LOVERS will exchange notes, gifts and text messages. Broken up relationships will be mended, while many other hearts will be broken; all in the name of love.
Valentine's Day is a day meant to celebrate the affections among people in various kinds of relationships.Various countries and cultures have their own unique ways of commemorating the day and valuing the relationships that hold them together.
In Nigeria, Lagos in particular, the streets, including those that are always quiet after 8:30 p.m., bustle with cars and people on the night of February 14. Hotels, stores, and restaurants are covered in red, pink and white decorations, with big heart shaped signs wishing passers by a Happy Valentine’s Day.
The situation is not different from that of Ghana. Ghanaians have taken the celebration a step more up the stage of the ladder, and have construed its purpose and associated it with satisfying their eroticism or sexual urge.
This day has become so important to many Ghanaians that they would not mind spending or sparing all they have for their loved ones on this “special” day of love.
Valentine’s Day, which is shortened to Val’s day and also known as chocolate day, is a day which, according to some history books, honours an early Christian martyr named Saint Valentine.
In the days when Rome was ruled by an emperor named Claudius, men were expected to voluntarily join his (Claudius’) army to fight against his enemies on war fronts, but many of the men in Rome refused to join.
They did not want to leave their wives and families to fight in a war which could determine their death.
This made the emperor so furious that he came up with an idea that if men were not married, they would not mind joining the army.
He, therefore, set up a law that did not allow any more marriages in his empire, but this man named St Valentine, whose favourite duty was to marry couples, kept on performing marriage ceremonies secretly.
During one of his (St Valentine) secret marriage blessing for couples at night, he was caught and sent to prison.
History also has it that while he was in prison, the daughter of the prison guard was allowed to visit him in cell and they became very good friends. They shared views together each time his friend (the guard’s daughter) visited him.
On the day St Valentine was to die, which was on February 14, 269 AD, he wrote a note to his newly found best friend, thanking her for her friendship and loyalty, on which he signed, “love from your valentine”, a phrase which is still used by most people, especially on Val’s day.
This is just a brief anecdote about the Valentine’s Day which has eaten up the minds of most people in the world, especially in our motherland Ghana.
This 14th day of February is now remembered and celebrated by many people around the world, most importantly, with a thought about love on their minds.
Most Ghanaians who like holidays will even be glad if the day is recognised and commemorated as a national holiday.
The day has been characterised with different opinions and views about love. There is over commercialisation of love products, with the media also giving it so much eminence. There are mostly red decorations at most public places, and lot of special gift items designed especially for the celebration.
While some people celebrated the day to share and express love, which goes with peace and happiness, others, especially the youth, commemorate the Chocolate day with a whole lot of ill-mannered acts and indiscriminate sexual activities, all in the name of love.
Most young people do not actually know what the day is about or how it got into existence, so when asked about what they think about the day, they simply say it is a time to show one’s partner that he or she truly loves him or her by giving in to all that the person wants, be it a sexual act or any deed which is right or wrong.
Many young Ghanaians also make gargantuan preparations towards this special day of love to shower their loved ones with so many gifts to show how much they care and love their partners.
There is nothing wrong at all in doing all that to show one’s love, but the only thing people need to remember is that the Val’s day is just like any other day which passes by. They should, therefore, not celebrate it as if that would be their last day on earth.
I entreat all Ghanaians to take advantage of the day to show some love for the poor children on the streets and to stay away from all deeds that can put them in great trouble.
The vulnerable, poor children who do not have any loved one to care for them on this day of love need the love and care of every single Ghanaian to feel protected and cared for.
Ghanaians, especially the youth, should also realise that AIDS is real, and always protect themselves with condoms if they cannot abstain from pre-marital sex to avoid any dreadful sexually transmitted diseases or infection.
I urge all Ghanaians to be aware of their safety and health and also look forward to seeing many people healthy and alive after the celebrations to help in developing our nation and continent as a whole.
Monday 12 March 2012
Graphic presents cash to throat cancer patient
THE Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) yesterday presented a cheque for GH¢3,830 to a 47-year-old man suffering from throat cancer at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).
Mr Patrick Addadey, the patient, will undergo treatment for seven weeks at a cost fully covered by the donation.
The Resident Medical Officer of the GCGL, Dr Henry K. Aidoo, said the donation was in line with the company’s corporate social responsibility to assist the needy, and help people in society, especially in health situations.
He underscored the need for all Ghanaians to help ensure that people had access to good health, which is critical to the development of the country.
Mr Addadey, with tears in his eyes, thanked the officials of the GCGL and the medical officers who were taking care of him.
“I had spent all my money on initial surgery last year. I never thought Graphic would come to my aid,” he said.
He was optimistic that with the help, he would successfully undergo the treatment.
“I was a coal tar burner of a Chinese construction firm before my condition became worse, but they refused to help me out,” he said.
Dr Mrs Hannah Ayettey Anie, a Resident Medical Officer in Radiation Oncology at the National Centre for Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine of the KBTH, who received the cheque, expressed profound gratitude to the GCGL for the kind gesture towards the patient.
She advised people who developed a hoarse voice lasting for more than two to four weeks to report to a medical officer.
The donation was from the Graphic Needy Trust Fund (GNTF) which the GCGL uses to help the needy to pay for medical treatment.
So far about 180 people have benefited from the fund since 1989.
Mr Patrick Addadey, the patient, will undergo treatment for seven weeks at a cost fully covered by the donation.
The Resident Medical Officer of the GCGL, Dr Henry K. Aidoo, said the donation was in line with the company’s corporate social responsibility to assist the needy, and help people in society, especially in health situations.
He underscored the need for all Ghanaians to help ensure that people had access to good health, which is critical to the development of the country.
Mr Addadey, with tears in his eyes, thanked the officials of the GCGL and the medical officers who were taking care of him.
“I had spent all my money on initial surgery last year. I never thought Graphic would come to my aid,” he said.
He was optimistic that with the help, he would successfully undergo the treatment.
“I was a coal tar burner of a Chinese construction firm before my condition became worse, but they refused to help me out,” he said.
Dr Mrs Hannah Ayettey Anie, a Resident Medical Officer in Radiation Oncology at the National Centre for Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine of the KBTH, who received the cheque, expressed profound gratitude to the GCGL for the kind gesture towards the patient.
She advised people who developed a hoarse voice lasting for more than two to four weeks to report to a medical officer.
The donation was from the Graphic Needy Trust Fund (GNTF) which the GCGL uses to help the needy to pay for medical treatment.
So far about 180 people have benefited from the fund since 1989.
2,300 Liberia refugees opt to stay in Ghana
TWO thousand three hundred Liberian refugees have registered with the Ghana Refugees Board (GRB) and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to legalise their stay in the country.
The figure was what obtained on March 2, 2012 and the registration followed an ultimatum given to the refugees by the UNHCR and the GRB in the early part of February to decide whether or not to voluntarily return to their countries of origin or legalise their stay in the country before March 30, this year.
The action was informed by the decision of the international community to invoke the cessation of clause of 1951 UN Refugee Convention for Liberian, Angolan, Rwandan, and Burundian refugees on the continent.
The Programme Co-ordinator of the GRB, Mr Tetteh Padi, who disclosed this in an interview with the Daily Graphic on Wednesday, affirmed that as of March 2, 2012, only 450 of the Liberian refugees had voluntarily registered to be repatriated.
The management of GRB, he said, was drafting a proposal to the government to make decisions on the local integration policy or procedure that would apply to those who wanted to legalise their stay in the country, while other GRB officials were currently counselling and collecting data from the refugees to help in easier and faster facilitation of the project.
Liberians, with a population of 11,301 registered with the UNHCR and the GRB as refugees as of the end of 2011, constitute the largest population affected by the cessation invocation in Ghana.
Mr Padi noted that the reasons given by most of the refugees who wanted to legalise their stay in the country were the fear of death when they went back to their country.
Others also said they did not have enough belongings or property to start a new life in their country, while some other refugees complained that they were born here in Ghana and had lived here for a very long time, thus, they would not know where to go to when they went back to their country of origin.
The invocation would be the legal end of the refugee status for Liberian, Angolan, and Burundian refugees on June 30, 2012, while that of the Rwandan refugees would end on June 30, 2013.
The international community deem it fit for the refugees to return to their countries, since the conditions that pertained in their countries at the time they left have changed.
In Liberia, for instance, there had been two successive elections and the war in the country has ceased.
Only 33 Rwandans and five Burundian refugees are currently registered with the GRB and UNHCR as refugees.
The UNHCR would only assist registered refugees to return home and any effort by those who did not register after cessation would be made without UNHCR assistance.
The figure was what obtained on March 2, 2012 and the registration followed an ultimatum given to the refugees by the UNHCR and the GRB in the early part of February to decide whether or not to voluntarily return to their countries of origin or legalise their stay in the country before March 30, this year.
The action was informed by the decision of the international community to invoke the cessation of clause of 1951 UN Refugee Convention for Liberian, Angolan, Rwandan, and Burundian refugees on the continent.
The Programme Co-ordinator of the GRB, Mr Tetteh Padi, who disclosed this in an interview with the Daily Graphic on Wednesday, affirmed that as of March 2, 2012, only 450 of the Liberian refugees had voluntarily registered to be repatriated.
The management of GRB, he said, was drafting a proposal to the government to make decisions on the local integration policy or procedure that would apply to those who wanted to legalise their stay in the country, while other GRB officials were currently counselling and collecting data from the refugees to help in easier and faster facilitation of the project.
Liberians, with a population of 11,301 registered with the UNHCR and the GRB as refugees as of the end of 2011, constitute the largest population affected by the cessation invocation in Ghana.
Mr Padi noted that the reasons given by most of the refugees who wanted to legalise their stay in the country were the fear of death when they went back to their country.
Others also said they did not have enough belongings or property to start a new life in their country, while some other refugees complained that they were born here in Ghana and had lived here for a very long time, thus, they would not know where to go to when they went back to their country of origin.
The invocation would be the legal end of the refugee status for Liberian, Angolan, and Burundian refugees on June 30, 2012, while that of the Rwandan refugees would end on June 30, 2013.
The international community deem it fit for the refugees to return to their countries, since the conditions that pertained in their countries at the time they left have changed.
In Liberia, for instance, there had been two successive elections and the war in the country has ceased.
Only 33 Rwandans and five Burundian refugees are currently registered with the GRB and UNHCR as refugees.
The UNHCR would only assist registered refugees to return home and any effort by those who did not register after cessation would be made without UNHCR assistance.
Faa Naa: A place where it is a taboo to die.
It is surprising to find people living happily and normal at places where there is no development.
What on earth will compel people to live at an under-developed place where there exist some dehumanising and weird taboos . Taboos which are even unfavourable to nature?
“My children and I have lived here for almost 27 years now, and we have nowhere to go to, because the cost of a room or house in the mainlands is very costly, we, therefore, have no option but to stay here although we always lose our property when the river or sea overflows its banks”, Efo Kofi explained.
“I had to pay a fine in addition to some items because my wife gave birth on this land and I had no option because if I did not pay I would have been sent out of the land and would not have anywhere to go to”, another man had also told me.
This is the plight of some people who live on a strange Island known as Faa Naa in Accra, where it is a taboo to give birth or die on that land.
This land lies between a sea and a river, located at Tsokomey in Bortianor, a suburb in the Ga West municipality in Accra.
While some of the inhabitants had wanted to move from the place to a better town, others had never dreamt of packing out since for them, they were born and bred there, and, therefore, did not know any family member elsewhere to whom they can go to.
You do not have the right as a pregnant woman on that land, to be delivered of a baby. In this superstitious area, it is a taboo to die. To do that is a sacrilege for which you will be charged a penalty, if you are delivered of a baby and your family will have to pay the price if you die. Anytime a person dies, the family or household from which the person comes from is fined a sum of money and asked to provide a goat, bottles of schnapps, and pipes to perform some ritual to appease the gods of the sea.
This is so serious! How on earth would I know I would die today or tomorrow to be able to plan my exit, if I happen to live there?
For giving birth on that land, it is weird and strange.
Unlike the mainland where when you are pregnant, you have the opportunity to go to the hospital and would be told your expected date of delivery, what is weird on this island is that, there is no hospital for ante-natal care.
The island, according to the custodians of the land, was initially given to fishermen from Anloga in the Volta Region, to use as a landing site to gather their catch and have some rest after fishing , because they could not go back to their hometowns in the Volta Region after long hours of fishing at night.
The trend has changed so significantly that this landing site has been turned into a township, where people have come from far and near to live as well as raise their children and grandchildren.
Some people have lived on this island for close to 30 years now without the hope of moving to any other settlement. This is because they find nothing wrong with where they live now.
Despite constant floods caused by the sea washing away many huts and mud houses on that land, the inhabitants have not been moved to relocate.
I was dumbfounded when I visited this place a few days after the floods that hit Accra last year. What my eyes saw was nothing good to write home about.
The huts and mud houses which serve as homes for families living on that island were washed away, taking away property and leaving debris scattered all over the shores of the sea and the river.
Children were sent to the houses of other fishermen who lived in nearby towns and villages.
The lives of the people living on this island is in great danger, since apart from the geographical location, they also lack the basic social amenities that make life worth living in this developing country of ours.
There is no school, hospital or clinic. Neither is there pipe-borne water nor electricity, yet, those living at Faa Naa, still find it a place worth living.
The few school children living on the island, always need to travel on a canoe to get to the shores of the river at Tsokomey putting the lives of the children at risk.
The Islanders, do not get easy access to health care yet it is a taboo to die on that land.
With neither electricity nor safe water to drink, it seems these people are very far away from the knowledge of civilisation. It is surprising that there is a place like this in the regional capital of Ghana.
Due to the non-existence of a hospital on this land, pregnant women deliver on canoes while they are being transported to the clinic at a nearby town and others also die on their way to the hospital.
This also contributes to the increasing rate of maternal mortality since the women do not get adequate health care when they are pregnant.
How do we achieve our Millennium Development Goals, especially (MDGs 4 and 5), when there is a situation like this in the country?
The authorities must turn their attention to this area and bring some relief to the inhabitants.
What on earth will compel people to live at an under-developed place where there exist some dehumanising and weird taboos . Taboos which are even unfavourable to nature?
“My children and I have lived here for almost 27 years now, and we have nowhere to go to, because the cost of a room or house in the mainlands is very costly, we, therefore, have no option but to stay here although we always lose our property when the river or sea overflows its banks”, Efo Kofi explained.
