By Bernice Bessey

The Japanese Embassy in Ghana has released a grant of US$252,000 to support three institutions in the country to provide infrastructure in their localities.
The institutions are the Birim South District in the Eastern Region, which received US$95,500 to construct and mechanise boreholes in 12 different communities, and Songtaba, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) in the Mion District in the Northern Region, also received US$83,700 to construct a six-unit classroom block and other ancillaries at Sang.

Also, the Progressive Excellence Youth Organisation (PEYORG) was handed US$72,900 to construct a market at the Egyeikrom Camp in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem Municipality in the Central Region.

The amount, US$252,000, was released to the institutions last week in Accra. The grant, according to the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, H. E. Kaoru Yoshimura, would improve the status of water and sanitation, education and capacity building in the respective communities and their environs.

The Ambassador stated that the Japanese people, through the Japan Grant Grassroots Assistance Human Security Protection (GGHSP) scheme, since 1989 has provided over 280 projects in different communities across the country. He said areas that benefitted most from this GGHSP are health, education, agriculture, public welfare, human security, basic infrastructure capacity building and empowerment.

“I would like to commend the efforts of the Birim South District Assembly, Songtaba, PEYORG, and all our development partners and stakeholders, for their dedication in the preparation of this project,” he added.

Emmanuel Kwakye, Birim District Chief Executive, during the signing ceremony, said communities such as Asawse, Awisa NHIS, Akurakan, Atuntumirem, Aanmase, Awisa Salem, Swedru Zongo, Swedru Coppon, Parkrom, AKISS, Official Town and Adusa would benefit from the US$95,518.

He thanked the Japanese Ambassador for assisting his district with the provision of potable water, saying: “There is no doubt that this project will go a long way to provide maximum health benefits to the people of the beneficiary communities. It will also enhance the economic empowerment of the people.”

Mr. Kwakye promised that the fund would be put to good use through effective monitoring, supervision and proper maintenance of the boreholes. Adam Lamatu, with Songtaba also said the grant would provide a decent classroom block for pupils at Sang, who, over the years, were struggling and receiving teaching instructions under unconducive conditions.

The project, which would be sited at the St. Anthony Basic School at Sang, will encourage children of school-going age to go to school, because there is a conducive environment for learning, she said She thanked the Embassy by saying:

“This intervention by your embassy is indeed a grand gesture of your continual commitment to promote grassroots development and securities, and could not have come at a better time, because, the children of St. Anthony Basic School have for long been subjected to the unpleasant condition of learning under a makeshift structure, which is not congenial for learning.”

The Executive Director of PEYORG, Philip Amoah, also thanked the Japanese government for assisting the Egyeikrom refugee camp and surrounding communities in the KEEA Municipality with the provision of a market.

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By Chris Twum

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, in partnership with the Danish government, has launched a project to eliminate Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) cases in the country.
The one year project, dubbed ‘Ending sexual and gender-based violence in Ghana,’ will actively involve individuals and communities to enhance their capacities in preventing SGBV. The Danish government provided GH¢1 million funding for the project.

At the launch of the project in Accra yesterday, the Danish Ambassador to Ghana, Ms Margit Thomsem, said the project was aimed at bringing women, religious and traditional leaders, as well as men and boys, to campaign to stop violent behaviour, discrimination and deep-rooted cultural norms that might be causes of violence against women in the country.

According to her, the project would target the justice sector, adding that it would also form strong partnership with the media. The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Production, Nana Oye Lithur, said SGBV happened in all sectors of society and all over the globe.

She observed that too many women and girls, and to a lesser degree men and boys, had experienced or were experiencing SGBV. That, she said, explained why the government of Ghana and the Embassy of Denmark were working together to end it.

She noted that ending SGBV was to create a violence-free society for women and children in Ghana, adding that after the dialogue, the partners hoped to identify and critically analyse the issues that account for the low conviction rates of SGBV in the country.

Speakers at the dialogue were, Ms. Hillary Gbedemah, Ghana’s Chair to the Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), ACP Mrs. Habiba Twumasi-Sarpong, Head of Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), Mrs. Justice Mensah-Datsa, a Justice of the High Court, and Yvonne Obuobisa, Chief Prosecutor, Attorney General’s Department.

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By Bernice Bessey

Weep No More Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has organised a two-day health screening and skill development programme for some residents of Madina, a suburb of Accra, to enhance their lifestyle and living standards.

The programme focus was to support, especially, women, to acquire the requisite skills that would transit into building and improving their economic status. Founder and President of Weep No More Foundation, Rev. Mrs. Grace Boateng, addressing the participants last Saturday, said her organisation was keen to empower women in order to fight against poverty, ignorance and diseases.

She said women are often described as vulnerable, because the majority of them live under the poverty line, are unemployed, uneducated, and lack self-motivation and innovation to address issues affecting their lives.

Mrs. Boateng was inspired to run a social entrepreneur organisation at an early age, saying: “My inspiration to help women started way back as a child, when I witnessed a woman severely molested  by her husband, and her children stood by helpless, because they were too young.  At the time, I wanted to help, but couldn’t, because I was young too.”

