Page 29 Tuesday December 30 2008
THE Ghana-Chinese Chamber of Commerce donated assorted items to the Swedru Royal Seed Orphanage Home and the Volta Home Orphanage in the Volta Region at a ceremony in Accra at the weekend.
The items, including bags of rice, toiletries, detergents, fruit drinks, cooking oil, tins of Milo, milk, biscuits, toffees, stationery, two colour television sets and other items, were to enable the children to celebrate Christmas meaningfully.
They were aimed at extending the Chinese community’s affection and best wishes to the children.
The wife of the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mrs Tang Guizi, said as future leaders, children were the hope of our society, saying that unfortunately some of them were still suffering from hunger and maltreatment.
Mrs Guizi said the chamber was not only committed to strengthening business ties between China and Ghana but had also attached great importance to its social responsibility since 1994 when it was founded.
She said the culture of sharing the Chinese business success story with Ghanaians had been cultivated among most Chinese business men and women in Ghana.
She encouraged members of the chamber to be the people’s ambassadors who would promote friendship between the Chinese and their Ghanaians counterparts.
Mrs Guizi called for more support from the chamber for the needy in local communities in the country.
She expressed the hope that the donation would bring more happiness to the children during the Christmas festivities.
The President of the Ghana-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Mr Sue Yuehua, said Ghana and China had a good relationship dating back to the 1950s.
“Ghana is becoming more and more attractive to Chinese investors because of sustained development,” he noted, adding that various businesses had invested here.
Mr Yuehua said Chinese business men had been living and working in Ghana for many years and were very much attached to the country, which they considered their second home.
It was important for children to study hard and maintain a healthy environment, he noted, and expressed the hope that the children would become responsible members of society in future.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
The Trust Bank supports public schools
Page 11 Monday December 29 2008
THE Trust Bank at the weekend donated GH¢59,000 to 12 deprived public schools and a hospital at a ceremony in Accra.
The donation forms part of the bank’s corporate social reponsibility of helping deprived schools in the country.
Eleven of the schools received a cheque for GH¢4,000 each, while the maternity ward of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital had a GH¢10,000 cheque with the Ghana Society for the Blind receiving a cheque for GH¢5,000.
The schools are the Anumle Cluster of Schools, the Madina 2 and 3 Cluster of Schools, Christ Faith Mission Basic Schools, Adjiringano Basic School, Ashaiman-Zenu Cluster of Schools, Kpone Methodist Cluster of Schools and the Anglican Cluster of Schools.
The rest are the St Joseph R. C. Junior High School, Santasi M. A. Junior High School, Nwamasi M. A. Junior High School, Madina D. A. 5 Primary School, the Ghana Society for the Blind and the maternity ward of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
The schools were also given textbooks, computers and other educational materials to enhance the academic performance of the pupils.
Mr Owusu-Hemeng said the bank and the Merchant Bank of Ghana were holding discussions on a merger to be concluded by the end of the first quarter of next year.
He expressed the belief that the merger would have the requisite financial muscle and synergy to meet the intensified and ever increasing competition both locally and internationally.
“We are confident that a true universal bank will emerge at the end of the integration process to provide customers with flexible financial products and services to meet their varied and increasing needs,” he said.
He gave the assurance that TTB was always ready to provide passionate solutions to its customers.
Some of the beneficiary schools appealed to the bank for libraries and computer laboratories.
The schools also expressed their profound gratitude to the bank for its support.
Picture: ROSELINE ABBAN
The Managing Director of The Trust Bank, Mr Isaac Owusu-Hemeng (extreme right), in a group potograph with some officials of the bank and beneficiaries.
THE Trust Bank at the weekend donated GH¢59,000 to 12 deprived public schools and a hospital at a ceremony in Accra.
The donation forms part of the bank’s corporate social reponsibility of helping deprived schools in the country.
Eleven of the schools received a cheque for GH¢4,000 each, while the maternity ward of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital had a GH¢10,000 cheque with the Ghana Society for the Blind receiving a cheque for GH¢5,000.
The schools are the Anumle Cluster of Schools, the Madina 2 and 3 Cluster of Schools, Christ Faith Mission Basic Schools, Adjiringano Basic School, Ashaiman-Zenu Cluster of Schools, Kpone Methodist Cluster of Schools and the Anglican Cluster of Schools.
The rest are the St Joseph R. C. Junior High School, Santasi M. A. Junior High School, Nwamasi M. A. Junior High School, Madina D. A. 5 Primary School, the Ghana Society for the Blind and the maternity ward of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
The schools were also given textbooks, computers and other educational materials to enhance the academic performance of the pupils.
Mr Owusu-Hemeng said the bank and the Merchant Bank of Ghana were holding discussions on a merger to be concluded by the end of the first quarter of next year.
He expressed the belief that the merger would have the requisite financial muscle and synergy to meet the intensified and ever increasing competition both locally and internationally.
“We are confident that a true universal bank will emerge at the end of the integration process to provide customers with flexible financial products and services to meet their varied and increasing needs,” he said.
He gave the assurance that TTB was always ready to provide passionate solutions to its customers.
Some of the beneficiary schools appealed to the bank for libraries and computer laboratories.
The schools also expressed their profound gratitude to the bank for its support.
Picture: ROSELINE ABBAN
The Managing Director of The Trust Bank, Mr Isaac Owusu-Hemeng (extreme right), in a group potograph with some officials of the bank and beneficiaries.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
THE POLITICAL HOME STRETCH.
Page 12 Saturday December 6 2008
We are now in the home stretch in our political race, and thighs and muscles are tense.
Ghanaians in the race should pour their hearts out in prayers, and suppoters of various parties should pray and play their roles well.
We have to calm the political rough seas, and Ghanaians should do their outmost best to bring about peace and tranquility to prevail in this years elections so that the end results would be stainlesssly clean and acceptable by all.
It has been stated that Ghana comes first before any ‘rivalry’, so the elections should be seen as something we have to do to sift out the best to manage our country for us, and this is what we want.
The avoidance of ‘hot bubbling statements’ should never be our utterances, to hurt people and make them angry.
Politics is not a ‘do or die’ affair which must be banged upon by hook or crook.
Politics is just a method or process of milling ourselves to get a ‘smooth’ or fine ‘dough’ of govrnance.
As a people of one united nation, it is up to us to ensure that, we do not fan passions with our tongues.
We should not say things which are untruths and damaging to other people.
Strictly speaking what do we gain from lying about people?
It is nothing than driving wedges among the fabric of our society.
When the campaign was started to commence this years elections, many people issued ‘stinkers’ which unfortunately is very divisive for the society.
With democracy we have to agree to disagree, then we move on, that is all.
We should weigh thoughtfully people’s suggestions and to sieve the chaff from the straw.This is budding democracy!
The great pioneers of this nation who struggled and encountered difficulties; actually sweated to build this nation of ours.
They had lived in this country for years before this time of ours.
How then should we as a result of ‘poorlitics’ do our ‘purelitics’ with mudslinging and bitterness.
‘Peace be still’ and the stormy tide of disunity should calm down, until the final count down and after.
Ghana First!
We are now in the home stretch in our political race, and thighs and muscles are tense.
Ghanaians in the race should pour their hearts out in prayers, and suppoters of various parties should pray and play their roles well.
We have to calm the political rough seas, and Ghanaians should do their outmost best to bring about peace and tranquility to prevail in this years elections so that the end results would be stainlesssly clean and acceptable by all.
It has been stated that Ghana comes first before any ‘rivalry’, so the elections should be seen as something we have to do to sift out the best to manage our country for us, and this is what we want.
The avoidance of ‘hot bubbling statements’ should never be our utterances, to hurt people and make them angry.
Politics is not a ‘do or die’ affair which must be banged upon by hook or crook.
Politics is just a method or process of milling ourselves to get a ‘smooth’ or fine ‘dough’ of govrnance.
As a people of one united nation, it is up to us to ensure that, we do not fan passions with our tongues.
We should not say things which are untruths and damaging to other people.
Strictly speaking what do we gain from lying about people?
It is nothing than driving wedges among the fabric of our society.
When the campaign was started to commence this years elections, many people issued ‘stinkers’ which unfortunately is very divisive for the society.
With democracy we have to agree to disagree, then we move on, that is all.
We should weigh thoughtfully people’s suggestions and to sieve the chaff from the straw.This is budding democracy!
The great pioneers of this nation who struggled and encountered difficulties; actually sweated to build this nation of ours.
They had lived in this country for years before this time of ours.
How then should we as a result of ‘poorlitics’ do our ‘purelitics’ with mudslinging and bitterness.
‘Peace be still’ and the stormy tide of disunity should calm down, until the final count down and after.
Ghana First!
GPRTU takes steps to prevent accidents
Page 30 Wednesday November 5 2008
THE Neoplan Branch Number 4 of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) in Accra has initiated measures to ensure that drivers plying the Accra-Kumasi route avoid accidents ahead of the December elections and Christmas festivities.
The Chairman of the branch, Mr Paul Kwabena Badu Aidoo, told the Daily Graphic that most of the buses were in very bad shape as a result of the numerous road accidents they were involved in.
He said Prudential Bank, in collaboration with some companies, had pooled resources and purchased 250 buses for the branch.
He said further that the bank provided 30 long buses; Stanbic Bank, 200 Urvan buses, and Ghana Liaison gave them 20 Hyundai minibuses to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers.
Mr Badu Aidoo said the companies had agreed with the branch that the drivers allocated the buses would pay for the vehicles every month for four years.
Mr Badu Aidoo cautioned all drivers against making political arguments while driving and not to think that they could outwit the police by associating themselves with some political party figures.
Mr Badu Aidoo also advised Ghanaians to stop rumour mongering when it came to issues pertaining to politics.
He said: “God knows the right leader for the country and it is therefore our duty to concentrate on whatever work we are doing for the betterment of the nation”.
Mr Badu Aidoo further advised drivers to pay attention to sirens when driving in order not to get into trouble.
The Financial Secretary of the branch, Mr John Tettey, said for about a month now drivers plying the Accra-Kumasi route had been educated every two weeks on road safety.
Mr Tettey said: “I am pleading with all drinking bar operators to close their bars on December 7, 2008 in order to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers because some people misbehave especially when they are drunk”.
The Station Master of the branch, Mr John Ankomah, for his part, said the branch had provided a restroom for drivers to relax after a long journey in order to avoid road accidents especially when they became tired.
Mr Ankomah appealed to Ghanaians especially drivers to avoid discussing political issues and concentrate on driving as such distraction was one of the causes of accidents.
THE Neoplan Branch Number 4 of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) in Accra has initiated measures to ensure that drivers plying the Accra-Kumasi route avoid accidents ahead of the December elections and Christmas festivities.
