and Pub for the celebration of the event in Kumasi, Mr Sampson said the two spots are not only popular in Kumasi, but have also been identified as adhering to the regulations governing the hospitality industry.
“ We want to instil professionalism into the operations of the hospitality industry to make them live up to their responsibilities. We would continue to reward those who put up the best practices as a way of motivating others to emulate them” he added.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
SCRAP MINISTRY OF INFORMATION (PAGE 15, FEB 15, 2010)
A Lecturer at the Department of Publishing and Communication Studies at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, has suggested to the government to scrap the Minitry of Information, saying “it has totally outlived its usefulness in a democratic governance as practised in Ghana”.
He pointed out that with the advent of a constitutional government in which the criminal libel law had already been repealed and the government could no longer gag the media, “the Ministry of Information has now become outmoded.
It is one of the ministries we do not need as a nation because it does not contribute in any way to our socio-economic development effort”.
Explaining further, he said, “The Ministry of Information was the mouthpiece of the various military juntas that informed the citizenry about government operations and development issues.
It was also used to control the media in those days, but with the advent of the Constitution and multiparty democracy, we do not need it. It is a waste of the taxpayer’s money to keep that ministry so it must go”.
Dr Opoku-Amankwa made the suggestion when he visited the Kumasi office of the Graphic Communications Group Limited last Tuesday to raise an issue on the relevance of the Ministry of Information, which he described as the propaganda outfit of the government.
He pointed out that the communications directorate of the government, as well as the Chief of Staff and his deputies, were competent enough to communicate to the citizenry the government’s programmes and directives.
He said it was time the government rather strengthened the Information Services Department with the requisite logistics and facilities to enable it “to explain the government’s policies and directives to the public in a more efficient and effective manner. The department can as well communicate to the citizenry development projects being carried out by the government and how they are impacting on their lives”.
Dr Opoku –Amankwa noted that problems relating to other ministries “are handled by the ministers themselves, their chief directors or public relations outfits so of what use is the Ministry of Information to the citizenry who pay taxes to sustain its operations?”
Explaining further, he said when the government or any of its arms was maligned by any journalist, “it is not the Ministry of Information that brings the erring journalist to book; it is rather the Media Commission or the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA). So what specific role does the Ministry of Information play with regard to governance, irrespective of the Legislative Instrument that set it up?”
He said just as the other political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had its own communications department that related to its numerous supporters and admirers.
“At that level, the Ministry of Information has no role to oil the party’s propaganda machinery so it is not relevant in the present democratic dispensation where we need to trim the number of ministries to an appreciable level as a way of reducing cost.
“Fortunately, the vibrant media in Ghana is providing us useful service by keeping us informed on what is in government and what the government is doing on a daily basis to enable us to make informed decisions,” he noted.
He pointed out that “the discerning people of Ghana have now moved from a situation where anybody could just churn out information from government to a situation where the citizenry can critically access information from different media and make informed decisions”.
“The Ministry of Information, with two deputies, is virtually redundant. I cannot see what is there for them to do and the role they are playing regarding national development. I expected the President to scrap the Information Ministry during the reshuffle as a way of cutting down cost, but he did not take the opportunity offered,” he bemoaned.
He pointed out that with the advent of a constitutional government in which the criminal libel law had already been repealed and the government could no longer gag the media, “the Ministry of Information has now become outmoded.
It is one of the ministries we do not need as a nation because it does not contribute in any way to our socio-economic development effort”.
Explaining further, he said, “The Ministry of Information was the mouthpiece of the various military juntas that informed the citizenry about government operations and development issues.
It was also used to control the media in those days, but with the advent of the Constitution and multiparty democracy, we do not need it. It is a waste of the taxpayer’s money to keep that ministry so it must go”.
Dr Opoku-Amankwa made the suggestion when he visited the Kumasi office of the Graphic Communications Group Limited last Tuesday to raise an issue on the relevance of the Ministry of Information, which he described as the propaganda outfit of the government.
He pointed out that the communications directorate of the government, as well as the Chief of Staff and his deputies, were competent enough to communicate to the citizenry the government’s programmes and directives.
He said it was time the government rather strengthened the Information Services Department with the requisite logistics and facilities to enable it “to explain the government’s policies and directives to the public in a more efficient and effective manner. The department can as well communicate to the citizenry development projects being carried out by the government and how they are impacting on their lives”.
Dr Opoku –Amankwa noted that problems relating to other ministries “are handled by the ministers themselves, their chief directors or public relations outfits so of what use is the Ministry of Information to the citizenry who pay taxes to sustain its operations?”
Explaining further, he said when the government or any of its arms was maligned by any journalist, “it is not the Ministry of Information that brings the erring journalist to book; it is rather the Media Commission or the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA). So what specific role does the Ministry of Information play with regard to governance, irrespective of the Legislative Instrument that set it up?”
He said just as the other political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had its own communications department that related to its numerous supporters and admirers.
“At that level, the Ministry of Information has no role to oil the party’s propaganda machinery so it is not relevant in the present democratic dispensation where we need to trim the number of ministries to an appreciable level as a way of reducing cost.
“Fortunately, the vibrant media in Ghana is providing us useful service by keeping us informed on what is in government and what the government is doing on a daily basis to enable us to make informed decisions,” he noted.
He pointed out that “the discerning people of Ghana have now moved from a situation where anybody could just churn out information from government to a situation where the citizenry can critically access information from different media and make informed decisions”.
“The Ministry of Information, with two deputies, is virtually redundant. I cannot see what is there for them to do and the role they are playing regarding national development. I expected the President to scrap the Information Ministry during the reshuffle as a way of cutting down cost, but he did not take the opportunity offered,” he bemoaned.
KATH COLLABORATES TO TRAIN EMERGENCY CARE DOCTORS (PAGE 30, FEB 12, 2010)
AUTHORITIES of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), in collaboration with the University of Michigan and the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons (GCPS), has started a residency programme to train physicians to handle emergency and acute heathcare needs of patients.
The hospital authorities are also developing an ultra-modern eye centre estimated at $620,000 to provide ophthalmic care of international standards for patients with eye defects
The Chief Executive of KATH, Professor Ohene Adjei, who announced this during their annual performance review workshop in Kumasi, explained that the newly constructed Accident and Emergency Centre at the KATH would be used for the training of the medicine physicians.
He pointed out that the exercise was meant to build the capacity of the trainees adequately in order for them to handle the emerging health care needs of patients within the catchment area of the hospital.
“The hospital aims to turn out the first batch of emergency physicians in sub-Saharan Africa with the requisite skills to provide world-class emergency and acute care in the next three years,” he explained
On the eye centre, he said “a critical facility scheduled for construction at the hospital this year is a stand-alone ultra-modern eye centre,” explaining that “with the help of the Himalayan Cataract Project and the USAID, work will commence soon on the construction of the US$620,000 project to provide ophthalmic care of international standards to eye patients.
The annual performance review workshop is a platform for the KATH authorities to take stock of their operations in 2009 and devise means towards achieving better service delivery targets for 2010.
Prof. Ohene Adjei also announced that last year, the hospital established a family planning medicine centre“ to strengthen the hospital capacity to meet the huge clinical burden placed on it by virtue of its strategic location and wide catchment area”.
On infrastructure, he said renovation work estimated at GH¢172,000 was started at the Psychiatry Block of the hospital as a way of creating “more congenial working environment in the wards and consulting rooms“.
He said construction of the Maternity and Children’s Block of the hospital, which started 35 years ago, was, however, far from completion and, therefore, appealed to the government to secure the requisite funding that would enable them to complete the project by the end of the year.
He explained that the early completion of the project “will immensely reduce the unacceptable high mortality rate of the hospital”.
Prof. Ohene Adjei also announced that as part of his priorities, his administration had made provision of a back-up system for water and power.
“We have tendered for an expression of interest for consultancy services for a project to increase the hospital’s water reservoir from 65,000 gallons to 200,000 gallons. The hospital has also awarded a contract for the interconnection and automation of the 2.2 MVA emergency power plant to the Accident and Emergency Centre at a cost of GH¢113,000. This will help provide a round-the-clock power supply to the centre when the national grid fails,” he explained.
He said as part of the measures for enhancing quality service delivery, the hospital would replace “the ageing equipment, especially the X-Ray and the laboratory equipment which are no longer in a position to cope with the pressure from the ever-growing demand of patients”.
He, therefore, called on the staff to strive to adopt a new culture that would put the interest of patients above all interests to win their confidence.
The hospital authorities are also developing an ultra-modern eye centre estimated at $620,000 to provide ophthalmic care of international standards for patients with eye defects
The Chief Executive of KATH, Professor Ohene Adjei, who announced this during their annual performance review workshop in Kumasi, explained that the newly constructed Accident and Emergency Centre at the KATH would be used for the training of the medicine physicians.