The Foundation’s President said though she wanted to do more for women and the destitute in society, but the major problem had been funding, as she single-handedly has funded training workshops and donations of items to the female inmates of Pantang Hospital.

She added that the free health screening was to enable the participants know their health status, with respect to hepatitis ‘B’, diabetes, blood pressure and other diseases that deter women from functioning fully to support their families.

Dr. Isaac Abbu-Bonsra, a Medical Practitioner at Save Your liver Foundation, advised the participants to be cautious of their health, and adopt lifestyles that would not complicate their wellbeing. He said diseases such as hepatitis ‘B’, diabetes and blood pressure are lifestyle diseases that can be prevented by regular exercises and eating balanced diets.

He also advised the general public to check their health status, as well as get vaccinated against, especially, Hepatitis ‘B’. A sponsor of the programme, Smem Global, an online marketing agency’s Chief Executive Officer, Joseph Boateng, urged women to strive to acquire knowledge, skills and capacity that will make their lives better.

The post ‘Weep No More’ Changing Lives appeared first on Ghanaian Chronicle.

By Bernice Bessey

The President of Foundation for Generational Thinkers, Prosper Dan Afetsi, has called on Ghanaians to adopt the habit of constantly cleaning their environments.
According to him, cleanness is a practice that individuals must endeavour to encourage in their homes and communities, stressing: “There should not be a day for creating filth and a day for cleaning it. Cleanness must be a daily exercise by all.” Mr. Afetsi made this statement at a community clean-up exercise dubbed “Let’s clean the Mess” organised by his outfit to mark the National Sanitation Day last week.

In his clean-up campaign message, he questioned: “Who will clean your mess? Do you think of the environment while enjoying yourself?  Join us clean our community and surrounding areas on this year’s National Sanitation Day.” However, this message seemed to have been received with deaf ears, as most traders were spotted going about their business and not taking part in the exercise.

When this reporter asked him whether the country needs new laws to enforce sanitation observance, he answered that the country does not need additional laws to ensure cleanliness, but it must ensure the full implementation of already existing laws. The foundation cleaned areas like Shiabu, Agege, Dansoman Last Stop and the beach road.

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By Bernice Bessey

A demonstrated cake by the participants

The Founder and Leader of Weep No More Foundation (WNMF), Rev. Mrs. Grace Boateng, has called on women not to feel shy to acquire skills that would make their lives, and that of the families, better. According to her, learning skills does not make one a failure or unintelligent, as it is perceived in the public domain.

She strongly believed that what makes one successful was how the person creates and recreates him or herself in acquiring knowledge and skills.Mrs. Boateng made this statement when she was interviewed by The Chronicle at the WNMF day two free training in catering at Madina.

She said the foundation was keen in empowering women with the requisite skills, because they have important roles to play to support their families, communities, and the nation at large, adding: “You are not a failure if you learn how to use your hands to create items that would earn you decent money to feed your family.”

The participants in a photograph with Rev. Mrs. Boateng (M)

The foundation, with the assistance of Pegados Creation and Sakis Bakery, helped 25 people receive training on how to use wheat flour to bake cake and bread. The Assistant Director of Pegados Food Creation, Benedicta Ayeh, said catering was one of the beneficial trades women must endeavour to learn and take seriously.

She also advised people not to consider skills learning as jobs for school drop-outs, as it was a way to be self-employed. “The government no longer has jobs for the youth; why do we acquire skills create employment for ourselves and others?” she queried. Mrs. Ayeh advised the participants to practice personal hygiene if they want to fully use catering as a trade.

The post Weep No More Offers Free Catering Training To Mothersa appeared first on Ghanaian Chronicle.

By Bernice Bessey

The Country Director of Africa-Israel Initiative, Ghana, Rev Perey Gilbert Apreala

The Africa Israel Initiative-Ghana Country Director, Rev. Perey Gilbert Apreala, has reiterated that Africa leaders must not mortgage their collective conscience to aids which will compel them to adopt policies that don’t fall in line with their cultural beliefs and practices.
He said it was high time Africa nations begin to take firm decisions against subventions that would tie their hands to ratify clauses that don’t reflect the continent’s traditional and religious settings. Rev. Apreala was of the view that Africa had relied too much on other countries for aid, and it was time it also lends helping hands to others.

The Country Director was speaking at the launch of the Africa Israel Initiative conference dubbed “In the Steps of the Fathers”, recently in Accra.   The conference, which was scheduled to start today to Friday this week, hoped to bring together speakers from across the globe. Also, the conference would be used as a medium to call on countries on the black continent to join hands with Israel to promote peace in the Middle East.

According to the Ghana Director, Africa would stand the chance of God’s blessing if it partnered Israel to promote a good case, adding: “It is funny how the way the whole world was against Israel, meanwhile, they are for peace. It about time for the world to understand who God has blessed no man can curse.”

