From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
For Sampson Adu Boakye, acquiring a vehicle for commercial purposes had been a cherished dream for some time. Therefore, when he received the compensation for an accident on behalf of his ailing daughter, he reneged on his parental responsibility of seeking medical attention for his child and rather used the money to buy a mini bus.
And, for more than five months, Boakye, 42, failed to seek urgent surgical operation for the 14-year-old girl following serious injuries she sustained during the accident.
The timely intervention by the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Police Service in Kumasi, however, saved her life as Boakye was compelled to send his daughter to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) where she was operated upon and has been on admission for the past two weeks.
The Ashanti Regional Commander of the DOVVSU, ASP George Appiah-Sakyi, who briefed The Mirror on the incident, said the girl, who was involved in an accident at the Asafo Market in Kumasi in August 2002, suffered multiple fractures in the legs and also sustained serious injuries on other parts of the body, causing her to pass stool through her private parts, instead of the anus.
He said the SIC was supposed to pay GH¢30,000 as insurance to cover the medical expenses of the victim. However, in August last year, Boakye was given a cheque for GH¢10,000.
ASP Appiah-Sakyi said as soon as the suspect received the cheque, he cashed it and went to purchase a Hyundai Grace mini bus with the sole aim of running a transport business.
He said when the police got wind of his action on January 30, 2009, they quickly invited him to help in their investigations.
Mr Appiah-Sakyi said in the course of the investigations, the suspect admitted the offence and promised to mobilise some money to seek medical attention for the daughter, who was then in serious pains.
The DOVVSU Commander said the suspect later contacted some medical officers at KATH, who performed the surgical operation for his daughter, adding that the girl was responding to treatment .
He said Boakye, a trader from Jamasi in the Ashanti Region, was helping the police in their investigations
Friday, February 27, 2009
PRIVATE VARSITIES MUST BENEFIT FROM STATE FUNDS (PAGE 11)
THE government has been called upon to initiate action for legislative reforms in the administration of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to ensure that private tertiary institutions benefit from state financial assistance.
This would enable private tertiary institutions to spread across the country, have access to the requisite educational infrastructure and logistics to facilitate the provision of quality education for the youth who could not enter the few and overstretched public tertiary institutions.
The Council Chairman of the Christian Service University College (CSUC), Prof. Sam Afranie, made the call at the 32nd congregation of the university in Kumasi on the theme, “Quality Manpower Development; the Role of Private Universities".
He pointed out that it was when the government met the obligation of adequately resourcing private tertiary institutions, just as it was doing for public ones, that the youth would be able to study in a conducive atmosphere, devoid of congestion.
The council chairman said this would also enable them to develop their potential more appropriately to support sustainable national development.
In all, 287 students from the departments of Business Studies and Theology received honours in their degree programmes.
The figures indicated about 179.16 per cent increase over last year’s figure of 104 graduates from the same programmes.
Twenty–five of the graduates, seven of whom were females, obtained First Class honours, with 113 of them securing Second Class Upper, while 139 of the graduates secured Second Class honours (Lower Division).
Prof. Afranie said the CSUC, affiliated to the University of Ghana, was fully committed to the provision of quality education to enable it to contribute meaningfully to accelerated national development.
Congratulating the graduates on their sense of discipline and hard work, Prof. Afranie said the university had already acquired 11acres at Sabin Akrofrom to be developed as a second campus of the institution.
He gave the assurance that the land would be fully developed to reduce the problem of accommodation among students.
The President of the CSUC, Professor Emmanuel Frempong, for his part, said in line with providing programmes relevant to the needs of society and national aspirations, the university would introduce a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing next year.
The university authorities, he noted, were initiating the requisite accreditation procedures.
Already, he said, the CSUC had introduced a programme in Communication and that 43 students had been admitted.
The Managing Director of ECOBANK, Mr Samuel Adjei, pointed out that manpower development had now been identified as one of the key pillars of social development and economic growth throughout the world.
He said it had also become a critical and important component of the agenda to enhance growth, wealth creation and poverty reduction.
Mr Adjei said with the emergence of global knowledge and technology, tertiary education had assumed strategic importance because it determined how a country fared when measuring the standard of living of a particular state.
He said while public tertiary institutions were contributing to the development of the human resource base, financial constraints had impeded their growth, making it difficult for those who qualified to gain access to develop their full potential.