The Chairman of the branch, Mr Paul Kwabena Badu Aidoo, told the Daily Graphic that most of the buses were in very bad shape as a result of the numerous road accidents they were involved in.
He said Prudential Bank, in collaboration with some companies, had pooled resources and purchased 250 buses for the branch.
He said further that the bank provided 30 long buses; Stanbic Bank, 200 Urvan buses, and Ghana Liaison gave them 20 Hyundai minibuses to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers.
Mr Badu Aidoo said the companies had agreed with the branch that the drivers allocated the buses would pay for the vehicles every month for four years.
Mr Badu Aidoo cautioned all drivers against making political arguments while driving and not to think that they could outwit the police by associating themselves with some political party figures.
Mr Badu Aidoo also advised Ghanaians to stop rumour mongering when it came to issues pertaining to politics.
He said: “God knows the right leader for the country and it is therefore our duty to concentrate on whatever work we are doing for the betterment of the nation”.
Mr Badu Aidoo further advised drivers to pay attention to sirens when driving in order not to get into trouble.
The Financial Secretary of the branch, Mr John Tettey, said for about a month now drivers plying the Accra-Kumasi route had been educated every two weeks on road safety.
Mr Tettey said: “I am pleading with all drinking bar operators to close their bars on December 7, 2008 in order to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers because some people misbehave especially when they are drunk”.
The Station Master of the branch, Mr John Ankomah, for his part, said the branch had provided a restroom for drivers to relax after a long journey in order to avoid road accidents especially when they became tired.
Mr Ankomah appealed to Ghanaians especially drivers to avoid discussing political issues and concentrate on driving as such distraction was one of the causes of accidents.
13 Contractors to build 30 schools under MCA
Backpage Wednesday November 26 2008
Story: Samuel Doe Ablordeppey & Leticia Ohene-Asiedu
Thirteen contractors have been awarded a $2.8-million contract from the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) to construct 30 schools in five districts in the northern part of the country.
The beneficiary districts are Savelugu Nanton, West Mamprusi, Karaga, Tolon-Kumbungu and the Tamale Metropolitan area.
Disclosing this to the Daily Graphic on Monday, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), Mr Martin Eson-Benjamin, said the move was to restore the educational infrastructure which was devastated by the floods which hit the northern part of the country earlier this year.
The districts are within the intervention zone of the $547 million MCA project mark, which is aimed at improving agriculture by providing all the financial, social and economic infrastructure needed to change the economic fortunes of farmers in the country.
The United States Government provided the grant, which is known as the Ghana Compact of the Millennium Challenge Account, being implemented by MiDA, an administrative body set up by an Act of Parliament.
Mr Eson-Benjamin said the project, which forms part of the first phase of school construction, would have the basic amenities such as water reservoirs, information and communication technology (ICT) centres, teachers quarters, canteens, sanitation facilities, electricity and potable water, among others.
This brings to 65 the total number of schools rehabilitated or virtually constructed from scratch by MiDA in the first phase in an effort to provide a better access to education for the children and wards of farmers in the country. In all, about 300 schools will be built in all the 30 districts across the country.
The CEO said after two weeks when the construction sites for the projects would be handed over, the contractors would have six months to deliver the completed schools.
Based upon comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment, a requirement for any project under the MCA programme, some of the schools have been moved from their original locations to escape future floods and disasters.
He said MiDA was also collaborating with some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) of American origin to provide some of the additional facilities in some of the intervention zones.
Mr Eson Benjamin advised the contractors to deliver the best of works as a testimony of the fact that the Ghanaian was capable of undertaking quality work.
He said they should bear in mind that any shoddy work would affect the schoolchildren, the country’s future leaders, and eventually impact negatively on the country as a whole.
The Ghana Compact covers agriculture ($241 million), transportation ($143 million) and rural development ($101 million). After the five-year span of the project, it should be able to lift about 230,000 Ghanaians directly from poverty.
The country, almost two years ago, received the go-ahead from the United States government to apply for a grant from its Millennium Challenge Account to execute projects of its choice.
The country responded with a well researched and ambitious proposal to modernise and transform the agricultural sector into a gold mine, as well as improve infrastructure and social services in 30 districts, initially 23 districts, which cost $547 million.
Under the Agriculture Commercialisation component of the project, MiDA has identified over 32,000 individual farmers, out of the 60,000 farmers needed, and grouped them into 640 farmer-based organisations and are being trained to access credit from the over $40-million credit fund within the Compact.
Story: Samuel Doe Ablordeppey & Leticia Ohene-Asiedu
Thirteen contractors have been awarded a $2.8-million contract from the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) to construct 30 schools in five districts in the northern part of the country.
The beneficiary districts are Savelugu Nanton, West Mamprusi, Karaga, Tolon-Kumbungu and the Tamale Metropolitan area.
Disclosing this to the Daily Graphic on Monday, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), Mr Martin Eson-Benjamin, said the move was to restore the educational infrastructure which was devastated by the floods which hit the northern part of the country earlier this year.
The districts are within the intervention zone of the $547 million MCA project mark, which is aimed at improving agriculture by providing all the financial, social and economic infrastructure needed to change the economic fortunes of farmers in the country.
The United States Government provided the grant, which is known as the Ghana Compact of the Millennium Challenge Account, being implemented by MiDA, an administrative body set up by an Act of Parliament.
Mr Eson-Benjamin said the project, which forms part of the first phase of school construction, would have the basic amenities such as water reservoirs, information and communication technology (ICT) centres, teachers quarters, canteens, sanitation facilities, electricity and potable water, among others.
This brings to 65 the total number of schools rehabilitated or virtually constructed from scratch by MiDA in the first phase in an effort to provide a better access to education for the children and wards of farmers in the country. In all, about 300 schools will be built in all the 30 districts across the country.
The CEO said after two weeks when the construction sites for the projects would be handed over, the contractors would have six months to deliver the completed schools.
Based upon comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment, a requirement for any project under the MCA programme, some of the schools have been moved from their original locations to escape future floods and disasters.
He said MiDA was also collaborating with some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) of American origin to provide some of the additional facilities in some of the intervention zones.
Mr Eson Benjamin advised the contractors to deliver the best of works as a testimony of the fact that the Ghanaian was capable of undertaking quality work.
He said they should bear in mind that any shoddy work would affect the schoolchildren, the country’s future leaders, and eventually impact negatively on the country as a whole.
The Ghana Compact covers agriculture ($241 million), transportation ($143 million) and rural development ($101 million). After the five-year span of the project, it should be able to lift about 230,000 Ghanaians directly from poverty.
The country, almost two years ago, received the go-ahead from the United States government to apply for a grant from its Millennium Challenge Account to execute projects of its choice.
The country responded with a well researched and ambitious proposal to modernise and transform the agricultural sector into a gold mine, as well as improve infrastructure and social services in 30 districts, initially 23 districts, which cost $547 million.
Under the Agriculture Commercialisation component of the project, MiDA has identified over 32,000 individual farmers, out of the 60,000 farmers needed, and grouped them into 640 farmer-based organisations and are being trained to access credit from the over $40-million credit fund within the Compact.
Two sign MoU on free distribution of books
Page 32 Thursday November 13 2008
Story: Jennifer Dornoo & Leticia Ohene-Asiedu
THE Rotary Club of Tema, in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) is to distribute supplementary readers free of charge from kindergarten to the tertiary level in the country.
The books form part of contributions from publishers in the USA and donated through the Brothers’ Brother Foundation (BBF) with the shipment cost borne by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The cost of the project is estimated at between $150,000 and $160,000.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to that effect with the President of the Rotary Club of Tema, Mr Ben Aniegyei, signing for his organisation while the Director General of the GES, Mr Samuel Bannerman-Mensah, initialled for the GES.
Mr Aniagyei said this year’s theme; “Make Dreams Real” , emphasised the importance of child education and added that books ought to be made available for students to ensure quality education.
He said “every child dreams to become someone in future, and it depends on the level of education one is able to attain and the facilities available to make the dreams come true”.
That, he said, motivated the club to distribute the books at no cost to schools in Ghana.
Mr Bannerman-Mensah expressed his profound gratitude to the Rotary Club for the kind gesture and promised to ensure that the books were distributed to the various schools.
Story: Jennifer Dornoo & Leticia Ohene-Asiedu
THE Rotary Club of Tema, in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) is to distribute supplementary readers free of charge from kindergarten to the tertiary level in the country.
The books form part of contributions from publishers in the USA and donated through the Brothers’ Brother Foundation (BBF) with the shipment cost borne by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The cost of the project is estimated at between $150,000 and $160,000.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to that effect with the President of the Rotary Club of Tema, Mr Ben Aniegyei, signing for his organisation while the Director General of the GES, Mr Samuel Bannerman-Mensah, initialled for the GES.
Mr Aniagyei said this year’s theme; “Make Dreams Real” , emphasised the importance of child education and added that books ought to be made available for students to ensure quality education.
He said “every child dreams to become someone in future, and it depends on the level of education one is able to attain and the facilities available to make the dreams come true”.
That, he said, motivated the club to distribute the books at no cost to schools in Ghana.
Mr Bannerman-Mensah expressed his profound gratitude to the Rotary Club for the kind gesture and promised to ensure that the books were distributed to the various schools.
Rural Banks to use E-zwitch system
Page 35 Thursday December 18 2008
THE ARB Apex Bank, in collaboration with the Ghana Inter-bank Payments and Settlements System (GhIPSS), will start the deployment of the electronic payment system, the e-zwich, in some rural banks in the country from next week.
This follows the successful piloting of the system in two rural banks.
The Manya Krobo Rural Bank in the Eastern Region and the Union Rural Bank in the Central Region, where the system was piloted, would start full operation of e-zwich, including the issuing of electronic smart cards from next week.
The e-Banking Manager of the ARB Apex Bank, Mr George Essien, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that a total of eight rural banks in the country had been selected for training and deployment.
He said out of the number of rural and community banks, six were in the Ashanti Region.
They are Adansi, Atwima Kwanwoma, Amansie, Odotobri, Sekyere and Nwabiagya rural banks in the Ashanti Region.
Mr Essien indicated that four rural banks in the Greater Accra Region had undergone training and had the Point of Sale (POS) devices which they would start using very soon.
Those in Accra include the La Community Rural Bank, the Ga Rural Bank and Abokobi Rural Bank.
The deployment of the e-zwich in all the 124 rural banks in the country would be a big boost to operating a cashless system in the country, as a lot of money in circulation in the rural areas is often not in the banking system.
According to him, everyone was qualified to use the device after satisfying the necessary requirements.
The smart card enables customers of the rural banks to load their salaries on the electronic device, and thereby ensure convenience and safety.