The Country Director described Israel as a country that shares borders with nations that wished they could wipe it totally from the face of the earth. He noted that Israel was the only country on earth that suffers violence and hostility from its neighbours, and African countries must support for peace to be restored in the region.

He said it was against all human rights principles to wipe one particular race from existence on the earth, just as some nations have done and are still trying do to Israel.  He challenged Africans to rise up to the call, because whatever happens in the Middle East, directly or indirectly, has an impact on the entire world, saying: “Africans should not be afraid to declare who it wants to be friends with.”

Also, the National Director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, Rev. Kofi Oduro Agyeman-Prempeh, added that the true story of Israel has never been told due to the manner in which some countries had tried to suppress it.

The post ‘Don’t Mortgage Your Collective Conscience’ African Leaders Told appeared first on Ghanaian Chronicle.

By Alfred Adams

The International Cyanide Management Institute (ICMI) recently announced that Iduapriem Gold Mine has been certified for the International Cyanide Management Code (Cyanide Code).
The ICMI reviewed the Audit Findings Report, which was prepared by an independent professional third-party auditor, who evaluated Iduapriem Mine against the ICMI’s Verification Protocol, and found the mine in full compliance with the Cyanide Code’s Principles and Standards of Practice.

Speaking about this milestone achievement, Mr. Sam Noi, Senior Manager Processing, said, “We successfully met the ICMI requirements by ensuring that we work consistently and systematically towards achieving all the requirements for certification.  This included building a new cyanide sparging facility, constructing of tailings and supernatant water pipe lines in trenches.”

The ICMI audit is conducted every three years, with the objective of evaluating continuing compliance with the Cyanide Code.  The Cyanide Code is a voluntary industry programme for companies involved in the production of gold, using cyanide, and companies producing and transporting cyanide.  The Cyanide Code is intended to complement an operation’s existing obligation to comply with the applicable laws and regulations of the political jurisdictions in which their operation is located.

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By Pascal Kafu Abotsi

As part of activities to mark its 11th Anniversary and Thanksgiving, the Holy Trinity Spa and Health Farm at Sogakope in the Volta Region, has presented 52 wheelchairs and 50 white canes to physically-challenged persons within the municipality.
Seed capital of GH¢1,000 each was also presented to 20 identifiable mentally-challenged persons, who could neither drive nor operate machines, and convulsed without notice.

The Chairman of the Holy Trinity Spa and Health Farm, Dr. Felix Anyah, who presented the items, intimated that his outfit had the hallmark of comforting persons with any form of need, explaining that “this is, indeed, reflected in my name Gamesu, given to me at birth, meaning ‘time has come for people’s troubles to end’.”

According to him, as a health institution, they concerned themselves with being down to earth and open up to people, irrespective of their status in society, since it was their prayer for God “to purify us from all worldliness, pride, unforgiveness, and to always look for Him, the author and finisher of our faith, so as to be vessels of honour, sanctified, and meet for the masters use and prepared for every good work.”

A District Officer of the Department of Social Development, Mr. Moses Kakaw, led the search team to locate the people with disabilities, who were subsequently presented with the equipment at the premises of the health facility over the weekend.

In his short address, Mr. Kakaw said the gesture was symbolic of empathy for people who needed help the most, as he challenged other individuals, with the capacity, to follow suit. He agreed it was not an easy engagement, adding that “the Spa has filled the gap of government and the Sogakope Municipality.”

The District Officer cautioned the beneficiaries not to use the equipment to perpetrate crime and other needless activities, but instead, they should be assets which should assist them in their daily activities, and also enhance their living.

The beneficiaries could not hide their joy when they were called in turns to receive their gifts.  They were full of appreciation for Holy Trinity Spa and Dr. Anyah for having thought of the need to give to the needy.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Jonathan Ocloo, a teacher of Mathematics at the Agorkpo Junior High School, disclosed to The Chronicle that Dr. Anyah had distinguished himself from highly-placed men in their society.

The father of two said, even though there were numerous wealthy men in the Sogakope Municipality, they were not ready to assist the needy, even when they were approached in tears. “They always looked down on people with disabilities. I want Ghanaians to know that there is ability in disability. For Dr. Anyah, God should continue to bless him,” he remarked.

Over the years, the Holy Trinity Spa and Health Farm at Sogakope has been able to build a welding shop for a former drunkard, rehabilitated by the health facility, train an ex-convict in plumbing, whose family is being taken care of, in addition to his monthly allowance of GH¢600, set up three complete shoe repairing mini-shops for physically challenged persons, and erected 14 street lights in the municipality.

It has also, among other things, donated several tricycles to unemployed youth in Sogakope, donated complete fishing nets, canoes, paddles and motors for fishermen, assisted financially to build the female cell of the Sogakope Police Station, donated sets of jerseys and footballs to schools in the municipality, and also constructed boreholes for some communities in the South Tongu District.