“I had to pay a fine in addition to some items because my wife gave birth on this land and I had no option because if I did not pay I would have been sent out of the land and would not have anywhere to go to”, another man had also told me.
This is the plight of some people who live on a strange Island known as Faa Naa in Accra, where it is a taboo to give birth or die on that land.
This land lies between a sea and a river, located at Tsokomey in Bortianor, a suburb in the Ga West municipality in Accra.
While some of the inhabitants had wanted to move from the place to a better town, others had never dreamt of packing out since for them, they were born and bred there, and, therefore, did not know any family member elsewhere to whom they can go to.
You do not have the right as a pregnant woman on that land, to be delivered of a baby. In this superstitious area, it is a taboo to die. To do that is a sacrilege for which you will be charged a penalty, if you are delivered of a baby and your family will have to pay the price if you die. Anytime a person dies, the family or household from which the person comes from is fined a sum of money and asked to provide a goat, bottles of schnapps, and pipes to perform some ritual to appease the gods of the sea.
This is so serious! How on earth would I know I would die today or tomorrow to be able to plan my exit, if I happen to live there?
For giving birth on that land, it is weird and strange.
Unlike the mainland where when you are pregnant, you have the opportunity to go to the hospital and would be told your expected date of delivery, what is weird on this island is that, there is no hospital for ante-natal care.
The island, according to the custodians of the land, was initially given to fishermen from Anloga in the Volta Region, to use as a landing site to gather their catch and have some rest after fishing , because they could not go back to their hometowns in the Volta Region after long hours of fishing at night.
The trend has changed so significantly that this landing site has been turned into a township, where people have come from far and near to live as well as raise their children and grandchildren.
Some people have lived on this island for close to 30 years now without the hope of moving to any other settlement. This is because they find nothing wrong with where they live now.
Despite constant floods caused by the sea washing away many huts and mud houses on that land, the inhabitants have not been moved to relocate.
I was dumbfounded when I visited this place a few days after the floods that hit Accra last year. What my eyes saw was nothing good to write home about.
The huts and mud houses which serve as homes for families living on that island were washed away, taking away property and leaving debris scattered all over the shores of the sea and the river.
Children were sent to the houses of other fishermen who lived in nearby towns and villages.
The lives of the people living on this island is in great danger, since apart from the geographical location, they also lack the basic social amenities that make life worth living in this developing country of ours.
There is no school, hospital or clinic. Neither is there pipe-borne water nor electricity, yet, those living at Faa Naa, still find it a place worth living.
The few school children living on the island, always need to travel on a canoe to get to the shores of the river at Tsokomey putting the lives of the children at risk.
The Islanders, do not get easy access to health care yet it is a taboo to die on that land.
With neither electricity nor safe water to drink, it seems these people are very far away from the knowledge of civilisation. It is surprising that there is a place like this in the regional capital of Ghana.
Due to the non-existence of a hospital on this land, pregnant women deliver on canoes while they are being transported to the clinic at a nearby town and others also die on their way to the hospital.
This also contributes to the increasing rate of maternal mortality since the women do not get adequate health care when they are pregnant.
How do we achieve our Millennium Development Goals, especially (MDGs 4 and 5), when there is a situation like this in the country?
The authorities must turn their attention to this area and bring some relief to the inhabitants.
Thursday 9 February 2012
Intensify efforts to create awareness about cancers
The Programme Manager of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) of Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr William Bosu, has called for intensive efforts to create awareness about cancers, which he said had assumed a relatively higher burden in the country compared to the past.
He said globally, cancer killed lot of people more than many diseases pooled together and pointed out that although 40 per cent of cancers were curable, one third could be prevented, and another one third managed, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancers and new cases had remained a huge challenge.
Dr Bosu made the call at a seminar held in recently on the theme: “Together We Can Overcome Cancer”, to commemorate World Cancer Day.
The programme was also held to create more awareness on the disease, as well as on the various types of cancers and how to alleviate problems associated with the disease.
The seminar was organised by the Cancer Society of Ghana, in collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre in Accra, the Ghana Health Service and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
According to Dr Bosu, 60 per cent of deaths in Africa were caused by non-communicable diseases, of which cancers formed part and pointed out that about 16,000 new cases of cancers are recorded every year in the country.
He said there was the need for intensive awareness-creation campaign on the disease, while doctors and health specialists also perform their respective roles in treating patients.
The Head of the Surgery Department of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Prof. Joe Nat Clegg-Lamptey, said about 2000 women in Ghana are diagnosed with breast cancers annually, out of which a number of deaths are recorded.
He said last year, 250 new cases of breast cancer were recorded at the surgical Out Patient Department (OPD) of the Korle Bu Teaching hospital (KBTH), with most people who had it aged between 40 and 49, adding that only two per cent of men in Ghana acquire breast cancer, which signifies that women are mostly at risk of the disease.
Prof. Clegg-Lamptey stated that unlike previous years when breast cancer used to be diagnosed among women between the ages of 40 to 49, currently, young women between the ages of 20 and to 24 were being diagnosed with the disease, describing the situation as very alarming.
He said most patients reported with the disease at an advanced stage, adding that the fear of mastectomy (surgical operation to remove the breast) had also hindered people from reporting to hospitals on time for treatment.
In her lecture on cervical cancer, Dr Sylvia Deganus, a Gynaecologist at the Tema General Hospital announced that from the year 2003 to 2011, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) alone recorded 1290 out of 4497 cervical cancer cases in the country and advised women to go for regular screening for early detection of the disease.
“Symptoms of cervical cancer do not show at its initial stages, but only show when the disease has started and spread all over the cervix which cannot be seen due to its location on the part of the body”, she said.
A paediatrician of the KBTH, Dr Alexandra Osafo said as of January 31, this year, 18 new cases of childhood cancers have been recorded at the KBTH and advised parents not to be their own doctors by detecting diseases for their children at home, but rather take them to the hospital for early detection and treatment.
A Public Health Specialist at the KBTH, Dr Benedict N.L Calys-Tagoe spoke about the importance of a cancer registry in the country and explained that the lack of such facility, which is needed to generate hypothesis of aetiology, geographic and temporal variation of cancers in the country, had affected data collection on cancers.
He said globally, cancer killed lot of people more than many diseases pooled together and pointed out that although 40 per cent of cancers were curable, one third could be prevented, and another one third managed, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancers and new cases had remained a huge challenge.
Dr Bosu made the call at a seminar held in recently on the theme: “Together We Can Overcome Cancer”, to commemorate World Cancer Day.
The programme was also held to create more awareness on the disease, as well as on the various types of cancers and how to alleviate problems associated with the disease.
The seminar was organised by the Cancer Society of Ghana, in collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre in Accra, the Ghana Health Service and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
According to Dr Bosu, 60 per cent of deaths in Africa were caused by non-communicable diseases, of which cancers formed part and pointed out that about 16,000 new cases of cancers are recorded every year in the country.
He said there was the need for intensive awareness-creation campaign on the disease, while doctors and health specialists also perform their respective roles in treating patients.
The Head of the Surgery Department of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Prof. Joe Nat Clegg-Lamptey, said about 2000 women in Ghana are diagnosed with breast cancers annually, out of which a number of deaths are recorded.
He said last year, 250 new cases of breast cancer were recorded at the surgical Out Patient Department (OPD) of the Korle Bu Teaching hospital (KBTH), with most people who had it aged between 40 and 49, adding that only two per cent of men in Ghana acquire breast cancer, which signifies that women are mostly at risk of the disease.
Prof. Clegg-Lamptey stated that unlike previous years when breast cancer used to be diagnosed among women between the ages of 40 to 49, currently, young women between the ages of 20 and to 24 were being diagnosed with the disease, describing the situation as very alarming.
He said most patients reported with the disease at an advanced stage, adding that the fear of mastectomy (surgical operation to remove the breast) had also hindered people from reporting to hospitals on time for treatment.
In her lecture on cervical cancer, Dr Sylvia Deganus, a Gynaecologist at the Tema General Hospital announced that from the year 2003 to 2011, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) alone recorded 1290 out of 4497 cervical cancer cases in the country and advised women to go for regular screening for early detection of the disease.
“Symptoms of cervical cancer do not show at its initial stages, but only show when the disease has started and spread all over the cervix which cannot be seen due to its location on the part of the body”, she said.
A paediatrician of the KBTH, Dr Alexandra Osafo said as of January 31, this year, 18 new cases of childhood cancers have been recorded at the KBTH and advised parents not to be their own doctors by detecting diseases for their children at home, but rather take them to the hospital for early detection and treatment.
A Public Health Specialist at the KBTH, Dr Benedict N.L Calys-Tagoe spoke about the importance of a cancer registry in the country and explained that the lack of such facility, which is needed to generate hypothesis of aetiology, geographic and temporal variation of cancers in the country, had affected data collection on cancers.
Wednesday 1 February 2012
Akwapim Mampong, Osu to celebrate Tetteh Quarshie
The two rulers, Nii Nortey Owuo III, the Chief of Osu, and Osabarima Kwame Otu Darte III, the Chief of Akwapim Mampong, at a ceremony to begin a year-long programme this year in memory of Tetteh Quarshie, called on the government and the people of Ghana to celebrate and commemorate Tetteh Quarshie for the honour he did the country.
Tetteh Quarshie was a pre-independence Ghanaian agriculturist who first introduced the cocoa crop to the country in 1879 by planting its seeds on his farm on his return from Fernando Po. The crop has since become the bedrock of the country’s economy.
He was also the most successful entrepreneur the country had ever produced.
On his return to the country, Tetteh Quarshie planted the seeds in Accra but they did not yield any fruits. He, therefore, decided to go back to Mampong, where he worked as a blacksmith, to plant the cocoa beans and they were successful.
Many equally important historic Ghanaians who have contributed to the country’s development have always been remembered and celebrated, but, according to the chiefs, Tetteh Quarshie had not been given the needed commemoration.
The cocoa crop he brought to the country has become a major export crop of the Ghanaian economy.
Speaking at the ceremony, Nii Owuo stated that cocoa had been of help in sustaining the country’s development, for which reason the one who first introduced it into the country needed to be remembered.
He also stated that had it not been Tetteh Quarshie who brought the crop to Ghana, the nation would have suffered greatly, despite the oil production.
“Even if we have found oil, oil cannot do what cocoa has done for the country,” he said.
He expressed his gratitude to the Mamponghene, who had brought up the initiative, and paid him (Nii Owuo) a visit as well to discuss how and what should be done in memory of Tetteh Quarshie.
Nii Owuo further advised the youth of Osu and all Ghanaians to uphold the unity between Osu and Mampong Akwapim and urged other chiefs and people in the country to emulate what the two chiefs of Osu and Mampong Akuapem had done to bring peace and unity among all ethnic groups and Ghanaians.
Osabarima Darte stated that there was the need for a day to be set aside to celebrate and commemorate Tetteh Quarshie and appealed to all Ghanaians and the government to help in making that possible, since Tetteh Quarshie had contributed greatly to the nation’s economic growth.
After the celebrations, the two chiefs made a public announcement of their intention to join hands to celebrate the life of Tetteh Quarshie and equally use it as an opportunity to bring the people of Mampong Akuapem and Osu together.
A joint committee has been set up, together with other stakeholders, to plan year-long activities and programmes to celebrate Tetteh Quarshie and commemorate over a century of his legacy, the cocoa industry.
Among some of the major activities and programmes planned for the celebration are a memorial and thanksgiving service at the Presbyterian Church, the Tetteh Quarshie memorial lectures, a business seminar on leadership and enterprises development and the Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Festival to be held at Mampong Akuapem.
A spokesperson for the interim planning committee said the committee would engage other stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Ghana Cocoa Board and several other industry players, together with the family of Tetteh Quarshie.
Veep warns: Those who indulge in double registration will be exposed
THE Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, has urged the clergy to admonish their church members to avoid double registration when the biometric registration exercise begins in March this year.
He said the biometric register would capture biological and personal data of all registered voters and, therefore, any registered voter who would attempt to register twice would be exposed and consequently prosecuted.
Mr Mahama made the appeal at the induction service for executive members of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) in Accra yesterday.
The executive members are Apostle Dr Opoku Onyinah, the President of the GPCC and Chairman of the Church of Pentecost; Rev Sam Korankye Ankrah, the First Vice-President of the GPCC and Founder and Apostle General of the Royalhouse Chapel International; Apostle Ebenezer Nsesa Abebrese, the President of the Apostolic Church, Ghana, and Rev Dr Paul Yaw Frimpong-Manso, the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, Ghana.
The ceremony was attended by reverend ministers, pastors, representatives of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, and the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rev Prof Mike Oquaye, who represented the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo.
The executive has a five-year mandate to carry out the mission of the GPCC, which includes maintaining high standards of the Christian doctrine and promoting good relationships between member churches and other organisations in Ghana and the world at large.
The Vice-President said the 10 fingerprints and eyelids of registered voters would be taken during the biometric registration exercise.
Therefore, he said, it would be difficult for anybody to either register twice or vote twice and indicated that the system would automatically delete the data of whoever wanted to register more than once.
Mr Mahama asked all eligible persons to register during the exercise, since it was their civic responsibility.
Besides, he said, it was crucial for all qualified persons to vote during the December presidential and parliamentary elections to influence the selection of people to lead the country.
He said Ghana had been touted as a model of democracy in Africa and for that reason Ghana was expected to meet higher standards during this year’s election.
He affirmed the government’s commitment to support the Electoral Commission (EC) with all the needed resources and support to organise free, transparent and peaceful elections.
The Vice-President said God had blessed the country with peace but cautioned Ghanaians not to take that peace for granted.
What Ghanaians should do, he said, was jealously protect the peace by championing efforts at promoting peace and development in the country.
He particularly asked the clergy to be neutral in their utterances to ensure peace among their congregations.
Mr Mahama was concerned that modernisation and Westernisation had eroded the country’s value system to the extent that respect for the elderly had gone down.
He said the fact that Ghana was a secular state did not mean that the government should not condemn social decadence and promote good moral values, noting that although many Western countries had developed economically, the moral fibre of those societies had deteriorated.
He, therefore, charged the clergy to partner the government to restore the country’s cultural and moral values.
