Government asked to censor films
Teachers to benefit from 30 million cedis Mutual Fund Loan
World marks UN Day of Victims of Torture on 26 June
Global Water Partnership throws searchlight on NEPAD
Accra (Greater Accra) 18 June 2002 - The Reverend Dr. Mensah Otabil, General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church has called on the government to censor films, especially those produced in the country and Nigeria because they contribute to crime and immorality among children.
Preaching the sermon to mark the Father's day of the Church in Accra, on Sunday, Dr. Otabil noted that such films portrayed occultism, violence, witchcraft, obscenity, pornography and negative cultural practices.
He advised parents to ensure that their children watched films that could assist them in acquiring decent behaviour and morality, adding, " You may teach your children the way they should go but television can easily destroy them."
Dr Otabil said, "Apart from their non-educative nature, almost all such films were classified "Parental Guidance" (PG), making the situation worse because most of their contents were not good for children."
He noted that education was the foundation for progress and advised parents to co-operate with teachers to enable them acquire skills and qualification for national development.
GRi.../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Nkawie (Ashanti) 18 June 2002- The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has introduced a "Start Capital", scheme under the Teachers Mutual Fund where teachers who engaged in any viable economic ventures to supplement their income would be granted a maximum of 30 million cedis loan.
Initially, teachers, who have less than seven years before compulsory retirement, would be counselled and offered priority consideration in the granting of the loan. Mr J. A. Forkuoh, Ashanti Regional Secretary of GNAT, who announced this at a day's conference of teachers in the Atwima District at Nkawie at the weekend, said satisfactory modalities had been worked out for the smooth recovery of the loans.
He said five teachers in Ejisu-Juaben District had benefited from the scheme and advised others to avail themselves of the opportunity. Mr Forkuoh said teachers were being paid two million cedis insurance benefit in case of death or invalidity since March. The Regional Secretary announced that free computerized identity cards would be issued to teachers as part of the association's efforts to weed out ghost names.
Mr Augustine Mensah, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the association, commended teachers for their hard work and sacrifice "even under severe and trying conditions" and said the association was doing everything possible to improve their conditions of service. Mr Kwame Marfo-Boateng expressed concern about increasing reports of assaults and intimidations of teachers and called on School Management Committees (SMC) to protect teachers especially in the rural areas.
GR…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 18 June 2002-The United Nations International Day in support of the Victims of Torture is to be observed on 26 June, a day officially proclaimed by the UN General Assembly to see what could be done to help victims.
A statement by the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture (IRCT), an international Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Accra on Monday said the day would be marked with special activities such as street marches, drama, speeches and art competitions.
It said IRCT, as part of its global campaign to help victims of torture, is organising an essay competition for Junior Secondary School students in the Ashanti Region on Wednesday 26 June 2002.
The statement said prizes, would be presented to brilliant students by the Islamic Peace Movement, a local NGO, selected by IRCT to organise this year's activities in Ghana. It said, though the solid democratic parameters that have been set by successive governments after the fourth republic had made torture uncommon, it is a matter of concern that rampant cases of defilement and rape have bedevilled the nation in recent times.
The statement called on governments, individuals and civil society to work together to fight the menace.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 18 June 2002- Professor Albert Wright, Chairman of the Africa Water Task force of the Global Water Partnership (GWP) on Monday lauded efforts by African leaders to improve on water supply and sanitation.
Prof. Wright said efforts like the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and a recent African Ministerial Conference On Water (AMCOW would also provide a forum for dialogue on water programmes with United Nations Agencies and other international partners and develop political strategies to improve on the scarce commodity.
"AMCOW is intended to be the political mouthpiece on Africa water issues and through that, it contributes to the social and economic development and poverty alleviation in Africa," he said.
Prof Wright was addressing the seventh annual Global Water Partnership (GWP) Conference, which opened in Accra on Monday. About 250 delegates, comprising a network of governmental, Non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders in the water sector from over 60 countries are attending the conference.
Prof. Wright said NEPAD hopes to keep the state of Africa's water resources under review and facilitate international co-operation through the co-ordination of issues relating to water policies amongst the various states.
Dr. Daniel Adom, Acting Executive Secretary of the Water Resources Commission told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that delegates would discuss strategies that would help protect the Tano River Basin from drying up.
The special session is expected to discuss a structural mechanism to ensure the proper management of the river, which is being affected by bad environment practices, by settlements along its catchment areas.
The conference, which for six years running is taking place in Sweden as an international consultative partnership to promote integrated water management, is being organised in Africa for the first time.
Vice -President Aliu Mahama opened the two-day conference, which is discussing water poverty, dialogue on effective water governance, country water partnerships and local action and capacity building in integrated water and river management.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com