He pointed out that the exercise was meant to build the capacity of the trainees adequately in order for them to handle the emerging health care needs of patients within the catchment area of the hospital.
“The hospital aims to turn out the first batch of emergency physicians in sub-Saharan Africa with the requisite skills to provide world-class emergency and acute care in the next three years,” he explained
On the eye centre, he said “a critical facility scheduled for construction at the hospital this year is a stand-alone ultra-modern eye centre,” explaining that “with the help of the Himalayan Cataract Project and the USAID, work will commence soon on the construction of the US$620,000 project to provide ophthalmic care of international standards to eye patients.
The annual performance review workshop is a platform for the KATH authorities to take stock of their operations in 2009 and devise means towards achieving better service delivery targets for 2010.
Prof. Ohene Adjei also announced that last year, the hospital established a family planning medicine centre“ to strengthen the hospital capacity to meet the huge clinical burden placed on it by virtue of its strategic location and wide catchment area”.
On infrastructure, he said renovation work estimated at GH¢172,000 was started at the Psychiatry Block of the hospital as a way of creating “more congenial working environment in the wards and consulting rooms“.
He said construction of the Maternity and Children’s Block of the hospital, which started 35 years ago, was, however, far from completion and, therefore, appealed to the government to secure the requisite funding that would enable them to complete the project by the end of the year.
He explained that the early completion of the project “will immensely reduce the unacceptable high mortality rate of the hospital”.
Prof. Ohene Adjei also announced that as part of his priorities, his administration had made provision of a back-up system for water and power.
“We have tendered for an expression of interest for consultancy services for a project to increase the hospital’s water reservoir from 65,000 gallons to 200,000 gallons. The hospital has also awarded a contract for the interconnection and automation of the 2.2 MVA emergency power plant to the Accident and Emergency Centre at a cost of GH¢113,000. This will help provide a round-the-clock power supply to the centre when the national grid fails,” he explained.
He said as part of the measures for enhancing quality service delivery, the hospital would replace “the ageing equipment, especially the X-Ray and the laboratory equipment which are no longer in a position to cope with the pressure from the ever-growing demand of patients”.
He, therefore, called on the staff to strive to adopt a new culture that would put the interest of patients above all interests to win their confidence.
ONWI JHS BLOCK NEEDS RENOVATION (PAGE 11, FEB 12, 2010)
THE Chiefs and people of Onwi, near Kuntunasi have organised their annual general meeting and fundraising harvest to source for money to renovate the junior high school block in the community, which has now become a death trap.
The JHS block, which was constructed by the community in 1967 through communal labour, now has cracks on the walls and leaks badly, putting the lives of both the teaching staff and students at great risk, especially when the weather is unfavourable.
Through the communal spirit of the people in Onwi in the Bosomtwe District of Ashanti, a number of development projects including the construction of a six classroom block, office and store for the primary school in the community and the tarring of the Onwi High Street have been initiated.
Addressing the people during the fundraising harvest, the Chief, Nana Osei Kwabena II, expressed concern about the nature of the JHS block, in spite of the numerous appeals made to the Bosomtwe District Assembly to support the community.
He pointed out that unlike neighbouring communities that the Bosomtwe District Assembly had supported in cash and kind over the years, especially in the areas of educational infrastructure to facilitate teaching and learning, potable water, public places of convenience to enhance sanitation among others , “Onwi is yet to receive any of such support”.
Nana Kwabena noted that the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) initiated to entice children to have keen interest in academic work had also not been extended to the Onwi Community, saying it was time Onwi had a fair share of the national cake because they have been neglected for a long time.
On the issue of spraying of cocoa farms in the area to enhance increased production Nana Kwabena said, “the exercise had not benefited cocoa farmers in the Onwi Community.
He advised the youth to refrain from using drugs and drinking of alcoholic beverages, saying “such actions affect your health and undermine your quest to be future leaders”.
sIn his address, the Chief Executive of Bosomtwe District Assembly, Mr Edward Nti Berko, commended the chiefs and people of Onwi for their communal spirit, making it possible for them to generate resources to initiate a number of projects.
He said the community should not only actively support such initiatives, but also eschew any tendency likely to derail the peace and tranquility that made it possible for them to meet annually to devise means of generating resources to improve their standard of living.
He pledged the assembly’s support, saying the next three years have been earmarked for undertaking development projects likely to improve the standard of living among the people of the district.
He, therefore, urged opinion leaders in the community to liaise with the technical committee to seek their views on priority areas to enable the assembly to come out with a budget that would address their needs.
The JHS block, which was constructed by the community in 1967 through communal labour, now has cracks on the walls and leaks badly, putting the lives of both the teaching staff and students at great risk, especially when the weather is unfavourable.
Through the communal spirit of the people in Onwi in the Bosomtwe District of Ashanti, a number of development projects including the construction of a six classroom block, office and store for the primary school in the community and the tarring of the Onwi High Street have been initiated.
Addressing the people during the fundraising harvest, the Chief, Nana Osei Kwabena II, expressed concern about the nature of the JHS block, in spite of the numerous appeals made to the Bosomtwe District Assembly to support the community.
He pointed out that unlike neighbouring communities that the Bosomtwe District Assembly had supported in cash and kind over the years, especially in the areas of educational infrastructure to facilitate teaching and learning, potable water, public places of convenience to enhance sanitation among others , “Onwi is yet to receive any of such support”.
Nana Kwabena noted that the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) initiated to entice children to have keen interest in academic work had also not been extended to the Onwi Community, saying it was time Onwi had a fair share of the national cake because they have been neglected for a long time.
On the issue of spraying of cocoa farms in the area to enhance increased production Nana Kwabena said, “the exercise had not benefited cocoa farmers in the Onwi Community.
He advised the youth to refrain from using drugs and drinking of alcoholic beverages, saying “such actions affect your health and undermine your quest to be future leaders”.
sIn his address, the Chief Executive of Bosomtwe District Assembly, Mr Edward Nti Berko, commended the chiefs and people of Onwi for their communal spirit, making it possible for them to generate resources to initiate a number of projects.
He said the community should not only actively support such initiatives, but also eschew any tendency likely to derail the peace and tranquility that made it possible for them to meet annually to devise means of generating resources to improve their standard of living.
He pledged the assembly’s support, saying the next three years have been earmarked for undertaking development projects likely to improve the standard of living among the people of the district.
He, therefore, urged opinion leaders in the community to liaise with the technical committee to seek their views on priority areas to enable the assembly to come out with a budget that would address their needs.
Friday, February 26, 2010
ARMED ROBBER JAILED 100 YEARS (PAGE 3, FEB 6, 2010)
A 20-year-old armed robber who killed a pregnant woman and critically injured her husband in an attack in May last year is to spend the next 100 years in jail.
The robber, Muhammad Musah, aka Red Bone, was arrested in August last year and he pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to rob and robbing at gunpoint.
However, the court, presided over by Mr Amo Yartey, found him guilty of the charges and sentenced him to serve 1,200 months in jail.
In convicting the robber, Mr Yartey said he took into account the death of the woman, who was six months’ pregnant, and the injuries sustained by her husband, saying, “People like you are not fit to mingle with law-abiding citizens.”
According to the police, Musah is also facing trial in various courts in the Kumasi metropolis for similar offences.
Prosecuting, a State Attorney, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo-Boison, told the court that around 1 a.m. on May 20, 2009, Musah, who was unemployed, together with his two accomplices now at large, armed themselves with a pump action gun and started attacking victims at Duase New Site in Kumasi and robbed them of various items, including five single-barrelled guns and 20 live cartridges which volunteers in the new site used for patrols in the community.
He said in the course of the attack, the gang shot and wounded one Tenkorang in his left leg.
Mr Boison said around 2:30 a.m. that day, the convict and his two accomplices attacked Mr Joseph Kofi Oppong, a taxi driver resident in the same vicinity, and his wife, Ataa Achiamaa, now deceased.
He said the distance between the area where the robbers shot and wounded Tenkorang and where Mr Oppong and his wife stayed was about 1,000 metres.
Explaining further, Mr Otoo-Boison said in the course of the attack, Musah and his accomplices forcibly took away GH¢120 from his victims, but not satisfied with their booty, they shot and wounded Mr Oppong in the right hand, causing him to bleed profusely, and also shot his wife, who was six months’ pregnant, killing her in the process, before taking to their heels.
He said the police started investigations as soon as the case was reported to them and succeeded in arresting Musah at his hideout three months later.