In his address, Apostle Dr Onyinah condemned the politics of insults and unproved allegations against perceived political opponents, saying that phenomenon “poses grave danger to the future of our country and the peaceful conduct of the 2012 general election”.
He, therefore, appealed to political parties to avoid activities and pronouncements that could incite violence.
“We wish to recommend to our political leaders to sanction their followers who resort to this unfortunate behaviour,” he said.
Apostle Dr Onyinah said as its contribution to a peaceful general election, the GPCC would soon launch a programme dubbed, ‘PLUS-Ghana (Peace, Love, Unity, Stability in Ghana).
The Vice-Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rt Rev Francis Amenu, charged the new executive members to work as a team and avoid breaking their front.
He said the biometric register would capture biological and personal data of all registered voters and, therefore, any registered voter who would attempt to register twice would be exposed and consequently prosecuted.
Mr Mahama made the appeal at the induction service for executive members of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) in Accra yesterday.
The executive members are Apostle Dr Opoku Onyinah, the President of the GPCC and Chairman of the Church of Pentecost; Rev Sam Korankye Ankrah, the First Vice-President of the GPCC and Founder and Apostle General of the Royalhouse Chapel International; Apostle Ebenezer Nsesa Abebrese, the President of the Apostolic Church, Ghana, and Rev Dr Paul Yaw Frimpong-Manso, the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, Ghana.
The ceremony was attended by reverend ministers, pastors, representatives of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, and the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rev Prof Mike Oquaye, who represented the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo.
The executive has a five-year mandate to carry out the mission of the GPCC, which includes maintaining high standards of the Christian doctrine and promoting good relationships between member churches and other organisations in Ghana and the world at large.
The Vice-President said the 10 fingerprints and eyelids of registered voters would be taken during the biometric registration exercise.
Therefore, he said, it would be difficult for anybody to either register twice or vote twice and indicated that the system would automatically delete the data of whoever wanted to register more than once.
Mr Mahama asked all eligible persons to register during the exercise, since it was their civic responsibility.
Besides, he said, it was crucial for all qualified persons to vote during the December presidential and parliamentary elections to influence the selection of people to lead the country.
He said Ghana had been touted as a model of democracy in Africa and for that reason Ghana was expected to meet higher standards during this year’s election.
He affirmed the government’s commitment to support the Electoral Commission (EC) with all the needed resources and support to organise free, transparent and peaceful elections.
The Vice-President said God had blessed the country with peace but cautioned Ghanaians not to take that peace for granted.
What Ghanaians should do, he said, was jealously protect the peace by championing efforts at promoting peace and development in the country.
He particularly asked the clergy to be neutral in their utterances to ensure peace among their congregations.
Mr Mahama was concerned that modernisation and Westernisation had eroded the country’s value system to the extent that respect for the elderly had gone down.
He said the fact that Ghana was a secular state did not mean that the government should not condemn social decadence and promote good moral values, noting that although many Western countries had developed economically, the moral fibre of those societies had deteriorated.
He, therefore, charged the clergy to partner the government to restore the country’s cultural and moral values.
In his address, Apostle Dr Onyinah condemned the politics of insults and unproved allegations against perceived political opponents, saying that phenomenon “poses grave danger to the future of our country and the peaceful conduct of the 2012 general election”.
He, therefore, appealed to political parties to avoid activities and pronouncements that could incite violence.
“We wish to recommend to our political leaders to sanction their followers who resort to this unfortunate behaviour,” he said.
Apostle Dr Onyinah said as its contribution to a peaceful general election, the GPCC would soon launch a programme dubbed, ‘PLUS-Ghana (Peace, Love, Unity, Stability in Ghana).
The Vice-Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rt Rev Francis Amenu, charged the new executive members to work as a team and avoid breaking their front.
PZ Cussons launches Adwadifo Susu Scheme
PZ Cussons Limited has launched an initiative, “Adwadifo Susu Scheme,” to reward its loyal and committed customers at the end of every six months, starting from next month.
The scheme will be implemented by investing the commission to be gained by wholesalers and distributors on purchased goods that cost GH¢1,000 or more into a bank account, with interest paid to them at the end of every six months.
According to the Area Sales Manager for the Greater Accra Region, Mr Alfred Eson Neizer Jnr, this will be a separate remuneration besides the three per cent commission the customers receive whenever they purchase goods.
Speaking at the PZ Wholesaler Treasure Jackpot Awards ceremony and the launch of the Adwadifo Susu Scheme in Accra, Mr Neizer called on all wholesalers and distributors of general goods to partner with PZ Cussons to do a profitable business, adding that “traders will not regret when they do business with us because we will help them gain more profit by investing in the profit they gain monthly.”
He stated that the Adwadifo Susu Scheme would help secure another monthly commission to be gained by the customers who purchased some targeted amounts of goods and that would be invested into treasury bills to yield more profit for the customers.
Mr Neizer also said that PZ Cussons was bent on improving the lives of their customers as well as all Ghanaians with a variety of products that would suit the needs of all.
The Wholesaler Treasure Jackpot is an award scheme set to reward loyal customers who purchase goods from PZ Cussons Limited.
It started in November last year and is to run for a six-month period before awards are given out.
Thirty-five wholesaler-customers of PZ goods won various awards such as microwaves, standing fans, pressing irons, Multi TV satellites decoders, and sets of cooking wares.
Another set of the awards is to be given to 40 more wholesalers in Tema to end the PZ Wholesaler Treasure Jackpot Awards for the Greater Accra Region.
The scheme will be implemented by investing the commission to be gained by wholesalers and distributors on purchased goods that cost GH¢1,000 or more into a bank account, with interest paid to them at the end of every six months.
According to the Area Sales Manager for the Greater Accra Region, Mr Alfred Eson Neizer Jnr, this will be a separate remuneration besides the three per cent commission the customers receive whenever they purchase goods.
Speaking at the PZ Wholesaler Treasure Jackpot Awards ceremony and the launch of the Adwadifo Susu Scheme in Accra, Mr Neizer called on all wholesalers and distributors of general goods to partner with PZ Cussons to do a profitable business, adding that “traders will not regret when they do business with us because we will help them gain more profit by investing in the profit they gain monthly.”
He stated that the Adwadifo Susu Scheme would help secure another monthly commission to be gained by the customers who purchased some targeted amounts of goods and that would be invested into treasury bills to yield more profit for the customers.
Mr Neizer also said that PZ Cussons was bent on improving the lives of their customers as well as all Ghanaians with a variety of products that would suit the needs of all.
The Wholesaler Treasure Jackpot is an award scheme set to reward loyal customers who purchase goods from PZ Cussons Limited.
It started in November last year and is to run for a six-month period before awards are given out.
Thirty-five wholesaler-customers of PZ goods won various awards such as microwaves, standing fans, pressing irons, Multi TV satellites decoders, and sets of cooking wares.
Another set of the awards is to be given to 40 more wholesalers in Tema to end the PZ Wholesaler Treasure Jackpot Awards for the Greater Accra Region.
ONE thousand jobs are to be created for Diploma and degree holders, as well as school levers to help develop their competencies in enterpreneural skills.
Another ten thousand Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) are also to be reached out to within three years of operation of the Tradeline Consult (TLC).
The lead partner of TLC, Mr Samuel Zeph Atiemo,announced this at a business seminar held by the company for the youth and business minded people in Accra.
Thirty five people participated and benefited from the seminar which was on the theme, “Goal setting for business growth”.
TLC is a company that provide services to SMEs in Financial Management, Business Planning, Strategic Planning, Training in Customer Care, Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship, Sales and Marketing, Business and Management Coaching, Motivational Business Seminars and Feasibility Studies.
Mr Atiemo attributed failure of most SMEs and young people to their unability of setting clear goals for their businesses.
He also stated that the only solution to personal success and business growth was goal setting, which when not attached with fear will go a long way to help improve the lives of many Ghanaians.
Mr Atiemo affirmed that goal setting gives direction to people’s lives and businesses and make them more efficient and fulfilled, thereby helping them overcome procrastination which later brings confidence and joy to that person.
Setting unrealistic goals, focusing on too few areas and not appreciating failure, he said, was some common mistakes people made when setting goals.
He therefore advised Ghanaians especially the youth to take note of such mistakes to help develop their business and bring success to their businesses.
TLC has also proposed to graduate 30 per cent of its clients from micro to small scale enterprises,20 per cent into medium scale enterprises, 10 per cent into large scale business enterprises, as well as to provide training to 1,000 professionals in diverse business sectors of the economy.
Mr Eric Agyare, a consultant of SNV (Netherlands Developments Organisation) told participants at the seminar that available funds from the Business Development Services Fund (BDSF), provides matching grants to qualified businesses for growth and service improvement.
Mr Agyare clarified that the BDSF is a business assistance fund set up by Government with support from the World Bank to support micro, small and medium scale enterprises, with a total expenditure of $2,800,000 to disburse during its existence.
He explained that for a business to have access to the BDSF, it needed to get 50 per cent of the total amount needed to grow the business, before the BDSF could also add the other 50 per cent.
He further advised individuals and business entities that had difficulty raising the required 50 per cent to form groups to access the 50 per cent fund needed,by collating their resources to enable them benefit from the BDSF.
Another ten thousand Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) are also to be reached out to within three years of operation of the Tradeline Consult (TLC).
The lead partner of TLC, Mr Samuel Zeph Atiemo,announced this at a business seminar held by the company for the youth and business minded people in Accra.
Thirty five people participated and benefited from the seminar which was on the theme, “Goal setting for business growth”.
TLC is a company that provide services to SMEs in Financial Management, Business Planning, Strategic Planning, Training in Customer Care, Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship, Sales and Marketing, Business and Management Coaching, Motivational Business Seminars and Feasibility Studies.
Mr Atiemo attributed failure of most SMEs and young people to their unability of setting clear goals for their businesses.
He also stated that the only solution to personal success and business growth was goal setting, which when not attached with fear will go a long way to help improve the lives of many Ghanaians.
Mr Atiemo affirmed that goal setting gives direction to people’s lives and businesses and make them more efficient and fulfilled, thereby helping them overcome procrastination which later brings confidence and joy to that person.
Setting unrealistic goals, focusing on too few areas and not appreciating failure, he said, was some common mistakes people made when setting goals.
He therefore advised Ghanaians especially the youth to take note of such mistakes to help develop their business and bring success to their businesses.
TLC has also proposed to graduate 30 per cent of its clients from micro to small scale enterprises,20 per cent into medium scale enterprises, 10 per cent into large scale business enterprises, as well as to provide training to 1,000 professionals in diverse business sectors of the economy.
Mr Eric Agyare, a consultant of SNV (Netherlands Developments Organisation) told participants at the seminar that available funds from the Business Development Services Fund (BDSF), provides matching grants to qualified businesses for growth and service improvement.
Mr Agyare clarified that the BDSF is a business assistance fund set up by Government with support from the World Bank to support micro, small and medium scale enterprises, with a total expenditure of $2,800,000 to disburse during its existence.
He explained that for a business to have access to the BDSF, it needed to get 50 per cent of the total amount needed to grow the business, before the BDSF could also add the other 50 per cent.
He further advised individuals and business entities that had difficulty raising the required 50 per cent to form groups to access the 50 per cent fund needed,by collating their resources to enable them benefit from the BDSF.
150 Childhood Cancer recorded at Korle-Bu last year
ONE hundred and fifty childhood cancer cases, out of an expected 1,000 cases annually in the country, were reported at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in 2011.
Of the 150 cases, about 30 of them were far advanced because they had been reported late at the hospital.
The KBTH and the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) are the only hospitals that have paediatric cancer units in the country
According to a consultant paediatrician at the Paediatric Cancer Unit of the KBTH, Dr Lorna Awo Renner, because many children lived far away from the two teaching hospitals, they did not have access to early detection and treatment of childhood cancer.
Cancer is a disease in which the body’s cells become abnormal and divide without control. Childhood cancers are often the result of the DNA changes in cells and take place very early in life, sometimes before birth.
Although very little is known about the cause of most childhood cancers, environmental factors such as radiation are recognised as some of the causative agents. Drugs, chemicals, infections or viruses such as Epstein Barr (E-B), Hepatitis B, the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) and genetic factors are also known to cause childhood cancer.
According to Dr Renner, more than 100,000 deaths resulting from childhood cancer globally could be prevented each year if all children had equal access to diagnosis and treatment.
She noted that childhood cancer formed only one per cent of all cancers in the country and indicated that when detected early, 75 per cent of the cases could be cured.
Dr Renner, therefore, called on all policy makers to reconsider their decision of not putting childhood cancer on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) because of fears that the cost of treating the disease would negatively affect the scheme.
According to her, about 40 per cent of childhood cancer cases were lymphomas, a cancer of the lymphocytes, a type of cell that formed part of the immune system, and would take only GH¢600 for its treatment.
The treatment of Leukaemia, which is most expensive and spans over three years, costs about GH¢1,000.
“As little as GH¢300 can be enough to buy drugs to treat and cure a child with cancer, and in some cases it can be as much as GH¢10,000,” she added.
She found it astounding that many expensive treatment ailments were on the NHIS, while the disease that affected vulnerable children who equally had the right to life was not on the NHIS list.
Dr Renner called on all parents to take note of symptoms such as white spots in the eyes or bulging eyeballs, unusual lumps or swellings in the body, especially the jaw, neck or stomach, persistent joint or bone pain, fever for more than two weeks, weight loss or bleeding and frequent headaches, vomiting or unsteady walking and report early to the nearest clinic to save the lives of the children.
The Chairman of the Ghana Parents’ Association for Childhood Cancers (GHAPACC), Dr Felix Kwame Aveh, also told the Daily Graphic that the association presented a letter to the officials of the NHIS and the Ministry of Health to reconsider the decisions taken about childhood cancer and its placement on the scheme.
He stated that the response it got from the two offices was that the NHIS would collapse if childhood cancer was placed on the scheme as a result of the perception that its treatment was expensive.
Of the 150 cases, about 30 of them were far advanced because they had been reported late at the hospital.
The KBTH and the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) are the only hospitals that have paediatric cancer units in the country
According to a consultant paediatrician at the Paediatric Cancer Unit of the KBTH, Dr Lorna Awo Renner, because many children lived far away from the two teaching hospitals, they did not have access to early detection and treatment of childhood cancer.
