AUTHORITIES of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) have inaugurated a 380,000 gallon mechanised borehole project at the SSNIT flats at Asuoyeboah in Kumasi to ease the acute water problem that had engulfed the area for the past six years.
Estimated at GH¢ 85,000, and initiated by SSNIT, in collaboration with Geo Group limited, the project which was completed in October 2009, was formerly inaugurated by the Director General of SSNIT, Dr Frank Odoom, on Thursday, August 5, 2010.
It is expected to supply potable water to 554 households at the Asuoyeboah SSNIT flats.
Addressing a cross-section of residents who attended the inaugural ceremony, Dr Odoom said the water problem of residents had been a matter of great concern to the management of SSNIT.
He said management agreed to support the construction of a mechanised borehole as part of its corporate social responsibility “ in finding a solution to the perennial water problem”.
He pointed out that the project formed part of the condominium concept designed to cede off the management of the estate to landlords and residents .
Explaining, he said “ the inauguration of this borehole is part of SSNIT’s contribution to equipping you to migrate to the condominium level, expecting that you will start some exploratory plan of action for accelerating this idea”.
He pointed out that the condominium concept took cognisance of “residents to take up responsibility of the entire estate, the only way out to take care of the high maintenance cost of the flats incurred by the Trust”.
Explaining further, he said “ the individual is directly in charge of internal works – internal fixtures, payment of insurance, property rates, ground rent which also include works on the main frame- superstructure of the whole block of flats”
He, therefore, challenged residents to develop the culture of maintenance to enhance effective operation of the borehole’
“The maintenance culture must be maintained to keep this facility operational;” he advised, adding, “WE are hopeful that you will not disappoint SSNIT and posterity and your performance in maintaining this borehole in the coming years.
Earlier, the Area manager of SSNIT, Mr Enoch Acheampong, said their desire was to promote the interest of communities to enhance their development.
He pointed out that water supply had been a hectic problem since the construction of the Asuoyeboah flats, explaining that “Ghana Water Company was initially able to supply water twice weekly, but the situation deteriorated from 2004 due to the increasing number of communities along the stretch from the Owabi dam site to the Estate”.
“Matters got worse when the only pumping machine serving the Estate broke down in June 2009”, he said, adding that “ knowing the lack of access of safe water could lead to negative consequences on health and socio-economic well-being of members, SSNIT, in collaboration with Geo Group Limited, initiated the project”
In his address, the Chairman of the SSNIT residents association, Mr Mac Wortsi, commended management for their sense of initiative.
He said the association would collaborate with residents to adopt maintenance culture to enhance the efficient and effective operation of the project.
He, however, urged management to provide documents covering the purchase of the flats to enable them to use them as collateral to secure loans in future.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
KATH PSYCHIATRIC CLINIC REFURBISHED (PAGE 29, SEPT 15, 2010)
THE Psychiatric Clinic at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has undergone a facelift, giving it a new outlook to enhance quality healthcare delivery.
The refurbishment, at a cost of GH¢172,331.21, would also reduce congestion at the wards.
It was handed over to the Head of Department of the Psychiatric clinic, Mr Christian Amoah, at a short but impressive ceremony.
A Board member of KATH, Mrs Joana Appiah Dwomo; the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Baffour Awuah; Director of Pharmacy, Mrs Elizabeth Animah Appiah; Director of Administration, Mr Isaiah Offeh Gyimah, as well as the Head of Estate, Mr Fredrick Oppong, were among the dignitaries who graced the occasion.
The psychiatric clinic was closed down for almost a year to pave way for rehabilitation works by Brushwell Associates Limited.
During this period patients had to travel to Accra to receive medical care.
The clinic now boasts a 30 -bed capacity and a recovery ward that accommodates 10 patients at a time.
It also has four consulting rooms, an office for the Head of Department, a conference room and other facilities that enhance quality healthcare delivery.
In his remarks, the Chief Executive of KATH, Professor Ohene Adjei, said the refurbishment of the clinic would not only motivate medical officers to work hard but also reduce congestion.
He said “with the wards now expanded to accommodate 30 patients at a time, we hope to offer the best of services to our cherished patients to enhance healthcare delivery at the hospital”
He challenged the Head of Department and staff of the clinic to adopt a maintenance culture to enhance effective use of the equipment at the clinic.
The refurbishment, at a cost of GH¢172,331.21, would also reduce congestion at the wards.