He pointed out that while most public universities did not make any room for workers who would want to study alongside working, private universities provide this level of flexibility, making it possible for a large number of workers to access university education to improve their status.
It is therefore important for policy makers to review their policies and provide adequate financial support to private universities to enable them to contribute effectively to national human resource capacity building, he stated.
This would enable private tertiary institutions to spread across the country, have access to the requisite educational infrastructure and logistics to facilitate the provision of quality education for the youth who could not enter the few and overstretched public tertiary institutions.
The Council Chairman of the Christian Service University College (CSUC), Prof. Sam Afranie, made the call at the 32nd congregation of the university in Kumasi on the theme, “Quality Manpower Development; the Role of Private Universities".
He pointed out that it was when the government met the obligation of adequately resourcing private tertiary institutions, just as it was doing for public ones, that the youth would be able to study in a conducive atmosphere, devoid of congestion.
The council chairman said this would also enable them to develop their potential more appropriately to support sustainable national development.
In all, 287 students from the departments of Business Studies and Theology received honours in their degree programmes.
The figures indicated about 179.16 per cent increase over last year’s figure of 104 graduates from the same programmes.
Twenty–five of the graduates, seven of whom were females, obtained First Class honours, with 113 of them securing Second Class Upper, while 139 of the graduates secured Second Class honours (Lower Division).
Prof. Afranie said the CSUC, affiliated to the University of Ghana, was fully committed to the provision of quality education to enable it to contribute meaningfully to accelerated national development.
Congratulating the graduates on their sense of discipline and hard work, Prof. Afranie said the university had already acquired 11acres at Sabin Akrofrom to be developed as a second campus of the institution.
He gave the assurance that the land would be fully developed to reduce the problem of accommodation among students.
The President of the CSUC, Professor Emmanuel Frempong, for his part, said in line with providing programmes relevant to the needs of society and national aspirations, the university would introduce a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing next year.
The university authorities, he noted, were initiating the requisite accreditation procedures.
Already, he said, the CSUC had introduced a programme in Communication and that 43 students had been admitted.
The Managing Director of ECOBANK, Mr Samuel Adjei, pointed out that manpower development had now been identified as one of the key pillars of social development and economic growth throughout the world.
He said it had also become a critical and important component of the agenda to enhance growth, wealth creation and poverty reduction.
Mr Adjei said with the emergence of global knowledge and technology, tertiary education had assumed strategic importance because it determined how a country fared when measuring the standard of living of a particular state.
He said while public tertiary institutions were contributing to the development of the human resource base, financial constraints had impeded their growth, making it difficult for those who qualified to gain access to develop their full potential.
He pointed out that while most public universities did not make any room for workers who would want to study alongside working, private universities provide this level of flexibility, making it possible for a large number of workers to access university education to improve their status.
It is therefore important for policy makers to review their policies and provide adequate financial support to private universities to enable them to contribute effectively to national human resource capacity building, he stated.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
TOURISM CARNIVAL IN KUMASI (GRAPHIC SHOWBIZ PAGE 3)
By George Ernest Asare
The Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) has organised a carnival in the principal streets of the Kumasi metropolis as part of its efforts to make people aware of the region’s tourism offerings.
With "Unity in Diversity" as its main theme the GTB succeeded in focusing the attention of the business community at the Central Business District of Adum and other parts of Kumasi from commerce to tourism.
With brass band music, highlife, gospel and traditional music as the vehicle and joined by dancers, the business community were naturally attracted to the activity that was going on around them.
By 10 am, the Post Office square where the carnival started was brimming with people, and as representatives of costumed cultural troupes, masqueraders , horse riders and other entertainers from other regions started arriving to be part of the carnival, the interest of onlookers had intensified.
The carnival went through the Post Office Square to the Barclays Bank roundabout to the Paul Sagoe Lane and then branched to the Focusline around the Agyekum Building through Dimlite, Pampaso to the Zoo Traffic Light, before moving through the Komfo Anokye Roundabout and ended at the Cultural Centre where they entertained a number of people who had already gathered there.
Commenting on the significance of the carnival, which is the second to be organised by the GTB in Kumasi, the Regional Manager, Mr Ben Anane- Nsiah said that apart from the various tourists sites in the region, certain events , such as the carnival, needs to be promoted and sustained to enable it become very much attractive to the public".