Cancer is a disease in which the body’s cells become abnormal and divide without control. Childhood cancers are often the result of the DNA changes in cells and take place very early in life, sometimes before birth.
Although very little is known about the cause of most childhood cancers, environmental factors such as radiation are recognised as some of the causative agents. Drugs, chemicals, infections or viruses such as Epstein Barr (E-B), Hepatitis B, the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) and genetic factors are also known to cause childhood cancer.
According to Dr Renner, more than 100,000 deaths resulting from childhood cancer globally could be prevented each year if all children had equal access to diagnosis and treatment.
She noted that childhood cancer formed only one per cent of all cancers in the country and indicated that when detected early, 75 per cent of the cases could be cured.
Dr Renner, therefore, called on all policy makers to reconsider their decision of not putting childhood cancer on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) because of fears that the cost of treating the disease would negatively affect the scheme.
According to her, about 40 per cent of childhood cancer cases were lymphomas, a cancer of the lymphocytes, a type of cell that formed part of the immune system, and would take only GH¢600 for its treatment.
The treatment of Leukaemia, which is most expensive and spans over three years, costs about GH¢1,000.
“As little as GH¢300 can be enough to buy drugs to treat and cure a child with cancer, and in some cases it can be as much as GH¢10,000,” she added.
She found it astounding that many expensive treatment ailments were on the NHIS, while the disease that affected vulnerable children who equally had the right to life was not on the NHIS list.
Dr Renner called on all parents to take note of symptoms such as white spots in the eyes or bulging eyeballs, unusual lumps or swellings in the body, especially the jaw, neck or stomach, persistent joint or bone pain, fever for more than two weeks, weight loss or bleeding and frequent headaches, vomiting or unsteady walking and report early to the nearest clinic to save the lives of the children.
The Chairman of the Ghana Parents’ Association for Childhood Cancers (GHAPACC), Dr Felix Kwame Aveh, also told the Daily Graphic that the association presented a letter to the officials of the NHIS and the Ministry of Health to reconsider the decisions taken about childhood cancer and its placement on the scheme.
He stated that the response it got from the two offices was that the NHIS would collapse if childhood cancer was placed on the scheme as a result of the perception that its treatment was expensive.
Wednesday 25 January 2012
Methodist University College of Ghana (MUCG) to win an international award
The Methodist University College of Ghana (MUCG) has been selected to receive the International Society for Science and Religion (ISSR) award.
The selection was done after the ISSR reviewed a proposal sent by the MUCG Library to the society last year.
The ISSR is a society established to promote education through the support of inter-disciplinary learning and research in the fields of science and religion.
According to the Principal of the College, Rev. Prof S.K. Agyepong, the library would continue to augment its holdings of both books and journals, and improve the efficiency of its services.
As a result, the ISSR would send 224 volumes of assorted books on some selected subject areas to the library.
Prof Agyepong announced this at the school’s ninth congregation.
A total of 1,075 students graduated with various degrees. They included the third batch of postgraduate students comprising 119 MBA and two M.Phil Mathematics graduands.
There were a total of 954 undergraduates. Out of this, 66 had first class honours, 213 had second class (upper division), and 522 had second class lower division. One hundred and forty five had third class honours, and only eight had pass.
Prof Agyepong urged the government to accord the necessary support and encouragement in order to make the Private-Public Partnership (PPP) maximally productive to the benefit of the country.
According to him, they were not seeing the level of support and encouragement that should characterise such an important partnership.
He advised the graduands to go out boldly and make a positive change to serve the country with humility and integrity.
The Dean of the University of Ghana (UG) Business School, Prof. Kwame Ameyaw Domfeh, who represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, encouraged authorities of MUCG to sustain its desire to produce quality human resource for national development.
“After all, without quality human resource no nation can achieve sustained national development”, he said.
Prof Domfeh entreated tertiary institutions to respond to and address the global socio-economic challenges that were dynamic and had kept changing rapidly.
He implored the graduands to contribute their quota to the development of the school since the university could not solely depend on the fees from its students.
He also assured the authorities and the entire student body that the cooperative relationship with UG shall continue to work even when MUCG became a fully fledged university.
The Managing Director of Prudential Bank, Mr Stephen Sekyere Abankwah, assured the school of the bank’s financial support for on-going projects like the ultra-modern music centre and the library complex.
He stated that the MUCG would have to position itself strategically to be able to not only meet current demands in the education sector, but also have a competitive advantage over its close competitors.
The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, and Chairman of the MUCG, Prof E.K. Asante, urged students to be positive in their outlook, and endeavour to be agents of change by influencing society through the values in the school’s motto: Excellence Morality Service.
The selection was done after the ISSR reviewed a proposal sent by the MUCG Library to the society last year.
The ISSR is a society established to promote education through the support of inter-disciplinary learning and research in the fields of science and religion.
According to the Principal of the College, Rev. Prof S.K. Agyepong, the library would continue to augment its holdings of both books and journals, and improve the efficiency of its services.
As a result, the ISSR would send 224 volumes of assorted books on some selected subject areas to the library.
Prof Agyepong announced this at the school’s ninth congregation.
A total of 1,075 students graduated with various degrees. They included the third batch of postgraduate students comprising 119 MBA and two M.Phil Mathematics graduands.
There were a total of 954 undergraduates. Out of this, 66 had first class honours, 213 had second class (upper division), and 522 had second class lower division. One hundred and forty five had third class honours, and only eight had pass.
Prof Agyepong urged the government to accord the necessary support and encouragement in order to make the Private-Public Partnership (PPP) maximally productive to the benefit of the country.
According to him, they were not seeing the level of support and encouragement that should characterise such an important partnership.
He advised the graduands to go out boldly and make a positive change to serve the country with humility and integrity.
The Dean of the University of Ghana (UG) Business School, Prof. Kwame Ameyaw Domfeh, who represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, encouraged authorities of MUCG to sustain its desire to produce quality human resource for national development.
“After all, without quality human resource no nation can achieve sustained national development”, he said.
Prof Domfeh entreated tertiary institutions to respond to and address the global socio-economic challenges that were dynamic and had kept changing rapidly.
He implored the graduands to contribute their quota to the development of the school since the university could not solely depend on the fees from its students.
He also assured the authorities and the entire student body that the cooperative relationship with UG shall continue to work even when MUCG became a fully fledged university.
The Managing Director of Prudential Bank, Mr Stephen Sekyere Abankwah, assured the school of the bank’s financial support for on-going projects like the ultra-modern music centre and the library complex.
He stated that the MUCG would have to position itself strategically to be able to not only meet current demands in the education sector, but also have a competitive advantage over its close competitors.
The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, and Chairman of the MUCG, Prof E.K. Asante, urged students to be positive in their outlook, and endeavour to be agents of change by influencing society through the values in the school’s motto: Excellence Morality Service.
Tuesday 24 January 2012
Strong Partnership is key to eradication of Malaria- Prof Binka
The Dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Ghana,Prof Fred Binka, has stated that the key to the eradication of malaria in the country lies in strong partnership between stakeholders and all Ghanaians.
According to him, the threats to the most effective malarial drug in the history of malaria control, Artemisinin-base Combination Therapies (ACTs), and Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP),used for malaria treatment in pregnant women and infants, are costs, counterfeiting and monotherapy or treatment of a condition by a single drug.
He cited that the solutions to these threats are not within the reach of the Ministry of Health and its agencies, and thus, needed to be addressed with a strong partnership of communities, civil society groups, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), media, local government agencies and development partners.
Speaking at the launch of the advocacy and communication materials to be used for a partnership initiative, “United Against Malaria” (UAM), for the winning of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2012 and the elimination of malaria,Prof Binka stated that progress towards the eradication of malaria has been made globally due to effective malaria interventions, substantial increase in funding, strong and effective partnerships, and focused research on malaria elimination.
The UAM is a partnership initiative between the John Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Voices for a malaria free future, Roll Back Malaria Partnership,the Ghana Health Service and the Ghana Football Association (GFA), that aims to build support for universal access to mosquito nets and malaria medicine in Africa, as the first step towards the elimination of malaria deaths by 2015, by using people’s passion for football as a catalyst to achieve that.
According to Prof Binka, the education programmes on Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) needed to be lifted up to encourage the use of the nets by all Ghanaians, especially pregnant women and children. He therefore called on NGOs, the communities, and the Ministry of Health and its agencies to contribute actively to that.
Indoor residual spraying (IRS)has now become a major component of malaria interventions to eliminate malaria. Prof Binka noted, adding that the support from Presidents Malaria Initiate (PMI) has allowed various homes in several districts to be sprayed to protect the families living in those homes.
He attributed the challenge to the (IRS) to the lack of funds to procure the insecticides and the cooperation of the communities to get the homes sprayed before the rains each year.
“We need funds for research into molecules that would be as effective as existing chemicals”, he added.
Strong and effective partnership, he believed, was the key to achieve malaria eradication, and could not be achieved without multi-sectoral collaboration and committed partnerships.
The Ag Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Gloria Quansah Asare, stated that winning the AFCON by the Black Stars was a special target to achieve, but winning the war against malaria could be more special.
She reminded all Ghanaians that the stride towards social and economic development would continue to slow down if malaria was not effectively contained.
It was in the light of that the National Strategic Plan for Malaria Control in Ghana (2008-2015) set the ambitious target of reducing the country’s malaria burden by 75 per cent by 2015, in line with the attainment of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), she said.
She further pointed out that the levels that had so far been reached in net ownership and use, availability and use of ACTs, adoption of more reliable diagnostics using RDTs and Microscopy, which has aided in saving many lives, would not have been possible without partnership from development agencies, other government sectors, the private and informal sector and NGOs.
She acknowledged the support of global players such as the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria, WHO, UNICEF, USA/PMI, DFID, and the mining industry as well as some financial institution.
She called on media personnels to put more efforts in the development and presentation of health messages to their audiences, to make such messages acceptable and easily adopted by all.
The materials launched included “The Goal Newspaper” to intensify malaria prevention and treatment education during the weeks of the AFCON tournament. Other materials were, The Malaria Safe Book, The Winning Moves; a chart or enlarged reminder card which uses football language to direct leadership and staff of companies on ways to win the match against malaria, and finally, a Television spot, depicting Dede Ayew calling on Ghanaians to make the right moves in the prevention of malaria. The TV spot would be shown on GTV,METRO TV and TV3 throughout January and February.
According to him, the threats to the most effective malarial drug in the history of malaria control, Artemisinin-base Combination Therapies (ACTs), and Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP),used for malaria treatment in pregnant women and infants, are costs, counterfeiting and monotherapy or treatment of a condition by a single drug.
He cited that the solutions to these threats are not within the reach of the Ministry of Health and its agencies, and thus, needed to be addressed with a strong partnership of communities, civil society groups, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), media, local government agencies and development partners.
Speaking at the launch of the advocacy and communication materials to be used for a partnership initiative, “United Against Malaria” (UAM), for the winning of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2012 and the elimination of malaria,Prof Binka stated that progress towards the eradication of malaria has been made globally due to effective malaria interventions, substantial increase in funding, strong and effective partnerships, and focused research on malaria elimination.
The UAM is a partnership initiative between the John Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Voices for a malaria free future, Roll Back Malaria Partnership,the Ghana Health Service and the Ghana Football Association (GFA), that aims to build support for universal access to mosquito nets and malaria medicine in Africa, as the first step towards the elimination of malaria deaths by 2015, by using people’s passion for football as a catalyst to achieve that.
According to Prof Binka, the education programmes on Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) needed to be lifted up to encourage the use of the nets by all Ghanaians, especially pregnant women and children. He therefore called on NGOs, the communities, and the Ministry of Health and its agencies to contribute actively to that.
Indoor residual spraying (IRS)has now become a major component of malaria interventions to eliminate malaria. Prof Binka noted, adding that the support from Presidents Malaria Initiate (PMI) has allowed various homes in several districts to be sprayed to protect the families living in those homes.
He attributed the challenge to the (IRS) to the lack of funds to procure the insecticides and the cooperation of the communities to get the homes sprayed before the rains each year.
“We need funds for research into molecules that would be as effective as existing chemicals”, he added.
Strong and effective partnership, he believed, was the key to achieve malaria eradication, and could not be achieved without multi-sectoral collaboration and committed partnerships.
The Ag Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Gloria Quansah Asare, stated that winning the AFCON by the Black Stars was a special target to achieve, but winning the war against malaria could be more special.
She reminded all Ghanaians that the stride towards social and economic development would continue to slow down if malaria was not effectively contained.
It was in the light of that the National Strategic Plan for Malaria Control in Ghana (2008-2015) set the ambitious target of reducing the country’s malaria burden by 75 per cent by 2015, in line with the attainment of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), she said.
She further pointed out that the levels that had so far been reached in net ownership and use, availability and use of ACTs, adoption of more reliable diagnostics using RDTs and Microscopy, which has aided in saving many lives, would not have been possible without partnership from development agencies, other government sectors, the private and informal sector and NGOs.
She acknowledged the support of global players such as the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria, WHO, UNICEF, USA/PMI, DFID, and the mining industry as well as some financial institution.
She called on media personnels to put more efforts in the development and presentation of health messages to their audiences, to make such messages acceptable and easily adopted by all.
The materials launched included “The Goal Newspaper” to intensify malaria prevention and treatment education during the weeks of the AFCON tournament. Other materials were, The Malaria Safe Book, The Winning Moves; a chart or enlarged reminder card which uses football language to direct leadership and staff of companies on ways to win the match against malaria, and finally, a Television spot, depicting Dede Ayew calling on Ghanaians to make the right moves in the prevention of malaria. The TV spot would be shown on GTV,METRO TV and TV3 throughout January and February.
AMA to tackle indiscriminate posting of posters
Posters are one of the most popular forms of outdoor advertising in the country. But their indiscriminate posting which has become a blot on some edifices in Accra has incurred the wrath of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.
Incensed by what it described as the indiscriminate posting of posters which continue to deface the city, the AMA says it would in no time deal with individuals and organizations that continue to flout the law by posting their posters all over unauthorized places.
Ironically, guilty among the organizations that have joined the posting spree are churches with posters announcing crusades, conventions and meetings.
Entertainment event organizers and movie produces are no different as they have reduced almost all visible walls in the city to advertising boards.
The rising trend of posters of political aspirants within and around the metropolis particularly on public spaces defiantly against numerous calls against indiscriminate pasting of posters also leaves much to be desired.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Public Relations Officer of the AMA, Numo Blafo III, said the removal of the posters was an on-going exercise which fed into the Assembly’s aim of beautifying the city.
