A 30-year-old businesswoman, Ms Amanda Oppong, has started vigorous house-to-house campaign at Asafo in Kumasi with the hope of mobilising the people to vote for her as their assembly woman for the Asafo Electoral Area.
Ms Oppong, who visited the Kumasi Office of the Daily Graphic as part of her campaign, said it was time women in particular and the youth in general, got involved in the district level election as a way of encouraging them to support development initiatives at the community level.
Ms Oppong is the youngest among the four candidates, including two other women, who are keenly contesting the election in the electoral area.
Giving reasons for her decision to contest the elections, she said she had something special to offer the Asafo community, and therefore appealed to the youth to actively support her campaign to enable her to win massively.
She said she was born and bred at Asafo and was therefore, conversant with the challenges facing the community. She said she would collaborate with the opinion leaders and leadership of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly to address those challenges .
She mentioned sanitation as her priority, and that with only one dump site that serves the entire Asafo community, sanitation was not the best in the area. She said she had started negotiating with the KMA and other organisations to provide litter bins at vantage points at Asafo as a way of improving sanitation in the community, stressing that with hygienic environment, the health of residents would improve.
Ms Oppong said when elected, she would encourage parents to invest in their children’s education and also gave the assurance to collaborate with the KMA to support the education of brilliant needy students, saying “ many of them have the potentials to excel but their parents do not have the means to sponsor their education”.
She explained that the assembly had a special scholarship scheme to support them so she would take advantage of the scheme.
She said as a young woman, she would also liaise with the various sports personnel to nurture the potentials of the youth who have the desire to develop their talents in sports.
“ I will seek support for them, so that those who have special interest in football volley, tennis, hockey and basketball would be actively assisted”.
On her chances, she said, “my chances are very bright. I will continue with the house-to- house campaign and also mount a platform when the need arises to let the public appreciate the need to vote massively for me when the time comes”.
“Over the years, the people of North Suntreso have known me as the people’s mother due to the tremendous support I have offered the youth, children and the needy. That is why I am appealing to them to vote massively for me during the forthcoming district assembly elections so I can represent them at the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA)”.
These were the words of Madam Rosemary Adjei, aka, Nana Anima, a 45-year-old mother of four, who is contesting the elections in the North Suntreso Electoral Area with five others, including three men.
She said voting for her as the assembly woman would enable her collaborate with opinion leaders at the assembly and others at the highest level to lobby for support, and initiate programmes and policies to nurture potentials of the youth to enable them acquire employable skills.
She said she appreciated all the challenges that confront the community, stressing that it is time women in the community assumed leadership position, so that they will become initiators of policies and programmes that are people centred, to accelerate socio-economic development.
“ Since the inception of the district assembly concept, women in this community have supported the men to get into the assembly, and I think this is the time to give the same opportunity to women for them to be at the helm of affairs, considering the role they play in developmet” she said.
Nana Anima gave the assurance that she would not disappoint the people, if given the nod, stressing that the deplorable road network at North Suntreso, coupled with poor sanitation and drainage, as well as inadequate security that results in robbery and theft even at day time, will make her solicit the support from all sectors to make life more meaningful for the people.
She noted that because of the poor nature of the roads in the community, trotro and taxi drivers were reluctant to ply routes in the area, and gave the indication that she would lobby the department of urban roads to maintain roads in the community.
She said public places of convenience and public bath-houses in the community were in deplorable state, creating inconveniences for the community.
She said she would collaborate with the opinion leaders to form community watchdog committees, with the active involvement of the youth, to improve security in the area.
She also gave assurance to support the building of a fence wall at the Akosa D/A basic school to reduce intrusion and enhance teaching and learning.
Nana Anima said if given the nod, she would collaborate with relevant agencies to open employment avenues for the youth who have the requisite qualification.
“ You know I can do it, that is why you should offer me all the support and vote massively for me, and with your votes, I will assume leadership position to lobby for support that would bring meaningful development to the North Suntreso Electoral Area” she said.
Madam Esther Mensah, an incumbent Assembly woman of the Kensere Electoral Area in the Amansie West District in the Ashanti Region, is optimistic to retain the seat in the forthcoming district assembly elections. This is because she has endeared herself to the electorate over the last four years.
“Since I was elected as the assembly woman four years ago, I have made much impact by not only supporting communities in my electoral area to have projects such as electric power, but I am also helping to improve sanitation” she said.
She explained that she started with a programme to provide communities in her electoral area with electric power when she was elected as assembly woman, a situation, which she said was enhancing income generation activities, especially among the youth.
“It is for this reason that I have confidence in the electorate that they will give me all the necessary support to retain the seat and continue initiating development projects at the grassroots” she said.
According to Madam Mensah, a male candidate is also contesting her seat but said, “he would be no match for me because I have firmly gained grounds”.
She said before she was elected in 2006, she worked with a non-governmental organisation (NGO), providing primary health care to the various communities in her electoral area.
She said through that programme, she saw that health care was very challenging, so she devoted of her time to it, providing quality healthcare to many people, “ so they approached me to stand for the district level election and voted massively for me”.
Madam Mensah said, notwithstanding her initiatives “much needed to be done, especially in the field of education. “That is why they are encouraging me to contest again to support the youth to focus on their academic programmes”
She said inadequate educational infrastructure and facilities were undermining quality teaching and learning, and pointed out that results of the last BECE were bad and that posed problems to parents.
She gave the assurance that she would support the construction of a library facility to inculcate the culture of reading among the youth.
This, she said, would enable the youth improve on their academic performance, get better grades, and gain admission in to second cycle and tertiary institutions.
She said she was also in the process of lobbying the Amansie West District Assembly to improve the drainage system and sanitation in the area to reduce erosion, which was affecting the various communities.
She said she was keen to procure a cassava processing machine for farmers to enable them process their cassava and increase their earnings from farming.
She called on the electorate at the Amansie West District to support the election of more women to enable them to initiate projects that would impact positively on their lives, explaining “with more women at the helm of affairs, we would be able to initiate projects that would impact positively on your lives to reduce poverty which affects most rural communities”.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
POLICEMAN SHOT DEAD BY SUSPECTED ROBBERS (BACK PAGE, NOV 24, 2010)
A Detective Sergeant of the Ashanti Regional Police Command was found murdered by suspected armed robbers on the Wonoo–Kumawu road in the early hours of yesterday.
The deceased, Sergeant R. Akakpo, was said to have been attacked by a gang of armed robbers while travelling in his private saloon car.
Sources indicated that Sgt Akakpo, who died on the spot, following gunshot wounds he sustained, was attached to the Regional Criminal Investigations Department as a photographer.
The body of the deceased has been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for autopsy.
The Regional Police Command has started investigations into the incident.
The Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Yusif Tanko, confirmed the incident and said investigations were underway to unravel the mystery behind the attack.
He also confirmed that the Sergeant was not in uniform when he was attacked.
At the time of going to press, the Regional Police Commander, Mr Patrick Timbilla, together with some other police personnel, were on their way to the spot where the incident occurred on a fact-finding mission as part of police investigations.
Three of the robbers were alleged to be in masks, and moments after they had gunned down the policeman, they escaped in a taxi they hijacked from a driver.
The robbers later abandoned the Opel Vectra with registration number GW 4303 S.
At a media briefing in Kumasi, Chief Inspector Tanko said the robbers blocked the road with logs and succeeded in attacking a couple who were on their way to hospital, robbing them of their mobile phone and cash.
He said Sgt Akakpo, who was by then travelling to Kumawu from Kumasi, chanced upon the couple lying on the road with the road blocked, so he attempted running over the logs, but the vehicle developed a fault, causing it to stop abruptly.
He said the robbers then ordered him to alight from the vehicle, and before he could alight, they shot him at close range.
Chief Inspector Tanko appealed to the public to volunteer information that would facilitate the arrest of the robbers.
The death of Sgt Akakpo is the third to be associated with robbers in the Ashanti Region in recent times.
Just before the 2008 elections, one Chief Inspector Joseph Nyame was gunned down by robbers, and on Sunday, September 19, 2010, Constable Frank William Blankson, who was on guard at Sweet Pub drinking spot at Danyame in Kumasi, was also shot dead by a gang of robbers.
The police reacted swiftly by arresting one of the suspects, identified as Hafix Malik, who had by then disguised himself by dressing like a woman.
Malik was arrested at Allah Bar when he had put on a headgear and a muffler with a baby girl strapped to his back to evade police arrest.
The police also arrested Maria Fuseini, 26, the sister of Malik, alleged to have aided her brother to disguise himself in an attempt to elude the police and travel to Tamale.
The deceased, Sergeant R. Akakpo, was said to have been attacked by a gang of armed robbers while travelling in his private saloon car.
Sources indicated that Sgt Akakpo, who died on the spot, following gunshot wounds he sustained, was attached to the Regional Criminal Investigations Department as a photographer.
The body of the deceased has been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for autopsy.
The Regional Police Command has started investigations into the incident.
The Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Yusif Tanko, confirmed the incident and said investigations were underway to unravel the mystery behind the attack.
He also confirmed that the Sergeant was not in uniform when he was attacked.
At the time of going to press, the Regional Police Commander, Mr Patrick Timbilla, together with some other police personnel, were on their way to the spot where the incident occurred on a fact-finding mission as part of police investigations.
Three of the robbers were alleged to be in masks, and moments after they had gunned down the policeman, they escaped in a taxi they hijacked from a driver.
The robbers later abandoned the Opel Vectra with registration number GW 4303 S.
At a media briefing in Kumasi, Chief Inspector Tanko said the robbers blocked the road with logs and succeeded in attacking a couple who were on their way to hospital, robbing them of their mobile phone and cash.
He said Sgt Akakpo, who was by then travelling to Kumawu from Kumasi, chanced upon the couple lying on the road with the road blocked, so he attempted running over the logs, but the vehicle developed a fault, causing it to stop abruptly.
He said the robbers then ordered him to alight from the vehicle, and before he could alight, they shot him at close range.
Chief Inspector Tanko appealed to the public to volunteer information that would facilitate the arrest of the robbers.
The death of Sgt Akakpo is the third to be associated with robbers in the Ashanti Region in recent times.
Just before the 2008 elections, one Chief Inspector Joseph Nyame was gunned down by robbers, and on Sunday, September 19, 2010, Constable Frank William Blankson, who was on guard at Sweet Pub drinking spot at Danyame in Kumasi, was also shot dead by a gang of robbers.
The police reacted swiftly by arresting one of the suspects, identified as Hafix Malik, who had by then disguised himself by dressing like a woman.
Malik was arrested at Allah Bar when he had put on a headgear and a muffler with a baby girl strapped to his back to evade police arrest.
The police also arrested Maria Fuseini, 26, the sister of Malik, alleged to have aided her brother to disguise himself in an attempt to elude the police and travel to Tamale.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
COMPUTER LITERACY...Now pre-requisite for employment (NSEMPA, BACK PAGE, NOV 15, 2010)
By George Ernest Asare, Jachie-Pramso.
“Computer literacy has now become a pre-requisite for employment, so this is my widow’s mite to help students of JAPASS become computer literate to enable them be abreast of modern trends in communication”
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Bosomtwe, Mr Simon Osei Mensah, who is supporting the development of educational infrastructure at Jachie-Pramso Senior High School (Mighty JAPASS) with the construction of a Computer laboratory for the school, said this during the 40th anniversary celebration of JAPASS.
Desire
He pointed out that his desire to construct the computer laboratory for the school, was borne out of the fact that without computer literacy, students from the school would be handicapped when applying for jobs and pointed out that with the computer laboratory, students would have the opportunity of being introduced into the basics of computer literacy, which he said, had now become the major component of securing job opportunities.
Constructional work for the project, estimated at GH¢30,000 is expected to begin early next year. Already, the MP has contracted architects to come out with drawings and designs that would meet the specifications of the computer laboratory, expected to accommodate 50 students.
Commendation
Mr Osei-Mensah commended the Parents Teacher Association (PTA) of JAPASS for their sense of commitment and initiatives, which he said, had made it possible for them to initiate many development projects for the school.
He pointed out that with the pace at which the school was expanding, and the increasing number of students being admitted each academic year, there was the need to protect the land earmarked for the development of the school.
Mr Osei –Mensah therefore, appealed to the Chiefs of Jachie and Pramso to discourage the encroachment on any part of the school land, saying, any thing contrary to the protection of the school lands would undermine the expansion of educational infrastructure in future.
Collaboration
He also urged the head mistress of the school to collaborate with the PTA and the Board of Governors of the school to secure the needed documents covering all school land to prevent any form of encroachment.
Mr Osei Mensah paid glowing tribute to the executive members of the Old Students association for their sense of dynamism, in making it possible for them to support the 40th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the school, which also coincided with the speech and prize giving day celebrations.
He challenged old students of JAPASS residing in Accra and other parts of the country, to come together to form a vibrant regional associations to enable them support the development initiatives of the school.
This, he said, would adequately motivate the current students for them to focus on their academic programmes and develop their potentials more effectively to enable JAPASS produce students with the requisite employable skills capable of supporting sustainable socio-economic development in the country.
Appeal
He also appealed to the government to support the development initiative of the school by constructing a three-storey building dormitory to address the accommodation problems facing male students in the school.
The Chairman of the Board of Governors of JAPASS, Nana Nsuase Poku Agyeman III, commended the head mistress of the school for collaborating with the teaching and non-teaching staff to instill a high level of discipline among students, making it possible for them to focus on their academic programmes.
He said with all hands on deck in the form of maintaining discipline, improving academic performance and the provision of educational infrastructure on campus, the school would realise its objective of becoming one of the best, not only in the region, but the country as whole.
In his address, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku -Manu, commended the Chiefs and people of Jachie and Pramso for their foresight, which he said, made it possible for them to establish the school which was now becoming the centre of excellence of academic programmes in the Bosomtwe district.
Past students
“ The school can now boast of having produced highly placed people, including Professor Ken Agyemang Attefuah who is contributing immensely towards the development initiatives of the country” he noted, stressing “ what is worth commending is the fact that the school is not as resourced and endowed as some of the schools in the region, but it has held its own principles and standards, and managed to make significant impact in the educational landscape of the country”.
Mr Opoku-Manu promised to donate 100 bags of cement to support the construction of on-going projects in the school and urged the old boys “ to rally behind the school authorities to ensure that the up-grading of the school became reality and meaningful.
He assured all that “government would continue to support the school as a way of propelling it to an enviable height in future”.
The District Chief Executive of Bosomtwe, Mr Nti Berko, also promised that that the Assembly would start the construction of a three-unit classroom block immediately to enhance teaching and learning in the school.
He also assured the school that the assembly would donate 50 bags of cement to the school to support on-gong projects.
“Computer literacy has now become a pre-requisite for employment, so this is my widow’s mite to help students of JAPASS become computer literate to enable them be abreast of modern trends in communication”
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Bosomtwe, Mr Simon Osei Mensah, who is supporting the development of educational infrastructure at Jachie-Pramso Senior High School (Mighty JAPASS) with the construction of a Computer laboratory for the school, said this during the 40th anniversary celebration of JAPASS.
Desire
He pointed out that his desire to construct the computer laboratory for the school, was borne out of the fact that without computer literacy, students from the school would be handicapped when applying for jobs and pointed out that with the computer laboratory, students would have the opportunity of being introduced into the basics of computer literacy, which he said, had now become the major component of securing job opportunities.
Constructional work for the project, estimated at GH¢30,000 is expected to begin early next year. Already, the MP has contracted architects to come out with drawings and designs that would meet the specifications of the computer laboratory, expected to accommodate 50 students.