He said the convict was identified by his victims at two separate identification parades as one of the robbers who had attacked them at gunpoint.
The robber, Muhammad Musah, aka Red Bone, was arrested in August last year and he pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to rob and robbing at gunpoint.
However, the court, presided over by Mr Amo Yartey, found him guilty of the charges and sentenced him to serve 1,200 months in jail.
In convicting the robber, Mr Yartey said he took into account the death of the woman, who was six months’ pregnant, and the injuries sustained by her husband, saying, “People like you are not fit to mingle with law-abiding citizens.”
According to the police, Musah is also facing trial in various courts in the Kumasi metropolis for similar offences.
Prosecuting, a State Attorney, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo-Boison, told the court that around 1 a.m. on May 20, 2009, Musah, who was unemployed, together with his two accomplices now at large, armed themselves with a pump action gun and started attacking victims at Duase New Site in Kumasi and robbed them of various items, including five single-barrelled guns and 20 live cartridges which volunteers in the new site used for patrols in the community.
He said in the course of the attack, the gang shot and wounded one Tenkorang in his left leg.
Mr Boison said around 2:30 a.m. that day, the convict and his two accomplices attacked Mr Joseph Kofi Oppong, a taxi driver resident in the same vicinity, and his wife, Ataa Achiamaa, now deceased.
He said the distance between the area where the robbers shot and wounded Tenkorang and where Mr Oppong and his wife stayed was about 1,000 metres.
Explaining further, Mr Otoo-Boison said in the course of the attack, Musah and his accomplices forcibly took away GH¢120 from his victims, but not satisfied with their booty, they shot and wounded Mr Oppong in the right hand, causing him to bleed profusely, and also shot his wife, who was six months’ pregnant, killing her in the process, before taking to their heels.
He said the police started investigations as soon as the case was reported to them and succeeded in arresting Musah at his hideout three months later.
He said the convict was identified by his victims at two separate identification parades as one of the robbers who had attacked them at gunpoint.
KOMFO ANOKYE-SOFOLINE ROAD PROJECT DELAYED (PAGE 30, FEB 4, 2010)
CHALLENGES associated with the payment of compensation to beneficiaries and the review of the Komfo Anokye-Sofoline-Abuakwa road project has delayed the completion of the project.
Initially scheduled to have been completed and handed over on July 31, this year, the project, which started on August 1, 2007, is only 27.4 per cent complete.
The GH¢73 million project, involves the construction of 11-kilometre six-lane dual asphaltic carriageway and the construction of the Sofoline and Komfo Anokye interchange bridges.
It also includes the construction of five underpasses at selected intersections, the relocation of schools affected by the project and the relocation of utilities such as water, telephone and electricity lines affected by the project.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the delay of the project, the Consultant to the project, Mr Badu-Prah of ABP Consult Limited, said issues on compensation and the review of both the Sofoline and Komfo Anokye Interchanges had delayed construction works for about 12 months.
Explaining, he said, “about 70 per cent of compensation issues have not been settled and that had contributed to the delay of the project”.
He said he could not give the amount involved in the compensation and the number of people affected, but pointed out that issues on compensation, especially on construction works were usually settled by the government
“We have no direct control of the money involved, so I cannot give you details ” he noted, adding “the Land Valuation Board had already identified the property involved and those who are to benefit, and I am certain that efforts are being made to settle them to pave way for work to progress smoothly”.
Explaining further, Mr Badu-Prah said, “until property owners had been duly compensated, we cannot demolish their structures, especially if it is a building, stressing that the victims need to be paid before one could touch their structures”.
He said structures such as fence walls, toilets and minor structures that hinder construction works could however, be pulled down for their owners to be settled by the contractor”.
On the review of the interchanges at both Sofoline and Komfo Anokye that had delayed construction works, Mr Badu-Prah explained that in the previous plan local roads around were used as the basis for the plan.
However, when the volume of traffic, especially those that pass near residential areas, the noise involved and emissions from vehicles were considered, the plan was reviewed to include the construction of full interchanges.
He explained that the full interchanges would contain between eight and 10 road networks, saying “the reviews of both Interchanges by the employer has also affected contract completion period since the two interchanges were put on hold for almost one year”.
Giving details of construction works completed so far, Mr Badu-Prah, said of the 11 kilometre six-lane dual carriageway, only 12.27 per cent works were completed as at November 2009.
He said 26.29 per cent of the Sofoline interchange had also been completed, but work was yet to begin at the Komfo Anokye interchange as at November 2009.
He said 21.63 per cent of construction works on the five underpasses at the major intersections had also been completed and 35.65 per cent of utilities affected by the project had also been relocated as at November 2009.
He said 40.85 per cent of schools, fence walls and other minor structures affected by the project had also been relocated and assured of the commitment of the contractor to speed up the project to reduce vehicular traffic jams on the Kumasi-Abuakwa road network.
Initially scheduled to have been completed and handed over on July 31, this year, the project, which started on August 1, 2007, is only 27.4 per cent complete.
The GH¢73 million project, involves the construction of 11-kilometre six-lane dual asphaltic carriageway and the construction of the Sofoline and Komfo Anokye interchange bridges.
It also includes the construction of five underpasses at selected intersections, the relocation of schools affected by the project and the relocation of utilities such as water, telephone and electricity lines affected by the project.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the delay of the project, the Consultant to the project, Mr Badu-Prah of ABP Consult Limited, said issues on compensation and the review of both the Sofoline and Komfo Anokye Interchanges had delayed construction works for about 12 months.
Explaining, he said, “about 70 per cent of compensation issues have not been settled and that had contributed to the delay of the project”.
He said he could not give the amount involved in the compensation and the number of people affected, but pointed out that issues on compensation, especially on construction works were usually settled by the government
“We have no direct control of the money involved, so I cannot give you details ” he noted, adding “the Land Valuation Board had already identified the property involved and those who are to benefit, and I am certain that efforts are being made to settle them to pave way for work to progress smoothly”.
Explaining further, Mr Badu-Prah said, “until property owners had been duly compensated, we cannot demolish their structures, especially if it is a building, stressing that the victims need to be paid before one could touch their structures”.
He said structures such as fence walls, toilets and minor structures that hinder construction works could however, be pulled down for their owners to be settled by the contractor”.
On the review of the interchanges at both Sofoline and Komfo Anokye that had delayed construction works, Mr Badu-Prah explained that in the previous plan local roads around were used as the basis for the plan.
However, when the volume of traffic, especially those that pass near residential areas, the noise involved and emissions from vehicles were considered, the plan was reviewed to include the construction of full interchanges.
He explained that the full interchanges would contain between eight and 10 road networks, saying “the reviews of both Interchanges by the employer has also affected contract completion period since the two interchanges were put on hold for almost one year”.
Giving details of construction works completed so far, Mr Badu-Prah, said of the 11 kilometre six-lane dual carriageway, only 12.27 per cent works were completed as at November 2009.
He said 26.29 per cent of the Sofoline interchange had also been completed, but work was yet to begin at the Komfo Anokye interchange as at November 2009.
He said 21.63 per cent of construction works on the five underpasses at the major intersections had also been completed and 35.65 per cent of utilities affected by the project had also been relocated as at November 2009.
He said 40.85 per cent of schools, fence walls and other minor structures affected by the project had also been relocated and assured of the commitment of the contractor to speed up the project to reduce vehicular traffic jams on the Kumasi-Abuakwa road network.
THOUSANDS ATTEND FUNERAL OF KUMASI ZONGO CHIEF (PAGE 30, FEB 2, 2010)
The final funeral rites of the late chief of the Zongo community in Kumasi, Alhaji Ibrahim Tansoho Tahir, held at the Kumasi Central Mosque last Saturday, turned into a durbar as people from all walks of life including politicians and traditional rulers swarmed the funeral ground in their numbers to participate in the ceremony.
Sympathisers in long queues started trooping to the funeral ground around 10.a.m to express their condolence to the bereaved family and by 1:30 p.m., the government delegation led by the Defence Minister General J.H. Smith had long taken their seats. The queues continued amid drumming and dancing.
The late Alhaji Ibrahim Tansoho Tahir, who was 72 and a traditional bone healer, was installed as Chief of the Zongo community in Kumasi on May 7, 2000, and died on January 16, 2010 after ruling for 10 years.
As Moslem tradition demands, he was buried on January, 17, 2010, at the Tafo public cemetery.
The funeral celebration of the late Zongo chief followed the successful installation of a 61-year -old business man, Alhaji Sarouk Saeed as the new chief of the Zongo community.