It also enables inter-bank transactions in which one could move cash, deposit or transfer money electronically and instantly, irrespective of the bank.
The e-Banking manager encouraged customers of rural banks to resort to the use of the card to ensure the safety of their monies, adding that because the device was biometric — it uses a fingerprint as a password — no one could withdraw money from anyone's account without the person's express authorisation.
"In a situation where one could not go to the bank due to ill health, a relative or friend could be added to the withdrawal list, to act on behalf of the client but only a limited amount could be withdrawn in that instance," he explained.
"There are a lot of advantages when using the electronic payment system and the e-zwich because although only one account will be opened, it takes care of two accounts, the savings and current account," he said.
Mr Essien said in the event that the card got lost, the money would still be intact until the card was replaced.
THE ARB Apex Bank, in collaboration with the Ghana Inter-bank Payments and Settlements System (GhIPSS), will start the deployment of the electronic payment system, the e-zwich, in some rural banks in the country from next week.
This follows the successful piloting of the system in two rural banks.
The Manya Krobo Rural Bank in the Eastern Region and the Union Rural Bank in the Central Region, where the system was piloted, would start full operation of e-zwich, including the issuing of electronic smart cards from next week.
The e-Banking Manager of the ARB Apex Bank, Mr George Essien, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that a total of eight rural banks in the country had been selected for training and deployment.
He said out of the number of rural and community banks, six were in the Ashanti Region.
They are Adansi, Atwima Kwanwoma, Amansie, Odotobri, Sekyere and Nwabiagya rural banks in the Ashanti Region.
Mr Essien indicated that four rural banks in the Greater Accra Region had undergone training and had the Point of Sale (POS) devices which they would start using very soon.
Those in Accra include the La Community Rural Bank, the Ga Rural Bank and Abokobi Rural Bank.
The deployment of the e-zwich in all the 124 rural banks in the country would be a big boost to operating a cashless system in the country, as a lot of money in circulation in the rural areas is often not in the banking system.
According to him, everyone was qualified to use the device after satisfying the necessary requirements.
The smart card enables customers of the rural banks to load their salaries on the electronic device, and thereby ensure convenience and safety.
It also enables inter-bank transactions in which one could move cash, deposit or transfer money electronically and instantly, irrespective of the bank.
The e-Banking manager encouraged customers of rural banks to resort to the use of the card to ensure the safety of their monies, adding that because the device was biometric — it uses a fingerprint as a password — no one could withdraw money from anyone's account without the person's express authorisation.
"In a situation where one could not go to the bank due to ill health, a relative or friend could be added to the withdrawal list, to act on behalf of the client but only a limited amount could be withdrawn in that instance," he explained.
"There are a lot of advantages when using the electronic payment system and the e-zwich because although only one account will be opened, it takes care of two accounts, the savings and current account," he said.
Mr Essien said in the event that the card got lost, the money would still be intact until the card was replaced.
Okaikoi North December 7 elections
Page 20 Monday December 8 2008
Jennifer Dornoo & Leticia Ohene-Asiedu report from the Okaikwei North constituency that as early as 1am, registered voters had already trooped to the polling stations awaiting the arrival of election officials and materials to cast their vote.
Some of the voters were seen lying on mats with others sitting on benches and plastic chairs as they waited for the electoral process to begin at 7am.
At the Happy Home School where voting started at 7:25am, a party agent who refused to disclose his identity said on arrival of the ballot boxes, the parliamentary box had two of its seals removed.
According to him, the two ballot seals bearing the codes 3113900 and 3113916 were removed from the box when it arrived leaving only one seal with the code 3113999.
He said this was a bit alarming since they could not find out whether the ballot box with the materials in it had been tempered with or not.
The party agent therefore said no explanation had been given to them as to the whereabouts of the two seals when the EC representatives were questioned.
Most of the electorates in the constituency were not satisfied with the work of the EC since they could not find their names in the register at the polling stations they registered.
At the Lapaz video centre, a voter Mr A. Ziguanty complained bitterly that he had been voting at that particular polling station since the year 2000 but was disappointed when he could not find his name in the register.
“I even checked my name in the voters register recently when the EC asked us to and I found my name. How could my name mysteriously vanish”, he said.
He said he had visited three other polling stations but could still not find his name.
At the Emmanuel Gospel Ministries, a lady who gave her name as Matilda was refused her right to vote because she wore an artificial nail.
She was later allowed to vote due to the intervention of some electorates who protested.
At the Alhaji Abass polling station, electoral materials arrived at the centre as late as 8:20am delaying the start of the electoral process which finally started at 9:30am.
At stations such as Four Square Gospel Church, the Apostolic Church of Ghana, Gospel Believers Outreach Church and the Christian Mission College electoral process started at exactly 7am with a peaceful and serene atmosphere.
Jennifer Dornoo & Leticia Ohene-Asiedu report from the Okaikwei North constituency that as early as 1am, registered voters had already trooped to the polling stations awaiting the arrival of election officials and materials to cast their vote.
Some of the voters were seen lying on mats with others sitting on benches and plastic chairs as they waited for the electoral process to begin at 7am.
At the Happy Home School where voting started at 7:25am, a party agent who refused to disclose his identity said on arrival of the ballot boxes, the parliamentary box had two of its seals removed.
According to him, the two ballot seals bearing the codes 3113900 and 3113916 were removed from the box when it arrived leaving only one seal with the code 3113999.
He said this was a bit alarming since they could not find out whether the ballot box with the materials in it had been tempered with or not.
The party agent therefore said no explanation had been given to them as to the whereabouts of the two seals when the EC representatives were questioned.
Most of the electorates in the constituency were not satisfied with the work of the EC since they could not find their names in the register at the polling stations they registered.
At the Lapaz video centre, a voter Mr A. Ziguanty complained bitterly that he had been voting at that particular polling station since the year 2000 but was disappointed when he could not find his name in the register.
“I even checked my name in the voters register recently when the EC asked us to and I found my name. How could my name mysteriously vanish”, he said.
He said he had visited three other polling stations but could still not find his name.
At the Emmanuel Gospel Ministries, a lady who gave her name as Matilda was refused her right to vote because she wore an artificial nail.
She was later allowed to vote due to the intervention of some electorates who protested.
At the Alhaji Abass polling station, electoral materials arrived at the centre as late as 8:20am delaying the start of the electoral process which finally started at 9:30am.
At stations such as Four Square Gospel Church, the Apostolic Church of Ghana, Gospel Believers Outreach Church and the Christian Mission College electoral process started at exactly 7am with a peaceful and serene atmosphere.
Okaikoi North Election Results
Page 29 Tuesday December 9 2009
Story :Jennifer Dornoo & Leticia Ohene-Asiedu.
At the Okaikwei North Constituency, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo won by 46,077 out of 89,570 total votes cast in the provisional results from the constituency with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) coming second with 42,164 votes.
Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) came third with 883 votes, the Peoples National Convention (PNC) with 319 votes, Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) with 120 votes, Independent candidate with 23votes, Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) 15 votes and the Reformed Partriotic Democrats (RPD) with 4 votes.
At the Parliamentary level the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency, Mrs Elizabeth Sackey, retained her seat with 44,172 votes, with her rival Mr Augustus Ken Kweku Eshun of the NDC coming second with 41,342 votes.
The Mr Mike Eghan Jnr of the CPP came third with 2,064 votes, Victoria Kobbila of the PNC coming forth with 895 votes and Mr Noel Jean Kwesi Brahini of the DFP obtaining 499 votes.
Out of 134,828 registered voters in 125 polling centres at the Okaikwei North constituency, only 89,570 which formed 66.43% of the voters cast their votes yesterday.
88,960 of the total votes cast were valid while 610 ballot papers were rejected.
The atmosphere was peaceful when the results were declared at 10:15am at the coalition centre at the Ghana Telecom University.
Story :Jennifer Dornoo & Leticia Ohene-Asiedu.
At the Okaikwei North Constituency, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo won by 46,077 out of 89,570 total votes cast in the provisional results from the constituency with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) coming second with 42,164 votes.
Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) came third with 883 votes, the Peoples National Convention (PNC) with 319 votes, Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) with 120 votes, Independent candidate with 23votes, Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) 15 votes and the Reformed Partriotic Democrats (RPD) with 4 votes.
At the Parliamentary level the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency, Mrs Elizabeth Sackey, retained her seat with 44,172 votes, with her rival Mr Augustus Ken Kweku Eshun of the NDC coming second with 41,342 votes.
The Mr Mike Eghan Jnr of the CPP came third with 2,064 votes, Victoria Kobbila of the PNC coming forth with 895 votes and Mr Noel Jean Kwesi Brahini of the DFP obtaining 499 votes.
Out of 134,828 registered voters in 125 polling centres at the Okaikwei North constituency, only 89,570 which formed 66.43% of the voters cast their votes yesterday.
88,960 of the total votes cast were valid while 610 ballot papers were rejected.
The atmosphere was peaceful when the results were declared at 10:15am at the coalition centre at the Ghana Telecom University.
Ghanaians anxious who becomes next President
Page 37 Thursday December 11 2008
GHANAIANS are anxious regarding who becomes the country’s next President. The outcome of this year’s elections has seen many political heavyweights losing their seats, reinforcing the belief that the citizenry are now quite discerning, notably on political issues.
In the quest to know what the electorate consider, first and foremost, when voting for a candidate seeking political office and how they observe this year’s elections, the Daily Graphic went round to seek opinions of some residents of Accra.
At the Abeka Lapaz Highway branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), the Station Master, Mr Agyin ???, congratulated Ghanaians on their sense of maturity manifested last Sunday.
He said: “I was surprised at the massive turnout of voters when I got to my polling station and how well they comported themselves. That was very impressive; it shows that Ghanaians have understood what politics is really about, and that shows that they are ready for development and nation building”.
He highly recommended the Electoral Commission (EC), the security agencies and the media for the high level of professionalism they exhibited on Sunday.
“Although there were some bad nots out there, I think, in general, the EC and the security agencies performed perfectly well, which I think was a plus for Ghanaians,” he said.
He, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the unfortunate incident that happened in Akwatia, resulting in the carrying away of ballot boxes by a group of unknown machomen who stormed the polling station.
“I understand the Member of Parliament for that constituency brought the machomen. How on earth could an MP behave this way. I think it was about time our MPs comported themselves,” he added.
Mr Agyin expressed his concern about the massive number of invalid votes that were cast by some electorate.
In his view, he said he did not like the idea of electorate dipping their little finger in the ink before thumb-printing.
“I think most electorate voted with the ink on the little finger; perhaps, that is why we have a lot of invalid votes,” he said.
A Fashion Designer at the Kaneshie Market, Madam Sussan, advised Ghanaians to wait patiently for the EC to finally decide on who would become the country’s next President.
