By George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
After prophesing victory for Professor John Evans Atta Mils in the last presidential elections, an Obuasi-based prophet, Stephen Adom of the Adom Prayer and Healing Camp, has also prophesied a bumper harvest in Ghana for the next three years.
According to the prophet, “ There will be sufficient rainfall in all parts of the country this year, which will result in abundant food and cash crop production by farmers”.
He said the government should, therefore, institute measures not only to encourage farmers to take advantage of the rainfall, but also put up sufficient storage facilities to store the excess food for local use and export.
That, he said, would not only enhance adequate revenue generation among farmers and raise their standard of living but also expand Ghana’s revenue base.
Speaking to Graphic Nsempa in an exclusive interview on the prospects of Ghana after his prophesy on Professor Mills being elected as President of Ghana came to pass, Prophet Adom, whose prayer and healing camp is located at New Bidiem at Obuasi said, “ with his victory, God’s hands will continue to be on Ghana and this will be manifested in a bumper harvest in the country”.
“ That Professor Millis would succeed former President John Agyekum Kufuor was manifested to me three years ago”, he said.
Prophet Adom noted that prophesies were very important because they were meant to reveal the power of the Almighty God.
Elaborating on his convictions, he said the nation was blessed but it was up to the leader of the country to allow the blessings to manifest through the efficient and effective use of the natural resources the nation was endowed with.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
KUMASI FIRE OUTBREAKS LEAD TO LOSS OF PROPERTY (PAGE 18)
Property estimated at GH¢3,635,684.48 was destroyed as a result of fire outbreaks that occurred through domestic, industrial, as well as institutional and commercial fires in the Kumasi Metropolis last year.
Records available at the Ashanti Regional Fire Service Office in Kumasi indicate that in 2007, property estimated at GH¢4,135,598.7, was destroyed in the metropolis.
While the total number of fire outbreaks recorded in the Kumasi Metropolis in 2007 stood at 465, in 2008 it was 419, a slight reduction over that of 2007.
The Ashanti Regional Fire Officer, Deputy Chief Fire Officer (DCFO), Mr Obeng Dankwa Dwamena, who briefed the Daily Graphic on fire outbreaks, said domestic fires were predominant among fire outbreaks in the metropolis.
He pointed out that in 2007, for example, 253 domestic fire outbreaks were recorded out of 465 in the metropolis, adding that last year, 179 domestic fire outbreaks were also recorded out of a total of 419 fire outbreaks in the metropolis.
He pointed out that most fire outbreaks in the metropolis occurred between January and March each year.
He said while a total of 81 fire outbreaks were recorded in January 2007 and property estimated at GH¢406,415.00 was destroyed during the period, 73 fire outbreaks were recorded with property estimated at GH¢2,599,934.48 destroyed in the area in January last year.
He said in February 2007, a total of 38 fire outbreaks, which destroyed property worth GH¢160,710, were also recorded in Kumasi and at the same time last year, a total of 51 cases of fire outbreaks were recorded in the metropolis with property estimated at GH¢122,560.00 being destroyed.
DCFO Dankwa Dwamena said in March 2007, property estimated at GH¢1,415,525.00 was destroyed through fire outbreaks, and that in the same period last year, 37 cases of fire outbreaks were recorded in the metropolis, destroying property estimated at GH¢55,620.00.
He said commercial fire outbreaks, where property at markets and supermarkets among other places were totally or partially destroyed, had also taken centre stage in the Kumasi Metropolis, and explained that over the years, many businessmen and women had lost their capital and other valuables through such incidents.
Giving the statistics on the number of commercial fire outbreaks during the period under review, DCFO Dankwa Dwamena said in 2007, commercial fire outbreaks recorded in the Kumasi Metropolis were 53, but that increased to 75 cases last year.
He said industrial, vehicular, and bush fires had also undermined effective socio-economic development in the metropolis, explaining that in 2007, while 39 industrial fire outbreaks were recorded, a total of 38 vehicles were burnt to ashes that year with as many at 34 outbreaks of bush fires also being recorded.
He said last year, as many as 59 vehicles were burnt, while 39 industrial fire outbreaks were also recorded with bush fires recording 26 cases.
Expressing concern about the number of fire outbreaks in the metropolis and their effects on the economy, DCFO Dankwa Dwamena said they had intensified their campaigns on the effect of fire outbreaks as a way of creating awareness among the public to enable them to take preventive measures.
He pointed out that the psychological effect on victims who lost their property through fire was enormous and, therefore, urged the public to be proactive in instituting measures that would reduce fire outbreaks to the barest minimum.
He said his officers had been educating market women at the Kumasi Central Market and other satellite markets in the metropolis through the use of a public address system, to put off all electrical appliances any time they closed from the market.
He said they had also been interacting with pupils from basic schools in the metropolis on the safe use of electrical gadgets such as gas cookers, cylinders, irons and heaters and called on the public to report fire outbreaks on time to prevent the destruction of lives and property.
He said it was equally important for the public to actively support firemen whenever there were fire outbreaks and pointed out that in some cases, the public rather attacked some of their men, accusing them of arriving late at fire scenes.
