Ablekuma Central NPP congress in doubt
Government to facilitate economic growth
Academics not sole basis for school’s
greatness
Achimota headmistress decries neglect by media
Vice President denounces indiscipline among
party activists
Tema sets up education fund for needy
students
Engineering solution to windstorm initiated
Head advocates sustenance of boarding system
for girls
Ghana signs $15.3m food contract
Ablekuma Central NPP congress in doubt
Many party faithfuls in the constituency have expressed
their disapproval of the behaviour of "a few members, contrary to the NPP constitution."
A ward chairman, who wants to remain anonymous, told the GNA that a handful of
NPP supporters met on
He further revealed that the said a resolution passed by "the few members" was also calling on the Regional Chairman to dissolve the executives and set up an interim management committee before the congress.
When contacted, Amua Awuah, the constituency chairman who confirmed the story, said he was surprised by the threat by some supporters because, "I strongly favoured the congress since the NPP would be seen as a true democratic party."
He said, "I cherish democracy and those who aspire to become party executives should file their nomination to contest the election instead of organising people to create confusion."
Awuah called on the youth who were getting discouraged by the unconstitutional approach by "the few people" in the constituency to stand firm pending the congress next week.
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Government to facilitate economic growth
Mampong (
He said the administration was, therefore, supporting rural development through the transfer of improved technologies. Professor Fobih was speaking at the handing over of the Rural Enterprises Project (REP) to the Sekyere West District Assembly at Mampong on Friday.
He noted that the project had achieved its objective of poverty reduction in the rural areas and said it was about time the project was also extended to other districts. Professor Fobih urged the district assembly to resource the project sufficiently to enable it to generate more money, create jobs and to reduce poverty. He called on Ghanaians to protect the environmental by adopting good farming practices.
Kwasi Attah-Antwi, National Project Co-ordinator of the Rural Enterprise Project, said 13 districts including the Sekyere West, had benefited from the programme. He said the value of physical assets handed over to the assembly totaled about 729.5 million cedis. Thomas Edward Attakora, the District Chief Executive, said the assembly would support the exercise to facilitate the economic development of the area.
The REP was established about eight years ago as a joint venture between the government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development to train people in income generating activities.
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Academics not sole basis for school’s
greatness
She said: "The worse thing any school can do is to
create academic wizards without any moral values to buttress the academic
progression." Miss Churcher was speaking at the third speech and
prize-giving day of the Kumasi Girls Secondary School (KUGISS) in
The ceremony, which was held under the theme: "Girl-Child Education, the African Agenda for the new Millennium", was also used to honour 50 students, who had performed creditably in their various fields of studies as well as hardworking staff.
Miss Churcher explained that students who attain a high level of academic excellence without any regard for morals "are dangerous because they exploit their knowledge for their selfish ends, regardless of the effect on others and society."
She advised students to take all subjects on the school curriculum seriously and to avoid the tendency of being selective or studying merely to pass their examinations.
In her report, Mrs Theresa A. Baah, Headmistress of KUGISS, said though the school had made significant progress in academic and extra-curriculum activities, it was still beset with a lot of problems. She said the problems included inadequate accommodation for students and staff and the insecure nature of the school because of the lack of a fence wall.
Mrs Baah therefore appealed to the government to assist the school to address the problems to enhance teaching and learning.
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Achimota headmistress decries neglect by
media
She said: "I don't mind if the press fails to cover our functions, but I know they would one day realize the need to do so. Mrs Brew-Graves noted that though Ghana Television's (GTV) explained that it only covered anniversaries and not speech day's of schools, she saw the coverage of such activities of other school on GTV.
Mrs Brew-Graves was speaking to journalists after the end of
the school's speech and prize-giving day on Saturday. She said despite official
invitation to some TV stations in
Mrs Brew-Graves also said there was no official from the Ghana Education Service (GES) to grace the occasion. She could not explain why Ms Lydia Osei, Deputy Director General of the GES, described as 'a friend of the school' who was invited as guest of
honour, failed to turn up.
Mrs Brew-Graves in her annual report said the school increased its intake of students for the vocational programme the past year. She said the student population of the school was 1555 with 1440 being boarders and 115 as day students.
Mrs Brew-Graves said the school required more classrooms, science laboratories, vehicle and its land was being encroachment upon. Ms Osei was mentioned as an old student of the school, and a member of the 1977-year group.