This year, the Holy Trinity Medical Centre received the Best Integrative Health Care Provider and Business Support Health Services awards.  Dr. Felix Anyah was inducted into the Hall of Fame, Health and Medical Services by the Entrepreneurial Foundation of Ghana in the same year.

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By Bernice Bessey & Pics Eric Owiredu

The Ghana Museums and Monuments Board will celebrate International Museum Day at Sisie in the Ga East Municipal Assembly in the Greater Accra Region.
The celebration, which is held every year on May 18 at all museums around the world, would provide the opportunity for museum professionals to meet the public to educate them on the importance and challenges that museums face.

Though today marks the significant roles museums play in our society to educate the public about the importance of events, arts and artifacts of history, Ghana’s museums are not in the best of shape to provide the public ancient knowledge in a modern perspective.

Dr. Zogba Narh Oyortey, Managing Director of Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, in an exclusive interview with The Chronicle, said major problems facing the galleries of history are lack of funds, low patronage, lack of logistics, and personnel. According to him, the board tells the story of the country through collection, preservation and presentation of items, saying: “To tell the story of Ghana properly, we need objects and artifacts that can be loaned to the museums.”

The Museums and Monuments Board is in dying need of funds, as it invests huge sums of money to embark on archeological activities, purchase of vehicles that would move across the country to collect artifacts, and hire personnel.

Generally, historical artifacts are collected through archeology or excavation, ethnography and art or paintings that are symbolic of the early societies.

Dr. Zogba Narh Oyortey, on the current state of museums in the country, said the national museum had been shut down for major renovation works, because the roof was weak and the ceiling covers occasionally fall off on to the ground.

He added that the Science and Technology museum temporarily houses artifacts from the national museum, and is presently open to the public.  The national museum, after completion, will be open seven days a week to the public, from 8:00am to 7:00pm.

Also, museums, such as the Usher and James Forts are expected to undergo facelifts to enhance patronage.   The Ghana Museums and Monuments Board was established in March 5, 1957 to collect, preserve and display items of historical importance.

Museums are located across the country to serve as a means of education, tourism, revenue generation and research. Dr. Zogba Narh Oyortey encouraged Ghanaians to frequently tour the various museums, as, “the museums serve as sources of inspiration, education and entertainment.”

The post Ghana Celebrates International Museums Day appeared first on Ghanaian Chronicle.

By Bernice Bessey

The Deputy Minister of Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), Mr. Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, says this year, Accra has not experienced an outbreak of cholera, because of the awareness created by the National Sanitation Day.

According to him the National Sanitation Day, which is on a monthly basis, constantly reminds people on how and why they should keep their surroundings clean.

He said, in previous years Accra was regularly hit by cholera, especially during the rainy season, but not a single case had been reported so far. The Deputy Minister was speaking June National Sanitation Day exercise held at Awutu Senya in the Central region.

The exercise, that lasted almost three hours, brought together youth groups, traders and residents to clean the environment. The Deputy Minister assisted the youth, the especially Osae Krodua Youth Association, to de-silt the choke gutters, and sweep the market and its surroundings.

Though patronage was poor, because only handful people fully participated in the exercise, Mr. Agyekum still believes that the National Sanitation Day exercise has not lost its relevance. “It is not up to what we expected, but we appreciate those who participated.

“What we have achieved so far, comparatively to previous years, there is no cholera. If we continue with this exercise, there wouldn’t be cholera. So the National Sanitation is working.” The District Chief Executive of the area, Samuel Abbey Armah, also advised the citizens not to wait to be called by the authorities before they clean their surroundings.

He argued that clean surroundings are the responsibility of individuals and not the state. The Adontehene of Awutu Senya, Nai Ncharka Okine VI, urged the public to detach things of national interest from politics.

“If a law is made, it is not for only small section of the public or particular political party members to obey, but it is for the whole country. As a good citizen, you should not wait to be called to clean your environment before you do so,” he said.

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By Bernice Bessey

As part of World Environment Day, the management and staff of Accra Brewery Limited (ABL) observed the day with a tree planting exercise, and donated three skips at the cost to GH¢35,000 to the Agblogbloshie community.

The brewery also organised an environmental care talk at its premises for both employees and members of the Agbogbloshie community, in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The programme was held at the ABL premises in Accra, last Friday.

Mr. Vincent Oliver, Technical Director of the brewery, indicated that the ABL’s operations are in line with best environmental management practices, as well as the global goals for sustainable development.

Mr Oliver indicated that ABL has “Joined the world to commemorate the day set aside to reflect on critical issues that affect the global ecosystem, while creating awareness on environmental management as another way to demonstrate ABL’s love for Ghana and the environment.

“Our investment in re-cycling and re-use of our returnable glass bottles and plastic crates; sale of spent grains to piggeries; the sale of our chemical drums and broken pallets for domestic use, and making of beer with less water has earned ABL a 3 star during a recent SAB Miller Global National Occupational Safety Association (NOSA) ranking. We are also currently constructing our effluent treatment plant, which will further reduce our carbon footprints and increase efficient use of water and other raw materials.