DCFO Dankwa Dwamena explained that reports of fire outbreaks always received prompt attention, but on their way to put off the fire, officials of the GNFS sometimes encountered some obstacles.
He mentioned wrong addresses, late reporting of fire outbreaks by victims, especially when the fire outbreak was already out of hand; refusal of motorists to give way to fire engines when there were emergencies, and poor road network as some of the problems that always confronted his outfit.
He, however, gave the assurance that they would continue to educate the public on safety measures to adopt during fire outbreak.
Records available at the Ashanti Regional Fire Service Office in Kumasi indicate that in 2007, property estimated at GH¢4,135,598.7, was destroyed in the metropolis.
While the total number of fire outbreaks recorded in the Kumasi Metropolis in 2007 stood at 465, in 2008 it was 419, a slight reduction over that of 2007.
The Ashanti Regional Fire Officer, Deputy Chief Fire Officer (DCFO), Mr Obeng Dankwa Dwamena, who briefed the Daily Graphic on fire outbreaks, said domestic fires were predominant among fire outbreaks in the metropolis.
He pointed out that in 2007, for example, 253 domestic fire outbreaks were recorded out of 465 in the metropolis, adding that last year, 179 domestic fire outbreaks were also recorded out of a total of 419 fire outbreaks in the metropolis.
He pointed out that most fire outbreaks in the metropolis occurred between January and March each year.
He said while a total of 81 fire outbreaks were recorded in January 2007 and property estimated at GH¢406,415.00 was destroyed during the period, 73 fire outbreaks were recorded with property estimated at GH¢2,599,934.48 destroyed in the area in January last year.
He said in February 2007, a total of 38 fire outbreaks, which destroyed property worth GH¢160,710, were also recorded in Kumasi and at the same time last year, a total of 51 cases of fire outbreaks were recorded in the metropolis with property estimated at GH¢122,560.00 being destroyed.
DCFO Dankwa Dwamena said in March 2007, property estimated at GH¢1,415,525.00 was destroyed through fire outbreaks, and that in the same period last year, 37 cases of fire outbreaks were recorded in the metropolis, destroying property estimated at GH¢55,620.00.
He said commercial fire outbreaks, where property at markets and supermarkets among other places were totally or partially destroyed, had also taken centre stage in the Kumasi Metropolis, and explained that over the years, many businessmen and women had lost their capital and other valuables through such incidents.
Giving the statistics on the number of commercial fire outbreaks during the period under review, DCFO Dankwa Dwamena said in 2007, commercial fire outbreaks recorded in the Kumasi Metropolis were 53, but that increased to 75 cases last year.
He said industrial, vehicular, and bush fires had also undermined effective socio-economic development in the metropolis, explaining that in 2007, while 39 industrial fire outbreaks were recorded, a total of 38 vehicles were burnt to ashes that year with as many at 34 outbreaks of bush fires also being recorded.
He said last year, as many as 59 vehicles were burnt, while 39 industrial fire outbreaks were also recorded with bush fires recording 26 cases.
Expressing concern about the number of fire outbreaks in the metropolis and their effects on the economy, DCFO Dankwa Dwamena said they had intensified their campaigns on the effect of fire outbreaks as a way of creating awareness among the public to enable them to take preventive measures.
He pointed out that the psychological effect on victims who lost their property through fire was enormous and, therefore, urged the public to be proactive in instituting measures that would reduce fire outbreaks to the barest minimum.
He said his officers had been educating market women at the Kumasi Central Market and other satellite markets in the metropolis through the use of a public address system, to put off all electrical appliances any time they closed from the market.
He said they had also been interacting with pupils from basic schools in the metropolis on the safe use of electrical gadgets such as gas cookers, cylinders, irons and heaters and called on the public to report fire outbreaks on time to prevent the destruction of lives and property.
He said it was equally important for the public to actively support firemen whenever there were fire outbreaks and pointed out that in some cases, the public rather attacked some of their men, accusing them of arriving late at fire scenes.
DCFO Dankwa Dwamena explained that reports of fire outbreaks always received prompt attention, but on their way to put off the fire, officials of the GNFS sometimes encountered some obstacles.
He mentioned wrong addresses, late reporting of fire outbreaks by victims, especially when the fire outbreak was already out of hand; refusal of motorists to give way to fire engines when there were emergencies, and poor road network as some of the problems that always confronted his outfit.
He, however, gave the assurance that they would continue to educate the public on safety measures to adopt during fire outbreak.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
PRESIDENT MILLS CAN'T REVIEW EX GRATIA AWARD — MP FOR FOMENA (PAGE 13)
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Fomena, Nana Abu Bonsra, has said President Atta Mills has no mandate under the Constitution to review the ex gratia award to ex-Presidents and Members of Parliament (MPs) as being demanded by some people.
“No amount of street protests can have any impact on the end-of-service benefits because it has been mandated by the Constitution and President John Evans Atta Mills does not have the mandate to review it downward as is being demanded by the few individuals who think their action can cause pubic uproar,” he said.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the MP described the demonstration by the Committee for Joint Action (CJA) against the end-of-service benefits as “populist and a danger to the democratic dispensation of the country”.
He pointed out that the action of the CJA “would never stop the implementation of the end-of -service benefits because it was a contract guaranteed by Article 71 of the national constitution”.