“The EC gave us 72 hours for the declaration of the results and we are still within the 72 hours, so there is no cause for alarm,” she said.
She said if the two leading political parties, that is the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), were really calling for peace, then the one with the lesser number of votes should give up the race.
“I think the NDC is making things difficult for the EC and Ghanaians at large. They have taken the majority of the seats in Parliament and I think that should be enough to make them happy,” she said.
Madam Sussan said she was happy with the work of the ruling government, but did not like the work of the MPs, which she said, was always shabbily done.
She said the MPs were misusing their Common Fund given them in Parliament and that affected the country financially.
At the Government Secretariat School in Cantonments, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Alfred Nortey, said he was satisfied with the work of the EC and the security agents on Sunday.
He hoped that Ghanaians would still comport themselves in the next four years to maintain the peace.
He expressed his grievances about the work of the MPs, which he said, was not encouraging.
“I am appealing to the government not to give any MP the position of a Minister of State in order to give them the needed concentration in their constituencies,” he noted.
He said too many positions made them perform poorly.
Mr Nortey encouraged Ghanaians to exercise patience as they awaited the results.
He said a run-off would cost the nation a lot and, therefore, appealed to the EC to discourage that.
“Most people cannot afford travelling to their home towns to vote for the second time,” he emphasised.
GHANAIANS are anxious regarding who becomes the country’s next President. The outcome of this year’s elections has seen many political heavyweights losing their seats, reinforcing the belief that the citizenry are now quite discerning, notably on political issues.
In the quest to know what the electorate consider, first and foremost, when voting for a candidate seeking political office and how they observe this year’s elections, the Daily Graphic went round to seek opinions of some residents of Accra.
At the Abeka Lapaz Highway branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), the Station Master, Mr Agyin ???, congratulated Ghanaians on their sense of maturity manifested last Sunday.
He said: “I was surprised at the massive turnout of voters when I got to my polling station and how well they comported themselves. That was very impressive; it shows that Ghanaians have understood what politics is really about, and that shows that they are ready for development and nation building”.
He highly recommended the Electoral Commission (EC), the security agencies and the media for the high level of professionalism they exhibited on Sunday.
“Although there were some bad nots out there, I think, in general, the EC and the security agencies performed perfectly well, which I think was a plus for Ghanaians,” he said.
He, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the unfortunate incident that happened in Akwatia, resulting in the carrying away of ballot boxes by a group of unknown machomen who stormed the polling station.
“I understand the Member of Parliament for that constituency brought the machomen. How on earth could an MP behave this way. I think it was about time our MPs comported themselves,” he added.
Mr Agyin expressed his concern about the massive number of invalid votes that were cast by some electorate.
In his view, he said he did not like the idea of electorate dipping their little finger in the ink before thumb-printing.
“I think most electorate voted with the ink on the little finger; perhaps, that is why we have a lot of invalid votes,” he said.
A Fashion Designer at the Kaneshie Market, Madam Sussan, advised Ghanaians to wait patiently for the EC to finally decide on who would become the country’s next President.
“The EC gave us 72 hours for the declaration of the results and we are still within the 72 hours, so there is no cause for alarm,” she said.
She said if the two leading political parties, that is the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), were really calling for peace, then the one with the lesser number of votes should give up the race.
“I think the NDC is making things difficult for the EC and Ghanaians at large. They have taken the majority of the seats in Parliament and I think that should be enough to make them happy,” she said.
Madam Sussan said she was happy with the work of the ruling government, but did not like the work of the MPs, which she said, was always shabbily done.
She said the MPs were misusing their Common Fund given them in Parliament and that affected the country financially.
At the Government Secretariat School in Cantonments, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Alfred Nortey, said he was satisfied with the work of the EC and the security agents on Sunday.
He hoped that Ghanaians would still comport themselves in the next four years to maintain the peace.
He expressed his grievances about the work of the MPs, which he said, was not encouraging.
“I am appealing to the government not to give any MP the position of a Minister of State in order to give them the needed concentration in their constituencies,” he noted.
He said too many positions made them perform poorly.
Mr Nortey encouraged Ghanaians to exercise patience as they awaited the results.
He said a run-off would cost the nation a lot and, therefore, appealed to the EC to discourage that.
“Most people cannot afford travelling to their home towns to vote for the second time,” he emphasised.
Chinese Ambassador's Wife Donates To Two
Page 19 Saturday December 20 2008
The wife of the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mrs Tang Guizhi, has donated assorted items to the Peace and Love Orphanage at Adenta, near Accra.
The items, which included bags of rice, cooking oil, detergents, toiletries, mosquito nets, footballs, books and a computer, were to be used by the inmates for the Christmas.
Mrs Guizi expressed profound gratitude to non-governmental organisations (NGO), volunteers and charity groups who provided generously to the orphanage.
She said the Chinese Embassy had attached great importance to the deprived and vulnerable groups in society and also encouraged them to move on by providing various kinds of assistance.
She encouraged the staff and volunteers of the orphanage to keep on with their sacred work to promote peace and love among human beings.
She urged the children to convert the depressing experience in the past to the power that could drive them to tomorrow’s success and also contribute in nation building.
The proprietress of the orphanage, Mrs Grace Omaboe, said the orphanage needed help to keep the children happy and healthy at all times and appealed to the government and other philanthropic organisations to come to the aid of the children.
Picture: Wife of the Chinese Ambassador, Mrs Tang Guizhi, donating the items to the proprietress of the Peace and Love Orphanage, Mrs Grace Omaboe. Behind are some delegates from the Chinese Embassy.
The wife of the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mrs Tang Guizhi, has donated assorted items to the Peace and Love Orphanage at Adenta, near Accra.
The items, which included bags of rice, cooking oil, detergents, toiletries, mosquito nets, footballs, books and a computer, were to be used by the inmates for the Christmas.
Mrs Guizi expressed profound gratitude to non-governmental organisations (NGO), volunteers and charity groups who provided generously to the orphanage.
She said the Chinese Embassy had attached great importance to the deprived and vulnerable groups in society and also encouraged them to move on by providing various kinds of assistance.
She encouraged the staff and volunteers of the orphanage to keep on with their sacred work to promote peace and love among human beings.
She urged the children to convert the depressing experience in the past to the power that could drive them to tomorrow’s success and also contribute in nation building.
The proprietress of the orphanage, Mrs Grace Omaboe, said the orphanage needed help to keep the children happy and healthy at all times and appealed to the government and other philanthropic organisations to come to the aid of the children.
Picture: Wife of the Chinese Ambassador, Mrs Tang Guizhi, donating the items to the proprietress of the Peace and Love Orphanage, Mrs Grace Omaboe. Behind are some delegates from the Chinese Embassy.
'Vote massively on December 28'
Page 30 Monday December 15 2008
The Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Reverend Herbert Anim-Opong, has appealed to Ghanaians to turn up in their numbers again and vote in the presidential run-off on December 28.
That, he said, would further deepen Ghana’s democracy and demonstrate the political maturity of the Ghanaian electorate.
Rev. Anim-Opong told the Daily Graphic that the Presbyterian Church of Ghana had issued directives to its congregations to reschedule their service from Sunday, December 28, to Saturday, to enable them vote.
The run-off is between Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Professor John Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Rev. Anim-Opong said Ghanaians should forget about the cost involved in a run-off and hold themselves together in readiness for the betterment of the country.
“It is a constitutional right which we have to comply with. We have to go back to the polls until a winner emerges”, he said.
He said due to some unknown peculiar difficulties, some congregations decided to worship on the day of the elections.
Rev. Anim-Opong advised the two presidential aspirants going for the run-off to be mindful of the language they use and avoid provocation and insinuations.
“Our politicians must season their words with salt, as the scripture says”, he noted.
He charged the Electoral Commission (EC) to reorganise themselves to improve upon their performance in the December 7 elections.
Rev. Anim Opong commended the EC for working effectively with the security agents and the media but urged them to do better on December 28.
He said two weeks was enough time for the EC to reorganise itself and that Ghanaians were not going to take any excuse for any lapses the second time.
“Dealing with figures is easy so the EC should not find it difficult declaring the results the second time”, he emphasised.He advised Ghanaians to accept the results as it would be declared and should refrain from any form of arguments.
According to Rev. Anim-Opong, denominations should schedule their activities in any way they deem fit to enable their congregations find fulfilment in their worship.
He congratulated the presiding officers at the various polling stations for the good work they did on Sunday and encouraged them to do better.
Rev. Anim-Opong said Ghanaians were the ultimate benefactors and, therefore, needed to work harder.
The Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Reverend Herbert Anim-Opong, has appealed to Ghanaians to turn up in their numbers again and vote in the presidential run-off on December 28.
That, he said, would further deepen Ghana’s democracy and demonstrate the political maturity of the Ghanaian electorate.
Rev. Anim-Opong told the Daily Graphic that the Presbyterian Church of Ghana had issued directives to its congregations to reschedule their service from Sunday, December 28, to Saturday, to enable them vote.
The run-off is between Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Professor John Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Rev. Anim-Opong said Ghanaians should forget about the cost involved in a run-off and hold themselves together in readiness for the betterment of the country.
“It is a constitutional right which we have to comply with. We have to go back to the polls until a winner emerges”, he said.
He said due to some unknown peculiar difficulties, some congregations decided to worship on the day of the elections.
Rev. Anim-Opong advised the two presidential aspirants going for the run-off to be mindful of the language they use and avoid provocation and insinuations.
“Our politicians must season their words with salt, as the scripture says”, he noted.
He charged the Electoral Commission (EC) to reorganise themselves to improve upon their performance in the December 7 elections.
Rev. Anim Opong commended the EC for working effectively with the security agents and the media but urged them to do better on December 28.
He said two weeks was enough time for the EC to reorganise itself and that Ghanaians were not going to take any excuse for any lapses the second time.
“Dealing with figures is easy so the EC should not find it difficult declaring the results the second time”, he emphasised.He advised Ghanaians to accept the results as it would be declared and should refrain from any form of arguments.
According to Rev. Anim-Opong, denominations should schedule their activities in any way they deem fit to enable their congregations find fulfilment in their worship.
He congratulated the presiding officers at the various polling stations for the good work they did on Sunday and encouraged them to do better.
Rev. Anim-Opong said Ghanaians were the ultimate benefactors and, therefore, needed to work harder.
Nigerian envoy calls for more sub-regional intergration
Page 31 Friday November 21 2008
THE Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Senator Mosiliu Obanikoro, has called on the Ghanaian business community to collaborate with its Nigerian counterpart to give meaning to efforts to unify the West African sub-region.
He said for the much talked about sub-regional integration to materialise, the two countries must play a leading role, saying, “We can together create wealth and alleviate poverty in the region.”
