| News Home (Main Page) |  | | LATEST WORLD NEWS | | | | | NEWS ARCHIVE 2009 | | NEWS ARCHIVE 2008 | | NEWS ARCHIVE 2007 | | PHOTO REPORTS | | VIDEO REPORTS | | ARTS in GHANA | | Food & Drinks in Ghana |  | | Africa Cup 2008 | | Ghana Hotels | | Links / Websites | | Ghana Districts | | Ghana Tourism | | Ghana Adinkra | Names in Ghana | | | | * 27.03.2010 | Mills tells medical students to pay back their "dues" * Source: GNA | Accra, March 27, GNA - Ghanaian medical students owe their training to the sweats and toils of tax payers, President John Evans Atta Mills said on Saturday in Accra.
"It is now time to pay back the sacrifices they (tax payers) have made to get you educated and trained," he told over 500 medical students who graduated at the University of Ghana, Legon.
President Mills further noted that they could only reciprocate by offering the needed health care wherever they were located in the country. The ninth congregation of the University Of Ghana College of Allied Sciences saw 94 medical doctors and 16 dental surgeons who took their Hippocratic Oath to guide their moral judgment in their practice as doctors. President Mills, whose speech was read on his behalf by the Education Minister, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, said it was very disappointing for health practitioners to refuse posting to where their services were needed most in the country.
"This is rather unpatriotic attitude that must be condemned since it affects the smooth operation of the health delivery of the ordinary man," he noted.
The President said it was the intention of government to develop the human resource base of the country and identified education and health as key in that regards.
He said the country faces many challenges such as filth and insanitary conditions, environmental degradation, unhealthy physical and eating habits and alarming road and transport accidents, which had led to high levels of avoidable disease conditions and deaths.
However, he said, "Sadly our nation faces a shortage of essential health professionals to help deal with these problems throughout the country". President Mills promised to assist the College of Health Sciences to train more health professionals to bridge the existing gap. Government, he said, was aware of the efforts being made to expand facilities of the College with support from the Ghana Educational Trust Fund (GETFund).
He said, however, due to the difficulties in the disbursement of the GETFund, government was currently reviewing Fund. Prof Andrew Lawson, Provost of the College of Allied Sciences, congratulated the graduands for their achievements and wished them success in their practices.
"Remember that the nation needs your services especially in the rural area where you will also learn more about the health challenges in the country," he said. Dr Juliana Unicorn, a Dentist, was adjudged the overall best student. | Assembly members want substantial ex-gratia allowance * Source: GNA | Kade(E/R), Mar. 27, GNA-Members of the Kwaebibirim District Assembly have appealed to government to offer substantial ex-gratia to members whose term of office ends by the middle of this year to compensate for the sacrifice they had made towards the development of their districts. They argue that, the perception that the numbers of assembly members throughout the country is very huge that the total amount required to settle them if given any substantial amount could throw the national economy out of gear" was fallacious.
According to the assembly members, even if each of them was paid 1,000 Ghana Cedis as an ex-gratia allowance for their four years, the total amount involved would not come close to the total volume of ex-gratia and other facilities extended to the 230 Parliamentarians at the end of their term of office let alone adding that of the Executive and their supporting staff. This came to light when the Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah and Mr. Ahmed Baba-Jamal Deputy Eastern Regional Minister visited the Assembly at Kade.
The Presiding Member of the Assembly, Mr. George Aboagye expressed his appreciation to the members of the assembly for their contribution towards the development of the district during the last four years. He said, though the payment of the ex-gratia allowance to the members of the assembly is expected to be paid from the internally generated funds of the assembly, government could support the assemblies to pay substantial amount of money to the assembly members to encourage others to offer their time and resources for the development of the districts. Mr Afriyie-Ankrah appealed to traditional authorities to use peaceful and amicable means of settling disputes among themselves and stop the use of violence.
He warned that, the government would deal with anybody who threatens the security of the country according to the laws of the state irrespective of ones political affiliation and where he or she comes from. Mr. Afriyie -Ankrah said the District Assembly Common Fund alone could not provide all the needs of the assemblies and urged the assembly to move from manual to electronic collection of revenue to enhance their revenue base.
He urged the assembly to establish joint ventures and attract other investors to their districts to help create employment and wealth in their area.