Commendation
Mr Osei-Mensah commended the Parents Teacher Association (PTA) of JAPASS for their sense of commitment and initiatives, which he said, had made it possible for them to initiate many development projects for the school.
He pointed out that with the pace at which the school was expanding, and the increasing number of students being admitted each academic year, there was the need to protect the land earmarked for the development of the school.
Mr Osei –Mensah therefore, appealed to the Chiefs of Jachie and Pramso to discourage the encroachment on any part of the school land, saying, any thing contrary to the protection of the school lands would undermine the expansion of educational infrastructure in future.
Collaboration
He also urged the head mistress of the school to collaborate with the PTA and the Board of Governors of the school to secure the needed documents covering all school land to prevent any form of encroachment.
Mr Osei Mensah paid glowing tribute to the executive members of the Old Students association for their sense of dynamism, in making it possible for them to support the 40th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the school, which also coincided with the speech and prize giving day celebrations.
He challenged old students of JAPASS residing in Accra and other parts of the country, to come together to form a vibrant regional associations to enable them support the development initiatives of the school.
This, he said, would adequately motivate the current students for them to focus on their academic programmes and develop their potentials more effectively to enable JAPASS produce students with the requisite employable skills capable of supporting sustainable socio-economic development in the country.
Appeal
He also appealed to the government to support the development initiative of the school by constructing a three-storey building dormitory to address the accommodation problems facing male students in the school.
The Chairman of the Board of Governors of JAPASS, Nana Nsuase Poku Agyeman III, commended the head mistress of the school for collaborating with the teaching and non-teaching staff to instill a high level of discipline among students, making it possible for them to focus on their academic programmes.
He said with all hands on deck in the form of maintaining discipline, improving academic performance and the provision of educational infrastructure on campus, the school would realise its objective of becoming one of the best, not only in the region, but the country as whole.
In his address, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku -Manu, commended the Chiefs and people of Jachie and Pramso for their foresight, which he said, made it possible for them to establish the school which was now becoming the centre of excellence of academic programmes in the Bosomtwe district.
Past students
“ The school can now boast of having produced highly placed people, including Professor Ken Agyemang Attefuah who is contributing immensely towards the development initiatives of the country” he noted, stressing “ what is worth commending is the fact that the school is not as resourced and endowed as some of the schools in the region, but it has held its own principles and standards, and managed to make significant impact in the educational landscape of the country”.
Mr Opoku-Manu promised to donate 100 bags of cement to support the construction of on-going projects in the school and urged the old boys “ to rally behind the school authorities to ensure that the up-grading of the school became reality and meaningful.
He assured all that “government would continue to support the school as a way of propelling it to an enviable height in future”.
The District Chief Executive of Bosomtwe, Mr Nti Berko, also promised that that the Assembly would start the construction of a three-unit classroom block immediately to enhance teaching and learning in the school.
He also assured the school that the assembly would donate 50 bags of cement to the school to support on-gong projects.
ARCHBISHOP MENSAH DECRIES FREQUENT CHANGES IN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM (PAGE 19, NOV 13, 2010)
THE Catholic Archbishop of Kumasi, Most Rev. Thomas Kwaku Mensah, has expressed concern about the frequent changes in the educational system in the country, saying, “over the years, educational reforms have not been allowed to work for a reasonable period of time for effective evaluation of such reforms to take place.”
He pointed that the hasty changes tended to deprive the country of the capacity to make informed decisions on the future of our educational system.
Addressing a cross-section of the public during the 10th anniversary celebration of Martyrs of Uganda Jubilee School in Kumasi, Most Rev. Thomas Mensah stated “while the church follows laid-down principles of education of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to achieve academic excellence, it, at the same time, teaches children that God has put us in this world for a purpose to prepare to return to Him after death”.
He said man had a dual responsibility of not only utilising the natural and human resources at his disposal for the good of the present and future generations, but should also support sustainable national development.
Archbishop Mensah said the church sought to do this by inculcating in students the need for them to respect and protect one another, as well as seek to live in harmony with one another and in peace with their neighbours.
He said the Martyrs of Uganda Jubilee School, established 10 years ago by the Kumasi Catholic Archdiocese, was meant to contribute to the human capital development of the nation, explaining that “ the greatest asset and holistic education is the means by which this capital is developed”.
Archbishop Mensah said their main objective was to “develop in the youth the spiritual, physical, intellectual and moral aspects for them to be committed to sustainable national development”.
He gave the assurance that they would not relent in their effort to partner the government to nurture the potential of the youth holistically, including helping them to acquire moral principles needed to enhance accelerated national development.
Archbishop Mensah also advised teachers to be disciplined in all their endeavours, saying, “ we need teachers with disciplined minds and character to prepare our children for them to be dedicated and committed to support the development of our country”.
The Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Mr. J. K. Onyinah, said Catholic principles were synonymous with quality education with emphasis on moral and spiritual training.
He commended the church for establishing schools noted with academic excellence in the country, including that of the Martyrs of Uganda Jubilee School, saying students produced from such schools had excelled in many areas of national endeavour.
He pointed that the hasty changes tended to deprive the country of the capacity to make informed decisions on the future of our educational system.
Addressing a cross-section of the public during the 10th anniversary celebration of Martyrs of Uganda Jubilee School in Kumasi, Most Rev. Thomas Mensah stated “while the church follows laid-down principles of education of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to achieve academic excellence, it, at the same time, teaches children that God has put us in this world for a purpose to prepare to return to Him after death”.
He said man had a dual responsibility of not only utilising the natural and human resources at his disposal for the good of the present and future generations, but should also support sustainable national development.
Archbishop Mensah said the church sought to do this by inculcating in students the need for them to respect and protect one another, as well as seek to live in harmony with one another and in peace with their neighbours.
He said the Martyrs of Uganda Jubilee School, established 10 years ago by the Kumasi Catholic Archdiocese, was meant to contribute to the human capital development of the nation, explaining that “ the greatest asset and holistic education is the means by which this capital is developed”.
Archbishop Mensah said their main objective was to “develop in the youth the spiritual, physical, intellectual and moral aspects for them to be committed to sustainable national development”.
He gave the assurance that they would not relent in their effort to partner the government to nurture the potential of the youth holistically, including helping them to acquire moral principles needed to enhance accelerated national development.
Archbishop Mensah also advised teachers to be disciplined in all their endeavours, saying, “ we need teachers with disciplined minds and character to prepare our children for them to be dedicated and committed to support the development of our country”.
The Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Mr. J. K. Onyinah, said Catholic principles were synonymous with quality education with emphasis on moral and spiritual training.
He commended the church for establishing schools noted with academic excellence in the country, including that of the Martyrs of Uganda Jubilee School, saying students produced from such schools had excelled in many areas of national endeavour.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
BOSOMTWE RURAL BANK SUPPORTS KUNTANASE POLICE (PAGE 46, NOV 18, 2010)
The Bosomtwe Rural Bank has donated GH¢1,000 to the Kuntanase District Police Command to enable it to repair its broken-down vehicle.
The donation is to facilitate the movement of the police towards the maintenance of adequate security to enable law-abiding citizens concentrate on their core businesses.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank, Mr Philip Bondah, who presented the money on behalf of the bank, gave the assurance that the bank would continue to support the police in diverse ways for them to effectively police the Bosomtwe District and its environs.
He said it was only when the public actively supported the police in diverse ways that the latter would be adequately motivated to discharge their responsibilities more meaningfully.
Mr Bondah said during the joint 40th anniversary and Speech and Prize-giving Day of the Jachie-Pramso Senior High School, the Bosomtwe Rural Bank supported the school with 50 bags of cement to enable it to complete the boys’ dormitory which is under construction.
He gave the assurance that the bank would continue to support development initiatives of organisations, groups and individuals to accelerate the pace of development of the district.
The District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Edward Osei, who received the money on behalf of the police, commended the board and management of the Bosomtwe Rural Bank for the quick response to the needs of the police.
He said the support would enable the police to respond to distress calls to maintain law and order.
He appealed for public support, especially in respect of accommodation, explaining that because of inadequate accommodation, many of the policemen were compelled to stay far from their duty points.
He gave the assurance that the police would continue to maintain law and order in the district to bring about peace and security for law-abiding citizens to concentrate on their businesses.
The donation is to facilitate the movement of the police towards the maintenance of adequate security to enable law-abiding citizens concentrate on their core businesses.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank, Mr Philip Bondah, who presented the money on behalf of the bank, gave the assurance that the bank would continue to support the police in diverse ways for them to effectively police the Bosomtwe District and its environs.
He said it was only when the public actively supported the police in diverse ways that the latter would be adequately motivated to discharge their responsibilities more meaningfully.
Mr Bondah said during the joint 40th anniversary and Speech and Prize-giving Day of the Jachie-Pramso Senior High School, the Bosomtwe Rural Bank supported the school with 50 bags of cement to enable it to complete the boys’ dormitory which is under construction.
He gave the assurance that the bank would continue to support development initiatives of organisations, groups and individuals to accelerate the pace of development of the district.
The District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Edward Osei, who received the money on behalf of the police, commended the board and management of the Bosomtwe Rural Bank for the quick response to the needs of the police.
He said the support would enable the police to respond to distress calls to maintain law and order.
He appealed for public support, especially in respect of accommodation, explaining that because of inadequate accommodation, many of the policemen were compelled to stay far from their duty points.
He gave the assurance that the police would continue to maintain law and order in the district to bring about peace and security for law-abiding citizens to concentrate on their businesses.
POLICE FOR HUNT FOR SUSPECT ...The illegal water connection (PAGE 23, NOV 18 2010)
THE Suame District Police Command is searching for a man suspected to have illegally connected water to his premises at Abrepo Junction in Kumasi, since 2007.
Officers of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) who chanced on the illegal connection have on several occasions disconnected the pipe lines, but the suspect has, on each occasion, reconnected without recourse to paying any reconnection fee or water bills.
So far, the suspect, identified as Isaac Osei who, according to the GWCL officials, described himself as a Security man operating at a sensitive part in Kumasi, has accumulated Gh¢2,200 in bills and efforts to retrieve the money from him have proved futile.
Last Friday, the GWCL officials went to his house once again to disconnect the pipeline he had connected illegally and Police officials who accompanied them to effect his arrest were disappointed because the suspect once again eluded them.
The Ashanti Regional Manager of GWCL, Mr Boakye Frimpong, who briefed the media after the disconnection exercise, expressed concern about the attitude of the suspect, saying the company extended an olive branch to the suspect to “come forward for free regularisation of their service but he refused.”
“We were hoping that people will seize the opportunity, but we still have offenders who do not want to pay for water used,” he complained.
Mr Frimpong explained that the activities of the suspect came to public domain in 2007, when one of their meter readers “discovered that he had illegally connected our water to his premises at Abrepo Junction and disconnected him and left a message for him to report at our North District Office.”
He said the suspect did not only fail to respond “but instead reconnected the line without approval.”
He explained that the situation continued for five times “and anytime we disconnected the line, he reconnects. This happened in June 2007, October 2007, April 2008, August 2009 and November 2009.”
According to Mr Frimpong, it was such attitude displayed by the suspect that compelled the District Office to report his action to the Loss Control team who “went to disconnect the pipelines and served him a letter to come to the Regional Office, but this time too, he refused and again reconnected the line.”
He said it was after all efforts to get the suspect to use the appropriate channels had failed that they resorted to effect his arrest to retrieve the money owed the company.
Officers of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) who chanced on the illegal connection have on several occasions disconnected the pipe lines, but the suspect has, on each occasion, reconnected without recourse to paying any reconnection fee or water bills.
So far, the suspect, identified as Isaac Osei who, according to the GWCL officials, described himself as a Security man operating at a sensitive part in Kumasi, has accumulated Gh¢2,200 in bills and efforts to retrieve the money from him have proved futile.
Last Friday, the GWCL officials went to his house once again to disconnect the pipeline he had connected illegally and Police officials who accompanied them to effect his arrest were disappointed because the suspect once again eluded them.
The Ashanti Regional Manager of GWCL, Mr Boakye Frimpong, who briefed the media after the disconnection exercise, expressed concern about the attitude of the suspect, saying the company extended an olive branch to the suspect to “come forward for free regularisation of their service but he refused.”
“We were hoping that people will seize the opportunity, but we still have offenders who do not want to pay for water used,” he complained.
Mr Frimpong explained that the activities of the suspect came to public domain in 2007, when one of their meter readers “discovered that he had illegally connected our water to his premises at Abrepo Junction and disconnected him and left a message for him to report at our North District Office.”
He said the suspect did not only fail to respond “but instead reconnected the line without approval.”
He explained that the situation continued for five times “and anytime we disconnected the line, he reconnects. This happened in June 2007, October 2007, April 2008, August 2009 and November 2009.”
According to Mr Frimpong, it was such attitude displayed by the suspect that compelled the District Office to report his action to the Loss Control team who “went to disconnect the pipelines and served him a letter to come to the Regional Office, but this time too, he refused and again reconnected the line.”
He said it was after all efforts to get the suspect to use the appropriate channels had failed that they resorted to effect his arrest to retrieve the money owed the company.
DON'T USE POLITICIANS FOR RADIO TALK SHOWS (PAGE 13, NOV 18, 2010)
A LECTURER at the Department of Publishing Studies of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Dr Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, has called on radio stations to stop the use of politicians as panel members for morning show discussions.
He said politicians discuss issues based on party affiliations, denying the people objective analysis of matters affecting national development.
Speaking in an interview, Dr Opoku-Amankwa stressed the need for panel discussions not only to be composed of technocrats with deep knowledge of issues at stake, but also people who would discuss such issues dispassionately to accelerate sustainable national development.
He also expressed concern about the over-reliance on newspapers in discussing radio morning show programmes in the country.
The lecturer noted that the situation had been the main cause of political intolerance, resulting in the use of insults and foul language on radio.
He pointed out that the over-reliance on newspapers for morning show programmes proved that the radio stations did not have their own programmes to be discussed each morning.
“This tell us that on their own, they do not have planned programmes for their listeners. This is not good enough, because discussions which have politicians as the main panel members give the politicians the leeway to do things the way they want, instead of putting them on the carpet to address issues of national concern,” he stated.
Dr Opoku-Amankwa, therefore, challenged proprietors of radio stations to impress upon their producers to change the format of over-dependence on newspapers for their morning show programmes.
He said radio stations should rather devise formats that would reflect the promotion of health, education, agriculture and environmental issues among others, and stressed that such issues were key to sustainable national development.
Dr Opoku-Amankwa pointed out that the over-concentration of newspapers and use of foul language on radio undermined the primary objectives of journalists being the watchdogs of society, explaining that radio stations fail to explore areas that would put politicians on the carpet for them to respond to issues they had failed to address over the years.
“It is not good to discuss headlines of newspapers from morning to midday, based on partisan lines because such discussions do not help to properly address issues that promote accelerated and sustainable national development,” he said.
He pointed out that by designing well-defined formats and communication plans for such morning show programmes, as well as inviting technocrats with deep-seated knowledge as panel members instead of those affiliated with particular political parties, the radio stations would be able to explore the problems that had undermined the effective and efficient development of education, health, sanitation and agriculture, among others, which he said had become major problems in the country over the years.
“Our first year students are still not in the classrooms because there are no facilities to accommodate them for them to start their academic programmes. Teachers are not attending to them, and from the look of things, it is not likely that they would undertake any serious academic programme before the terms ends. These are the issues that should be taken up by the radio stations, because the students are supposed to complete their programme in three years, so efforts should be made to ensure that they do not suffer unduly,” he bemoaned.
