By Emmanuel Modey
A GREEN Tata bus pulled up. In it were excited students of Baidoo Bensoe Secondary Technical School, who had come many kilometres away from Agona Ahanta in the Western Region to see the Akosombo Dam.
“We are here to show the students at first-hand what they have learnt about in class”, Mr. Nathaniel Osiban, a Social Studies teacher of the school, said.
Just like these students had come to verify their class lesson, every year, over 35,000 people, including high profile personalities, visit the Akosombo Dam to satisfy their curiosity in various ways.
According to Mr Nii Noi Thompson, an official of the Volta River Authority (VRA), on a busy day, about 50 different groups, families and individuals tour the dam.
/Even when expectations were high that Ghanaians would be glued to their television sets to watch the much hyped football game between Ghana and Australia in the ongoing World Cup tournament, people still found time to visit the dam.
Mr. Issa Bangura, a Sierra Leonean and a first time visitor to Ghana attending a workshop, was happy that at long last he had fulfilled his dream of visiting the Akosombo Dam.
“It's wonderful, it is well constructed and beyond my imagination. Ghana is beautiful and I am definitely going to come back to visit!”
Mr. Bangura had another reason for visiting the dam. As a Senior Superintendent at the Sierra Leon Power Authority, he is naturally interested in anything about electricity generation.
Mr. Bangura has promised to come back with his family. “I love Ghana even though it is expensive.”
Some students from James Madison University in Virginia, USA, were also at the dam. They said they came to Ghana for a course but they also wanted to see interesting places in the country, so their professor arranged for them to see the Akosombo Dam.
Ms Theresa Llewellyn, a student from the University, said she had never heard about the Akosombo Dam, so she was excited to see it.
“It's amazing. I will recommend it to a friend to visit”, she said.
For Ms. Lenise Mazyck, another student, pointing to a little rock from the embankment which showed the effect of the interaction of water with rocks, the tour of the dam had provided her with a concrete proof of something she had studied in her Anthropology class.
“Wow, this is it!”, she exclaimed.
Just before the arrival of the American students, a group of physicians from Hungary, Italy and Germany who are on a medical outreach at the Comboni Centre in Sogakofe, had taken time off to visit the dam.
“We came to see what engineers from my country have built”, the Italian physician said.
The Akosombo dam was built by Italian engineers from the Italian company, Impreglio, with Kaiser engineers from the United States of America as consultants.
Mr. Emmanuel Kwao, a Ghanaian tourist, said he had only seen the dam in pictures and had always desired to see it. He therefore saved some money purposely for this trip.
Unlike the students from Baidoo Bonsoe who were on an educational trip, Mr. Kwao was there for pleasure.
According to Mr Noi Thompson, very important persons also visit the dam. Over a period of about six months from late last year to early this year, about five such visitors came to the dam.
Former President Kaunda of Zambia, the late President Yar'Adua of Nigeria and Mr Liverpool, the President of the Dominican Republic, readily come to mind, according to the source.
For the people living around the dam, the influx of tourists is an opportunity to experience different cultures.
“We see many different people, hear different languages, differences in the type of clothing, and you will not believe that we can tell the difference between a German and a French national”, a resident who didn't want to go on record said.
“The Akosombo Dam is a very large man-made lake, covering an area of 8,502 square kilometres it is the largest man-made lake in the world.” It takes 36 hours to travel round the lake. The dam is made of sand, clay and rocks without cement to bind them. The technical officers at the VRA appropriately call it the rock-filled embankment.
In size, the Akosombo Dam is 2,200 ft long, 440ft high and 1,400ft wide at the base. The dam's six hoses that carry water to turn six eighty-ton turbines to generate electricity are 24 metres in diameter.
The turbines turn 115 times in a minute and releases hydro-power providing a source of electricity for Ghana, Burkina Faso, Benin and Togo.
Even though the Chinese are building a dam they claim will be the largest in the world, for the time being, as the VRA official noted, “The Akosombo dam is the largest, and will continue to be a tourist site for local and international visitors for a long time to come because of its peculiar characteristics.”
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
EDUCATION MUST LIBERATE THE MIND — AGBOGBOMEFIA (SPREAD, NO 15, 2010)
The Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV, has stated that a good educational system must liberate the minds of future leaders and equip them with creative and innovative skills, lest they become smart conformists and custodians of the status quo, instead of agents of change that the country needs.
In an address at a durbar to climax the 60th anniversary of Mawuli School in Ho, Togbe Afede said, “It is not about the length of pre-university education; neither is it a question of how it is labelled. So the starting point is an appreciation of the true purpose of education.”
He said the school system must begin to inculcate discipline and honesty, self-confidence, a sense of independence, hard work, absolute commitment to the chosen careers, altruism, tolerance and the ability to think positively and persevere in future leaders.
In an address read on his behalf, the Vice President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, noted that Mawuli School had produced very important personalities who found themselves in all spheres of national life and were serving in various responsible positions in the country and elsewhere.
He, therefore, urged the current school board, the management, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and all stakeholders not to be complacent with achievements but continuously strive for the attainment of the best for the school.
Mr Mahama said human capital formation and development was central to the government’s efforts at building a better Ghana and that the educational system was being accordingly engineered and retooled to meet national hopes and aspirations.
The Vice President advised students to eschew negative practices such as laziness, dishonesty, the use of hard drugs and cyber fraud and rather adopt the virtues of hard work, discipline and honesty in order to propel the development of the nation faster and in the right direction.
The headmaster of the school, Mr J.M.K. Osei-Nyansa, said the school had produced about 15,000 students, who are contributing to the socio-economic development of Ghana and the world.
He said the current student population was 1,351, comprising 491 girls and 860 boys, with a staff strength of 69 teachers and 74 non-teaching staff.
In a solidarity message, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, the Right Reverend Francis Amenu, said it was imperative to invest in Mawuli School and the EP Church in order for them to cope with the dynamics of the technological era.