It was handed over to the Head of Department of the Psychiatric clinic, Mr Christian Amoah, at a short but impressive ceremony.
A Board member of KATH, Mrs Joana Appiah Dwomo; the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Baffour Awuah; Director of Pharmacy, Mrs Elizabeth Animah Appiah; Director of Administration, Mr Isaiah Offeh Gyimah, as well as the Head of Estate, Mr Fredrick Oppong, were among the dignitaries who graced the occasion.
The psychiatric clinic was closed down for almost a year to pave way for rehabilitation works by Brushwell Associates Limited.
During this period patients had to travel to Accra to receive medical care.
The clinic now boasts a 30 -bed capacity and a recovery ward that accommodates 10 patients at a time.
It also has four consulting rooms, an office for the Head of Department, a conference room and other facilities that enhance quality healthcare delivery.
In his remarks, the Chief Executive of KATH, Professor Ohene Adjei, said the refurbishment of the clinic would not only motivate medical officers to work hard but also reduce congestion.
He said “with the wards now expanded to accommodate 30 patients at a time, we hope to offer the best of services to our cherished patients to enhance healthcare delivery at the hospital”
He challenged the Head of Department and staff of the clinic to adopt a maintenance culture to enhance effective use of the equipment at the clinic.
Monday, September 13, 2010
GOVT, PUBLISHERS URGED FORESTALL NEGATIVE LITERATURE (PAGE 11, SEPT 11, 2010)
THE government and publishers have been called upon to come out with measures that will forestall the breeding of ‘negative literature’ that has the potential to corrupt society.
The Provost of the College of Arts and Social Sciences of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Professor Dr Dr Daniel Buor, who made the call also urged publishers in particular to organise experts in various disciplines to produce textbooks that would take cognisance of the cultural and environmental experience of the country.
Professor Buor said it was equally important for publishers to be selective in their publications to curb moral decay in society, explaining that “pornographic literature is having a toll on the moral life of the youth and must be eliminated from the system”.
He was addressing some members of the Ghana Publishers Association, Lecturers of the Department of Publishing Studies of the KNUST and a cross-section of students at the university during the inaugural ceremony of the Ghana Book Publishers Association Northern Sector office at the university.
He pointed out that by their initiative, the association had now embarked upon “indigenisation of knowledge to pave way for development based on local experience”.
He said it was therefore important for the executives of the association to be proactive and innovative “by moving within the current stream of technology and strengthen your networks both locally and internationally to ensure sustainability”.
Appealing to the government and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to support publishers through the award of contracts for them to publish relevant literary works for public consumption, the Provost noted that “reading exposes the reader to wisdom and experience as well as abilities to enhance his experience and abilities to perform more efficiently”.
He said “there is even a very strong correlation between a nation’s literacy ratio and the country’s poverty levels”.
Expressing concern about the lack of reading culture among a large section of the public, he said “the habit of reading is a fundamental skill upon which all formal education depends”, stressing that “unfortunately, it appears that effective and purposeful reading among students and the youth is disappearing.
“Even though students of today have more access to textbooks, as well as literary materials on the internet than ever, they only choose to listen to music, play video games, watch television and videos for long hours,” he stated.
He said the little percentage who chose to read rather read literary materials that contained information that was not meant for them.
For his part, the Vice Chancellor of KNUST, Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, said since the world now revolved around literacy, information and knowledge, society should keep abreast of literary works.
“A child’s reading skills are important to their success in school and during their future work life” he stated, adding that, “ reading can be fun and an imaginative activity for children, and this opens doors to all kinds of new adventures for them”.
He urged the adult public to encourage children to cultivate the reading culture, saying ,“ if we introduce our children to reading at an early stage of their lives, they will undoubtedly be put on a sound pedestal and would have a head-start in their adult life”.
Later at a symposium to commemorate children literacy day as a foundation for their future development, a lecturer at the Department of Publishing Studies at the KNUST, Dr Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, said to become literate was the central purpose of schooling.
He pointed out that approaches to literacy teaching included skills, socio-cultural, historical, whole language, critical literacy and new literacy studies.
He pointed out that since textbooks had the ability to mould social beliefs, attitudes and values, they should reflect and legitimise national and cultural traditions as well as curricular goals.
Speaking on the topic, ‘developing basic literacy in book hungry communities; the role of textbooks’, Dr Opoku Amankwa said children should not only participate in a wide range of literacy events, but should also engage in texts of different types for them to gain the full benefits of literacy.