Dr Opoku-Amankwa also pointed out that the issue of armed robbers harassing the citizenry, which the police had described as being over-blown by the media, are other concerns that should be properly investigated by the media to calm the nerves of the public.
He pointed out that so far, our politicians have proved that they are not capable of addressing the problems of educational reforms, so the media should also take up the challenges affecting education reforms in the country from pre-school level to tertiary and explore means by which the citizenry can take to address the challenges.
He said politicians discuss issues based on party affiliations, denying the people objective analysis of matters affecting national development.
Speaking in an interview, Dr Opoku-Amankwa stressed the need for panel discussions not only to be composed of technocrats with deep knowledge of issues at stake, but also people who would discuss such issues dispassionately to accelerate sustainable national development.
He also expressed concern about the over-reliance on newspapers in discussing radio morning show programmes in the country.
The lecturer noted that the situation had been the main cause of political intolerance, resulting in the use of insults and foul language on radio.
He pointed out that the over-reliance on newspapers for morning show programmes proved that the radio stations did not have their own programmes to be discussed each morning.
“This tell us that on their own, they do not have planned programmes for their listeners. This is not good enough, because discussions which have politicians as the main panel members give the politicians the leeway to do things the way they want, instead of putting them on the carpet to address issues of national concern,” he stated.
Dr Opoku-Amankwa, therefore, challenged proprietors of radio stations to impress upon their producers to change the format of over-dependence on newspapers for their morning show programmes.
He said radio stations should rather devise formats that would reflect the promotion of health, education, agriculture and environmental issues among others, and stressed that such issues were key to sustainable national development.
Dr Opoku-Amankwa pointed out that the over-concentration of newspapers and use of foul language on radio undermined the primary objectives of journalists being the watchdogs of society, explaining that radio stations fail to explore areas that would put politicians on the carpet for them to respond to issues they had failed to address over the years.
“It is not good to discuss headlines of newspapers from morning to midday, based on partisan lines because such discussions do not help to properly address issues that promote accelerated and sustainable national development,” he said.
He pointed out that by designing well-defined formats and communication plans for such morning show programmes, as well as inviting technocrats with deep-seated knowledge as panel members instead of those affiliated with particular political parties, the radio stations would be able to explore the problems that had undermined the effective and efficient development of education, health, sanitation and agriculture, among others, which he said had become major problems in the country over the years.
“Our first year students are still not in the classrooms because there are no facilities to accommodate them for them to start their academic programmes. Teachers are not attending to them, and from the look of things, it is not likely that they would undertake any serious academic programme before the terms ends. These are the issues that should be taken up by the radio stations, because the students are supposed to complete their programme in three years, so efforts should be made to ensure that they do not suffer unduly,” he bemoaned.
Dr Opoku-Amankwa also pointed out that the issue of armed robbers harassing the citizenry, which the police had described as being over-blown by the media, are other concerns that should be properly investigated by the media to calm the nerves of the public.
He pointed out that so far, our politicians have proved that they are not capable of addressing the problems of educational reforms, so the media should also take up the challenges affecting education reforms in the country from pre-school level to tertiary and explore means by which the citizenry can take to address the challenges.
KAATH SIGNS MOU TO COLLABORATE WITH CHINESE INSTITUTIONS (SPREAD, NOV 18, 2010)
Authorities of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with two leading Chinese medical institutions as part of a strategic drive to enhance the provision of tertiary healthcare services, training and research.
The two medical institutions are the Nanjing Medical University (NMU) and the Wenzhou Medical College (WMC), and WMC’s affiliated teaching hospital is the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College (FAHWMC).
The Chief Executive of KATH, Prof Ohene Adjei, signed the MoU for KATH, when he led a three-member delegation on a one-week visit to China.
Dr Di Chen, the President of NMU, signed for his university, while Prof Chen Xiaoming, the Vice President of WMC and President of FAHWMC, signed for his institutions.
The NMU, founded in 1934, is a top medical university with 1,400 strong faculty located in the Jiangsu Province. It has 18 affiliated hospitals and 30 other teaching hospitals.
Built in 1958, the WMC has close to 22,000 students, including Ghanaians, pursuing various medical programmes and related courses up to the Ph.D level, while the FAHWMC, established in 1919, currently has 1,600-bed facility at its old site and a new satellite facility with 2,500 beds equipped with modern medical equipment.
A third collaborative framework in the area of research and training is also being explored between KATH and the Centre for Infectious Diseases of the Beijing You’an Hospital.
Briefing journalists in Kumasi at the weekend, Prof. Ohene Adjei said although KATH had decades of rich experience in international partnership, this was the first time the hospital was entering into a relationship with Chinese institutions.
He said the hospital’s decision to seek special partnership with the prestigious Chinese institutions was in line with the growing relationship between the governments of the two countries and China’s
emergence as a global giant.
“We were overwhelmed by the level of innovation and standard of medical practice and facilities in the medical institutions and the affiliated teaching hospitals that we visited. We, therefore, have no doubt that the collaboration will help KATH to consolidate its position as a leading provider of specialist heathcare services, training and research in West Africa in line with our new Strategic Plan,” he said.
The Medical Director of KATH, Dr Baffour Awuah, and the Head of the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) Unit of the hospital, Mr Fred Mensah-Acheampong, were the other two members of the delegation.
The two medical institutions are the Nanjing Medical University (NMU) and the Wenzhou Medical College (WMC), and WMC’s affiliated teaching hospital is the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College (FAHWMC).
The Chief Executive of KATH, Prof Ohene Adjei, signed the MoU for KATH, when he led a three-member delegation on a one-week visit to China.
Dr Di Chen, the President of NMU, signed for his university, while Prof Chen Xiaoming, the Vice President of WMC and President of FAHWMC, signed for his institutions.
The NMU, founded in 1934, is a top medical university with 1,400 strong faculty located in the Jiangsu Province. It has 18 affiliated hospitals and 30 other teaching hospitals.
Built in 1958, the WMC has close to 22,000 students, including Ghanaians, pursuing various medical programmes and related courses up to the Ph.D level, while the FAHWMC, established in 1919, currently has 1,600-bed facility at its old site and a new satellite facility with 2,500 beds equipped with modern medical equipment.
A third collaborative framework in the area of research and training is also being explored between KATH and the Centre for Infectious Diseases of the Beijing You’an Hospital.
Briefing journalists in Kumasi at the weekend, Prof. Ohene Adjei said although KATH had decades of rich experience in international partnership, this was the first time the hospital was entering into a relationship with Chinese institutions.
He said the hospital’s decision to seek special partnership with the prestigious Chinese institutions was in line with the growing relationship between the governments of the two countries and China’s
emergence as a global giant.
“We were overwhelmed by the level of innovation and standard of medical practice and facilities in the medical institutions and the affiliated teaching hospitals that we visited. We, therefore, have no doubt that the collaboration will help KATH to consolidate its position as a leading provider of specialist heathcare services, training and research in West Africa in line with our new Strategic Plan,” he said.
The Medical Director of KATH, Dr Baffour Awuah, and the Head of the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) Unit of the hospital, Mr Fred Mensah-Acheampong, were the other two members of the delegation.
MS OPOKU TO CONTEST EFFIDUASE EAST ASSEMBLY (PAGE 13, NOV 18, 2010)
A 39 year old revenue collector, Ms Agartha Opoku, has expressed her desire to contest three men who are contesting the Effiduase East Electoral Area district level election.
Speaking in an interview on her chances of winning the election, Ms Opoku who graduated from Senior High School in 1996 said her commitment to support development makes her a better candidate than her opponents.
“ Everybody in the electoral area calls me people’s mother. This is because I have not only been supporting needy children, but have also actively involved myself in many developments initiatives, especially in the area of sanitation where I helped to repair the only public toilet in the area”.
She said “ when the only public toilet in the area broke down, I single-handedly mobilised support from key personalities to rehabilitate it and now residents, including my opponents have no problem visiting the toilet at any time.”
“ With these initiatives, I am certain that given the opportunity, even my opponents would vote for me” she stated.
She said even though she planned to rehabilitate the only public toilet, she was determined to support the construction of an additional one to reduce the inconvenience of queueing which had become the order of the day.
Ms Opoku also expressed concern about the problem of water for domestic and other uses and pledged to collaborate with stakeholders to construct a borehole for the community.
She said, the Effiduase East Electoral area had only one borehole that served them, a situation, which she said, made it impossible for residents to get sufficient water supply.
She said since she identified the problem, she had made the needed efforts to construct an additional one, and therefore appealed to the electorate to support her candidature to enable her implement programmes to ease the acute water problem affecting the area.
“ I will also organise the youth to undertake communal labour to support the development projects in the electoral area to accelerate socio-economic development she assured saying “as the people’s mother, I have endeared myself to the people so much that, mobilising the youth to actively support development projects would not be a difficult task”.
Expressing concern about the problem of school dropouts among the youth, she said, she was determined to collaborate with opinion leaders in the community to support brilliant and needy school children who had dropped out from school to get back into the classrooms.
“ I want them back into the classroom for them to build their capacity because they may have something to offer the community in particular and the country in general if they nurture their talents more meaningfully, She noted.
She said when elected, she would also liase with teachers in the community to encourage students to focus on their academic programmes.
This, she said, would enable the students to get better grades to enter tertiary institutions to build their capacity and acquire employable skills to support sustainable socio-economic developments .
Speaking in an interview on her chances of winning the election, Ms Opoku who graduated from Senior High School in 1996 said her commitment to support development makes her a better candidate than her opponents.
“ Everybody in the electoral area calls me people’s mother. This is because I have not only been supporting needy children, but have also actively involved myself in many developments initiatives, especially in the area of sanitation where I helped to repair the only public toilet in the area”.
She said “ when the only public toilet in the area broke down, I single-handedly mobilised support from key personalities to rehabilitate it and now residents, including my opponents have no problem visiting the toilet at any time.”
“ With these initiatives, I am certain that given the opportunity, even my opponents would vote for me” she stated.
She said even though she planned to rehabilitate the only public toilet, she was determined to support the construction of an additional one to reduce the inconvenience of queueing which had become the order of the day.
Ms Opoku also expressed concern about the problem of water for domestic and other uses and pledged to collaborate with stakeholders to construct a borehole for the community.
She said, the Effiduase East Electoral area had only one borehole that served them, a situation, which she said, made it impossible for residents to get sufficient water supply.
She said since she identified the problem, she had made the needed efforts to construct an additional one, and therefore appealed to the electorate to support her candidature to enable her implement programmes to ease the acute water problem affecting the area.
“ I will also organise the youth to undertake communal labour to support the development projects in the electoral area to accelerate socio-economic development she assured saying “as the people’s mother, I have endeared myself to the people so much that, mobilising the youth to actively support development projects would not be a difficult task”.
Expressing concern about the problem of school dropouts among the youth, she said, she was determined to collaborate with opinion leaders in the community to support brilliant and needy school children who had dropped out from school to get back into the classrooms.
“ I want them back into the classroom for them to build their capacity because they may have something to offer the community in particular and the country in general if they nurture their talents more meaningfully, She noted.
She said when elected, she would also liase with teachers in the community to encourage students to focus on their academic programmes.
This, she said, would enable the students to get better grades to enter tertiary institutions to build their capacity and acquire employable skills to support sustainable socio-economic developments .
ASPIRING FEMALE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS ...Promise good leadership (PAGE 11, NOV 18, 2010)
MARGARET Amo Opoku aka Ebenezer who is contesting the Ayeduase Electoral Area seat in the Kumasi metropolis in the upcoming District Level Elections hopes to work assiduously towards changing the face of development of the area for the better.
She said the area lacked some basic amenities needed to make life comfortable for the people and promised to put things right when voted as an assembly member.
She mentioned some of the projects she would tackle as water,education and toilet facilities, among others, and also promised to provide facilities to make markets in the area vibrant to promote businesses.
“Even though there is a market in the electoral area it is not enough and I will work at getting another one built,” she told the Daily Graphic.
Ms Amo Opoku, 60, is a businesswoman and is a graduate of the Sunyani Girls Vocational Institute. She made reference to the essence of education to the progress of society, and said efforts would be made to tackle the challenges of education in the area if given the nod. She further said she would institute measures to assist school dropouts acquire skills training.
Ms Amo Opoku said because of the large student population in the area
as a result of the numerous hostels, there was the need to improve security.
The aspirant says he had lived in the metropolis for 16 years and knew the problems of the area very well. “I am, therefore, well-positioned to lead the people in the assembly.”
She emphasised that the people of the area loved her and this would be translated into hard work when she gets to the assembly.
A 39-year-old Revenue Collector, Ms Agartha Opoku, has expressed her desire to contest the district level elections in the Effiduase East Electoral Area with three men.
Speaking to Daily Graphic on her chances of winning the election, Ms Opoku, who graduated with a senior high school certificate in 1996, said her commitment to support development initiatives in the area over the years makes her a better candidate than her fellow contestants.
“ Everybody in the electoral area calls me “people’s mother”. This is because I have not only been supporting needy children but has also actively involved myself in many development initiatives, especially in the area of sanitation where I helped to repair the only public toilet in the area”.
Stressing, she said, “ when the only public toilet in the area broke down, I singlehandedly mobilised support from key personalities to rehabilitate it, and now, residents, including my opponents, have no problem visiting the toilet at any time”
“With these initiatives, I am certain that given the opportunity, even my opponents would vote for me” she teased.
She said apart from her efforts to rehabilitate the only public toilet, she was determined to support the construction of an additional one to reduce the inconvenience of queuing which has become the order of the day.
Ms Opoku also expressed concern about the problem of water for domestic and other uses, and assured to collaborate with stakeholders to construct a borehole for the community.
Explaining, she said, the Effiduase East Electoral Area has only one borehole that serves them, a situation, which she said, made it impossible for residents to get sufficient water supply.
She said since she identified the problem, she has made the needed efforts to construct an additional one, and, therefore, appealed to the electorate to support her to enable her to implement her programmes to ease the acute water problem affecting them.
“ I will also organise the youth for us to undertake communal labour to support the development of projects in the electoral area to accelerate socio-economic development, she assured, stressing, “as the people’s mother, I have endeared myself to the people so much that mobilising the youth to actively support development projects would not be a difficult task”.
Expressing concern about the problem of school dropouts among the youth, she said, she was determined to collaborate with opinion leaders in the community to support brilliant needy school children who had dropped out from school to get back into the classrooms.
“ I want them back in the classroom for them to build their capacity because they may have something to offer the community in particular and the country in general if they nurture their talents more meaningfully”, she said.
She said when elected, she would also liaise with teachers in the community to encourage students to focus on their academic programmes.
This, she said, would make the students get better grades to enter tertiary institutions to acquire employable skills.
A 50-year-old woman contesting the district assembly election in the Nyankyenease-Apatrapa Electoral Area against four male candidates has indicated her resolve to win the election to enable her collaborate with the opinion leaders in the community to initiate projects that will impact positively on the lives of residents.
“I moved into the area barely two years ago, but I have already made an impact by initiating projects that have endeared me to the residents” declared Madam Akua Afriyie Amanfo.
Stressing, she said “I was born into leadership position and as a gender advocate, I have the edge over my contestants, so they should offer me their unflinching support”.
She expressed concern about the bad state of roads, as well as the deplorable sanitation conditions and inadequate security and lighting system in the area, and pointed out that the poor road network in the area was preventing commercial vehicles from transporting passengers to and from the Central Business District in Kumasi.