He, however, bemoaned the activities of some organizations and individuals who undermine efforts to beautify the national capital.
According to Numo Blafo III, these organizations and churches failed to take the right step to advertise or publicize their organizations and programmes in the metropolis.
“You need to take a permit from the AMA to post bills at vantage points provided in the metropolis”, he said.
The AMA, he stated was collating the addresses and telephone numbers of those flouting the law and would start prosecuting them very soon.
Asked about whether alternative places had been provided for such posters, the PRO said there were locations where boards had been made erected at vantage points for the posting of bills at a fees.
When the Daily Graphic went around some part of the city, it observed that a number of places which hitherto were flooded with such posters had now been whitewashed with “POST NO BILLS HERE. OFFENDERS WILL BE PROSECUTED” boldly written on the walls.
Incensed by what it described as the indiscriminate posting of posters which continue to deface the city, the AMA says it would in no time deal with individuals and organizations that continue to flout the law by posting their posters all over unauthorized places.
Ironically, guilty among the organizations that have joined the posting spree are churches with posters announcing crusades, conventions and meetings.
Entertainment event organizers and movie produces are no different as they have reduced almost all visible walls in the city to advertising boards.
The rising trend of posters of political aspirants within and around the metropolis particularly on public spaces defiantly against numerous calls against indiscriminate pasting of posters also leaves much to be desired.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Public Relations Officer of the AMA, Numo Blafo III, said the removal of the posters was an on-going exercise which fed into the Assembly’s aim of beautifying the city.
He, however, bemoaned the activities of some organizations and individuals who undermine efforts to beautify the national capital.
According to Numo Blafo III, these organizations and churches failed to take the right step to advertise or publicize their organizations and programmes in the metropolis.
“You need to take a permit from the AMA to post bills at vantage points provided in the metropolis”, he said.
The AMA, he stated was collating the addresses and telephone numbers of those flouting the law and would start prosecuting them very soon.
Asked about whether alternative places had been provided for such posters, the PRO said there were locations where boards had been made erected at vantage points for the posting of bills at a fees.
When the Daily Graphic went around some part of the city, it observed that a number of places which hitherto were flooded with such posters had now been whitewashed with “POST NO BILLS HERE. OFFENDERS WILL BE PROSECUTED” boldly written on the walls.
Klottey Korley NDC conference disrupted
A press conference organised by a group of concerned National Democratic Congress (NDC) members in the Klottey Korley Constituency in Accra was disrupted when thugs invaded the venue and caused commotion.
Before the conference, members of the concerned group, dressed up in the colours of the party with red bands on their arms and heads, were chanting war songs in the Ga language.
Their beef was that they would not allow Nii Armah Ashietey, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency, who is also the Greater Accra Regional Minister, to represent the constituency in this year’s election.
Just a minute after a member of the concerned group, Ms Eklima Mohammed-Rasheed, began reading a statement that catalogued their grievances, a number of macho men arrived at the venue, stood in front of the gathering and began raising empty chairs and shaking the canopy under which the leaders of the group were sitting.
The macho men, who according to some members of the group, were allegedly hired by Nii Ashietey, told journalists that they were also members of the party, and were not happy about the press conference. They, therefore, wanted it cancelled but their claim was disputed by the gathering.
The intervention of the police, however, calmed the situation. Upon seeing the police, the well-built men took to their heels, attracting jeers and boos from the concerned members of the NDC.
An executive member of the concerned NDC group, Mr Richmond Dizzy Quaye, briefing journalists at the event, stated that Nii Ashietey, after his election as MP and subsequent appointment as the Regional Minister neglected his duties as MP, and only focused on his ministerial duties.
According to Mr Quaye, Nii Ashietey did many things that violated the party’s constitution.
After order was restored, Ms Mohammed-Rasheed, read the statement which indicated that Nii Ashietey had removed some of his hardworking executives from their positions and was manipulating the system to his advantage.
She stated that the Greater Accra Regional Minister used fully armed policemen and women to intimidate delegates who he suspected were not on his side, and “coined teams”; ‘TEAM A’ for his supposed loyal supporters, and ‘TEAM B’ for his imaginary enemies.
According to her, anyone who dared to challenge the presence of the police and army personnel at the party’s wards elections was brutalised,while some were arrested and sent to the Greater Accra Regional Police Headquarters.
She alleged that the MP, with the assistance of his four henchmen: Mash Turkson, the Constituency Secretary; Organiser, Maxwell Mingle; Vice-Secretary; Solomon Addo, and his own nephew, Randy Kpakpo Fairbranks, devised a plan to eliminate all the Ward Coordinators in the seven wards of the constituency.
That, according to the concerned members, was because they were in charge of all the branches, and since the MP and his men found out that they (the coordinators) would not support them to rig the constituency’s executive elections, they wanted them removed at all cost hence the use of the police and soldiers.
Ms Mohammed-Rasheed noted that the insistence of the MP to conduct ward elections was not supported by the party’s constitution and cited Article 15 of the NDC Constitution, which states that the chairmen, secretaries and organisers of branch executives within a given polling division shall constitute the ward committee. The ward committee shall appoint a Ward Coordinator for the ward within the membership of the ward committee and that the ward committee shall be responsible for co-ordinating the activities of the branches and the decisions of the National Congress.
She said in spite of petitions to the party’s national executive and the Regional Chairman, Mr Kobina Ade Coker, to notify them of the irregularities in their branch elections, “no steps were taken to ensure that the due process was followed, although feverish preparations were being made for the constituency elections.”
They also noted that eight executives who filed their nominations and paid the stipulated fees with the intention of contesting various positions were not informed of the date and venue for elections, neither were they given the delegates list as required by the National Executive Committee ( NEC) guidelines.
Additionally, they claimed that the release of the delegates list for the upcoming constituency primaries had been delayed deliberately, while signatures on the list which was released yesterday (Wednesday) were forged, since several names had the same signature.
They, therefore, appealed to the appellate authorities of the party to address their grievances, saying, “The watch is tickling, the electorates have proclaimed their decision to cause harm and spell doom for the party if Hon Nii Armah Ashietey is to win the primaries. As we speak, we do not even know where the primaries will take place,” she said.
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| Some angry members of the concerned group (dressed in the party shirts and with red bands on) trying to deal with one of the thugs (one in the Batakari) for disrupting the conference. |
Before the conference, members of the concerned group, dressed up in the colours of the party with red bands on their arms and heads, were chanting war songs in the Ga language.
Their beef was that they would not allow Nii Armah Ashietey, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency, who is also the Greater Accra Regional Minister, to represent the constituency in this year’s election.
Just a minute after a member of the concerned group, Ms Eklima Mohammed-Rasheed, began reading a statement that catalogued their grievances, a number of macho men arrived at the venue, stood in front of the gathering and began raising empty chairs and shaking the canopy under which the leaders of the group were sitting.
The macho men, who according to some members of the group, were allegedly hired by Nii Ashietey, told journalists that they were also members of the party, and were not happy about the press conference. They, therefore, wanted it cancelled but their claim was disputed by the gathering.
The intervention of the police, however, calmed the situation. Upon seeing the police, the well-built men took to their heels, attracting jeers and boos from the concerned members of the NDC.
An executive member of the concerned NDC group, Mr Richmond Dizzy Quaye, briefing journalists at the event, stated that Nii Ashietey, after his election as MP and subsequent appointment as the Regional Minister neglected his duties as MP, and only focused on his ministerial duties.
According to Mr Quaye, Nii Ashietey did many things that violated the party’s constitution.
After order was restored, Ms Mohammed-Rasheed, read the statement which indicated that Nii Ashietey had removed some of his hardworking executives from their positions and was manipulating the system to his advantage.
She stated that the Greater Accra Regional Minister used fully armed policemen and women to intimidate delegates who he suspected were not on his side, and “coined teams”; ‘TEAM A’ for his supposed loyal supporters, and ‘TEAM B’ for his imaginary enemies.
According to her, anyone who dared to challenge the presence of the police and army personnel at the party’s wards elections was brutalised,while some were arrested and sent to the Greater Accra Regional Police Headquarters.
She alleged that the MP, with the assistance of his four henchmen: Mash Turkson, the Constituency Secretary; Organiser, Maxwell Mingle; Vice-Secretary; Solomon Addo, and his own nephew, Randy Kpakpo Fairbranks, devised a plan to eliminate all the Ward Coordinators in the seven wards of the constituency.
That, according to the concerned members, was because they were in charge of all the branches, and since the MP and his men found out that they (the coordinators) would not support them to rig the constituency’s executive elections, they wanted them removed at all cost hence the use of the police and soldiers.
Ms Mohammed-Rasheed noted that the insistence of the MP to conduct ward elections was not supported by the party’s constitution and cited Article 15 of the NDC Constitution, which states that the chairmen, secretaries and organisers of branch executives within a given polling division shall constitute the ward committee. The ward committee shall appoint a Ward Coordinator for the ward within the membership of the ward committee and that the ward committee shall be responsible for co-ordinating the activities of the branches and the decisions of the National Congress.
She said in spite of petitions to the party’s national executive and the Regional Chairman, Mr Kobina Ade Coker, to notify them of the irregularities in their branch elections, “no steps were taken to ensure that the due process was followed, although feverish preparations were being made for the constituency elections.”
They also noted that eight executives who filed their nominations and paid the stipulated fees with the intention of contesting various positions were not informed of the date and venue for elections, neither were they given the delegates list as required by the National Executive Committee ( NEC) guidelines.
Additionally, they claimed that the release of the delegates list for the upcoming constituency primaries had been delayed deliberately, while signatures on the list which was released yesterday (Wednesday) were forged, since several names had the same signature.
They, therefore, appealed to the appellate authorities of the party to address their grievances, saying, “The watch is tickling, the electorates have proclaimed their decision to cause harm and spell doom for the party if Hon Nii Armah Ashietey is to win the primaries. As we speak, we do not even know where the primaries will take place,” she said.
Link technical and vocational education training to the job market- Prof Agyepong.
THE Principal of the Methodist University College, Ghana (MUCG), Rev. Prof. S.K Agyepong, has stressed the need to link technical and vocational education training (TVET) to the job market in order to enhance the relevance of such training to the socio-economic development.
He said as employment opportunities in the formal sector shrank, the acquisition of business management and entrepreneurial skills for self-employment would become a major imperative in the design of vocational training programmes.
Addressing the 10th anniversary and third graduation ceremony of New Century Career Training Institute at Dansoman in Accra at the weekend on the theme, “TVET, the driving force for national development”, Mr Agyepong said the government should pay more attention to TVET to guarantee the nation with the needed economic growth and development.
He said technical and vocational education training programmes in Africa should help develop indigenous skills associated with the manufacture of traditional artefacts and crafts and also promote the culture of life-long learning.
Prof. Agyepong said in its Plan of Action for the second decade of education (2006-2015), the African Union (AU) recognised the importance of technical and vocational education and training as a means of empowering individuals to take control of their lives, and therefore, recommended the integration of vocational training into the general education system.
He said the union also recognised the fact that vast numbers of young people were outside the formal school system and consequently recommended the integration of non-formal learning methodologies and literacy programmes into national TVET programmes.
Prof Agyepong said before the new educational reform in Ghana in 2007, TVET provided undulating years of training, was underdeveloped and wrongly perceived, but indicated that the framework of training under the TVET in the new educational reform sought to provide employable skills through formal and informal apprenticeship training.
He said the awareness among policy makers in many African countries of the role TVET could play in national development had increased the importance the Government of Ghana attached to TVET.
He said TVET delivery systems were well placed to train the skilled and entrepreneurial workforce needed to create wealth and help the country come out of poverty, adding that the informal sector absorbed more than 90 per cent of all those who acquired skills training in the country.
He said the incorporation of basic vocational skills into the junior high school curriculum was an attempt to expose young people to pre-employment skills.
Prof. Agyepong urged industries within the TVET framework to collaborate in setting standards, offering training on-the-job and providing financial assistance to trainees.
He said there would be economic stability and the society would enjoy rapid and stable environmental development and experience consistent development and economic boom, when TVET framework became fully operational.
The Manager of the institute, Mrs Lydia Duvor, said the school had turned out 2000 trainees since its inception in 2001, with an employment rate of 69 per cent, with 17 per cent doing further studies and 14 per cent currently being unemployed.
She said the school had received support from the Chinese Government and mission in Ghana.
Mrs Duvor appealed to all parents to monitor the activities of their children both in school and out of home and gave the assurance that the school would continue to instil a high sense of discipline in students.
Special awards were presented to 17 graduates in the fields of electricals, electronics, dressmaking, refrigeration and air-conditioning, leather works, carpentry and joinery, computer hardware, plumbing, and draughtsmanship.
He said as employment opportunities in the formal sector shrank, the acquisition of business management and entrepreneurial skills for self-employment would become a major imperative in the design of vocational training programmes.
Addressing the 10th anniversary and third graduation ceremony of New Century Career Training Institute at Dansoman in Accra at the weekend on the theme, “TVET, the driving force for national development”, Mr Agyepong said the government should pay more attention to TVET to guarantee the nation with the needed economic growth and development.
He said technical and vocational education training programmes in Africa should help develop indigenous skills associated with the manufacture of traditional artefacts and crafts and also promote the culture of life-long learning.
Prof. Agyepong said in its Plan of Action for the second decade of education (2006-2015), the African Union (AU) recognised the importance of technical and vocational education and training as a means of empowering individuals to take control of their lives, and therefore, recommended the integration of vocational training into the general education system.
He said the union also recognised the fact that vast numbers of young people were outside the formal school system and consequently recommended the integration of non-formal learning methodologies and literacy programmes into national TVET programmes.
Prof Agyepong said before the new educational reform in Ghana in 2007, TVET provided undulating years of training, was underdeveloped and wrongly perceived, but indicated that the framework of training under the TVET in the new educational reform sought to provide employable skills through formal and informal apprenticeship training.
He said the awareness among policy makers in many African countries of the role TVET could play in national development had increased the importance the Government of Ghana attached to TVET.
He said TVET delivery systems were well placed to train the skilled and entrepreneurial workforce needed to create wealth and help the country come out of poverty, adding that the informal sector absorbed more than 90 per cent of all those who acquired skills training in the country.