“The time for positive action to rebuild the school is, indeed, now to adequately meet and live fruitfully the dream and vision of the founding fathers in terms of human capital development,” he said.
In a welcoming address, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the school, Reverend Frank Anku, charged all past students and other stakeholders to be genuinely committed to the cause of the school.
The Chairman of the Council of State, Professor Kofi Awoonor, later inaugurated a new administration block for the school to commemorate its 60th anniversary.
The edifice, which is valued at GH¢30 million, was funded by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
In an address at a durbar to climax the 60th anniversary of Mawuli School in Ho, Togbe Afede said, “It is not about the length of pre-university education; neither is it a question of how it is labelled. So the starting point is an appreciation of the true purpose of education.”
He said the school system must begin to inculcate discipline and honesty, self-confidence, a sense of independence, hard work, absolute commitment to the chosen careers, altruism, tolerance and the ability to think positively and persevere in future leaders.
In an address read on his behalf, the Vice President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, noted that Mawuli School had produced very important personalities who found themselves in all spheres of national life and were serving in various responsible positions in the country and elsewhere.
He, therefore, urged the current school board, the management, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and all stakeholders not to be complacent with achievements but continuously strive for the attainment of the best for the school.
Mr Mahama said human capital formation and development was central to the government’s efforts at building a better Ghana and that the educational system was being accordingly engineered and retooled to meet national hopes and aspirations.
The Vice President advised students to eschew negative practices such as laziness, dishonesty, the use of hard drugs and cyber fraud and rather adopt the virtues of hard work, discipline and honesty in order to propel the development of the nation faster and in the right direction.
The headmaster of the school, Mr J.M.K. Osei-Nyansa, said the school had produced about 15,000 students, who are contributing to the socio-economic development of Ghana and the world.
He said the current student population was 1,351, comprising 491 girls and 860 boys, with a staff strength of 69 teachers and 74 non-teaching staff.
In a solidarity message, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, the Right Reverend Francis Amenu, said it was imperative to invest in Mawuli School and the EP Church in order for them to cope with the dynamics of the technological era.
“The time for positive action to rebuild the school is, indeed, now to adequately meet and live fruitfully the dream and vision of the founding fathers in terms of human capital development,” he said.
In a welcoming address, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the school, Reverend Frank Anku, charged all past students and other stakeholders to be genuinely committed to the cause of the school.
The Chairman of the Council of State, Professor Kofi Awoonor, later inaugurated a new administration block for the school to commemorate its 60th anniversary.
The edifice, which is valued at GH¢30 million, was funded by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
Saturday, November 13, 2010
GIVE OTI SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL BOARDING FACILITIES (PAGE 57, NOV 15, 2010)
THE Headmaster of the Oti Senior High School in the Krachi-East District of the Volta Region, Mr George Torme, has appealed to the government to provide it with boarding facilities and also put the school under the Northern Scholarship Scheme.
The school, which is in a deprived area and educating the children of farmers and fishermen, who produce food to feed the nation, is a day institution where all the students pay fees.
In an interview, Mr Torme said that was making learning and teaching very difficult since most of the students had to pay their own fees.
He said most of the 732 students, comprising 530 boys and 222 girls, travelled long distances on bicycles or on foot to the school daily.
The school, the headmaster said, was established in 1991 but lacked infrastructure like furniture, classrooms, administrative block, science laboratory and a vehicle, stressing that “indeed, over 60 per cent of the students, especially the fresh ones do not have furniture”.
“We also have no vehicle, so we rely on hired vehicles, which comes at a high cost”, the headmaster said.
Mr Torme commended the Parent-Teacher Association for providing some furniture and also helping the school over the years, something he thought could not go on forever.
He also thanked the Krachi East District Assembly for assisting them with a three-classroom block to alleviate their plight.
In spite of all these problems, the headmaster said the school was expecting an additional 300 new students, who had started coming in for courses in Business, Agriculture, Technical Skills and General Arts.
The school, which is in a deprived area and educating the children of farmers and fishermen, who produce food to feed the nation, is a day institution where all the students pay fees.
In an interview, Mr Torme said that was making learning and teaching very difficult since most of the students had to pay their own fees.
He said most of the 732 students, comprising 530 boys and 222 girls, travelled long distances on bicycles or on foot to the school daily.
The school, the headmaster said, was established in 1991 but lacked infrastructure like furniture, classrooms, administrative block, science laboratory and a vehicle, stressing that “indeed, over 60 per cent of the students, especially the fresh ones do not have furniture”.
“We also have no vehicle, so we rely on hired vehicles, which comes at a high cost”, the headmaster said.
Mr Torme commended the Parent-Teacher Association for providing some furniture and also helping the school over the years, something he thought could not go on forever.
He also thanked the Krachi East District Assembly for assisting them with a three-classroom block to alleviate their plight.
In spite of all these problems, the headmaster said the school was expecting an additional 300 new students, who had started coming in for courses in Business, Agriculture, Technical Skills and General Arts.
INVOLVE PRIVATE SECTOR IN ORGANISATION OF TEACHERS' AWARDS (PAGE 46, NOV 10, 2010)
THE Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, has advised the Ghana Education Service (GES) to involve the private sector in the organisation of the best teacher award programmes in order to attract enticing awards for deserving teachers.
Mr Amenowode said if the appropriate approaches were made to the public, the GES might receive the right responses.
“Everybody, no matter his standing in society, was once taught by a teacher,” the regional minister said.
Mr Amenowode was addressing district directors of education at a dinner he organised for them to close their week-long workshop at Ho in the Volta Region.
He noted that if this was done, the awards scheme would be broadened to benefit more teachers who were doing their best to put Ghana where it was.
“If we leave the organisation of the teachers awards entirely to the government, the scheme would not be sustainable due to the limited resources available,” he said.
The regional minister urged the directors to utilise the skills and knowledge they had acquired at the workshop in their various directorates and help to improve the standard of education in the country.
