THE Central Ghana Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church, has honoured Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) in particular and other media establishments in general, for their contributions towards the socio–economic development of the country.
A citation signed jointly by the Communication Director, Pastor Peter Obeng Manu, and the President, Pastor Emmanuel Denteh of the church said the SDA Church, acknowledged and appreciated the positive contributions the GCGL and other media houses were making towards evangelisation of the church in Ghana.
“We also recognise your contributions in the promotion of health, education, agriculture, social issues and many others, that are crucial to the healthy development of our great nation. We pray for the salvation of your entire staff and the success of your daily operations,” it stressed.
The ceremony took place at a special church service organised in Kumasi at the weekend, dubbed: “Media appreciation day”.
Other media houses which were honoured alongside GCGL were the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, TV3, TV Africa, Metro TV, OTEC FM, ANGEL FM, Garden City Radio, KESBEN FM and HELLO FM. The rest were FOX and Liberty FM stations as well as Ghana News Agency, News Times Corporation and the Pioneer.
In his address, Pastor Denteh of the church said over the years, the media in Ghana had collaborated with various governments to initiate policies and programmes that had promoted national development.
He said the media had also not only kept the public abreast with both local and foreign news, but had also provided civic education that had enabled Ghanaians to live up to their civic rights and responsibilities.
Pastor Denteh challenged the media to continue to play their assigned roles as the watchdogs in the country as a way of promoting “God fearing principles among the youth in particular and society in general”.
On health issues, Pastor Denteh said the media had a crucial role to play to initiate health reform principles among Ghanaians.
He stated that the media had successfully carried out an anti-smoking campaign that had considerably reduced the smoking of cigarettes at public places in the country .
Pastor Denteh, however, said the media was yet to initiate programmes and policies that would ward society off the intake of alcohol and hard drugs which had become the order of the day.
“Both radio and television have been using their media to advertise the potency of different brands of alcoholic beverages on daily basis, creating the impression that they are very good for the body. Such false impressions make society, including the youth patronise alcohol in large quantities, which directly and indirectly affect their health,” he stated.
He, therefore, urged the media to propagate the effects of quaffing quantities of alcohol just as they did for smoking, to enable society to appreciate the need to refrain from patronising alcohol.
Pastor Denteh said it was very important for the media to actively support the campaign of preventive principles to enable Ghanaians to enjoy good health.
He mentioned good environmental conditions, adequate rest, regular exercises and good diet, among others, as some of the measures that should be regularly practised by society to enhance good health among them.
He said the church on its part , has constructed four hospitals, 14 clinics and a Nursing Training College in the Ashanti as their contribution of meeting the heath needs of society.
On education, Pastor Denteh said the SDA Church had established 250 public and private schools at the basic level in the Ashanti Region alone, stressing that it also had set up six Senior High Schools, as well as a private university to complement the government’s efforts in bringing education to the doorsteps of the ordinary Ghanaian.
He urged the media to continue playing its role as watchdogs to enhance accelerated social development, but however, said in doing so, the media needed to check the accuracy of their reportage and should also be selective in the music played on air.
“Be selective in the kind of music presented and discard music which tends to lower morals,” Pastor Denteh said, adding “Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the service of the Lord and not to men”.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Nana Yaw Osei, commended the Central Ghana Conference of the SDA Church for recognising the crucial role the media play in accelerated national development.
He said the historic ceremony would not only ginger the media to work harder than before to enhance social stability and rapid economic growth, but would also bring the media closer to the church to promote values that would firmly entrench democratic principles in the country.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
COURT RESTRAINS NPP, ASOKWA CONSTITUENCY (PAGE 13, NOV 21)
A Kumasi High Court has granted an application restraining both the Ashanti Regional Executive Committee for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Asokwa Constituency Executive of the party from holding any election of new executive members for the Asokwa Constituency of the party.
A suit filed by Mr Kwame Owusu Sekyere, on behalf of the applicants who are polling station executives of eight polling stations of the Asokwa Constituency, also sought an order to declare the polling station membership register compiled between September and October 2009 by the Ashanti Regional Executive Committee of the NPP and the Executive Committee of the Asokwa Constituency of the party null and void.
