A Former Minister of Finance and Economic Planning in the National Democratic Congress government (NDC), Dr Kwesi Botchwey, has called for an intra party dialogue to select local captains of industry for public funding.
The former minister who added his voice to the national debate on strategies to accelerate economic growth in the country said the selection should be based on standards and merit and not on ‘’any political football game’’.
Prof. Botchwey was delivering the last in a series of development lectures instituted by the Economics Department of the University of Ghana, Legon in Accra.
He noted that the integrity and security of entrepreneurs could be secured in order to stop businessmen from fleeing for cover when a new administration took over.
He said unless drastic policy options were adopted to deal with the sluggish growth in the economy the present growth of five and six per cent could not cause accelerated growth.
Dr Botchway said the economy required to grow at least at a rate of seven per cent on a sustainable basis for the country to achieve a middle income status.
He said a trend that run through all the economic recipes of the South East Asian industrialised countries was the ‘’picking of winners among captains of industry for special assistance.”
The former Finance Minister commended the government for staying the economy on an even keel for long period of time since 2001.
He, however, observed that for the past two years since 2006 public and domestic debts had kept rising which could derail the gains achieved so far.
Prof. Botchwey said unlike the Economic Recovery Programme (ERP) of the early eighties when the donor community was rigid and ideological, the present generation of donors had been flexible and revisionist in their prescriptions of policy options.
He said that had enabled the government to have more fiscal space to manoeuvre and ran a robust economy against a background of debt relief programme and sound micro economy practised by the government.
The former Minister of Finance, however, said the ERP achieved economic recovery with an increase in income of 2.2 per cent but the spill over effect expected did not materialise as investors failed to take advantage and come to invest in the economy.
Dr J.R.A. Ayee, Dean of Faculty of Social Studies, who chaired the lecture, observed that the concept of development was intriguing since it involved values, techniques and choices to achieve a breakthrough in the national economy.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
FINAL BATCH OF PILGRIMS TO DEPART ON MONDAY (PAGE 3)
THE Interim Hajj Management Committee (IHMC) has given the assurance that the final batch of 300 Muslims will leave Accra on Monday for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to complete the airlifting of 2,334 Ghanaian Muslims to perform this year’s Hajj.
Sheikh Yunusah Osman Mohammed, the Executive Secretary of the IHMC, who spoke to the Daily Graphic at the Hajj Village at Nima on Thursday, said the final 300 would include those who went through the formalities last year, but could not be airlifted.
Sheikh Mohammed said 2,034 pilgrims had already left and the rest would all be lifted by scheduled flights by Monday.
He denied rumours that the pilgrims were being charged extra fees and said apart from the processing fees of GH¢50, no pilgrim had been asked by the IHMC to pay any extra fees.
He alleged that because this year’s Hajj had been efficiently operated, some members of last year’s abolished Hajj committee had been inciting the pilgrims to resort to violence, because they would not be able to make the pilgrimage.
Alhaji Armiyau Hussein, one of the pilgrims, who could not make it last year, had earlier told the Daily Graphic that out of 20 Muslims from last year’s abortive operations who came from Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, 15 of them had been lifted to Mecca.
He said since last Friday, the IHMC members had been postponing their flight and since Monday, they had not heard from them again.
He said the village had run out of water and food, and the prospective pilgrims had to buy ‘pure water’ to drink and perform ablution, while some of them had run out of money and had to depend on fried plantain from hawkers to keep them going.
Alhaji Hussein appealed to the government to send a delegation to the Hajj Village to find out the conditions under which the pilgrims and their families, who had come to see them off, were living.
Nasta Abdallah, another pilgrim who was supposed to have performed the Hajj last year, complained that her agent was demanding another payment from her before she could be airlifted.
With only a few days to the deadline which falls on November 30, 2008, she said the agent was requesting another GH¢360, in addition to the previous GH¢260 she paid last year.
The agent, one Alhaji Mallam, when contacted, said he had never asked her to repay for her trip, but asked her family to buy her another ticket to enable her to embark on the Hajj, since time was running out.
He said all particulars, including tickets of the pilgrims who could not be airlifted, were in the possession of the IHMC members and there was nothing more he could do.
Sheikh Yunusah Osman Mohammed, the Executive Secretary of the IHMC, who spoke to the Daily Graphic at the Hajj Village at Nima on Thursday, said the final 300 would include those who went through the formalities last year, but could not be airlifted.
Sheikh Mohammed said 2,034 pilgrims had already left and the rest would all be lifted by scheduled flights by Monday.
He denied rumours that the pilgrims were being charged extra fees and said apart from the processing fees of GH¢50, no pilgrim had been asked by the IHMC to pay any extra fees.