Mr. Baba-Jamal, urged the assembly to enforce its bye laws on the removal of all unauthorized structures from the centre of the town and adhere to the development plan of the town else it may be too late to clean up the town in future. The Kwaebibirim District Chief Executive, Mr. George Agyemang Duah, said the greatest challenge facing the district is chieftaincy disputes and appealed to the traditional authorities to help solve the conflicts to enhance the peace and development of the district. | US Embassy in Ghana offers walk-in services to students * Source: GNA | Accra, March 26, GNA - The United States Embassy on Friday announced that it would offer interviews to qualified applicants for F-1 student visas and J-1 academic and research visitor visas every Wednesday from May 5 to September 15.
This is to better serve the high demand for student visas in Ghana, a statement issued by the Public Affairs Section of the Embassy said in Accra.
It explained that applicants for student visas would not be required to schedule an interview through the online appointment system; instead, applicants for F-1 student visas and J-1 academic and research visas might schedule their visa interview appointments in advance on a walk-in basis with the Consular Section.
The statement said to schedule a student visa interview, applicants must appear in person at the consular section on Wednesday from March 3 to April 28 from 1400 hours to 1600 hours.
It said students must submit copies of their form I-20 and passport biographic data page, as well as a valid email address.
"Students will receive a ticket with the visa interview date and time. Students should not submit more than one application. Duplicate applications or applications for more than one appointment will result in the cancellation of any previously scheduled appointment," it said.
The statement however; said applicants for J-1 summer work and travel visas were not eligible to participate in this walk-in programme.
It said summer and work travel applicants must schedule visa interview appointments online.
"Students renewing their F-1 visas may continue to renew their visas on a walk-in basis on any Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday at 1:30 p.m."
"It is not possible to re-schedule missed appointments," the statement noted.
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| Latest Ghana News Saturday, 27 March 2010 WEEK 12 - 2010 | * Saturday, 27 March 2010 | Military, Police Dare Armed Robbers * Source: Daily Guide | THE VOLTA Regional Police Command in collaboration with the 66 Artillery Regiment; a regional wing of the Ghana Armed Forces, has warned that security forces are battle ready for armed robbers and other criminals who desire to break laws in the region. They also cautioned that criminals from other regions who think they can find solace in the Volta Region need to change their minds because the police and military will not sit and watch them disturb the citizenry. The Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP David Nennyi Ampah-Bennin, issued the warning on Thursday at the launch of the region’s “Operation Calm Life” at Ho. The operation is a police/military collaboration to flush out armed robbers and other criminals from the region. Launching the operation, DCOP Ampah-Bennin reminded the two security forces of their responsibility to protect life and property. He urged the security men and women to do everything possible to prevent criminals from committing crime saying; “The utmost achievement of the police is the extent to which we have been able to prevent crime, not the extent to which we have been able to detect crime after they have been committed”. According to him, prevention is always better because more resources are used to catch criminals than that which is used to prevent them from acting. DCOP Ampah-Bennin noted that during the operation the security forces will portray “show of force”, where they will be visible in every part of the region, especially the Ho Municipality. They will also embark on both foot and vehicular patrols during the day and at night to ensure that not only armed robbery, but murder, rape and defilement are stopped. “We cannot sit down and watch as these unwarranted acts continue”, he said. The operation, he noted, is also to showcase the effective coordination and collaboration between the various security services, especially the police and military, urging the two to see themselves as one people working towards a common goal. He then counseled against discrimination and undermining one another. DCOP Ampah-Bennin also appealed to them to remain disciplined and exhibit tolerance. “The fact that you are embarking on an operation does not mean that you are free to do whatever you like. You should be reminded that you are still working within the confines of the law”, he advised. He further called on them to be selfless during their service to the nation so that at the end they can declare like Apostle Paul; “I have fought the good fight and I have finished the race”. | | > BACK to TOP < | Carl Wilson must not go down alone - Kwesi Pratt * Source: Peacfmonline | The Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has described locking out of party leaders by some members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) as disgraceful to the government and the country as a whole.
Speaking during a panel discussion on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” programme on Friday, Mr Pratt said because of the personal and individual interest of some party members, the image of the government was being tarnished.
Irate youth of the party Thursday morning besieged the party's headquarters, locked out national officers denying them access to their offices and demanding the dismissal of Mr Carl Wilson.
