Story: Leticia Ohene-Asiedu
THE Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) in collaboration with the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and the European Union has launched a programme to improve maternal health care through funding.
The programme is aimed at influencing national policy formulation, particularly to increase national, political and financial commitments to sexual and reproductive health and rights. In a keynote address read on her behalf, the First Lady, Mrs Theresa Kufuor, said statistics on general fertility, contraceptive usage and maternal morbidity rates in Ghana clearly indicated that in spite of the vigorous awareness that had been created the country still faced a lot of challenges.
She mentioned those challenges to include the inability to provide high quality sexual and reproductive health services to the vast majority of Ghanaians, adding that available statistics indicated that while there was an increase in maternal mortality there was a decline in the usage of contraceptives.
She said there was the need to strengthen family planning and reproductive health education with special emphasis on maintaining sufficient and regular levels of contraceptives and other supplies.
She also acknowledged the government’s free maternal health care package, which she hoped would help address some of those challenges.
She appealed to civil society organisations and other relevant networks to strengthen partnerships that would fund sexual and reproductive health programmes for improvement in maternal health.
A member of the PPG’s National Advocacy Coalition, Dr Richard B. Turkson, said the PPAG was expected to integrate activities under the programme into its own programmes.
Dr Turkson said a coalition of influential individuals and advocacy networks had been constituted to undertake advocacy aimed at getting the government to commit financially and politically to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Accordingly, he said the coalition had identified some key issues, among which include the inclusion of family planning contraceptives in the National Health Insurance Scheme, the inclusion of family planning in the free maternal care policy of the government and the provision of free, safe abortion services for victims of rape, incest and defilement in accordance with the Domestic Violence Act, Act 733, 2008.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
FACILITIES IN OSU SCHOOLS TO IMPROVE (DAILY GRAPHIC, NOV 1, PAGE 18)
Story: Gifty Bamfo & Leticia Ohene-Asiedu
The Osu Divisional Council and the Ga Traditional Council have budgeted to support infrastructure development and other projects in selected schools in Osu with about GH¢3 million.
Sixty per cent of the amount will be used for educational projects, while the remaining 40 per cent is earmarked for health and other social projects.
Addressing the heads and teachers of some selected schools in the area, the Osu Mantse, Nii Nortey Owuo III, said the council was aware of the numerous problems the schools faced and gave the assurance that these would be solved.
“It is clear the needs of our schools are many; with this first step taken by the council little effort will be needed from the metropolitan authorities to help find solutions to these problems”, he added.
The Circuit Supervisor of Osu Doku Circuit 45, Mrs Stella F. Abbey, told the elders that ”for efficient and effective future of the schoolchildren, quality education is very important, thus, the need for the provision of the necessary educational materials to enhance their academic pursuit”.
She added that the introduction of the Capitation Grant had increased enrolment in the schools and greatly stretched the schools' facilities.
Mrs Abbey said this development had created some challenges for the schools.
She said, "the schools lack textbooks, toilet facilities, potable drinking water as well as libraries”.
She added that the schools had to contend with lunatics and drug users who paraded the compound, putting the lives of pupils and teachers at risk.
The Circuit Supervisor added: ” Osu, being a very popular entertainment and marketing centre, has attracted some pupils into economic activities, to the detriment of their education”.
According to her, pupils spent long hours at Internet cafes, accessing pornographic materials and making money, which had negative effects on their academic performance.
“These children come to school tired and usually sleep in class, which hinders learning", she stated.
Mrs Stella Abbey appealed to the council for a community library and an ICT centre which would help improve the reading habits of the pupils and entertain them as well.
She called on the council to pay frequent visits to the schools to encourage and motivate pupils to study hard.
“The visits would also serve as a check on the teachers as well, ” she added.
The Osu Divisional Council and the Ga Traditional Council have budgeted to support infrastructure development and other projects in selected schools in Osu with about GH¢3 million.
Sixty per cent of the amount will be used for educational projects, while the remaining 40 per cent is earmarked for health and other social projects.
Addressing the heads and teachers of some selected schools in the area, the Osu Mantse, Nii Nortey Owuo III, said the council was aware of the numerous problems the schools faced and gave the assurance that these would be solved.
“It is clear the needs of our schools are many; with this first step taken by the council little effort will be needed from the metropolitan authorities to help find solutions to these problems”, he added.
The Circuit Supervisor of Osu Doku Circuit 45, Mrs Stella F. Abbey, told the elders that ”for efficient and effective future of the schoolchildren, quality education is very important, thus, the need for the provision of the necessary educational materials to enhance their academic pursuit”.
She added that the introduction of the Capitation Grant had increased enrolment in the schools and greatly stretched the schools' facilities.
Mrs Abbey said this development had created some challenges for the schools.
She said, "the schools lack textbooks, toilet facilities, potable drinking water as well as libraries”.
She added that the schools had to contend with lunatics and drug users who paraded the compound, putting the lives of pupils and teachers at risk.
The Circuit Supervisor added: ” Osu, being a very popular entertainment and marketing centre, has attracted some pupils into economic activities, to the detriment of their education”.
According to her, pupils spent long hours at Internet cafes, accessing pornographic materials and making money, which had negative effects on their academic performance.
“These children come to school tired and usually sleep in class, which hinders learning", she stated.
Mrs Stella Abbey appealed to the council for a community library and an ICT centre which would help improve the reading habits of the pupils and entertain them as well.
She called on the council to pay frequent visits to the schools to encourage and motivate pupils to study hard.
“The visits would also serve as a check on the teachers as well, ” she added.