This, she said, was undermining the effective operation of their businesses and gave the assurance to collaborate with the Department of Urban Roads of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to rehabilitate the road network.
She also expressed concern about the absence of lamp posts along the major streets in the area, saying “ it undermines security.”
Madam Amanfo said as part of the measures for checking the activities of criminals in the area, she had already organised the youth in the community to form voluntary gangs to enhance security.
She also said she would make malaria control part of her agenda, adding that “the assembly need to develop the drainage system in Kumasi very well to enhance sanitation and reduce the breeding of mosquitoes.”
“ I am very sure of winning the election. Notwithstanding the fact that I am a woman, I am the strongest among all the candidates, in terms of mobilising the youth to undertake development programmes and also lobbying for facilities that would enhance development, so I stand a better chance of winning hands down to support the development of the electoral area”.
She said the area lacked some basic amenities needed to make life comfortable for the people and promised to put things right when voted as an assembly member.
She mentioned some of the projects she would tackle as water,education and toilet facilities, among others, and also promised to provide facilities to make markets in the area vibrant to promote businesses.
“Even though there is a market in the electoral area it is not enough and I will work at getting another one built,” she told the Daily Graphic.
Ms Amo Opoku, 60, is a businesswoman and is a graduate of the Sunyani Girls Vocational Institute. She made reference to the essence of education to the progress of society, and said efforts would be made to tackle the challenges of education in the area if given the nod. She further said she would institute measures to assist school dropouts acquire skills training.
Ms Amo Opoku said because of the large student population in the area
as a result of the numerous hostels, there was the need to improve security.
The aspirant says he had lived in the metropolis for 16 years and knew the problems of the area very well. “I am, therefore, well-positioned to lead the people in the assembly.”
She emphasised that the people of the area loved her and this would be translated into hard work when she gets to the assembly.
A 39-year-old Revenue Collector, Ms Agartha Opoku, has expressed her desire to contest the district level elections in the Effiduase East Electoral Area with three men.
Speaking to Daily Graphic on her chances of winning the election, Ms Opoku, who graduated with a senior high school certificate in 1996, said her commitment to support development initiatives in the area over the years makes her a better candidate than her fellow contestants.
“ Everybody in the electoral area calls me “people’s mother”. This is because I have not only been supporting needy children but has also actively involved myself in many development initiatives, especially in the area of sanitation where I helped to repair the only public toilet in the area”.
Stressing, she said, “ when the only public toilet in the area broke down, I singlehandedly mobilised support from key personalities to rehabilitate it, and now, residents, including my opponents, have no problem visiting the toilet at any time”
“With these initiatives, I am certain that given the opportunity, even my opponents would vote for me” she teased.
She said apart from her efforts to rehabilitate the only public toilet, she was determined to support the construction of an additional one to reduce the inconvenience of queuing which has become the order of the day.
Ms Opoku also expressed concern about the problem of water for domestic and other uses, and assured to collaborate with stakeholders to construct a borehole for the community.
Explaining, she said, the Effiduase East Electoral Area has only one borehole that serves them, a situation, which she said, made it impossible for residents to get sufficient water supply.
She said since she identified the problem, she has made the needed efforts to construct an additional one, and, therefore, appealed to the electorate to support her to enable her to implement her programmes to ease the acute water problem affecting them.
“ I will also organise the youth for us to undertake communal labour to support the development of projects in the electoral area to accelerate socio-economic development, she assured, stressing, “as the people’s mother, I have endeared myself to the people so much that mobilising the youth to actively support development projects would not be a difficult task”.
Expressing concern about the problem of school dropouts among the youth, she said, she was determined to collaborate with opinion leaders in the community to support brilliant needy school children who had dropped out from school to get back into the classrooms.
“ I want them back in the classroom for them to build their capacity because they may have something to offer the community in particular and the country in general if they nurture their talents more meaningfully”, she said.
She said when elected, she would also liaise with teachers in the community to encourage students to focus on their academic programmes.
This, she said, would make the students get better grades to enter tertiary institutions to acquire employable skills.
A 50-year-old woman contesting the district assembly election in the Nyankyenease-Apatrapa Electoral Area against four male candidates has indicated her resolve to win the election to enable her collaborate with the opinion leaders in the community to initiate projects that will impact positively on the lives of residents.
“I moved into the area barely two years ago, but I have already made an impact by initiating projects that have endeared me to the residents” declared Madam Akua Afriyie Amanfo.
Stressing, she said “I was born into leadership position and as a gender advocate, I have the edge over my contestants, so they should offer me their unflinching support”.
She expressed concern about the bad state of roads, as well as the deplorable sanitation conditions and inadequate security and lighting system in the area, and pointed out that the poor road network in the area was preventing commercial vehicles from transporting passengers to and from the Central Business District in Kumasi.
This, she said, was undermining the effective operation of their businesses and gave the assurance to collaborate with the Department of Urban Roads of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to rehabilitate the road network.
She also expressed concern about the absence of lamp posts along the major streets in the area, saying “ it undermines security.”
Madam Amanfo said as part of the measures for checking the activities of criminals in the area, she had already organised the youth in the community to form voluntary gangs to enhance security.
She also said she would make malaria control part of her agenda, adding that “the assembly need to develop the drainage system in Kumasi very well to enhance sanitation and reduce the breeding of mosquitoes.”
“ I am very sure of winning the election. Notwithstanding the fact that I am a woman, I am the strongest among all the candidates, in terms of mobilising the youth to undertake development programmes and also lobbying for facilities that would enhance development, so I stand a better chance of winning hands down to support the development of the electoral area”.
GENDER, WATER AND SANITATION WORKSHOP ENDS AT DROBO (PAGE 11, NOV 18, 2010)
Environment of Hope (EoHOPE), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based at Kato near Berekum in the Brong Ahafo Region, has organised a day’s workshop at Drobo in the Jaman South District for about 30 queens, 200 basic school children and some women’s groups.
The workshop, held on the theme “Gender, water and sanitation; building the case for sustainable use through transparent and accountable mechanism” was organised to sensitise the participants to the need to protect the environment, especially water bodies, since they are the primary sources of water in the society.
Formally known as QueenCare International, EoHOPE also organised the workshop to educate the participants on good hygiene, environmental practices and the judicious use of water.
The sponsors of the workshop were the World Bank Civil Society Fund and the Centre for Development Partner (CDP).
Welcoming the participants, Nana Afia Siraa Ababio III, Executive Director of EoHOPE, stressed the need for women, often regarded as the managers of homes in the country, to use water judiciously and observe personal hygiene in order to avoid contracting waterborne diseases since that constituted about 90 per cent of diseases found in the area.
She urged the queens to exert their traditional authority and impress on their people, the need to desist from farming along river banks and also keep their surroundings clean to avoid contracting waterborne diseases.
She further stressed the need for parents to make the education of their children their priority and urged the queens, who are the repository of the country’s rich cultural heritage, to help inculcate the good cultural and traditional practices, which were dying slowly, in the youth.
Nana Ababio, who is also the Queen of Kato, near Berekum, said the region lagged behind in girls education in the country and, therefore, called on stakeholders, especially queens, to lead the crusade to promote the education of girls and also abolish cultural practices that were a barrier to their education.
Mr Isaac Osei, the Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who presented a paper on “Gender and Environment”, noted that since time immemorial women had been the major users and managers of the country’s natural resources.
In this regard, he said any attention paid to the education and capacity building of women would invariably lead to a major positive transformation of the environment.
Mr Osei said women were also engaged in dry season vegetable farming which involved the use of various agrochemicals that could end up polluting water bodies hence any education drive targeting them would certainly help reduce the pollution of rivers and streams.
The Jaman South District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Julius Atta Bediako, thanked the organisers of the workshop and said it was aimed at creating awareness of the need to improve water and sanitation.
The workshop, held on the theme “Gender, water and sanitation; building the case for sustainable use through transparent and accountable mechanism” was organised to sensitise the participants to the need to protect the environment, especially water bodies, since they are the primary sources of water in the society.
Formally known as QueenCare International, EoHOPE also organised the workshop to educate the participants on good hygiene, environmental practices and the judicious use of water.
The sponsors of the workshop were the World Bank Civil Society Fund and the Centre for Development Partner (CDP).
Welcoming the participants, Nana Afia Siraa Ababio III, Executive Director of EoHOPE, stressed the need for women, often regarded as the managers of homes in the country, to use water judiciously and observe personal hygiene in order to avoid contracting waterborne diseases since that constituted about 90 per cent of diseases found in the area.
She urged the queens to exert their traditional authority and impress on their people, the need to desist from farming along river banks and also keep their surroundings clean to avoid contracting waterborne diseases.
She further stressed the need for parents to make the education of their children their priority and urged the queens, who are the repository of the country’s rich cultural heritage, to help inculcate the good cultural and traditional practices, which were dying slowly, in the youth.
Nana Ababio, who is also the Queen of Kato, near Berekum, said the region lagged behind in girls education in the country and, therefore, called on stakeholders, especially queens, to lead the crusade to promote the education of girls and also abolish cultural practices that were a barrier to their education.
Mr Isaac Osei, the Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who presented a paper on “Gender and Environment”, noted that since time immemorial women had been the major users and managers of the country’s natural resources.
In this regard, he said any attention paid to the education and capacity building of women would invariably lead to a major positive transformation of the environment.
Mr Osei said women were also engaged in dry season vegetable farming which involved the use of various agrochemicals that could end up polluting water bodies hence any education drive targeting them would certainly help reduce the pollution of rivers and streams.
The Jaman South District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Julius Atta Bediako, thanked the organisers of the workshop and said it was aimed at creating awareness of the need to improve water and sanitation.
KNUST STUDENTS CHALLENGE KOTOKO...To broaden recruitment net (PAGE 63, NOV 17, 2010)
A group of students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) who describe themselves as concerned supporters of Kumasi Asante Kotoko have urged the technical team of Kotoko to broaden its scope of recruitment to tertiary institutions.
They noted that such institutions abound with talents who can fullfil the expectations of the club.
He noted that with talents who can fulfil the expectations of the club.
In a press statement signed by 36 students and circulated to the media in Kumasi, they contended that “ the Porcupine fraternity is a big one and every effort must be made to poach the best into the fraternity”.
They said it was important for the technical team of Kotoko to broaden the scope of recruiting players into the team so that the club would be blessed with budding talents “that we lose season after season to our competitors”.
They cited Uriah Asante as a typical example, saying “we all saw him play in the match with our arch rivals. This is a chap who was poached by our arch rivals from the University of Ghana football team”.
They pointed out that “some players who played in the Ghana university team ahead of Uriah Asante in the West African University Games, as well as the World University Games, are still actively playing in the university team at the KNUST”.
Such players, they said, “have gathered considerable experience that would make it possible for them to excel in the premiership.”
They said by broadening the scope of targeting talented players in tertiary institutions, the technical team of Kotoko would not find it difficult to blend them with the old guards to make Kotoko a formidable team.
“We are of the opinion that it will do our club a world of good if we can give these super talents an opportunity to prove their worth through trials, justifiers or any other means the technical team deems fit,” they noted.
“We believe everyone who gets the privilege to don the jersey of the Porcupine Warriors family must do so on merit and nothing else”.
They noted that such institutions abound with talents who can fullfil the expectations of the club.
He noted that with talents who can fulfil the expectations of the club.
In a press statement signed by 36 students and circulated to the media in Kumasi, they contended that “ the Porcupine fraternity is a big one and every effort must be made to poach the best into the fraternity”.
They said it was important for the technical team of Kotoko to broaden the scope of recruiting players into the team so that the club would be blessed with budding talents “that we lose season after season to our competitors”.
They cited Uriah Asante as a typical example, saying “we all saw him play in the match with our arch rivals. This is a chap who was poached by our arch rivals from the University of Ghana football team”.
They pointed out that “some players who played in the Ghana university team ahead of Uriah Asante in the West African University Games, as well as the World University Games, are still actively playing in the university team at the KNUST”.
Such players, they said, “have gathered considerable experience that would make it possible for them to excel in the premiership.”
They said by broadening the scope of targeting talented players in tertiary institutions, the technical team of Kotoko would not find it difficult to blend them with the old guards to make Kotoko a formidable team.
“We are of the opinion that it will do our club a world of good if we can give these super talents an opportunity to prove their worth through trials, justifiers or any other means the technical team deems fit,” they noted.
“We believe everyone who gets the privilege to don the jersey of the Porcupine Warriors family must do so on merit and nothing else”.
KOKODE CRIES FOR WATER (PAGE 18, NOV 16, 2010)
FOR the past five years, residents of Kokode, a suburb of Kumasi, have not had access to potable water, compelling them to depend on water tanker services for the supply of water at a huge cost.
Residents have, therefore, appealed to the Ghana Water Company to repair damaged pipelines in the community to enable them have access to potable water for improved sanitation and hygiene.
Making the appeal when a section of the residents visited the Kumasi Office of Graphic Communications Group Limited, their spokeswoman, Ms Victoria Adoma, said the community had been neglected for far too long in terms of water supply and sanitation.
The absence of sanitary sites in the community, with the failure of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to address the problem of sanitation, is also creating problems in the community as residents found it difficult to dispose of refuse generated in their homes.
For more than five years now “not a drop of water has passed through our taps,” she stated and explained that the situation has compelled them to buy water from operators of water tankers.
She further explained that residents who could not afford to buy water from tanker operators relied on streams.
Ms Adoma expressed concern about the inability of the GWCL to address the problem and urged it to respond quickly to the appeal of members of the community.
On sanitation, Ms Adoma stated that the absence of sanitary sites and public places of convenience in the community were some of the major challenges confronting residents as they were unable to dispose off their waste properly.
She explained that few years ago, litter bins were supplied to individual homes in the community for a fee, a situation which she said reduced the incidence of littering “but surprisingly, the bins have disappeared.“
She said it was important for authorities of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly to address the problem of waste disposal at Kokode to avoid the outbreak of any disease in the community.
She explained that because Kokode is a traditional community, many homes did not have access to toilet facilities, a situation which impacted negatively on sanitation and hygiene as the youth, especially, defecated in nearby bushes.
The KMA, she stated, had provided places of convenience for neighbouring suburbs like Asuoyeboa, Kwadaso and Edwinase, among others, and must, therefore, not deny the people of Kokode of the same facility.
Residents have, therefore, appealed to the Ghana Water Company to repair damaged pipelines in the community to enable them have access to potable water for improved sanitation and hygiene.
Making the appeal when a section of the residents visited the Kumasi Office of Graphic Communications Group Limited, their spokeswoman, Ms Victoria Adoma, said the community had been neglected for far too long in terms of water supply and sanitation.
The absence of sanitary sites in the community, with the failure of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to address the problem of sanitation, is also creating problems in the community as residents found it difficult to dispose of refuse generated in their homes.
For more than five years now “not a drop of water has passed through our taps,” she stated and explained that the situation has compelled them to buy water from operators of water tankers.
She further explained that residents who could not afford to buy water from tanker operators relied on streams.
Ms Adoma expressed concern about the inability of the GWCL to address the problem and urged it to respond quickly to the appeal of members of the community.
On sanitation, Ms Adoma stated that the absence of sanitary sites and public places of convenience in the community were some of the major challenges confronting residents as they were unable to dispose off their waste properly.
She explained that few years ago, litter bins were supplied to individual homes in the community for a fee, a situation which she said reduced the incidence of littering “but surprisingly, the bins have disappeared.“
She said it was important for authorities of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly to address the problem of waste disposal at Kokode to avoid the outbreak of any disease in the community.
