Story: George Ernest Asare & Timothy Gobah
THE President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, has directed the national security apparatus to strengthen security networks to ensure the swift arrest and prosecution of illegal loggers and chainsaw operators.
He gave the directive at Abofour in the Offinso North District in Ashanti yesterday when he launched a national forest plantation development programme dubbed, “Greening the Environment for a Better Ghana”.
The programme aims at arresting the depletion of the country’s forests and creating over 51,000 jobs for the youth in the next five years.
The country’s forest resources, which were estimated at 8.2 million hectares in 1900, have now been reduced to just 1.2 million hectares.
The President said the activities of illegal loggers and chainsaw operators had not only deprived the nation of huge revenue over the years but also contributed to environmental degradation in diverse ways.
”We can no longer sit by and encourage the degradation of our forest resources and forest reserves,” he warned, adding, “The practice of people entering gazetted forest reserves for cropping is unacceptable and will not be allowed to continue without the appropriate sanctions being applied.”
The afforestation programme is also designed to develop a sustainable forest resource base within the next three years to satisfy the future demand for industrial timber and enhance environmental quality, thus relieving the pressure on the natural forest.
It is also aimed at restoring the degraded forest cover of the country, reducing wood deficit and improving the quality of the environment.
Expressing concern over the selfish interest of illegal chainsaw operators and loggers, President Mills noted that “illegal loggers and chainsaw operators do not only undertake their activities with sophisticated weapons but also operate at odd hours as a way of outwitting the security agencies”.
President Mills pointed out that the time had come for the mobilisation of resources not only to protect the forest and wildlife resources but also go on the offensive and recreate or regenerate those resources.
He said the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission had been directed to collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism “to develop strategies to protect our tourism sites and river bodies not only for job creation but also our survival”.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Collins Dauda, said the activities of illegal chainsaw operators had contributed to the destruction of forest resources in the country.
He pointed out that the nation continued to lose as much as 65,000 hectares of forest resources each year and said the onus lay on all to embrace the national forest plantation development to enhance its success.
He said the programme would be implemented in all parts of the country and also offer employment avenues to the youth to reduce the unemployment problem in the country.
He appealed to chiefs to collaborate with the government by releasing land for the programme.
He also appealed to the private sector to invest in the new programme to enable the country to meet its local demand for wood products.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku Manu, said the programme proved that the government was committed to the protection of the environment.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
HEALTH INSURANCE CLAIMS IN ARREARS (PAGE 14, JAN 19, 2010)
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THE failure of mutual health insurance schemes in the Kumasi metropolis to pay claims to health service providers in their catchment area is seriously undermining quality healthcare delivery in Kumasi.
According to the Kumasi Metropolitan Director of Health Services, Dr Kwasi Yeboah-Awudzi, mutual health insurance schemes in the metropolis had not paid claims to accredited hospitals and pharmacy shops since May 2009, making it difficult for the health service providers to generate the requisite revenue to replenish drugs and other medical suppliers needed to enhance quality service delivery.
However, the Ashanti Regional Manager of the NHIS, Mr Afrifa Yamoa Ponko, disputed the assertion that claims had not been paid since May 2009.
Dr Yeboah-Awudzi said at the moment, the schemes owed about GH¢4,574,571 to some hospitals and clinics in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs.
Expressing concern on the situation in an interview with the Daily Graphic, Dr Yeboah-Awudzi said, “Hospitals in Kumasi are not only running out of consumables and drugs and their managements are also being constantly harassed by those who supply them medical consumables to run the hospitals.”
He said in December 2009, medical superintendents in the metropolis wrote to him complaining bitterly about the undue delay in paying claims and appealed to the government to intervene as a matter of urgency.
He said in their letter, the medical superintendents pointed out that “if no significant payment of claims is made as early as possible, quality service delivery will become seriously affected”.
Dr Yeboah-Awudzi said as of December 2009, about GH¢4,574,571 was owed some accredited hospitals and clinics in Kumasi
He pointed out that the Manhyia, Suntreso, Kumasi South, Tafo and SDA hospitals, as well as the Kumasi Children’s Hospital, the KMA Clinic and the Apatrapa Clinic, were the worst affected.
Giving details of the situation, Dr Yeboah-Awudzi said as of December 2009, the scheme owed the Manhyia Hospital as much as GH¢1,059,983, with GH¢1,006,696 owed the Kumasi South Hospital.