He said that in the Ashanti region, the Akwasidae festival is one attraction which promotes traditional values , enticing many dignitaries to participate fully "but it does not hurt to develop a different identity in the tourist industry such as the carnival, and Kumasi being cosmopolitan, it would soon become one of the attractions in the tourist industry if we sustain it.
"The idea of bringing the carnival to Kumasi is to highlight different regional presence because apart from the indigenes , there are a lot of other people in Kumasi who would be eager to participate in the event".
He said that the brass band, masqueraders and cultural troupes who took part were from the Northern, Greater Accra , Volta, Central and Ashanti Regions.
The Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) has organised a carnival in the principal streets of the Kumasi metropolis as part of its efforts to make people aware of the region’s tourism offerings.
With "Unity in Diversity" as its main theme the GTB succeeded in focusing the attention of the business community at the Central Business District of Adum and other parts of Kumasi from commerce to tourism.
With brass band music, highlife, gospel and traditional music as the vehicle and joined by dancers, the business community were naturally attracted to the activity that was going on around them.
By 10 am, the Post Office square where the carnival started was brimming with people, and as representatives of costumed cultural troupes, masqueraders , horse riders and other entertainers from other regions started arriving to be part of the carnival, the interest of onlookers had intensified.
The carnival went through the Post Office Square to the Barclays Bank roundabout to the Paul Sagoe Lane and then branched to the Focusline around the Agyekum Building through Dimlite, Pampaso to the Zoo Traffic Light, before moving through the Komfo Anokye Roundabout and ended at the Cultural Centre where they entertained a number of people who had already gathered there.
Commenting on the significance of the carnival, which is the second to be organised by the GTB in Kumasi, the Regional Manager, Mr Ben Anane- Nsiah said that apart from the various tourists sites in the region, certain events , such as the carnival, needs to be promoted and sustained to enable it become very much attractive to the public".
He said that in the Ashanti region, the Akwasidae festival is one attraction which promotes traditional values , enticing many dignitaries to participate fully "but it does not hurt to develop a different identity in the tourist industry such as the carnival, and Kumasi being cosmopolitan, it would soon become one of the attractions in the tourist industry if we sustain it.
"The idea of bringing the carnival to Kumasi is to highlight different regional presence because apart from the indigenes , there are a lot of other people in Kumasi who would be eager to participate in the event".
He said that the brass band, masqueraders and cultural troupes who took part were from the Northern, Greater Accra , Volta, Central and Ashanti Regions.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
MASSIVE CLEAN-UP IN KUMASI (PAGE 29)
Residents in the Kumasi metropolis responded positively to President John Evans Atta Mills' quest for clean environment by temporary suspending their commercial activities between 6a.m. and 12 noon last Saturday, to actively support the clean-up exercise intended to rid the Kumasi metropolis of filth.
The exercise which was organised by members of the Ashanti Regional Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA) in collaboration with the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly(KMA) and other organised groups in the metropolis, saw residents converging very early at the various streets, public places, car parks and market places to fully participate in the clean up exercise.
The exercise was also meant to promote environmental cleanliness in the metropolis as well as sensitise residents on the need to change their attitude towards the environment.
Indiscriminate littering of the environment with all forms of solid waste materials, promote the spread of diseases and the exercise also sought to educate residents on the need to do away with such habits.
Prior to the exercise, which was the first of its kind to be organised by the new government in Kumasi, Messrs J. Stanley Owusu, a Waste Management Company, provided a 24-hour service on Friday to work on the Dompoase Land fill site to create more space for refuse that would be dumped there on Saturday.
This was to reduce any form of congestion at the site by waste trucks that would transport garbage from the various suburbs to the landfill.
Waste Group, Anthoco Waste, Sakem, Zoomlion, Kumasi Waste Management, Measkworld, Osborn and ABC Waste also participated actively in the exercise.
The metropolis was divided into zones with each of the waste management companies and their members, concentrating on a particular zone assigned to it, thereby enhancing efficiency.
From Asuoyeboah through Kwadaso to Bantama and the central business district of Adum and Kajetia, as well as the Central Market, safe market and other suburbs, residents, most of whom were traders and voluntary groups, desilted choked gutters, swept the streets, and set fire to heaps of dried leaves and materials collected.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic later, a trader at the Morocco shoe house, Mr Osei Kwabena, commended the organisers of the exercise for their prompt intervention and urged them to regularise it.