Mr Pratt described the action as shameful, saying, “I am so disappointed...what disgraceful behaviour is this?”
According to him, the action by the NDC youth created a scene of insecurity, thus playing into the hands of the opposition.
"...insecurity costs government more and in fact the opposition benefits from insecurity. So it is the responsibility of those in government to first and foremost promote security and a certain level of stability. Unfortunately, it is the NDC in government who are destabilizing everything...because they want just one person dismissed, not a Minister not an MP...haba," he screamed.
He wondered what the reaction of the security agencies would be should members of the opposition hit the streets when one of their leaders is arrested.
"What will the NDC say? It is this culture of impunity which has infiltrated our country that we have to fight. It is terrible and people in gov't should set a better example than those in opposition," he noted.
He continued; "Kwami, because of the action by this group of NDC fanatics, all attention was focused on Carl Wilson...no mention is made of the 1.6million jobs created by government...the amount of money government paid to GCB (Ghana Commercial Bank) to cover part of the TOR debt..Price Risk Policy for the NPA was agreed by government...all these issues were shelved...because of the behaviour by these NDC youth...people have to start thinking...there is no sense in this...if this is what they will do, 2012 is just around the corner...what disgraceful behaviour is this, totally disgraceful behaviour," Mr. Pratt fumed.
Commenting on the dismissal of Mr. Carl Wilson, Chairman of the Confiscated Vehicles Allocation Committee, by President Mills, the Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper said, “it is obvious that he was sacked based on allegations.”
He questioned why Carl Wilson was given the boot without any formal investigation into the allegations.
"It doesn't matter whether its Carl Wilson or not, whoever is at the receiving end of such a decision, we need to [be worried]. If I were to be a member of the NDC party, I would be very sad and ashamed of myself...it's low, it's illegal...it's obvious his dismissal is based purely on allegations from party members and foot soldiers," he said.
He said the police or a committee should have conducted further investigations to truly find out if he was culpable, adding that a competent court of jurisdiction should have processed his case to find out whether he was guilty or not.
However, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. opined that though Carl Wilson was removed for no stated reasons, there were certain actions he took that were not pleasant at all.
"There are allegations that he seized old cars imported into the country on the basis that they were outmoded, environmentally unfriendly and would be of no help to our economy...yet he turns round and gives them to party members or sells them to cronies," he said.
Referring to the policy of seizing some vehicles, he said: “It is a particularly senseless policy....it happened in the NPP era and the same policy is being replicated by this administration...how do you sell a "stolen" car to someone else...it must be stopped with immediate effect," he stated. | | > BACK to TOP < | Stolen Cars In Castle * Source: Daily Guide | The Carl Wilson seized cars debacle has taken another twist, with a businessman, Alhaji Al-Wahab, claiming that he has seen his two vehicles at the seat of government, Osu Castle, and the forecourt of the Parliament House in Accra.
The murky issues that led to Wilson being dramatically sacked by President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday escalated when the fed-up businessman took his case to the media after filing a writ against the deputy Chief of Staff, Alex Segbefia and the Attorney General, over his three vehicles that he said miraculously vanished from the Tema Port.
Not even the interventions of Vice President John Mahama, National Security Advisor Brig-General Joseph Nunoo-Mensah (rtd), Head Of Communications at the Presidency Koku Anyodoho and Nii Lantey Vanderpuye could make Alex Segbefia and his side-kick, Carl Wilson, mellow down.
Speaking on Asempa Fm and later on Citi Fm yesterday, Al-Wahab, who was said to be an NDC sympathizer, did not mince words but specifically fingered Carl Wilson and Alex Segbefia for illegally confiscating the three vehicles that he had imported for sale.
He mentioned the vehicles as a 2009 model American Dodge, a 2009 Nissan Murano 4-wheel drive, also a 2009 and a 2007 Toyota Camry which he found after a long search, had been registered and was being washed at the President’s washing bay at the Castle.
The victim of the alleged official theft, domiciled in the US for over 18 years with a 10-year stint in Europe, said he is a car dealer who sells imported cars to companies and individuals.
Narrating his story, which comes on the heels of the dismissal of the man who until a few days ago handled the disposal of confiscated cars at the Tema Port, Al-Wahab said in 2009, he bought the above mentioned cars including a 2007 model Toyota Camry, and when they arrived in Ghana, they were seized by Carl Wilson.