Professor Alex Kwapong, Chairman of the Council of State and also chairman of the school's board advised students to learn hard so that they could pass their examinations.
Prof. Ernest Yeboah, an associate professor of Geography at
the
Prof. Yeboah said teachers found it difficult to enforce school regulations thereby affecting discipline and called on parents and other concerned people to assist government in promoting education.
He suggested the establishment of a professional development
office for Old students of
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Vice President denounces indiscipline among
party activists
Prang (Brong Ahafo) 18 November 2002- Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama at the weekend, denounced acts of indiscipline among party activists and asked them to behave in conformity to the ideals and aspirations of good governance and rule of law.
He said, "It is heart breaking to recount that even within party circles there are both inter and intra party indiscipline".
It is not uncommon to see some party faithfuls and their supporters abandon laid down democratic procedures and resort to violence, which undermine the well being of the parties, the Vice President added.
This was contained in an address read for him by Mr Yaw Adjei Duffuor, Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, at a durbar of chiefs and people of Prang Traditional Area to mark the celebration of Nkyifie Yam festival at Prang in Brong Ahafo.
Alhaji Mahama reiterated that the government believed in the rule of law and democratic governance and would not tolerate those who could not operate under democratic principles.
"I would like to make it abundantly clear that our government believes in the rule of law and democratic governance. Whoever thinks he would not be able to operate under these democratic principles is at liberty to leave the party," he said.
The Vice President expressed regret that in some instances respectable members of some parties behaved and strived to justify their actions by using exuberant party youth to create panic among other members.
It will not be in the interest of any party and for that matter government to encourage party activists who are not ready to comport themselves and behave in conformity to the ideals and aspirations of good governance and within the confines of the rule of law, he cautioned.
Alhaji Mahama urged supporters and members of political parties to be forthright and un-compromising over conflict situations and must encourage constant dialogue with adversaries over critical issues.
The Vice president called on traditional rulers, party functionaries, religious leaders, workers, drivers, teachers, students, parents and opinion leaders to get involved in the crusade to bring indiscipline in the society under control.
"If we all can troll our emotions amidst these endowments then Ghana can go places," he noted.
Alhaji Mahama said the government, in its desire to provide water for rural and small urban communities in the Atebubu district, in conjunction with the European Union started the Atebubu Small Township Water System in March this year, at a cost of 10 billion cedis.
He expressed the hope that the project, which would be commissioned soon, would relegate the hitherto water shortages at Atebubu and environs to an end.
The Vice President said 103 boreholes would also be drilled in 70 communities throughout the district at a total cost of about 4.4 billion cedis.
As I speak now, feasibility studies are being carried out to locate drilling sites where it is hoped water could be available, he said.
Projects approved for the Prang area include the 2.5 billion cedis Prang Water project, construction of 2 No 3 - unit classroom block, office and store at Prang L/A Primary and Danufawa L/A Primary schools each at a cost of 175 million cedis, 2 No 20 hole septic toilets at Prang west and east and a 2.5 billion cedis new market.
He said the Prang-Kintampo road, "which has been negatively impacting on smooth socio-economic activities", had also been awarded on contract for re-gravelling and spot filling.
The Vice President said in order to create jobs for the youth the government was making efforts to construct small irrigation schemes at Konkrompe and Watro for vegetable production.
He recounted that the government intervention to reduce poverty in the rural areas, including the Emergency Social relief Programme (ESRP), the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC) and the Presidential Initiative on Industrial Cassava Cultivation had started yielding positive results.
The Vice President mentioned that under the ERSP 300 million cedis had been released to women engaged in food crops purchase and sales and one billion cedis allocated to each of the 110 districts from funds accruing from the HIPC Initiative.
"This is ample proof of our government's commitment to turn things around for the betterment of our dear country. Besides it has also debunked the fears of the doubting Thomases that the benefits of the HIPC Initiative to the country were only a farce".
Nana Kwadwo Nyarko 111, Omanhene of Prang Traditional Area appealed to the government to make strenuous efforts to help remove alien herdsmen and their cattle, which had been destroying farms, from the area.
He noted the low level of education in the area and appealed to resident and non-resident citizens, NGOs, donor agencies, individuals, boards and corporations to contribute generously to an educational endowment fund, which was launched at the durbar.