He alleged that because this year’s Hajj had been efficiently operated, some members of last year’s abolished Hajj committee had been inciting the pilgrims to resort to violence, because they would not be able to make the pilgrimage.
Alhaji Armiyau Hussein, one of the pilgrims, who could not make it last year, had earlier told the Daily Graphic that out of 20 Muslims from last year’s abortive operations who came from Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, 15 of them had been lifted to Mecca.
He said since last Friday, the IHMC members had been postponing their flight and since Monday, they had not heard from them again.
He said the village had run out of water and food, and the prospective pilgrims had to buy ‘pure water’ to drink and perform ablution, while some of them had run out of money and had to depend on fried plantain from hawkers to keep them going.
Alhaji Hussein appealed to the government to send a delegation to the Hajj Village to find out the conditions under which the pilgrims and their families, who had come to see them off, were living.
Nasta Abdallah, another pilgrim who was supposed to have performed the Hajj last year, complained that her agent was demanding another payment from her before she could be airlifted.
With only a few days to the deadline which falls on November 30, 2008, she said the agent was requesting another GH¢360, in addition to the previous GH¢260 she paid last year.
The agent, one Alhaji Mallam, when contacted, said he had never asked her to repay for her trip, but asked her family to buy her another ticket to enable her to embark on the Hajj, since time was running out.
He said all particulars, including tickets of the pilgrims who could not be airlifted, were in the possession of the IHMC members and there was nothing more he could do.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
GAEC TAKES INVENTORY OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS (PAGE 31)
THE Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) has identified more than 1000 radioactive sources in the industry, health and agricultural sectors of the country.
Furthermore, as part of national and international security action plan, the GAEC is taking inventory of all the radioactive materials and those not in use transported to GAEC headquarters in Accra for safe-keeping and disposal.
Professor Yaw Serfor Armah, the Deputy Director General of the GAEC, who announced this in Accra yesterday, said the measure had become necessary because since September 11, 2001, the control and usage of radioactive sources had become an emerging global issue, particularly on the possible use of radioactive materials in terrorist activities.
He pointed out that the government was fully committed to the multilateral non-proliferation treaty on nuclear safeguards.
The Deputy Director General, who was speaking at the opening ceremony of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and GAEC regional workshop on regulatory control of radiation sources, said the Commission would also ensure that while developing and promoting nuclear science and technology, nuclear safety and security were not compromised.
He stressed that the Radiation Protection Board (RPB) was the sole regulatory body in Ghana established to ensure control and use of radioactive sources.
He reminded the public that RPB had the authority under the legislative instrument (LI 1559 of 1993) to authorise, license, inspect and control all activities and practices involving radiation source, radioactive materials and X-ray facilities in hospitals, industries and others in Ghana.
Professor Armah said the Radiation Protection Institute (RPI) of the GAEC considered it a privilege to host the workshop being organised under the auspices of the IAEA, in collaboration with the Government of Ghana.
He said the purpose of the workshop was to build competence and expertise needed by the national bodies for the establishment and operation of adequate regulatory programme for the safety and security of radioactive sources.
These include nuclear medicine, radiotherapy, industrial radiography, nuclear gauges and well logging in accordance with the requirements, recommendations and guidance of international standards.
The Minister of Health, Major Courage Quashigah (retd), said despite benefits from various applications of radioactive sources, there were hazards associated with their use.
He appealed to the experts not to exceed the dose of the radioactive materials and also not to be careless when using the materials.
The minister, therefore, urged the participants to endeavour to learn more useful lessons at the workshop, so that they could return to their various countries and institutions to assist in handling dangerous radioactive materials to protect lives.
Furthermore, as part of national and international security action plan, the GAEC is taking inventory of all the radioactive materials and those not in use transported to GAEC headquarters in Accra for safe-keeping and disposal.
Professor Yaw Serfor Armah, the Deputy Director General of the GAEC, who announced this in Accra yesterday, said the measure had become necessary because since September 11, 2001, the control and usage of radioactive sources had become an emerging global issue, particularly on the possible use of radioactive materials in terrorist activities.
He pointed out that the government was fully committed to the multilateral non-proliferation treaty on nuclear safeguards.
The Deputy Director General, who was speaking at the opening ceremony of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and GAEC regional workshop on regulatory control of radiation sources, said the Commission would also ensure that while developing and promoting nuclear science and technology, nuclear safety and security were not compromised.
He stressed that the Radiation Protection Board (RPB) was the sole regulatory body in Ghana established to ensure control and use of radioactive sources.
He reminded the public that RPB had the authority under the legislative instrument (LI 1559 of 1993) to authorise, license, inspect and control all activities and practices involving radiation source, radioactive materials and X-ray facilities in hospitals, industries and others in Ghana.