“A few people in the country are trying to promote a populist regime by playing to the gallery of streetism, which is very dangerous to our democratic dispensation”, he noted, adding: “If you think democracy is expensive, then try dictatorship.”
Nana Abu Bonsra explained that the end-of-service benefits were not only approved by the ex-President, but also approved by the last Parliament as a constitutional mandate, and therefore wondered why a few individuals should cry foul against it.
“It was not a benefit that was enjoyed by the beneficiaries at the beginning of their service to the nation, but at the end of their active service to the nation, so it is very unfortunate that some people are being made scapegoats for something that had been mandated by the supreme law of the state”, he added.
Explaining further, Nana Abu Bonsra said President Mills had the capacity to establish a new committee for the end-of-service benefits for the present MPs and himself, “but, clearly, Article 71 of the Constitution says that the new President cannot, and does not, have the mandate to review the present end-of-service benefits downwards because it would be a recipe for promoting populist view and streetism.”
He also pointed out that it was time the citizenry adhered to the Constitution on issues that affect the development of the nation, instead of being emotional and pouring out insults on people who had committed themselves to serve the nation with dedication.
“Having agreed in 1992 to be ruled by the rule of law, it is important to be guided by the national Constitution and commit ourselves to its dictates because anything short of that would undermine constitutional demands,” he declared.
As to whether the national economy could support the current end-of-service benefits as mandated by the Constitution, Nana Abu Bonsra said the Foundation to be established for the ex-President would be of benefit to the present and future generations compared to what the ex-President stands to benefit for serving the state for eight solid years.
“The Constitution did not spell out that the houses should be built within two or three months’ time, so it could be spread, depending on the state on the national economy,” he explained.
He said the UNDP would also support the Foundation to be established by the ex-President with GH¢10 million.
“His local and international experience would make it possible for the nation to benefit tremendously from the Foundation so we should support its establishment instead of the hullabaloo going on,π” he stressed.
“No amount of street protests can have any impact on the end-of-service benefits because it has been mandated by the Constitution and President John Evans Atta Mills does not have the mandate to review it downward as is being demanded by the few individuals who think their action can cause pubic uproar,” he said.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the MP described the demonstration by the Committee for Joint Action (CJA) against the end-of-service benefits as “populist and a danger to the democratic dispensation of the country”.
He pointed out that the action of the CJA “would never stop the implementation of the end-of -service benefits because it was a contract guaranteed by Article 71 of the national constitution”.
“A few people in the country are trying to promote a populist regime by playing to the gallery of streetism, which is very dangerous to our democratic dispensation”, he noted, adding: “If you think democracy is expensive, then try dictatorship.”
Nana Abu Bonsra explained that the end-of-service benefits were not only approved by the ex-President, but also approved by the last Parliament as a constitutional mandate, and therefore wondered why a few individuals should cry foul against it.
“It was not a benefit that was enjoyed by the beneficiaries at the beginning of their service to the nation, but at the end of their active service to the nation, so it is very unfortunate that some people are being made scapegoats for something that had been mandated by the supreme law of the state”, he added.
Explaining further, Nana Abu Bonsra said President Mills had the capacity to establish a new committee for the end-of-service benefits for the present MPs and himself, “but, clearly, Article 71 of the Constitution says that the new President cannot, and does not, have the mandate to review the present end-of-service benefits downwards because it would be a recipe for promoting populist view and streetism.”
He also pointed out that it was time the citizenry adhered to the Constitution on issues that affect the development of the nation, instead of being emotional and pouring out insults on people who had committed themselves to serve the nation with dedication.
“Having agreed in 1992 to be ruled by the rule of law, it is important to be guided by the national Constitution and commit ourselves to its dictates because anything short of that would undermine constitutional demands,” he declared.
As to whether the national economy could support the current end-of-service benefits as mandated by the Constitution, Nana Abu Bonsra said the Foundation to be established for the ex-President would be of benefit to the present and future generations compared to what the ex-President stands to benefit for serving the state for eight solid years.
“The Constitution did not spell out that the houses should be built within two or three months’ time, so it could be spread, depending on the state on the national economy,” he explained.
He said the UNDP would also support the Foundation to be established by the ex-President with GH¢10 million.
“His local and international experience would make it possible for the nation to benefit tremendously from the Foundation so we should support its establishment instead of the hullabaloo going on,π” he stressed.
NANA ADUSAH MAKES A LIVING BY SELLING ROASTED PLANTAIN (PAGE 11)
NANA Amma Adusah is an old woman at Bantama in the Kumasi metropolis who serves her numerous customers roasted plantain. She is popular for one thing; she services them with a broad smile.
She has been in that business since her prime, and continues to do so as her only source of livelihood.
Although she could not give her actual age, family sources told the Daily Graphic that Nana Adusah was about 97 years old.
Occasionally, she also sells fruits such as oranges, pineapples mangoes and bananas, depending on the season.
Nana Adusah, whose interview with this reporter in Akan was translated to English, said " I started roasting plantain a long time ago, even before I gave birth to my two children, who incidentally are both dead, and in spite of my age, I have to continue doing it.