Nana Nyarko appealed to the people to support efforts being made to eliminate bushfires in the area and warned that culprits would be severely sanctioned. He urged the people to avoid unsanitary conditions, which he said affected their health.
The Omanhene called for the creation of a separate Abease-Prang-Yeji district and the restoration of Prang to its former status as a district capital to "prevent the ancient town from becoming increasingly deprived".
He called on Ghana Telecom to expedite action on the telephone system for Prang as lack of the facility was affecting socio-economic activities.
Nana Wiafe Akenten 111, Offinsohene, who represented Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11 advised District Chief Executives to collaborate with traditional authorities for the speedy and sustained development of their areas.
The Omanhene presented two million cedis on behalf of the Asantehene towards the Prang Educational Endowment Fund and drinks for the festival.
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Tema sets up education fund for needy
students
Tema Manhean (Greater Accra) 18 November 2002- Professor Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi, Minister of Education has called on Ghanaians to intensify their commitment to support the government to develop the human resource of the country to enhance growth.
He said much as the government is doing its best to give quality education to the youth and develop the educational institutions, budgetary constraints prevented it from realising its target.
The Minister made the call at the launching of a two billion cedi education fund at Tema Manhean during which 111 million cedis was realised.
He said 1.8 trillion cedis was allocated to the Ministry of Education in the fiscal year out of which 1.4 trillion went into the payment of salaries and wages while the remaining 400 billion went into the construction, rehabilitation of school infrastructure and procurement of furniture among other things.
He said there was no way that a child of today should be left uneducated when even the adult illiterates were trying to acquire education and urged the community to see it as a responsibility to offer assistance to develop the education sector and give quality education to their wards to be better placed in society and take over from the aged.
To achieve better results, Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi urged all communities to consider setting up education fund and offer scholarships to needy but brilliant students and solicit support from the organisations operating in their areas.
Mr Paul Victor Obeng, a former Presidential Advisor who inaugurated the 15-member board of trustees to manage the fund reminded them that they would be accountable for any embezzlement and advised them to be transparent in keeping records. Mr Obeng called on all establishments and people living in Tema to contribute to the fund.
Monies accruing from the fund would be used to support needy but brilliant students from basic up to tertiary institutions; part of the fund would also go into campaign for parents to send their children to school.
Mr Samuel Evans Ashong Narh, Tema Municipal Chief Executive asked members of the trustees to educate the public on the need of setting up the fund to enable them contribute wholeheartedly.
Representatives of corporate bodies in Tema, Members of Parliament and chiefs attended the colourful ceremony.
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Engineering solution to windstorm initiated
Ho (Volta Region) 18 November 2002 - The Agricultural Engineering Department of Ho Polytechnic has initiated an engineering solution aimed at preventing the reoccurrence of the devastating loss suffered by the Volta River Estates Limited (VREL) when a windstorm destroyed 260 hectares out of its 300 hectares of banana plantation on October 12 this year.
"The disaster has brought banana exports from the farm to the European market to a halt thereby, plunging VREL into serious financial problems with the 600 workforce facing the risk of being sent home," a national daily reported in the aftermath of the disaster.
Dr George Mawusi Afeti, Principal of the Polytechnic who announced the initiative at the third congregation of the Polytechnic on Saturday did not give details of the proposed solution.
He said the Catering Department of the Polytechnic was able to develop 65 new recipes, which it hoped to commercialise with the support of Unilever (Ghana) Limited and other entrepreneurs in the food processing sector.
Dr Afeti said in the area of academic development, the over 14,000 books in its library have been computerised making it possible for their circulation to be done by computers.
"All the computers in our computer laboratory have been networked for teaching purposes and fully connected to the Internet," he added.
Professor Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi, Minister for Education who represented President John Agyekum Kufuor at the congregation, in his remarks appealed to the Polytechnic to be gradual in removing non-Higher National Diploma courses from its teaching programmes.
This was necessary to give many more people the opportunity to acquire technical skills pending the implementation of the government's programme to establish more technical schools in the country.
Professor Akumfi urged the authorities of the Polytechnic to finalise plans to introduce the Bachelor in Technology programme at the Polytechnic next year.
He however said, the introduction of the Bachelor programme in the Polytechnics would not follow a blanket pattern.