She explained that because Kokode is a traditional community, many homes did not have access to toilet facilities, a situation which impacted negatively on sanitation and hygiene as the youth, especially, defecated in nearby bushes.
The KMA, she stated, had provided places of convenience for neighbouring suburbs like Asuoyeboa, Kwadaso and Edwinase, among others, and must, therefore, not deny the people of Kokode of the same facility.
SUAME POLICE HUNTS FOR ROBBERS (PAGE 18, NOV 16, 2010)
THE Suame District Police Command is searching for a security man alleged to have recruited a gang of robbers who attacked the Afrancho branch of Unity Oil fuel station and made away with an amount of GH¢2,684 00.
The suspect, identified as Kwadwo Antwi, and his gang also made away with a Barclays Bank cheque with face value of GH¢371.70 when they attacked the fuel station around 7.00a.m. on Sunday, June 20, 2010.
So far, the Suame District Police has arrested two of the suspects who were identified as Frederick Annor and Daniel Donyina.
The two were remanded into prison custody by a Kumasi High Court, presided over by Justice Batu, when they appeared before him on Friday, November 12, 2010.
The suspects, who pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to rob and robbery, would reappear before the court on November 29, 2010.
Briefing the court on the facts of the case, a State Attorney, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo-Boison, said the complainant is a cashier at the Afrancho branch of Unity Oil where the security man, now at large, also works.
He said around 7:20 a.m. on Sunday, June 20, 2010, Frederick Annor and Daniel Donyina hired a taxi that took them to the Afrancho branch of Unity Oil and when they arrived, they entered the office of the complainant, brought out a locally manufactured pistol and ordered the complainant to surrender all the money in her possession.
He said investigations proved that it was the security man, now at large, who allegedly recruited Donyina and Annor to attack the fuel station and monitored their movement until they arrived at the station.
Explaining, Mr Otoo-Boison said during the attack, the suspects succeeded in taking an amount of GH¢2,684.00 and a Barclays Bank cheque with face value of Gh¢371.70 and just afterwards, rushed out with the money and boarded the taxi parked around the station and ordered the driver to move.
According to the prosecutor, just as the driver was about to move, he heard the complainant shouting, “thieves,” pointing to the suspects who had joined the taxi.
He said the driver became suspicious and was therefore reluctant to move the taxi and at that point, the suspects fished out the pistols they were wielding and pointed it at the driver, ordering him to move quickly.
He said the driver drove to the Afrancho township, turned off the ignition key and jumped off the taxi, shouting for help, which attracted the youth in the community to come to his rescue.
He said the youth succeeded in overpowering the two suspected robbers, arrested them and informed the Suame District police who arrived to take them into their custody for them to assist in their investigations.
He said during investigations, the suspects mentioned Kwadwo Antwi as the one who allegedly recruited them to rob the fuel station.
The suspect, identified as Kwadwo Antwi, and his gang also made away with a Barclays Bank cheque with face value of GH¢371.70 when they attacked the fuel station around 7.00a.m. on Sunday, June 20, 2010.
So far, the Suame District Police has arrested two of the suspects who were identified as Frederick Annor and Daniel Donyina.
The two were remanded into prison custody by a Kumasi High Court, presided over by Justice Batu, when they appeared before him on Friday, November 12, 2010.
The suspects, who pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to rob and robbery, would reappear before the court on November 29, 2010.
Briefing the court on the facts of the case, a State Attorney, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo-Boison, said the complainant is a cashier at the Afrancho branch of Unity Oil where the security man, now at large, also works.
He said around 7:20 a.m. on Sunday, June 20, 2010, Frederick Annor and Daniel Donyina hired a taxi that took them to the Afrancho branch of Unity Oil and when they arrived, they entered the office of the complainant, brought out a locally manufactured pistol and ordered the complainant to surrender all the money in her possession.
He said investigations proved that it was the security man, now at large, who allegedly recruited Donyina and Annor to attack the fuel station and monitored their movement until they arrived at the station.
Explaining, Mr Otoo-Boison said during the attack, the suspects succeeded in taking an amount of GH¢2,684.00 and a Barclays Bank cheque with face value of Gh¢371.70 and just afterwards, rushed out with the money and boarded the taxi parked around the station and ordered the driver to move.
According to the prosecutor, just as the driver was about to move, he heard the complainant shouting, “thieves,” pointing to the suspects who had joined the taxi.
He said the driver became suspicious and was therefore reluctant to move the taxi and at that point, the suspects fished out the pistols they were wielding and pointed it at the driver, ordering him to move quickly.
He said the driver drove to the Afrancho township, turned off the ignition key and jumped off the taxi, shouting for help, which attracted the youth in the community to come to his rescue.
He said the youth succeeded in overpowering the two suspected robbers, arrested them and informed the Suame District police who arrived to take them into their custody for them to assist in their investigations.
He said during investigations, the suspects mentioned Kwadwo Antwi as the one who allegedly recruited them to rob the fuel station.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
REGULATE LABORATORY PRACTICE (PAGE 19, NOV 12, 2010)
Executive members of the Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Association of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists (GABMLS) have appealed to the government to expedite action on a Legislative Instrument (LI) to regulate laboratory practice in the country.
They explained that while medical doctors, pharmacists and nurses in the country continued to maintain high professional standards in their practices and enjoyed good public image, the same could not be said of those who undertook laboratory testing, thus lowering their self-esteem among the public.
Making the appeal during a courtesy call on the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace as part of the Awukudae celebration, the GABMLS noted, “ in spite of the critical importance of laboratory services to the provision of quality health care, there is no law and regulatory body to regulate the practice of laboratory services in the country”
“Fake laboratories all over the place should be of great concern, not only to the leaders of our association, but to all Ghanaians, because the situation has very serious consequences on healthcare delivery in Ghana,” they said.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the GABMLS, Mr Thomas Gyampomah, who made the appeal on behalf of his executive, pointed out that given the concern of Otumfuo Osei Tutu to support better health care delivery for Ghanaians, and his “enviable stature in the affairs of the country, we have absolute confidence and trust that once you make an input, the government would expedite action to pass a Legislative Instrument to enact a law that would regulate the practice of laboratory testing in the country”.
Mr Gyampomah said “the association is very much committed to making a national effort to promote the use of best practices in laboratory medicine, but the absence of regulatory body is a huge limitation, which must be rectified immediately to save Ghanaians from quack practitioners and substandard laboratory services”.
He said the association also considered the enactment of a legislative instrument and subsequent establishment of a regulatory body as its number one priority, noting that ,“ as a professional group, we have used all avenues available to us to call on the government to pass a legislative instrument to regulate our practices, but to no avail”.
The courtesy call was to enable the executive members to introduce themselves to the Asantehene and to commend him for his support for quality health care delivery.
Among the executive members who were at the Manhyia Palace were the Vice-Chairman, Mr Abass Alhassan; Mr Awuah Nyantakyi, Secretary; Mr Michael Owusu, Organiser; and Mr David Ofosu Ntiamoah, Financial Secretary.
Expressing concern about the proliferation of laboratory testing in the country, Mr Gyampomah said evidence was clear in newspaper publications when the HIV status of a patient tested at two different laboratories at Bantama “gave different results“.
“A few weeks later in Accra, the Hepatitis B status of another patient in two different laboratories was also reported differently,” he added.
Mr Gyampomah said the number of people who had either died, been maimed, or traumatised through the activities of fake practitioners could not be quantified,” stressing ,“ these occurrences are enough signals to cause the government to hasten to come up with the appropriate legislation that will regulate laboratory services to enhance quality health care delivery”.
They explained that while medical doctors, pharmacists and nurses in the country continued to maintain high professional standards in their practices and enjoyed good public image, the same could not be said of those who undertook laboratory testing, thus lowering their self-esteem among the public.
Making the appeal during a courtesy call on the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace as part of the Awukudae celebration, the GABMLS noted, “ in spite of the critical importance of laboratory services to the provision of quality health care, there is no law and regulatory body to regulate the practice of laboratory services in the country”
“Fake laboratories all over the place should be of great concern, not only to the leaders of our association, but to all Ghanaians, because the situation has very serious consequences on healthcare delivery in Ghana,” they said.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the GABMLS, Mr Thomas Gyampomah, who made the appeal on behalf of his executive, pointed out that given the concern of Otumfuo Osei Tutu to support better health care delivery for Ghanaians, and his “enviable stature in the affairs of the country, we have absolute confidence and trust that once you make an input, the government would expedite action to pass a Legislative Instrument to enact a law that would regulate the practice of laboratory testing in the country”.
Mr Gyampomah said “the association is very much committed to making a national effort to promote the use of best practices in laboratory medicine, but the absence of regulatory body is a huge limitation, which must be rectified immediately to save Ghanaians from quack practitioners and substandard laboratory services”.
He said the association also considered the enactment of a legislative instrument and subsequent establishment of a regulatory body as its number one priority, noting that ,“ as a professional group, we have used all avenues available to us to call on the government to pass a legislative instrument to regulate our practices, but to no avail”.
The courtesy call was to enable the executive members to introduce themselves to the Asantehene and to commend him for his support for quality health care delivery.
Among the executive members who were at the Manhyia Palace were the Vice-Chairman, Mr Abass Alhassan; Mr Awuah Nyantakyi, Secretary; Mr Michael Owusu, Organiser; and Mr David Ofosu Ntiamoah, Financial Secretary.
Expressing concern about the proliferation of laboratory testing in the country, Mr Gyampomah said evidence was clear in newspaper publications when the HIV status of a patient tested at two different laboratories at Bantama “gave different results“.
“A few weeks later in Accra, the Hepatitis B status of another patient in two different laboratories was also reported differently,” he added.
Mr Gyampomah said the number of people who had either died, been maimed, or traumatised through the activities of fake practitioners could not be quantified,” stressing ,“ these occurrences are enough signals to cause the government to hasten to come up with the appropriate legislation that will regulate laboratory services to enhance quality health care delivery”.
COURT ORDERS VEHICLES TO BE GROUNDED (PAGE 29, NOV 10, 2010)
A Magistrate’S Court has ordered that four 207 Mercedes Benz vehicles whose drivers were prosecuted by the court for disconnecting the rear brakes of the vehicles be grounded and prevented from plying any route in the country until the brakes are repaired.
The court, presided over by Mr Eugene Obeng-Ntim, also ordered the drivers of the vehicles to present their vehicles to the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Authority (DVLA) for inspection after the repairs for the Authority to declare the vehicle safe for use.
The magistrate sternly warned the drivers not to use the vehicles for any commercial purposes until the DVLA directed them to do so.
The court gave the order after a task force established in Kumasi to enforce road traffic regulations in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs arrested 22 drivers for prosecution for flouting various road traffic regulations.
The task force, which started operating last Friday, inspected 162 vehicles during the exercise and cautioned 38 drivers for minor offences.
The Ashanti Regional Licensing Officer of the DVLA, Mr Noah Tetteh Matey, who briefed the Daily Graphic about the exercise, said as part of the exercise, drivers of eight mini buses, including four 207 Mercedes Benz buses and four Nissan Urvan buses, were arrested and prosecuted.
He explained that their offences included disconnecting the rear brakes of their vehicles, using worn-out tyres, defective rear shock absorbers and defective lights among others.
According to Mr Matey, the task force, made up of the DVLA officers, the police and members of the Road Safety Commission, also arrested and prosecuted four drivers of mini trucks and two of articulated trucks whose offences included driving rickety vehicles and vehicles with poor brakes, and driving without licence.
Mr Matey said three private car drivers were also arrested for using windscreens with multiple cracks, as well as driving without driver's licence.
He said an articulated truck driver who was using a low class licence was also arrested and four tractor drivers who were driving with expired driving licences, defective lights and traffic indicators were also arrested and prosecuted.
He said the drivers of the tractors were also arrested for driving vehicles with defective horns, defaced number plates and worn-out tyres.
He said the exercise, which was conducted on the outskirts of the Kumasi metropolis, along the Kumasi-Accra road, would be sustained and extended to other major roads in the metropolis.
Commending the court for the speedy trial of the offending drivers, Mr Matey said such action would not only motivate members of the task force to sustain the operation, but would also deter drivers who had developed the penchant for flouting road traffic regulations.
The court, presided over by Mr Eugene Obeng-Ntim, also ordered the drivers of the vehicles to present their vehicles to the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Authority (DVLA) for inspection after the repairs for the Authority to declare the vehicle safe for use.
The magistrate sternly warned the drivers not to use the vehicles for any commercial purposes until the DVLA directed them to do so.
The court gave the order after a task force established in Kumasi to enforce road traffic regulations in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs arrested 22 drivers for prosecution for flouting various road traffic regulations.
The task force, which started operating last Friday, inspected 162 vehicles during the exercise and cautioned 38 drivers for minor offences.
The Ashanti Regional Licensing Officer of the DVLA, Mr Noah Tetteh Matey, who briefed the Daily Graphic about the exercise, said as part of the exercise, drivers of eight mini buses, including four 207 Mercedes Benz buses and four Nissan Urvan buses, were arrested and prosecuted.
He explained that their offences included disconnecting the rear brakes of their vehicles, using worn-out tyres, defective rear shock absorbers and defective lights among others.
According to Mr Matey, the task force, made up of the DVLA officers, the police and members of the Road Safety Commission, also arrested and prosecuted four drivers of mini trucks and two of articulated trucks whose offences included driving rickety vehicles and vehicles with poor brakes, and driving without licence.
Mr Matey said three private car drivers were also arrested for using windscreens with multiple cracks, as well as driving without driver's licence.
He said an articulated truck driver who was using a low class licence was also arrested and four tractor drivers who were driving with expired driving licences, defective lights and traffic indicators were also arrested and prosecuted.
He said the drivers of the tractors were also arrested for driving vehicles with defective horns, defaced number plates and worn-out tyres.
He said the exercise, which was conducted on the outskirts of the Kumasi metropolis, along the Kumasi-Accra road, would be sustained and extended to other major roads in the metropolis.
Commending the court for the speedy trial of the offending drivers, Mr Matey said such action would not only motivate members of the task force to sustain the operation, but would also deter drivers who had developed the penchant for flouting road traffic regulations.
BUTCHER JAILED 50 YEARS (PAGE 29, NOV 10, 2010)
A Kumasi-based butcher, who, together with three accomplices, attacked a student at gunpoint on September 12, 2010 at Sabon Zongo, a Kumasi suburb, and robbed him, has been convicted and sentenced to a-50 year jail term with hard labour.
The police have mounted an intensive search for the three accomplices who are at large.
The convict, Abubarkar Omar, and his accomplices, battered the victim with the butt of guns they were wielding when they attacked him on September 12, 2010 around 10:30 p.m. at Sabon Zongo, before robbing him of two Nokia phones, a silver necklace and GH¢150.00.
Omar was sentenced after he had pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to rob and robbery when he appeared before the Kumasi Circuit Court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Amoo-Yartey.
Prosecuting, a State Attorney, Ms Anita Dennis Wase, said the complainant was a second year student of Antoa Senior High School and resided at Allah Bar, a Kumasi suburb, while the convict, who is a butcher at the Kumasi Abattoir, resided at Sabon Zongo with the three accomplices.
She explained that around 10:30 pm on September 12, 2010, the victim and some friends, who were witnesses in the case, were on their way home after delivering a message to somebody at Sabon Zongo.
He said on reaching the Asawasi M/A Junior High School, Omar and the three accomplices emerged from a hideout wielding locally manufactured pistols and ordered the victim and his friends to surrender their money and mobile phones to them.