Professor Armah said the Radiation Protection Institute (RPI) of the GAEC considered it a privilege to host the workshop being organised under the auspices of the IAEA, in collaboration with the Government of Ghana.
He said the purpose of the workshop was to build competence and expertise needed by the national bodies for the establishment and operation of adequate regulatory programme for the safety and security of radioactive sources.
These include nuclear medicine, radiotherapy, industrial radiography, nuclear gauges and well logging in accordance with the requirements, recommendations and guidance of international standards.
The Minister of Health, Major Courage Quashigah (retd), said despite benefits from various applications of radioactive sources, there were hazards associated with their use.
He appealed to the experts not to exceed the dose of the radioactive materials and also not to be careless when using the materials.
The minister, therefore, urged the participants to endeavour to learn more useful lessons at the workshop, so that they could return to their various countries and institutions to assist in handling dangerous radioactive materials to protect lives.
Friday, November 21, 2008
MORE SCHOOLS NEEDED IN GA MASHIE, OLD FADAMA AREAS (PAGE 14)
ONE hundred thousand children of school age in the Ga Mashie and Old Fadama catchment areas are out of school as a result of lack of space in those communities to construct new first-cycle schools.
The Ga Mashie Development Agency (GAMADA) is, therefore, scouting for 80 acres of land in the two communities to construct new schools to enable them to enrol the backlog of children currently languishing in the area without education.
The Director of GAMADA, Nii Teiko Tagoe, brought this to light at the launch of a population training and research capacity for development projects on health for Ga Mashie and Old Fadama, popularly known as Sodom and Gomorrah.
He expressed the hope that the launch of the population project would assist to unearth the factors underlying poverty in those two communities.
He said the major livelihood of the area, fishing, had also collapsed but added that hope for its revival had come with the recent ceremony at which President John Agyekum Kufuor cut the sod for the construction of a fishing harbour at James Town.
He said until recently the area had been neglected in terms of poverty alleviation projects because it was hard to believe that some urban areas such as Ga Mashie, which was close to the central business district of Accra, could be vulnerable.
A recent study by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), he said, had brought to light the plight of the urban poor in the area.
Nii Teiko said since then the area had witnessed a number of development projects, such as the rehabilitation of some historical buildings which provided some job opportunities for artisans in the area.
Professor Nii Amoo Dodoo, the Director of the Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) at the University of Ghana Legon, which undertook the population research, in collaboration with the University of Southampton, said the project would focus on children and mothers to find out the relationship between urban poverty and health.
He said because researchers usually used averages in comparing rural poverty with urban poverty, there was always the misconception that rural poverty was more debilitating than urban poverty.
He said studies done in some African countries had revealed that urban poverty in some cities could be more dire than in the rural areas and that the studies at the two areas depicted that.
He said the three-year research, when completed, would help guide policy makers and non-governmental agencies on where to channel their poverty alleviation interventions.
Prof Dodoo said the field research could help inform the development agenda of the country, as well as assist in the redesigning of the social science curricula.
He said universities such as the University of Cape Coast, the University of Ibadan and Fourah Bay College in Sierra Leone were partners in the research.
The Ngleshie Mantse, Nii Kojo Ababio V, who chaired the launch, appealed to the communities to participate in the research since they held the key to its success.
The Ga Mashie Development Agency (GAMADA) is, therefore, scouting for 80 acres of land in the two communities to construct new schools to enable them to enrol the backlog of children currently languishing in the area without education.
The Director of GAMADA, Nii Teiko Tagoe, brought this to light at the launch of a population training and research capacity for development projects on health for Ga Mashie and Old Fadama, popularly known as Sodom and Gomorrah.
He expressed the hope that the launch of the population project would assist to unearth the factors underlying poverty in those two communities.
He said the major livelihood of the area, fishing, had also collapsed but added that hope for its revival had come with the recent ceremony at which President John Agyekum Kufuor cut the sod for the construction of a fishing harbour at James Town.
He said until recently the area had been neglected in terms of poverty alleviation projects because it was hard to believe that some urban areas such as Ga Mashie, which was close to the central business district of Accra, could be vulnerable.
A recent study by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), he said, had brought to light the plight of the urban poor in the area.
Nii Teiko said since then the area had witnessed a number of development projects, such as the rehabilitation of some historical buildings which provided some job opportunities for artisans in the area.
Professor Nii Amoo Dodoo, the Director of the Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) at the University of Ghana Legon, which undertook the population research, in collaboration with the University of Southampton, said the project would focus on children and mothers to find out the relationship between urban poverty and health.
He said because researchers usually used averages in comparing rural poverty with urban poverty, there was always the misconception that rural poverty was more debilitating than urban poverty.