“ABL is aware of the harm of environmental pollution on the safety and well being of its workers and the communities in which it operates. It will, therefore, continue to adhere to all the regulations that protect the eco-system.” A representative from the EPA, Samuel Nortey Oquaye, who spoke on the theme, emphasised the need to reduce global warming by planting trees and making good use of resources in the environment.

However, he said, Ghana choose the theme “Go Wild for Life” to encourage people to protect all those animal species under threat through illegal trade, and take action to help safeguard them for future generations.

The occasion, which was also attended by some members of the Agbogbloshie community, noted that SABMiller, one of the largest brewers in the world, would enable ABL to promote a Clean, Resilient, and Productive World, through the reduction of its carbon footprints, efficient use of water and other raw materials.

World Environment Day is a worldwide annual celebration on June 5, to provide opportunities for stakeholders to reflect on critical issues that affect the global ecosystem, while creating awareness on environmental issues.

The post ABL, EPA Plant Trees To Save The Environment appeared first on The Chronicle - Ghana News.

The Deputy Minister of Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), Mr. Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, says this year, Accra has not experienced an outbreak of cholera, because of the awareness created by the National Sanitation Day.

According to him the National Sanitation Day, which is on a monthly basis, constantly reminds people on how and why they should keep their surroundings clean. He said, in previous years Accra was regularly hit by cholera, especially during the rainy season, but not a single case had been reported so far.

The Deputy Minister was speaking June National Sanitation Day exercise held at Awutu Senya in the Central region. The exercise, that lasted almost three hours, brought together youth groups, traders and residents to clean the environment.

The Deputy Minister assisted the youth, the especially Osae Krodua Youth Association, to de-silt the choke gutters, and sweep the market and its surroundings. Though patronage was poor, because only handful people fully participated in the exercise, Mr. Agyekum still believes that the National Sanitation Day exercise has not lost its relevance.

“It is not up to what we expected, but we appreciate those who participated. “What we have achieved so far, comparatively to previous years, there is no cholera. If we continue with this exercise, there wouldn’t be cholera. So the National Sanitation is working.”

The District Chief Executive of the area, Samuel Abbey Armah, also advised the citizens not to wait to be called by the authorities before they clean their surroundings. He argued that clean surroundings are the responsibility of individuals and not the state.

The Adontehene of Awutu Senya, Nai Ncharka Okine VI, urged the public to detach things of national interest from politics. “If a law is made, it is not for only small section of the public or particular political party members to obey, but it is for the whole country. As a good citizen, you should not wait to be called to clean your environment before you do so,” he said.

The post Clean-Up Exercises Prevent Cholera Outbreak appeared first on The Chronicle - Ghana News.

 Bernice Bessey

During every election year, people become scared due to the pressure and tension mounted by political parties and social commentators.

Citizens resort to finding ways and means to keep their families safe from electoral violence. This is because Ghana’s neighbouring countries like Burkina Faso, Liberia and La Côte d’Ivoire have had their fair share of electoral violence, where people died or others also disappeared, and properties ruined.

To avert a similar thing from happening in Ghana, some individuals have come together to advocate for peaceful elections, dubbed ‘I pledge for peace campaign’. The campaign, which is powered by Security Warehouse, hopes to collect one million signatures to support the electoral process in the country.

As part of the campaign strategies, the group would educate people in churches, mosques, school, markets and other public events. Speaking in an interview with The Chronicle last week, Samuel Elawauyo, Project Director for the campaign, said peace must be maintained in the country for sustainable growth and development.

He said, the surrounding countries had already tested violence after elections, and which should be avoided. The guest person for the programme, Dr. Doreen Fianko, former Managing Director, Ghana Airports Company, urged Ghanaians to exercise tolerance, patience love and understanding as the nation prepares to organise another general election, come November 7, this year.

She was of the view that elections were not only about the person who wins, but the party that accepts defeat and goes away gently, saying, “The party which goes gently would be the hero.” “There have been 15 major wars in Africa, and we can’t afford to take chances in the coming elections,” she cautioned.

“Peace builds the future and destiny of a nation. It leaves a certain future for the youth; an election is not a do or die affair, and it is not about character assassination, but integrity.”

The post Make Peace To Make Ghana Peaceful appeared first on The Chronicle - Ghana News.

…Says Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah

 Bernice Bessey and Pix by Eric Oweridu

The falling standard of education, especially in rural Ghana, had been blamed on inadequate teachers in the classrooms, though a survey conducted by the Ministry of Education has shown that there are over fifteen thousand excess teachers in the Greater Accra Region.

The study also shows that most of the teachers were in the region because they refused postings to the rural areas, where their services are most needed.

The Deputy Minister of Education, responsible for Tertiary Education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah, revealed this at public lecture on education decentralisation under the theme: “Education Decentralisation: updates of progress and clarification of stokehold concerns,” yesterday at Accra.

According to the Deputy Minister, the said teachers were not originally posted to Accra after their training, but worked their way out to be stationed in the capital city.