“This is because I have no one to fall on for financial support, and since I do not want to starve to death, I have to come here every day, to serve my customers and to generate a little income for my livelihood," she said.
Nana Amma Adusah‘s business is located infront of her family house, indicating that she just have to walk a few metres from the house to the place where she operates her business.
She said having been in active business for the past 70 years had also strengthened her physically, and the urge for survival keeps her going, as she had no problem with her sight.
"I did not have any money at that time to start any lucrative business, and since roasting plantain did not require any huge capital, I started it," She explained.
A 53-year-old fish monger and a family member, Madam Akua Safowaa, told the Daily Graphic that Nana Adusah took care of her (Akua Safowaa) deceased mother, Maame Yaa Dufie.
" My mother told me that Nana Adusah was the one who nursed her when her mother was away, and since my mother was 83 years before she died three years ago, it means that Nana Adusah could not be less than 97 years of age," She explained.
"I am saying this because Nana Adusah would have been more than 10 years old at the time she was actively taking care of my deceased mother who died three years ago at the age of 83," she explained.
On why she was still doing brisk business after serving her customers for more than 70 years, Nana Adusah, who comes from Apemanim in the Ashanti Region, explained that one of her grandchildren who was the bread winner died mysteriously in Abidjan "and this added to my woes because at the moment, all my children who should have taken care of me are dead and with the death of my grandchild, Sam, eleven years ago, I solely depend on God for strength to enable me to continue with this business, or I will starve to death".
"This is not an easy job, especially at this age, and I am hoping that help will come from somewhere and from any philanthropist willing to support me financially to survive, but in the absence of any help from any body, I will continue roasting plantain, and sell fruits until I join my ancestors," Nana Adusah stressed.
She has been in that business since her prime, and continues to do so as her only source of livelihood.
Although she could not give her actual age, family sources told the Daily Graphic that Nana Adusah was about 97 years old.
Occasionally, she also sells fruits such as oranges, pineapples mangoes and bananas, depending on the season.
Nana Adusah, whose interview with this reporter in Akan was translated to English, said " I started roasting plantain a long time ago, even before I gave birth to my two children, who incidentally are both dead, and in spite of my age, I have to continue doing it.
“This is because I have no one to fall on for financial support, and since I do not want to starve to death, I have to come here every day, to serve my customers and to generate a little income for my livelihood," she said.
Nana Amma Adusah‘s business is located infront of her family house, indicating that she just have to walk a few metres from the house to the place where she operates her business.
She said having been in active business for the past 70 years had also strengthened her physically, and the urge for survival keeps her going, as she had no problem with her sight.
"I did not have any money at that time to start any lucrative business, and since roasting plantain did not require any huge capital, I started it," She explained.
A 53-year-old fish monger and a family member, Madam Akua Safowaa, told the Daily Graphic that Nana Adusah took care of her (Akua Safowaa) deceased mother, Maame Yaa Dufie.
" My mother told me that Nana Adusah was the one who nursed her when her mother was away, and since my mother was 83 years before she died three years ago, it means that Nana Adusah could not be less than 97 years of age," She explained.
"I am saying this because Nana Adusah would have been more than 10 years old at the time she was actively taking care of my deceased mother who died three years ago at the age of 83," she explained.
On why she was still doing brisk business after serving her customers for more than 70 years, Nana Adusah, who comes from Apemanim in the Ashanti Region, explained that one of her grandchildren who was the bread winner died mysteriously in Abidjan "and this added to my woes because at the moment, all my children who should have taken care of me are dead and with the death of my grandchild, Sam, eleven years ago, I solely depend on God for strength to enable me to continue with this business, or I will starve to death".
"This is not an easy job, especially at this age, and I am hoping that help will come from somewhere and from any philanthropist willing to support me financially to survive, but in the absence of any help from any body, I will continue roasting plantain, and sell fruits until I join my ancestors," Nana Adusah stressed.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
3,000 WOMEN REGISTER WITH MATERNAL, CHILD HEALTH HOSPITAL (PAGE 18)
The Maternal and Child Health Hospital near Kajetia in Kumasi registered 30,000 pregnant women for antenatal care between June and December last year.
This was to enable them to source for regular medical care at the hospital to ensure safe delivery.
The increase in the number regularly attending hospital by expectant mothers in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs started shortly after the previous government announced the introduction of free medical care for pregnant women in the country.
The Medical Administrator of the Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Mr Kwame Nsiah, who announced this during an interview with the Daily Graphic, stated that the desire of expectant mothers attending hospital regularly had reduced the incidence of complications encountered by pregnant women.
He said the quality delivery of health care services by medical officers at the Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Kumasi also played a key role by averting any maternal mortality last year.
"Last year, maternal mortality at this hospital was zero, and this could be attributed to the regular hospital attendance by expectant mothers, while the introduction of free medical care announced by the previous government also encouraged pregnant women to source medical care,” he explained.
Mr Nsiah, however, expressed concern about accumulated bills the hospital was incurring as a result of the free medical services being provided to pregnant women.
He pointed out that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) owed the hospital to the tune of GH¢240,000.00 being services provided to pregnant women since June last year.