This, he said, would keep Kumasi clean as the rains set in.
He pointed out that communicable diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery and typhoid fever among others, that thrive on filth, had always been on the spread, especially during the rainy season.
He pointed out that on such occasions, people spent a lot of money and time to treat diseases, and this undermined productivity and revenue generation.
Mr Osei Kwabena said it was equally important for the authorities to initiate educational programmes that would create awareness for the pubic to change their negative attitude of dumping liquid and solid waste into drains, public places and recreational grounds,
Earlier, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of ESPA, Nana Adu Asabre had told newsmen that as the umbrella body of solid and liquid waste management, the ESPA would be committed to the provision of clean environment to promote good health among residents.
“Ours is a call to duty, that is why representatives of the national executive came down to participate in the planning of this exercise after a similar exercise at Sekondi- Takoradi", he assured.
Stressing, Nana Asabre said, " This is just the beginning of a permanent collaboration to sustain the state of cleanliness in the city".
The exercise which was organised by members of the Ashanti Regional Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA) in collaboration with the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly(KMA) and other organised groups in the metropolis, saw residents converging very early at the various streets, public places, car parks and market places to fully participate in the clean up exercise.
The exercise was also meant to promote environmental cleanliness in the metropolis as well as sensitise residents on the need to change their attitude towards the environment.
Indiscriminate littering of the environment with all forms of solid waste materials, promote the spread of diseases and the exercise also sought to educate residents on the need to do away with such habits.
Prior to the exercise, which was the first of its kind to be organised by the new government in Kumasi, Messrs J. Stanley Owusu, a Waste Management Company, provided a 24-hour service on Friday to work on the Dompoase Land fill site to create more space for refuse that would be dumped there on Saturday.
This was to reduce any form of congestion at the site by waste trucks that would transport garbage from the various suburbs to the landfill.
Waste Group, Anthoco Waste, Sakem, Zoomlion, Kumasi Waste Management, Measkworld, Osborn and ABC Waste also participated actively in the exercise.
The metropolis was divided into zones with each of the waste management companies and their members, concentrating on a particular zone assigned to it, thereby enhancing efficiency.
From Asuoyeboah through Kwadaso to Bantama and the central business district of Adum and Kajetia, as well as the Central Market, safe market and other suburbs, residents, most of whom were traders and voluntary groups, desilted choked gutters, swept the streets, and set fire to heaps of dried leaves and materials collected.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic later, a trader at the Morocco shoe house, Mr Osei Kwabena, commended the organisers of the exercise for their prompt intervention and urged them to regularise it.
This, he said, would keep Kumasi clean as the rains set in.
He pointed out that communicable diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery and typhoid fever among others, that thrive on filth, had always been on the spread, especially during the rainy season.
He pointed out that on such occasions, people spent a lot of money and time to treat diseases, and this undermined productivity and revenue generation.
Mr Osei Kwabena said it was equally important for the authorities to initiate educational programmes that would create awareness for the pubic to change their negative attitude of dumping liquid and solid waste into drains, public places and recreational grounds,
Earlier, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of ESPA, Nana Adu Asabre had told newsmen that as the umbrella body of solid and liquid waste management, the ESPA would be committed to the provision of clean environment to promote good health among residents.
“Ours is a call to duty, that is why representatives of the national executive came down to participate in the planning of this exercise after a similar exercise at Sekondi- Takoradi", he assured.
Stressing, Nana Asabre said, " This is just the beginning of a permanent collaboration to sustain the state of cleanliness in the city".
Sunday, February 22, 2009
KATH UNDERTAKES FIRST ADULT HEART SURGERY (MIRROR, PAGE 32)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
Cardio specialists from Cardiostart International in the United States of America (USA), in collaboration with their counterparts from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have successfully performed free open-heart surgery for eight people who were suffering from acute heart problems in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs.
The surgeries were performed at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the newly constructed Accident and Emergency Centre of the KATH.
The US team has also donated two containers full of medical supplies and equipment to the KATH to support the establishment of a cardiothoracic centre.
The use of the ICU for the open heart surgery was to effectively test the effectiveness or otherwise of the Accident Emergency Centre which was commissioned in November, last year, before it becomes fully operational in the course of the year.