He said the scheme also owed the Suntreso Hospital about GH¢800,000 and the Tafo Hospital about GH¢600,000.
“It also owes the SDA Hospital GH¢849,079, the Kumasi Children’s Hospital GH¢218,614, the Apatrapa Clinic GH¢14,000 and the KMA Clinic about GH¢30,789,” he explained further.
Dr Yeboah-Awudzi said the failure of the scheme to pay claims to the accredited health service providers “has also affected payment to Medical Stores that supply drugs and consumables to us”.
He said since hospitals in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs had not paid the GH¢2 million they owed Medical Stores in the region, “they have cut all supplies of drugs and consumables to the hospitals and this is seriously undermining our operations”.
“Apart from the non-payment of claims to hospitals, the scheme also does not pay claims regularly to some accredited pharmacy shops in the metropolis so they also refuse to give the requisite drugs to members of the scheme who present prescriptions, thus undermining quality healthcare delivery,” he bemoaned.
When contacted, Mr Yamoa Ponko disputed the assertion that claims had not been paid since May 2009.
Explaining, he said since he took over the administration of the scheme in the region about four months ago, some payments had been made to enhance the operations of healthcare providers .
“We have reimbursed the mutual health insurance scheme for prompt payment, but we always vet the claims to avoid all fraudulent claims and this sometimes delays the payment,” he said.
Mr Yamoa Ponko said the Kumasi South Hospital, for instance, was paid GH¢24,729.55 about three months ago, while the Suntreso Hospital was paid GH¢159,632.62.
He said the Manhyia Hospital was also paid GH¢29,434.34 moments after he had taken office, while the Tafo Hospital was paid GH¢10,616 for the claims submitted.
He said the SDA Hospital was also paid GH¢354,177.60, with the Apatrapa and the KMA clinics being paid GH¢7,394 and GH¢11,896.36, respectively.
He gave assurance that his administration would continue to collaborate with the service providers to enable them to offer quality health care to their clients in the region.
THE failure of mutual health insurance schemes in the Kumasi metropolis to pay claims to health service providers in their catchment area is seriously undermining quality healthcare delivery in Kumasi.
According to the Kumasi Metropolitan Director of Health Services, Dr Kwasi Yeboah-Awudzi, mutual health insurance schemes in the metropolis had not paid claims to accredited hospitals and pharmacy shops since May 2009, making it difficult for the health service providers to generate the requisite revenue to replenish drugs and other medical suppliers needed to enhance quality service delivery.
However, the Ashanti Regional Manager of the NHIS, Mr Afrifa Yamoa Ponko, disputed the assertion that claims had not been paid since May 2009.
Dr Yeboah-Awudzi said at the moment, the schemes owed about GH¢4,574,571 to some hospitals and clinics in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs.
Expressing concern on the situation in an interview with the Daily Graphic, Dr Yeboah-Awudzi said, “Hospitals in Kumasi are not only running out of consumables and drugs and their managements are also being constantly harassed by those who supply them medical consumables to run the hospitals.”
He said in December 2009, medical superintendents in the metropolis wrote to him complaining bitterly about the undue delay in paying claims and appealed to the government to intervene as a matter of urgency.
He said in their letter, the medical superintendents pointed out that “if no significant payment of claims is made as early as possible, quality service delivery will become seriously affected”.
Dr Yeboah-Awudzi said as of December 2009, about GH¢4,574,571 was owed some accredited hospitals and clinics in Kumasi
He pointed out that the Manhyia, Suntreso, Kumasi South, Tafo and SDA hospitals, as well as the Kumasi Children’s Hospital, the KMA Clinic and the Apatrapa Clinic, were the worst affected.
Giving details of the situation, Dr Yeboah-Awudzi said as of December 2009, the scheme owed the Manhyia Hospital as much as GH¢1,059,983, with GH¢1,006,696 owed the Kumasi South Hospital.
He said the scheme also owed the Suntreso Hospital about GH¢800,000 and the Tafo Hospital about GH¢600,000.
“It also owes the SDA Hospital GH¢849,079, the Kumasi Children’s Hospital GH¢218,614, the Apatrapa Clinic GH¢14,000 and the KMA Clinic about GH¢30,789,” he explained further.
Dr Yeboah-Awudzi said the failure of the scheme to pay claims to the accredited health service providers “has also affected payment to Medical Stores that supply drugs and consumables to us”.