Senator Obanikoro said this in Accra yesterday when he inaugurated a new fast food outlet, Chicken Republic, a Nigerian franchise which has just established its first joint in Ghana.
For a start, Chicken Republic, the flagship brand of Food Concepts Plc, has teamed up with So, an oil marketing company, to open outlets.
The food retailer, which is said to be the fastest growing food franchise in West Africa, plans to invest about $500,000 in the Ghanaian economy and open more outlets.
The Nigerian High Commissioner challenged the business community in Ghana to make incursions into his country, just as companies from Nigeria had been flooding Ghana.
He said by those healthy reciprocal business relationships, Ghana and Nigeria could help lift many from poverty and make the region a major player in international business.
A major milestone in Chicken Republic’s history was attained in December 2007 when it opened its first offshore outlet in Sunnyside, Pretoria, South Africa, extending its mission to make Chicken Republic a foremost chicken brand in Africa.
Senator Obanikoro said the opening of the fast food outlet was another opportunity to deepen the bond of friendship that already existed between the two countries.
“Another positive outcome of the launch of the Chicken Republic outlet is that Ghana and Nigeria will be partnering each other in the creation and distibution of wealth as a result of the jobs that will be created for citizens of both countries,” he noted.
The managers of the food company said its outlets throughout Africa would be increased from the current 18 to 300 by 2012, with majority of the shops being located in Nigeria.
The Chief Operating Officer of Food Concepts, Mr Kofi Abunu, said last year alone the franchise served pieces of chicken in excess of six million in Nigeria.
THE Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Senator Mosiliu Obanikoro, has called on the Ghanaian business community to collaborate with its Nigerian counterpart to give meaning to efforts to unify the West African sub-region.
He said for the much talked about sub-regional integration to materialise, the two countries must play a leading role, saying, “We can together create wealth and alleviate poverty in the region.”
Senator Obanikoro said this in Accra yesterday when he inaugurated a new fast food outlet, Chicken Republic, a Nigerian franchise which has just established its first joint in Ghana.
For a start, Chicken Republic, the flagship brand of Food Concepts Plc, has teamed up with So, an oil marketing company, to open outlets.
The food retailer, which is said to be the fastest growing food franchise in West Africa, plans to invest about $500,000 in the Ghanaian economy and open more outlets.
The Nigerian High Commissioner challenged the business community in Ghana to make incursions into his country, just as companies from Nigeria had been flooding Ghana.
He said by those healthy reciprocal business relationships, Ghana and Nigeria could help lift many from poverty and make the region a major player in international business.
A major milestone in Chicken Republic’s history was attained in December 2007 when it opened its first offshore outlet in Sunnyside, Pretoria, South Africa, extending its mission to make Chicken Republic a foremost chicken brand in Africa.
Senator Obanikoro said the opening of the fast food outlet was another opportunity to deepen the bond of friendship that already existed between the two countries.
“Another positive outcome of the launch of the Chicken Republic outlet is that Ghana and Nigeria will be partnering each other in the creation and distibution of wealth as a result of the jobs that will be created for citizens of both countries,” he noted.
The managers of the food company said its outlets throughout Africa would be increased from the current 18 to 300 by 2012, with majority of the shops being located in Nigeria.
The Chief Operating Officer of Food Concepts, Mr Kofi Abunu, said last year alone the franchise served pieces of chicken in excess of six million in Nigeria.
Farmers's Day
Page 16 Saturday November 8 2008
Leticia Ohene-Asiedu reports from Adenta thirteen farmers were awarded for their hard work with Nii Torgbor Obodai being adjudged the overall best farmer for the Adentan Muncipality.
In attendance was the Member of Parliament for the Adentan Constituency Opare Hammond who expressed his profound gratitude to all who were present at the ceremony.
He congratulated all farmers for their hard work and charged them to do more.
Rev Yaw Addai-Yeboah Director of Agriculture for Adenta Municipality said this year, the municipal Agricultural Development Unit(MADU) undertook various activities in relation to Crop, Livestock and Aqua culture and continued to work with members of various communities to undertake the processing and marketingf of agricultural produce from the municipality.
Leticia Ohene-Asiedu reports from Adenta thirteen farmers were awarded for their hard work with Nii Torgbor Obodai being adjudged the overall best farmer for the Adentan Muncipality.
In attendance was the Member of Parliament for the Adentan Constituency Opare Hammond who expressed his profound gratitude to all who were present at the ceremony.
He congratulated all farmers for their hard work and charged them to do more.
Rev Yaw Addai-Yeboah Director of Agriculture for Adenta Municipality said this year, the municipal Agricultural Development Unit(MADU) undertook various activities in relation to Crop, Livestock and Aqua culture and continued to work with members of various communities to undertake the processing and marketingf of agricultural produce from the municipality.
COCOBOD
THE Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod) has presented a $29,000 Toyota Hilux pick-up to the 2007 Best Cocoa Farmer, Mr Nicholas Kwabeng, as his award.
As part of his award, Cocobod sponsored Mr Kwabeng to the Royal Agricultural Show in the United Kingdom (UK) in July, last year, to learn more agricultural practices.
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Cocobod, Mr Tony Fofie, who presented the vehicle to Mr Kwabeng at a ceremony in Accra on Tuesday, said the company was proud of Mr Kwabeng for producing 2,600 bags of cocoa last year.
He said the award was to encourage other farmers to emulate his attitude.
“Because the government recognises the role of farmers in the economy as indispensable, it is our duty as a company to collaborate with the government by giving out this award,” he said.
For his part, Mr Kwabeng, 58, a native of Sunyani Tanoso in the Brong Ahafo Region, said besides his cocoa farm, he was engaged in other farming activities, including cattle rearing, poultry and fish farming.
He expressed his appreciation to the government and the management of Cocobod for the award.
Mr Kwabeng advised parents, particularly the farmers among them, on the importance of education and urged them to educate their children and not force them to take up farming at the expense of their education.
He said a well educated person could perform better in farming than the uneducated.
As part of his award, Cocobod sponsored Mr Kwabeng to the Royal Agricultural Show in the United Kingdom (UK) in July, last year, to learn more agricultural practices.
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Cocobod, Mr Tony Fofie, who presented the vehicle to Mr Kwabeng at a ceremony in Accra on Tuesday, said the company was proud of Mr Kwabeng for producing 2,600 bags of cocoa last year.
He said the award was to encourage other farmers to emulate his attitude.
“Because the government recognises the role of farmers in the economy as indispensable, it is our duty as a company to collaborate with the government by giving out this award,” he said.
For his part, Mr Kwabeng, 58, a native of Sunyani Tanoso in the Brong Ahafo Region, said besides his cocoa farm, he was engaged in other farming activities, including cattle rearing, poultry and fish farming.
He expressed his appreciation to the government and the management of Cocobod for the award.
Mr Kwabeng advised parents, particularly the farmers among them, on the importance of education and urged them to educate their children and not force them to take up farming at the expense of their education.
He said a well educated person could perform better in farming than the uneducated.
Use of potassium bromate in baking dangerous — FDB warns
Backpage Saturday November 29 2008
THE Food and Drugs Board (FDB) has identified an adulterant in yeast used by bakers to enlarge the size of bread, which causes cancer in the human body.
The adulterant, which is known as potassium bromate, has been identified as being dangerous to the human health.
The deliberate contamination of food materials with low quality, cheap, non-edible or toxic (poisonous) substance or the act of adding or mixing something inferior, harmful, useless and unnecessary to food is known as food adulteration.
The acting head of the Food Inspectorate Department of the FDB, Mr Kofi Essel, who disclosed this at a meeting with stakeholders in the baking industry, said that bakers often used this cancerous substance as an addictive to flour.
The substance, he noted, had long been banned in a lot of countries, including Canada, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Peru, Ghana and all over Europe, but due to greed and ignorance some bakers continued to use it, although they have persistently been prohibited from using it.
"Some of them disregard our regulatory requirement, which is key to ensuring that the health of consumers are not put in jeopardy through food adulteration," he added.
Mr Essel said when samples of flour were collected and tested, potassium bromate was not contained in them but it “mysteriously appeared in the bread”.
“This is very alarming, particularly when the bread baker does not know what potassium bromate is but continuously adds it to the bread,” he added.
He said the use of potassium bromate by bakers had become increasingly worrying in the baking industry, adding that “due to our tiring work schedules, we all eat outside and if much care is not taken, we might all die of carelessness”.
Mr Essel said most bakers used adulterants for various reasons, some of which were meant to reduce the manufacturing cost of the bread, increase weight, make the food appear better, conceal inferiority, as well as for some deceptive or malicious purposes.
He said studies had shown that most persons adulterating food were conscious of their actions, but added that there were instances when people were genuinely ignorant of the materials they were using.
He said the post-surveillance team of the FDB, by its mandate, was to ensure that wheat flour, locally produced or imported, was safe and of good quality.
Mr Essel said potassium bromate was largely sold by retailers and sometimes by mill operators, who purchased it from ignorant distributors.
He said unfotunately, people who claimed to know those who used this substance were reluctant to point them out for fear of being victimised.
Potassium bromate usually takes the form of white crystals or powder, which is typically used as a flour improver to strengthen the dough and also allow for higher rising.
Mr Essel said the FDB had initiated measures to bring to book persons involved in this illegal operation and warned that any one found guilty of the offence was laible to a fine or a prison term not exceeding two years or both.
THE Food and Drugs Board (FDB) has identified an adulterant in yeast used by bakers to enlarge the size of bread, which causes cancer in the human body.
The adulterant, which is known as potassium bromate, has been identified as being dangerous to the human health.
The deliberate contamination of food materials with low quality, cheap, non-edible or toxic (poisonous) substance or the act of adding or mixing something inferior, harmful, useless and unnecessary to food is known as food adulteration.
The acting head of the Food Inspectorate Department of the FDB, Mr Kofi Essel, who disclosed this at a meeting with stakeholders in the baking industry, said that bakers often used this cancerous substance as an addictive to flour.
The substance, he noted, had long been banned in a lot of countries, including Canada, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Peru, Ghana and all over Europe, but due to greed and ignorance some bakers continued to use it, although they have persistently been prohibited from using it.
"Some of them disregard our regulatory requirement, which is key to ensuring that the health of consumers are not put in jeopardy through food adulteration," he added.
Mr Essel said when samples of flour were collected and tested, potassium bromate was not contained in them but it “mysteriously appeared in the bread”.
“This is very alarming, particularly when the bread baker does not know what potassium bromate is but continuously adds it to the bread,” he added.
He said the use of potassium bromate by bakers had become increasingly worrying in the baking industry, adding that “due to our tiring work schedules, we all eat outside and if much care is not taken, we might all die of carelessness”.