Among the beneficiaries of the free open-heart surgery were Master Ohenenana Kofi Sarpong, a 13-year-old boy who attends Odumasi M.A. Basic School near Konongo and a 19-year-old girl, Christiana Kyeremah.
The others were Georgina Palm, 63, Afia Sarpong 71, Juliana Ampomah 41, Afia Adowa, 31, Rebecca Asirifi, 31, and Regina Boakye 57.
Two years ago, cardio specialists from the Boston Children Hospital in the USA in collaboration with their KATH counterparts, performed the first free open heart surgery for eight children at the KATH, and last year, 11 children also benefited from the gesture of Boston Children Hospital
All the 19 children, some of whom attend school in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs, are doing very well.
When newsmen visited some of the patients at the ICU last Wednesday, three of them, including Master Kofi Sarpong, who were still on admission, were responding effectively to treatment.
Speaking to newsmen later, the head of the 29-member medical team, Dr Marath Aubyn, said they were a charity organisation collaborating with the KATH to kick-start an adult cardiothoracic centre at the hospital to enable them correct heart defects for patients from the northern sector of the country.
He said they arrived in Kumasi almost two weeks ago and screened about 30 patients suffering from heart diseases, but performed surgery for eight people whose lives were in danger.
He said they selected Kumasi for the surgical operation because there was only one cardiothoracic centre located in Accra.
Dr Aubyn explained that establishing an adult surgical centre would go a long way to reduce the pressure at the cardiothoracic centre in Accra.
Commending the KATH authorities for their positive attitude towards Cardiostart “ when we expressed our intention to support cardio patients in Kumasi”, Dr Aubyn said they would be committed to the setting up of an adult cardio centre in Kumasi to ensure that the pressure at Korle Bu was drastically reduced”.
“Our objective is to do this for free, to enable the beneficiaries lead normal lives and contribute more meaningfully towards sustainable socio-economic development in the country, “ he explained.
Stressing, he said, “we are very happy to be part of the general intentions of the authorities of the KATH and their objectives to serve the poor of the community who suffer from heart problems”.
He pointed out that the eight patients who benefited from their expertise “had complex problems as you can see from the evidence of the three patients yet to be discharged, as well as the five who had already been discharged”.
He also commended the medical team from the KATH for their professionalism and commitment and gave the assurance that they would always make themselves available as soon as they were invited to the country.
That, he said, would ensure that the objective of establishing a cardiothoracic centre at the KATH would be fully realised to support the lives of patients from the northern sector of the country as well as those from the neighbouring countries.
The Chief Executive of KATH, Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare, said the authorities of the hospital were committed to establishing the adult cardio centre within two years.
He said they had, therefore, set up a foundation to raise funds that would facilitate the establishment of the cardio centre.
He explained that KATH started a paediatric fund to cater for patients with heart problems and said efforts would be made to reinvigorate public contributions to the fund.
He explained that the fund-raising would be organised both in Ghana and abroad “ so that Ghanaians in the Diaspora would also contribute meaningfully and from this, I think we can sustain the project to enable the needy benefit from free, open heart surgery”.
He said already KATH had two open heart machines which were donated by the medical team from Boston Children Hospital and Cardiostart for use by the local medical team
Stressing , Dr Nsiah Asare said setting up the cardio centre was a priority because it would not only support the needy, but also attract patients from the neighbouring countries as a way of raising additional revenue to develop the KATH.
Cardio specialists from Cardiostart International in the United States of America (USA), in collaboration with their counterparts from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have successfully performed free open-heart surgery for eight people who were suffering from acute heart problems in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs.
The surgeries were performed at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the newly constructed Accident and Emergency Centre of the KATH.
The US team has also donated two containers full of medical supplies and equipment to the KATH to support the establishment of a cardiothoracic centre.
The use of the ICU for the open heart surgery was to effectively test the effectiveness or otherwise of the Accident Emergency Centre which was commissioned in November, last year, before it becomes fully operational in the course of the year.
Among the beneficiaries of the free open-heart surgery were Master Ohenenana Kofi Sarpong, a 13-year-old boy who attends Odumasi M.A. Basic School near Konongo and a 19-year-old girl, Christiana Kyeremah.
The others were Georgina Palm, 63, Afia Sarpong 71, Juliana Ampomah 41, Afia Adowa, 31, Rebecca Asirifi, 31, and Regina Boakye 57.