The plaintiffs are Messrs Gyamfi Marfo of Kaasi, Nana Kwaku Frimpong of F170102, Charles Damptey of Gyinase M/A Primary, Luke Kofi Fofie of SDA Church, Osei Efah Amponsah of F170708, Yaw Boakye of Gyinase , Frank Bosompem Danso of F10109 and Madam Lydia Efa Amponsah of Atonsu S-Line polling station.
Other claims that the court, presided over by Justice Imoru Ziblim, has granted an order compelling the defendants to compile and validate the Polling Station Membership Register of the Asokwa Constituency of the NPP in accordance with the NPP constitution, rules and regulations, and an order restraining the defendants, their agents and assigns from conducting the Asokwa Constituency Executive Elections of the NPP, pending the final determination of the suit and general damages.
In their statement of claim, the plaintiff explained that they were elected in 2005 in their respective polling stations of the Asokwa Constituency as polling station executives, and, therefore, form part of the Electoral College for the selection and election of constituency executives and parliamentary candidates, as well as the selection and election of delegates who select and elect national executive and the presidential candidate for the party.
It said being card-bearing members of the party, they also qualify to stand for any election within the party, including election to select polling station and constituency executives.
It said even though they remained at post as polling station executives, they were sidelined by the constituency executives during the compilation and validation of the polling station register.
The statement further explained that contrary to the party’s constitution, rules and regulations, the Executive Committee of the Asokwa Constituency and the Member of Parliament of the constituency, designed and compiled the membership register without any reference to the plaintiffs who form part of the polling station executives.
The statement also explained that following the action of the Asokwa Executive Committee members and the MP, they (Plaintiffs) petitioned the Regional Executive Committee and the National Secretariat, as well as the Council of Elders of the party, but had not received any response, and in spite of the petition to the party executives at the regional and national levels, the defendants were bent on using the illegal register to elect constituency executives.
It said if the defendants were allowed to use that register for the selection and election of constituency executives, they (Plaintiffs) would be denied their fundamental human rights to belong to the party of their choice and a right to vote and be voted for in any executive position.
A suit filed by Mr Kwame Owusu Sekyere, on behalf of the applicants who are polling station executives of eight polling stations of the Asokwa Constituency, also sought an order to declare the polling station membership register compiled between September and October 2009 by the Ashanti Regional Executive Committee of the NPP and the Executive Committee of the Asokwa Constituency of the party null and void.
The plaintiffs are Messrs Gyamfi Marfo of Kaasi, Nana Kwaku Frimpong of F170102, Charles Damptey of Gyinase M/A Primary, Luke Kofi Fofie of SDA Church, Osei Efah Amponsah of F170708, Yaw Boakye of Gyinase , Frank Bosompem Danso of F10109 and Madam Lydia Efa Amponsah of Atonsu S-Line polling station.
Other claims that the court, presided over by Justice Imoru Ziblim, has granted an order compelling the defendants to compile and validate the Polling Station Membership Register of the Asokwa Constituency of the NPP in accordance with the NPP constitution, rules and regulations, and an order restraining the defendants, their agents and assigns from conducting the Asokwa Constituency Executive Elections of the NPP, pending the final determination of the suit and general damages.
In their statement of claim, the plaintiff explained that they were elected in 2005 in their respective polling stations of the Asokwa Constituency as polling station executives, and, therefore, form part of the Electoral College for the selection and election of constituency executives and parliamentary candidates, as well as the selection and election of delegates who select and elect national executive and the presidential candidate for the party.
It said being card-bearing members of the party, they also qualify to stand for any election within the party, including election to select polling station and constituency executives.
It said even though they remained at post as polling station executives, they were sidelined by the constituency executives during the compilation and validation of the polling station register.
The statement further explained that contrary to the party’s constitution, rules and regulations, the Executive Committee of the Asokwa Constituency and the Member of Parliament of the constituency, designed and compiled the membership register without any reference to the plaintiffs who form part of the polling station executives.