Mr Essel said most bakers used adulterants for various reasons, some of which were meant to reduce the manufacturing cost of the bread, increase weight, make the food appear better, conceal inferiority, as well as for some deceptive or malicious purposes.
He said studies had shown that most persons adulterating food were conscious of their actions, but added that there were instances when people were genuinely ignorant of the materials they were using.
He said the post-surveillance team of the FDB, by its mandate, was to ensure that wheat flour, locally produced or imported, was safe and of good quality.
Mr Essel said potassium bromate was largely sold by retailers and sometimes by mill operators, who purchased it from ignorant distributors.
He said unfotunately, people who claimed to know those who used this substance were reluctant to point them out for fear of being victimised.
Potassium bromate usually takes the form of white crystals or powder, which is typically used as a flour improver to strengthen the dough and also allow for higher rising.
Mr Essel said the FDB had initiated measures to bring to book persons involved in this illegal operation and warned that any one found guilty of the offence was laible to a fine or a prison term not exceeding two years or both.
We must recover huge losses-NPA
Page 24 Friday November 14 2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine & Leticia Ohene-Asiedu
THE last downward review of petroleum prices is not the actual reflection of the drop in the price of crude oil on the international market, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has said.
It explained that the move was purely intended to ensure a recovery from the huge losses that had been incurred over the period when adjustments in the prices were frozen.
Speaking to the media in Accra yesterday, the Chief Executive of the NPA, Mr John Attafuah, noted that “the average decrease by our calculations was about 17 per cent but the authority, in consultations with the wholesalers, allowed only an average of 10 per cent reduction in the ex-pump prices to allow for the recovery of some of their losses”.
Analysts and members of the public had challenged the authority to come clean on the review as announced since November 1, 2008 because the percentage reduction in the prices was not a true reflection of what had transpired with respect to the downward prices on the international market.
The NPA boss said as per the arrangement between the NPA and the wholesalers, the recovery per month would be $12 million until the losses incurred had been fully recovered.
Mr Attafuah said the losses incurred since the freeze in May this year stood at $168 million.
He noted that despite the increases in crude oil prices to a record $147 per barrel on July 14, 2008, the motoring public in Ghana continued to buy fuel at prices set on May 3, 2008 when the crude price was $116 per barrel.
“Two very important factors used in the determination of petroleum product prices on the local market are world prices of crude oil and products and the exchange rate between the cedi and the US dollar. While the prices of crude oil and petroleum products were on the decline on the world market, the dollar, on the other hand, strengthened against the cedi, thereby making the local prices of petroleum products still high, compared to those set on May 3, 2008,” he said, adding, for instance, that “gas oil prices could have reached GH¢6.5 per gallon at the height of the crisis”.
Mr Attafuah also indicated that although the price premium in US dollar per litre was below the May 3, 2008 level from September 1, 2008, “the price premium in Ghana cedi per litre was higher than the May 3, 2008 figure”.
“It was not until October 16, 2008 that the price of premium, 70.850Gp per litre, started going below the May 3 levels of 76.3682Gp per litre,” he added.
Mr Attafuah noted that the “impact of the exchange rate on prices is the same for all the petroleum products”.
He said the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and the Bulk Oil Traders were expected to begin the recovery of their losses from November 1, 2008 when the prices were reviewed.
“We either pay it from the national budget or allow the NPA to manage its recovery through the pricing mechanisms,” he said.
Mr Attafuah said the NPA, by its mandate, was expected to protect the interest of both consumers and petroleum service providers.
“While we expect consumers to benefit from the price reductions on the world market, it is also important for us to ensure that petroleum service providers do not suffer unduly,” he said.
He said the decisions taken were the prerogative of the authority.
Contrary to public perceptions about the authority not being autonomous of governmental control, he insisted, “We have always worked to ensure the independence of the NPA, particularly with regard to the operational aspects of our mandate.”
“Indeed, the NPA Act, Act 691, 2005, requires that the authority, in performing its functions, shall not be subject to the control or direction of any person or authority other than the minister who may give policy directions,” he added.
Reacting to speculations that some of the oil marketing companies (OMCs) refused to quote the new prices when the downward reviews were announced, he said the monitoring division of the NPA was at hand to check the allegations but found none contravening the directive.
He urged any person who identified any OMC not quoting the new prices to report to the authority for action.
On transport fares, he said the NPA had no authority over the control of transportation fares and indicated that that responsibility fell solely on transport organisations.
Mr Attafuah said the NPA had held meetings with the executives of the Ghana Road Transport Co-ordinating Council prior to the announcement to discuss a review of the fares.
He pleaded with the council and other bodies in the transport business to allow some respite in the fares in view of the reduction in petroleum prices.
Premium petrol, which stood at 118.53Gp per litre is now selling at 106.65Gp, while gas oil (diesel) also sells at 109.85Gp per litre from the previous price of 120Gp.
Kerosene has also been reduced from 135Gp per litre to 102Gp, while premix fuel, the special fuel used in running outboard motors by fishermen at sea, is going for 66.12Gp per litre from 73.48Gp.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has also been reduced from the 100.44Gp per kilogramme to 91.91Gp per kilogramme.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine & Leticia Ohene-Asiedu
THE last downward review of petroleum prices is not the actual reflection of the drop in the price of crude oil on the international market, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has said.
It explained that the move was purely intended to ensure a recovery from the huge losses that had been incurred over the period when adjustments in the prices were frozen.
Speaking to the media in Accra yesterday, the Chief Executive of the NPA, Mr John Attafuah, noted that “the average decrease by our calculations was about 17 per cent but the authority, in consultations with the wholesalers, allowed only an average of 10 per cent reduction in the ex-pump prices to allow for the recovery of some of their losses”.
Analysts and members of the public had challenged the authority to come clean on the review as announced since November 1, 2008 because the percentage reduction in the prices was not a true reflection of what had transpired with respect to the downward prices on the international market.
The NPA boss said as per the arrangement between the NPA and the wholesalers, the recovery per month would be $12 million until the losses incurred had been fully recovered.
Mr Attafuah said the losses incurred since the freeze in May this year stood at $168 million.
He noted that despite the increases in crude oil prices to a record $147 per barrel on July 14, 2008, the motoring public in Ghana continued to buy fuel at prices set on May 3, 2008 when the crude price was $116 per barrel.
“Two very important factors used in the determination of petroleum product prices on the local market are world prices of crude oil and products and the exchange rate between the cedi and the US dollar. While the prices of crude oil and petroleum products were on the decline on the world market, the dollar, on the other hand, strengthened against the cedi, thereby making the local prices of petroleum products still high, compared to those set on May 3, 2008,” he said, adding, for instance, that “gas oil prices could have reached GH¢6.5 per gallon at the height of the crisis”.
Mr Attafuah also indicated that although the price premium in US dollar per litre was below the May 3, 2008 level from September 1, 2008, “the price premium in Ghana cedi per litre was higher than the May 3, 2008 figure”.
“It was not until October 16, 2008 that the price of premium, 70.850Gp per litre, started going below the May 3 levels of 76.3682Gp per litre,” he added.
Mr Attafuah noted that the “impact of the exchange rate on prices is the same for all the petroleum products”.
He said the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and the Bulk Oil Traders were expected to begin the recovery of their losses from November 1, 2008 when the prices were reviewed.
“We either pay it from the national budget or allow the NPA to manage its recovery through the pricing mechanisms,” he said.
Mr Attafuah said the NPA, by its mandate, was expected to protect the interest of both consumers and petroleum service providers.
“While we expect consumers to benefit from the price reductions on the world market, it is also important for us to ensure that petroleum service providers do not suffer unduly,” he said.
He said the decisions taken were the prerogative of the authority.
Contrary to public perceptions about the authority not being autonomous of governmental control, he insisted, “We have always worked to ensure the independence of the NPA, particularly with regard to the operational aspects of our mandate.”
“Indeed, the NPA Act, Act 691, 2005, requires that the authority, in performing its functions, shall not be subject to the control or direction of any person or authority other than the minister who may give policy directions,” he added.
Reacting to speculations that some of the oil marketing companies (OMCs) refused to quote the new prices when the downward reviews were announced, he said the monitoring division of the NPA was at hand to check the allegations but found none contravening the directive.
He urged any person who identified any OMC not quoting the new prices to report to the authority for action.
On transport fares, he said the NPA had no authority over the control of transportation fares and indicated that that responsibility fell solely on transport organisations.
Mr Attafuah said the NPA had held meetings with the executives of the Ghana Road Transport Co-ordinating Council prior to the announcement to discuss a review of the fares.
He pleaded with the council and other bodies in the transport business to allow some respite in the fares in view of the reduction in petroleum prices.
Premium petrol, which stood at 118.53Gp per litre is now selling at 106.65Gp, while gas oil (diesel) also sells at 109.85Gp per litre from the previous price of 120Gp.
Kerosene has also been reduced from 135Gp per litre to 102Gp, while premix fuel, the special fuel used in running outboard motors by fishermen at sea, is going for 66.12Gp per litre from 73.48Gp.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has also been reduced from the 100.44Gp per kilogramme to 91.91Gp per kilogramme.
Enterprise Insurance Supports Korle-Bu Hospital
Page 18 Saturday November 15 2008
Enterprise Insurance Company Limited has donated GH¢5,000 to the Korle-Bu Heart Foundation and an endoscopic telescope worth $18,000 to the Urology Department of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
Receiving the equipment, the Head of the Urology Department, Dr Samuel Gepi-Attee, who expressed appreciation for the gesture, described the telescope as an equipment used to operate the urethra of a patient, particularly when there was a blockage in the urinal system, making it difficult for the patient to pass urine.
Dr Gepi-Attee said the endoscopic telescope would save the urologist from cutting any part of the urethra when operating on a patient.
“Most patients are scared of operations, particularly when it has to do with cutting some parts of the body, but with the help of this equipment we know that things will be much easier for us now,” he said.
Dr Gepi-Attee advised hospitals to use modern equipment, as it was the fastest and safest way of attending to patients.
Dr Baffo Gyan, the Adult Heart Surgeon at the Korle-Bu Heart Foundation, who received the GH¢5,000 on behalf of the Cadio-thoracic Centre of the hospital, said the centre faced a lot of problems, particularly the expenses patients incurred during surgery.
“The number of patients have really increased, particularly children, and most of them come from very poor homes, making it difficult for them to pay for the surgery. As a result of that, the Heart Foundation is bearing half of the cost of surgeries,” he said.
Dr Gyan appealed to other companies and individuals to emulate the example of Enterprise Insurance Company.