He said since hospitals in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs had not paid the GH¢2 million they owed Medical Stores in the region, “they have cut all supplies of drugs and consumables to the hospitals and this is seriously undermining our operations”.
“Apart from the non-payment of claims to hospitals, the scheme also does not pay claims regularly to some accredited pharmacy shops in the metropolis so they also refuse to give the requisite drugs to members of the scheme who present prescriptions, thus undermining quality healthcare delivery,” he bemoaned.
When contacted, Mr Yamoa Ponko disputed the assertion that claims had not been paid since May 2009.
Explaining, he said since he took over the administration of the scheme in the region about four months ago, some payments had been made to enhance the operations of healthcare providers .
“We have reimbursed the mutual health insurance scheme for prompt payment, but we always vet the claims to avoid all fraudulent claims and this sometimes delays the payment,” he said.
Mr Yamoa Ponko said the Kumasi South Hospital, for instance, was paid GH¢24,729.55 about three months ago, while the Suntreso Hospital was paid GH¢159,632.62.
He said the Manhyia Hospital was also paid GH¢29,434.34 moments after he had taken office, while the Tafo Hospital was paid GH¢10,616 for the claims submitted.
He said the SDA Hospital was also paid GH¢354,177.60, with the Apatrapa and the KMA clinics being paid GH¢7,394 and GH¢11,896.36, respectively.
He gave assurance that his administration would continue to collaborate with the service providers to enable them to offer quality health care to their clients in the region.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
KMA SEEKS SUPPORT OF ARCHITECTS (PAGE 18, JAN 16, 2010)
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has urged architects in the metropolis to collaborate with the assembly to initiate projects that will transform structures at the Central Business District (CBD) at Adum and other strategic areas in Kumasi into first-class business centres.
According to the KMA, the collaboration with architects in transforming Kumasi into a viable business centre would not only enhance income generation by the private sector in particular and the Assembly in general, but would also reduce unemployment among the youth considerably, thereby raising the standard of living among residents.
The Kumasi Metropolitan Engineer, Mr Alex Kwame Boateng, who threw the challenge, expressed concern about the nature of structures at the CBD and other business centres, saying, they do not promote effective and efficient business activities.
He explained that with well-designed plans, dwarf structures spread across the CBD could be developed into shopping malls to accommodate varieties of business ventures and also beautify the metropolis .
“The time has come for architects in the metropolis to collaborate effectively with the KMA for us to design and put up structures that reflect modern trend in doing business. This will not only enhance income generation for the ;private sector to expand their businesses, but would also enhance employment avenues for the youth who migrate daily from the peripheries into Kumasi to look for job opportunities” he stressed.
Addressing the Northern Chapter of the Ghana Institute of Architects (GIA) in Kumasi during their end-of-year dinner and awards night in Kumasi , Mr Kwame Boateng noted that architects play important roles that promote healthy environment in doing business.
He said with the challenges of congestion that confront business operatives at the CBD in Adum, “we hope you will readily come on board for us to address such challenges by coming out with well-designed plans that would transform the area into a first class business centre”.
In all , five architects from the Northern Sector whose work have impacted positively on the profession were rewarded
The award winners were the Kumasi Metropolitan Director of Town and Country Planning, Mr Asiedu Poku, Mr Daniel Amoateng Mensah of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology( KNUST); Mr Foster Lewellyn Adonteng, Mr S.O Larbi and Professor J. Owusu Addo.
Each of them was presented with a plague and a citation that goes with the various roles they played in promoting the values of the profession and encouraging the young ones to emulate their shinning examples.
Commending the award winners for their meritorious services, Mr Kwame Boateng noted “the KMA is more determined than ever to bring sanity into the CBD and encourage business transaction at the outskirts of the metropolis”.
He said since migration into the urban centres also created slums, to the detriment of healthy environmental promotion, the onus lay on architects to collaborate with the assembly to prevent the development of slums in the metropolis.
He said it was equally important for Architects to support the Assembly in its effort to develop lorry parks to reduce the problems of unauthorised parking of vehicles in parts of the metropolis.
“ Your value is not how much money you can make , but how many problems you can solve, and in helping us to address the numerous problems that confront us, you would also be helping to address the unemployment problems confronting us “ he noted.