The statement also explained that following the action of the Asokwa Executive Committee members and the MP, they (Plaintiffs) petitioned the Regional Executive Committee and the National Secretariat, as well as the Council of Elders of the party, but had not received any response, and in spite of the petition to the party executives at the regional and national levels, the defendants were bent on using the illegal register to elect constituency executives.
It said if the defendants were allowed to use that register for the selection and election of constituency executives, they (Plaintiffs) would be denied their fundamental human rights to belong to the party of their choice and a right to vote and be voted for in any executive position.
Friday, November 20, 2009
DWARFS TEAM VISITS GRAPHIC (GRAPHIC SPORTS, PAGE 11, NOV 20)
The Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Dwarfs Sports team has paid a familiarisation visit to the Kumasi office of Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) with a call on sports enthusiasts to actively support the development of the team to enable them develop their potentials effectively and efficiently.
The visit to the Kumasi office was in appreciation of the tremendous support the GCGL has been offering them since the team was formed a few years ago .
It also created a platform for their officials to appeal to the GCGL to continue supporting the disabled in terms of publicity for society to appreciate their worth.
This, according to their National Coach, Mr Adu Akyeampong, “ will encourage sports philanthropists , organisations, institutions and individuals to sponsor members of the team in diverse ways for them to nurture and develop their potentials”.
The team comprised soccer stars, table tennis players and athletes .
Mr Akyeampong , who is also the Sports Development Coordinator, noted, “ it takes both the able and the disabled to develop a nation, but in sports the disabled are always neglected and sidelined, making it impossible for them to nurture and develop their talents to support national development”
“We may lack the physical stature, but in terms of skills , know-how, ability , zeal and commitment , we have them in abundance,” he noted.
Expressing concern about their neglect when it comes to sponsorship in sporting programmes in particular and other socio-economic development in general, Mr Akyeampong noted, “ when we participated in the Benin games a few months ago, we won trophies in soccer by beating Benin 9-0 to win the trophy at stake , and in table tennis too we won it hands down, a feat that we are eager to further explore to enable us win more laurels for the country in future”.
The visit to the Kumasi office was in appreciation of the tremendous support the GCGL has been offering them since the team was formed a few years ago .
It also created a platform for their officials to appeal to the GCGL to continue supporting the disabled in terms of publicity for society to appreciate their worth.
This, according to their National Coach, Mr Adu Akyeampong, “ will encourage sports philanthropists , organisations, institutions and individuals to sponsor members of the team in diverse ways for them to nurture and develop their potentials”.
The team comprised soccer stars, table tennis players and athletes .
Mr Akyeampong , who is also the Sports Development Coordinator, noted, “ it takes both the able and the disabled to develop a nation, but in sports the disabled are always neglected and sidelined, making it impossible for them to nurture and develop their talents to support national development”
“We may lack the physical stature, but in terms of skills , know-how, ability , zeal and commitment , we have them in abundance,” he noted.
Expressing concern about their neglect when it comes to sponsorship in sporting programmes in particular and other socio-economic development in general, Mr Akyeampong noted, “ when we participated in the Benin games a few months ago, we won trophies in soccer by beating Benin 9-0 to win the trophy at stake , and in table tennis too we won it hands down, a feat that we are eager to further explore to enable us win more laurels for the country in future”.
4 DIE IN ACCIDEENT (PAGE 3, NOV 20)
FOUR persons died on the spot yesterday when a Nissan Urvan bus in which they were travelling from Kumasi to Sankore collided with a Renault timber truck at the outskirts of Mpasatia on the Kumasi-Bibiani trunk road.
The bodies of the deceased, made up of three females and a male, have been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital mortuary for autopsy.
According to the police, the driver of the bus, with registration number AS 3157 X, escaped unhurt, but 10 passengers who were on board suffered various degrees of injury and were rushed to the Nkawie Government Hospital where they are receiving treatment.
The Ashanti Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service, Mr Abraham Bansah, told the Daily Graphic that the accident occurred around 6:30 a.m.