Enterprise Insurance Company Limited has donated GH¢5,000 to the Korle-Bu Heart Foundation and an endoscopic telescope worth $18,000 to the Urology Department of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
Receiving the equipment, the Head of the Urology Department, Dr Samuel Gepi-Attee, who expressed appreciation for the gesture, described the telescope as an equipment used to operate the urethra of a patient, particularly when there was a blockage in the urinal system, making it difficult for the patient to pass urine.
Dr Gepi-Attee said the endoscopic telescope would save the urologist from cutting any part of the urethra when operating on a patient.
“Most patients are scared of operations, particularly when it has to do with cutting some parts of the body, but with the help of this equipment we know that things will be much easier for us now,” he said.
Dr Gepi-Attee advised hospitals to use modern equipment, as it was the fastest and safest way of attending to patients.
Dr Baffo Gyan, the Adult Heart Surgeon at the Korle-Bu Heart Foundation, who received the GH¢5,000 on behalf of the Cadio-thoracic Centre of the hospital, said the centre faced a lot of problems, particularly the expenses patients incurred during surgery.
“The number of patients have really increased, particularly children, and most of them come from very poor homes, making it difficult for them to pay for the surgery. As a result of that, the Heart Foundation is bearing half of the cost of surgeries,” he said.
Dr Gyan appealed to other companies and individuals to emulate the example of Enterprise Insurance Company.
Yanoa educational programme launched
Page 15 Friday November 28 2008
AN educational programme aimed at assisting students in all facets of education was launched in Accra at the weekend.
The programme, which is known as Yanoa (meaning already cooked), is a well structured and meaningful programme to assist students prepare well for examination.
Launching the ‘Yanoa Test Preparation Software’, Dr Osei Darkwa, President of the Ghana Telecom University College, said education at all levels was about preparing students to learn effectively in order to pass their examinations.
Dr Darkwa said the target group of the Yanoa programme was those who were preparing for the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
He said secondary education was designed to fulfil a vital mission in society which was terminal and preparatory. This is thus recognised as the cornerstone of the educational system in the 21st century.
He said presently, there were increased demands for secondary education, due to the forces transforming society-globalisation, industrialisation, rural-urban migration and informatisation, among other things.
He said regardless of the purpose and the level of development of secondary education, the end product was basically an assessment.
He stressed that assessment or testing was a normal process of academic life and everyday life as well.
AN educational programme aimed at assisting students in all facets of education was launched in Accra at the weekend.
The programme, which is known as Yanoa (meaning already cooked), is a well structured and meaningful programme to assist students prepare well for examination.
Launching the ‘Yanoa Test Preparation Software’, Dr Osei Darkwa, President of the Ghana Telecom University College, said education at all levels was about preparing students to learn effectively in order to pass their examinations.
Dr Darkwa said the target group of the Yanoa programme was those who were preparing for the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
He said secondary education was designed to fulfil a vital mission in society which was terminal and preparatory. This is thus recognised as the cornerstone of the educational system in the 21st century.
He said presently, there were increased demands for secondary education, due to the forces transforming society-globalisation, industrialisation, rural-urban migration and informatisation, among other things.
He said regardless of the purpose and the level of development of secondary education, the end product was basically an assessment.
He stressed that assessment or testing was a normal process of academic life and everyday life as well.
Wisconsin University expands facility
Page 28 Friday November 28 2008
THE Wisconsin University College has inaugurated new facilities at the campus to facilitate an enhanced teaching and learning environment.
The new facilities, estimated at GH¢900,000, are a computer laboratory, a library, an 18-classroom storey building and a well-furnished reception.
At the inauguration of the facilities, the Managing Director (MD) of the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), Mr Yaw Opoku Atuahene, urged the authorities of the university to ensure that morality became a top priority in the university’s programme.
He said Ghana needed a new generation of citizens committed to the national cause and who would sacrifice for the uplift of Ghana from a third world nation to a first world nation.
He said tertiary institutions had a vital role to play in producing a new breed of politicians, lawyers, scientists, businessmen and women to propel the nation higher and forward.
“Academics and students should certainly not lose sight of the giant strides that have been made in respect of education in Ghana today and most significantly the contribution of private tertiary institutions. It is in this regard that I find it heartening to insist that institutions like this should take up a leading role to ensure that morality becomes a top priority,” he noted.
Mr Atuahene said by dint of hard work, the university had increased its enrolment figures from the initial number of 25 students to the present student population of 2000.
He said the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) was proud to associate itself with Wisconsin University College, which motivated it to finance the expansion works.
“Our interest in improving the educational sector is informed by the recognition that there is a positive relationship between human resource capacity development and sustainable growth in the agricultural sector,” he added.
He commended the authorities of the university for initiating those projects to make the learning environment more conducive.
THE Wisconsin University College has inaugurated new facilities at the campus to facilitate an enhanced teaching and learning environment.
The new facilities, estimated at GH¢900,000, are a computer laboratory, a library, an 18-classroom storey building and a well-furnished reception.
At the inauguration of the facilities, the Managing Director (MD) of the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), Mr Yaw Opoku Atuahene, urged the authorities of the university to ensure that morality became a top priority in the university’s programme.
He said Ghana needed a new generation of citizens committed to the national cause and who would sacrifice for the uplift of Ghana from a third world nation to a first world nation.
He said tertiary institutions had a vital role to play in producing a new breed of politicians, lawyers, scientists, businessmen and women to propel the nation higher and forward.
“Academics and students should certainly not lose sight of the giant strides that have been made in respect of education in Ghana today and most significantly the contribution of private tertiary institutions. It is in this regard that I find it heartening to insist that institutions like this should take up a leading role to ensure that morality becomes a top priority,” he noted.
Mr Atuahene said by dint of hard work, the university had increased its enrolment figures from the initial number of 25 students to the present student population of 2000.
He said the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) was proud to associate itself with Wisconsin University College, which motivated it to finance the expansion works.
“Our interest in improving the educational sector is informed by the recognition that there is a positive relationship between human resource capacity development and sustainable growth in the agricultural sector,” he added.
He commended the authorities of the university for initiating those projects to make the learning environment more conducive.
First Inter Faculty Lecture at GIJ
THE acting Rector of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), Mr Kweku Rockson, has called on corporate bodies to clearly distinguish between corporate branding and corporate social responsibility.
He noted that some businesses had neglected their social responsibilities and were focusing on branding and marketing of their companies.
Mr Rockson referred to initiatives like beauty pageants, soccer academies and reality shows, among other things, as mere promotional activities.
He made the call at the first Inter Faculty Lecture of the GIJ on the theme, “How responsive has Ghana been to the Global Corporate Social Responsibility Imperative”.
Mr Rockson said more organisations were practising more of social responsibility investment which benefitted their companies to the detriment of their social responsibility.
He said corporate social responsibility had become a global norm for organisations to engage in not-for-profit endeavours which were socially and economically responsive to the sectors and communities in which they operated.
The Rector said in the United States of America (USA), corporate social responsibility had been positioned more in terms of a philanthropic model, where corporate entities were expected to make profits so far as they paid their taxes and set aside a percentage for charity.
Mr Rockson pointed out that investment in corporate ethics and social responsibility, as well as avoiding negative consequences could often lead to “positive payoffs”.
The Rector justified the practice of corporate social responsibility as a sense of moral obligation of firms towards helping the society deal with its problems and to contribute to its welfare.
“For instance, 51 of the 100 largest economies in the world are corporations so they have to assume responsibility similar to that of the government”, he noted.
Some critics, he noted, were of the view that a number of corporations undertook corporate social responsibility activities for public relations policies to raise their profile with their communities, societies or the government.
He commended the Graphic Communications Group for creating the platform for corporate governance advocacy through its yearly “Governance Dialogues”.
The Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Mr Kwabena Ampem-Darko, who chaired the function asked corporate entities to invest more of their profits in the society.
He noted that some businesses had neglected their social responsibilities and were focusing on branding and marketing of their companies.
Mr Rockson referred to initiatives like beauty pageants, soccer academies and reality shows, among other things, as mere promotional activities.
He made the call at the first Inter Faculty Lecture of the GIJ on the theme, “How responsive has Ghana been to the Global Corporate Social Responsibility Imperative”.
Mr Rockson said more organisations were practising more of social responsibility investment which benefitted their companies to the detriment of their social responsibility.
He said corporate social responsibility had become a global norm for organisations to engage in not-for-profit endeavours which were socially and economically responsive to the sectors and communities in which they operated.
The Rector said in the United States of America (USA), corporate social responsibility had been positioned more in terms of a philanthropic model, where corporate entities were expected to make profits so far as they paid their taxes and set aside a percentage for charity.
Mr Rockson pointed out that investment in corporate ethics and social responsibility, as well as avoiding negative consequences could often lead to “positive payoffs”.
The Rector justified the practice of corporate social responsibility as a sense of moral obligation of firms towards helping the society deal with its problems and to contribute to its welfare.
“For instance, 51 of the 100 largest economies in the world are corporations so they have to assume responsibility similar to that of the government”, he noted.
Some critics, he noted, were of the view that a number of corporations undertook corporate social responsibility activities for public relations policies to raise their profile with their communities, societies or the government.
He commended the Graphic Communications Group for creating the platform for corporate governance advocacy through its yearly “Governance Dialogues”.
The Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Mr Kwabena Ampem-Darko, who chaired the function asked corporate entities to invest more of their profits in the society.
Child Resource Institute holds graduation ceremony
THE General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Mrs Irene Duncan Adanusa, has appealed to all stakeholders to collaborate effectively to promote quality education in the country.
She observed that there was a wealth of knowledge and power in children which could be tapped for national development.
Mrs Adanusa said this in a speech read on her behalf by a representative of the Early Childhood Educators on the National Executive Committee of GNAT, Miss Mercy Lartiokor Lartey, at the fifth graduation ceremony of the International Child Resource Institute (ICIR), a vocational training institute in Accra at the weekend.
The General Secretary advised the graduands not to allow themselves to be pushed to the wall, but to demonstrate for all to see that they could also contribute effectively to the development of the country.
She said due to economic hardships, some young people could not access formal education to the highest level and, therefore, found themselves on the streets .
As a result of this unfortunate situation, she said the government had initiated and implemented various interventions to address such social problems, but these interventions had not achieved the desired results.
The ICRI, she noted, did not only train young graduands to acquire skills, but also went further to educate them on health issues such as STDs, HIV and AIDS and other health-related issues.
She believed that such education would make the products of the institution holistic and help them to lead lives that would not make them vulnerable.
“A healthy lifestyle is very paramount if one wants to achieve the desired vision in life. This addition to the skills and training makes this institution exceptional in its approach to handling the problems of streetism in this country,” she said.
Mrs Adanusa indicated that early childhood was very important in the educational ladder, and as such parents must see to it by enrolling their children in the centres for solid foundation building of their children.