“You are the pivot around which the various government interventions to revamp the educational sector will revolve so you must be seen to be doing your best wherever you are”, he said.
“Our teachers are in your hands, you should ensure that they always do their work well to raise the standard of education by performing to best of their abilities,” he added.
That, he said, did not mean they should become dictators and high-handed, victimise and transfer teachers to inaccessible places on very flimsy excuses.
“You should at all times project yourselves as role models to your teachers and the society at large”, he advised.
Mr Amenowode commended the directors for their services so far and urged them not to relent in developing themselves for the betterment of the educational sector.
Mr Amenowode said if the appropriate approaches were made to the public, the GES might receive the right responses.
“Everybody, no matter his standing in society, was once taught by a teacher,” the regional minister said.
Mr Amenowode was addressing district directors of education at a dinner he organised for them to close their week-long workshop at Ho in the Volta Region.
He noted that if this was done, the awards scheme would be broadened to benefit more teachers who were doing their best to put Ghana where it was.
“If we leave the organisation of the teachers awards entirely to the government, the scheme would not be sustainable due to the limited resources available,” he said.
The regional minister urged the directors to utilise the skills and knowledge they had acquired at the workshop in their various directorates and help to improve the standard of education in the country.
“You are the pivot around which the various government interventions to revamp the educational sector will revolve so you must be seen to be doing your best wherever you are”, he said.
“Our teachers are in your hands, you should ensure that they always do their work well to raise the standard of education by performing to best of their abilities,” he added.
That, he said, did not mean they should become dictators and high-handed, victimise and transfer teachers to inaccessible places on very flimsy excuses.
“You should at all times project yourselves as role models to your teachers and the society at large”, he advised.
Mr Amenowode commended the directors for their services so far and urged them not to relent in developing themselves for the betterment of the educational sector.
FLOODS CAUSE HAVOC AT DAMBAI (BACK PAGE, NOV 10, 2010)
FLOODS continue to cause havoc in parts of the Volta Region, with Dambai in the Krachi East District the latest to be affected.
Following a heavy downpour, at the weekend, which caused the Oti River to overflow its banks, 89 communities in Dambai and the Volta Lakeside areas have been inundated with floods.
About 200 houses at Dambai and 500 in the lakeside area as well as acres of farmlands and livestock have been affected.
Hundreds of residents have been displaced and now live with families and friends while others have moved into classrooms and churches.
The Krachi East District Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Donkor Attah-Gyamfi, who toured the affected areas on Monday, advised residents to yield to earlier warnings and re-locate to higher grounds.
Owners of some of the flooded houses were moving their property, including the roofing sheets of the houses, to safer grounds.
The NADMO co-ordinator appealed to benevolent organisations and institutions to come to the aid of the affected persons.
Following a heavy downpour, at the weekend, which caused the Oti River to overflow its banks, 89 communities in Dambai and the Volta Lakeside areas have been inundated with floods.
About 200 houses at Dambai and 500 in the lakeside area as well as acres of farmlands and livestock have been affected.
Hundreds of residents have been displaced and now live with families and friends while others have moved into classrooms and churches.
The Krachi East District Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Donkor Attah-Gyamfi, who toured the affected areas on Monday, advised residents to yield to earlier warnings and re-locate to higher grounds.
Owners of some of the flooded houses were moving their property, including the roofing sheets of the houses, to safer grounds.
The NADMO co-ordinator appealed to benevolent organisations and institutions to come to the aid of the affected persons.
THE CHURCH MUST SUPPORT BETTER GHANA AGENDA — AMENOWODE (SPREAD, NOV 9, 2010)
THE Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, has thrown a challenge to the church to assist in the realisation of the Better Ghana agenda of President John Evans Atta Mills.
He said the church could use its platform to educate Ghanaians on the policies and programmes of the government to improve the socio-economic conditions of the country.
Mr Amenowode made the call at a thanksgiving service in the Hohoe Municipality on Sunday to climax activities marking the centenary celebration of the Akpafu Odomi Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana.
The celebration was on the theme: “Enhancing Human Dignity”.
The Regional Minister, who is aso a Member of Parliament for Hohoe South, said it was prudent to call on the church, as partners of development, to join forces with the government to work towards the achievement of the aspirations and hopes of the people.
He called on all, especially the youth, to take advantage of the various programmes that the government had introduced to enhance their welfare and mentioned the various modules of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), the Forest Plantation Development and the Youth in Agriculture programme as examples.
He commended the EP Church for its role in the propagation of the gospel over the years to change society for the better.
Delivering the sermon, Rt Revd Francis Amenu, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the E.P Church, urged Christians not to be detracted by the difficulties in life but continue to keep faith with the Lord.
Rev. Mrs A.A. Obro–Adibo, Akpafu District Pastor, in recounting the history of the church at Odomi, said it began with the first catechist teacher sent from Akpafu Todzi to Odomi in 1910 and paid glowing tribute to the first missionary pastor, Herman Schosser, for sowing the seed of salvation that had grown from 1910 to be a hundred years today.
He said the church could use its platform to educate Ghanaians on the policies and programmes of the government to improve the socio-economic conditions of the country.
Mr Amenowode made the call at a thanksgiving service in the Hohoe Municipality on Sunday to climax activities marking the centenary celebration of the Akpafu Odomi Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana.
The celebration was on the theme: “Enhancing Human Dignity”.
The Regional Minister, who is aso a Member of Parliament for Hohoe South, said it was prudent to call on the church, as partners of development, to join forces with the government to work towards the achievement of the aspirations and hopes of the people.
He called on all, especially the youth, to take advantage of the various programmes that the government had introduced to enhance their welfare and mentioned the various modules of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), the Forest Plantation Development and the Youth in Agriculture programme as examples.
He commended the EP Church for its role in the propagation of the gospel over the years to change society for the better.
Delivering the sermon, Rt Revd Francis Amenu, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the E.P Church, urged Christians not to be detracted by the difficulties in life but continue to keep faith with the Lord.