In his welcoming address, the President of the Northern Chapter of GIA, Mr Ekow Sampson said their aim was to promote best practices to create the requisite atmosphere in the built environment.
He pointed out that the annual events offer them the platform to “deliberate on our achievements and failures as professionals to enable us as an institute to chart a new course towards the development of architecture”.
He commended the KMA for initiating the decongestion but expressed concern about the poor urban and architectural designs in the metropolis. .
“ We are concerned about the haphazard and uncontrolled development in the CBD .. Basic amenities like fire hydrants, street furniture and dustbins are also lacking , and it is indeed sad to mention that most of the commercial banks in the CBD, for instance lack toilet facilities for their clients who transact business with them” he noted.
Mr Sampson gave the assurance that the GIA was ready to collaborate with all metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in the northern part of Ghana “ in the development of sustainable urban planning and architectural schemes to make Ghana a better place “.
According to the KMA, the collaboration with architects in transforming Kumasi into a viable business centre would not only enhance income generation by the private sector in particular and the Assembly in general, but would also reduce unemployment among the youth considerably, thereby raising the standard of living among residents.
The Kumasi Metropolitan Engineer, Mr Alex Kwame Boateng, who threw the challenge, expressed concern about the nature of structures at the CBD and other business centres, saying, they do not promote effective and efficient business activities.
He explained that with well-designed plans, dwarf structures spread across the CBD could be developed into shopping malls to accommodate varieties of business ventures and also beautify the metropolis .
“The time has come for architects in the metropolis to collaborate effectively with the KMA for us to design and put up structures that reflect modern trend in doing business. This will not only enhance income generation for the ;private sector to expand their businesses, but would also enhance employment avenues for the youth who migrate daily from the peripheries into Kumasi to look for job opportunities” he stressed.
Addressing the Northern Chapter of the Ghana Institute of Architects (GIA) in Kumasi during their end-of-year dinner and awards night in Kumasi , Mr Kwame Boateng noted that architects play important roles that promote healthy environment in doing business.
He said with the challenges of congestion that confront business operatives at the CBD in Adum, “we hope you will readily come on board for us to address such challenges by coming out with well-designed plans that would transform the area into a first class business centre”.
In all , five architects from the Northern Sector whose work have impacted positively on the profession were rewarded
The award winners were the Kumasi Metropolitan Director of Town and Country Planning, Mr Asiedu Poku, Mr Daniel Amoateng Mensah of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology( KNUST); Mr Foster Lewellyn Adonteng, Mr S.O Larbi and Professor J. Owusu Addo.
Each of them was presented with a plague and a citation that goes with the various roles they played in promoting the values of the profession and encouraging the young ones to emulate their shinning examples.
Commending the award winners for their meritorious services, Mr Kwame Boateng noted “the KMA is more determined than ever to bring sanity into the CBD and encourage business transaction at the outskirts of the metropolis”.
He said since migration into the urban centres also created slums, to the detriment of healthy environmental promotion, the onus lay on architects to collaborate with the assembly to prevent the development of slums in the metropolis.
He said it was equally important for Architects to support the Assembly in its effort to develop lorry parks to reduce the problems of unauthorised parking of vehicles in parts of the metropolis.
“ Your value is not how much money you can make , but how many problems you can solve, and in helping us to address the numerous problems that confront us, you would also be helping to address the unemployment problems confronting us “ he noted.
In his welcoming address, the President of the Northern Chapter of GIA, Mr Ekow Sampson said their aim was to promote best practices to create the requisite atmosphere in the built environment.
He pointed out that the annual events offer them the platform to “deliberate on our achievements and failures as professionals to enable us as an institute to chart a new course towards the development of architecture”.
He commended the KMA for initiating the decongestion but expressed concern about the poor urban and architectural designs in the metropolis. .
“ We are concerned about the haphazard and uncontrolled development in the CBD .. Basic amenities like fire hydrants, street furniture and dustbins are also lacking , and it is indeed sad to mention that most of the commercial banks in the CBD, for instance lack toilet facilities for their clients who transact business with them” he noted.
Mr Sampson gave the assurance that the GIA was ready to collaborate with all metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in the northern part of Ghana “ in the development of sustainable urban planning and architectural schemes to make Ghana a better place “.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
INVOLVE DOCTORS IN BREAST CANCER DATA COLLECTION (JAN 12, 2010, PAGE 31)
THE Head of the Oncology Department of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Dr Baffour Awuah, has called for the collaboration of medical officers in data collection on breast cancer to enhance effective and efficient analyses of the disease.