“As soon as they are posted, they will find out which chief, which pastor, and which Imam knows an MD who knows a minister, or who knows the GES Director General to help them with all sorts of excuses; I am newly married; my marriage is on the rocks, if allowed my marriage will break. Some other excuses include ‘I’m having a child with sickle cells and can only be catered for in Accra and all that.’ I hear interesting stories every day,” he worriedly said.

He stated that the government has adopted a system to redistribute the excess teachers back to base to ensure equity in the education sector.

On teachers’ absenteeism, Mr. Okudzeto Ablawah added that the government was winning the war over teachers’ non-appearance in the classrooms, as the percentage of teachers that absent themselves from the classrooms has drop from 27% to 9-11%.

He explained that out of the 387,000 teachers at the basic level, over 1,000 don’t show up in the classrooms, yet go to the banks to collect their salaries.  This, he described as “criminal and unaccepted. Look at the number. You have 387,000 teachers at the basic level, and more than quarter absent themselves from school.”

Mr. Okudzeto Ablawah, however, could not accept the reasons the teachers used to absent themselves from school, adding: “When you go into the statics, you will know there should be no excuses for teachers’ absenteeism.” He also called for the restructuring of the process used to promote teachers to become head teachers, as the current system whereby one must rise through the ranks to become head teacher was not enough.

Touching on the subject on the day, he emphasised that the government was committed to education decentralisation reforms, since the President, John Dramani Mahama, personally chairs the committee responsible for education decentralisation.

The Deputy Minister urged other education actors like the Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to critically look at how the nation can address the negative side of education decentralisation.

At the same programme was the Vice Chairperson of National Development Commission (NDPC) and former Director of the Institute of Local Government Studies, Dr. Esther Ofei Aboagye, who said, though education decentralisation can come about several benefits, challenges such as delays in capitation grant, books, chalks, furniture and corruption might affect the process.

The post Gov’t To Redistribute Over 15,000 Teachers To Rural Schools appeared first on The Chronicle - Ghana News.

…With MMDAs Urged To Increase Revenue Collection Capacity

By Bernice Bessey & Pix By Eric Oweridu

A local government expert, Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi, has charged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to adopt capacity building frameworks that would empower their staff in revenue mobilisation.

According to Prof. Ahwoi, for the MMDAs to be able to collect enough internally generated funds (IGF) to support various projects at the local level without depending on central government, the assemblies must move away from the current system of toll collection, to a more income tax collection regime.

Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi made this statement when he chaired the launch of the 2^nd phase of Progress Support for Decentralisation Reform (SfDR) programme held at the Kofi Annan ICT Center in Accra, yesterday. The purpose of the project was to empower MMDAs to effectively improve their IGF, draw proper planning and budgeting, and improving cooperation between the years, 2016 to 2019.

The programme is powered by GIZ in order to support decentralisation reforms in the country. GIZ is a Germany international development cooperation that implements projects and programmes on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The GIZ operation in Ghana is firmly embedded within the country’s poverty reduction strategy, which aims to achieve sustainable, equitable economic growth and accelerated poverty reduction.

The local government expert, touching on the decentralisation reforms project, said supporting MMDAs to perform efficiently and effectively in the interest of the local population has been a significant challenge since Ghana adopted the decentralisation agenda.

He advised the MMDAs that if they effectively implement the SfDR programmes, they would be able to hire and train their own staff.

Prof. Ahwoi also called on the media, especially, the local radio stations, to devote some of their time to assembly meetings, urging: “Recent statics shows that there are over 400 local FM stations in the country currently. Try to move away from the National Democratic Congress-New Patriotic Party (NDC-NPP) discourse to reporting local level assembly meetings, so that they will be able to expose ‘mumu’ (dumb) assembly members.”

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), Alhaji Collins Dauda, delivering his keynote address, said Ghana and Germany, in 2015, agreed to support the decentralisation reforms programme on improving internally generated funds (IGF) of MMDAs.

This, he noted, was significant as the over-reliance of the MMDAs on transfers from central government to provide services to their people is no longer sustainable, saying, “It is in this regard that this government is encouraging MMDAs to improve on their own revenue generation.”

“Let me emphasise that it was with a view to enhancing the revenue generation capacity of MMDAs that the Ministry developed the Local Economic Development (LED) Policy and Action for the MMDAs to mainstream the concept of LED into their Medium Term Development Plans,” he asserted.

He indicated that it was in the light of this that the government of Germany was providing support to the government of Ghana to address some of these challenges, under the support for SfDR.

The activities of the SfDR within the last phase (2014-2016) have helped the MMDAs to improve their IGF collection, increase women participation in planning and budget hearings, and the creation of accountability platforms for citizens to demand accountability, as well as feedback.

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By Bernice Bessey

Nii Osah Mills, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources

The Commercial Quarry Operators Association has called on government to immediately halt encroachment by private developers at their excavation concessions.