He said he paid $28000, $17000 and $15,900 for the three vehicles and paid GH¢48,000 as duties to clear them, only to be told by officials of CEPS at the harbour that Carl Wilson had driven them off to his ‘private port’ and subsequently refused to release them to the owner.
Carl Wilson claimed the cars were stolen and went ahead to seize and allocate them to the Castle where the owner found them.
Al-Wahab was said to have gone to the Castle seeking audience with Vice President John Dramani Mahama and coincidentally, saw his cars being washed at the presidential car park.
“I paid duties on the cars but Carl Wilson seized the cars for his personal pool,” he said.
He intimated that he went to the Interpol office to ascertain the authenticity of the status of the cars and gathered they were not listed, learning later that the vehicles had been confiscated by the Castle.
“I went to the Castle and saw my cars being washed at the Presidential car park. I went to the Vice President’s office from where I was sent to a certain Col. Attachie to handle my complaint,” he said.
Giving the genesis of his travails after paying the appropriate duties, he said he was asked to go to the Tema Port but realized afterwards that it was all a set-up “and I never found my cars”.
Fifty visits to Col Attachie did not yield any positive dividend, as regards tracing his cars, whereupon he was directed to Alex Segbefia, the deputy Chief of Staff who was said to have employed Carl Wilson.
Mr. Segbefia, he went on, asked him to meet him at Parliament House for a discussion and upon arrival there, he saw his Nissan Murano parked at the forecourt, and broken into.
Continuing, he said he went back to Alex Segbefia and waited for three hours without being granted any audience by the official.
He then turned to Brig. Joseph Nunoo-Mensah (rtd), National Security Advisor, who sort of intervened via a phone call after which he advised the complainant to meet him again on another date. During the last meeting with the National Security Advisor, he said the man advised him to take the matter to court.
Taking issues with Alex Segbefia’s description of luxury cars as imports from drug barons, Al Wahab said, “I am a learned person. There is no school for training presidents, chiefs of staff.”
Carl Wilson made unsavoury headlines a few months ago following allegations of impropriety in the management of confiscated cars at the Port of Tema.
He has been accused of channeling so-called confiscated cars to car dealers in town- vehicles which he seized with the excuse that they were stolen in the US and Europe.
When matters came to a head and the allegations against him increased, the deputy Chief of Staff Alex Segbefia, to whom he reports, defended him to the hilt.
The deputy Chief of Staff stated that he did not deal with conjectures but rather, evidence which according to him, were not available to warrant the dismissal of Carl Wilson.
Vehicles are subject to seizure when importers are unable to clear them at the port. Such cars are disposed of by the Confiscated Vehicles Allocation Committee of which Carl Wilson was chairman, until a few days ago. So bad did the management of the man turn out to be that even NDC supporters called for his head.
Disposal of seized cars, which under the previous government yielded revenue to the state, has failed to do so under the current dispensation, as the cars are mostly allocated to cronies of government and party stalwarts, with nothing going into the state kitty.
The President eventually flexed his muscle and yelled the marching off orders to Carl Wilson, this time ignoring the intercession of his mentor, Alex Segbefia.
Al-Wahab might not be excited about the exit of the man responsible for his woes, perhaps until he retrieves his vehicles from the presidential car park. No wonder he is still screaming “foul” across the airwaves. | | > BACK to TOP < | Release Suspects Or I Go To Court- Chief Threatens * Source: northernghana.com | Naaba David Kanso, chief of Nakpanduri has called on the Northern regional police command to release all 21 suspects arrested in connection with the recent purported shooting spree between Nakpanduri police and the youth of the area.
The chief asserted that all the suspects were innocent and that three times escaped convict, Kombian shot the police man for which the suspects were arrested.
At a news conference held in Tamale today March 27, Naaba David Kanso flanked by his elders and the area assemblyman questioned the modus operandi of the police and prison services in Nakpanduri when the Notorious Armed Robber Kombian was in the area terrorizing residents and security operatives.
Langbung Thimothy, spokesperson to the Nakpanduri chief said Daily Graphic's March 25 edition misreported that the youth of the area attacked the police and attempted to let go a vehicle which was suspected to be carrying arms to troubled Bunkpurugu. Accordding to Langbung, the youth of Nakpanduri are peace loving Ghanaians who would never engage in a scuffle with security operatives in the area whose duty is to protect life and property.