In all, five contestants, Alhaji Sarouk Saeed, Alhaji Yusif Gawi, Alhaji Amadu Baba, Alhaji Issah Sharon and Alhaji Sanuri Hanawu applied to be considered as the successor to the late chief. After careful vetting and consideration, the kingmakers selected Alhaji Sarouk Saeed, who was readily accepted by the other contestants and the community.
Among the high profile government delegation led by Gen. Smith were the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku Manu, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, the member of Parliament for Asawasi, Alhaji Mutaka Mubarak, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Executive, Mr Samuel Sarpong and Mr Mahama Ayariga.
Former President John Agyekum Kuffor also lead the delegation of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), which included his Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the NPP flagbarer for 2008 election Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo, the Minority Leader in parliament, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, former Minister for Works and Housing, Mr Boniface Sadique and some parliamentarians.
Also in attendance were the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharatuto, Council of Ulaman Imams, The Nigerian Community in Ghana and a delegation from Libya, lead by Mr Ali Salhadem among other dignitaries.
In all, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) donated a total of GH¢8,100 to the bereaved family, wives of the deceased and the chief mourners.
Former President Kuffor also donated GH¢1,100 and Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo who had earlier left the funeral ground to attend to other issues also donated GH¢580. NPP MPs donated GH¢400.
In an address, Gen Smith commended the people of the Zongo community for their maturity, which he said, made it possible to install a successor in a peaceful manner.
Describing the deceased as a man of peace and a visionary, the different demise has created a vacuum which would take a long time to fill and therefore urged the people to collaborate with the new chief in all his endeavours.
Early, Alhaji Aliu Mahama appealed to the community to rally behind the new Zongo chief and accord him the needed respect for him to initiate programmes and policies which will impact on their lives positively.
Sympathisers in long queues started trooping to the funeral ground around 10.a.m to express their condolence to the bereaved family and by 1:30 p.m., the government delegation led by the Defence Minister General J.H. Smith had long taken their seats. The queues continued amid drumming and dancing.
The late Alhaji Ibrahim Tansoho Tahir, who was 72 and a traditional bone healer, was installed as Chief of the Zongo community in Kumasi on May 7, 2000, and died on January 16, 2010 after ruling for 10 years.
As Moslem tradition demands, he was buried on January, 17, 2010, at the Tafo public cemetery.
The funeral celebration of the late Zongo chief followed the successful installation of a 61-year -old business man, Alhaji Sarouk Saeed as the new chief of the Zongo community.
In all, five contestants, Alhaji Sarouk Saeed, Alhaji Yusif Gawi, Alhaji Amadu Baba, Alhaji Issah Sharon and Alhaji Sanuri Hanawu applied to be considered as the successor to the late chief. After careful vetting and consideration, the kingmakers selected Alhaji Sarouk Saeed, who was readily accepted by the other contestants and the community.
Among the high profile government delegation led by Gen. Smith were the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku Manu, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, the member of Parliament for Asawasi, Alhaji Mutaka Mubarak, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Executive, Mr Samuel Sarpong and Mr Mahama Ayariga.
Former President John Agyekum Kuffor also lead the delegation of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), which included his Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the NPP flagbarer for 2008 election Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo, the Minority Leader in parliament, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, former Minister for Works and Housing, Mr Boniface Sadique and some parliamentarians.
Also in attendance were the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharatuto, Council of Ulaman Imams, The Nigerian Community in Ghana and a delegation from Libya, lead by Mr Ali Salhadem among other dignitaries.
In all, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) donated a total of GH¢8,100 to the bereaved family, wives of the deceased and the chief mourners.
Former President Kuffor also donated GH¢1,100 and Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo who had earlier left the funeral ground to attend to other issues also donated GH¢580. NPP MPs donated GH¢400.
In an address, Gen Smith commended the people of the Zongo community for their maturity, which he said, made it possible to install a successor in a peaceful manner.
Describing the deceased as a man of peace and a visionary, the different demise has created a vacuum which would take a long time to fill and therefore urged the people to collaborate with the new chief in all his endeavours.
Early, Alhaji Aliu Mahama appealed to the community to rally behind the new Zongo chief and accord him the needed respect for him to initiate programmes and policies which will impact on their lives positively.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
FREE MEDICAL SCREENING FOR STUDENTS ...Of T.I. Ahmadiya School (PAGE 9, JAN 22, 2010)
Authorities of the T.I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School, in collaboration with the old students, have organised free medical screening for students and members of staff of the school.
The exercise, carried out by the Kumasi Metropolitan Health Service Directorate, benefitted about 1,800 students and 94 teaching and non-teaching members of staff of the school.
Apart from eye screening, the students and staff were also screened for dental problems and malaria symptoms. They also checked their blood pressure and HIV status.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Headmaster of the school, Mr Y.K. Agyare, said the exercise, which formed part of the 60th anniversary of the school, was to offer the opportunity to both students and staff to determine their health status to enable them to seek treatment, where necessary.
He said some of the students and members of staff sometimes showed symptoms of eye and dental problems, hence the decision of the school authorities and old students to organise the screening.
Mr Agyare said the school was located in an environment where sanitation was not the best, hence the screening for symptoms of malaria, and thanked the metropolitan health service directorate for its prompt response.
In his remarks, the Kumasi Metropolitan Director of Health Services, Dr Kwasi Yeboah-Awudzi, said the screening formed part of the outreach programmes of the directorate to make health services more accessible to the people.
He said last year it carried out similar exercises in some first-cycle institutions in the metropolis and gave the assurance that it would be extended to second-cycle institutions this year to enhance the early detection of diseases affecting students.
The exercise, carried out by the Kumasi Metropolitan Health Service Directorate, benefitted about 1,800 students and 94 teaching and non-teaching members of staff of the school.
Apart from eye screening, the students and staff were also screened for dental problems and malaria symptoms. They also checked their blood pressure and HIV status.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Headmaster of the school, Mr Y.K. Agyare, said the exercise, which formed part of the 60th anniversary of the school, was to offer the opportunity to both students and staff to determine their health status to enable them to seek treatment, where necessary.
He said some of the students and members of staff sometimes showed symptoms of eye and dental problems, hence the decision of the school authorities and old students to organise the screening.
Mr Agyare said the school was located in an environment where sanitation was not the best, hence the screening for symptoms of malaria, and thanked the metropolitan health service directorate for its prompt response.
In his remarks, the Kumasi Metropolitan Director of Health Services, Dr Kwasi Yeboah-Awudzi, said the screening formed part of the outreach programmes of the directorate to make health services more accessible to the people.
He said last year it carried out similar exercises in some first-cycle institutions in the metropolis and gave the assurance that it would be extended to second-cycle institutions this year to enhance the early detection of diseases affecting students.
Greening Ghana project launched...MORE JOBS FOR THE YOUTH (LEAD STORY, JAN 21, 2010)
Story: George Ernest Asare & Timothy Gobah
THE President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, has directed the national security apparatus to strengthen security networks to ensure the swift arrest and prosecution of illegal loggers and chainsaw operators.
He gave the directive at Abofour in the Offinso North District in Ashanti yesterday when he launched a national forest plantation development programme dubbed, “Greening the Environment for a Better Ghana”.
The programme aims at arresting the depletion of the country’s forests and creating over 51,000 jobs for the youth in the next five years.
The country’s forest resources, which were estimated at 8.2 million hectares in 1900, have now been reduced to just 1.2 million hectares.
The President said the activities of illegal loggers and chainsaw operators had not only deprived the nation of huge revenue over the years but also contributed to environmental degradation in diverse ways.
”We can no longer sit by and encourage the degradation of our forest resources and forest reserves,” he warned, adding, “The practice of people entering gazetted forest reserves for cropping is unacceptable and will not be allowed to continue without the appropriate sanctions being applied.”
The afforestation programme is also designed to develop a sustainable forest resource base within the next three years to satisfy the future demand for industrial timber and enhance environmental quality, thus relieving the pressure on the natural forest.
It is also aimed at restoring the degraded forest cover of the country, reducing wood deficit and improving the quality of the environment.
Expressing concern over the selfish interest of illegal chainsaw operators and loggers, President Mills noted that “illegal loggers and chainsaw operators do not only undertake their activities with sophisticated weapons but also operate at odd hours as a way of outwitting the security agencies”.
President Mills pointed out that the time had come for the mobilisation of resources not only to protect the forest and wildlife resources but also go on the offensive and recreate or regenerate those resources.
He said the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission had been directed to collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism “to develop strategies to protect our tourism sites and river bodies not only for job creation but also our survival”.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Collins Dauda, said the activities of illegal chainsaw operators had contributed to the destruction of forest resources in the country.
He pointed out that the nation continued to lose as much as 65,000 hectares of forest resources each year and said the onus lay on all to embrace the national forest plantation development to enhance its success.
