Category: Education

The Big Heart Association, a coalition of Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs), has donated educational materials and sanitary pads to enhance teaching and learning at Ma-ahad Ta-ahilia Junior High School (JHS) in Tamale.

The items, valued at GHc10,000.00, included 1,000 exercise books, 400 pencils, 400 pens, 400 erasers, 400 long rules, 400 sharpeners, 900 pieces of heavy flow sanitary pads, and 144 packs for regular flow.

The supporting NGOs were Gabo, Hebod, Aidthem, Seats Global, and the Tee Charity, The Lady on the Move, Street Mother, and Destiny Charity foundations.

Mr Martin Kofi Nyame Junior, the Team Leader for the NGOs, at a handing over ceremony of the items to the schools, said the gesture formed part of the Association’s commitment to reaching out to the vulnerable and the less privileged in society.

He said education was the key to exposing the world of possibilities for learners adding providing them with the necessary learning materials was equally crucial to supporting children unlock t
heir potentials.

Mr Nyame Jnr. Said: ‘We are not just giving them books and supplies. We are giving them tools to dream, learn, and to build a better and prosperous future.’

He said it was heartbreaking to see young girls miss classes because they could not afford sanitary pads and that by the donation, ‘we’re not only providing them with the basic necessity but also empowering them to stay in school, pursue their dreams and break the cycle of poverty.’

Mr Adam Karim, the Head of Supervision, Tamale Metropolitan Directorate of Education, who received the items on behalf of the school, said quality education could be achieved if other stakeholders and NGOs complemented the efforts of the government.

Mr Ibrahim Dason, the Headmaster of the Ma-ahad Ta-ahilia JHS, appealed to other NGOs to support the school to get an Information and Communication Technology centre, furniture and renovate the deplorable classrooms.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Victor Nuamah, a Psychiatric Nurse at the Obuasi Government Hospital, has expressed concern over the alarming rate of mental health cases in the municipality.

‘At least you will meet a mental health patient at every 100-meter walk. This is really worrying,’ he said at an annual health performance review meeting at Obuasi.

Although there is a lack of reliable data on the prevalence of mental and neurological disorders in the country, the World Health Organisation estimates that approximately 13 per cent of Ghanaians suffer from a mental disorder.

Out of that, three per cent suffer from a severe mental disorder and the other 10 per cent suffer from moderate to mild conditions.

Mr Nuamah said the number of schizophrenic, schizotypal and delusional disorder cases increased from 28 in 2022 to 30 in 2023, while issues of mental elusion due to alcohol, and psychoactive substance use increased from 28 in 2022 to 38 in 2023.

He called on stakeholders to collaborate to facilitate the discussion on mental health
issues and devise ways to reduce its incidence, especially regarding substance abuse.

Mr Martin Safo Osei, the Obuasi Municipal Director of Health Services, said contrary to the widely held view that the recent increase in the attrition rate of nurses had affected healthcare delivery in the country, available data confirmed that the situation had not directly affected the nurse-to-patient ratio in the municipality.

Ghana is now ranked among some 55 countries facing a serious shortage of health workers, according to the WHO.

That notwithstanding, Mr Osei said health facilities in the area were not affected by the number of health professionals, especially nurses leaving the country to seek greener pastures.

He commended the health workers for demonstrating high levels of commitment and dedication to improved quality healthcare delivery despite the challenges.

Madam Peace Mati, the Head of Administration at Obuasi Government Hospital, disclosed that the hospital had taken delivery of a dialysis machine, do
nated by the Asaase Foundation, which had so far been installed.

She said health professionals would undergo training on how to effectively operate the machine, while efforts were being made to procure consumables to ensure patients who needed dialysis were properly taken care of.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra: Dr Lawrence Yao Addo, Civil Engineer, General Manager, Kodson Transport Company Limited, says alumni associations are key to breaking the gap between academia and industry and facilitating graduate employment.

He said alumni associations, if incorporated into the university administration, could share valuable insights about the demands of the industry with academia.

The academia, he stressed, would be well informed about the demands of the industry and would incorporate those demands into the course curricula to teach the students.

He said this in a keynote address during the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Accra Technical University Alumni Association (ATTUA), held at the auditorium of the University.

‘It is important that the course curriculum be industry-focused to get students who will finish and not become unemployed.

Most of the courses at the university seem outdated, and they need to be modified.

‘We are making a call that the alumni be incorporated into the leadership of the institut
ion to advise the university on tailored-made courses to meet the expectations of the industry.

‘The role of the alumni is to create a research portfolio that we can use to identify good and brilliant students that we can recommend to industry for employment,” he said.

Professor Amevi Acakpovi, the Acting Vice Chancellor of Accra Technical University, in an interview on the sidelines of the event, said that Universities could leverage the alumni association to bring industry closer.

‘Bridging the gap between academia and industry, taking a clue from examples at other places in the world, you see that the alumni association actually supports the university in bringing the industry closer.

Because they have acquired a lot of experience in the industry, they are able to bring those challenges from the industry and channel them through their universities and schools. It should be a partnership between the industry and the departments,’ he said.

He said the alumni association could play a major role in addre
ssing the infrastructure deficit at the University.

The Professor appealed to the alumni body to provide the necessary funds and support for the construction of a new hostel facility on the new campus.

Mr David Ayisala, Global President of ATUAA, said the alumni association of the university was keenly interested in assisting the school to construct a new hostel facility on the new campus.

ATUAA is an association of all past students of Accra Technical University that exists to foster a continuous link between the university and the past students.

The association also creates networking and systems and contributes to the university’s growth and expansion.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Mark Dankyira Korankye, General Secretary, Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union of Trades Union Congress, Ghana, (TEWU-TUC Ghana), has called on authorities to inspire the vulnerable to develop their talents for national progress.