He said studies done in some African countries had revealed that urban poverty in some cities could be more dire than in the rural areas and that the studies at the two areas depicted that.
He said the three-year research, when completed, would help guide policy makers and non-governmental agencies on where to channel their poverty alleviation interventions.
Prof Dodoo said the field research could help inform the development agenda of the country, as well as assist in the redesigning of the social science curricula.
He said universities such as the University of Cape Coast, the University of Ibadan and Fourah Bay College in Sierra Leone were partners in the research.
The Ngleshie Mantse, Nii Kojo Ababio V, who chaired the launch, appealed to the communities to participate in the research since they held the key to its success.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
WORKSHOP ON ELECTION DISPUTE ADJUDICATION OPENS (SPREAD)
SEVENTY judges drawn from the High and Appeal Courts are attending a workshop on Election Dispute Adjudication in preparation for the national elections in December.
The two-day workshop is aimed at preparing the judiciary logistically, psychologically and professionally to meet the challenges of adjudicating petitions that may arise from the upcoming elections.
Opening the workshop, the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, said the judiciary was the ultimate channel constitutionally empowered to resolve all electoral disputes arising from presidential and parliamentary elections.
She said the specialised nature of electoral adjudication made it imperative that judges were sensitised to their role in the electoral process, the procedural and substantive procedural laws governing the adjudication of electoral disputes and offences.
She said duty called on them to exercise their mandate competently, in consonance with the mission statement of the Judicial Service.
The Chief Justice also appealed to judges to extend Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to election disputes explaining that the ADR was not about power sharing.
She said further that the primary ADR processes of mediation or conciliation and arbitration were the most widely known mechanisms.
She observed that there were well- structured procedures to assist disputants to honestly evaluate the likely chances of success or outcome of court cases, before and during trial.
The Chief Justice said in everyday life a fair number of people rushed to court at the slightest sign that they have been wronged, without really taking time to assess their chances of success, or even where they do, they carried exaggerated opinions about the rightness of their cause.
One of the Adder’s key methods is the Early Neutral Evaluation to assist parties to dispassionately assess the strengths and weaknesses of their respective cases.
This, she said, would enable them to decide whether to carry on or terminate court proceedings in the face of the obvious, and so avoid the financial and emotional costs that come with unwanted litigation.
She emphasised that Ghanaians have sent out a very strong message that clearly shows their preference for non-violence throughout the elections and beyond it, so that they can legitimately carry on with their life in peace and freedom.
The two-day workshop is aimed at preparing the judiciary logistically, psychologically and professionally to meet the challenges of adjudicating petitions that may arise from the upcoming elections.
Opening the workshop, the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, said the judiciary was the ultimate channel constitutionally empowered to resolve all electoral disputes arising from presidential and parliamentary elections.
She said the specialised nature of electoral adjudication made it imperative that judges were sensitised to their role in the electoral process, the procedural and substantive procedural laws governing the adjudication of electoral disputes and offences.
She said duty called on them to exercise their mandate competently, in consonance with the mission statement of the Judicial Service.
The Chief Justice also appealed to judges to extend Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to election disputes explaining that the ADR was not about power sharing.
She said further that the primary ADR processes of mediation or conciliation and arbitration were the most widely known mechanisms.
She observed that there were well- structured procedures to assist disputants to honestly evaluate the likely chances of success or outcome of court cases, before and during trial.
The Chief Justice said in everyday life a fair number of people rushed to court at the slightest sign that they have been wronged, without really taking time to assess their chances of success, or even where they do, they carried exaggerated opinions about the rightness of their cause.
One of the Adder’s key methods is the Early Neutral Evaluation to assist parties to dispassionately assess the strengths and weaknesses of their respective cases.
This, she said, would enable them to decide whether to carry on or terminate court proceedings in the face of the obvious, and so avoid the financial and emotional costs that come with unwanted litigation.
She emphasised that Ghanaians have sent out a very strong message that clearly shows their preference for non-violence throughout the elections and beyond it, so that they can legitimately carry on with their life in peace and freedom.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
MINISTRY TO FASHION OUT NEW POSTAL POLICY (PAGE 32)
The Ministry of Communications is fashioning a new national postal policy to bridge the digital divide existing between the rural and urban areas of the country for rapid development.
The national postal policy which would incorporate ICT into the postal service is aimed at positioning the postal industry to be a powerful source of social cohesion.
Mr Benjamin Aggrey Ntim, Minister of Communications, who disclosed this said apart from the postal industry being a key lever in economic and social development, it could be used to facilitate trade, commerce and communication in rural and urban areas.
He said the government would like to see that financial services were extended to every part of the country, and that the new postal policy would include the various models that would enable the national postal provider to offer quality financial services to citizens in the low income bracket.