Explaining further, Ms Wase said without any form of provocation, Omar started buttering the head of the student, opening a deep cut over his left eye that caused him to bleed profusely.
She said Omar and his accomplices succeeded in robbing the student of two Nokia phones valued at GH¢100.00, a silver necklace valued GH¢7.00, and cash of GH¢150.00, with threats on their lives before bolting with their booty.
Ms Wase said in spite of the severe injury the student sustained, he managed to lodge a complaint with the Asawase police and gave a statement before seeking medical care.
She said intensive police investigations led to the arrest of Omar on September 13, 2010, explaining that it was volunteers at Sabon Zongo who spotted Omar, arrested and handed him over to the police to assist in their investigations.
He said police investigations also led to the retrieval of the locally manufactured pistol he used to commit the crime.
Ms Wase said during investigations, the police also succeeded in retrieving the silver necklace from Omar during a search, and after giving his statement, he mentioned the names of the three accomplices, but the police could not locate them from their hideouts.
According to Ms Wase, on September 25, 2010, Omar again led the police to Akwatia Line, where the Nokia phones he took from the victim were retrieved and after further investigations, the police charged him with the offence.
The police have mounted an intensive search for the three accomplices who are at large.
The convict, Abubarkar Omar, and his accomplices, battered the victim with the butt of guns they were wielding when they attacked him on September 12, 2010 around 10:30 p.m. at Sabon Zongo, before robbing him of two Nokia phones, a silver necklace and GH¢150.00.
Omar was sentenced after he had pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to rob and robbery when he appeared before the Kumasi Circuit Court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Amoo-Yartey.
Prosecuting, a State Attorney, Ms Anita Dennis Wase, said the complainant was a second year student of Antoa Senior High School and resided at Allah Bar, a Kumasi suburb, while the convict, who is a butcher at the Kumasi Abattoir, resided at Sabon Zongo with the three accomplices.
She explained that around 10:30 pm on September 12, 2010, the victim and some friends, who were witnesses in the case, were on their way home after delivering a message to somebody at Sabon Zongo.
He said on reaching the Asawasi M/A Junior High School, Omar and the three accomplices emerged from a hideout wielding locally manufactured pistols and ordered the victim and his friends to surrender their money and mobile phones to them.
Explaining further, Ms Wase said without any form of provocation, Omar started buttering the head of the student, opening a deep cut over his left eye that caused him to bleed profusely.
She said Omar and his accomplices succeeded in robbing the student of two Nokia phones valued at GH¢100.00, a silver necklace valued GH¢7.00, and cash of GH¢150.00, with threats on their lives before bolting with their booty.
Ms Wase said in spite of the severe injury the student sustained, he managed to lodge a complaint with the Asawase police and gave a statement before seeking medical care.
She said intensive police investigations led to the arrest of Omar on September 13, 2010, explaining that it was volunteers at Sabon Zongo who spotted Omar, arrested and handed him over to the police to assist in their investigations.
He said police investigations also led to the retrieval of the locally manufactured pistol he used to commit the crime.
Ms Wase said during investigations, the police also succeeded in retrieving the silver necklace from Omar during a search, and after giving his statement, he mentioned the names of the three accomplices, but the police could not locate them from their hideouts.
According to Ms Wase, on September 25, 2010, Omar again led the police to Akwatia Line, where the Nokia phones he took from the victim were retrieved and after further investigations, the police charged him with the offence.
MINISTRY ERECTS MORE LAMPPOSTS FOR STREET LIGHTS (PAGE 29, NOV 10, 2010)
THE Ministry of Energy has erected lampposts along the major streets in the Kumasi metropolis in order to fix more street lights to enhance security.
The project is being undertaken by All Afra Electrical Company, which is also repairing faulty lamps to make street lights in the metropolis more functional.
The project, which has the Electricity Company of Ghana as the consultant, is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
A Public Relations Officer of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Mr Clement Kegeri, who briefed Daily Graphic on the progress of work, explained that the initiative of the Energy Ministry was not only to beautify the Kumasi metropolis, but was also to reduce the incidence of robbery, which thrives on the cover of darkness.
Giving further explanation, he said since robbers usually operated under the cover of darkness, the Energy Ministry had decided to improve streetlight in the various metropolitan, municipal and district capitals in the country.
Mr Kegeri said suburbs such as Asafo, Oforikrom, Bomso, Krofrom, Dechemso, Aboabo, Bantama, TUC, Adiembra, and Asokwa had all been covered under the street lighting system.
“ With adequate streetlight, we hope to create a conducive environment for motorists to operate well, especially during the night, and also help the security agencies to combat crime more effectively,” he noted.
Mr Kegeri gave assurance that the streetlamps would be regularly maintained by replacing faulty bulbs along the principal streets in the Kumasi metropolis, stressing that the project, which is also meant to boost commercial activities in the night, would help to generate income for the business community in the metropolis.
He, therefore, challenged the youth to take advantage of the opportunity to engage in productive ventures that would generate income to support themselves and their dependants.
The project is being undertaken by All Afra Electrical Company, which is also repairing faulty lamps to make street lights in the metropolis more functional.
The project, which has the Electricity Company of Ghana as the consultant, is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
A Public Relations Officer of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Mr Clement Kegeri, who briefed Daily Graphic on the progress of work, explained that the initiative of the Energy Ministry was not only to beautify the Kumasi metropolis, but was also to reduce the incidence of robbery, which thrives on the cover of darkness.
Giving further explanation, he said since robbers usually operated under the cover of darkness, the Energy Ministry had decided to improve streetlight in the various metropolitan, municipal and district capitals in the country.
Mr Kegeri said suburbs such as Asafo, Oforikrom, Bomso, Krofrom, Dechemso, Aboabo, Bantama, TUC, Adiembra, and Asokwa had all been covered under the street lighting system.
“ With adequate streetlight, we hope to create a conducive environment for motorists to operate well, especially during the night, and also help the security agencies to combat crime more effectively,” he noted.
Mr Kegeri gave assurance that the streetlamps would be regularly maintained by replacing faulty bulbs along the principal streets in the Kumasi metropolis, stressing that the project, which is also meant to boost commercial activities in the night, would help to generate income for the business community in the metropolis.
He, therefore, challenged the youth to take advantage of the opportunity to engage in productive ventures that would generate income to support themselves and their dependants.
BOSOMTWE RURAL BANK UPGRADE SKILLS OF CLIENTS (PAGE 46, NOV 10, 2010)
The Bosomtwe Rural Bank, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has organised a seminar for clients of the bank who operate small and medium-scale businesses. It was to build their capacity for them to be efficient in their operations.
The seminar also sought to, among other things, equip the participants to acquire skills in adopting strategic planning methods to sustain their businesses, acquire effective and efficient management skills, as well as marketing strategies and financial management skills to facilitate, sustain and expand their operations.
About 40 selected small and medium-scale business operatives who did business with the Bosomtwe Rural Bank, benefited from the four-day business growth training seminar, which also sought to encourage the beneficiaries to adopt the best practices in managing their businesses.
Topics treated included the effective and efficient use of capital, raw materials, labour and administrative skills as well as marketing strategies.
The Project Manager, Mr Kofi A, Dankyi, said the seminar formed part of the poverty reduction strategy by the government to support the private sector in their quest to expand their businesses and generate the requisite income to support sustainable national development.
“The Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS II) 2006-2009 made private sector development a priority and identified micro finance and the provision of Business Development Support (BDS) service as key development tools,” he noted.
Mr Dankyi explained that since 2002, the UNDP Ghana had contributed significantly “ to enhance the capacity and competencies of microfinance institutions with the view to help Micro, Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (MSME), particularly those in the informal sector to access credit”.
He pointed out, that the training of the operational and managerial staff and board of directors in best practices in providing financial services on sustainable basis to clients, also formed part of their scheme of work.
He added that they were also keen in the “ provision of micro capital grants and the facilitation to access commercial loanable funds, so that the partner financial institutions could provide graduated and individual larger loan sizes to their MSME clients”
He said that managing the growth phase in many business entities was very challenging , because of that, the UNDP and the government had since 2006, “ turned attention to the clients of the financial institutions, providing them with business development support services and training in attitudinal change to business and entrepreneurship development”
That, he said ,would sharpen the managerial and functional competencies of business entities.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bosomtwe Rural Bank, Mr Philip Bondah, urged the participants to translate the skills acquired during the seminar into productive ventures to enhance efficiency in their business operations.
He pointed out that the board would soon establish a monitoring team to evaluate their operations to determine the extent to which their businesses expanded or contracted.
He charged them to inject efficiency into their ventures to accelerate growth.
The seminar also sought to, among other things, equip the participants to acquire skills in adopting strategic planning methods to sustain their businesses, acquire effective and efficient management skills, as well as marketing strategies and financial management skills to facilitate, sustain and expand their operations.
About 40 selected small and medium-scale business operatives who did business with the Bosomtwe Rural Bank, benefited from the four-day business growth training seminar, which also sought to encourage the beneficiaries to adopt the best practices in managing their businesses.
Topics treated included the effective and efficient use of capital, raw materials, labour and administrative skills as well as marketing strategies.
The Project Manager, Mr Kofi A, Dankyi, said the seminar formed part of the poverty reduction strategy by the government to support the private sector in their quest to expand their businesses and generate the requisite income to support sustainable national development.
“The Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS II) 2006-2009 made private sector development a priority and identified micro finance and the provision of Business Development Support (BDS) service as key development tools,” he noted.
Mr Dankyi explained that since 2002, the UNDP Ghana had contributed significantly “ to enhance the capacity and competencies of microfinance institutions with the view to help Micro, Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (MSME), particularly those in the informal sector to access credit”.
He pointed out, that the training of the operational and managerial staff and board of directors in best practices in providing financial services on sustainable basis to clients, also formed part of their scheme of work.
He added that they were also keen in the “ provision of micro capital grants and the facilitation to access commercial loanable funds, so that the partner financial institutions could provide graduated and individual larger loan sizes to their MSME clients”
He said that managing the growth phase in many business entities was very challenging , because of that, the UNDP and the government had since 2006, “ turned attention to the clients of the financial institutions, providing them with business development support services and training in attitudinal change to business and entrepreneurship development”
That, he said ,would sharpen the managerial and functional competencies of business entities.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bosomtwe Rural Bank, Mr Philip Bondah, urged the participants to translate the skills acquired during the seminar into productive ventures to enhance efficiency in their business operations.
He pointed out that the board would soon establish a monitoring team to evaluate their operations to determine the extent to which their businesses expanded or contracted.
He charged them to inject efficiency into their ventures to accelerate growth.
NDC REGIONAL ORGANISERS WORRIED (PAGE 12, NOV 9, 2010)
Regional organisers and Deputies of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have expressed concern about what they described as “unhealthy leadership problem emerging in the party” concerning former first family and President John Evans Atta Mills.
In a communiqué issued and signed by the Regional and Deputy Organisers of the party after a three-day workshop in Kumasi, they noted with concern “the seemingly unhealthy leadership problem emerging in the party, particularly between the former First family and the President” .
They have therefore called “ for restraint and urge all party faithful associated with these personalities to note the effects of the crises on the fortunes of the party”.
Among those who signed the communiqué were the Central Regional Organiser, Mr Patrick Aniagyei, Greater Accra Regional Organiser, Mr Jerry A. Thompson, Brong Ahafo Regional Organiser, Alhaji Baba, Northern Regional Deputy Organiser, Alhaji Nashiru Iddrisu, Upper West Regional Organiser, Mr. A.M. Ishaahaq and Volta Regional Organiser, Mr Harry Amatepe.
Others were the Upper East Regional Organiser Baba Kumasi, Eastern Regional Organiser, Mr Tawia Boateng, Western Regional Organiser, Mr. Kaku Korsah, Ashanti Regional Organiser, Alhaji Sarnie Abudlai and Northern Regional Organiser, Alhaji Silinboma.
The workshop enabled the regional organisers and their deputies to have fruitful interaction on issues concerning the party, making it possible for them to deliberate on strategies needed to win the 2012 general elections.
In the communiqué, the NDC organisers expressed their profound “appreciation of government at resolving the challenges facing the country, especially in education, health and unemployment sectors”.
“ We are particularly appreciative and supportive of the national Programme on the Local Enterprise and Skills Development Project (LESDEP). We believe that this and other programmes envisaged will significantly ease the unemployment in this country and accelerate growth in the economy” they noted.
Commending the Ashanti Regional Police Command “ on efforts being made to check the incidence of armed robbery on the roads, they urged the Inspector General of Police “ to issue similar directives to other Regional Commands as a measure to halt the menace of Armed Robbery on our roads”.
They pointed out that in his usual peace loving and mature leadership, President Mills directed that “all former NPP MCEs /DCEs should be paid their end of service benefits” but said those who served under the NDC administration have not been paid such benefits.
They therefore appealed to President Mills “ to set the necessary process in motion to have them (MMDCEs) paid their ex-gratia as done to the NPP MMDCEs.”
In a communiqué issued and signed by the Regional and Deputy Organisers of the party after a three-day workshop in Kumasi, they noted with concern “the seemingly unhealthy leadership problem emerging in the party, particularly between the former First family and the President” .
They have therefore called “ for restraint and urge all party faithful associated with these personalities to note the effects of the crises on the fortunes of the party”.
Among those who signed the communiqué were the Central Regional Organiser, Mr Patrick Aniagyei, Greater Accra Regional Organiser, Mr Jerry A. Thompson, Brong Ahafo Regional Organiser, Alhaji Baba, Northern Regional Deputy Organiser, Alhaji Nashiru Iddrisu, Upper West Regional Organiser, Mr. A.M. Ishaahaq and Volta Regional Organiser, Mr Harry Amatepe.
Others were the Upper East Regional Organiser Baba Kumasi, Eastern Regional Organiser, Mr Tawia Boateng, Western Regional Organiser, Mr. Kaku Korsah, Ashanti Regional Organiser, Alhaji Sarnie Abudlai and Northern Regional Organiser, Alhaji Silinboma.
The workshop enabled the regional organisers and their deputies to have fruitful interaction on issues concerning the party, making it possible for them to deliberate on strategies needed to win the 2012 general elections.
In the communiqué, the NDC organisers expressed their profound “appreciation of government at resolving the challenges facing the country, especially in education, health and unemployment sectors”.
“ We are particularly appreciative and supportive of the national Programme on the Local Enterprise and Skills Development Project (LESDEP). We believe that this and other programmes envisaged will significantly ease the unemployment in this country and accelerate growth in the economy” they noted.
Commending the Ashanti Regional Police Command “ on efforts being made to check the incidence of armed robbery on the roads, they urged the Inspector General of Police “ to issue similar directives to other Regional Commands as a measure to halt the menace of Armed Robbery on our roads”.
They pointed out that in his usual peace loving and mature leadership, President Mills directed that “all former NPP MCEs /DCEs should be paid their end of service benefits” but said those who served under the NDC administration have not been paid such benefits.
They therefore appealed to President Mills “ to set the necessary process in motion to have them (MMDCEs) paid their ex-gratia as done to the NPP MMDCEs.”
Friday, November 12, 2010
MANHYIA RECOGNISES BOSOMTWE RURAL BANK (PAGE 14, NOV 6, 2010)
THE Manhyia Palace has recognised the Bosomtwe Rural Bank for its contribution towards poverty reduction, income generation and job creation in the Ashanti Region in particular, and the country in general.
The recognition was given during the Seventh Ashanti Regional Financial Services Excellence Awards in Kumasi organised by the Top Brass under the auspices of Manhyia Palace. About 60 business organisations that had made meaningful contributions towards the sustainable development of the region were duly recognised and honoured.