"At the moment, our suppliers are refusing to credit us with consumables, such as detergents, liquid soaps and hand gloves because we cannot pay them regularly as we used to do," he said.
He said "the hospital is also finding it difficult to honour our bills on drugs supplied by pharmacy shops and this is affecting our operations".
He mentioned analgesics and anti-malarial, anti-diarrhoeal, and antibiotic drugs among others as those supplied to expectant mothers when they attend hospital, and therefore appealed to the National Health Insurance Authority to honour bills regularly to sustain quality health care delivery at the hospital.
This was to enable them to source for regular medical care at the hospital to ensure safe delivery.
The increase in the number regularly attending hospital by expectant mothers in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs started shortly after the previous government announced the introduction of free medical care for pregnant women in the country.
The Medical Administrator of the Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Mr Kwame Nsiah, who announced this during an interview with the Daily Graphic, stated that the desire of expectant mothers attending hospital regularly had reduced the incidence of complications encountered by pregnant women.
He said the quality delivery of health care services by medical officers at the Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Kumasi also played a key role by averting any maternal mortality last year.
"Last year, maternal mortality at this hospital was zero, and this could be attributed to the regular hospital attendance by expectant mothers, while the introduction of free medical care announced by the previous government also encouraged pregnant women to source medical care,” he explained.
Mr Nsiah, however, expressed concern about accumulated bills the hospital was incurring as a result of the free medical services being provided to pregnant women.
He pointed out that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) owed the hospital to the tune of GH¢240,000.00 being services provided to pregnant women since June last year.
"At the moment, our suppliers are refusing to credit us with consumables, such as detergents, liquid soaps and hand gloves because we cannot pay them regularly as we used to do," he said.
He said "the hospital is also finding it difficult to honour our bills on drugs supplied by pharmacy shops and this is affecting our operations".
He mentioned analgesics and anti-malarial, anti-diarrhoeal, and antibiotic drugs among others as those supplied to expectant mothers when they attend hospital, and therefore appealed to the National Health Insurance Authority to honour bills regularly to sustain quality health care delivery at the hospital.
Monday, February 9, 2009
THREE GOVERNMENTS TO SUPPORT RESEARCH IN HERBAL MEDICINE (SPREAD)
The governments of the United States of America, Japan and Switzerland have together released $400,000 to support research work on the conservation and utilisation of medicinal plants in three major ecological zones in Ghana.
The project, which aims at documenting endangered species of medicinal plants and the common ones among them, also seeks to train forest fringe communities on biodiversity conservation and propagation and management techniques on the sustainable harvest and utilisation of medicinal plant species in the country.
Some researchers from the Forest Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) are undertaking the project, which is expected to be completed in three years’ time.
The selected ecological zones, made up of the evergreen forest, moist and dry forest areas, are located in five administrative regions, namely, the Western, Eastern, Central, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions.
Three districts will be selected from each of the administrative areas and five communities will also be selected from each of the three districts, meaning that in all 75 communities in the forest zones will be selected for the project.
The selection of the communities will be based on their closeness to a forest protected area, a sacred grove, a national forest reserve, registered traditional medical practitioners, as well as the presence of herbalists, fetish priests, among others.
The Project Co-ordinator, Dr E. Owusu-Sekyere, who announced this at a workshop organised to sensitise stakeholders at Fumeasua last Friday, noted that the project was key to the sustainable socio-economic development of Ghana, stressing, "The loss of medicinal plants means the immediate loss of livelihood and the rapid erosion of the knowledge and efficacy of their use."
He explained that just as "in orthodox medicine where pharmacies or chemical shops are close to hospitals, medicinal plants such as those located at sacred groves, gardens and forest zones rich with medicinal plants should also be close to the practitioners of herbal medicines".
He noted that as part of the project concept, "endangered medicinal plant species will be protected, propagated and multiplied to ensure that their collection, harvesting and utilisation become sustainable".
"Herbarium samples of very rare species will be stored, while planting materials of highly ranked or preferred medicinal plant species will be made available for planting," he said.
The project, which aims at documenting endangered species of medicinal plants and the common ones among them, also seeks to train forest fringe communities on biodiversity conservation and propagation and management techniques on the sustainable harvest and utilisation of medicinal plant species in the country.
Some researchers from the Forest Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) are undertaking the project, which is expected to be completed in three years’ time.
The selected ecological zones, made up of the evergreen forest, moist and dry forest areas, are located in five administrative regions, namely, the Western, Eastern, Central, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions.
Three districts will be selected from each of the administrative areas and five communities will also be selected from each of the three districts, meaning that in all 75 communities in the forest zones will be selected for the project.
The selection of the communities will be based on their closeness to a forest protected area, a sacred grove, a national forest reserve, registered traditional medical practitioners, as well as the presence of herbalists, fetish priests, among others.
The Project Co-ordinator, Dr E. Owusu-Sekyere, who announced this at a workshop organised to sensitise stakeholders at Fumeasua last Friday, noted that the project was key to the sustainable socio-economic development of Ghana, stressing, "The loss of medicinal plants means the immediate loss of livelihood and the rapid erosion of the knowledge and efficacy of their use."
He explained that just as "in orthodox medicine where pharmacies or chemical shops are close to hospitals, medicinal plants such as those located at sacred groves, gardens and forest zones rich with medicinal plants should also be close to the practitioners of herbal medicines".