Two years ago, cardio specialists from the Boston Children Hospital in the USA in collaboration with their KATH counterparts, performed the first free open heart surgery for eight children at the KATH, and last year, 11 children also benefited from the gesture of Boston Children Hospital
All the 19 children, some of whom attend school in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs, are doing very well.
When newsmen visited some of the patients at the ICU last Wednesday, three of them, including Master Kofi Sarpong, who were still on admission, were responding effectively to treatment.
Speaking to newsmen later, the head of the 29-member medical team, Dr Marath Aubyn, said they were a charity organisation collaborating with the KATH to kick-start an adult cardiothoracic centre at the hospital to enable them correct heart defects for patients from the northern sector of the country.
He said they arrived in Kumasi almost two weeks ago and screened about 30 patients suffering from heart diseases, but performed surgery for eight people whose lives were in danger.
He said they selected Kumasi for the surgical operation because there was only one cardiothoracic centre located in Accra.
Dr Aubyn explained that establishing an adult surgical centre would go a long way to reduce the pressure at the cardiothoracic centre in Accra.
Commending the KATH authorities for their positive attitude towards Cardiostart “ when we expressed our intention to support cardio patients in Kumasi”, Dr Aubyn said they would be committed to the setting up of an adult cardio centre in Kumasi to ensure that the pressure at Korle Bu was drastically reduced”.
“Our objective is to do this for free, to enable the beneficiaries lead normal lives and contribute more meaningfully towards sustainable socio-economic development in the country, “ he explained.
Stressing, he said, “we are very happy to be part of the general intentions of the authorities of the KATH and their objectives to serve the poor of the community who suffer from heart problems”.
He pointed out that the eight patients who benefited from their expertise “had complex problems as you can see from the evidence of the three patients yet to be discharged, as well as the five who had already been discharged”.
He also commended the medical team from the KATH for their professionalism and commitment and gave the assurance that they would always make themselves available as soon as they were invited to the country.
That, he said, would ensure that the objective of establishing a cardiothoracic centre at the KATH would be fully realised to support the lives of patients from the northern sector of the country as well as those from the neighbouring countries.
The Chief Executive of KATH, Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare, said the authorities of the hospital were committed to establishing the adult cardio centre within two years.
He said they had, therefore, set up a foundation to raise funds that would facilitate the establishment of the cardio centre.
He explained that KATH started a paediatric fund to cater for patients with heart problems and said efforts would be made to reinvigorate public contributions to the fund.
He explained that the fund-raising would be organised both in Ghana and abroad “ so that Ghanaians in the Diaspora would also contribute meaningfully and from this, I think we can sustain the project to enable the needy benefit from free, open heart surgery”.
He said already KATH had two open heart machines which were donated by the medical team from Boston Children Hospital and Cardiostart for use by the local medical team
Stressing , Dr Nsiah Asare said setting up the cardio centre was a priority because it would not only support the needy, but also attract patients from the neighbouring countries as a way of raising additional revenue to develop the KATH.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
BOSOMTWE RURAL BANK, BEST IN ASHANI (PAGE 21)
THE Bosomtwe Rural Bank in the Ashanti Region was adjudged the best and strongest rural bank in the region in 2008.
Out of the 125 rural banks in the country, the Bosomtwe Rural Bank was also adjudged the fourth best in terms of revenue generation, deposits, access to loans to enable customers to initiate and expand their small-scale businesses, investment ventures, assets of the bank, among other criteria.
Two years ago, the bank was adjudged not only strong and third best among the 125 rural banks in Ghana but also the best in the Ashanti Region.In 2006 it retained its position as the best rural bank in the Ashanti Region and third best in the country.
As part of measures to ignite healthy competition, best practice and business consciousness among rural banks in the country, the parent bank of the Association of Rural Banks in Ghana — ARB Apex Bank — decided to rank all rural banks to determine which of them stood tall among the lot.
Commenting on the performance of the Bosomtwe Rural Bank over the years, the Supervising Manager, Mr Felix Owusu-Achiaw, said it was the initiatives of the board of governors, the management and staff of the bank, as well as the maximum support and co-operation from shareholders that had attracted the attention of the ARB Apex Bank, making the parent bank recognise it as one of the best financial institutions in the country.
Mr Owusu-Achiaw noted that in 2006, for example, the net profit of the bank stood at GH¢251,758.15, rising to GH¢332,608.46 in 2007.