He said the police conducted swoop and arrested all the 21 suspects as a cover up to what he described as operational failure to capture Johnson Kombian. He hinted that the three times Jail breaker earlier threatened the Nakpanduri police through several phone calls before executing that action which affected innocent people in Nakpanduri.
Naaba David Kanso thereby asked the police to release all the 21 remanded suspects and rather hunt for the notorious armed robber. The Nakpanduri chief further threatened to take court action against the police if the remanded suspects are not released on time to re-unite with their relations who are having sleepless nights over their unfair arrest. | > BACK to TOP < | Government is on course to creating jobs and wealth - Mr Tia * Source: GNA | Mampong (Ash), March 27, GNA - Mr John Akologu Tia, Minister of Information, has said government was on course to achieving its goal of turning the economy around to create jobs and wealth for the people. He said already inflation was on the decline with the economy enjoying stability.
The Information Minister said this when he paid separate courtesy calls on the Asante-Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, and the Ejurahene, Nana Kwaku Sarfo-Kantanka at their respective palaces recently. The Minister was on a two-day official visit to the Ashanti Region to meet and interact with the staff of agencies and organizations under his ministry.
He was accompanied by Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah, Deputy Minister of Information and other top officials of the Ministry. Mr Tia said President Mills' administration was determined to fulfill the election campaign promises it made to the nation and asked for patience. Daasebre Osei Bonsu appealed to government to assist farmers with credit and inputs to expand their farms and boost their earnings. He said that way, farmers living conditions would significantly improve.
At the various departments and agencies that Mr Tia visited, he called for team work among staff. | | > BACK to TOP < | Man Rapes Daughter * Source: Dai;y Guide | A 44-year-old plumber from Menzkrom has been arrested by the Dansoman branch of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service for reportedly having a series of wild sexual bouts with his 15-year-old daughter.
Suspect William Sakyie was said to have started engaging his daughter in the incestuous affair when she was 13 years.
With beatings and threats that he would no longer take care of the victim’s educational needs, the incest father, according to a family member, was able to get away with it until February10 2010, when he was arrested.
According to a family source, the suspect took custody of the victim from the mother when she was only one and a half years old.
“William started his sexual advances towards the victim after the divorce with his second wife,” the source intimated, stressing that the suspect often beat the victim and denied her feeding fee whenever she resisted him.
The source averred that the victim finally reported the matter to the police when she could no longer bear the abuse.
Narrating the incident to the paper, the victim said William Sakyie, after the day’s work, often mounted her every night while she was sleeping.
She said, “I kept the matter to my self until February 10, 2010. My father, after work, pounced on me that night as usual, to have sex with me and when I refused, he gave me some beatings and finally succeeded in sleeping with me.”
Confirming the story, the Public Relations Officer of DOVVSU, Inspector Irene Opong, indicated that the victim had been given a form for medical examination whilst the suspect was being prepared for court. | > BACK to TOP < | Bharti Airtel to takeover Zain Africa operations * Source: GNA | Accra, March 27, GNA - Bharti Airtel Limited, a leading mobile operator in India is to takeover Zain operations in Africa soon. The Board of Directors of Mobil Telecommunications Company KSC, 'Zain', will soon sign the deal with the Indian company but which would exclude Zain's operations in Morocco and Sudan.
A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency on Saturday from the Corporate Affairs of Zain Ghana has said. "The Board of Directors of Zain met in Kuwait recently on Wednesday 24 March 2010, to review the latest developments and negotiations related to this matter.
"Representatives of Zain are pleased to report that due diligence process has been completed and that the parties are finalizing definitive agreements, which are expected to be signed in the coming days," it said. The statement said after signing, the parties would move towards getting any required approvals.