He said initial investigations revealed that the driver of the bus was overtaking another vehicle at the outskirts of Mpasatia, in the process of which he entered the lane of the oncoming timber truck, with registration number AS 1877 R.
He said the driver of the timber truck attempted to save the situation by branching off the road when he saw the bus in his lane, but in the process the trailer hit the bus, dragging it into the bush.
Mr Bansah said it took a lot of time for sympathisers who were attracted to the scene to remove both the deceased passengers and the injured from the mangled bus.
The bodies of the deceased, made up of three females and a male, have been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital mortuary for autopsy.
According to the police, the driver of the bus, with registration number AS 3157 X, escaped unhurt, but 10 passengers who were on board suffered various degrees of injury and were rushed to the Nkawie Government Hospital where they are receiving treatment.
The Ashanti Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service, Mr Abraham Bansah, told the Daily Graphic that the accident occurred around 6:30 a.m.
He said initial investigations revealed that the driver of the bus was overtaking another vehicle at the outskirts of Mpasatia, in the process of which he entered the lane of the oncoming timber truck, with registration number AS 1877 R.
He said the driver of the timber truck attempted to save the situation by branching off the road when he saw the bus in his lane, but in the process the trailer hit the bus, dragging it into the bush.
Mr Bansah said it took a lot of time for sympathisers who were attracted to the scene to remove both the deceased passengers and the injured from the mangled bus.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
THREATRE STUDENTS PLAY TO KUMASI SCHOOLS (GRAPHIC SHOWBIZ, NOV 19, PAGE 3)
By George Ernest Asare
Students of the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana visited the Dwabrem theatre at the Centre for National Culture in Kumasi last Saturday where they dished out a mix of traditional music, dance and drama to entertain and educate the youth on the effects of drug abuse, parental irresponsibility and truancy.
The programme, which attracted students from Kumasi Academy Senior High School and a number of second cycle institutions in the metropolis, saw the audience glued to their seats and totally engrossed in the performance as they watched the unfolding of various scenes.
It was a drama which involved a powerful spirit who after being thrown down from heaven, vowed to take revenge on man by putting all his powers into leaves so as to destroy anyone who uses such leaves .
A student, who became frustrated after his father refused to cater for his education, joined a gang of drug addicts, and eventually became addicted himself, destroying his future and getting arrested for various crimes committed.
Intermittent applause during the performance and the spontaneous clamour for more of such performances by both students and a cross section of the public who watched the show, was an indication that Kumasi was hungry for such shows as a way of encouraging the youth to refrain from drugs and bad company which eventually destroys their lives.
Commenting on the programme, Mr T. B. Ofosu who was in charge of the group told Showbiz about the need to use entertainment to educate the youth, especially students on the dangers of drug abuse.
Expressing concern about the problems that drug abuse was creating in the country, Mr Ofosu noted “ we want to reach out to the youth with such performances and inform them about the hazards of drug abuse, hoping that they will accept the message and refrain from such activities”.
He said the School of Performing Arts had put up a number of such shows in Accra “and with the positive response we received, we decided to extend our tentacles to Kumasi before venturing into other parts of the country”.
Mr Ofosu said their main headache was sponsorship saying “ we want to reach out to the youth, especially students in both the second cycle and tertiary institutions throughout the country, but lack of sponsorship is undermining our effort”.
He said it was therefore important for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s), firms, Institutions, and individuals to actively support them with funds to enable them start the nationwide tour as soon as possible.
On his part, the Vice President of the Association of School of Performing Arts (ASPA), Mr Richmond Amoako said using theatre as a platform to reach out to the youth was yielding positive results.
Describing their programme as a “soul winning” one to entice the youth to stay away from drugs, Mr Amoako said they would not relent in their efforts to interact with as many students as possible for them to appreciate the dangers of getting closer to any form of drug.
Students of the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana visited the Dwabrem theatre at the Centre for National Culture in Kumasi last Saturday where they dished out a mix of traditional music, dance and drama to entertain and educate the youth on the effects of drug abuse, parental irresponsibility and truancy.