“Learners need to be introduced to materials that are meaningful and useful in the real world, and such materials should provide hands-on activities, that will bring relevance to the information the children are learning and be able to link up with their lives and experiences outside school,’’ he said.
Dr Opoku-Amankwa pointed out that as artefacts for learning and literacy development, textbooks should not simply aim at providing a body of knowledge, hoping that teachers can easily transfer it to learners.
Rather, he said, textbooks needed to open up ways to stimulate the pupil’s interest, develop creativity and autonomy as well as create cultural awareness, link school knowledge to society and integrate different disciplines by providing authentic materials and tasks which could assist such a process.
He said textbooks should also aim at providing value beyond school by giving attention to current developments in society and also “get students to cooperate and communicate by having them work together in groups on collective tasks”.
Dr Opoku-Amankwa said it was equally important for teachers to get good teacher’s guide as a way of enhancing their teaching skills for effective and efficient delivery.
“A good number of textbooks and their corresponding teachers guide in use in classrooms in Ghana however tend to follow the traditional textbook format, using artificial pedagogical approaches remote from the functional and linguistic needs of learners” he stressed.
The Provost of the College of Arts and Social Sciences of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Professor Dr Dr Daniel Buor, who made the call also urged publishers in particular to organise experts in various disciplines to produce textbooks that would take cognisance of the cultural and environmental experience of the country.
Professor Buor said it was equally important for publishers to be selective in their publications to curb moral decay in society, explaining that “pornographic literature is having a toll on the moral life of the youth and must be eliminated from the system”.
He was addressing some members of the Ghana Publishers Association, Lecturers of the Department of Publishing Studies of the KNUST and a cross-section of students at the university during the inaugural ceremony of the Ghana Book Publishers Association Northern Sector office at the university.
He pointed out that by their initiative, the association had now embarked upon “indigenisation of knowledge to pave way for development based on local experience”.
He said it was therefore important for the executives of the association to be proactive and innovative “by moving within the current stream of technology and strengthen your networks both locally and internationally to ensure sustainability”.
Appealing to the government and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to support publishers through the award of contracts for them to publish relevant literary works for public consumption, the Provost noted that “reading exposes the reader to wisdom and experience as well as abilities to enhance his experience and abilities to perform more efficiently”.
He said “there is even a very strong correlation between a nation’s literacy ratio and the country’s poverty levels”.
Expressing concern about the lack of reading culture among a large section of the public, he said “the habit of reading is a fundamental skill upon which all formal education depends”, stressing that “unfortunately, it appears that effective and purposeful reading among students and the youth is disappearing.
“Even though students of today have more access to textbooks, as well as literary materials on the internet than ever, they only choose to listen to music, play video games, watch television and videos for long hours,” he stated.
He said the little percentage who chose to read rather read literary materials that contained information that was not meant for them.
For his part, the Vice Chancellor of KNUST, Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, said since the world now revolved around literacy, information and knowledge, society should keep abreast of literary works.
“A child’s reading skills are important to their success in school and during their future work life” he stated, adding that, “ reading can be fun and an imaginative activity for children, and this opens doors to all kinds of new adventures for them”.
He urged the adult public to encourage children to cultivate the reading culture, saying ,“ if we introduce our children to reading at an early stage of their lives, they will undoubtedly be put on a sound pedestal and would have a head-start in their adult life”.
Later at a symposium to commemorate children literacy day as a foundation for their future development, a lecturer at the Department of Publishing Studies at the KNUST, Dr Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, said to become literate was the central purpose of schooling.
He pointed out that approaches to literacy teaching included skills, socio-cultural, historical, whole language, critical literacy and new literacy studies.
He pointed out that since textbooks had the ability to mould social beliefs, attitudes and values, they should reflect and legitimise national and cultural traditions as well as curricular goals.
Speaking on the topic, ‘developing basic literacy in book hungry communities; the role of textbooks’, Dr Opoku Amankwa said children should not only participate in a wide range of literacy events, but should also engage in texts of different types for them to gain the full benefits of literacy.
“Learners need to be introduced to materials that are meaningful and useful in the real world, and such materials should provide hands-on activities, that will bring relevance to the information the children are learning and be able to link up with their lives and experiences outside school,’’ he said.
Dr Opoku-Amankwa pointed out that as artefacts for learning and literacy development, textbooks should not simply aim at providing a body of knowledge, hoping that teachers can easily transfer it to learners.