Rev. Mrs A.A. Obro–Adibo, Akpafu District Pastor, in recounting the history of the church at Odomi, said it began with the first catechist teacher sent from Akpafu Todzi to Odomi in 1910 and paid glowing tribute to the first missionary pastor, Herman Schosser, for sowing the seed of salvation that had grown from 1910 to be a hundred years today.
Friday, November 12, 2010
BISHOP INSPECTS HO SCHOOL FACILITIES (PAGE 46, NOV 8, 2010)
The Right Reverend Francis Anani Lodonu, Bishop of Ho Diocese, has undertaken a familiarisation tour of schools under his diocese to acquaint himself with their readiness to accommodate fresh students.
The day's tour took him round five Roman Catholic schools, namely O.L.A. Girls' Senior High School, Mater Ecclesiae School at Sokode-Gbogame, Bishop Herman Boys College (BIHECO) at Kpando and St Mary's Seminary Senior High School (SMASCO) at Lolobi-Kumasi.
During the tour, Rt. Revd Lodonu learnt the various interventions by the schools authorities to accommodate the students since the new structures intended for them were at various stages of completion.
At OLA, which was his first port of call where he was briefed by Mrs Benedicta Afesi, Headmistress of the school, he was told that the school received 275 new students and that certain structures had been converted into classrooms and dormitories.
At the Mater Ecclesiae School, Rev. Sister Peace Omega said the school, which started in 1993 with 30 students, now had a population of 439.
She said though the school was one of the best in the region, they had no accommodation for staff, computer laboratory, science laboratory and inadequate dormitories for the students.
At BIHECO, Rev. Father Walter Agbeto, said though there were classrooms to take fresh students, the school lacked dormitories. He said out of the 364 students given admission to the school, 261 had reported.
He said to solve the problem of dormitory accommodation, the school had converted some classrooms into dormitories but some of the students had to sleep on the floor in the assembly hall.
Another problem was the lack of a places of convenience for the first-year students. This had compelled the school's authorities to construct a temporary pit latrine for them.
He appealed to the contractor, who is supposed to begin work on the construction of the emergency dormitory for the school, to begin work.
At SMASCO where out of 224 students posted to the school, 125 had arrived, there was congestion so some of the classrooms had to be converted into dormitories for the students to sleep on the floor.
At each of the schools, Rt. Revd Lodonu, after noting their challenges, urged the students to utilise the limited resources at their disposal since the government was doing its best to solve their problems.
'You should persevere and work hard to surmount your challenges', the Bishop said.
He also urged the students to bear with the school authorities since the problems were not their making.
“Yours is to concentrate on your books so that you will be able to make yourself ready to enjoy the fruits of your labour”, he advised.
The day's tour took him round five Roman Catholic schools, namely O.L.A. Girls' Senior High School, Mater Ecclesiae School at Sokode-Gbogame, Bishop Herman Boys College (BIHECO) at Kpando and St Mary's Seminary Senior High School (SMASCO) at Lolobi-Kumasi.
During the tour, Rt. Revd Lodonu learnt the various interventions by the schools authorities to accommodate the students since the new structures intended for them were at various stages of completion.
At OLA, which was his first port of call where he was briefed by Mrs Benedicta Afesi, Headmistress of the school, he was told that the school received 275 new students and that certain structures had been converted into classrooms and dormitories.
At the Mater Ecclesiae School, Rev. Sister Peace Omega said the school, which started in 1993 with 30 students, now had a population of 439.
She said though the school was one of the best in the region, they had no accommodation for staff, computer laboratory, science laboratory and inadequate dormitories for the students.
At BIHECO, Rev. Father Walter Agbeto, said though there were classrooms to take fresh students, the school lacked dormitories. He said out of the 364 students given admission to the school, 261 had reported.
He said to solve the problem of dormitory accommodation, the school had converted some classrooms into dormitories but some of the students had to sleep on the floor in the assembly hall.
Another problem was the lack of a places of convenience for the first-year students. This had compelled the school's authorities to construct a temporary pit latrine for them.
He appealed to the contractor, who is supposed to begin work on the construction of the emergency dormitory for the school, to begin work.
At SMASCO where out of 224 students posted to the school, 125 had arrived, there was congestion so some of the classrooms had to be converted into dormitories for the students to sleep on the floor.
At each of the schools, Rt. Revd Lodonu, after noting their challenges, urged the students to utilise the limited resources at their disposal since the government was doing its best to solve their problems.
'You should persevere and work hard to surmount your challenges', the Bishop said.
He also urged the students to bear with the school authorities since the problems were not their making.
“Yours is to concentrate on your books so that you will be able to make yourself ready to enjoy the fruits of your labour”, he advised.
VOLTA POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR HIT-AND-RUN DRIVER (PAGE 51, NOV 8, 2010)
The Volta Regional Police Command has mounted an intensive search for Foster Addo, 44, an unemployed driver whose vehicle knocked and killed a motorbike rider and his pillion rider on the spot at Abaun near Kpando on Saturday, September 25, 2010.
Foster was driving a water tanker vehicle with registration number GV 7300V belonging to the Ghana Water Company Limited when the accident occurred.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) David Nenyi Ampah-Bennin, the Volta Regional Commander of Police, Foster was sent by his uncle, who is an employee of GWCL, to use his vehicle to cash some money from his bank account at Kpando.
DCOP Ampah-Bennin said the police found the vehicle he was driving intact with his pair of sandals and a mobile phone in the vehicle but could not find the person.
He said the police were, therefore, appealing to the general public to assist in locating Foster for a handsome reward.
Foster was driving a water tanker vehicle with registration number GV 7300V belonging to the Ghana Water Company Limited when the accident occurred.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) David Nenyi Ampah-Bennin, the Volta Regional Commander of Police, Foster was sent by his uncle, who is an employee of GWCL, to use his vehicle to cash some money from his bank account at Kpando.
DCOP Ampah-Bennin said the police found the vehicle he was driving intact with his pair of sandals and a mobile phone in the vehicle but could not find the person.