According to the association, the encroachment will not only affect operations of the companies, but the health and safety of the illegal settlers. A patriot of the association, Mr. S.K Boafo, in an interview with The Chronicle stated that, the quarry industry was the bedrock of the country’s development.

He said for the country to be able to provide roads, bridges, housing and other civil infrastructure, issues affecting quarry industry must be addressed immediately, adding “government must direct its attention to the industry by not just making laws.”

A speech read for Minister for Land and Natural Resources at the opening of stakeholders’ meeting, on the encroachment of quarry sites by new settlers in Accra, yesterday revealed that government has drawn a roadmap to address the problem.

The minister said government has provided 7% of its total national revenue to empower local assemblies to tackle the menace. He said government finds the quarry industry very important, as 80% of all monies received by government are spent on constructional projects, which make use of sand and rocks.

“Sand and quarry products are, therefore, very essential for the social and economic development of the country. “Everything possible should be done to promote the business of sand winning and quarrying,” he added. The minister acknowledged that encroachment by private developers on quarry sites has led to the loss of valuable granite deposits and quarry assets, increase in cost of operations and loss of jobs.

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By Bernice Bessey

The Anglican Church of Ghana has honoured some teachers in its Schools for exhibiting professionalism and high standards, at an award ceremony held last week in Accra.

Dubbed -“Improving Teaching and Learning in Anglican Schools, especially with numeracy and literacy: The role of teachers,” the awardees were drawn from the church’s kindergartens and Junior High Schools (JHS) across the country, where 12 teachers received various recognitions.

The awardees are Mrs. Ruth Attenkah, Mr. Jonas Marmah Martey and Mr. Prosper Eddie Adzakor from the JHS division.

The rest, from the primary and kindergarten divisions, include Gloria Bekoe, Ernestina Mensah, Peace Yawa Gbagbo, Philomena Amissah, Rabi Osman and Vida Awutey.

Also, the church acknowledged and duly awarded some Head teachers who worked tirelessly to improve teaching and learning in the various Anglican Schools in the country.

Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee -Executive Director, Salt and Light Ministries, was the Guest speaker for the event.

She challenged the teachers to put their best to ensure that, the children appreciate numeracy and literacy skills. She further called on them to help develop the thinking ability of their pupils.

“I will begin by recognizing that to a large extend, our schools and educational systems are struggling to prepare young people for work and life.

“Businesses have complained that they are taking on employees who lack vital basic employment skills; such as problem solving, team-work and time management, and have reported that they need to provide training to school and college leavers, in order to prepare them for jobs,” she urged.

She indicated that a child with good numeracy skills stands a better chance against unemployment, low wage and poor health.

Similarly, Dr. Joyce Aryee noted that language and vocabulary represent the very foundation of literacy, helping children at an early stage to learn how to read and communicate well.

Some of the items given to the teachers include television sets, gas burners and table top refrigerators.

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By Bernice Bessey

The Manpehia Primary/Junior High Schools in the Ga South Municipality will benefit from a six-unit classroom block which will enable the kindergarten class to have a permanent classroom.

In addition, the school will receive 70 of the 7,000 mono desks the assembly is set to distribute to various schools in its area.

A visit to the school last week debunked earlier reports that it lacks many facilities, including desks. According to a teacher, Mr. Isaac Ayeh Gyan, the school needs extra classrooms to accommodate the kindergarten and junior high school pupils, and extra desks to replace the broken down ones, which is not peculiar to their school alone.

He accepted that the school, like many others, does not have all the needed facilities, adding that the situation is not as dire as many people were made to erroneously believe.

Currently, the second and third year JSS pupils share a classroom, while those in the first year study under a shed, just like the kindergarten pupils, creating an atmosphere not conducive for academic work.

However, construction works commenced by the Municipal Assembly are ongoing to provide the needed infrastructure, for which Mr. Gyan commended the contractor for the zeal with which he started the work, and urged the assembly to give him all the necessary support to complete the work on schedule.

Speaking to the media, the Public Relations Officer of the assembly, Mr. Elliot Adom, said the assembly is aware of the problems facing the school, like others located in the hinterland of the Municipality, and has included them in the list of beneficiary schools to receive the new mono desks.

He explained that in times past, pupils were using dual desks, but it has been proved that it has not been psychologically helpful when they are writing the Basic School Education Certificate Examinations, where they are obliged to use mono desks.

Its introduction, therefore, forms part of preparing the pupils for examinations.

According to the acting Headmaster, Seth Aryee, the biggest problem they face, as teachers, is the high rate of absenteeism, especially on market days, as parents prefer their wards helping them sell cassava dough in the nearby Bawjiase market than be in school.

He revealed that the school registered six pupils for this year’s BECE, but commended the school’s Parents and Teachers Association for financial support in taking care of some basic emergency needs such as fitting loosened doors and replacing leaking roofs among others.

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From Inusa Musah

The chain of booming shops and stores sited along the OS Adam Avenue at Ashaiman Newtown in the Greater Accra Region has been forced to close down, due to the invasion of rodents and reptiles.