Rather, he said, textbooks needed to open up ways to stimulate the pupil’s interest, develop creativity and autonomy as well as create cultural awareness, link school knowledge to society and integrate different disciplines by providing authentic materials and tasks which could assist such a process.
He said textbooks should also aim at providing value beyond school by giving attention to current developments in society and also “get students to cooperate and communicate by having them work together in groups on collective tasks”.
Dr Opoku-Amankwa said it was equally important for teachers to get good teacher’s guide as a way of enhancing their teaching skills for effective and efficient delivery.
“A good number of textbooks and their corresponding teachers guide in use in classrooms in Ghana however tend to follow the traditional textbook format, using artificial pedagogical approaches remote from the functional and linguistic needs of learners” he stressed.
Friday, September 10, 2010
SIX YEARS JAIL TER FOR FARMER (PAGE 20, MIRROR, SEPT 11, 2010)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
A 38-year-old farmer, Sulley Iddrisu, who allowed his emotions to override his judgement, causing him to attack a poultry farmer with a gun without any provocation, has been convicted to serve six-year jail term with hard labour.
Iddrisu was found guilty on a charge of attempted murder by a Kumasi High Court, presided over by Justice Jacob Boom.
Iddrisu was said to have become incensed when he detected that a woman had paid a visit to the farmer in his farm at Sekyere Nkwanta, near Boankra and, therefore, threatened to kill the farmer.
Moments after he issued the threat, he carried it out by shooting the farmer in the neck, arms and back, causing him severe injuries.
The victim was rushed to the hospital where he was admitted and operated upon.A Senior State Attorney, Mr Richmond Osei-Hwere, who prosecuted, told the court that the victim is a poultry farmer whose farm is located at Sekyere Nkwanta, near Boankwa in the Ashanti Region.
He said, the convict also lives near a cottage where the poultry farm is located.
The prosecutor said on March, 12, 2009, a lady visited the victim in his farm at a time when the victim, and his farmhands were working.
He said a few minutes after the woman paid the visit, the convict confronted the victim without any provocation, threatening to kill him if he (victim) allowed women to come to the farm again.
The prosecutor said moments after the lady had left the farm, and the victim and his farmhands were still working , Iddrisu returned to the farm and shot at the victim at close range.
He said Iddrisu retreated with the gun afterwards and the farmhands rushed the victim to the hospital.
A 38-year-old farmer, Sulley Iddrisu, who allowed his emotions to override his judgement, causing him to attack a poultry farmer with a gun without any provocation, has been convicted to serve six-year jail term with hard labour.
Iddrisu was found guilty on a charge of attempted murder by a Kumasi High Court, presided over by Justice Jacob Boom.
Iddrisu was said to have become incensed when he detected that a woman had paid a visit to the farmer in his farm at Sekyere Nkwanta, near Boankra and, therefore, threatened to kill the farmer.
Moments after he issued the threat, he carried it out by shooting the farmer in the neck, arms and back, causing him severe injuries.
The victim was rushed to the hospital where he was admitted and operated upon.A Senior State Attorney, Mr Richmond Osei-Hwere, who prosecuted, told the court that the victim is a poultry farmer whose farm is located at Sekyere Nkwanta, near Boankwa in the Ashanti Region.
He said, the convict also lives near a cottage where the poultry farm is located.
The prosecutor said on March, 12, 2009, a lady visited the victim in his farm at a time when the victim, and his farmhands were working.
He said a few minutes after the woman paid the visit, the convict confronted the victim without any provocation, threatening to kill him if he (victim) allowed women to come to the farm again.
The prosecutor said moments after the lady had left the farm, and the victim and his farmhands were still working , Iddrisu returned to the farm and shot at the victim at close range.
He said Iddrisu retreated with the gun afterwards and the farmhands rushed the victim to the hospital.
INDIAN HEMP PEDDLER ARRESTED (PAGE 19, SEPT 10, 2010)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
A 40-year-old man who has turned his room into an Indian hemp peddling spot has realised rather too late that he is in the wrong business.
Following a tip-off about his operations, Baba Yidana, was arrested on March 18, 2010 in his room at Sofoline in Kumasi when he was busily peddling dried substances suspected to be Indian hemp.
After the substances proved to be Indian hemp, following a laboratory test conducted at the Police Forensic Laboratory Unit, Yidana was charged with possessing illegal substances and has been arraigned before a court, presided over by Mr D. P. W. Amedior.