The programme, which attracted students from Kumasi Academy Senior High School and a number of second cycle institutions in the metropolis, saw the audience glued to their seats and totally engrossed in the performance as they watched the unfolding of various scenes.
It was a drama which involved a powerful spirit who after being thrown down from heaven, vowed to take revenge on man by putting all his powers into leaves so as to destroy anyone who uses such leaves .
A student, who became frustrated after his father refused to cater for his education, joined a gang of drug addicts, and eventually became addicted himself, destroying his future and getting arrested for various crimes committed.
Intermittent applause during the performance and the spontaneous clamour for more of such performances by both students and a cross section of the public who watched the show, was an indication that Kumasi was hungry for such shows as a way of encouraging the youth to refrain from drugs and bad company which eventually destroys their lives.
Commenting on the programme, Mr T. B. Ofosu who was in charge of the group told Showbiz about the need to use entertainment to educate the youth, especially students on the dangers of drug abuse.
Expressing concern about the problems that drug abuse was creating in the country, Mr Ofosu noted “ we want to reach out to the youth with such performances and inform them about the hazards of drug abuse, hoping that they will accept the message and refrain from such activities”.
He said the School of Performing Arts had put up a number of such shows in Accra “and with the positive response we received, we decided to extend our tentacles to Kumasi before venturing into other parts of the country”.
Mr Ofosu said their main headache was sponsorship saying “ we want to reach out to the youth, especially students in both the second cycle and tertiary institutions throughout the country, but lack of sponsorship is undermining our effort”.
He said it was therefore important for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s), firms, Institutions, and individuals to actively support them with funds to enable them start the nationwide tour as soon as possible.
On his part, the Vice President of the Association of School of Performing Arts (ASPA), Mr Richmond Amoako said using theatre as a platform to reach out to the youth was yielding positive results.
Describing their programme as a “soul winning” one to entice the youth to stay away from drugs, Mr Amoako said they would not relent in their efforts to interact with as many students as possible for them to appreciate the dangers of getting closer to any form of drug.
KNUST INSTALLS DNA EQUIPMENT (PAGE 6, NOV 19)
THE Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Tchnology (KNUST) has installed equipment capable of conducting DNA tests in the country.
Financed through the university’s internally generated funds, the equipment, and others installed and refurbished under a project called, “The Turnkey Project” were inaugurated at the College of Sciences of the KNUST yesterday.
Estimated at GH¢15 million, the equipment also included those that could conduct glaucoma tests, undertake assorted seed propagation, as well as water and quality food analysis.
The Physics, Chemistry, Optometry and Visual Science as well as the Theoretical and Applied Biology Laboratories of the College of Science benefited from the project.
Also, installed at the laboratory were 132 modern computers and their accessories, as well as 13 SDC projectors and other facilities that enhance research work.
According to the Vice Chancellor of the KNUST, Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, the university would soon instal CCTV cameras at all the laboratories to avoid pilfering of any of the laboratory equipment to enable the university to fully benefit from the investments made.
In an address to inaugurate the equipment , Professor Adarkwa said the facilities would not only give the students the requisite exposure, but would also help to bring teaching and learning in the college to international standards.
He said apart from the laboratory equipment, there were other physical works carried out at the laboratories as a way of creating a conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning.
He mentioned fixing of sliding windows and doors, changing of bench tops for the installation of computers, electrical re—wiring for stabiliser installation, as well as installation of split-air conditioners and polishing of terrazzo floors.
The Vice Chancellor stated that other works carried out also included networking of all the laboratories, fitting of audio visual equipment in all the laboratories, painting and re-roofing and tiling of the floors .
Professor Adarkwa expressed hope that the project which was carried out through their internally generated funds would boost the enthusiasm of the staff to conduct a series of research works that would impact positively on the operations of the university.
In his address the Provost of the College of Science Professor Aboagye Menyeh, commended Professor Adarkwa “ for sustaining the momentum to modernise our laboratories”.
He explained that the priority given to the project by the Vice Chancellor facilitated its completion, thereby creating an environment that had made laboratory work interesting .