Professor Akumfi said the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) had requested his Ministry and the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa to do the necessary paper work in consultation with the Ministry of Roads and Highways towards the construction of an official access road to the polytechnic.
On staff recruitment, Professor Akumfi said Education and Health were given priority under a renewal programme and therefore asked the Polytechnics to examine the recommendations and come out within the next few days with a plan.
Professor Akumfi asked the 500 graduands to maintain links with the Polytechnic and the student corps and share practical experiences with them.
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Head advocates sustenance of boarding
system for girls
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 18 November 2002- Mrs. Theresa Baah, Headmistress of the Kumasi Girls Secondary School (KUGISS), has advocated the sustenance and development of the boarding school system, especially for the second cycle educational institutions for girls in the country.
She made it clear that the successful prosecution and implementation of the agenda of the girl-child education would depend largely on the training of girls under the boarding school system in the country.
Mrs. Baah made the point when she presented her report at the speech and prize-giving Day of the KUGISS in Kumasi on Saturday.
"The boarding school system is one of the most effective tools that can be used to isolate and protect girls against victimisation by both young and old men," she noted.
Mrs. Baah said equally, the system was the surest guarantee to help girls avoid pre-marital sex and becoming premature mothers and school-drop-outs.
The Headmistress later made an urgent appeal to the government, to wall the school compound to stop the encroachment on the school land.
She pointed out that security was the most serious problem currently facing the school, resulting in trespassing on the school lands.
"Last term, we had the shock of a case of indecent assault by a naked man on one of our students who was in the students' place of convenience, but God being so good, the alleged rapist did not succeed in his diabolical act as he escaped when he saw students rushing to the scene", Mrs. Baah observed.
She said following the incident, a report was made to the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), and an amount of 60 million cedis "was said to have been voted for walling of the school lands to enhance security of staff, students and school property".
Mrs. Baah said regrettably, "the amount, whilst being inadequate for walling our relatively large school lands, has not even as yet arrived for the start of the project."
Responding to the concerns raised by the Headmistress, Miss Christine Churcher, Minister of State for Basic, Secondary and Girl-child Education, pledged to act swiftly to ensure release of the 60 million cedis by early this week for commencement of the walling project.
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Ghana signs $15.3m food contract
Accra (Greater Accra) 18 November 2002- Ghana and the World Food Programme (WFP) on Monday signed two food assistance operational contracts aimed at boosting girl enrolment and attendance in first cycle schools in the three northern regions.
It is also to improve condition of health among vulnerable mothers and children in those areas.
The agreements worth about $15.3m will make quantity of cereals and vegetable oil available every month to girls in primary and Junior Secondary Schools (JSS), who have at least attained 85 percent attendance rate to encourage them to stay in school.
Expectant and nursing mothers would also receive similar food aid to meet their special nutritional and health needs as well as serve as an incentive to them to attend health and nutritional training sessions.
The food assistance contract under the Supplementary Feeding and Health and Nutrition Project and Education of Girls in Ghana's Northern Savannah Areas Project is being offered within the context of the WFP's Country Programme, which spans five years -2001-2005.
About 482,000 people are expected to benefit from 35,000 tons of food assistance, (an average of 7,000 tons annually), within the project period.
Dr Gheysika Agambila, Deputy Minister of Finance signed for Ghana while Ms Eva Hodell, WFP Representative initialled on behalf of the programme.
Dr Agambila said the interventions planned in the specific areas of health and education would go a long way to complement government's efforts in improving the quality of life in those areas.
He was happy that the Programme emphasised the issue of malnutrition, saying that that deficiency was a persistent health problem and impacted negatively on the performance of children in school.
"Similarly, the efforts to encourage the girl child to obtain a decent level of education through the planned interventions in the Girls’ education project are a laudable one, and ties in, again with government's many programmes to foster and promote girl child education," he said.
The Deputy Minister urged the Ministries of Health and Education, the implementing agencies, to demonstrate ownership of the projects and to pursue common collaborative strategies to ensure the success of the programme.
Ms Eva Hodell said the enrolment rate in the northern regions was far below the national average and expressed the hope that the programme would encourage more girls to go to school.
She said the assistance also fell in line with government's efforts at improving health and education needs of Ghanaians and as was contained the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) and the United Nations Millennium development targets.
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