He noted that as part of the project concept, "endangered medicinal plant species will be protected, propagated and multiplied to ensure that their collection, harvesting and utilisation become sustainable".
"Herbarium samples of very rare species will be stored, while planting materials of highly ranked or preferred medicinal plant species will be made available for planting," he said.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
SHOULD SHS PROGRAMME BE ALTERED? (MIRROR FORUM)
Ms Yaa Konadu
Adiyiah, Nutritionist, Komfo Anokye
Teaching
Hospital (KATH)
Considering our present circumstances, I think the four-year duration of senior high school should be maintained. I am saying this because it gives ample time for students to adjust to their new environment and focus on their academic work to achieve fruitful results in the long run.
We are here talking about the future leaders of the nation, so any decision that is taken on their behalf should be in their best interest, but not based on scoring political points.
If there is the need to spend money to build infrastructure and logistics that should go to improve the present system, let us do so immediately since in the long run, we would be building the capacity of our students in a way that would be beneficial to the state.
Another important thing to do is to equip the various science resource centres throughout the country to enable science students to undertake effective practical work.
Many of the schools merely exist in name, while, in fact, they have no logistics and facilities to enhance effective and efficient teaching and learning and I think this is what our politicians should focus their attention on.
If the present government goes ahead and changes the duration of the course of study in secondary schools, students presently in the system would be directly affected. This is because the syllabus will have to be crammed to suit the new system, and teaching and learning programmes will also have to be changed, creating a rush in academic work.
It will mean also that teachers will have to organise extra classes for their students to enable them to catch up with the new programme and this could translate into additional cost to parents and guardians, who under the present harsh economic conditions, are already finding it hard to cope.
It will therefore be of great national advantage if the government sticks to the present educational system to spare teachers and students alike the ordeal of a change of programme to suit the politicians.
Dr Kwabena
Opoku-Adusei,
Vice-President, Ghana Medical
Association (GMA)
Reforming education implies that measures are being put in place to improve the quality of education.
Teachers and educationists in parts of the country whom I have interacted with on the subject of the duration of senior high school education, have noted that it does not really matter if the duration is three or four years. What really matters, they say, is how relevant the content of their education is, especially the syllabi of the various core subjects and then we can later come to think of the duration.
Let us ask ourselves what it was that informed the PNDC and the NDC governments to reform education and go for the three-year duration and the immediate past administration to also go to four years.
What is it now that is informing the current government to revert to the three-year period?
Is it a case of my enemy's enemy is my friend? Is every new government going to change what the previous government has done just for the sheer sake of changing?
If one looks at the advanced countries, we can see that they have a blueprint on their educational structure. If we decide to travel from Accra to Kumasi, how to get there and by what means is not a problem, but if on the way one decides to turn back after reaching Ejisu, or at the Bunsu junction one decides to branch to Koforidua, then a problem can arise because in that case we may never reach Kumasi as intended.
The politicians seem to be gambling with the lives of our children, and it is time they are stopped before the situation gets out of hand.
As a nation, it is time to sit down, take a critical look at the course content and draw a blueprint that will determine the duration of SHS education to enable us to produce quality materials for responsible leaders in the future.
Some teachers I spoke to were of the view that four years should be adequate for SHS education. However, they were also of the view that some structures needed to be put in place, syllabi properly developed, buildings constructed to accommodate students and teachers, as well as provide satisfactory logistics to enhance the smooth implementation of the four-year programme.
The politicians are likely to raise a public debate on this issue. However, as I see it, they may have made up their minds already so any public debate will not have any effect on their decision to do away with the four-year programme. Public debate will only give them a democratic face on what they have already intended to do.
Mr I.K. Gyasi,
Former
Headmaster,
T.I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School, Kumasi
I think that the period of four years is okay. The period is important because even if we have five years and the requirements to make for effective learning and teaching are not provided, then no matter how long the programme lasts, we will still have problems.
The unfortunate thing about the present system is that, as a nation, we have not even had the privilege of assessing the performance of the first batch of students who began the four-year programme. They are presently in the second year and we cannot right now determine whether the system has had a positive or negative impact on the educational system.
I think it is after the first three batches of students come out that we would be in a position to properly assess them based on their performance.
As I said earlier, while the duration is important, the availability of teaching and learning materials as well as the readiness of students to learn, the readiness of teachers to teach effectively and efficiently, and the readiness of the heads of the various schools to sustain their supervisory roles, which will make teaching and learning practicable and possible, is even more crucial.
Inadequate infrastructure in schools has always been with us right from the basic to the tertiary level. This is therefore not the first time that an issue of this nature has come into the public domain.
The nation has had shortages of logistics in the educational sector for a very long time. Indeed, shortage of teaching personnel is still ongoing. I am informed that basic schools alone need about 17,000 teachers. We have had problems of unavailability of textbooks and other learning materials, and even availability of common chalk sometime ago posed great challenges to effective academic work.
Fortunately, Mr Alexander Tettey- Enyo is not a novice in the educational system because he was a teacher, a headmaster in a secondary school, a president of CHASS, a director (secondary education), and acting director-general of the GES, and therefore knows what he is talking about.