He explained that data collection on breast cancer cases in the country was totally fragmented, making it impossible for medical officers to analyse the number of cases and their trend of infection for them to take informed decisions.
Addressing medical officers who attended a global workshop on breast cancer management in Kumasi yesterday, Dr Baffour Awuah noted, “We need to strengthen data gathering of breast cancer cases in the country, just as is done in developed countries, because we have the logistics to do so.”
He said it was equally important for medical officers to make early referrals of breast cancer cases they found difficult to treat to enhance the efficient management and reduction of mortality rate.
The global workshop on breast cancer, which was organised by the Oncology Department of KATH, in collaboration with the Breast Cancer Alliance and Breast Health Global Initiative of the United States, sought to strengthen breast cancer management in Ghana to reduce mortality in women.
About 200 participants, including physician breast cancer specialists from teaching hospitals in the country, as well as district physicians, oncology nurses and specialists from the USA, Italy, France and Romania, attended the workshop.
Among the topics which were discussed were international and Ghanaian statistics regarding breast disease, endocrine biology of the breast, non-malignant breast conditions, malignant pathology, risk factors of breast cancer, diagnostic work-up of breast cancer and tissue sampling.
Others were breast cancer treatment, locally advanced and inflammatory breast cancer, multidisciplinary care, nursing and palliative care of breast cancer.
In his address, Dr Baffour Awuah pointed out that about 99 per cent of breast cancer cases involved women, most of whom were young women in their productive years.
He expressed concern over the trend of breast cancer among young women, saying it was time medical officers collaborated in the management of the disease to reduce the rate of mortality.
In his address, the Chief Executive of KATH, Professor Ohene Adjie, also expressed concern over the rising trend of breast cancer cases in the country and said as many as 700 cases of the disease had been reported at the hospital over the last few years.
He urged the participants to exchange ideas on the disease to enhance effective collaboration in the management of breast cancer cases in the country.
Professor Adjie explained that effective collaboration on breast cancer would make it possible for them to make a breakthrough on how to manage the disease in a more efficient and effective way to reduce the mortality rate.
For his part, the President of the Breast Health Global Initiative, Professor Benjamin O. Anderson, called on the participants to devise means of detecting breast cancer cases early as a way of saving the lives of patients.
He said the mortality rate among breast cancer patients in the US used to be high but the trend had changed because medical officers had now devised means of detecting the disease at its early stages.
“Breast cancer is a global epidemic, but while the mortality rate is rising in developing countries, it is low in developed countries because we undertake early diagnoses and treatment in developed countries, thereby reducing the mortality rate,” he explained.
He said since early detection reduced the risk in managing the disease, it was significant for the participants to collaborate in devising means that would make it possible for them to detect the disease at its early stages to enhance its efficient management.
He explained that data collection on breast cancer cases in the country was totally fragmented, making it impossible for medical officers to analyse the number of cases and their trend of infection for them to take informed decisions.
Addressing medical officers who attended a global workshop on breast cancer management in Kumasi yesterday, Dr Baffour Awuah noted, “We need to strengthen data gathering of breast cancer cases in the country, just as is done in developed countries, because we have the logistics to do so.”
He said it was equally important for medical officers to make early referrals of breast cancer cases they found difficult to treat to enhance the efficient management and reduction of mortality rate.
The global workshop on breast cancer, which was organised by the Oncology Department of KATH, in collaboration with the Breast Cancer Alliance and Breast Health Global Initiative of the United States, sought to strengthen breast cancer management in Ghana to reduce mortality in women.
About 200 participants, including physician breast cancer specialists from teaching hospitals in the country, as well as district physicians, oncology nurses and specialists from the USA, Italy, France and Romania, attended the workshop.
Among the topics which were discussed were international and Ghanaian statistics regarding breast disease, endocrine biology of the breast, non-malignant breast conditions, malignant pathology, risk factors of breast cancer, diagnostic work-up of breast cancer and tissue sampling.
Others were breast cancer treatment, locally advanced and inflammatory breast cancer, multidisciplinary care, nursing and palliative care of breast cancer.
In his address, Dr Baffour Awuah pointed out that about 99 per cent of breast cancer cases involved women, most of whom were young women in their productive years.