"It has been reported that Bharti has already secured the entire financing requirement of USD 8.3 billion for this transaction," it said. | > BACK to TOP < |
| | | Saturday, 27 March 2010 | | Military, Police Dare Armed Robbers Carl Wilson must not go down alone - Kwesi Pratt Stolen Cars In Castle Release Suspects Or I Go To Court-Chief Threatens Government is on course to creating jobs and wealth - Mr Tia Man Rapes Daughter Bharti Airtel to takeover Zain Africa operations NDC youth in Yendi smash Chairmans`s car Oil revenue must support education - Blay Amihere Government to launch an initiative to protect the environment University of Ghana to establish teaching hospital Mills tells medical students to pay back their "dues" Assembly members want substantial ex-gratia allowance US Embassy in Ghana offers walk-in services to students | Your Opinions | Have Your Say!
| Archived News for 2010 | Go to 26.03.2010 | News Page was last modified on Sunday, 28 March 2010 16:22:50 | 
| All about the Ghana Election 2008 | | | | * 27.03.2010 | NDC youth in Yendi smash Chairmans`s car * Source: Myjoyonline | Irate youth of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Yendi have smashed the windscreen of the Constituency Chairman’s vehicle.
They were angry at him for daring to attend a meeting at the residence of the Yendi Municipal Chief Executive between National officers of the party and the Constituency Executive.
The meeting, which was to discuss matters relating to how to run the party in the face of mounting complaints from disgruntled and disenchanted party supporters, was originally scheduled to take place at the Yendi Community Centre.
But the MCE reportedly changed the venue of the meeting to his residence upon hearing that a case was going to be made for his removal from office by some youth.
Unhappy with the MCE’s decision to change the venue, the youth vowed to prevent the constituency executive from attending the meeting at the MCE’s residence.
The Chairman attempted to defy their edict and was taught a bitter lesson.
Joy FM’s Northern Regional Correspondent Mahama Shaibu reported that the angry youth had kept the constituency executive of the party under virtual house arrest. | Oil revenue must support education - Blay Amihere * Source: GNA | Accra, March 27, GNA - Mr Kabral Blay Amihere, Chairman of the National Media Commission, has called on government to earmark a percentage of the expected oil revenue to support education.
He said this would ensure equity and justice in the sharing of the gains from the sector and also because everybody would benefit so long as they went to school or sent their children to school.
According to him, the high expectation of the people would also be met since people would feel the impact of the gains directly. Mr Blay Amihere said this when he addressed the 64th Anniversary Speech and Prize Giving-Day ceremony of the West Africa Senior High School (WASS), held at its Campus at Adenta, a suburb of Accra on Saturday. The colourful ceremony, spiced by choreography performances and music by the school's choir and an acapela group, was attended by stakeholders of the education sector, heads of sister secondary schools within and outside the Accra Metropolis, politicians, parents, students and old-students of WASS.
Over 20 students, who excelled in their various fields of study including hard working teachers, were presented with awards. Mr Blay Amihere said setting aside a percentage of the oil revenue in aid of education would be the best legacy government could give out from the oil sector because it would ensure availability of manpower needed for the country's development.
He said the increasing number of students without a corresponding expansion in infrastructure, demanded a drastic measure to address the inadequate infrastructural problems and provision of other necessary logistics to enhance teaching and learning in the country. Mr Blay Amihere said similar intervention was made in the cocoa sector in times past and which recorded much success, adding this should inform the use of the oil revenue.
Turning attention to the welfare of teachers, he called on government to make every effort to ensure that teachers enjoyed their work adding that teachers should enjoy the reward of their efforts on earth but not in heaven as had always been said.
Mr Blay Amihere said "Teac hers are the pivot around, which education revolves. You can have all the facilities but without teachers, such facilities will become meaningless" and called for respect for the efforts of teachers in the development of the country. He challenged students to brace the storm and make good use of the investment made on them to enable them to achieve their aims and make the country proud.
He called on parents to complement the efforts of teachers by providing the needs of their wards to ensure smooth academic work. Mrs Lady Queene Asiedu-Akrofi, Headmistress of WASS, called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to restore the school to its original status as a boarding school.
"I cannot understand why WASS, which was a boarding school at Accra New Town before it was upgraded into a model school and relocated to Adenta, should not have a boarding facility" she said. She expressed gratitude to government for selecting WASS as one of the 160 Senior High Schools to benefit from the first phase of the construction of a six-unit classroom block to allow for space to aid admission of students in August this year.
Mrs Aseidu-Akrofi announced that the school recorded improvement in the performance of its candidates in the 2009 West Africa Senior School Certificate Exams and added that more was being done to further improve the records.