However, I hope that the educationist in him will predominate over the politician in him now, and that he will give the best advice and also have advisors from schools still running the present programmes to enable him to appreciate what the problems are, instead of assuming the problems himself.
Nana Yaw Owusu Akwanuasa
Otumfuo
Mpaboahene
The government has not yet opened any public debate on this subject, so I regard the subject as only a hint dropped by the minister designate for education on what the NDC government intends to do in the educational sector. This may mean abolishing the four-year senior high school system and revert to the earlier three-year programme which obtained when the party was in office.
It is premature now to engage in serious public debate on the subject. This is because the government has not really come out with a policy to change the present programme.
My concern is that before the present programme was adopted, there was a series of consultations, public debate, presentation of papers and opinions of people as well as expert in the field of education.
And then, based on the information gathered, the pros and cons were considered after which decision was arrived at to implement a four-year programme.
It looks like a section of people who found themselves on the other side of the process and who did not find favour at the time, would want to change the system now that they are in power.
As a nation, if we intend to reinvent the wheel in this way anytime it suits us, there will not be an end to the resolution of crucial national issues.
Some of the reasons for rejecting the four-year system, including the lack of infrastructure and of human resource as well as logistics, are matters that can be resolved for the process to advance smoothly. In a situation like ours, the idea must first be accepted and then it becomes important to make sure that the ground rules are followed accordingly.
Education is the bedrock of any nation and building the capacity of future leaders rests solely on the provision of quality education, especially for the youth, at all levels and nothing should be done to toy with the programme through any form of political machination to suit any particular group.
I believe a lot of factors were taken into consideration before the four-year programme was accepted. Personally, I wish we retain it.
Mr Felix Owusu-Achiaw, Supervising
Manager, Bosomtwe Rural Bank
I was a bit surprised to hear that the present government wants to abolish the four-year period in senior high school and revert to the three-year duration.
My surprise stems from my interactions with some key employers in the country who have been recruiting fresh graduates into their companies and the performance of such graduates during interviews.
According to the employers, products from the traditional sixth form type of education who gain admission into the universities perform more creditably during interviews as well as on the job than products from the senior secondary schools.
My interactions with my nephew who is a product of the educational reform and who also attended one of the best second cycle schools in the country, indicate that the commitment of their teachers and the desire of the students to focus on their academic work notwithstanding, they are not able to cover most of their syllabi during normal class periods. This, according to him, is because their syllabus is loaded.
I think that the four-year programme is okay. This is because it would afford both teachers and students enough time to concentrate on their work and be able to produce the best during examinations.
Lack of infrastructure and teachers has been cited as a major problem in the implementation of the four-year programme. I wonder if the economy can address these problems immediately.
I suggest, therefore, that we go by the four-year course until such time that the economy can address the human resource and infrastructure requirements.
Adiyiah, Nutritionist, Komfo Anokye
Teaching
Hospital (KATH)
Considering our present circumstances, I think the four-year duration of senior high school should be maintained. I am saying this because it gives ample time for students to adjust to their new environment and focus on their academic work to achieve fruitful results in the long run.
We are here talking about the future leaders of the nation, so any decision that is taken on their behalf should be in their best interest, but not based on scoring political points.
If there is the need to spend money to build infrastructure and logistics that should go to improve the present system, let us do so immediately since in the long run, we would be building the capacity of our students in a way that would be beneficial to the state.
Another important thing to do is to equip the various science resource centres throughout the country to enable science students to undertake effective practical work.
Many of the schools merely exist in name, while, in fact, they have no logistics and facilities to enhance effective and efficient teaching and learning and I think this is what our politicians should focus their attention on.
If the present government goes ahead and changes the duration of the course of study in secondary schools, students presently in the system would be directly affected. This is because the syllabus will have to be crammed to suit the new system, and teaching and learning programmes will also have to be changed, creating a rush in academic work.
It will mean also that teachers will have to organise extra classes for their students to enable them to catch up with the new programme and this could translate into additional cost to parents and guardians, who under the present harsh economic conditions, are already finding it hard to cope.
It will therefore be of great national advantage if the government sticks to the present educational system to spare teachers and students alike the ordeal of a change of programme to suit the politicians.
Dr Kwabena
Opoku-Adusei,
Vice-President, Ghana Medical
Association (GMA)
Reforming education implies that measures are being put in place to improve the quality of education.
Teachers and educationists in parts of the country whom I have interacted with on the subject of the duration of senior high school education, have noted that it does not really matter if the duration is three or four years. What really matters, they say, is how relevant the content of their education is, especially the syllabi of the various core subjects and then we can later come to think of the duration.
Let us ask ourselves what it was that informed the PNDC and the NDC governments to reform education and go for the three-year duration and the immediate past administration to also go to four years.
What is it now that is informing the current government to revert to the three-year period?
Is it a case of my enemy's enemy is my friend? Is every new government going to change what the previous government has done just for the sheer sake of changing?
If one looks at the advanced countries, we can see that they have a blueprint on their educational structure. If we decide to travel from Accra to Kumasi, how to get there and by what means is not a problem, but if on the way one decides to turn back after reaching Ejisu, or at the Bunsu junction one decides to branch to Koforidua, then a problem can arise because in that case we may never reach Kumasi as intended.