VILLAGE OF HOPE HOLDS 3RD GRADUATION (DAILY GRAPHIC, NOV 7, PAGE 11)
THE third graduation ceremony of the Village of Hope Vocational Training Centre has been held at Ayawaso with a call on Ghanaians to support institutions which are involved in youth training programmes in the country.
The Social Services Manager of the centre, Mr Amos Asuma-Kakari, said every Ghanaian had the potential to do something good for him or herself and the society in general.
Unfortunately, he observed that this had not been encouraged much among the youth, hence the poor development.
As a result, he said most of the young ones had taken to drug, armed robbery, prostitution and other social vices.
It was in view of these that the centre was established by the Churches of Christ to cater for the needy and disadvantaged in society, who are vulnerable.
Currently, he said, his outfit caters for 175 orphans and other needy children in its orphanage at Gomoa Fetteh, while some young ones who have gone through the centre were performing well and were expected to come out as good professionals.
Mr John F. Tamakloe, the guest speaker for the occasion, said most people thought the nation owed them a living and thus sat at home and waited for the nation to do something for them.
Mr Tamakloe advised the graduates to be role models because there are others who are presently going through difficulties these graduates once went through and therefore will be looking up to them.
Mr George Abugah, evangelist and minister, Legon Church of Christ, who was the chairman for the occasion, advised the graduates to make good use of the training they had had.
He said the graduates should be good ambassadors, well equipped to embrace the challenges of life.
Mr Edward K. Lawer, a board member of the Village of Hope Vocational Training Centre and CEO of Telad Pharmacy, consistently advised the teenagers passing out to be law-abiding and diligently practise the vocation they had learnt.
The Social Services Manager of the centre, Mr Amos Asuma-Kakari, said every Ghanaian had the potential to do something good for him or herself and the society in general.
Unfortunately, he observed that this had not been encouraged much among the youth, hence the poor development.
As a result, he said most of the young ones had taken to drug, armed robbery, prostitution and other social vices.
It was in view of these that the centre was established by the Churches of Christ to cater for the needy and disadvantaged in society, who are vulnerable.
Currently, he said, his outfit caters for 175 orphans and other needy children in its orphanage at Gomoa Fetteh, while some young ones who have gone through the centre were performing well and were expected to come out as good professionals.
Mr John F. Tamakloe, the guest speaker for the occasion, said most people thought the nation owed them a living and thus sat at home and waited for the nation to do something for them.
Mr Tamakloe advised the graduates to be role models because there are others who are presently going through difficulties these graduates once went through and therefore will be looking up to them.
Mr George Abugah, evangelist and minister, Legon Church of Christ, who was the chairman for the occasion, advised the graduates to make good use of the training they had had.
He said the graduates should be good ambassadors, well equipped to embrace the challenges of life.
Mr Edward K. Lawer, a board member of the Village of Hope Vocational Training Centre and CEO of Telad Pharmacy, consistently advised the teenagers passing out to be law-abiding and diligently practise the vocation they had learnt.
CALL FOR MORE LINKAGES BETWEEN INDUSTRY, ACADEMIA (DAILY GRAPHIC, NOV 17, PAGE 14)
A Captain of industry, Mrs Awurabena Okra, has called for increased interface between industry and academia, which is vital for the growth of the national economy.
She explained that the role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) was very vital for the growth of our national economy and as such enough support in the form of research from academia should be given to enhance their growth.
Mrs Okra, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Winglow Clothes and Textiles Limited, made the appeal during the installation of a new computerised embroidery machine for her company in Accra at the weekend.
She said Ghanaians were very industrious and should be assisted financially and technically to go into all kinds of business.
She commended the management of the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) and Leaseafric Ghana Limited for assisting her to acquire the modern machine.
The CEO said with the installation of the computerised embroidery machine, the company had consolidated itself as a modern textile factory.
She said opportunities had been offered to practising tailors and dressmakers to come and study how to manage their small businesses in the area of record-keeping and accounting.
She said in recognition of her company’s performance, the company had become the subject of research by way of an input for the preparation of academic theses at the Masters degree level.
She said this was a good example of the interface between industry and academia, and that this had benefited her company greatly by way of exposure.
She was grateful to all those who had helped the company in diverse ways to acquire the new machine, which was capable of producing logos of all types as well as fabrics.
Mrs Okra said Winglow Clothes and Textile Limited was fully prepared to enter the export market to earn foreign exchange for the country.
She explained that the role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) was very vital for the growth of our national economy and as such enough support in the form of research from academia should be given to enhance their growth.
Mrs Okra, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Winglow Clothes and Textiles Limited, made the appeal during the installation of a new computerised embroidery machine for her company in Accra at the weekend.
She said Ghanaians were very industrious and should be assisted financially and technically to go into all kinds of business.
She commended the management of the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) and Leaseafric Ghana Limited for assisting her to acquire the modern machine.
The CEO said with the installation of the computerised embroidery machine, the company had consolidated itself as a modern textile factory.
She said opportunities had been offered to practising tailors and dressmakers to come and study how to manage their small businesses in the area of record-keeping and accounting.
She said in recognition of her company’s performance, the company had become the subject of research by way of an input for the preparation of academic theses at the Masters degree level.
She said this was a good example of the interface between industry and academia, and that this had benefited her company greatly by way of exposure.
She was grateful to all those who had helped the company in diverse ways to acquire the new machine, which was capable of producing logos of all types as well as fabrics.
Mrs Okra said Winglow Clothes and Textile Limited was fully prepared to enter the export market to earn foreign exchange for the country.
WORKSHOP ON ELECTION DISPUTE ADJUDICATION OPENS (DAILY GRAPHIC, NOV 18, SPREAD)
Story: Abdul Aziz & Leticia Ohene-Asiedu
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.
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.
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