He pleaded guilty to the charge and has been convicted by the court to serve a 10-year jail term with hard labour.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Regina Addo-Yobo, who prosecuted, told the court that the activities of Yidana came to light following a tip-off by neighbours that he was peddling Indian hemp in his room at Sofoline, a Kumasi suburb.
She said police personnel from the Narcotics Unit were, therefore, dispatched to the place to investigate and in the course of their investigations, they succeeded in arresting the accused in his room with a sack of Indian hemp.
A 40-year-old man who has turned his room into an Indian hemp peddling spot has realised rather too late that he is in the wrong business.
Following a tip-off about his operations, Baba Yidana, was arrested on March 18, 2010 in his room at Sofoline in Kumasi when he was busily peddling dried substances suspected to be Indian hemp.
After the substances proved to be Indian hemp, following a laboratory test conducted at the Police Forensic Laboratory Unit, Yidana was charged with possessing illegal substances and has been arraigned before a court, presided over by Mr D. P. W. Amedior.
He pleaded guilty to the charge and has been convicted by the court to serve a 10-year jail term with hard labour.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Regina Addo-Yobo, who prosecuted, told the court that the activities of Yidana came to light following a tip-off by neighbours that he was peddling Indian hemp in his room at Sofoline, a Kumasi suburb.
She said police personnel from the Narcotics Unit were, therefore, dispatched to the place to investigate and in the course of their investigations, they succeeded in arresting the accused in his room with a sack of Indian hemp.
ASHANTI PRISONS COMMANDER MAKES APPEAL (PAGE 18, SEPT 10, 2010)
The outgoing Ashanti Regional Prisons Commander, Deputy Director of Prisons (DPP) Joseph Kwaw-Yankson, has made a passionate appeal to the government to initiate policies and programmes that would enhance human resource development in the service.
He pointed out that much needed to be done, not only in the administrative structure and logistics, but also in key areas such as residential accommodation for officers and general conditions of service.
Explaining, he said support to the service would “ engender the necessary motivation and enthusiasm for increased productivity and prosecuting the cardinal objectives of the service in terms of safe custody, welfare, reformation and rehabilitation of inmates”.
DDP Ekow-Yankson made the remarks at a solemn pull-out ceremony and party held in his honour at the Prisons Canteen in Kumasi.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku Manu, and Service Commanders in the metropolis, as well as a cross-section of the public graced the occasion, making it a memorable one.
Earlier, the regional minister and the outgoing Prisons Commander had inspected a guard mounted in their honour as part of the pullout ceremony at the forecourt of the prisons.
In his address, DDP Ekow-Yankson said though he was leaving the Ghana Prisons Service better than how he met it 26 years ago, much is needed to be done to improve conditions.
“ A number of initiatives have been taken in the past, leading to a significant reformation of the administrative structure, improvement in the logistical infrastructure and manpower and human resource development of personnel”, he noted.
He said notwithstanding the improvement, “ much remains to be done through the assistance of government to bring about further improvement”.
Touching on public support, he said various churches, pastors, evangelists, non-governmental organisations and the general public had contributed in diverse ways to support the spiritual and material needs of the inmates.
“ In the course of my tenure of office, these groups variously donated a number of consumable and non-consumable items among which were six television sets, 70 three-in-one bedsteads, 100 mattresses, quantities of cement and quarry stones, among others”, he said.
He said there was also a donation of GH¢4,000 “ to ameliorate the plight of the inmates, as well as to support projects undertaken in the prison by the administration”.
He also commended authorities of the service for enhancing the security lighting system and reinforcing the armoury.
He charged the junior officers to regularly build their capacity to enhance their promotion and also encouraged them to invest in their children’s education.
That, he said, would enable their children develop their potential more meaningfully and acquire employable skills that would make it possible for them to support sustainable socio-economic development in future.
He pointed out that much needed to be done, not only in the administrative structure and logistics, but also in key areas such as residential accommodation for officers and general conditions of service.
Explaining, he said support to the service would “ engender the necessary motivation and enthusiasm for increased productivity and prosecuting the cardinal objectives of the service in terms of safe custody, welfare, reformation and rehabilitation of inmates”.
DDP Ekow-Yankson made the remarks at a solemn pull-out ceremony and party held in his honour at the Prisons Canteen in Kumasi.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku Manu, and Service Commanders in the metropolis, as well as a cross-section of the public graced the occasion, making it a memorable one.