He said the programme would be implemented in all parts of the country and also offer employment avenues to the youth to reduce the unemployment problem in the country.
He appealed to chiefs to collaborate with the government by releasing land for the programme.
He also appealed to the private sector to invest in the new programme to enable the country to meet its local demand for wood products.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku Manu, said the programme proved that the government was committed to the protection of the environment.
THE President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, has directed the national security apparatus to strengthen security networks to ensure the swift arrest and prosecution of illegal loggers and chainsaw operators.
He gave the directive at Abofour in the Offinso North District in Ashanti yesterday when he launched a national forest plantation development programme dubbed, “Greening the Environment for a Better Ghana”.
The programme aims at arresting the depletion of the country’s forests and creating over 51,000 jobs for the youth in the next five years.
The country’s forest resources, which were estimated at 8.2 million hectares in 1900, have now been reduced to just 1.2 million hectares.
The President said the activities of illegal loggers and chainsaw operators had not only deprived the nation of huge revenue over the years but also contributed to environmental degradation in diverse ways.
”We can no longer sit by and encourage the degradation of our forest resources and forest reserves,” he warned, adding, “The practice of people entering gazetted forest reserves for cropping is unacceptable and will not be allowed to continue without the appropriate sanctions being applied.”
The afforestation programme is also designed to develop a sustainable forest resource base within the next three years to satisfy the future demand for industrial timber and enhance environmental quality, thus relieving the pressure on the natural forest.
It is also aimed at restoring the degraded forest cover of the country, reducing wood deficit and improving the quality of the environment.
Expressing concern over the selfish interest of illegal chainsaw operators and loggers, President Mills noted that “illegal loggers and chainsaw operators do not only undertake their activities with sophisticated weapons but also operate at odd hours as a way of outwitting the security agencies”.
President Mills pointed out that the time had come for the mobilisation of resources not only to protect the forest and wildlife resources but also go on the offensive and recreate or regenerate those resources.
He said the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission had been directed to collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism “to develop strategies to protect our tourism sites and river bodies not only for job creation but also our survival”.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Collins Dauda, said the activities of illegal chainsaw operators had contributed to the destruction of forest resources in the country.
He pointed out that the nation continued to lose as much as 65,000 hectares of forest resources each year and said the onus lay on all to embrace the national forest plantation development to enhance its success.
He said the programme would be implemented in all parts of the country and also offer employment avenues to the youth to reduce the unemployment problem in the country.
He appealed to chiefs to collaborate with the government by releasing land for the programme.
He also appealed to the private sector to invest in the new programme to enable the country to meet its local demand for wood products.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku Manu, said the programme proved that the government was committed to the protection of the environment.
HEALTH INSURANCE CLAIMS IN ARREARS (PAGE 14, JAN 19, 2010)
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THE failure of mutual health insurance schemes in the Kumasi metropolis to pay claims to health service providers in their catchment area is seriously undermining quality healthcare delivery in Kumasi.
According to the Kumasi Metropolitan Director of Health Services, Dr Kwasi Yeboah-Awudzi, mutual health insurance schemes in the metropolis had not paid claims to accredited hospitals and pharmacy shops since May 2009, making it difficult for the health service providers to generate the requisite revenue to replenish drugs and other medical suppliers needed to enhance quality service delivery.
However, the Ashanti Regional Manager of the NHIS, Mr Afrifa Yamoa Ponko, disputed the assertion that claims had not been paid since May 2009.
Dr Yeboah-Awudzi said at the moment, the schemes owed about GH¢4,574,571 to some hospitals and clinics in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs.
Expressing concern on the situation in an interview with the Daily Graphic, Dr Yeboah-Awudzi said, “Hospitals in Kumasi are not only running out of consumables and drugs and their managements are also being constantly harassed by those who supply them medical consumables to run the hospitals.”
He said in December 2009, medical superintendents in the metropolis wrote to him complaining bitterly about the undue delay in paying claims and appealed to the government to intervene as a matter of urgency.
He said in their letter, the medical superintendents pointed out that “if no significant payment of claims is made as early as possible, quality service delivery will become seriously affected”.
Dr Yeboah-Awudzi said as of December 2009, about GH¢4,574,571 was owed some accredited hospitals and clinics in Kumasi
He pointed out that the Manhyia, Suntreso, Kumasi South, Tafo and SDA hospitals, as well as the Kumasi Children’s Hospital, the KMA Clinic and the Apatrapa Clinic, were the worst affected.
Giving details of the situation, Dr Yeboah-Awudzi said as of December 2009, the scheme owed the Manhyia Hospital as much as GH¢1,059,983, with GH¢1,006,696 owed the Kumasi South Hospital.
He said the scheme also owed the Suntreso Hospital about GH¢800,000 and the Tafo Hospital about GH¢600,000.
“It also owes the SDA Hospital GH¢849,079, the Kumasi Children’s Hospital GH¢218,614, the Apatrapa Clinic GH¢14,000 and the KMA Clinic about GH¢30,789,” he explained further.
Dr Yeboah-Awudzi said the failure of the scheme to pay claims to the accredited health service providers “has also affected payment to Medical Stores that supply drugs and consumables to us”.
He said since hospitals in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs had not paid the GH¢2 million they owed Medical Stores in the region, “they have cut all supplies of drugs and consumables to the hospitals and this is seriously undermining our operations”.
“Apart from the non-payment of claims to hospitals, the scheme also does not pay claims regularly to some accredited pharmacy shops in the metropolis so they also refuse to give the requisite drugs to members of the scheme who present prescriptions, thus undermining quality healthcare delivery,” he bemoaned.
When contacted, Mr Yamoa Ponko disputed the assertion that claims had not been paid since May 2009.
Explaining, he said since he took over the administration of the scheme in the region about four months ago, some payments had been made to enhance the operations of healthcare providers .
“We have reimbursed the mutual health insurance scheme for prompt payment, but we always vet the claims to avoid all fraudulent claims and this sometimes delays the payment,” he said.
Mr Yamoa Ponko said the Kumasi South Hospital, for instance, was paid GH¢24,729.55 about three months ago, while the Suntreso Hospital was paid GH¢159,632.62.
He said the Manhyia Hospital was also paid GH¢29,434.34 moments after he had taken office, while the Tafo Hospital was paid GH¢10,616 for the claims submitted.
He said the SDA Hospital was also paid GH¢354,177.60, with the Apatrapa and the KMA clinics being paid GH¢7,394 and GH¢11,896.36, respectively.
He gave assurance that his administration would continue to collaborate with the service providers to enable them to offer quality health care to their clients in the region.
THE failure of mutual health insurance schemes in the Kumasi metropolis to pay claims to health service providers in their catchment area is seriously undermining quality healthcare delivery in Kumasi.
According to the Kumasi Metropolitan Director of Health Services, Dr Kwasi Yeboah-Awudzi, mutual health insurance schemes in the metropolis had not paid claims to accredited hospitals and pharmacy shops since May 2009, making it difficult for the health service providers to generate the requisite revenue to replenish drugs and other medical suppliers needed to enhance quality service delivery.
However, the Ashanti Regional Manager of the NHIS, Mr Afrifa Yamoa Ponko, disputed the assertion that claims had not been paid since May 2009.
Dr Yeboah-Awudzi said at the moment, the schemes owed about GH¢4,574,571 to some hospitals and clinics in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs.
Expressing concern on the situation in an interview with the Daily Graphic, Dr Yeboah-Awudzi said, “Hospitals in Kumasi are not only running out of consumables and drugs and their managements are also being constantly harassed by those who supply them medical consumables to run the hospitals.”
He said in December 2009, medical superintendents in the metropolis wrote to him complaining bitterly about the undue delay in paying claims and appealed to the government to intervene as a matter of urgency.
He said in their letter, the medical superintendents pointed out that “if no significant payment of claims is made as early as possible, quality service delivery will become seriously affected”.
Dr Yeboah-Awudzi said as of December 2009, about GH¢4,574,571 was owed some accredited hospitals and clinics in Kumasi
He pointed out that the Manhyia, Suntreso, Kumasi South, Tafo and SDA hospitals, as well as the Kumasi Children’s Hospital, the KMA Clinic and the Apatrapa Clinic, were the worst affected.
Giving details of the situation, Dr Yeboah-Awudzi said as of December 2009, the scheme owed the Manhyia Hospital as much as GH¢1,059,983, with GH¢1,006,696 owed the Kumasi South Hospital.
He said the scheme also owed the Suntreso Hospital about GH¢800,000 and the Tafo Hospital about GH¢600,000.