He said the police were, therefore, appealing to the general public to assist in locating Foster for a handsome reward.
MUSLIMS IN JASIKAN GRATEFUL TO NDC (PAGE 13, NOV 6, 2010)
A delegation of Muslims in the Jasikan District of the Volta Region has expressed appreciation for the concern shown by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the years for their welfare.
The Muslims were particularly happy that apart from what the government was doing for them, Mr Henry Ford Kamel, the Member of Parliament for Buem Constituency, was also on his own contributing his quota.
The Muslims said this when Mr Kamel met party members, Assembly Members and a cross section of the public at Jasikan last week.
The leadership of the communities of Kotokoli and Hausa at Jasikan Zongo, led by Alhaji Ibrahim Adam noted the MP on his own volition was sending five Muslims to Mecca for this year’s Hajj.
Apart from that, Alhaji Adam said Mr Kamel had succeeded in having a Muslim to represent their interest on the Lands Commission and also one as head of the Non-Formal Education Division (NFED) in the district.
He said for his non-partisanship in his approach towards the welfare of the people, especially Muslims, some members who were not members of the NDC had decided to join the party.
Mr Kamel commended the delegation for their show of appreciation towards the NDC government.
He said the President in his role as the father of the nation did not discriminate in his duty to the people.
“And with me as the MP for the constituency, I will not look for membership cards when it comes to my service to you,” Mr Kamel said
The MP said all that he expected of them was unity and peace to ensure a rapid development of the district.
The Muslims were particularly happy that apart from what the government was doing for them, Mr Henry Ford Kamel, the Member of Parliament for Buem Constituency, was also on his own contributing his quota.
The Muslims said this when Mr Kamel met party members, Assembly Members and a cross section of the public at Jasikan last week.
The leadership of the communities of Kotokoli and Hausa at Jasikan Zongo, led by Alhaji Ibrahim Adam noted the MP on his own volition was sending five Muslims to Mecca for this year’s Hajj.
Apart from that, Alhaji Adam said Mr Kamel had succeeded in having a Muslim to represent their interest on the Lands Commission and also one as head of the Non-Formal Education Division (NFED) in the district.
He said for his non-partisanship in his approach towards the welfare of the people, especially Muslims, some members who were not members of the NDC had decided to join the party.
Mr Kamel commended the delegation for their show of appreciation towards the NDC government.
He said the President in his role as the father of the nation did not discriminate in his duty to the people.
“And with me as the MP for the constituency, I will not look for membership cards when it comes to my service to you,” Mr Kamel said
The MP said all that he expected of them was unity and peace to ensure a rapid development of the district.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
SOLICIT ENTICING PRIZES FOR TEACHERS (MIRROR, PAGE 35, NOV 6, 2010)
From Emmanuel Modey, Ho
MR Joseph Amenowode, the Volta Regional Minister, has advised the Ghana Education Service (GES) to get the public sector involved in the running of their Best Teacher Award programmes to be able to lay hands on enticing awards for deserving teachers.
Mr Amenowode said when the appropriate approaches were made to the public, the right responses would be forthcoming.
“Everybody, no matter his standing in society, was once taught by a teacher,” the Regional Minister said.
Mr Amenowode was addressing the various District Directors of Education during a dinner dance he held for them to close a national workshop at Ho in the Volta Region.
He noted that when this was done, the award scheme would be broadened to benefit more teachers who are doing their best to put Ghana where it is.
“If we leave it entirely to the government, the scheme would not be sustainable due to the limited resources available,” he said.
The Regional Minister urged the Directors to go back to their various secretariats to implement the skills and knowledge they have acquired at the workshop to improve education.
“You are the pivot around which the various interventions put up by government to revamp the educational sector will revolve so you must be seen to be putting in your best wherever you are,” he said.
“Our teachers are in your hands. You should ensure that they always do their work well to raise the standard of education by performing to the best of your abilities,” he said.
That, he said, did not mean they should assume dictatorship and high-handedness on the teachers by victimising them and transferring them to inaccessible places on very flimsy excuses.
“You should at all times project yourselves as role models to your teachers and the society at large,” he added.
Mr Amenowode commended the directors for their services so far but urged them not to relent in developing themselves for the improvement of the education sector.
MR Joseph Amenowode, the Volta Regional Minister, has advised the Ghana Education Service (GES) to get the public sector involved in the running of their Best Teacher Award programmes to be able to lay hands on enticing awards for deserving teachers.
Mr Amenowode said when the appropriate approaches were made to the public, the right responses would be forthcoming.
“Everybody, no matter his standing in society, was once taught by a teacher,” the Regional Minister said.
Mr Amenowode was addressing the various District Directors of Education during a dinner dance he held for them to close a national workshop at Ho in the Volta Region.
He noted that when this was done, the award scheme would be broadened to benefit more teachers who are doing their best to put Ghana where it is.
“If we leave it entirely to the government, the scheme would not be sustainable due to the limited resources available,” he said.
The Regional Minister urged the Directors to go back to their various secretariats to implement the skills and knowledge they have acquired at the workshop to improve education.
“You are the pivot around which the various interventions put up by government to revamp the educational sector will revolve so you must be seen to be putting in your best wherever you are,” he said.
“Our teachers are in your hands. You should ensure that they always do their work well to raise the standard of education by performing to the best of your abilities,” he said.
That, he said, did not mean they should assume dictatorship and high-handedness on the teachers by victimising them and transferring them to inaccessible places on very flimsy excuses.
“You should at all times project yourselves as role models to your teachers and the society at large,” he added.
Mr Amenowode commended the directors for their services so far but urged them not to relent in developing themselves for the improvement of the education sector.
POLITICS NOT A SHOW OF INDIFFERENCE (PAGE 13, NOV 5, 2010)
THE Member of Parliament for the Akan Constituency in the Volta Region, Mr Joseph Kwadwo Ofori, has said politics is not a show of indifference by only going to the electorate to solicit their votes with monies when election is near.