Earlier, the regional minister and the outgoing Prisons Commander had inspected a guard mounted in their honour as part of the pullout ceremony at the forecourt of the prisons.
In his address, DDP Ekow-Yankson said though he was leaving the Ghana Prisons Service better than how he met it 26 years ago, much is needed to be done to improve conditions.
“ A number of initiatives have been taken in the past, leading to a significant reformation of the administrative structure, improvement in the logistical infrastructure and manpower and human resource development of personnel”, he noted.
He said notwithstanding the improvement, “ much remains to be done through the assistance of government to bring about further improvement”.
Touching on public support, he said various churches, pastors, evangelists, non-governmental organisations and the general public had contributed in diverse ways to support the spiritual and material needs of the inmates.
“ In the course of my tenure of office, these groups variously donated a number of consumable and non-consumable items among which were six television sets, 70 three-in-one bedsteads, 100 mattresses, quantities of cement and quarry stones, among others”, he said.
He said there was also a donation of GH¢4,000 “ to ameliorate the plight of the inmates, as well as to support projects undertaken in the prison by the administration”.
He also commended authorities of the service for enhancing the security lighting system and reinforcing the armoury.
He charged the junior officers to regularly build their capacity to enhance their promotion and also encouraged them to invest in their children’s education.
That, he said, would enable their children develop their potential more meaningfully and acquire employable skills that would make it possible for them to support sustainable socio-economic development in future.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
INITIATE POLICIES TO DEVELOP PRISON SERVICE PERSONNEL (PAGE 42, SEPT 8, 2010)
THE outgoing Ashanti Regional Prisons Commander, Deputy Director of Prisons, Mr Joseph Kwaw-Yankson, has called on the government to initiate policies and programmes that would enhance manpower and human resource development of personnel in the service.
He said much must be done not only in the administrative structure and logistical infrastructure, but also key areas such as residential accommodation for officers and general conditions of service.
Mr Ekow-Yankson made the call at a solemn pull-out ceremony and a farewell party held in his honour at the prisons canteen in Kumasi.
He said the support for the service would “engender the necessary motivation and enthusiasm for increased productivity and prosecuting the cardinal objectives of the service in terms of safe custody, welfare, reformation and rehabilitation of inmates.”
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku Manu, and service commanders in the metropolis, as well as a cross section of the public graced the occasion, making it a memorable one.
Earlier, the regional minister and the outgoing prisons commander had inspected a guard mounted in their honour as part of the pull–out ceremony at the forecourt of the prisons.
In his address, Mr Ekow-Yankson said although he was leaving the Ghana Prisons Service better than he came to meet it 26 years ago, much need to be done to further improve conditions .
“A number of initiatives have been taken in the past leading to a significant reformation of the administrative structure, improvement in the logistical infrastructure and manpower and human resource development of personnel,” he stated.
Touching on public support, Mr Ekow-Yankson said various churches, pastors, evangelists, non-governmental organisations and the general public had contributed in diverse ways to support the spiritual and material needs of the inmates.
He charged the junior officers to regularly build their capacity to enhance their promotion to the senior ranks and also encouraged them to invest in their children’s education.
He said much must be done not only in the administrative structure and logistical infrastructure, but also key areas such as residential accommodation for officers and general conditions of service.
Mr Ekow-Yankson made the call at a solemn pull-out ceremony and a farewell party held in his honour at the prisons canteen in Kumasi.
He said the support for the service would “engender the necessary motivation and enthusiasm for increased productivity and prosecuting the cardinal objectives of the service in terms of safe custody, welfare, reformation and rehabilitation of inmates.”
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku Manu, and service commanders in the metropolis, as well as a cross section of the public graced the occasion, making it a memorable one.
Earlier, the regional minister and the outgoing prisons commander had inspected a guard mounted in their honour as part of the pull–out ceremony at the forecourt of the prisons.
In his address, Mr Ekow-Yankson said although he was leaving the Ghana Prisons Service better than he came to meet it 26 years ago, much need to be done to further improve conditions .
“A number of initiatives have been taken in the past leading to a significant reformation of the administrative structure, improvement in the logistical infrastructure and manpower and human resource development of personnel,” he stated.
Touching on public support, Mr Ekow-Yankson said various churches, pastors, evangelists, non-governmental organisations and the general public had contributed in diverse ways to support the spiritual and material needs of the inmates.
He charged the junior officers to regularly build their capacity to enhance their promotion to the senior ranks and also encouraged them to invest in their children’s education.
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