During the awards ceremony the Bosomtwe Rural Bank was presented with a Gold Award for its prudent business operations and excellent customer service.
The Gold Award presented to the Bosomtwe Rural Bank, which has its headquarters at Kuntanase came a few weeks after the bank had placed 59th in the 2009 Ghana Club 100 awards held in Accra. In 2008, the bank placed 80th during the Ghana Club 100 awards.
The Ghana Club 100 awards recognises financial institutions that have not only made meaningful contributions to promoting poverty reduction but also ensured best business practices in their operations and were considered as internationally acceptable models.
In his address at the Ashanti Regional Financial Services Excellence Awards, the Deputy Minister of Trade, Mr Mahama Ayariga, commended the award winners for their invaluable contributions towards sustainable development in the country.
He said the government recognised such contributions and would, therefore, not relent in its efforts to support the private sector in various ways for it to continue supporting the country’s accelerated socio-economic development.
He also assured the private sector of the government’s support to enable local industries compete favourably with their counterparts at the international level.
He said it was important for the private sector to be innovative and add value to their products, not only to make their products more attractive to consumers, but also to make their prices more competitive and affordable.
The recognition was given during the Seventh Ashanti Regional Financial Services Excellence Awards in Kumasi organised by the Top Brass under the auspices of Manhyia Palace. About 60 business organisations that had made meaningful contributions towards the sustainable development of the region were duly recognised and honoured.
During the awards ceremony the Bosomtwe Rural Bank was presented with a Gold Award for its prudent business operations and excellent customer service.
The Gold Award presented to the Bosomtwe Rural Bank, which has its headquarters at Kuntanase came a few weeks after the bank had placed 59th in the 2009 Ghana Club 100 awards held in Accra. In 2008, the bank placed 80th during the Ghana Club 100 awards.
The Ghana Club 100 awards recognises financial institutions that have not only made meaningful contributions to promoting poverty reduction but also ensured best business practices in their operations and were considered as internationally acceptable models.
In his address at the Ashanti Regional Financial Services Excellence Awards, the Deputy Minister of Trade, Mr Mahama Ayariga, commended the award winners for their invaluable contributions towards sustainable development in the country.
He said the government recognised such contributions and would, therefore, not relent in its efforts to support the private sector in various ways for it to continue supporting the country’s accelerated socio-economic development.
He also assured the private sector of the government’s support to enable local industries compete favourably with their counterparts at the international level.
He said it was important for the private sector to be innovative and add value to their products, not only to make their products more attractive to consumers, but also to make their prices more competitive and affordable.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF RESEARCH ...Prof Sobotie advises university students (PAGE 11, NOV 5, 2010)
THE President of the Garden City University College, Professor Steve Sobotie, has challenged tertiary students in Ghana to take advantage of research and other valuable programmes in their tertiary institutions to nurture their potentials in entrepreneurship.
By developing interest in entrepreneurship and acquiring the requisite experience and expertise, he said they could start their own businesses on a small scale and grow them to become world acknowledged business entities that would support sustainable national development.
Addressing freshmen and women at the matriculation of the Christian Service University College, Professor Sobotie noted that the time had come for students at the tertiary level to develop interest in the private sector and partner local and international entrepreneurs to enhance meaningful growth of the private sector.
This, he said, would not only accelerate the growth of the private sector in terms of income generation, but would also help to absorb the unemployed youth.
In all, 607 students, including 245 females, matriculated to pursue programmes in Theology, Business Administration, Computer Science and Communication Studies.
Speaking on the theme “excellence with integrity,” Professor Sabotie said it was important for students to strive to be honest and hardworking as they nurtured their potentials in life.
He said it was equally important for them to develop strong moral principles in all their endeavours for them to acquire positive principles that would guide them as they assumed leadership positions in future.
“ You will succeed if you hold as your banner that academic excellence that always goes with strong moral uprightness,” he advised.
He also advised the freshmen and women to justify their admission by focusing on their academic programmes, saying they needed to make a solemn promise to their parents, guardians, wives, husbands, friends and relatives today to ensure that they would be there to witness their beautiful graduation when they completed their programmes.
Stressing, he said they should prepare well and should never fall victim to examination malpractices that would result in their being sent home even though they might be non-resident students.
He asked them to always remember that they were ambassadors of the university.
The President of the Christian Service University College, Professor Emmanuel Frempong, said the students had to abide by all the statutes, rules and regulations governing the university.
He, therefore, charged them to avoid any action of commission or omission that would undermine their survival and success at the university college.
In her welcoming address, the Dean of the Christian Service University College, Mrs Joyce Ama Quartey, said it was important for the students to take advantage of the numerous opportunities at the university to justify the sacrifices made by their parents and guardians who toiled to offer them the privilege of enjoying tertiary education.
Mrs Quartey also urged them to abide by the dress code of the university, saying, “as a Christian University, they were championing the crusade of deacent dressing, and therefore expected the students to portray the principle of God’s kingdom through deacent appearance and dressing.
By developing interest in entrepreneurship and acquiring the requisite experience and expertise, he said they could start their own businesses on a small scale and grow them to become world acknowledged business entities that would support sustainable national development.
Addressing freshmen and women at the matriculation of the Christian Service University College, Professor Sobotie noted that the time had come for students at the tertiary level to develop interest in the private sector and partner local and international entrepreneurs to enhance meaningful growth of the private sector.
This, he said, would not only accelerate the growth of the private sector in terms of income generation, but would also help to absorb the unemployed youth.
In all, 607 students, including 245 females, matriculated to pursue programmes in Theology, Business Administration, Computer Science and Communication Studies.
Speaking on the theme “excellence with integrity,” Professor Sabotie said it was important for students to strive to be honest and hardworking as they nurtured their potentials in life.
He said it was equally important for them to develop strong moral principles in all their endeavours for them to acquire positive principles that would guide them as they assumed leadership positions in future.
“ You will succeed if you hold as your banner that academic excellence that always goes with strong moral uprightness,” he advised.
He also advised the freshmen and women to justify their admission by focusing on their academic programmes, saying they needed to make a solemn promise to their parents, guardians, wives, husbands, friends and relatives today to ensure that they would be there to witness their beautiful graduation when they completed their programmes.
Stressing, he said they should prepare well and should never fall victim to examination malpractices that would result in their being sent home even though they might be non-resident students.
He asked them to always remember that they were ambassadors of the university.
The President of the Christian Service University College, Professor Emmanuel Frempong, said the students had to abide by all the statutes, rules and regulations governing the university.
He, therefore, charged them to avoid any action of commission or omission that would undermine their survival and success at the university college.
In her welcoming address, the Dean of the Christian Service University College, Mrs Joyce Ama Quartey, said it was important for the students to take advantage of the numerous opportunities at the university to justify the sacrifices made by their parents and guardians who toiled to offer them the privilege of enjoying tertiary education.
Mrs Quartey also urged them to abide by the dress code of the university, saying, “as a Christian University, they were championing the crusade of deacent dressing, and therefore expected the students to portray the principle of God’s kingdom through deacent appearance and dressing.
ASHANTI POLICE TO PROVIDE SECURITY ON PASSENGER BUSES (BACK PAGE, NOV 5, 2010)
WITH immediate effect, the Ashanti Regional Police Command is to deploy armed policemen on passenger buses in the region which embark on long-distance journeys.
The initiative is the result of consultations between the police and major transport operators in the region on how to deal with highway crime.
Giving assurance of the preparedness of the police to clamp down on criminals who operate on the highways, the statement said the public could contact the police in the Ashanti Region on 03220-22323 or 03220-26220 in cases of emergency.
A statement signed by the Regional Police Commander, Mr Patrick Timbilla, explained that buses that travel long distances would be provided with adequate security to ensure the safety of passengers .
It said, “Passengers on such buses are entreated to co-operate and support the policemen when there is any intervention to address a security issue in the course of the voyage especially during armed robbery attacks.”
The statement also advised that passengers noticing any suspicious event or movement should not hesitate to notify the police.
The statement said in Accra, the public could also contact the police on 0302-773695 or 0302-773906.
Describing the collaboration between the regional police command and the transport operators as well thought-out to fight armed robbery on the highways, Mr Timbilla pointed out that the deployment of police on long distance buses would be effected immediately to make passengers feel adequately secured.
The initiative is the result of consultations between the police and major transport operators in the region on how to deal with highway crime.
Giving assurance of the preparedness of the police to clamp down on criminals who operate on the highways, the statement said the public could contact the police in the Ashanti Region on 03220-22323 or 03220-26220 in cases of emergency.
A statement signed by the Regional Police Commander, Mr Patrick Timbilla, explained that buses that travel long distances would be provided with adequate security to ensure the safety of passengers .
It said, “Passengers on such buses are entreated to co-operate and support the policemen when there is any intervention to address a security issue in the course of the voyage especially during armed robbery attacks.”
The statement also advised that passengers noticing any suspicious event or movement should not hesitate to notify the police.
The statement said in Accra, the public could also contact the police on 0302-773695 or 0302-773906.
Describing the collaboration between the regional police command and the transport operators as well thought-out to fight armed robbery on the highways, Mr Timbilla pointed out that the deployment of police on long distance buses would be effected immediately to make passengers feel adequately secured.
DUR INSTALS 12 NEW TRAFFIC LIGHTS (PAGE 29, NOV 4, 2010)
THE Department of Urban Roads (DUR) has started replacing all traffic lights in the Kumasi metropolis, to ensure sanity at the various road intersections.
Already, the traffic lights between the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) link road, including that of Amakom and Anloga junctions have been replaced with new ones.
Also replaced are the traffic lights around Kajetia, the Abrepo junction and that of Aboabo and Krofrom.
Explaining the rationale behind the replacement of the traffic lights to the Daily Graphic, the Kumasi Metropolitan Director of the DUR, Mr Theodore Quaye, said the old traffic lights had not only become outmoded, but broke down regularly, thereby making it difficult to adequately regulate vehicular traffic in the metropolis.
“The traffic lights in Kumasi were outmoded, and we decided to replace them with these new ones to make them more functional” he said explaining further that “ the cost of maintaining the old traffic lights were huge, besides we were not getting the spare parts we needed to maintain them, so we decided to change them to keep them in conformity with what is being used by the international community.”
Mr Quaye said in all, the Department was installing 12 new traffic lights in the Kumasi metropolis, assuring that when completed, vehicular flow in the metropolis would be smooth”
He said the project, expected to be completed by the end of the year, was part of the measures being taken to address the issue of traffic jams at various traffic intersections in the cities.
He said the new traffic lights had been equipped with batteries that would support the facilities to function effectively in case of power outages, stressing that “this will help the free flow of vehicles in the metropolis”.
Mr Quaye, however expressed concern about the rate at which some motorists destroyed the traffic lights by crashing their vehicles into them and said although drivers who caused these accidents were expected to pay for the cost of replacing the traffic lights, “ most of them run away, making it impossible for us to trace them”
He said to address the problem of safeguarding the traffic lights, there was the need to build concrete buffers around the facilities, “ but we are also mindful that when we do that, there may be loss of lives , especially when vehicles crash into the concrete and the impact of the accident are too great”.
He, therefore, urged motorists to drive within the speed limits in residential areas to avoid crashing their vehicles into the newly installed traffic lights.
He also urged the public to be vigilant by helping to arrest motorists who attempted to escape after crashing their vehicles into traffic lights
Already, the traffic lights between the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) link road, including that of Amakom and Anloga junctions have been replaced with new ones.
Also replaced are the traffic lights around Kajetia, the Abrepo junction and that of Aboabo and Krofrom.
Explaining the rationale behind the replacement of the traffic lights to the Daily Graphic, the Kumasi Metropolitan Director of the DUR, Mr Theodore Quaye, said the old traffic lights had not only become outmoded, but broke down regularly, thereby making it difficult to adequately regulate vehicular traffic in the metropolis.
“The traffic lights in Kumasi were outmoded, and we decided to replace them with these new ones to make them more functional” he said explaining further that “ the cost of maintaining the old traffic lights were huge, besides we were not getting the spare parts we needed to maintain them, so we decided to change them to keep them in conformity with what is being used by the international community.”
Mr Quaye said in all, the Department was installing 12 new traffic lights in the Kumasi metropolis, assuring that when completed, vehicular flow in the metropolis would be smooth”
He said the project, expected to be completed by the end of the year, was part of the measures being taken to address the issue of traffic jams at various traffic intersections in the cities.
He said the new traffic lights had been equipped with batteries that would support the facilities to function effectively in case of power outages, stressing that “this will help the free flow of vehicles in the metropolis”.
Mr Quaye, however expressed concern about the rate at which some motorists destroyed the traffic lights by crashing their vehicles into them and said although drivers who caused these accidents were expected to pay for the cost of replacing the traffic lights, “ most of them run away, making it impossible for us to trace them”
He said to address the problem of safeguarding the traffic lights, there was the need to build concrete buffers around the facilities, “ but we are also mindful that when we do that, there may be loss of lives , especially when vehicles crash into the concrete and the impact of the accident are too great”.
He, therefore, urged motorists to drive within the speed limits in residential areas to avoid crashing their vehicles into the newly installed traffic lights.
He also urged the public to be vigilant by helping to arrest motorists who attempted to escape after crashing their vehicles into traffic lights
DRIVERS URGED TO RESPECT PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED (PAGE 29, NOV 4, 2010)
THE need for motorists within the Kumasi metropolis and its environs to be circumspect to reduce carnage on the road was the focus of attention when a number of physically challenged persons made contributions during a stakeholders meeting intended to formulate a strategy to curb road traffic accidents within the metropolis.
Expressing concern about the manner in which the physically challenged were falling victim to road accidents involving pedestrians, they pointed out that it was time society joined hands to create awareness on the need for motorists to behave responsibly on the road.
The meeting, organised by members of the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Authority (DVLA), the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) and transport owners, was intended to deliberate on how to safeguard the lives of passengers and pedestrians against accidents.
As part of the measures to address carnage on the road in the metropolis, a joint task force has been formed on major roads in the Kumasi metropolis to enforce road traffic regulations for 24 hours .
The task force, which has already started work, will arrest and prosecute drivers who use rickety vehicles, especially those with defects.
At the meeting the President of the National Women’s Wing of the Ghana Society for the Physically Challenged, Ms Doris Ofori, expressed concern about their predicament, explaining that apart from the fact that some of their members, especially the blind, deaf and dumb had been suffering regular knockdowns by motorists, those who use wheel chairs , crutches and walkers were always discriminated against when boarding vehicles in Kumasi.
“Some of our members are unable to cross the road as fast as they could and instead of motorists sympathising with us by slowing down, they always threaten us and sometimes knock some of our people down” she said.
She said apart from the regular knockdowns, trotro and taxi drivers in Kumasi had always discriminated against them when picking passengers along the street.
“As soon as they recognise that you either use a wheel chair or crutches, they begin to frown at you and charge exorbitant fares as a way of discouraging you from joining their vehicle” she complained.
She said in most cases, trotro drivers and their mates insulted them when they asked for a reduction in the fare and pointed out that it was time vehicle owners and executives of the transport unions prevailed on their drivers to show sympathy to the physically challenged.
She said “with the spate of accidents on the road on daily basis, we are all prone to becoming physically challenged, so it is time society appreciated our predicament and supported us adequately.”
Referring to the number of accidents that occurred in the metropolis and its environs between January and September this year, Ms Ofori said statistics by the MTTU indicated that 218 passengers and pedestrians were killed during the period.