“The electorate now are wide awake and cannot be lured by money-sharing politicians who fail to give them any development projects,” he stated.
He noted that the ‘Better Ghana Agenda’ was not meant to distribute money to the people but to provide social amenities and infrastructure to improve their lots.
Mr Ofori stated this when he inaugurated three basic school blocks he was supporting with his share of the GETFund in the Kadjebi District.
The three schools are Kadjebi Evangelical Presbyterian Primary, Pampawie Roman Catholic Primary and Asato Roman Catholic Primary schools.
Mr Ofori said he had also rehabilitated the Amanta Community Clinic at Pampawie, the Dodo Amanfrom Health Centre and the Kadjebi District Health Administration block to the tune of GH¢73,000.00.
Apart from these, the MP said, he had sponsored 100 students to the tertiary level, connected electricity to the Mempeasem Clinic and provided laptops and accessories to the National Health Insurance Secretariat at Kadjebi.
Mr Ofori said he had also lobbied Mr Joe Gidisu, the Minister of Roads and Highways, to build a steel bridge over River Asukwakwa to link Dodofie to Dodo Amanfrom, since the two towns get cut off during the rainy season.
Ms Malwine Asamoah, the Headmistress of Kadjebi EP Primary School, expressed her profound gratitude to Mr Ofori for coming to their aid and called for government assistance to rehabilitate the main school block which was now a death trap.
Ms Asamoah said apart from the weak walls and leaking roofs, the school block, which was constructed in 1947, did not have any furniture.
“The electorate now are wide awake and cannot be lured by money-sharing politicians who fail to give them any development projects,” he stated.
He noted that the ‘Better Ghana Agenda’ was not meant to distribute money to the people but to provide social amenities and infrastructure to improve their lots.
Mr Ofori stated this when he inaugurated three basic school blocks he was supporting with his share of the GETFund in the Kadjebi District.
The three schools are Kadjebi Evangelical Presbyterian Primary, Pampawie Roman Catholic Primary and Asato Roman Catholic Primary schools.
Mr Ofori said he had also rehabilitated the Amanta Community Clinic at Pampawie, the Dodo Amanfrom Health Centre and the Kadjebi District Health Administration block to the tune of GH¢73,000.00.
Apart from these, the MP said, he had sponsored 100 students to the tertiary level, connected electricity to the Mempeasem Clinic and provided laptops and accessories to the National Health Insurance Secretariat at Kadjebi.
Mr Ofori said he had also lobbied Mr Joe Gidisu, the Minister of Roads and Highways, to build a steel bridge over River Asukwakwa to link Dodofie to Dodo Amanfrom, since the two towns get cut off during the rainy season.
Ms Malwine Asamoah, the Headmistress of Kadjebi EP Primary School, expressed her profound gratitude to Mr Ofori for coming to their aid and called for government assistance to rehabilitate the main school block which was now a death trap.
Ms Asamoah said apart from the weak walls and leaking roofs, the school block, which was constructed in 1947, did not have any furniture.
HOHOE ASSEMBLY HOLDS LAST SESSIONAL MEETING (PAGE 13, NOV 5, 2010)
THE Hohoe Municipal Assembly has held its last sessional meeting with a grand durbar to officially inaugurate five pieces of road maintenance equipment donated to the assembly by the National Security.
They also performed a sod-cutting ceremony on the Hohoe Lorry Station, as well as visited some projects undertaken or being undertaken by the assembly.
The durbar, among others, attracted all the 20 paramount chiefs and queens in the municipality, Mr Joseph Amenowode, the Volta Regional Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Hohoe South Constituency, and Mr Prince Jacob Hayibor, MP for Hohoe North Constituency.
The four-year term of the present assembly has ended but the assembly elections had to be postponed to December 28 due to certain amendments which had been proposed to the District Assembly Law.
In his sessional address, Mr Victor Hermann Condobrey, Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), commended the assembly members for having assisted the assembly achieve an unprecedented feat in the history of the assembly.
Mr Condobrey noted that for almost two years that he had worked with the assembly members, he had succeeded in implementing more projects than ever done by the assembly.
Through them, he said, the assembly had completed 11 places of convenience, school blocks, teachers’ accommodation and markets in various parts of the municipality.
On revenue generation, the MCE said as of the end of September this year, the assembly had been able to collect only GH¢292, 607.00 out of the projected GH¢ 500,080.00.
The assembly had spent GH¢ 221,669.41 out of the projected GH¢ 683,800.00.
According to Mr Condobrey, the assembly has procured 220 street lights which will be distributed throughout the municipality.
On education, under the free textbooks and uniforms promised by the President, Professor Evans John Atta Mills, the MCE said the municipality had received its share and was distributing them accordingly.
On the general standard of education in the municipality, Mr Condobrey said 15 basic schools scored zero per cent in this year’s Basic Education Certificate Exams (BECE) whilst on the other hand, 10 schools, mostly private schools scored 100 per cent.
The MCE in view of this had summoned the various heads of the non-scoring schools to a meeting to find out their challenges.
Mr Joseph Amenowode commended the assembly members for their service over the years and asked those who intended to come back to work hard to retain the places.
Mr Amenowode expressed his displeasure at the spate of lawlessness that was rearing its ugly head in the region such as the attacks on border personnel in certain parts of the region.
He noted that if security personnel offended anybody, it did not warrant a wholesale attack on the entire security personnel and the security facilities.
The regional minister also called for a stop to smuggling of cocoa in the region since it was coca money which propels the development we all desire.
He wondered why the decision of the government to construct 200,000 houses throughout the country should be politicised.
He said if this went on, the region would have 1,400 houses.
Ghanaians should see this as a major breakthrough and should not be blinded by partisan politics.
Mr Prince Jacob Hayibor, MP for Hohoe North said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government under President Mills was progressing steadily .