He said the incorporation of basic vocational skills into the junior high school curriculum was an attempt to expose young people to pre-employment skills.
Prof. Agyepong urged industries within the TVET framework to collaborate in setting standards, offering training on-the-job and providing financial assistance to trainees.
He said there would be economic stability and the society would enjoy rapid and stable environmental development and experience consistent development and economic boom, when TVET framework became fully operational.
The Manager of the institute, Mrs Lydia Duvor, said the school had turned out 2000 trainees since its inception in 2001, with an employment rate of 69 per cent, with 17 per cent doing further studies and 14 per cent currently being unemployed.
She said the school had received support from the Chinese Government and mission in Ghana.
Mrs Duvor appealed to all parents to monitor the activities of their children both in school and out of home and gave the assurance that the school would continue to instil a high sense of discipline in students.
Special awards were presented to 17 graduates in the fields of electricals, electronics, dressmaking, refrigeration and air-conditioning, leather works, carpentry and joinery, computer hardware, plumbing, and draughtsmanship.
Eleven thousand more households are to benefit from the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP)
Programme this year, the Deputy Director of the LEAP Programme, Mr Lawrence Ofori Addo, has said.
Approximately 64,000 households are currently benefiting from the programme.
Averagely, a household comprises four persons and the additional 11,000 will bring the total beneficiaries to 75,000.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra last Wednesday, Mr Addo said currently, officials were using a community based targeting method and a proxy means testing system to identify the extremely poor households in the communities.
That, he said, was done by going to the communities to ask people who they thought were extremely poor, for the people in the various communities to give their dimension.
“We do this but cannot rely on that to identify the poor households since some people might mention only their relatives for them to be aided”, he added.
The LEAP is a programme that provides money and free health insurance to extremely poor households across the country to help improve short-term poverty and encourage long-term human capital development.
It is a flagship programme of the National Social Protection Strategy and implemented by the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) in the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare (MESW).
The LEAP started on a pilot phase in March 2008 with about 2000 households, and expanded gradually in 2009 and 2010. In June 2010, approximately 35,000 households were enrolled with an annual expenditure of about USD 11 million.
Mr Addo, therefore, proclaimed that the proxy means test, which used a number of questions programmed on a database, was used to select and verify the extremely poor households, as well as categorise them into groups.
Taking the Daily Graphic through the database selection process on which various extremely poor households were selected and categorised, Mr Addo explained that poverty was widespread in Ghana, so to be able to identify the extremely poor, the two methods; community base and proxy means test were used.
He further stated that it was likely to increase the grant given to the households to about GH¢36 a month per household.
He stated that the programme looked at households which had at least one of its members who was a single parent with orphan or vulnerable child (OVC), elderly poor or a person with extreme disability and unable to work.
He held that those people suffered a lot of prejudices and abuses from the society, thus the need to help alleviate the poverty and suffering.
According to Mr Addo, there had been an agreement with the Ministries of Local Government, Education, Food and Agriculture, Women and Children’s affairs and the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare to use a common mechanism of targetting the poor in the communities.
He also stated that they were rolling out that strategy with the Ministry of Health as well, to identify and help individuals in the very poor households.
Delays in the releases of funds from the central government to households selected is a major challenge that has affected the implementation of the LEAP Programme.
Mr Addo affirmed to the Daily Graphic that the programme had arrears of eight months to pay to the beneficiaries of the programme, adding that funds had been released for the payment of the arrears to be made in about a week or two.
Other great challenges that had affected the facilitation and implementation of the programme was human resource constraints, which were due to the government’s policy on employment that no person be employed except when there was vacancy in an office and the giving of wrong information by the people in the communities, which made the work difficult for the LEAP officers.
According to Mr Addo, the less number of officers at the LEAP Programme office affected the work at the office since the same officers who mobilised the people for the programme were the same people to collect data in the communities.
The administration of the LEAP Programme, therefore, called on the government to help resolve these problems and assured Ghanaians that they would streamline things this year to develop a more systematic way of enrolling the beneficiaries, to allow a lot more of beneficiaries to benefit from the programme to help reduce poverty and encourage human capital development in the country.
Approximately 64,000 households are currently benefiting from the programme.
Averagely, a household comprises four persons and the additional 11,000 will bring the total beneficiaries to 75,000.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra last Wednesday, Mr Addo said currently, officials were using a community based targeting method and a proxy means testing system to identify the extremely poor households in the communities.
That, he said, was done by going to the communities to ask people who they thought were extremely poor, for the people in the various communities to give their dimension.
“We do this but cannot rely on that to identify the poor households since some people might mention only their relatives for them to be aided”, he added.
The LEAP is a programme that provides money and free health insurance to extremely poor households across the country to help improve short-term poverty and encourage long-term human capital development.
It is a flagship programme of the National Social Protection Strategy and implemented by the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) in the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare (MESW).
The LEAP started on a pilot phase in March 2008 with about 2000 households, and expanded gradually in 2009 and 2010. In June 2010, approximately 35,000 households were enrolled with an annual expenditure of about USD 11 million.
Mr Addo, therefore, proclaimed that the proxy means test, which used a number of questions programmed on a database, was used to select and verify the extremely poor households, as well as categorise them into groups.
Taking the Daily Graphic through the database selection process on which various extremely poor households were selected and categorised, Mr Addo explained that poverty was widespread in Ghana, so to be able to identify the extremely poor, the two methods; community base and proxy means test were used.
He further stated that it was likely to increase the grant given to the households to about GH¢36 a month per household.
He stated that the programme looked at households which had at least one of its members who was a single parent with orphan or vulnerable child (OVC), elderly poor or a person with extreme disability and unable to work.
He held that those people suffered a lot of prejudices and abuses from the society, thus the need to help alleviate the poverty and suffering.
According to Mr Addo, there had been an agreement with the Ministries of Local Government, Education, Food and Agriculture, Women and Children’s affairs and the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare to use a common mechanism of targetting the poor in the communities.
He also stated that they were rolling out that strategy with the Ministry of Health as well, to identify and help individuals in the very poor households.
Delays in the releases of funds from the central government to households selected is a major challenge that has affected the implementation of the LEAP Programme.
Mr Addo affirmed to the Daily Graphic that the programme had arrears of eight months to pay to the beneficiaries of the programme, adding that funds had been released for the payment of the arrears to be made in about a week or two.
Other great challenges that had affected the facilitation and implementation of the programme was human resource constraints, which were due to the government’s policy on employment that no person be employed except when there was vacancy in an office and the giving of wrong information by the people in the communities, which made the work difficult for the LEAP officers.
According to Mr Addo, the less number of officers at the LEAP Programme office affected the work at the office since the same officers who mobilised the people for the programme were the same people to collect data in the communities.
The administration of the LEAP Programme, therefore, called on the government to help resolve these problems and assured Ghanaians that they would streamline things this year to develop a more systematic way of enrolling the beneficiaries, to allow a lot more of beneficiaries to benefit from the programme to help reduce poverty and encourage human capital development in the country.
Persons in leadership asked to allow God in their mission
GHANAIANS and all Christians in leadership positions have been urged to allow God to drive and encourage them in their various leadership roles to be able to make a difference in society.
The Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, Rev Herbert Anim Opong, speaking at the induction ceremony of the National Men’s Fellowship of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in Accra yesterday, stated that people in leadership positions should note that it was God who had called them into their various positions, adding that they, therefore, needed to worship God and abide by his laws.
According to him, God chose people to lead others in a group or society due to the circumstances or situations of those people.
Rev Anim Opong, therefore, advised the newly inducted executive to work together with other groups in the church to come up with solutions to alleviate the evil and wrongdoing in the church and society at large.
“You have been called by God. You should, therefore, know the meaning of the context of your calling,” he said.
Lt Col Jonas Yaw Asamoah (retd) was inducted as the national president; Mr James Frempong, the national vice-president (Finance); Dr Steve S.Y. Yirenkyi as the national vice-president (Development and Property) and Mr Stephen Kweku Armah as the national vice-president (Education and Evangelism).
Mr Felix Boampong Wiredu, Mr Charles Oduro Nyarko, Mr John Ofori Jnr, Mr Heiric H. Newman, Rev Peter Kofi Nyarkoh and Mr Patrick Frempong were inducted as national secretary, treasurer, financial secretary, music director, national chaplain and national public relations officer, respectively.
Inducting the executive members into office, Rev Opong, who represented the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, called on the almighty God to enlighten and strengthen them by the power of the holy spirit to enable them to discharge their duties to the glory and praise of God.
The newly inducted executive also pledged to discharge the duties of the various offices diligently and faithfully, according to the constitution of the Men’s Fellowship, to seek the material and spiritual growth of the fellowship, for the service of Christ and the nation at large.
The Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, Rev Herbert Anim Opong, speaking at the induction ceremony of the National Men’s Fellowship of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in Accra yesterday, stated that people in leadership positions should note that it was God who had called them into their various positions, adding that they, therefore, needed to worship God and abide by his laws.
According to him, God chose people to lead others in a group or society due to the circumstances or situations of those people.
Rev Anim Opong, therefore, advised the newly inducted executive to work together with other groups in the church to come up with solutions to alleviate the evil and wrongdoing in the church and society at large.
“You have been called by God. You should, therefore, know the meaning of the context of your calling,” he said.
Lt Col Jonas Yaw Asamoah (retd) was inducted as the national president; Mr James Frempong, the national vice-president (Finance); Dr Steve S.Y. Yirenkyi as the national vice-president (Development and Property) and Mr Stephen Kweku Armah as the national vice-president (Education and Evangelism).
Mr Felix Boampong Wiredu, Mr Charles Oduro Nyarko, Mr John Ofori Jnr, Mr Heiric H. Newman, Rev Peter Kofi Nyarkoh and Mr Patrick Frempong were inducted as national secretary, treasurer, financial secretary, music director, national chaplain and national public relations officer, respectively.
Inducting the executive members into office, Rev Opong, who represented the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, called on the almighty God to enlighten and strengthen them by the power of the holy spirit to enable them to discharge their duties to the glory and praise of God.
The newly inducted executive also pledged to discharge the duties of the various offices diligently and faithfully, according to the constitution of the Men’s Fellowship, to seek the material and spiritual growth of the fellowship, for the service of Christ and the nation at large.
Work begins on Accra Academy library
WORK has commenced on the construction of a modern library block for the Accra Academy Senior High School .
The ultra-modern facility, which will also contain an administration block, is a project funded by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND), at a provisional cost of GHC520,000.
Speaking at a sod-cutting ceremony for the project, the Managing Director of Patriq Green Limited, the contracting firm, Mr Patrick Quainoo, said the facility, when completed would contribute to the development of the nation, by producing more prominent leaders.
He assured the board of the school, teachers and students that the facility to be built will be a 21st century library to accommodate a large number of students and generations yet unborn.
He expressed gratitude to the board of the school for awarding the contract to him and urged the students to make good use of the facility .
The fourth headmaster of the school, Mr Vincent Birch Freeman, appealed to the students to cultivate the habit of reading, to enable them excel academically, adding that “the more you read, the more you gain more knowledge to do extremely well”.
He advised that the library, when completed, be manned by a professional librarian, and not an ordinary teacher.
Mr Freeman also called on the school authorities to ensure the maintenance of the facility, and to make sure that the students, as well, make good use of the library to make the school the best school in West Africa.
An alumni of the school, Mr Ben C. Eghan, also expressed his joy over the construction of the new library, since according to him, the old one that had been there since he was a student in the 1960s, was a very small one that could not contain a large number of students at a time.
He called on the alumni of the school, to contribute their quota to the development of the school and the nation at large.
The headmaster of the school, Mr Samuel Ofori-Adjei, said the facility, when completed, would make the school one of the top schools in Africa and would help it to improve its current standard.
The ultra-modern facility, which will also contain an administration block, is a project funded by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND), at a provisional cost of GHC520,000.
Speaking at a sod-cutting ceremony for the project, the Managing Director of Patriq Green Limited, the contracting firm, Mr Patrick Quainoo, said the facility, when completed would contribute to the development of the nation, by producing more prominent leaders.
He assured the board of the school, teachers and students that the facility to be built will be a 21st century library to accommodate a large number of students and generations yet unborn.
He expressed gratitude to the board of the school for awarding the contract to him and urged the students to make good use of the facility .
The fourth headmaster of the school, Mr Vincent Birch Freeman, appealed to the students to cultivate the habit of reading, to enable them excel academically, adding that “the more you read, the more you gain more knowledge to do extremely well”.
He advised that the library, when completed, be manned by a professional librarian, and not an ordinary teacher.
Mr Freeman also called on the school authorities to ensure the maintenance of the facility, and to make sure that the students, as well, make good use of the library to make the school the best school in West Africa.
An alumni of the school, Mr Ben C. Eghan, also expressed his joy over the construction of the new library, since according to him, the old one that had been there since he was a student in the 1960s, was a very small one that could not contain a large number of students at a time.
He called on the alumni of the school, to contribute their quota to the development of the school and the nation at large.
The headmaster of the school, Mr Samuel Ofori-Adjei, said the facility, when completed, would make the school one of the top schools in Africa and would help it to improve its current standard.
Dansoman road project ready July
WORK on the reconstruction of the Dansoman main dual carriage road will be completed by July this year.
The Chief Executive Officer of PMC Construction Limited, Mr Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah, told journalists in Accra yesterday that conveying construction materials from the Central Region and the Shai Hills to the main construction site at Dansoman had been the main challenge confronting the project.
He said about 90 per cent of the work had been completed and that the rest would be accomplished by July this year.
The Dansoman main road was initially a single carriage road which, according to the contractor and the Member of Parliament for the Ablekuma South, Mr Fritz Baffuor, was full of potholes.
The initial plan was to fill the potholes which posed a threat to both drivers and all those who used the road.
The project was later changed to the reconstruction of a dual carriage highway instead to ease traffic and alleviate the various road threats it posed to those who plied it.
The dual carriage highway reconstruction, which started more than two years ago and has run far beyond its completion date, led to business activities along the Dansoman Highway coming to a standstill due to the dust that entered the shops along the highway.
While inspecting the work done so far on the project, Mr Abdullah affirmed that 13 bus stops would be put up on the road.
He also indicated that street lights, speed humps and bus stops could not be put up before the completion of the project and called on the people who were suggesting that such facilities be provided before the completion of the work to put a stop to that suggestion.