She stressed the need for the government to take steps to ensure that these centres were established in remote communities in the country for free education to achieve its desired results.
The General Secretary also charged the graduands to make good use of the skills acquired in order to rub shoulders with those in higher positions.
She further advised the graduands not to be complacent with what they had learnt, but rather take advantage of every genuine opportunity that would come their way to improve their skills and make themselves more employable. “Add value to yourselves, so that you will be in high demand,” she added.
Mrs Adanusa commended the management of the institute for the wonderful programme put in place for the disadvantaged in the country.
She observed that there was a wealth of knowledge and power in children which could be tapped for national development.
Mrs Adanusa said this in a speech read on her behalf by a representative of the Early Childhood Educators on the National Executive Committee of GNAT, Miss Mercy Lartiokor Lartey, at the fifth graduation ceremony of the International Child Resource Institute (ICIR), a vocational training institute in Accra at the weekend.
The General Secretary advised the graduands not to allow themselves to be pushed to the wall, but to demonstrate for all to see that they could also contribute effectively to the development of the country.
She said due to economic hardships, some young people could not access formal education to the highest level and, therefore, found themselves on the streets .
As a result of this unfortunate situation, she said the government had initiated and implemented various interventions to address such social problems, but these interventions had not achieved the desired results.
The ICRI, she noted, did not only train young graduands to acquire skills, but also went further to educate them on health issues such as STDs, HIV and AIDS and other health-related issues.
She believed that such education would make the products of the institution holistic and help them to lead lives that would not make them vulnerable.
“A healthy lifestyle is very paramount if one wants to achieve the desired vision in life. This addition to the skills and training makes this institution exceptional in its approach to handling the problems of streetism in this country,” she said.
Mrs Adanusa indicated that early childhood was very important in the educational ladder, and as such parents must see to it by enrolling their children in the centres for solid foundation building of their children.
She stressed the need for the government to take steps to ensure that these centres were established in remote communities in the country for free education to achieve its desired results.
The General Secretary also charged the graduands to make good use of the skills acquired in order to rub shoulders with those in higher positions.
She further advised the graduands not to be complacent with what they had learnt, but rather take advantage of every genuine opportunity that would come their way to improve their skills and make themselves more employable. “Add value to yourselves, so that you will be in high demand,” she added.
Mrs Adanusa commended the management of the institute for the wonderful programme put in place for the disadvantaged in the country.
NDC youth must be vigilant -Iddrisu
The National Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, has implored the youth of the party to be vigilant at the polling stations on polling day.
This, according to Mr Iddrisu, would ensure that the elections took place peacefully devoid of any rigging or fraudulent electoral practices by any political party.
He said nothing should prevent NDC supporters from keeping an eye on the ballot boxes to ensure that the elections were conducted peacefully and successfully.
Mr Iddrisu stated this at the first national youth summit of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the National Theatre on Thursday. It was on the theme “A change we can trust”.
The Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, called on the youth in particular to abide by all the rules of voting in order not to disrupt the voting process.
The Director of Communications of the NDC, Ms Hannah Tetteh, said the NPP had failed to give jobs to Ghanaians and that the rule of law was only important to the NPP when it was in opposition.
Hannah Tetteh said the various Presidential Initiatives, particularly the cassava project, had been a fiasco, and that the NDC had better policy options to offer Ghanaians.
She gave the assurance that an NDC government would revamp all the factories that had collapsed and generate employment for the youth.
On Education she said when the NDC came to power all polytechnics in the country would be awarding degrees instead of diplomas.
Mr John Mahama, Vice Presidential candidate of the party, said an NDC government would use state resources judiciously for the benefit of Ghanaians.
He said “If ex president Rawlings wanted to build a presidential palace, he would have built three of them,” but for prudent utilisation of scarce resources there was the need to channel resources into other social interventions.
Speaking at the youth summit, the fomer President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), Dr Omane Boamah, advised the youth of the party to be wide awake to prevent any form of cheating on December 7.
The former NUGS President said when the NDC came to power it would improve the health sector.
He added that inadequate infrastructure in our hospitals would be addressed, as well as salaries for health workers.
Dr Omane Boamah said the Attah Mills led administration of the NDC would institute a National Youth Training and Employment Programme.
He said the National Health Insurance Scheme would be revived to make it easy and accessible to all Ghanaians.
This, according to Mr Iddrisu, would ensure that the elections took place peacefully devoid of any rigging or fraudulent electoral practices by any political party.
He said nothing should prevent NDC supporters from keeping an eye on the ballot boxes to ensure that the elections were conducted peacefully and successfully.
Mr Iddrisu stated this at the first national youth summit of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the National Theatre on Thursday. It was on the theme “A change we can trust”.
The Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, called on the youth in particular to abide by all the rules of voting in order not to disrupt the voting process.
The Director of Communications of the NDC, Ms Hannah Tetteh, said the NPP had failed to give jobs to Ghanaians and that the rule of law was only important to the NPP when it was in opposition.
Hannah Tetteh said the various Presidential Initiatives, particularly the cassava project, had been a fiasco, and that the NDC had better policy options to offer Ghanaians.
She gave the assurance that an NDC government would revamp all the factories that had collapsed and generate employment for the youth.
On Education she said when the NDC came to power all polytechnics in the country would be awarding degrees instead of diplomas.
Mr John Mahama, Vice Presidential candidate of the party, said an NDC government would use state resources judiciously for the benefit of Ghanaians.
He said “If ex president Rawlings wanted to build a presidential palace, he would have built three of them,” but for prudent utilisation of scarce resources there was the need to channel resources into other social interventions.
Speaking at the youth summit, the fomer President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), Dr Omane Boamah, advised the youth of the party to be wide awake to prevent any form of cheating on December 7.
The former NUGS President said when the NDC came to power it would improve the health sector.
He added that inadequate infrastructure in our hospitals would be addressed, as well as salaries for health workers.
Dr Omane Boamah said the Attah Mills led administration of the NDC would institute a National Youth Training and Employment Programme.
He said the National Health Insurance Scheme would be revived to make it easy and accessible to all Ghanaians.
Mental Health
Story: Leticia Ohene-Asiedu
THE Pantang Hospital recorded an increase of 88 per cent in the number of patients who were admitted there for substance abuse between 2007 and 2008.
The number of patients admitted for alcohol abuse also increased by 43 per cent during the period, according to the acting Medical Officer of the hospital, Mrs Annan Dzadey.
Mrs Dzadey was speaking at an end-of-year party and awards ceremony for the patients and staff of the hospital on Wednesday.
She said total Outpatient Department (OPD) attendance this year was 28,101, made up of 11,995 physical and 16,106 psychiatric cases.
She indicated that given the increasing number of alcohol and illicit substance users, the hospital might expect more clients with addiction problems seeking help in psychiatric hospitals.
“We are prepared to help patients, but it should be the primary concern of policy makers to address this need as soon as possible. The World Health Organisation (WHO) report in 2002 indicated that four per cent of the global burden of diseases and 3.2 per cent of all deaths were attributed to alcohol. Yet we see alcohol being prepared and sold almost everywhere and even young children can buy it without a problem,” she said.
According to Mrs Dzadey, patients referred to the hospital by court for observation, evaluation and treatment were often forgotten by the authorities and they became a burden on the hospital.
She noted that the hospital had 121 patients who had been on admission for more than two years, 70 of them without any traceable families.
“In 2007 and 2008, we admitted 23 and 29 patients, respectively, on court order and as of now 35 are still in the wards. Most of these neglected and forgotten patients become part of our hospital family,” she added.
Mrs Dzadey said the hospital would establish a special ward for the rehabilitation of patients with substance addiction problems, as well as intensify activities at the Department for the Rehabilitation of Chronic Patients.
In a speech read on his behalf by the acting Director of Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Daniel Yayemain, the Director-General of the GHS, Dr Elias Sory, said even though brain drain in the health sector was still a problem, mental health workers continued to show a high level of commitment.
“Mental health workers throughout the country have demonstrated that it is possible for all health workers to put in an extra effort when the right kind of leadership is demonstrated,” ho noted.
He commended the management of the hospital for organising the end-of-year party and awards ceremony, saying the ceremony served as a therapy that could contribute immensely towards the fast recovery of patients.
As part of the ceremony, a dancing competition among the inmates of the hospital was held and the winners were crowned Mr and Miss Pantang 2008.
Nine retired officers of the hospital were rewarded for their hard work and dedication.
THE Pantang Hospital recorded an increase of 88 per cent in the number of patients who were admitted there for substance abuse between 2007 and 2008.
The number of patients admitted for alcohol abuse also increased by 43 per cent during the period, according to the acting Medical Officer of the hospital, Mrs Annan Dzadey.
Mrs Dzadey was speaking at an end-of-year party and awards ceremony for the patients and staff of the hospital on Wednesday.
She said total Outpatient Department (OPD) attendance this year was 28,101, made up of 11,995 physical and 16,106 psychiatric cases.
She indicated that given the increasing number of alcohol and illicit substance users, the hospital might expect more clients with addiction problems seeking help in psychiatric hospitals.
“We are prepared to help patients, but it should be the primary concern of policy makers to address this need as soon as possible. The World Health Organisation (WHO) report in 2002 indicated that four per cent of the global burden of diseases and 3.2 per cent of all deaths were attributed to alcohol. Yet we see alcohol being prepared and sold almost everywhere and even young children can buy it without a problem,” she said.
According to Mrs Dzadey, patients referred to the hospital by court for observation, evaluation and treatment were often forgotten by the authorities and they became a burden on the hospital.
She noted that the hospital had 121 patients who had been on admission for more than two years, 70 of them without any traceable families.
“In 2007 and 2008, we admitted 23 and 29 patients, respectively, on court order and as of now 35 are still in the wards. Most of these neglected and forgotten patients become part of our hospital family,” she added.
Mrs Dzadey said the hospital would establish a special ward for the rehabilitation of patients with substance addiction problems, as well as intensify activities at the Department for the Rehabilitation of Chronic Patients.
In a speech read on his behalf by the acting Director of Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Daniel Yayemain, the Director-General of the GHS, Dr Elias Sory, said even though brain drain in the health sector was still a problem, mental health workers continued to show a high level of commitment.
“Mental health workers throughout the country have demonstrated that it is possible for all health workers to put in an extra effort when the right kind of leadership is demonstrated,” ho noted.
He commended the management of the hospital for organising the end-of-year party and awards ceremony, saying the ceremony served as a therapy that could contribute immensely towards the fast recovery of patients.
As part of the ceremony, a dancing competition among the inmates of the hospital was held and the winners were crowned Mr and Miss Pantang 2008.
Nine retired officers of the hospital were rewarded for their hard work and dedication.
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