He advised the students to take advantage of the modern facilities and focus on their academic programmes for their own good and that of the nation, saying “ with these facilities, you have no excuse to grumble”.
Stressing, he said “ you are to use these facilities to enable you to acquire practical and experimental skills as well as better understand the theories you learn in the classrooms”.
“ Your parents, the Government and, indeed, the university are investing heavily in your training We hope your training will pay the nation the best interest to he noted .
Financed through the university’s internally generated funds, the equipment, and others installed and refurbished under a project called, “The Turnkey Project” were inaugurated at the College of Sciences of the KNUST yesterday.
Estimated at GH¢15 million, the equipment also included those that could conduct glaucoma tests, undertake assorted seed propagation, as well as water and quality food analysis.
The Physics, Chemistry, Optometry and Visual Science as well as the Theoretical and Applied Biology Laboratories of the College of Science benefited from the project.
Also, installed at the laboratory were 132 modern computers and their accessories, as well as 13 SDC projectors and other facilities that enhance research work.
According to the Vice Chancellor of the KNUST, Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, the university would soon instal CCTV cameras at all the laboratories to avoid pilfering of any of the laboratory equipment to enable the university to fully benefit from the investments made.
In an address to inaugurate the equipment , Professor Adarkwa said the facilities would not only give the students the requisite exposure, but would also help to bring teaching and learning in the college to international standards.
He said apart from the laboratory equipment, there were other physical works carried out at the laboratories as a way of creating a conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning.
He mentioned fixing of sliding windows and doors, changing of bench tops for the installation of computers, electrical re—wiring for stabiliser installation, as well as installation of split-air conditioners and polishing of terrazzo floors.
The Vice Chancellor stated that other works carried out also included networking of all the laboratories, fitting of audio visual equipment in all the laboratories, painting and re-roofing and tiling of the floors .
Professor Adarkwa expressed hope that the project which was carried out through their internally generated funds would boost the enthusiasm of the staff to conduct a series of research works that would impact positively on the operations of the university.
In his address the Provost of the College of Science Professor Aboagye Menyeh, commended Professor Adarkwa “ for sustaining the momentum to modernise our laboratories”.
He explained that the priority given to the project by the Vice Chancellor facilitated its completion, thereby creating an environment that had made laboratory work interesting .
He advised the students to take advantage of the modern facilities and focus on their academic programmes for their own good and that of the nation, saying “ with these facilities, you have no excuse to grumble”.
Stressing, he said “ you are to use these facilities to enable you to acquire practical and experimental skills as well as better understand the theories you learn in the classrooms”.
“ Your parents, the Government and, indeed, the university are investing heavily in your training We hope your training will pay the nation the best interest to he noted .
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
FEMALE TEACHERS CHALLENGED TO RE-ORIENT THEMSELVES (PAGE 32, NOV 19)
THE General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Mrs Irene Duncan-Adanusa, has challenged women in the teaching profession to re-orient themselves by regularly upgrading and building their capacities.
That, she noted, would enable them to acquire the requisite status, experience and confidence to be at the forefront of influencing decision-making, policies and programmes at the highest level to contribute to addressing the challenges posed by the world.
She pointed out that since women and children had always borne the brunt of global crises such as economic recession, environmental degradation, political upheaval, energy crisis, food insecurity, among others, it was important for them to forge a united front to enable them to influence policy formulation and implementation at all levels of human endeavour.
Addressing delegates to the second National Women’s GNAT Ladies roundtable conference in Kumasi on Monday, Mrs Duncan-Adanusa noted, “Women are still struggling with the scourge of low education in the 21st century and as such they are by-passed on basic issues that affect their survival.”
The three-day conference will afford participants the opportunity to take stock of their programmes and activities to enable them to set targets before they meet in four years’ time.
It will also afford them the opportunity to pass resolutions on critical issues affecting the progress of women in the union in particular and society in general.
The conference, which is on the theme, “Strengthening female teachers’ participation in union activities in the face of the global crisis”, is also intended to afford members the opportunity to educate Ghanaians on the activities of GNAT-LAS and other women’s groups in the West African sub-region.