He expressed concern over the trend of breast cancer among young women, saying it was time medical officers collaborated in the management of the disease to reduce the rate of mortality.
In his address, the Chief Executive of KATH, Professor Ohene Adjie, also expressed concern over the rising trend of breast cancer cases in the country and said as many as 700 cases of the disease had been reported at the hospital over the last few years.
He urged the participants to exchange ideas on the disease to enhance effective collaboration in the management of breast cancer cases in the country.
Professor Adjie explained that effective collaboration on breast cancer would make it possible for them to make a breakthrough on how to manage the disease in a more efficient and effective way to reduce the mortality rate.
For his part, the President of the Breast Health Global Initiative, Professor Benjamin O. Anderson, called on the participants to devise means of detecting breast cancer cases early as a way of saving the lives of patients.
He said the mortality rate among breast cancer patients in the US used to be high but the trend had changed because medical officers had now devised means of detecting the disease at its early stages.
“Breast cancer is a global epidemic, but while the mortality rate is rising in developing countries, it is low in developed countries because we undertake early diagnoses and treatment in developed countries, thereby reducing the mortality rate,” he explained.
He said since early detection reduced the risk in managing the disease, it was significant for the participants to collaborate in devising means that would make it possible for them to detect the disease at its early stages to enhance its efficient management.
FAISAL TROUNCE LIONS (PAGE 55, JAN 11, 2010)
King Faisal recorded their second successive victory in the Premier League when they pounced on Heart of Lions and demolished them with an emphatic 3-1 win at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Saturday.
It was the determination of Faisal to escape relegation that galvanised them to overpower the Lions from Kpando who played a more purposeful game throughout the 90 minute duration .
Determined to carry the day, Faisal started pushing more men upfront and fired from all angles ,but Stephen Ahorlu in post for Lions denied them the opportunity of brilliant saves.
Frank Acheampong opened the scores for Faisal on the 21st minute when he planted the ball beyond the reach of Ahorlu by intercepting a pass in the box during a goal mouth melee created from the corner kick.
The goal gingered Faisal to probe for more, and on the 24th minute Jean Fancois Boli was given that opportunity to register his name on the score sheet , but alone in the box, and with only Ahorlu at his mercy, the attacker blasted wide to give Lions a reprieve.
Faisal scored their second goal through a spot kick through Prince Arko on the 43rd minute.
In one of his moves in the box, Arko was brought down by Ahorlu, and when a spot kick was awarded, Arko elected himself and delivered a bullet which Ahorlu made no attempt to save to give Faisal a comfortable lead.
Lions accepted the challenge and back from recess, they took total control of the midfield, and multiplied in attack, forcing Faisal to retreat on most occasions,
In one of their attacks in the 67th minute, Muhammad Tanko of Lions succeeded in disorganising the defence of Faisal and delivered a bullet which Iddrisu Ibrahim in post for Faisal struggled to push to corner.
A minute later, Lions reduced the tally through substitute Osei Banahene, and just when Lions were pushing for the equaliser, Faisal scored their third goal through Daniel Adjei whose 25-metre drive in the 79th minute against the run of play, secured a comfortable win for Alhaji Grunsah’s King Faisal.
It was the determination of Faisal to escape relegation that galvanised them to overpower the Lions from Kpando who played a more purposeful game throughout the 90 minute duration .
Determined to carry the day, Faisal started pushing more men upfront and fired from all angles ,but Stephen Ahorlu in post for Lions denied them the opportunity of brilliant saves.
Frank Acheampong opened the scores for Faisal on the 21st minute when he planted the ball beyond the reach of Ahorlu by intercepting a pass in the box during a goal mouth melee created from the corner kick.
The goal gingered Faisal to probe for more, and on the 24th minute Jean Fancois Boli was given that opportunity to register his name on the score sheet , but alone in the box, and with only Ahorlu at his mercy, the attacker blasted wide to give Lions a reprieve.
Faisal scored their second goal through a spot kick through Prince Arko on the 43rd minute.
In one of his moves in the box, Arko was brought down by Ahorlu, and when a spot kick was awarded, Arko elected himself and delivered a bullet which Ahorlu made no attempt to save to give Faisal a comfortable lead.