He said the national postal policy would therefore make it mandatory for the postal services and courier industry to embrace the use of ICT at all levels as a new source for the creation of quality jobs as well as rapid economic development and prosperity.
Mr Ntim who opened a workshop to deliberate on the national postal policy said the advantages of a modernised postal service were so huge that the government would not stand aloof for the industry to die because of rapid changes in communications technology.
He explained that world wide socio-economic trends such as globalisation liberalisation, privatisation and competition posed multi-dimensional challenges to the postal industry.
Mr Ntim whose address was read on his behalf by the Chief Director of the Ministry of Communications, Mr Kwaku Ofosu-Adarkwa, said however that the emerging information and knowledge was generating opportunities in developed and developing countries.
He, therefore, urged the participants to endeavour to come up with suggestions that would address the needs of the rural populace who required support and training to communicate.
The minister said the government also owed it a duty and a responsibility to cater for the needs of the physically challenged in all policy processes so that the inputs of these segment of the society would make the national postal policy stand the test of time.
He said other areas worth looking at by the participants at the workshop also included promoting universal access to postal facilities as well as recognition for the protection of the rights of consumers and citizens, especially consumer requirement for quality of service delivery.
He said the policy would also seek to encourage private investment so as to improve the postal services and infrastructure in the country by promoting competition in the sector as a way to improve quality of service through innovations and the introduction of new postal products on the market.
Mr Raymond Cudjoe, a legal practitioner who chaired the function, said an efficient postal system would ensure that rural dwellers were not left out in the e-commerce world.
He said the postal service because of its physical presence in the rural areas provided an infrastructure in facilitating the rural urban digital divide.
Mr Cudjoe explained that the e-commerce platform when linked to an efficient postal infrastructure could deliver items purchased in the urban centres to a person in the rural areas of the country.
The national postal policy which would incorporate ICT into the postal service is aimed at positioning the postal industry to be a powerful source of social cohesion.
Mr Benjamin Aggrey Ntim, Minister of Communications, who disclosed this said apart from the postal industry being a key lever in economic and social development, it could be used to facilitate trade, commerce and communication in rural and urban areas.
He said the government would like to see that financial services were extended to every part of the country, and that the new postal policy would include the various models that would enable the national postal provider to offer quality financial services to citizens in the low income bracket.
He said the national postal policy would therefore make it mandatory for the postal services and courier industry to embrace the use of ICT at all levels as a new source for the creation of quality jobs as well as rapid economic development and prosperity.
Mr Ntim who opened a workshop to deliberate on the national postal policy said the advantages of a modernised postal service were so huge that the government would not stand aloof for the industry to die because of rapid changes in communications technology.
He explained that world wide socio-economic trends such as globalisation liberalisation, privatisation and competition posed multi-dimensional challenges to the postal industry.
Mr Ntim whose address was read on his behalf by the Chief Director of the Ministry of Communications, Mr Kwaku Ofosu-Adarkwa, said however that the emerging information and knowledge was generating opportunities in developed and developing countries.
He, therefore, urged the participants to endeavour to come up with suggestions that would address the needs of the rural populace who required support and training to communicate.
The minister said the government also owed it a duty and a responsibility to cater for the needs of the physically challenged in all policy processes so that the inputs of these segment of the society would make the national postal policy stand the test of time.
He said other areas worth looking at by the participants at the workshop also included promoting universal access to postal facilities as well as recognition for the protection of the rights of consumers and citizens, especially consumer requirement for quality of service delivery.
He said the policy would also seek to encourage private investment so as to improve the postal services and infrastructure in the country by promoting competition in the sector as a way to improve quality of service through innovations and the introduction of new postal products on the market.
Mr Raymond Cudjoe, a legal practitioner who chaired the function, said an efficient postal system would ensure that rural dwellers were not left out in the e-commerce world.
He said the postal service because of its physical presence in the rural areas provided an infrastructure in facilitating the rural urban digital divide.
Mr Cudjoe explained that the e-commerce platform when linked to an efficient postal infrastructure could deliver items purchased in the urban centres to a person in the rural areas of the country.
4 RESOLVE TO USE EDUCATION TO BREAK CYCLE OF POVERTY (PAGE 14)
The four major political parties have reiterated their resolve to use quality education to break the cycle of poverty in the country.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the People’s National Convention (PNC) and the Convention People’s Party (CPP) made their positions known during a debate on education held in Accra.
However, the four parties differed on the methods and the source for funding education.
Ms Elizabeth Ohene, a Minister of State, who represented the NPP said the computer placement of students into Senior High School was one single effort of the government to ensure that students, irrespective of their background got admissions based on merit.