“It also owes the SDA Hospital GH¢849,079, the Kumasi Children’s Hospital GH¢218,614, the Apatrapa Clinic GH¢14,000 and the KMA Clinic about GH¢30,789,” he explained further.
Dr Yeboah-Awudzi said the failure of the scheme to pay claims to the accredited health service providers “has also affected payment to Medical Stores that supply drugs and consumables to us”.
He said since hospitals in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs had not paid the GH¢2 million they owed Medical Stores in the region, “they have cut all supplies of drugs and consumables to the hospitals and this is seriously undermining our operations”.
“Apart from the non-payment of claims to hospitals, the scheme also does not pay claims regularly to some accredited pharmacy shops in the metropolis so they also refuse to give the requisite drugs to members of the scheme who present prescriptions, thus undermining quality healthcare delivery,” he bemoaned.
When contacted, Mr Yamoa Ponko disputed the assertion that claims had not been paid since May 2009.
Explaining, he said since he took over the administration of the scheme in the region about four months ago, some payments had been made to enhance the operations of healthcare providers .
“We have reimbursed the mutual health insurance scheme for prompt payment, but we always vet the claims to avoid all fraudulent claims and this sometimes delays the payment,” he said.
Mr Yamoa Ponko said the Kumasi South Hospital, for instance, was paid GH¢24,729.55 about three months ago, while the Suntreso Hospital was paid GH¢159,632.62.
He said the Manhyia Hospital was also paid GH¢29,434.34 moments after he had taken office, while the Tafo Hospital was paid GH¢10,616 for the claims submitted.
He said the SDA Hospital was also paid GH¢354,177.60, with the Apatrapa and the KMA clinics being paid GH¢7,394 and GH¢11,896.36, respectively.
He gave assurance that his administration would continue to collaborate with the service providers to enable them to offer quality health care to their clients in the region.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
KMA SEEKS SUPPORT OF ARCHITECTS (PAGE 18, JAN 16, 2010)
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has urged architects in the metropolis to collaborate with the assembly to initiate projects that will transform structures at the Central Business District (CBD) at Adum and other strategic areas in Kumasi into first-class business centres.
According to the KMA, the collaboration with architects in transforming Kumasi into a viable business centre would not only enhance income generation by the private sector in particular and the Assembly in general, but would also reduce unemployment among the youth considerably, thereby raising the standard of living among residents.
The Kumasi Metropolitan Engineer, Mr Alex Kwame Boateng, who threw the challenge, expressed concern about the nature of structures at the CBD and other business centres, saying, they do not promote effective and efficient business activities.
He explained that with well-designed plans, dwarf structures spread across the CBD could be developed into shopping malls to accommodate varieties of business ventures and also beautify the metropolis .
“The time has come for architects in the metropolis to collaborate effectively with the KMA for us to design and put up structures that reflect modern trend in doing business. This will not only enhance income generation for the ;private sector to expand their businesses, but would also enhance employment avenues for the youth who migrate daily from the peripheries into Kumasi to look for job opportunities” he stressed.
Addressing the Northern Chapter of the Ghana Institute of Architects (GIA) in Kumasi during their end-of-year dinner and awards night in Kumasi , Mr Kwame Boateng noted that architects play important roles that promote healthy environment in doing business.
He said with the challenges of congestion that confront business operatives at the CBD in Adum, “we hope you will readily come on board for us to address such challenges by coming out with well-designed plans that would transform the area into a first class business centre”.
In all , five architects from the Northern Sector whose work have impacted positively on the profession were rewarded
The award winners were the Kumasi Metropolitan Director of Town and Country Planning, Mr Asiedu Poku, Mr Daniel Amoateng Mensah of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology( KNUST); Mr Foster Lewellyn Adonteng, Mr S.O Larbi and Professor J. Owusu Addo.
Each of them was presented with a plague and a citation that goes with the various roles they played in promoting the values of the profession and encouraging the young ones to emulate their shinning examples.
Commending the award winners for their meritorious services, Mr Kwame Boateng noted “the KMA is more determined than ever to bring sanity into the CBD and encourage business transaction at the outskirts of the metropolis”.
He said since migration into the urban centres also created slums, to the detriment of healthy environmental promotion, the onus lay on architects to collaborate with the assembly to prevent the development of slums in the metropolis.
He said it was equally important for Architects to support the Assembly in its effort to develop lorry parks to reduce the problems of unauthorised parking of vehicles in parts of the metropolis.
“ Your value is not how much money you can make , but how many problems you can solve, and in helping us to address the numerous problems that confront us, you would also be helping to address the unemployment problems confronting us “ he noted.
In his welcoming address, the President of the Northern Chapter of GIA, Mr Ekow Sampson said their aim was to promote best practices to create the requisite atmosphere in the built environment.
He pointed out that the annual events offer them the platform to “deliberate on our achievements and failures as professionals to enable us as an institute to chart a new course towards the development of architecture”.
He commended the KMA for initiating the decongestion but expressed concern about the poor urban and architectural designs in the metropolis. .
“ We are concerned about the haphazard and uncontrolled development in the CBD .. Basic amenities like fire hydrants, street furniture and dustbins are also lacking , and it is indeed sad to mention that most of the commercial banks in the CBD, for instance lack toilet facilities for their clients who transact business with them” he noted.
Mr Sampson gave the assurance that the GIA was ready to collaborate with all metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in the northern part of Ghana “ in the development of sustainable urban planning and architectural schemes to make Ghana a better place “.
According to the KMA, the collaboration with architects in transforming Kumasi into a viable business centre would not only enhance income generation by the private sector in particular and the Assembly in general, but would also reduce unemployment among the youth considerably, thereby raising the standard of living among residents.
The Kumasi Metropolitan Engineer, Mr Alex Kwame Boateng, who threw the challenge, expressed concern about the nature of structures at the CBD and other business centres, saying, they do not promote effective and efficient business activities.
He explained that with well-designed plans, dwarf structures spread across the CBD could be developed into shopping malls to accommodate varieties of business ventures and also beautify the metropolis .
“The time has come for architects in the metropolis to collaborate effectively with the KMA for us to design and put up structures that reflect modern trend in doing business. This will not only enhance income generation for the ;private sector to expand their businesses, but would also enhance employment avenues for the youth who migrate daily from the peripheries into Kumasi to look for job opportunities” he stressed.
Addressing the Northern Chapter of the Ghana Institute of Architects (GIA) in Kumasi during their end-of-year dinner and awards night in Kumasi , Mr Kwame Boateng noted that architects play important roles that promote healthy environment in doing business.
He said with the challenges of congestion that confront business operatives at the CBD in Adum, “we hope you will readily come on board for us to address such challenges by coming out with well-designed plans that would transform the area into a first class business centre”.
In all , five architects from the Northern Sector whose work have impacted positively on the profession were rewarded
The award winners were the Kumasi Metropolitan Director of Town and Country Planning, Mr Asiedu Poku, Mr Daniel Amoateng Mensah of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology( KNUST); Mr Foster Lewellyn Adonteng, Mr S.O Larbi and Professor J. Owusu Addo.
Each of them was presented with a plague and a citation that goes with the various roles they played in promoting the values of the profession and encouraging the young ones to emulate their shinning examples.
Commending the award winners for their meritorious services, Mr Kwame Boateng noted “the KMA is more determined than ever to bring sanity into the CBD and encourage business transaction at the outskirts of the metropolis”.
He said since migration into the urban centres also created slums, to the detriment of healthy environmental promotion, the onus lay on architects to collaborate with the assembly to prevent the development of slums in the metropolis.
He said it was equally important for Architects to support the Assembly in its effort to develop lorry parks to reduce the problems of unauthorised parking of vehicles in parts of the metropolis.
“ Your value is not how much money you can make , but how many problems you can solve, and in helping us to address the numerous problems that confront us, you would also be helping to address the unemployment problems confronting us “ he noted.
In his welcoming address, the President of the Northern Chapter of GIA, Mr Ekow Sampson said their aim was to promote best practices to create the requisite atmosphere in the built environment.
He pointed out that the annual events offer them the platform to “deliberate on our achievements and failures as professionals to enable us as an institute to chart a new course towards the development of architecture”.
He commended the KMA for initiating the decongestion but expressed concern about the poor urban and architectural designs in the metropolis. .
“ We are concerned about the haphazard and uncontrolled development in the CBD .. Basic amenities like fire hydrants, street furniture and dustbins are also lacking , and it is indeed sad to mention that most of the commercial banks in the CBD, for instance lack toilet facilities for their clients who transact business with them” he noted.