Lions accepted the challenge and back from recess, they took total control of the midfield, and multiplied in attack, forcing Faisal to retreat on most occasions,
In one of their attacks in the 67th minute, Muhammad Tanko of Lions succeeded in disorganising the defence of Faisal and delivered a bullet which Iddrisu Ibrahim in post for Faisal struggled to push to corner.
A minute later, Lions reduced the tally through substitute Osei Banahene, and just when Lions were pushing for the equaliser, Faisal scored their third goal through Daniel Adjei whose 25-metre drive in the 79th minute against the run of play, secured a comfortable win for Alhaji Grunsah’s King Faisal.
DOCTORS URGED TO BE PROFESSIONAL (PAGE 22, JAN 9, 2010)
medical officers at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have been urged to display a high level of professionalism in the discharge of their duties and show compassion for patients to enhance quality delivery of services in 2010.
It is only when medical officers prove that they care for their patients even in difficult times that ”patients would also appreciate and acknowledge that you care, so that even in death, they would appreciate that you did your best”.
Addressing medical staff at the KATH during their annual end-of-year thanksgiving service, Mr Opoku Manu, the Ashanti Regional Minister noted: “May your hearts and mind be touched and filled with mercy to enable you to offer quality health care service to patients in 2010.”
The annual thanksgiving service was organised to offer opportunity for the staff at the KATH to converge on the forecourt of the hospital for them to offer praises to God for His guidance and protection in 2009.
It also afforded them the opportunity to pray for God’s guidance and control in 2010 to enable them to become more committed and dedicated in providing quality healthcare service for their patients.
Commending the staff for their quality performance in 2009, Mr Opoku Manu said it was important for them to adopt a better strategy in quality healthcare service delivery to enable them to be on course in achieving excellence in health care.
“You should strive to do better this year for patients to appreciate your efforts,“ he said, adding that “as you strive to achieve excellence in healthcare service delivery, it is important for you to eschew attitudes that could undermine the good image you are building for the hospital”.
He said the Government was concerned about the numerous challenges that confronted them and assured them that efforts would be made to address such challenges to enhance quality healthcare service delivery.
The Chief Executive of the KATH, Professor Ohene Adjei, pointed out that the increase in the number of patients attending hospital as a result of the introduction of the national health insurance scheme was making quality healthcare service delivery more challenging.
“The coming year will not be different, and we must, therefore, learn from the lessons we gained this year in order to offer better services to our clients in the year ahead,” he said.
Prof. Ohene Adjei said as a tertiary health centre in the northern sector, and being the last hope of patients from that sector, there was the need for the medical officers “to strive to do the best we can to bring the smiles on the faces of people who come here for our services”.
He said management was committed to the provision of the needed logistics to enable them to deliver to the expectation of patients.
“Management will continue to pursue continued professional development interventions to adequately prepare you for the challenges ahead,” he assured.
He, however, pleaded that they should committed to “the maintenance of industrial peace and refrain from the use of strikes in our quest for improved service conditions”.
“We must endeavour to make maximum use of the available internal grievance resolution mechanisms in seeking redress as resorting to strikes tend to overshadow the tremendous sacrifices you have been making in providing the best of care for the public,“ he stressed.
It is only when medical officers prove that they care for their patients even in difficult times that ”patients would also appreciate and acknowledge that you care, so that even in death, they would appreciate that you did your best”.
Addressing medical staff at the KATH during their annual end-of-year thanksgiving service, Mr Opoku Manu, the Ashanti Regional Minister noted: “May your hearts and mind be touched and filled with mercy to enable you to offer quality health care service to patients in 2010.”
The annual thanksgiving service was organised to offer opportunity for the staff at the KATH to converge on the forecourt of the hospital for them to offer praises to God for His guidance and protection in 2009.
It also afforded them the opportunity to pray for God’s guidance and control in 2010 to enable them to become more committed and dedicated in providing quality healthcare service for their patients.
Commending the staff for their quality performance in 2009, Mr Opoku Manu said it was important for them to adopt a better strategy in quality healthcare service delivery to enable them to be on course in achieving excellence in health care.
“You should strive to do better this year for patients to appreciate your efforts,“ he said, adding that “as you strive to achieve excellence in healthcare service delivery, it is important for you to eschew attitudes that could undermine the good image you are building for the hospital”.
He said the Government was concerned about the numerous challenges that confronted them and assured them that efforts would be made to address such challenges to enhance quality healthcare service delivery.