About 700 members nation-wide attended the conference, while delegates from The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire, as well as representatives from sister unions, such as the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), the Ghana Registered Nurses Association and the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), also attended the conference and read solidarity messages.
Mrs Duncan-Adanusa noted that the GNAT-LAS conference was heading towards the goal of becoming an integral part of the quadrennial delegates conference of GNAT.
She pointed out that the struggle for women’s emancipation had never been easy “and we should not be deceived into thinking that any human endeavour could succeed through short-cuts”.
“It is important for us to make use of the skills acquired through workshops and seminars to build our capacities in a way that will make us exude an incomparable level of confidence and sophistication for doors to open for us anytime we make any attempt,” she stressed.
Earlier in her welcome address, the National Co-ordinator for Gender Programmes of GNAT-LAS, Mrs Helene Awurasa, had said the need to entrench organisational rules and policies, inadequate funding of their activities and programmes, lack of proper child-care facilities for babies of female teachers, as well as male chauvinism, the disproportionate burden of family responsibilities borne by many women and the impact of the HIV/AIDS on female teachers, remained their biggest challenges.
She said to address some of the challenges, GNAT-LAS had, since 2006, organised some programmes such as policy development, training and sensitisation, advocacy, research and networking, among others, for its members as a way of improving their skills.
She expressed the hope that the conference would provide the requisite experience in trade union politics and procedures for the members as a way of boosting their confidence to enable them to explore and address issues that affected them.
That, she noted, would enable them to acquire the requisite status, experience and confidence to be at the forefront of influencing decision-making, policies and programmes at the highest level to contribute to addressing the challenges posed by the world.
She pointed out that since women and children had always borne the brunt of global crises such as economic recession, environmental degradation, political upheaval, energy crisis, food insecurity, among others, it was important for them to forge a united front to enable them to influence policy formulation and implementation at all levels of human endeavour.
Addressing delegates to the second National Women’s GNAT Ladies roundtable conference in Kumasi on Monday, Mrs Duncan-Adanusa noted, “Women are still struggling with the scourge of low education in the 21st century and as such they are by-passed on basic issues that affect their survival.”
The three-day conference will afford participants the opportunity to take stock of their programmes and activities to enable them to set targets before they meet in four years’ time.
It will also afford them the opportunity to pass resolutions on critical issues affecting the progress of women in the union in particular and society in general.
The conference, which is on the theme, “Strengthening female teachers’ participation in union activities in the face of the global crisis”, is also intended to afford members the opportunity to educate Ghanaians on the activities of GNAT-LAS and other women’s groups in the West African sub-region.
About 700 members nation-wide attended the conference, while delegates from The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire, as well as representatives from sister unions, such as the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), the Ghana Registered Nurses Association and the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), also attended the conference and read solidarity messages.
Mrs Duncan-Adanusa noted that the GNAT-LAS conference was heading towards the goal of becoming an integral part of the quadrennial delegates conference of GNAT.
She pointed out that the struggle for women’s emancipation had never been easy “and we should not be deceived into thinking that any human endeavour could succeed through short-cuts”.
“It is important for us to make use of the skills acquired through workshops and seminars to build our capacities in a way that will make us exude an incomparable level of confidence and sophistication for doors to open for us anytime we make any attempt,” she stressed.
Earlier in her welcome address, the National Co-ordinator for Gender Programmes of GNAT-LAS, Mrs Helene Awurasa, had said the need to entrench organisational rules and policies, inadequate funding of their activities and programmes, lack of proper child-care facilities for babies of female teachers, as well as male chauvinism, the disproportionate burden of family responsibilities borne by many women and the impact of the HIV/AIDS on female teachers, remained their biggest challenges.
She said to address some of the challenges, GNAT-LAS had, since 2006, organised some programmes such as policy development, training and sensitisation, advocacy, research and networking, among others, for its members as a way of improving their skills.
She expressed the hope that the conference would provide the requisite experience in trade union politics and procedures for the members as a way of boosting their confidence to enable them to explore and address issues that affected them.
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