The politicians seem to be gambling with the lives of our children, and it is time they are stopped before the situation gets out of hand.
As a nation, it is time to sit down, take a critical look at the course content and draw a blueprint that will determine the duration of SHS education to enable us to produce quality materials for responsible leaders in the future.
Some teachers I spoke to were of the view that four years should be adequate for SHS education. However, they were also of the view that some structures needed to be put in place, syllabi properly developed, buildings constructed to accommodate students and teachers, as well as provide satisfactory logistics to enhance the smooth implementation of the four-year programme.
The politicians are likely to raise a public debate on this issue. However, as I see it, they may have made up their minds already so any public debate will not have any effect on their decision to do away with the four-year programme. Public debate will only give them a democratic face on what they have already intended to do.
Mr I.K. Gyasi,
Former
Headmaster,
T.I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School, Kumasi
I think that the period of four years is okay. The period is important because even if we have five years and the requirements to make for effective learning and teaching are not provided, then no matter how long the programme lasts, we will still have problems.
The unfortunate thing about the present system is that, as a nation, we have not even had the privilege of assessing the performance of the first batch of students who began the four-year programme. They are presently in the second year and we cannot right now determine whether the system has had a positive or negative impact on the educational system.
I think it is after the first three batches of students come out that we would be in a position to properly assess them based on their performance.
As I said earlier, while the duration is important, the availability of teaching and learning materials as well as the readiness of students to learn, the readiness of teachers to teach effectively and efficiently, and the readiness of the heads of the various schools to sustain their supervisory roles, which will make teaching and learning practicable and possible, is even more crucial.
Inadequate infrastructure in schools has always been with us right from the basic to the tertiary level. This is therefore not the first time that an issue of this nature has come into the public domain.
The nation has had shortages of logistics in the educational sector for a very long time. Indeed, shortage of teaching personnel is still ongoing. I am informed that basic schools alone need about 17,000 teachers. We have had problems of unavailability of textbooks and other learning materials, and even availability of common chalk sometime ago posed great challenges to effective academic work.
Fortunately, Mr Alexander Tettey- Enyo is not a novice in the educational system because he was a teacher, a headmaster in a secondary school, a president of CHASS, a director (secondary education), and acting director-general of the GES, and therefore knows what he is talking about.
However, I hope that the educationist in him will predominate over the politician in him now, and that he will give the best advice and also have advisors from schools still running the present programmes to enable him to appreciate what the problems are, instead of assuming the problems himself.
Nana Yaw Owusu Akwanuasa
Otumfuo
Mpaboahene
The government has not yet opened any public debate on this subject, so I regard the subject as only a hint dropped by the minister designate for education on what the NDC government intends to do in the educational sector. This may mean abolishing the four-year senior high school system and revert to the earlier three-year programme which obtained when the party was in office.
It is premature now to engage in serious public debate on the subject. This is because the government has not really come out with a policy to change the present programme.
My concern is that before the present programme was adopted, there was a series of consultations, public debate, presentation of papers and opinions of people as well as expert in the field of education.
And then, based on the information gathered, the pros and cons were considered after which decision was arrived at to implement a four-year programme.
It looks like a section of people who found themselves on the other side of the process and who did not find favour at the time, would want to change the system now that they are in power.
As a nation, if we intend to reinvent the wheel in this way anytime it suits us, there will not be an end to the resolution of crucial national issues.
Some of the reasons for rejecting the four-year system, including the lack of infrastructure and of human resource as well as logistics, are matters that can be resolved for the process to advance smoothly. In a situation like ours, the idea must first be accepted and then it becomes important to make sure that the ground rules are followed accordingly.
Education is the bedrock of any nation and building the capacity of future leaders rests solely on the provision of quality education, especially for the youth, at all levels and nothing should be done to toy with the programme through any form of political machination to suit any particular group.
I believe a lot of factors were taken into consideration before the four-year programme was accepted. Personally, I wish we retain it.
Mr Felix Owusu-Achiaw, Supervising
Manager, Bosomtwe Rural Bank
I was a bit surprised to hear that the present government wants to abolish the four-year period in senior high school and revert to the three-year duration.
My surprise stems from my interactions with some key employers in the country who have been recruiting fresh graduates into their companies and the performance of such graduates during interviews.
According to the employers, products from the traditional sixth form type of education who gain admission into the universities perform more creditably during interviews as well as on the job than products from the senior secondary schools.
My interactions with my nephew who is a product of the educational reform and who also attended one of the best second cycle schools in the country, indicate that the commitment of their teachers and the desire of the students to focus on their academic work notwithstanding, they are not able to cover most of their syllabi during normal class periods. This, according to him, is because their syllabus is loaded.
I think that the four-year programme is okay. This is because it would afford both teachers and students enough time to concentrate on their work and be able to produce the best during examinations.
Lack of infrastructure and teachers has been cited as a major problem in the implementation of the four-year programme. I wonder if the economy can address these problems immediately.
I suggest, therefore, that we go by the four-year course until such time that the economy can address the human resource and infrastructure requirements.
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