“Due to the integrity of the NDC government under President Atta Mills, just one trip abroad had brought in a colossal $13 billion for national development,” MP Hayibor said.
He called for unity among members who should be reminded that the NDC party was focused and was pursuing its target to its logical conclusion.
They also performed a sod-cutting ceremony on the Hohoe Lorry Station, as well as visited some projects undertaken or being undertaken by the assembly.
The durbar, among others, attracted all the 20 paramount chiefs and queens in the municipality, Mr Joseph Amenowode, the Volta Regional Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Hohoe South Constituency, and Mr Prince Jacob Hayibor, MP for Hohoe North Constituency.
The four-year term of the present assembly has ended but the assembly elections had to be postponed to December 28 due to certain amendments which had been proposed to the District Assembly Law.
In his sessional address, Mr Victor Hermann Condobrey, Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), commended the assembly members for having assisted the assembly achieve an unprecedented feat in the history of the assembly.
Mr Condobrey noted that for almost two years that he had worked with the assembly members, he had succeeded in implementing more projects than ever done by the assembly.
Through them, he said, the assembly had completed 11 places of convenience, school blocks, teachers’ accommodation and markets in various parts of the municipality.
On revenue generation, the MCE said as of the end of September this year, the assembly had been able to collect only GH¢292, 607.00 out of the projected GH¢ 500,080.00.
The assembly had spent GH¢ 221,669.41 out of the projected GH¢ 683,800.00.
According to Mr Condobrey, the assembly has procured 220 street lights which will be distributed throughout the municipality.
On education, under the free textbooks and uniforms promised by the President, Professor Evans John Atta Mills, the MCE said the municipality had received its share and was distributing them accordingly.
On the general standard of education in the municipality, Mr Condobrey said 15 basic schools scored zero per cent in this year’s Basic Education Certificate Exams (BECE) whilst on the other hand, 10 schools, mostly private schools scored 100 per cent.
The MCE in view of this had summoned the various heads of the non-scoring schools to a meeting to find out their challenges.
Mr Joseph Amenowode commended the assembly members for their service over the years and asked those who intended to come back to work hard to retain the places.
Mr Amenowode expressed his displeasure at the spate of lawlessness that was rearing its ugly head in the region such as the attacks on border personnel in certain parts of the region.
He noted that if security personnel offended anybody, it did not warrant a wholesale attack on the entire security personnel and the security facilities.
The regional minister also called for a stop to smuggling of cocoa in the region since it was coca money which propels the development we all desire.
He wondered why the decision of the government to construct 200,000 houses throughout the country should be politicised.
He said if this went on, the region would have 1,400 houses.
Ghanaians should see this as a major breakthrough and should not be blinded by partisan politics.
Mr Prince Jacob Hayibor, MP for Hohoe North said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government under President Mills was progressing steadily .
“Due to the integrity of the NDC government under President Atta Mills, just one trip abroad had brought in a colossal $13 billion for national development,” MP Hayibor said.
He called for unity among members who should be reminded that the NDC party was focused and was pursuing its target to its logical conclusion.
VOLTA REGIONAL HOSPITAL NEEDS MAMMOGRAM (PAGE 11, NOV 2, 2010)
UNILEVER Ghana Foundation has rewarded eight best female graduates of some public tertiary institutions in the country for their exceptional performance in various fields during the 2008/2009 academic year .
They are Hilda Heidi Akati from Koforidua Polytechnic, Jennifer Azuma Aduah, Bolgatanga, Janet Tse, Takoradi, Leticia Gyamfuaa Sarfo, Sunyani, Joana Addae, Kumasi and Christabel Serwah Amporfo, Accra Polytechnic.
The others are Juliet Ankomah and Juliet Aaferemwin Yirerong ,who are best graduating students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and were honoured for their excellent performance in human Biology and Microbiology respectively.
The Chairman of the Foundation, Mr Andrew Evans-Quayson, congratulated the graduates on holding the name of women high.
He said the Foundation had since its inception two years ago, invested GH¢70,000.0 in its women empowerment programme covering 455 females from the country’s universities and polytechnics.
According to Mr Evans-Quayson, besides the excellence awards, the Foundation sponsors girls in public senior high schools from across the country to participate in Science, Maths, Technology and innovation clinics undertaken by the Ghana Education Service (GES).
He said the Foundation also sponsors entrepreneurial skills training for women in small and medium enterprises in semi-urban areas .
Mr Evans-Quayson, said empowering women was a positive step to ensure equal education for both boys and girls, as well as improve access to health for children and mother to curb infant and maternal mortality, stressing that the focus of the award on female excellence was in line with women empowerment programmes.
Mr Evans- Quayson noted that Unilever would award people for excellence and encourage more women to strive for excellence .
He stated that the Foundation had invested GH¢300,000 in the provision of water system and public places of convenience to serve nine communities in the three regions in the north and three communities in the Sene district of the Brong Ahafo Region and seven communities in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region.
Mr Evans-Quayson was of the view that, it would be difficult to achieve Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4, which aims at reducing child mortality rate, if women were not empowered to appreciate the essence of health and hygiene and its role in safe maternity.
The graduates, who were presented with certificates, products of the company and undisclosed sum, expressed their appreciation to Unilever for recognising their efforts
The award winners were taken round the factory on a guided tour by the Corporate Relations Manager of Unilever, Ms Bernice Natue, to observe the production processes.
They are Hilda Heidi Akati from Koforidua Polytechnic, Jennifer Azuma Aduah, Bolgatanga, Janet Tse, Takoradi, Leticia Gyamfuaa Sarfo, Sunyani, Joana Addae, Kumasi and Christabel Serwah Amporfo, Accra Polytechnic.
The others are Juliet Ankomah and Juliet Aaferemwin Yirerong ,who are best graduating students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and were honoured for their excellent performance in human Biology and Microbiology respectively.
The Chairman of the Foundation, Mr Andrew Evans-Quayson, congratulated the graduates on holding the name of women high.