Some residents who spoke to the Daily Graphic said there had been several tours of inspection of the road but its completion had become a problem.
They complained about the health hazard the project had posed since it was started.
The Daily Graphic also noted that part of the road had been tarred, while the untarred part was sprinkled with water to avoid dust.
But, according to the residents, the sprinkling was not done always but only when there was going to be an inspection of the road.
Mr Abdullah pointed out that water could not be poured on the road always because of the cost involved in purchasing a tanker of water to the construction site for sprinkling on the ground.
“The road cannot be built somewhere and brought here, so there will definitely be dust while the construction goes on and the sprinkling of water on the road to lessen the dust was not included in the contract,” he added.
According to him, a tanker of water cost GH¢300 and in a day about five trips would be needed, which would cost the government huge sums of money if included in the budget for the construction of the road.
Mr Abdullah assured the government and the public of a 10-year warranty which would guarantee that the there would not be any potholes on the road after completion.
Mr Baffuor noted that the construction of the Dansoman main road was only one of the many projects he had embarked on and completed in the area and expressed optimism that he would win the Ablekuma South Constituency seat again.
The Chief Executive Officer of PMC Construction Limited, Mr Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah, told journalists in Accra yesterday that conveying construction materials from the Central Region and the Shai Hills to the main construction site at Dansoman had been the main challenge confronting the project.
He said about 90 per cent of the work had been completed and that the rest would be accomplished by July this year.
The Dansoman main road was initially a single carriage road which, according to the contractor and the Member of Parliament for the Ablekuma South, Mr Fritz Baffuor, was full of potholes.
The initial plan was to fill the potholes which posed a threat to both drivers and all those who used the road.
The project was later changed to the reconstruction of a dual carriage highway instead to ease traffic and alleviate the various road threats it posed to those who plied it.
The dual carriage highway reconstruction, which started more than two years ago and has run far beyond its completion date, led to business activities along the Dansoman Highway coming to a standstill due to the dust that entered the shops along the highway.
While inspecting the work done so far on the project, Mr Abdullah affirmed that 13 bus stops would be put up on the road.
He also indicated that street lights, speed humps and bus stops could not be put up before the completion of the project and called on the people who were suggesting that such facilities be provided before the completion of the work to put a stop to that suggestion.
Some residents who spoke to the Daily Graphic said there had been several tours of inspection of the road but its completion had become a problem.
They complained about the health hazard the project had posed since it was started.
The Daily Graphic also noted that part of the road had been tarred, while the untarred part was sprinkled with water to avoid dust.
But, according to the residents, the sprinkling was not done always but only when there was going to be an inspection of the road.
Mr Abdullah pointed out that water could not be poured on the road always because of the cost involved in purchasing a tanker of water to the construction site for sprinkling on the ground.
“The road cannot be built somewhere and brought here, so there will definitely be dust while the construction goes on and the sprinkling of water on the road to lessen the dust was not included in the contract,” he added.
According to him, a tanker of water cost GH¢300 and in a day about five trips would be needed, which would cost the government huge sums of money if included in the budget for the construction of the road.
Mr Abdullah assured the government and the public of a 10-year warranty which would guarantee that the there would not be any potholes on the road after completion.
Mr Baffuor noted that the construction of the Dansoman main road was only one of the many projects he had embarked on and completed in the area and expressed optimism that he would win the Ablekuma South Constituency seat again.
Monday 16 January 2012
GCGL pays bills for 4 child cancer patients
THE Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) yesterday presented a cheque for GH¢10,200 to the Department of Child Health of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).
The donation is to help defray the medical bills of four needy children suffering from child cancer at the hospital.
An additional amount of GH¢5,000 was donated to the parents of one of the children, Prince Kwesi, for the child’s upkeep during the operation.
The money is from the Graphic Needy Trust Fund (GNTF) which was established in the late 1980s with the aim of appealing for funds nation-wide in a co-ordinated manner to help needy people have access to medical treatment.
Since 1989, the company and its collaborators, through the fund, have helped about 180 needy patients in the country. The GNTF has become one of the company’s major tools for social responsibility, with a lot of needy Ghanaians turning to it for help to access medical care.
The Managing Director of the GCGL, Mr Ken Ashigbey, presenting the cheque, said that the development of the country was very critical and so there was the need to ensure that people had access to good health.
He said the situation at the Department of Child Health of the KBTH was a pathetic one that needed support from all Ghanaians, not the government alone.
Mr Ashigbey underscored the need for Ghanaians to extend support to the government, particularly in the development of infrastructure in society, stressing, “We must all see it as our responsibility when it comes to the growth of the economy.’’
He appealed to corporate organisations and the public to extend support to the needy in the communities, as well as doctors and nurses, to eliminate poverty and sickness.
The Paediatrician in charge of the Department of Child Cancer, KBTH, Dr Lorna Awo Renner, who received the cheque, expressed profound gratitude to the GCGL and other organisations which, for years, had supported the department.
She intimated that 75 per cent of child cancer could be cured when detected early, adding, “Your support will equip the institution to fully discharge its duties to save the lives of children.’’
She called on the government to include the treatment of child cancer under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
That, according to her, would aid in saving the lives of many children suffering from the disease, adding that childhood cancer represents only one per cent of cancers.
The donation is to help defray the medical bills of four needy children suffering from child cancer at the hospital.
An additional amount of GH¢5,000 was donated to the parents of one of the children, Prince Kwesi, for the child’s upkeep during the operation.
The money is from the Graphic Needy Trust Fund (GNTF) which was established in the late 1980s with the aim of appealing for funds nation-wide in a co-ordinated manner to help needy people have access to medical treatment.
Since 1989, the company and its collaborators, through the fund, have helped about 180 needy patients in the country. The GNTF has become one of the company’s major tools for social responsibility, with a lot of needy Ghanaians turning to it for help to access medical care.
The Managing Director of the GCGL, Mr Ken Ashigbey, presenting the cheque, said that the development of the country was very critical and so there was the need to ensure that people had access to good health.
He said the situation at the Department of Child Health of the KBTH was a pathetic one that needed support from all Ghanaians, not the government alone.
Mr Ashigbey underscored the need for Ghanaians to extend support to the government, particularly in the development of infrastructure in society, stressing, “We must all see it as our responsibility when it comes to the growth of the economy.’’
He appealed to corporate organisations and the public to extend support to the needy in the communities, as well as doctors and nurses, to eliminate poverty and sickness.
The Paediatrician in charge of the Department of Child Cancer, KBTH, Dr Lorna Awo Renner, who received the cheque, expressed profound gratitude to the GCGL and other organisations which, for years, had supported the department.
She intimated that 75 per cent of child cancer could be cured when detected early, adding, “Your support will equip the institution to fully discharge its duties to save the lives of children.’’
She called on the government to include the treatment of child cancer under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
That, according to her, would aid in saving the lives of many children suffering from the disease, adding that childhood cancer represents only one per cent of cancers.
Thursday 5 January 2012
Speech and Language Therapy Programme to be further developed in Ghana
The Ministry of Health in collaboration with the University of Columbia Speech and Language Therapy Teachers College, New York, USA, is working to further develop a Speech and Language Therapy programme in Ghana.
The therapy programme will help to identify a person's communication challenges and then develop recommendations that the family and teaching or medical staff could implement to help the persons with speech and language disability communicate well.
The programme also includes the training of students from the medical school to become specialists in Speech and Language Therapy, and will help create awareness about the nature of the impediment and educate Ghanaians about it not being anything to be ashamed of.
The University has been organising the programme for the past five years and has helped to support and train doctors, teachers and specialists to treat patients,students and those suffering from speech and language impairments.
Speech and language impairment is when a person is unable to produce speech sounds correctly or fluently, or has problems with his or her voice. Difficulties pronouncing sounds, or articulation disorders, and stuttering are examples of speech disorders.
The Deputy Health Minister, Mr Rojo Mettle Nunoo, at a meeting with the University’s directors and eighteen students from the university today(Thursday) at Korle Bu, stated that his ministry was happy to join hands to implement such a beneficial programme for all Ghanaians, and expressed hope that the sector Ministry will establish a training unit at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for future training and development purposes.
According to him, the programme should ideally be opened to all to have a greater impact on schools, especially the Nursery and Primary School levels, as well as the general public.
Mr Nunoo told the Daily Graphic that Ghana should be able to train 15,000 specialists in this field in order to improve and continue to develop the training of specialists to cater for affected people in the future. .
He mentioned that it was important to raise awareness of the social challenges faced by those suffering from speech and language difficulties, whether they had suffered from a stroke, severe trauma or had faced difficulties since birth.
The Director of the Columbia University Speech and Language Therapy Teachers College, Mrs Cate Crowley, was optimistic that Ghanaians would be able to train their own speech and language therapists and stressed the importance of diminishing discrimination against those affected by speech and language impediments.
The students have worked at two major teaching hospitals in Accra and Kumasi, within Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Department, cleft palate, and craniofacial departments, and with the unit schools for students with disabilities. They have been working with stroke victims in an attempt to improve communication through the use of pictures and spoke positively of its success.
The therapy programme will help to identify a person's communication challenges and then develop recommendations that the family and teaching or medical staff could implement to help the persons with speech and language disability communicate well.
The programme also includes the training of students from the medical school to become specialists in Speech and Language Therapy, and will help create awareness about the nature of the impediment and educate Ghanaians about it not being anything to be ashamed of.
The University has been organising the programme for the past five years and has helped to support and train doctors, teachers and specialists to treat patients,students and those suffering from speech and language impairments.
Speech and language impairment is when a person is unable to produce speech sounds correctly or fluently, or has problems with his or her voice. Difficulties pronouncing sounds, or articulation disorders, and stuttering are examples of speech disorders.
The Deputy Health Minister, Mr Rojo Mettle Nunoo, at a meeting with the University’s directors and eighteen students from the university today(Thursday) at Korle Bu, stated that his ministry was happy to join hands to implement such a beneficial programme for all Ghanaians, and expressed hope that the sector Ministry will establish a training unit at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for future training and development purposes.
According to him, the programme should ideally be opened to all to have a greater impact on schools, especially the Nursery and Primary School levels, as well as the general public.
Mr Nunoo told the Daily Graphic that Ghana should be able to train 15,000 specialists in this field in order to improve and continue to develop the training of specialists to cater for affected people in the future. .
He mentioned that it was important to raise awareness of the social challenges faced by those suffering from speech and language difficulties, whether they had suffered from a stroke, severe trauma or had faced difficulties since birth.
The Director of the Columbia University Speech and Language Therapy Teachers College, Mrs Cate Crowley, was optimistic that Ghanaians would be able to train their own speech and language therapists and stressed the importance of diminishing discrimination against those affected by speech and language impediments.
The students have worked at two major teaching hospitals in Accra and Kumasi, within Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Department, cleft palate, and craniofacial departments, and with the unit schools for students with disabilities. They have been working with stroke victims in an attempt to improve communication through the use of pictures and spoke positively of its success.
Wednesday 4 January 2012
WATCH-NIGHT services were held in churches in many parts of the country, amid singing and dancing, to herald 2012.
Many people also stayed in their homes, while others were at drinking spots and tourists centres to await the dawn of the new year.
As soon as it struck midnight, revellers welcomed the year with the blaring of sirens, tooting of car horns, shouts of joy and firing of firecrackers in homes and on the streets.
Worshippers in churches greeted the new year with shouts of ‘Hallelujah’ and ‘Glory to God’, amidst singing and dancing to gospel tunes.
The theme for most of the watch-night services was the need for Ghanaians to be thankful for what God had done and continued to do for them and pray for a peaceful and successful 2012 general election.
Ghanaians were also urged to stay away from indiscipline, insulting behaviour and violence and avoid being used by politicians to achieve their selfish interests.
At the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Adabraka, Accra, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, the Most Rev Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, urged Christians not to dwell on the bad things that happened in the past year but thank God for the good things that happened in their lives, reports Rebecca Kwei.
Quoting the Scriptures, he said all things worked for the good of those of who loved the Lord and so it was important to thank God for good health, the gift of life, family and friends, freedom to worship and the relative peace the country was enjoying.
The Most Rev Palmer-Buckle said those who loved God saw His hand at work even in the midst of challenges and tragedies, adding, “In all things, give thanks to God, and even if you do not understand, pray that God will help you see with His eyes that He loves you.”
At the Calvary Methodist Church, Tema Community 3, the Minister in charge, Rev Ebenezer Douglas Bruce-Tagoe, advised Ghanaians, especially Christians, to have patience in all situations, since God had His own way of manifesting His love and grace for mankind, reports Albert Sam.
He said those who waited upon the Lord and lifted high His name and that of His Son Jesus Christ would have His protection and defence in a more righteous way.
Albert K. Salia reports from the St Peter’s Catholic Church, Osu, that the Parish Priest, Rev Fr Dominic Amegashiti, who based his New Year Homily on Deuteronomy 31:6, urged Ghanaians, particularly Christians, not to live in fear in the New Year, as the blessings of God would be poured upon them in abundance.
He urged them to be strong and courageous, as God would not forsake them, stressing, “Whatever we lost in 2011 will be regained in 2012. All the disappointments will be turned into divine appointment.”
Seth J. Bokpe reports that in a sermon based on Psalm 26 and on the theme: “2012, My Year of Divine Encounter”, Rev Dr Francis F.K Abotchi, the Parish Pastor of the Trinity Parish of the Global Evangelical Church at Kotobabi in Accra, called on Christians to renew their commitment to God in order to achieve their dreams.
“Delay is not denial. God will help realise your dreams, but you will have to commit your time, talents and resources because God will not put fire where there is no sacrifice,” he said.
In a rather rare message on New Year’s eve, Rev Dag Heward-Mills, the Founder and Presiding Bishop of the Lighthouse Chapel International, shared 25 reasons why it was important for Christians to contribute to the building of the church, Samuel Doe Ablordeppey reports.
He said the church, with all its flaws and mistakes, was God’s most important priority and, therefore, needed Christians and businesses to align their visions to what the Lord was doing in that direction.
“It is the best vision to align yourself with building and growing the church, which is the first priority of Christ, as every other thing grows out of the church,” he told an assembly of over 5,000 worshippers at The Quodesh, the global head office of the LCI.
At the Mount Olivet Methodist Church, hundreds of worshippers, many of whom were none members of the church, thronged the church premises to bid farewell to 2011 and to welcome the new year, Charles Benoni Okine reports.