He said the unaudited profit of the bank for 2008 was GH¢478,340.18, indicating that prudent measures initiated by the management of the bank were yielding fruitful results.
On loans investment by the bank over the past three years, he said in 2006 over GH¢2.3 million was granted as loans to small-and medium-scale businessmen and women to enable them to expand their businesses or start new ones to enhance the accelerated development of communities in the bank’s catchment area.
He said total loans granted to small-and medium-scale operators increased in 2007 to GH¢4,095, 0.10, 98, adding that last year as much as GH¢5,345,400 was given out as loans.
Mr Owusu-Achiaw pointed out that in 2006, the bank was able to generate as much as GH¢4,867,045 revenue from deposits alone, increasing to GH¢6,499,717 in 2007, noting that as of December last year GH¢7,612,049 had been realised as deposits.
On investments to enhance accelerated income generation by the bank, the supervising manager said in 2006 the bank was able to invest GH¢2,444,000 in productive ventures and that increased to GH¢2,707,000 in 2007, and that as of December last year, over GH¢2.9 million had been invested in various areas.
On the bank’s reserve liquidity, Mr Owusu-Achiaw said three years ago, it was able to reserve GH¢892,776.91, which was increased to GH¢1,136,255.68 in 2007 before increasing further to GH¢1,642,300 as of December 31, 2008.
He said good customer services by the management and staff of the bank was also enticing many people to do productive business with the bank in all its branches at Trede, Atonsu, Atwima Amanfrom, Jachie, Kokofu and Ahenema Kokoben and at the parent bank located at Kuntanase.
He said the bank’s mobilisation points at Atonsu-Bokro and Asafo-Dadiesoaba in Kumasi were also receiving much attention and explained that the customer base of 48,000 in 2006 increased to 55,000 in 2007 and that as of the end of last year 75,000 people were doing brisk business with the Bosomtwe Rural Bank.
Out of the 125 rural banks in the country, the Bosomtwe Rural Bank was also adjudged the fourth best in terms of revenue generation, deposits, access to loans to enable customers to initiate and expand their small-scale businesses, investment ventures, assets of the bank, among other criteria.
Two years ago, the bank was adjudged not only strong and third best among the 125 rural banks in Ghana but also the best in the Ashanti Region.In 2006 it retained its position as the best rural bank in the Ashanti Region and third best in the country.
As part of measures to ignite healthy competition, best practice and business consciousness among rural banks in the country, the parent bank of the Association of Rural Banks in Ghana — ARB Apex Bank — decided to rank all rural banks to determine which of them stood tall among the lot.
Commenting on the performance of the Bosomtwe Rural Bank over the years, the Supervising Manager, Mr Felix Owusu-Achiaw, said it was the initiatives of the board of governors, the management and staff of the bank, as well as the maximum support and co-operation from shareholders that had attracted the attention of the ARB Apex Bank, making the parent bank recognise it as one of the best financial institutions in the country.
Mr Owusu-Achiaw noted that in 2006, for example, the net profit of the bank stood at GH¢251,758.15, rising to GH¢332,608.46 in 2007.
He said the unaudited profit of the bank for 2008 was GH¢478,340.18, indicating that prudent measures initiated by the management of the bank were yielding fruitful results.
On loans investment by the bank over the past three years, he said in 2006 over GH¢2.3 million was granted as loans to small-and medium-scale businessmen and women to enable them to expand their businesses or start new ones to enhance the accelerated development of communities in the bank’s catchment area.
He said total loans granted to small-and medium-scale operators increased in 2007 to GH¢4,095, 0.10, 98, adding that last year as much as GH¢5,345,400 was given out as loans.
Mr Owusu-Achiaw pointed out that in 2006, the bank was able to generate as much as GH¢4,867,045 revenue from deposits alone, increasing to GH¢6,499,717 in 2007, noting that as of December last year GH¢7,612,049 had been realised as deposits.
On investments to enhance accelerated income generation by the bank, the supervising manager said in 2006 the bank was able to invest GH¢2,444,000 in productive ventures and that increased to GH¢2,707,000 in 2007, and that as of December last year, over GH¢2.9 million had been invested in various areas.