The Chief Executive of the KATH, Professor Ohene Adjei, pointed out that the increase in the number of patients attending hospital as a result of the introduction of the national health insurance scheme was making quality healthcare service delivery more challenging.
“The coming year will not be different, and we must, therefore, learn from the lessons we gained this year in order to offer better services to our clients in the year ahead,” he said.
Prof. Ohene Adjei said as a tertiary health centre in the northern sector, and being the last hope of patients from that sector, there was the need for the medical officers “to strive to do the best we can to bring the smiles on the faces of people who come here for our services”.
He said management was committed to the provision of the needed logistics to enable them to deliver to the expectation of patients.
“Management will continue to pursue continued professional development interventions to adequately prepare you for the challenges ahead,” he assured.
He, however, pleaded that they should committed to “the maintenance of industrial peace and refrain from the use of strikes in our quest for improved service conditions”.
“We must endeavour to make maximum use of the available internal grievance resolution mechanisms in seeking redress as resorting to strikes tend to overshadow the tremendous sacrifices you have been making in providing the best of care for the public,“ he stressed.
Monday, February 22, 2010
OPOKU WARE TO GET LABORATORY (PAGE 17, JAN 8, 2010)
THE Opoku Ware Senior High School Old Boys Association (AKATAKYIE) in Germany has cut the sod for the construction of a laboratory to enhance teaching and learning of the German language in the school.
The facility, being sponsored by the German-based Akatakyie and estimated at GH¢79,296, is expected to be completed in three years.
It comprises a three-classroom block, a library, a recreation hall, offices and stores,
The Headmaster of Opoku Ware Senior High School, Mr Stephen Anokye, in collaboration with the board of governors, provided a parcel of land for the construction of the project.
The President of the Germany Group of Akatakyie , Okatakyie Kofi Gyamfi Boateng, who cut the sod for the commencement of the project, said their initiative was to encourage students from OWASS to be versatile in the German language to enhance the development of their potentials.
He said regardless of their number, which is only 11, “we are determined to make an impact in the school by giving back what it offered us many years ago”.
Mr Boateng pointed out that apart from the facility under construction, the old boys in Germany would also furnish the laboratory with logistics when completed, to motivate students to take keen interest in the German language.
“This will enable them to compete favourably with their counterparts in Europe whenever they have the opportunity to further their studies abroad,” he explained.
He said the need to establish the German language laboratory started five years ago when they contracted one Mr Charles Fordjour to teach the students, “but we found out that we needed facilities and logistics that could enhance teaching and learning of the language, hence this project”.
He appealed to other Akatakyies in Ghana and abroad to support them with funds to enhance completion of the project.
Mr Stephen Anokye commended them for their initiative.
He said as family members with a common identity, there was a need for old boys from the school to contribute in diverse ways to the development of the school.
Mr Anokoye said the project should be embraced by all old boys, because it offered the students tremendous benefits for in diverse ways.
The facility, being sponsored by the German-based Akatakyie and estimated at GH¢79,296, is expected to be completed in three years.
It comprises a three-classroom block, a library, a recreation hall, offices and stores,
The Headmaster of Opoku Ware Senior High School, Mr Stephen Anokye, in collaboration with the board of governors, provided a parcel of land for the construction of the project.
The President of the Germany Group of Akatakyie , Okatakyie Kofi Gyamfi Boateng, who cut the sod for the commencement of the project, said their initiative was to encourage students from OWASS to be versatile in the German language to enhance the development of their potentials.
He said regardless of their number, which is only 11, “we are determined to make an impact in the school by giving back what it offered us many years ago”.
Mr Boateng pointed out that apart from the facility under construction, the old boys in Germany would also furnish the laboratory with logistics when completed, to motivate students to take keen interest in the German language.
“This will enable them to compete favourably with their counterparts in Europe whenever they have the opportunity to further their studies abroad,” he explained.
He said the need to establish the German language laboratory started five years ago when they contracted one Mr Charles Fordjour to teach the students, “but we found out that we needed facilities and logistics that could enhance teaching and learning of the language, hence this project”.
He appealed to other Akatakyies in Ghana and abroad to support them with funds to enhance completion of the project.
Mr Stephen Anokye commended them for their initiative.
He said as family members with a common identity, there was a need for old boys from the school to contribute in diverse ways to the development of the school.
Mr Anokoye said the project should be embraced by all old boys, because it offered the students tremendous benefits for in diverse ways.
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