In his short message before midnight, Mr Tim Acquah-Hayford, a local preacher in the church, called on Christians to ensure that they worked hard towards making their New Year resolutions a reality.
“You do not need to come here again next year same time to repeat the same resolutions,” he said, adding that resolutions were very important because of the impact they had on the lives of Christians.
Alice Aryeetey reports that at the St Peter’s Methodist Church, Odorkor, the Resident Minister, Rev Ebenezer Agyemang Badu, in his sermon, urged all Ghanaians to be very prayerful in the New Year.
He urged Ghanaians to pray for peace as the country entered an election year.
“Act according to the will of God in order to enjoy God’s mercies and let Him fulfill the promises He made for you,” he said.
The Anglican Archbishop of the Province of West Africa and Bishop of Accra, the Most Reverend Dr Justice O. Akrofi, in a New Year message, called on Ghanaians to pursue peace, justice, righteousness, reconciliation, truth and true compassion as the new year beckoned, reports the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
He explained that those values were needed for every nation or community to honour and uphold because any country that did not honour and uphold those values would be a ground for confusion, violence and destruction, thereby undermining the well-being of humanity.
The Most Rev Akrofi noted that 2012, being an election year, could generate heat and controversy and, therefore, urged Ghanaians to put into their minds those values which could contribute to the peace and security of all and sundry.
Mary Ankrah reports from the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS) Cathedral in Accra that the priest, Isaac Asare, entreated the congregation to refrain from sin and practise righteousness so that they would receive the full blessings of God.
He said God was ready to help His children if only they obeyed and abided in His Word.
He said the congregation would be able to achieve success in 2012 if they relied on the strength and mercies of God and lived upright lives.
As soon as it struck midnight, revellers welcomed the year with the blaring of sirens, tooting of car horns, shouts of joy and firing of firecrackers in homes and on the streets.
Worshippers in churches greeted the new year with shouts of ‘Hallelujah’ and ‘Glory to God’, amidst singing and dancing to gospel tunes.
The theme for most of the watch-night services was the need for Ghanaians to be thankful for what God had done and continued to do for them and pray for a peaceful and successful 2012 general election.
Ghanaians were also urged to stay away from indiscipline, insulting behaviour and violence and avoid being used by politicians to achieve their selfish interests.
At the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Adabraka, Accra, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, the Most Rev Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, urged Christians not to dwell on the bad things that happened in the past year but thank God for the good things that happened in their lives, reports Rebecca Kwei.
Quoting the Scriptures, he said all things worked for the good of those of who loved the Lord and so it was important to thank God for good health, the gift of life, family and friends, freedom to worship and the relative peace the country was enjoying.
The Most Rev Palmer-Buckle said those who loved God saw His hand at work even in the midst of challenges and tragedies, adding, “In all things, give thanks to God, and even if you do not understand, pray that God will help you see with His eyes that He loves you.”
At the Calvary Methodist Church, Tema Community 3, the Minister in charge, Rev Ebenezer Douglas Bruce-Tagoe, advised Ghanaians, especially Christians, to have patience in all situations, since God had His own way of manifesting His love and grace for mankind, reports Albert Sam.
He said those who waited upon the Lord and lifted high His name and that of His Son Jesus Christ would have His protection and defence in a more righteous way.
Albert K. Salia reports from the St Peter’s Catholic Church, Osu, that the Parish Priest, Rev Fr Dominic Amegashiti, who based his New Year Homily on Deuteronomy 31:6, urged Ghanaians, particularly Christians, not to live in fear in the New Year, as the blessings of God would be poured upon them in abundance.
He urged them to be strong and courageous, as God would not forsake them, stressing, “Whatever we lost in 2011 will be regained in 2012. All the disappointments will be turned into divine appointment.”
Seth J. Bokpe reports that in a sermon based on Psalm 26 and on the theme: “2012, My Year of Divine Encounter”, Rev Dr Francis F.K Abotchi, the Parish Pastor of the Trinity Parish of the Global Evangelical Church at Kotobabi in Accra, called on Christians to renew their commitment to God in order to achieve their dreams.
“Delay is not denial. God will help realise your dreams, but you will have to commit your time, talents and resources because God will not put fire where there is no sacrifice,” he said.
In a rather rare message on New Year’s eve, Rev Dag Heward-Mills, the Founder and Presiding Bishop of the Lighthouse Chapel International, shared 25 reasons why it was important for Christians to contribute to the building of the church, Samuel Doe Ablordeppey reports.
He said the church, with all its flaws and mistakes, was God’s most important priority and, therefore, needed Christians and businesses to align their visions to what the Lord was doing in that direction.
“It is the best vision to align yourself with building and growing the church, which is the first priority of Christ, as every other thing grows out of the church,” he told an assembly of over 5,000 worshippers at The Quodesh, the global head office of the LCI.
At the Mount Olivet Methodist Church, hundreds of worshippers, many of whom were none members of the church, thronged the church premises to bid farewell to 2011 and to welcome the new year, Charles Benoni Okine reports.
In his short message before midnight, Mr Tim Acquah-Hayford, a local preacher in the church, called on Christians to ensure that they worked hard towards making their New Year resolutions a reality.
“You do not need to come here again next year same time to repeat the same resolutions,” he said, adding that resolutions were very important because of the impact they had on the lives of Christians.
Alice Aryeetey reports that at the St Peter’s Methodist Church, Odorkor, the Resident Minister, Rev Ebenezer Agyemang Badu, in his sermon, urged all Ghanaians to be very prayerful in the New Year.
He urged Ghanaians to pray for peace as the country entered an election year.
“Act according to the will of God in order to enjoy God’s mercies and let Him fulfill the promises He made for you,” he said.
The Anglican Archbishop of the Province of West Africa and Bishop of Accra, the Most Reverend Dr Justice O. Akrofi, in a New Year message, called on Ghanaians to pursue peace, justice, righteousness, reconciliation, truth and true compassion as the new year beckoned, reports the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
He explained that those values were needed for every nation or community to honour and uphold because any country that did not honour and uphold those values would be a ground for confusion, violence and destruction, thereby undermining the well-being of humanity.
The Most Rev Akrofi noted that 2012, being an election year, could generate heat and controversy and, therefore, urged Ghanaians to put into their minds those values which could contribute to the peace and security of all and sundry.
Mary Ankrah reports from the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS) Cathedral in Accra that the priest, Isaac Asare, entreated the congregation to refrain from sin and practise righteousness so that they would receive the full blessings of God.
He said God was ready to help His children if only they obeyed and abided in His Word.
He said the congregation would be able to achieve success in 2012 if they relied on the strength and mercies of God and lived upright lives.
GNPC supports 63rd New Year School
THE Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has presented a checque for GH¢100,000 to the University of Ghana (UG), Legon for the sponsorship of the 63rd Annual New Year School and Conference to be held this month.
The New Year School is an annual residential programme of a week’s duration organised by the Institute of Continuing and Distance Adult Education (ICDE) of the UG at which people from all walks of life meet to deliberate on topical issues of national and international interest.
The New Year School also helps to assess public opinion on pertinent issues in order to ensure good governance.
Presenting the cheque, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GNPC, Nana Boakye Asafu-Adjaye said the corporation was delighted to sponsor the New Year School, which is on the theme: “One year of Oil and Gas Production: Emerging issues.
He said the GNPC was attracted to sponsor the school by the chosen theme for this year.
He said there was the need for all Ghanaians to derive or enjoy the benefits from the oil and gas industry.
He also stated that the New Year School would give them the opportunity as the real stakeholders of the oil and gas production, to educate and inform Ghanaians about the activities of the sector.
He was hopeful that the whole nation would benefit from the programme and urged all participants to take advantage of the period to learn and share their thoughts on the issues that would be raised.
Receiving the cheque, the Vice Chancellor of the UG, Prof Ernest Aryeetey, said the oil and gas that is being produced in the country means a lot to Ghanaians, and that if managed well, will help all Ghanaians.
He was also hopeful that the New Year School will attract people to discuss the new oil production.
Prof Aryeetey stated that over the years, the annual New Year School had been supported by the government, but in recent times, that support has not been forthcoming.
He expressed gratitude to the GNPC and assured that the university would use the money for a good cause and called for more support from other organisations.
The New Year School is an annual residential programme of a week’s duration organised by the Institute of Continuing and Distance Adult Education (ICDE) of the UG at which people from all walks of life meet to deliberate on topical issues of national and international interest.
The New Year School also helps to assess public opinion on pertinent issues in order to ensure good governance.
Presenting the cheque, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GNPC, Nana Boakye Asafu-Adjaye said the corporation was delighted to sponsor the New Year School, which is on the theme: “One year of Oil and Gas Production: Emerging issues.
He said the GNPC was attracted to sponsor the school by the chosen theme for this year.
He said there was the need for all Ghanaians to derive or enjoy the benefits from the oil and gas industry.
He also stated that the New Year School would give them the opportunity as the real stakeholders of the oil and gas production, to educate and inform Ghanaians about the activities of the sector.
He was hopeful that the whole nation would benefit from the programme and urged all participants to take advantage of the period to learn and share their thoughts on the issues that would be raised.
Receiving the cheque, the Vice Chancellor of the UG, Prof Ernest Aryeetey, said the oil and gas that is being produced in the country means a lot to Ghanaians, and that if managed well, will help all Ghanaians.
He was also hopeful that the New Year School will attract people to discuss the new oil production.
Prof Aryeetey stated that over the years, the annual New Year School had been supported by the government, but in recent times, that support has not been forthcoming.
He expressed gratitude to the GNPC and assured that the university would use the money for a good cause and called for more support from other organisations.
Korle Bu recorded 1,036 child deaths last year
STATISTICS from the Health Information Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) indicate that 1,036 child deaths were recorded at the hospital last year.
Sources from the hospital attributed causes to the top ten deaths to premature birth, birth asphyxia, respiratory distress, grunting respiration, meconium aspiration, failure to thrive (FTT), retroviral infection (HIV), neonatal sepsis, anaemia and malaria
Out of the number, premature birth mortality was the highest, accounting for 244 death of babies from January to November, 2011 while birth asphyxia came second highest with a total number of 101 deaths recorded as of November last year.
According to health experts, premature or pre-term birth refers to the birth of a baby of less than 37 weeks gestational age (time elapsed since conception), as well as the birth of a baby before the developing organs are matured enough to allow normal postnatal survival.
Online information on child welfare indicate that premature birth can occur when a pregnant woman has malaria, hypertension, early bleeding, low blood count, high blood pressure and incompetent cervix.
The Principal Nursing Officer (PNO) at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the KBTH, Mrs Abigail Aryee, told the Daily Graphic that premature babies were sometimes referred from other hospitals and clinics to the KBTH, and some of the babies were mostly in bad states before getting there.
According to her, some private hospitals that do not have incubators or ventilators to cater for the babies transferred the babies to KBTH for proper health care, and some of the babies died before getting to the hospital.
She also stated that most of the babies died due to respiratory distress, and delay in bringing the babies to the hospital on time and explained that this is because the lungs of the premature babies were not matured enough and therefore needed to be aided by giving them oxygen to keep them alive.
Mrs Aryee said the NICU had only one working ventilator, while the oxygen supply system was not functioning properly, but they had improvised on the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines, to provide oxygen for the premature babies admitted to the hospital.
Another challenge confronting the unit is the small number of nurses at the NICU wards who catered for the babies at a particular time.
“Ideally it should be two nurses to a baby, but we have only seven nurses attending to over 40 babies on shift basis, and this makes the work hard for us”, she added.
A ward which was supposed to house 40 babies had exceeded the number of intake due to the increase in the number of premature births at the hospital.
Mrs Aryee advised pregnant women to regularly attend ante-natal clinics or hospital for their health conditions to be monitored to avoid complications in pregnancy.
She also advised that women who are pregnant should avoid long distance travelling and should heed to medical advice given to them when they attend the hospital.
She stated that the government had promised to provide the needed equipment and gadgets for proper facilitation of work in the hospital, and that they hope to receive them soon.
Sources from the hospital attributed causes to the top ten deaths to premature birth, birth asphyxia, respiratory distress, grunting respiration, meconium aspiration, failure to thrive (FTT), retroviral infection (HIV), neonatal sepsis, anaemia and malaria
Out of the number, premature birth mortality was the highest, accounting for 244 death of babies from January to November, 2011 while birth asphyxia came second highest with a total number of 101 deaths recorded as of November last year.
According to health experts, premature or pre-term birth refers to the birth of a baby of less than 37 weeks gestational age (time elapsed since conception), as well as the birth of a baby before the developing organs are matured enough to allow normal postnatal survival.
Online information on child welfare indicate that premature birth can occur when a pregnant woman has malaria, hypertension, early bleeding, low blood count, high blood pressure and incompetent cervix.
The Principal Nursing Officer (PNO) at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the KBTH, Mrs Abigail Aryee, told the Daily Graphic that premature babies were sometimes referred from other hospitals and clinics to the KBTH, and some of the babies were mostly in bad states before getting there.
According to her, some private hospitals that do not have incubators or ventilators to cater for the babies transferred the babies to KBTH for proper health care, and some of the babies died before getting to the hospital.
She also stated that most of the babies died due to respiratory distress, and delay in bringing the babies to the hospital on time and explained that this is because the lungs of the premature babies were not matured enough and therefore needed to be aided by giving them oxygen to keep them alive.
Mrs Aryee said the NICU had only one working ventilator, while the oxygen supply system was not functioning properly, but they had improvised on the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines, to provide oxygen for the premature babies admitted to the hospital.
Another challenge confronting the unit is the small number of nurses at the NICU wards who catered for the babies at a particular time.
“Ideally it should be two nurses to a baby, but we have only seven nurses attending to over 40 babies on shift basis, and this makes the work hard for us”, she added.
A ward which was supposed to house 40 babies had exceeded the number of intake due to the increase in the number of premature births at the hospital.
Mrs Aryee advised pregnant women to regularly attend ante-natal clinics or hospital for their health conditions to be monitored to avoid complications in pregnancy.
She also advised that women who are pregnant should avoid long distance travelling and should heed to medical advice given to them when they attend the hospital.
She stated that the government had promised to provide the needed equipment and gadgets for proper facilitation of work in the hospital, and that they hope to receive them soon.
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