Ms Ofori also appealed to the police to clamp down on motorists who had been flouting road traffic regulations by not only arresting them but also prosecuting them to serve as a deterrent, adding that “We are certain that when these recalcitrant drivers are prosecuted and convicted. the message will spread very quickly.”
Other speakers were the DVLA Manager in Kumasi, Mr Noah Tettey Martey, the Regional Manager of the National Road Safety Commission, Mr Kwaku Oware Boateng, the Regional Police MTTU Commander, Mr Godact Hlordzi and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Physically Challenged, Mr Francis Amadu.
Expressing concern about the manner in which the physically challenged were falling victim to road accidents involving pedestrians, they pointed out that it was time society joined hands to create awareness on the need for motorists to behave responsibly on the road.
The meeting, organised by members of the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Authority (DVLA), the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) and transport owners, was intended to deliberate on how to safeguard the lives of passengers and pedestrians against accidents.
As part of the measures to address carnage on the road in the metropolis, a joint task force has been formed on major roads in the Kumasi metropolis to enforce road traffic regulations for 24 hours .
The task force, which has already started work, will arrest and prosecute drivers who use rickety vehicles, especially those with defects.
At the meeting the President of the National Women’s Wing of the Ghana Society for the Physically Challenged, Ms Doris Ofori, expressed concern about their predicament, explaining that apart from the fact that some of their members, especially the blind, deaf and dumb had been suffering regular knockdowns by motorists, those who use wheel chairs , crutches and walkers were always discriminated against when boarding vehicles in Kumasi.
“Some of our members are unable to cross the road as fast as they could and instead of motorists sympathising with us by slowing down, they always threaten us and sometimes knock some of our people down” she said.
She said apart from the regular knockdowns, trotro and taxi drivers in Kumasi had always discriminated against them when picking passengers along the street.
“As soon as they recognise that you either use a wheel chair or crutches, they begin to frown at you and charge exorbitant fares as a way of discouraging you from joining their vehicle” she complained.
She said in most cases, trotro drivers and their mates insulted them when they asked for a reduction in the fare and pointed out that it was time vehicle owners and executives of the transport unions prevailed on their drivers to show sympathy to the physically challenged.
She said “with the spate of accidents on the road on daily basis, we are all prone to becoming physically challenged, so it is time society appreciated our predicament and supported us adequately.”
Referring to the number of accidents that occurred in the metropolis and its environs between January and September this year, Ms Ofori said statistics by the MTTU indicated that 218 passengers and pedestrians were killed during the period.
Ms Ofori also appealed to the police to clamp down on motorists who had been flouting road traffic regulations by not only arresting them but also prosecuting them to serve as a deterrent, adding that “We are certain that when these recalcitrant drivers are prosecuted and convicted. the message will spread very quickly.”
Other speakers were the DVLA Manager in Kumasi, Mr Noah Tettey Martey, the Regional Manager of the National Road Safety Commission, Mr Kwaku Oware Boateng, the Regional Police MTTU Commander, Mr Godact Hlordzi and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Physically Challenged, Mr Francis Amadu.
BOSOMTWI RURAL BANK SUPPORTS ASOKWA POLICE (PAGE 46, NOV 4, 2010)
The Board of Governors and Management of Bosomtwe Rural Bank have donated a brand new computer and its accessories to the district police in response to an appeal made to the bank by the Asokwa District Police Command in Kumasi.
The district police command had appealed to the bank for a computer and accessories, as its only computer at the Asokwa District Police in Kumasi had broken down several months ago, hindering the smooth discharge of their official duties.
The Chairman of the Board of Governors of Bosomtwe Rural Bank , Mr Philip Bondah, told the Daily Graphic that the response to the request of the police followed the smooth collaboration between the bank and the district police command.
He explained that the Asokwa District Police Command had been providing adequate security at two of their branches at Atonsu and Dadiesoaba in Kumasi, and the support had enhanced the smooth operations of Bosomtwe Rural Bank in Kumasi over the years.
Mr Bondah said as part of the bank’s social responsibility, the Bosomtwe Rural Bank had also supported the Kuntanase Police to repair their broken down vehicle, which was smashed recently in an accident.
He said while the computer cost the bank GH¢1,400.00, the cost the bank GH¢1,200 to repair the broken down vehicle.
The Asokwa District Police Commander, Mr M. K. Ayiih, who received the items on behalf of the district police, commended the board and management of the Bosomtwe Rural Bank for responding positively to their request. He said the gesture would facilitate their operations.
He said it was important for the public to support the police in diverse ways as they addressed the security concerns in the Kumasi Metropolis.
That, he said, would enable law abiding citizens to focus on their core businesses and generate the needed revenue to support sustainable national development.
The district police command had appealed to the bank for a computer and accessories, as its only computer at the Asokwa District Police in Kumasi had broken down several months ago, hindering the smooth discharge of their official duties.
The Chairman of the Board of Governors of Bosomtwe Rural Bank , Mr Philip Bondah, told the Daily Graphic that the response to the request of the police followed the smooth collaboration between the bank and the district police command.
He explained that the Asokwa District Police Command had been providing adequate security at two of their branches at Atonsu and Dadiesoaba in Kumasi, and the support had enhanced the smooth operations of Bosomtwe Rural Bank in Kumasi over the years.
Mr Bondah said as part of the bank’s social responsibility, the Bosomtwe Rural Bank had also supported the Kuntanase Police to repair their broken down vehicle, which was smashed recently in an accident.
He said while the computer cost the bank GH¢1,400.00, the cost the bank GH¢1,200 to repair the broken down vehicle.
The Asokwa District Police Commander, Mr M. K. Ayiih, who received the items on behalf of the district police, commended the board and management of the Bosomtwe Rural Bank for responding positively to their request. He said the gesture would facilitate their operations.
He said it was important for the public to support the police in diverse ways as they addressed the security concerns in the Kumasi Metropolis.
That, he said, would enable law abiding citizens to focus on their core businesses and generate the needed revenue to support sustainable national development.
GES ORGANISES WORKSHOP FOR PROs (PAGE 11, NOV 3, 2010)
THE Ashanti Regional Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has organised a two-day workshop for its Public Relations Officers (PROs) to build their capacity to enable them to become proficient in marketing the values of the service to help improve standards.
About 47 PROs attended the workshop, which provided them with the requisite skills to interact with parents and address issues that promoted the interest of their wards.
Topics such as “The role of the PRO in the GES”, “media management and dissemination of information”, “The Ghana National Association of Teachers and GES collaboration to improve education”, “human relations”, “report and proposal writing”, as well as “efficient and effective management of time”, were discussed.
The Ashanti Regional Director of the GES, Mr J. K. Onyinah, expressed concern about the way issues of the GES were addressed, and said ineffective interaction between their Public Relations Directorate and parents, especially at the district level, was giving the wrong signal that the GES was not performing creditably to address challenges facing education.
He said it was time Public Relations Officers acquired the requisite communication skills to enable them to have fruitful interactions with stakeholders of the educational sector and addressed issues of concern.
This, he said, would make the public appreciate the efforts being made to improve education delivery in the country.
He challenged newly appointed PROs to adopt a strategy that would build their communication skills for them to be proficient when interacting with the media in particular and the public in general.
Expressing concern about the manner in which issues of the GES were portrayed by the media, Mr Onyinah said while negative issues that dented the image of the GES were usually hyped, the positive ones were grossed over, creating the impression that the GES was not performing to the satisfaction of the public.
“This always paints a wrong picture on issues that promote education in the country, and as PROs of the GES, you have the duty to correct the wrong perception to make the public appreciate the efforts we have been making to develop education in Ghana” he noted.
He said “let the public hear about our contributions to the development of sports, culture and academic work, that are improving standards of education in the country. You have to manage information in a way that would improve the image of the GES as a noble institution desirous of seeking the interest of the public”.
On the computer placement of students to seek admission at the second cycle institutions and the problems created due to inadequate educational facilities, Mr Onyinah said it was time a national policy on the issue was made to reduce the problems created.
He said while student population kept on increasing each year, facilities remained static, a situation, which he noted, undermined their quest to promote quality education in the country.
In the Ashanti Region in particular, he said the annual increase of student intake in second cycle schools was about 20 per cent “but the expansion of infrastructure is not matching the student intake”.
Mr Onyinah said while the private sector was actively supporting the development of education at both the basic and tertiary levels, not much is being done at the second cycle level in terms of private participation in educational development.
“We do not have the resources to expand education at the second cycle level so we should put the picture before the public for them to appreciate the magnitude of challenges facing us for them to support us to address such challenges”.
The former Ashanti Regional Manager of the Ghana News Agency, Mr Francis Kwarteng, urged the participants to update their communication skills and build their capacity in modern standards of journalism and Public Relations Practice.
This, he said, would enable them to keep abreast with Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for them to communicate more proficiently with their various publics.
“You must sustain the momentum and maintain high levels of professionalism to stand the test of time,” he advised, adding , “you should stick to professional ethics, guard against sensationalism, and avoid using your medium to incite social tension and ethnic sentiments”
When dealing with the publics, they should also “be cautious and circumspect, especially with regard to press releases, he stated and said it was important to think through such releases and cut out ambiguities as you seek to throw more light on mattes of public interest”
He advised them to ensure that their facts and figures were right to avoid controversies.
About 47 PROs attended the workshop, which provided them with the requisite skills to interact with parents and address issues that promoted the interest of their wards.
Topics such as “The role of the PRO in the GES”, “media management and dissemination of information”, “The Ghana National Association of Teachers and GES collaboration to improve education”, “human relations”, “report and proposal writing”, as well as “efficient and effective management of time”, were discussed.
The Ashanti Regional Director of the GES, Mr J. K. Onyinah, expressed concern about the way issues of the GES were addressed, and said ineffective interaction between their Public Relations Directorate and parents, especially at the district level, was giving the wrong signal that the GES was not performing creditably to address challenges facing education.
He said it was time Public Relations Officers acquired the requisite communication skills to enable them to have fruitful interactions with stakeholders of the educational sector and addressed issues of concern.
This, he said, would make the public appreciate the efforts being made to improve education delivery in the country.
He challenged newly appointed PROs to adopt a strategy that would build their communication skills for them to be proficient when interacting with the media in particular and the public in general.
Expressing concern about the manner in which issues of the GES were portrayed by the media, Mr Onyinah said while negative issues that dented the image of the GES were usually hyped, the positive ones were grossed over, creating the impression that the GES was not performing to the satisfaction of the public.
“This always paints a wrong picture on issues that promote education in the country, and as PROs of the GES, you have the duty to correct the wrong perception to make the public appreciate the efforts we have been making to develop education in Ghana” he noted.
He said “let the public hear about our contributions to the development of sports, culture and academic work, that are improving standards of education in the country. You have to manage information in a way that would improve the image of the GES as a noble institution desirous of seeking the interest of the public”.
On the computer placement of students to seek admission at the second cycle institutions and the problems created due to inadequate educational facilities, Mr Onyinah said it was time a national policy on the issue was made to reduce the problems created.
He said while student population kept on increasing each year, facilities remained static, a situation, which he noted, undermined their quest to promote quality education in the country.
In the Ashanti Region in particular, he said the annual increase of student intake in second cycle schools was about 20 per cent “but the expansion of infrastructure is not matching the student intake”.
Mr Onyinah said while the private sector was actively supporting the development of education at both the basic and tertiary levels, not much is being done at the second cycle level in terms of private participation in educational development.
“We do not have the resources to expand education at the second cycle level so we should put the picture before the public for them to appreciate the magnitude of challenges facing us for them to support us to address such challenges”.
The former Ashanti Regional Manager of the Ghana News Agency, Mr Francis Kwarteng, urged the participants to update their communication skills and build their capacity in modern standards of journalism and Public Relations Practice.
This, he said, would enable them to keep abreast with Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for them to communicate more proficiently with their various publics.
“You must sustain the momentum and maintain high levels of professionalism to stand the test of time,” he advised, adding , “you should stick to professional ethics, guard against sensationalism, and avoid using your medium to incite social tension and ethnic sentiments”
When dealing with the publics, they should also “be cautious and circumspect, especially with regard to press releases, he stated and said it was important to think through such releases and cut out ambiguities as you seek to throw more light on mattes of public interest”
He advised them to ensure that their facts and figures were right to avoid controversies.
AFARI GYAN CHALLENGES WOMEN TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE (PAGE 12, OCT 30, 2010)
THE Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan, has challenged women interested in participating in the forth coming District Level Elections to formulate an effective strategy that would make them competitive to be elected into the assemblies.
He pointed out that with the reduction of the number of unit committees from 125,000 to 30,000, “ competition is likely to be very keen and this may discourage many women from participating in the district level elections.”
Addressing media practitioners in Kumasi on the changes to the legal framework for the district level elections, and its consequences, Dr Gyan said the Legislative Instrument 1589 that established the Local Government and Unit Committees in 1994 had been replaced with the LI 1967 2010.
He spoke on the theme “ improving citizen participation in the 2010 District Level Elections through enhanced knowledge”
Dr Gyan pointed out that under the new law, the membership of unit committees “ had reduced membership from 15 to five”.
He noted that under ACT 1589, 225,000 members were elected into the district assembly nationwide, but with ACT 1967, 2010, an estimated 30,000 would be elected, making the competition for election into the district very keen.
He said with the changes in the legal framework, ACT 473 of the District Assembly Elections 1994, which restricted platforms mounting strictly to the Electoral Commission, had also been amended.
Explaining, Dr Gyan said, a new ACT-801 2010 liberalised platform mounting in two major ways.
Explaining, he said the new act now allowed individual candidates to mount their own platforms to market themselves to the electorate without any recourse to the Electoral Commission.
He expressed concern about the decentralisation system, saying the over politicisation of the district level elections were undermining meaningful socio-economic development at the grass root level.
“ District committees can function very well at the grassroot level if it is devoid of partisan politics,” he noted.
He, therefore, charged opinion leaders in various communities to resist any attempt by politicians to infiltrate their ranks and impose candidates on them at the district level elections.
He pointed out that with the reduction of the number of unit committees from 125,000 to 30,000, “ competition is likely to be very keen and this may discourage many women from participating in the district level elections.”
Addressing media practitioners in Kumasi on the changes to the legal framework for the district level elections, and its consequences, Dr Gyan said the Legislative Instrument 1589 that established the Local Government and Unit Committees in 1994 had been replaced with the LI 1967 2010.
He spoke on the theme “ improving citizen participation in the 2010 District Level Elections through enhanced knowledge”
Dr Gyan pointed out that under the new law, the membership of unit committees “ had reduced membership from 15 to five”.
He noted that under ACT 1589, 225,000 members were elected into the district assembly nationwide, but with ACT 1967, 2010, an estimated 30,000 would be elected, making the competition for election into the district very keen.
He said with the changes in the legal framework, ACT 473 of the District Assembly Elections 1994, which restricted platforms mounting strictly to the Electoral Commission, had also been amended.
Explaining, Dr Gyan said, a new ACT-801 2010 liberalised platform mounting in two major ways.
Explaining, he said the new act now allowed individual candidates to mount their own platforms to market themselves to the electorate without any recourse to the Electoral Commission.
He expressed concern about the decentralisation system, saying the over politicisation of the district level elections were undermining meaningful socio-economic development at the grass root level.
“ District committees can function very well at the grassroot level if it is devoid of partisan politics,” he noted.
He, therefore, charged opinion leaders in various communities to resist any attempt by politicians to infiltrate their ranks and impose candidates on them at the district level elections.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)