On the bank’s reserve liquidity, Mr Owusu-Achiaw said three years ago, it was able to reserve GH¢892,776.91, which was increased to GH¢1,136,255.68 in 2007 before increasing further to GH¢1,642,300 as of December 31, 2008.
He said good customer services by the management and staff of the bank was also enticing many people to do productive business with the bank in all its branches at Trede, Atonsu, Atwima Amanfrom, Jachie, Kokofu and Ahenema Kokoben and at the parent bank located at Kuntanase.
He said the bank’s mobilisation points at Atonsu-Bokro and Asafo-Dadiesoaba in Kumasi were also receiving much attention and explained that the customer base of 48,000 in 2006 increased to 55,000 in 2007 and that as of the end of last year 75,000 people were doing brisk business with the Bosomtwe Rural Bank.
FORMER SUBIN MP TO CONTEST COUNCIL OF STATE MEMBERSHIP (PAGE 17)
A former Member of Parliament (MP) for Subin in Kumasi, Mr Joseph Alexander Tuffour Sarkodie, has declared his intention to contest for the Ashanti Regional Council of State membership to enable him to use his experience to support President John Evans Atta Mills’s government to deliver to the satisfaction of Ghanaians.
Mr Sarkodie, 77, and a former Deputy Ashanti Regional Manager of the defunct State Publishing Corporation, was the MP for Subin between 1992 and 1996.
Declaring his intention to contest the Ashanti Regional seat of the Council of State when he visited the Daily Graphic offices in Kumasi on Tuesday, Mr Sarkodie said if he was elected to represent the region, he would use his rich experience to reduce the politicisation of national issues and also encourage the media to balance political issues as a way of entrenching democracy in the country.
"Politicisation of national issues is bringing divisiveness among Ghanaians, which, in turn, is tearing the nation apart and undermining effective socio-economic development, and I think it is time for us to intervene to create national unity and cohesion in our developmental agenda," he stated.
He said, "At the moment, I have the requisite experience as an elderly in society, and [am] prepared to collaborate with other members of the Council of State to offer the needed advice to the President on how to unify Ghanaians and initiate policies and programmes that would accelerate the development of the country."
He also expressed concern about media reportage on national issues, saying "the media do not take time to investigate national issues before putting them into public domain, and this do not only create unnecessary tension, but also undermine the credibility of the media".
Mr Sarkodie said his election would offer him the opportunity to fruitfully interact with the leadership of media houses in the country and encourage them to properly investigate issues before publishing them.
This, he said, would make stories more credible and balanced to win the confidence of readers and listeners.
"Journalists are making adequate contributions to entrench democracy in the country, and they need to be encourage to do the right thing," he stressed.
Mr Sarkodie said if he was elected he would also encourage the leadership of the various churches to remain neutral on national issues to enable them to be fully committed to the development agenda of the state.
Mr Sarkodie, 77, and a former Deputy Ashanti Regional Manager of the defunct State Publishing Corporation, was the MP for Subin between 1992 and 1996.
Declaring his intention to contest the Ashanti Regional seat of the Council of State when he visited the Daily Graphic offices in Kumasi on Tuesday, Mr Sarkodie said if he was elected to represent the region, he would use his rich experience to reduce the politicisation of national issues and also encourage the media to balance political issues as a way of entrenching democracy in the country.
"Politicisation of national issues is bringing divisiveness among Ghanaians, which, in turn, is tearing the nation apart and undermining effective socio-economic development, and I think it is time for us to intervene to create national unity and cohesion in our developmental agenda," he stated.
He said, "At the moment, I have the requisite experience as an elderly in society, and [am] prepared to collaborate with other members of the Council of State to offer the needed advice to the President on how to unify Ghanaians and initiate policies and programmes that would accelerate the development of the country."
He also expressed concern about media reportage on national issues, saying "the media do not take time to investigate national issues before putting them into public domain, and this do not only create unnecessary tension, but also undermine the credibility of the media".
Mr Sarkodie said his election would offer him the opportunity to fruitfully interact with the leadership of media houses in the country and encourage them to properly investigate issues before publishing them.
This, he said, would make stories more credible and balanced to win the confidence of readers and listeners.
"Journalists are making adequate contributions to entrench democracy in the country, and they need to be encourage to do the right thing," he stressed.
Mr Sarkodie said if he was elected he would also encourage the leadership of the various churches to remain neutral on national issues to enable them to be fully committed to the development agenda of the state.
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