She explained that the move had helped to eradicate corruption and cronyism in the educational sector, and that children from poor families were being admitted to some of the ‘’fanciful’’ schools in the country.
She said the teacher had been made the fulcrum of the educational reforms by the NPP government.
She said through distance education many teachers who would have left the classroom for further education rather used the distance learning to upgrade themselves.
She said the country produced around 9,000 teachers annually, with 18,000 teachers applying each year for study leave but with the introduction of the distance learning the pressure had reduced considerably.
Ms Ohene said the NPP was not against the use of the GetFund to support research and the upgrading of teachers in private universities, which she described as intellectual property.
She, however, said that the NPP would not support any move to use the Getfund to build structures on land acquired by proprietors of private universities since that could raise some legal issues in the future.
She also added that students from private universities had been allowed by the government to access student loans from the funds made available by the Getfund.
Mr Mohammed Atik, PNC spokesperson on education, for his part said the PNC would build non-residential facilities such as libraries and science laboratories to enable students, especially at the tertiary level to stay in their localities but still have access to good facilities to pursue their education.
This was because the present boarding system had become so expensive that the government could not afford it at the expense of the majority who failed to get admissions into tertiary institutions.
Mr Vincent Senam Kuagbenu,a representative of the NDC, said his party started the deboardinasation exercise because the majority of the students were left out of the educational system.
He said the community High School system introduced by the NDC government was to find a lasting solution to the increasing drop out rate which was affecting a lot of students in the country.
He said the NDC would also open more learning centres to absorb all students who could not get admission into the country’s universities.
Dr Vladimir Antwi Danso, a representative of the CPP, said the party when given the mandate would combine the junior high school with the Senior High School system to make it one entity.
He said on completion students would be allowed to branch into their professions and students who could not make it would still find work in the economy since the educational system would be made to work in tandem with the economy.
Dr Antwi Danso said the present educational system was running parallel to the economy, and that a lot of students were churned out from the educational system without the relevant qualification.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the People’s National Convention (PNC) and the Convention People’s Party (CPP) made their positions known during a debate on education held in Accra.
However, the four parties differed on the methods and the source for funding education.
Ms Elizabeth Ohene, a Minister of State, who represented the NPP said the computer placement of students into Senior High School was one single effort of the government to ensure that students, irrespective of their background got admissions based on merit.
She explained that the move had helped to eradicate corruption and cronyism in the educational sector, and that children from poor families were being admitted to some of the ‘’fanciful’’ schools in the country.
She said the teacher had been made the fulcrum of the educational reforms by the NPP government.
She said through distance education many teachers who would have left the classroom for further education rather used the distance learning to upgrade themselves.
She said the country produced around 9,000 teachers annually, with 18,000 teachers applying each year for study leave but with the introduction of the distance learning the pressure had reduced considerably.
Ms Ohene said the NPP was not against the use of the GetFund to support research and the upgrading of teachers in private universities, which she described as intellectual property.
She, however, said that the NPP would not support any move to use the Getfund to build structures on land acquired by proprietors of private universities since that could raise some legal issues in the future.
She also added that students from private universities had been allowed by the government to access student loans from the funds made available by the Getfund.
Mr Mohammed Atik, PNC spokesperson on education, for his part said the PNC would build non-residential facilities such as libraries and science laboratories to enable students, especially at the tertiary level to stay in their localities but still have access to good facilities to pursue their education.
This was because the present boarding system had become so expensive that the government could not afford it at the expense of the majority who failed to get admissions into tertiary institutions.
Mr Vincent Senam Kuagbenu,a representative of the NDC, said his party started the deboardinasation exercise because the majority of the students were left out of the educational system.
He said the community High School system introduced by the NDC government was to find a lasting solution to the increasing drop out rate which was affecting a lot of students in the country.
He said the NDC would also open more learning centres to absorb all students who could not get admission into the country’s universities.
Dr Vladimir Antwi Danso, a representative of the CPP, said the party when given the mandate would combine the junior high school with the Senior High School system to make it one entity.
He said on completion students would be allowed to branch into their professions and students who could not make it would still find work in the economy since the educational system would be made to work in tandem with the economy.
Dr Antwi Danso said the present educational system was running parallel to the economy, and that a lot of students were churned out from the educational system without the relevant qualification.
TWO SIGN AGREEMENT ON GOOD GOVERNANCE AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION (BACK PAGE)
THE Government of Ghana and the Danish Government yesterday signed two agreements on good governance and poverty alleviation totalling $140.8 million.
The overall development objective of the two agreements, Local Service Delivery and Governance Programme (LSDGP) and Good Governance and Human Rights Programme (GGHRP), is to contribute to poverty alleviation through improved service delivery and good governance at the district level.
Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, signed on behalf of the Government of Ghana, while Mr Stig Barlyng, the Danish Ambassador to Ghana, signed on behalf of his government.
Dr Akoto said Danish development assistance started flowing into the country as far back as 1957 and these included the rehabilitation of the Konongo-Kumasi trunk road and the construction of the commercial courts, as well as the provision of boreholes for water delivery in deprived communities.
He said the signing of the new agreements would lead to the institutionalisation of good governance, human rights and access to justice at the national, regional and districts levels.
For his part, Mr Barlyng said the Ghana Audit Service had been commissioned under the agreements to audit all the district assemblies to ensure that the funds made available to them were spent according to the rules and regulations of the agreements.
Mr Barlyng said the two institutions could, therefore, promote good governance and protect human rights at all levels of society, especially at the regional and district levels.
Ms Anna Bossman, acting Commissioner of CHRAJ, said over the years the judicial sector had found DANIDA as a faithful development partner.
She said areas of support had covered capacity building, as well as putting Alternative Dispute Resolution in the mainstream of the justice delivery system.
The overall development objective of the two agreements, Local Service Delivery and Governance Programme (LSDGP) and Good Governance and Human Rights Programme (GGHRP), is to contribute to poverty alleviation through improved service delivery and good governance at the district level.
Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, signed on behalf of the Government of Ghana, while Mr Stig Barlyng, the Danish Ambassador to Ghana, signed on behalf of his government.
Dr Akoto said Danish development assistance started flowing into the country as far back as 1957 and these included the rehabilitation of the Konongo-Kumasi trunk road and the construction of the commercial courts, as well as the provision of boreholes for water delivery in deprived communities.
He said the signing of the new agreements would lead to the institutionalisation of good governance, human rights and access to justice at the national, regional and districts levels.
For his part, Mr Barlyng said the Ghana Audit Service had been commissioned under the agreements to audit all the district assemblies to ensure that the funds made available to them were spent according to the rules and regulations of the agreements.
Mr Barlyng said the two institutions could, therefore, promote good governance and protect human rights at all levels of society, especially at the regional and district levels.
Ms Anna Bossman, acting Commissioner of CHRAJ, said over the years the judicial sector had found DANIDA as a faithful development partner.
She said areas of support had covered capacity building, as well as putting Alternative Dispute Resolution in the mainstream of the justice delivery system.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
AGRIC SCIENCE STUDENTS TO GET PRACTICAL TRAINING (PAGE 11)
THE University of Ghana, Legon and the National Best Farmers and Fishermen Association are collaborating with other universities to train Agricultural Science students.
The collaboration will be in the form of attachment of Agricultural Students of the University of Ghana to identifiable members of the farmers and fishermen associations for practical training in their various fields to enable them to also appreciate the challenges and opportunities faced by the farmers.
The Provost of the College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences of the University of Ghana, Prof. Ben Ahunu, announced the expansion programme at a reception organised by the Akuafo Hall of the University for award winning farmers.
He said the internship programme had become so successful during the two years that Finatrade Foundation had proposed an expansion to include other Agricultural students from the various universities.
Prof. Ahunu therefore appealed to the award winners to encourage more of their members to accept students for the internship programmes so that a great number of students could participate in them.
He explained that the award winners should consider instituting awards and scholarships for students of Agriculture and Oceanography.
Prof. Ahunu said no matter their value, the awards and scholarships could encourage the students to take up farming as a career.
He said the internship and challenges faced by the students in the field had translated into researchable issues, which ultimately would benefit the farmers in particular and the nation in general.
Prof. Ahunu congratulated the farmers on working hard over the years to produce to feed the nation at a time when the world food crisis was resulting in violent demonstrations in other parts of the continent.
The Akuafo Hall Tutor, Rev. Dr W. S. K. Gbewonyo, said the reception for farmers, which was the sixth to be held, was aimed at honouring farmers and fishermen for their contribution to education in particular since it was the seed money from farmers which made it possible to establish the University of Ghana in 1948.
Dr Gbewonyo said the Hall continued to celebrate the achievements of farmers in the country by dedicating the Hall fountain to farmers and fishermen.
He expressed the gratitude of Akuafo Hall to the farmers for their desire to provide a hostel facility for students.
The collaboration will be in the form of attachment of Agricultural Students of the University of Ghana to identifiable members of the farmers and fishermen associations for practical training in their various fields to enable them to also appreciate the challenges and opportunities faced by the farmers.
The Provost of the College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences of the University of Ghana, Prof. Ben Ahunu, announced the expansion programme at a reception organised by the Akuafo Hall of the University for award winning farmers.