Mr Sampson gave the assurance that the GIA was ready to collaborate with all metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in the northern part of Ghana “ in the development of sustainable urban planning and architectural schemes to make Ghana a better place “.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
INVOLVE DOCTORS IN BREAST CANCER DATA COLLECTION (JAN 12, 2010, PAGE 31)
THE Head of the Oncology Department of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Dr Baffour Awuah, has called for the collaboration of medical officers in data collection on breast cancer to enhance effective and efficient analyses of the disease.
He explained that data collection on breast cancer cases in the country was totally fragmented, making it impossible for medical officers to analyse the number of cases and their trend of infection for them to take informed decisions.
Addressing medical officers who attended a global workshop on breast cancer management in Kumasi yesterday, Dr Baffour Awuah noted, “We need to strengthen data gathering of breast cancer cases in the country, just as is done in developed countries, because we have the logistics to do so.”
He said it was equally important for medical officers to make early referrals of breast cancer cases they found difficult to treat to enhance the efficient management and reduction of mortality rate.
The global workshop on breast cancer, which was organised by the Oncology Department of KATH, in collaboration with the Breast Cancer Alliance and Breast Health Global Initiative of the United States, sought to strengthen breast cancer management in Ghana to reduce mortality in women.
About 200 participants, including physician breast cancer specialists from teaching hospitals in the country, as well as district physicians, oncology nurses and specialists from the USA, Italy, France and Romania, attended the workshop.
Among the topics which were discussed were international and Ghanaian statistics regarding breast disease, endocrine biology of the breast, non-malignant breast conditions, malignant pathology, risk factors of breast cancer, diagnostic work-up of breast cancer and tissue sampling.
Others were breast cancer treatment, locally advanced and inflammatory breast cancer, multidisciplinary care, nursing and palliative care of breast cancer.
In his address, Dr Baffour Awuah pointed out that about 99 per cent of breast cancer cases involved women, most of whom were young women in their productive years.
He expressed concern over the trend of breast cancer among young women, saying it was time medical officers collaborated in the management of the disease to reduce the rate of mortality.
In his address, the Chief Executive of KATH, Professor Ohene Adjie, also expressed concern over the rising trend of breast cancer cases in the country and said as many as 700 cases of the disease had been reported at the hospital over the last few years.
He urged the participants to exchange ideas on the disease to enhance effective collaboration in the management of breast cancer cases in the country.
Professor Adjie explained that effective collaboration on breast cancer would make it possible for them to make a breakthrough on how to manage the disease in a more efficient and effective way to reduce the mortality rate.
For his part, the President of the Breast Health Global Initiative, Professor Benjamin O. Anderson, called on the participants to devise means of detecting breast cancer cases early as a way of saving the lives of patients.
He said the mortality rate among breast cancer patients in the US used to be high but the trend had changed because medical officers had now devised means of detecting the disease at its early stages.
“Breast cancer is a global epidemic, but while the mortality rate is rising in developing countries, it is low in developed countries because we undertake early diagnoses and treatment in developed countries, thereby reducing the mortality rate,” he explained.
He said since early detection reduced the risk in managing the disease, it was significant for the participants to collaborate in devising means that would make it possible for them to detect the disease at its early stages to enhance its efficient management.
He explained that data collection on breast cancer cases in the country was totally fragmented, making it impossible for medical officers to analyse the number of cases and their trend of infection for them to take informed decisions.
Addressing medical officers who attended a global workshop on breast cancer management in Kumasi yesterday, Dr Baffour Awuah noted, “We need to strengthen data gathering of breast cancer cases in the country, just as is done in developed countries, because we have the logistics to do so.”
He said it was equally important for medical officers to make early referrals of breast cancer cases they found difficult to treat to enhance the efficient management and reduction of mortality rate.
The global workshop on breast cancer, which was organised by the Oncology Department of KATH, in collaboration with the Breast Cancer Alliance and Breast Health Global Initiative of the United States, sought to strengthen breast cancer management in Ghana to reduce mortality in women.
About 200 participants, including physician breast cancer specialists from teaching hospitals in the country, as well as district physicians, oncology nurses and specialists from the USA, Italy, France and Romania, attended the workshop.
Among the topics which were discussed were international and Ghanaian statistics regarding breast disease, endocrine biology of the breast, non-malignant breast conditions, malignant pathology, risk factors of breast cancer, diagnostic work-up of breast cancer and tissue sampling.
Others were breast cancer treatment, locally advanced and inflammatory breast cancer, multidisciplinary care, nursing and palliative care of breast cancer.
In his address, Dr Baffour Awuah pointed out that about 99 per cent of breast cancer cases involved women, most of whom were young women in their productive years.
He expressed concern over the trend of breast cancer among young women, saying it was time medical officers collaborated in the management of the disease to reduce the rate of mortality.
In his address, the Chief Executive of KATH, Professor Ohene Adjie, also expressed concern over the rising trend of breast cancer cases in the country and said as many as 700 cases of the disease had been reported at the hospital over the last few years.
He urged the participants to exchange ideas on the disease to enhance effective collaboration in the management of breast cancer cases in the country.
Professor Adjie explained that effective collaboration on breast cancer would make it possible for them to make a breakthrough on how to manage the disease in a more efficient and effective way to reduce the mortality rate.
For his part, the President of the Breast Health Global Initiative, Professor Benjamin O. Anderson, called on the participants to devise means of detecting breast cancer cases early as a way of saving the lives of patients.
He said the mortality rate among breast cancer patients in the US used to be high but the trend had changed because medical officers had now devised means of detecting the disease at its early stages.
“Breast cancer is a global epidemic, but while the mortality rate is rising in developing countries, it is low in developed countries because we undertake early diagnoses and treatment in developed countries, thereby reducing the mortality rate,” he explained.
He said since early detection reduced the risk in managing the disease, it was significant for the participants to collaborate in devising means that would make it possible for them to detect the disease at its early stages to enhance its efficient management.
FAISAL TROUNCE LIONS (PAGE 55, JAN 11, 2010)
King Faisal recorded their second successive victory in the Premier League when they pounced on Heart of Lions and demolished them with an emphatic 3-1 win at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Saturday.
It was the determination of Faisal to escape relegation that galvanised them to overpower the Lions from Kpando who played a more purposeful game throughout the 90 minute duration .
Determined to carry the day, Faisal started pushing more men upfront and fired from all angles ,but Stephen Ahorlu in post for Lions denied them the opportunity of brilliant saves.
Frank Acheampong opened the scores for Faisal on the 21st minute when he planted the ball beyond the reach of Ahorlu by intercepting a pass in the box during a goal mouth melee created from the corner kick.
The goal gingered Faisal to probe for more, and on the 24th minute Jean Fancois Boli was given that opportunity to register his name on the score sheet , but alone in the box, and with only Ahorlu at his mercy, the attacker blasted wide to give Lions a reprieve.
Faisal scored their second goal through a spot kick through Prince Arko on the 43rd minute.
In one of his moves in the box, Arko was brought down by Ahorlu, and when a spot kick was awarded, Arko elected himself and delivered a bullet which Ahorlu made no attempt to save to give Faisal a comfortable lead.
Lions accepted the challenge and back from recess, they took total control of the midfield, and multiplied in attack, forcing Faisal to retreat on most occasions,
In one of their attacks in the 67th minute, Muhammad Tanko of Lions succeeded in disorganising the defence of Faisal and delivered a bullet which Iddrisu Ibrahim in post for Faisal struggled to push to corner.
A minute later, Lions reduced the tally through substitute Osei Banahene, and just when Lions were pushing for the equaliser, Faisal scored their third goal through Daniel Adjei whose 25-metre drive in the 79th minute against the run of play, secured a comfortable win for Alhaji Grunsah’s King Faisal.
It was the determination of Faisal to escape relegation that galvanised them to overpower the Lions from Kpando who played a more purposeful game throughout the 90 minute duration .
Determined to carry the day, Faisal started pushing more men upfront and fired from all angles ,but Stephen Ahorlu in post for Lions denied them the opportunity of brilliant saves.
Frank Acheampong opened the scores for Faisal on the 21st minute when he planted the ball beyond the reach of Ahorlu by intercepting a pass in the box during a goal mouth melee created from the corner kick.
The goal gingered Faisal to probe for more, and on the 24th minute Jean Fancois Boli was given that opportunity to register his name on the score sheet , but alone in the box, and with only Ahorlu at his mercy, the attacker blasted wide to give Lions a reprieve.
Faisal scored their second goal through a spot kick through Prince Arko on the 43rd minute.
In one of his moves in the box, Arko was brought down by Ahorlu, and when a spot kick was awarded, Arko elected himself and delivered a bullet which Ahorlu made no attempt to save to give Faisal a comfortable lead.