Alhaji Sorogo, Member of Parliament for Abokobi-Madina called for institution of an award for best French student in the school to encourage learning of the language. He promised to sponsor such an award. | Government to launch an initiative to protect the environment * Source: GNA | Accra, March 27, GNA - Government is soon to launch a project dubbed: Arbor Day, which will promote the planting of tree nationwide to step up the efforts to properly manage the environment. Ms Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, who announced this on Saturday, the project, which would be in partnership with relevant agencies would roll out other measures to effectively fight the waste and sanitation problems in the country.
Speaking in a speech read for her at the 44th Student Representative Council Week Celebration of Trinity Theological Seminary in Accra, Ms Ayittey stressed the need to for individuals and corporate bodies to facilitate the sensitization and education efforts on issues of climate change, its dynamics and implications for our own survival. The SRC Week is also meant to raise funds to furnish the Council's three-year old building as well as to procure an ultra modern bus to address the transportation needs of the Seminary. The theme for the celebration is "The Minister as a Steward of the Environment".
Dwelling more on climate change, Ms Ayittey said: "There is clear evidence that the coastal zone, agricultural, water resources, human health, poverty and women's livelihoods, are affected by climate and climate variability".
She assured the Seminary of government's support to protect and improve the environment to ensure that God's creations were preserved for posterity. Mr Fred Bosompem Boahene, SRC Chairman, said the theme was very timely and appropriate since it was important to talk about the challenges facing the environment and the need to find appropriate measures to deal with them. He said the Seminary would help to protect and improve the environment by sensitizing and educating people on issues of environmental problems through the pulpit.
"We are of the view that if the minister of the gospel takes upon himself and continues to preach the gospel of safe environment, our people will eventually buy the idea," he explained. Mr Boahene said the students were ready and poised for action to salvage the world from sin and calamity and pledged to project environmental issues seriously wherever they would be posted after training. He, therefore, called on institutions such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Town and Country Planning Department and Metropolitan authorities to apply appropriate sanctions to people, who flout regulations regarding the use of the environment.
Reverend Dr Cyril Fayose, President of the Seminary advised the students to reflect more on the theme and the various lectures they had on environmental protection.
He said they should see themselves as ambassadors of the environment, a responsibility God have entrusted into their hands. | University of Ghana to establish teaching hospital * Source: GNA | Accra, March 27, GNA - The University of Ghana, Legon, is to establish a teaching hospital soon, Professor Andrew Lawson Provost of the College of Allied Sciences at the University announced on Saturday. He said the teaching hospital would include a new school of biomedical sciences to complete the dreams of relocating the entire College to the Legon campus.
Prof. Lawson said this at the ninth graduation ceremony of the College of Allied Sciences. Over 500 health professionals including 94 medical doctors 16 dental surgeons, who congregated, took the Hippocratic Oath to affirm their commitment to ethics of the medical profession.
The students comprised Medical Laboratory Scientists, Physiotherapists, Diagnostic Radiographers Nurses Dialectics and Health Informatics. Prof. Lawson said it was the plan of the College to develop a medical complex on the 400 acre parcel of land on the Legon campus. He said the College engaged the services of a team of Canadian health facility planning experts in 2008 to determine the location in functional terms. He added that business cases were being developed to be presented for funding.
Prof Lawson noted that the University Council had given the approval to a proposal for a public-private partnership arrangement for the establishment of the 100 bed teaching hospital. He said: "The super tertiary hospital to be built will form part of the 600 bed teaching hospital complex and a central administration block for the college," he said.
The College, he said, would receive a 25 member-team from the United State of America (US) to have first hand information on the needs of the College.
He said the College was collaborating with the University of Michigan and the College of Health Sciences at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to strengthen the data for human resources planning, strengthen education and training, health related research and research training.
Dr Justice Samuel Date-Bah, Chairman of the University Council, said the effort of the College to train professionals that would help in alleviating human suffering and disease through the application of science and technology was a demonstration of man's quest to exercise a degree of control over nature.
"The development of human capital is much more important than even the development of the natural resources with which we are so endowed. "The degrees that you will be awarded today will open a new vista of opportunity for you to launch yourself into fresh careers" he told the congregants. He said society expected health professionals to be caring and compassionate adding that "society is giving you responsibility over its health and wellbeing - a sacred trust, probably not matched in any other profession." |
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