He said the Foundation had since its inception two years ago, invested GH¢70,000.0 in its women empowerment programme covering 455 females from the country’s universities and polytechnics.
According to Mr Evans-Quayson, besides the excellence awards, the Foundation sponsors girls in public senior high schools from across the country to participate in Science, Maths, Technology and innovation clinics undertaken by the Ghana Education Service (GES).
He said the Foundation also sponsors entrepreneurial skills training for women in small and medium enterprises in semi-urban areas .
Mr Evans-Quayson, said empowering women was a positive step to ensure equal education for both boys and girls, as well as improve access to health for children and mother to curb infant and maternal mortality, stressing that the focus of the award on female excellence was in line with women empowerment programmes.
Mr Evans- Quayson noted that Unilever would award people for excellence and encourage more women to strive for excellence .
He stated that the Foundation had invested GH¢300,000 in the provision of water system and public places of convenience to serve nine communities in the three regions in the north and three communities in the Sene district of the Brong Ahafo Region and seven communities in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region.
Mr Evans-Quayson was of the view that, it would be difficult to achieve Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4, which aims at reducing child mortality rate, if women were not empowered to appreciate the essence of health and hygiene and its role in safe maternity.
The graduates, who were presented with certificates, products of the company and undisclosed sum, expressed their appreciation to Unilever for recognising their efforts
The award winners were taken round the factory on a guided tour by the Corporate Relations Manager of Unilever, Ms Bernice Natue, to observe the production processes.
LIONS-KESSBEN MATCH RAINED OFF (BACK PAGE, NOV 1, 2010)
A PHENOMENAL display by Accra Hearts of Oak saw them overpowering archrivals, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, 1-0 in their Glo Premier League top-liner at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi yesterday.
Offensive midfielder, Douglas Nkrumah, sent the Hearts supporters to the raptures with the only goal from a spot-kick on the 65th minute.
The Phobians played at a frenetic pace, controlling every bit of the match and could have run home with a bigger scoreline had they remained focused in front of goal.
Kotoko could not ignite the spark and they got lost tactically, and the more aggressive and tactically disciplined Hearts treated the near-capacity crowd to some copybook football.
And finally when controversial referee, Cecil Fletcher, ended the game, the “auros, auros” chorus of the visitors vibrated through the stadium.
Hearts made their intentions clear from the start when Douglas Nkrumah rounded Aziz Ansah but failed to go past keeper Isaac Amoako. Ansah, who was making a return debut for Kotoko after a stint in Nigeria, was a bundle of nerves and could hardly recover from his runs, gave Hearts a field day on the left side of attack.
Sammy Adjei, very composed on the afternoon, was superb in post, turning away two dangerous shots from Alex Asamoah and Samad Oppong on the 11th and 16th minutes respectively.
As the game wore on, it appeared Kotoko were lost in the middle where Albert Bruce was a total flop.
After Douglas Nkrumah failed to take advantage of a bright opportunity on the 20th minute, petit midfielder, Obed Ansah, prised open the Kotoko defence, heading past Isaac Amoako, but it was ruled offside.
The chances fell to Hearts who were in total command, but again when Nkrumah’s low drive kissed the post on the 24th minute, Obed Ansah only headed away in front of an empty net.
Alex Asamoah was taken out of the game in the first half following an injury and his exit proved a big blow for Kotoko since Louis Agyeman and Samad Oppong faded out as the Hearts back four of Bobie Ansah, Nzemaba, Boampong and Osei Bonsu cleared their lines with ease.
After recess, Kotoko attempted to gather some spirit but had no attacking fuzz as the strikers faded out. It was a matter of course that Hearts found the leader. Wilson Andoh raced onto a pass and sped in from the left.
As he set off with searing pace, he shot into the area and the ball hit the hand of Ofosu Appiah in the area. Nkrumah made no mistake about it to set Kotoko crumbling for the second time in eight days.
Offensive midfielder, Douglas Nkrumah, sent the Hearts supporters to the raptures with the only goal from a spot-kick on the 65th minute.
The Phobians played at a frenetic pace, controlling every bit of the match and could have run home with a bigger scoreline had they remained focused in front of goal.
Kotoko could not ignite the spark and they got lost tactically, and the more aggressive and tactically disciplined Hearts treated the near-capacity crowd to some copybook football.
And finally when controversial referee, Cecil Fletcher, ended the game, the “auros, auros” chorus of the visitors vibrated through the stadium.
Hearts made their intentions clear from the start when Douglas Nkrumah rounded Aziz Ansah but failed to go past keeper Isaac Amoako. Ansah, who was making a return debut for Kotoko after a stint in Nigeria, was a bundle of nerves and could hardly recover from his runs, gave Hearts a field day on the left side of attack.
Sammy Adjei, very composed on the afternoon, was superb in post, turning away two dangerous shots from Alex Asamoah and Samad Oppong on the 11th and 16th minutes respectively.
As the game wore on, it appeared Kotoko were lost in the middle where Albert Bruce was a total flop.
After Douglas Nkrumah failed to take advantage of a bright opportunity on the 20th minute, petit midfielder, Obed Ansah, prised open the Kotoko defence, heading past Isaac Amoako, but it was ruled offside.
The chances fell to Hearts who were in total command, but again when Nkrumah’s low drive kissed the post on the 24th minute, Obed Ansah only headed away in front of an empty net.
Alex Asamoah was taken out of the game in the first half following an injury and his exit proved a big blow for Kotoko since Louis Agyeman and Samad Oppong faded out as the Hearts back four of Bobie Ansah, Nzemaba, Boampong and Osei Bonsu cleared their lines with ease.
After recess, Kotoko attempted to gather some spirit but had no attacking fuzz as the strikers faded out. It was a matter of course that Hearts found the leader. Wilson Andoh raced onto a pass and sped in from the left.
As he set off with searing pace, he shot into the area and the ball hit the hand of Ofosu Appiah in the area. Nkrumah made no mistake about it to set Kotoko crumbling for the second time in eight days.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)