Lions accepted the challenge and back from recess, they took total control of the midfield, and multiplied in attack, forcing Faisal to retreat on most occasions,
In one of their attacks in the 67th minute, Muhammad Tanko of Lions succeeded in disorganising the defence of Faisal and delivered a bullet which Iddrisu Ibrahim in post for Faisal struggled to push to corner.
A minute later, Lions reduced the tally through substitute Osei Banahene, and just when Lions were pushing for the equaliser, Faisal scored their third goal through Daniel Adjei whose 25-metre drive in the 79th minute against the run of play, secured a comfortable win for Alhaji Grunsah’s King Faisal.
DOCTORS URGED TO BE PROFESSIONAL (PAGE 22, JAN 9, 2010)
medical officers at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have been urged to display a high level of professionalism in the discharge of their duties and show compassion for patients to enhance quality delivery of services in 2010.
It is only when medical officers prove that they care for their patients even in difficult times that ”patients would also appreciate and acknowledge that you care, so that even in death, they would appreciate that you did your best”.
Addressing medical staff at the KATH during their annual end-of-year thanksgiving service, Mr Opoku Manu, the Ashanti Regional Minister noted: “May your hearts and mind be touched and filled with mercy to enable you to offer quality health care service to patients in 2010.”
The annual thanksgiving service was organised to offer opportunity for the staff at the KATH to converge on the forecourt of the hospital for them to offer praises to God for His guidance and protection in 2009.
It also afforded them the opportunity to pray for God’s guidance and control in 2010 to enable them to become more committed and dedicated in providing quality healthcare service for their patients.
Commending the staff for their quality performance in 2009, Mr Opoku Manu said it was important for them to adopt a better strategy in quality healthcare service delivery to enable them to be on course in achieving excellence in health care.
“You should strive to do better this year for patients to appreciate your efforts,“ he said, adding that “as you strive to achieve excellence in healthcare service delivery, it is important for you to eschew attitudes that could undermine the good image you are building for the hospital”.
He said the Government was concerned about the numerous challenges that confronted them and assured them that efforts would be made to address such challenges to enhance quality healthcare service delivery.
The Chief Executive of the KATH, Professor Ohene Adjei, pointed out that the increase in the number of patients attending hospital as a result of the introduction of the national health insurance scheme was making quality healthcare service delivery more challenging.
“The coming year will not be different, and we must, therefore, learn from the lessons we gained this year in order to offer better services to our clients in the year ahead,” he said.
Prof. Ohene Adjei said as a tertiary health centre in the northern sector, and being the last hope of patients from that sector, there was the need for the medical officers “to strive to do the best we can to bring the smiles on the faces of people who come here for our services”.
He said management was committed to the provision of the needed logistics to enable them to deliver to the expectation of patients.
“Management will continue to pursue continued professional development interventions to adequately prepare you for the challenges ahead,” he assured.
He, however, pleaded that they should committed to “the maintenance of industrial peace and refrain from the use of strikes in our quest for improved service conditions”.
“We must endeavour to make maximum use of the available internal grievance resolution mechanisms in seeking redress as resorting to strikes tend to overshadow the tremendous sacrifices you have been making in providing the best of care for the public,“ he stressed.
It is only when medical officers prove that they care for their patients even in difficult times that ”patients would also appreciate and acknowledge that you care, so that even in death, they would appreciate that you did your best”.
Addressing medical staff at the KATH during their annual end-of-year thanksgiving service, Mr Opoku Manu, the Ashanti Regional Minister noted: “May your hearts and mind be touched and filled with mercy to enable you to offer quality health care service to patients in 2010.”
The annual thanksgiving service was organised to offer opportunity for the staff at the KATH to converge on the forecourt of the hospital for them to offer praises to God for His guidance and protection in 2009.
It also afforded them the opportunity to pray for God’s guidance and control in 2010 to enable them to become more committed and dedicated in providing quality healthcare service for their patients.
Commending the staff for their quality performance in 2009, Mr Opoku Manu said it was important for them to adopt a better strategy in quality healthcare service delivery to enable them to be on course in achieving excellence in health care.
“You should strive to do better this year for patients to appreciate your efforts,“ he said, adding that “as you strive to achieve excellence in healthcare service delivery, it is important for you to eschew attitudes that could undermine the good image you are building for the hospital”.
He said the Government was concerned about the numerous challenges that confronted them and assured them that efforts would be made to address such challenges to enhance quality healthcare service delivery.
The Chief Executive of the KATH, Professor Ohene Adjei, pointed out that the increase in the number of patients attending hospital as a result of the introduction of the national health insurance scheme was making quality healthcare service delivery more challenging.
“The coming year will not be different, and we must, therefore, learn from the lessons we gained this year in order to offer better services to our clients in the year ahead,” he said.
Prof. Ohene Adjei said as a tertiary health centre in the northern sector, and being the last hope of patients from that sector, there was the need for the medical officers “to strive to do the best we can to bring the smiles on the faces of people who come here for our services”.
He said management was committed to the provision of the needed logistics to enable them to deliver to the expectation of patients.
“Management will continue to pursue continued professional development interventions to adequately prepare you for the challenges ahead,” he assured.
He, however, pleaded that they should committed to “the maintenance of industrial peace and refrain from the use of strikes in our quest for improved service conditions”.
“We must endeavour to make maximum use of the available internal grievance resolution mechanisms in seeking redress as resorting to strikes tend to overshadow the tremendous sacrifices you have been making in providing the best of care for the public,“ he stressed.
Monday, February 22, 2010
OPOKU WARE TO GET LABORATORY (PAGE 17, JAN 8, 2010)
THE Opoku Ware Senior High School Old Boys Association (AKATAKYIE) in Germany has cut the sod for the construction of a laboratory to enhance teaching and learning of the German language in the school.
The facility, being sponsored by the German-based Akatakyie and estimated at GH¢79,296, is expected to be completed in three years.
It comprises a three-classroom block, a library, a recreation hall, offices and stores,
The Headmaster of Opoku Ware Senior High School, Mr Stephen Anokye, in collaboration with the board of governors, provided a parcel of land for the construction of the project.
The President of the Germany Group of Akatakyie , Okatakyie Kofi Gyamfi Boateng, who cut the sod for the commencement of the project, said their initiative was to encourage students from OWASS to be versatile in the German language to enhance the development of their potentials.
He said regardless of their number, which is only 11, “we are determined to make an impact in the school by giving back what it offered us many years ago”.
Mr Boateng pointed out that apart from the facility under construction, the old boys in Germany would also furnish the laboratory with logistics when completed, to motivate students to take keen interest in the German language.
“This will enable them to compete favourably with their counterparts in Europe whenever they have the opportunity to further their studies abroad,” he explained.
He said the need to establish the German language laboratory started five years ago when they contracted one Mr Charles Fordjour to teach the students, “but we found out that we needed facilities and logistics that could enhance teaching and learning of the language, hence this project”.
He appealed to other Akatakyies in Ghana and abroad to support them with funds to enhance completion of the project.
Mr Stephen Anokye commended them for their initiative.
He said as family members with a common identity, there was a need for old boys from the school to contribute in diverse ways to the development of the school.
Mr Anokoye said the project should be embraced by all old boys, because it offered the students tremendous benefits for in diverse ways.
The facility, being sponsored by the German-based Akatakyie and estimated at GH¢79,296, is expected to be completed in three years.
It comprises a three-classroom block, a library, a recreation hall, offices and stores,
The Headmaster of Opoku Ware Senior High School, Mr Stephen Anokye, in collaboration with the board of governors, provided a parcel of land for the construction of the project.
The President of the Germany Group of Akatakyie , Okatakyie Kofi Gyamfi Boateng, who cut the sod for the commencement of the project, said their initiative was to encourage students from OWASS to be versatile in the German language to enhance the development of their potentials.
He said regardless of their number, which is only 11, “we are determined to make an impact in the school by giving back what it offered us many years ago”.
Mr Boateng pointed out that apart from the facility under construction, the old boys in Germany would also furnish the laboratory with logistics when completed, to motivate students to take keen interest in the German language.
“This will enable them to compete favourably with their counterparts in Europe whenever they have the opportunity to further their studies abroad,” he explained.
He said the need to establish the German language laboratory started five years ago when they contracted one Mr Charles Fordjour to teach the students, “but we found out that we needed facilities and logistics that could enhance teaching and learning of the language, hence this project”.
He appealed to other Akatakyies in Ghana and abroad to support them with funds to enhance completion of the project.
Mr Stephen Anokye commended them for their initiative.
He said as family members with a common identity, there was a need for old boys from the school to contribute in diverse ways to the development of the school.
Mr Anokoye said the project should be embraced by all old boys, because it offered the students tremendous benefits for in diverse ways.
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