He said the internship programme had become so successful during the two years that Finatrade Foundation had proposed an expansion to include other Agricultural students from the various universities.
Prof. Ahunu therefore appealed to the award winners to encourage more of their members to accept students for the internship programmes so that a great number of students could participate in them.
He explained that the award winners should consider instituting awards and scholarships for students of Agriculture and Oceanography.
Prof. Ahunu said no matter their value, the awards and scholarships could encourage the students to take up farming as a career.
He said the internship and challenges faced by the students in the field had translated into researchable issues, which ultimately would benefit the farmers in particular and the nation in general.
Prof. Ahunu congratulated the farmers on working hard over the years to produce to feed the nation at a time when the world food crisis was resulting in violent demonstrations in other parts of the continent.
The Akuafo Hall Tutor, Rev. Dr W. S. K. Gbewonyo, said the reception for farmers, which was the sixth to be held, was aimed at honouring farmers and fishermen for their contribution to education in particular since it was the seed money from farmers which made it possible to establish the University of Ghana in 1948.
Dr Gbewonyo said the Hall continued to celebrate the achievements of farmers in the country by dedicating the Hall fountain to farmers and fishermen.
He expressed the gratitude of Akuafo Hall to the farmers for their desire to provide a hostel facility for students.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
THREE ESCAPE UNHURT IN TRAIN ACCIDENT (PAGE 20)
THREE persons escaped unhurt when the vehicle in which they were was run into by a train on the Graphic Road yesterday evening.
The accident, which occurred at about 5.40 p.m, involved a Toyota Corolla saloon with registration number GW 2454 Y and a Tema-bound train.
The train was travelling from the train station at CMB while the vehicle was travelling from the Graphic area towards the Obetsebi-Lamptey Circle.
The accident, which drew a large number of people from Adabraka and its environs, led to heavy traffic because the dual carriageway got temporarily blocked.
Passengers from Kaneshie or Accra had to alight from their vehicles and walk from the accident scene.
According to eyewitnesses, the driver of the Toyota car, which had stopped on the railway line due to heavy traffic, had to abandon the vehicle when she saw the train heading towards her direction.
They said as the train approached, the two other persons in the vehicle also jumped out of it, and since the vehicle was in the path of the train, it ran into its side, dragging it for a few metres.
“I saw the woman in Customs uniform get out of the vehicle, hold her head and start crying. We had to shout at her to move away from the vehicle before the train would crash into her,” Kofi, an eyewitness, said.
The driver of the train refused to talk to the press, saying that according to the Railways Regulations, they had to report to the Control Office first.
However, Enoch Siaw, a Clearing Agent, who was sitting by the driver of the Toyota vehicle, when the traffic control officer of the Railways stationed at the point of the accident saw the Tema-bound train around a curve towards his control point, he started shouting at the drivers to clear the way for the train.
He said at that time, the Toyota vehicle was right on the track with other vehicles in front and behind it, leaving the driver little room to manoeuvre, adding that they had no option, but to come out of the car.
No sooner had they come out of the car than the traffic started to move, but the attempt to get back into the car proved futile as the train almost approached the scene.
The accident, which occurred at about 5.40 p.m, involved a Toyota Corolla saloon with registration number GW 2454 Y and a Tema-bound train.
The train was travelling from the train station at CMB while the vehicle was travelling from the Graphic area towards the Obetsebi-Lamptey Circle.
The accident, which drew a large number of people from Adabraka and its environs, led to heavy traffic because the dual carriageway got temporarily blocked.
Passengers from Kaneshie or Accra had to alight from their vehicles and walk from the accident scene.
According to eyewitnesses, the driver of the Toyota car, which had stopped on the railway line due to heavy traffic, had to abandon the vehicle when she saw the train heading towards her direction.
They said as the train approached, the two other persons in the vehicle also jumped out of it, and since the vehicle was in the path of the train, it ran into its side, dragging it for a few metres.
“I saw the woman in Customs uniform get out of the vehicle, hold her head and start crying. We had to shout at her to move away from the vehicle before the train would crash into her,” Kofi, an eyewitness, said.
The driver of the train refused to talk to the press, saying that according to the Railways Regulations, they had to report to the Control Office first.
However, Enoch Siaw, a Clearing Agent, who was sitting by the driver of the Toyota vehicle, when the traffic control officer of the Railways stationed at the point of the accident saw the Tema-bound train around a curve towards his control point, he started shouting at the drivers to clear the way for the train.
He said at that time, the Toyota vehicle was right on the track with other vehicles in front and behind it, leaving the driver little room to manoeuvre, adding that they had no option, but to come out of the car.
No sooner had they come out of the car than the traffic started to move, but the attempt to get back into the car proved futile as the train almost approached the scene.
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