The stretch, popular known as ‘Borla’ Road, for over six years now, has been overgrown with wild grass, which has become a haven for rodents and reptiles such as snakes and wild lizards. Deep gullies have also destroyed a large part of the road, which connects parts of Lebanon, Community ‘22’ and Ashaiman Newtown, consequently making it impassable except, sometimes, for motorbikes and bicycles.

Portions of the road and the frontage of some of the closed down stores have been turned into a dumping ground by many unscrupulous residents, who have found the assembly’s proposed refuse yard a long distance. Also, residents dump their refuse on the bushy road, and in front of the stores, to avoid the toll they would pay at the proposed dumping site.

 Therefore, residents battle with mosquitoes whenever there is a downpour, and pools of water in the road. Louis Ofoe Agbenyo, a proprietor of a pub, said: “The bad nature of the road has badly affected patronage here. No customer would like to come here and be chased by snakes hiding in the bushy road.”

A landlord, who lives on the rent from his stores, lamented that his occupants had vacated the stores because of the road, which had become immotorable. Gullies have been created in front of the stores, while at night heaps of rubbish are deposited in on the frontage.

The landlord, Mr. Yeboah, said: “For how long can I be paying people to be clearing these wild bushes that have grown on the road?” He said, sometimes snakes ‘visited’ him on his compound when the weather was not conducive for them, “and I think these snakes would, one day, drive me out from my own house.”

There is a police barracks along the OS Adam Avenue, and due to its bad state, the police always make a long detour to their residence, a situation they described as a security threat to them and their families. However, the Public Relations Officer of the Ashaiman Assembly, Kwasi Adu Gyamfi, told The Chronicle that that stretch of road would receive intervention before the close of the year.

He explained that a contractor, who would be laying asphalt on the Afariwa to Newtown road, had, as part of his contract, to fix the OS Adam Avenue.

The assembly has acquired a parcel of land along the stretch for the construction of an official residence for the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), and the ASHMA PRO said it was, thus, important that the road was reconstructed to also ease vehicular traffic on the main Ashaiman-Zenu road, and motorists travelling from Zenu-Timber Market en route to Afariwa.

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The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says recent pronouncements by President Mahama, demanding a second-term in office is ample testimony that he has not read Ghana’s Constitution.
In his recent “Accounting to the People” tour, President Mahama indicated that every president in the 4th Republican era has been given two-terms in office, going on to state that had the late President Mills been alive, he would have also been given two terms in office.

“Respectfully, I don’t think our President has read the Constitution. If every President was guaranteed a second term, why then would we be going to the polls this year? If President Rawlings and President Kufuor had not performed well in office, in the view of Ghanaians, would they have been allowed to continue?” he asked

He continued: “When we look at your track-record in office and it is poor, the people of Ghana would kick you out. The case of Goodluck Jonathan is exactly the same as that of our President. Goodluck Jonathan only became President because his boss passed away.

When it came to standing election for a 2nd term, the people of Nigeria decided that he was undeserving of another term in office. There was no 2nd term for Jonathan.

The same way, in this year’s elections, I am confident that Ghanaians will say to Mahama ‘No second term’,” especially when his party, the NDC, was in fact enjoying a second successive term in office.

Nana Akufo-Addo made this known on Friday, June 24, when he campaigned in the Bortianor/Ngleshie/Amanfro constituency, together with the NPP parliamentary candidate for the constituency, Alhaji Habib Saad, in the run-up to this year’s elections.

Too Much Stealing In Government
At the Weija Old barrier taxi rank, Bortianor, Tuba, Galilea market and Amanfro, Nana indicated that the one of the reasons for the suffering and hardships currently facing Ghanaians is the widespread and rampant cases of the theft of public resources and corruption in the government of President John Mahama.

According to him, state resources meant for the development of country, as well as the improvement of the living standards of Ghanaians, always find their way into the pockets of officials – the reason why there is little to show for the billions of dollars contracted in loans over the last seven years.

Thus, the situation Ghana finds herself in under President Mahama requires nothing short of change, if the country is to be returned onto the path of progress and prosperity, away from the despondency that has been imposed on Ghanaians.

With drivers, traders and fisherfolk lamenting about the difficulties they face with each passing day, in the form of high insurance premiums, high prices of petrol and premix fuel, to rising cost of living, they indicated to the NPP flagbearer that “there used to be a time when we used to make money in this station, and that was under the NPP.”

Addressing the gathering, Nana Akufo-Addo noted that in addition to the wanton theft of state resources, the mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy is another reason for the hardship and suffering.
Thus, when voted into office, he told the hundreds gathered at the terminal, he is coming to ensure the prudent management of public resources, and will also institute measures to root out corruption and theft of public funds.

To the teeming numbers of young men and women who have lost hope in the ability of Ghana to offer them a decent livelihood, Nana Akufo-Addo urged them not to despair, adding that with the right leadership and correct policies, Ghana’s dwindling fortunes can be reversed.

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