He said Ghanaians needed to see it as a divine call to use their talents and material and spiritual wealth to inspire the vulnerable in order to empower them to contribute their quota towards the socio-economic progress of the country.??

He said assisting the vulnerable, no matter how little such gestures may be, means a whole lot to them,

as they would feel a sense of belonging.

Mr Korankye said this during a presentation to the Dzorwulu Special School in Accra to mark his 60th birthday.

The event was attended by the staff of TEWU-TUC and business wings of the Union like the TEWU Fund.

The items presented worth GHc 15,000 included bags of rice, beans, and gari, soft drinks, biscuits, and bread, as well as gallons of cooking oil, detergents, toilet rolls, sanitary pads,
and liquid soap.

Mr Korankye, flanked by his wife, family, and friends, while? handing over the items to the students and management of the school, said, the reason for selecting that institution was because they were considered deprived, and ‘we pray that at least

these little items could also give them some joy and happiness.’

‘You know Dzorwulu Special School is a special school with special needs, so special needs children are brought in here; And aside from that, they are part of the Ghana Education Service system, and we also have some of the staff of the school as members of TEWU-TUC,’ he said.

The TEWU of TUC-Ghana General Secretary noted. that ‘when God blesses you with goodies, it is good to share. For me, I think that is what motivated me to share with the less privileged.

‘So, anytime anybody is also having such a celebration, I will pray that we don’t just go and sit in a bar somewhere or in a restaurant somewhere, enjoying much. We should remember the less privileged in society and offer so
mething to them.’

When asked by Journalists what to do next after he takes a bow from public service and, for that matter, trade unionism, Mr Korankye,?

expressed his desire to offer consultancy services to the trade union fraternity.

He added, ‘Even though I have clocked 60, per the public service, you retire. But in the union movement, they say the longer, the better. I would normally have said maybe I will do one more term, but I feel that, having gone through the grace of God for my one term as General Secretary; I want to honourably sit back and? offer pieces of advice for the upcoming leadership so that the union will grow even stronger and be more meaningful and impactful in society.’

The management of Dzorwulu Special School expressed their heartfelt appreciation for the donation and thanked the staff of TEWU of TUC-Ghana as well as the family and friends of Mr Korankye, for being a source of motivation for him in

the discharge of his duties as the General Secretary of the union.?

Among the TEWU
of TUC-Ghana staff who witnessed the presentation were Mr Ambrose Kwadzodza, National Chairman, Charles Kofi Osei, Deputy General Secretary; Eric Bosompem Twum, Head of Administration; and King James Azortibah, Chief Finance.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Nurses and Midwifery Training College (NMTC) at Keta in the Volta Region has held its matriculation ceremony for a total of 644 new students for the 2023/2024 academic year.

Out of the total number, 200 were classified as Registered General Nursing students, 240 as Midwifery students, 200 as Public Health Nursing, and 4 as post-NAC/NAP Midwifery students for the academic year.

Mrs Mabel Kafui Torku, Principal of the College, in her speech during the colourful matriculation ceremony, stated that the exercise was to officially enroll the students into the system.

‘This is a formal process of entering the College as students since all of you have the required qualifications which made you eligible to enter this school to enable you to become good health workers,’ she said.

She further indicated that the ceremony also confirmed that the students had accepted and would abide by all rules and regulations of the College after they had sworn the various oaths.

She congratulated the fresh students for success
ful admission and urged them to take their studies seriously devoid of any negative acts.

‘This is the 17th matriculation ceremony we have done and we are happy the successes of the school keep increasing for the best through the hard work of the students, as well the teaching and non-teaching staff.’

Mrs Torku further urged the students to exhibit discipline, and humility to serve as the main pillars for acquiring the requisite training that would mould them to become the best to serve Mother Ghana.

She also appealed to all donor groups and individuals, and the government to address some of the challenges facing the school.

They include an inadequate dormitory for both students and tutors, insufficient tables and chairs, and computers, among others.

Some of the matriculants, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency, expressed their excitement about the opportunity given to them.

They pledged to abide by the rules and regulations for a successful future.

The colourful ceremony, which was characterised by cul
tural performances by the School’s Cultural troupe, was attended by some dignitaries, including Mr Emmanuel Gemegah, MCE for Keta, Mr Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpe and Mr Richard Kwame Sefe, MPs for Keta and Anloga respectively.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Agona East District Assembly has presented 12 bundles of roofing sheets and felt, and boxes of roofing nails to the Nsaba Presbyterian Senior High School to re-roof its 60-bed girls’ dormitory, which had its roof ripped off on Valentine’s Day.

At a ceremony to present the items, Mrs Janet Odei Paintsil, the Agona East District Chief Executive (DCE), said the Assembly received a distress call from the school authorities, informing it about the disaster and it acted promptly.

About 60 girls who were affected by the disaster had been relocated into an uncompleted dormitory built over 12 years ago in order not to disturb their studies.

The DCE said the Assembly attached great importance to girl-child education hence the quick intervention to present the sheets to the authorities to re-roof the dormitory.

The President Akufo-Addo-led Government, she noted, continued to prioritise girls’ education, hence the ability to give adequate resources for the upkeep of hundreds of thousands of students in secondary
schools.

The Assembly was also in the process of mobilising resources to procure roofing sheets and other materials to support two basic schools in the area, which were also severely hit, she said.

Mrs Paintsil, therefore, assured school managements in the district that the Assembly would continue to rally support for the provision of structures to promote quality education.

Mr Solomon Paintsil, the Agona East Director of NADMO, said its personnel relayed the distress call quickly to the DCE and her team and commended them for the swift response.

He said NADMO was not adequately resourced, making it difficult to extend assistance to all houses that collapsed or had their roofs ripped off.

He, therefore, appealled to the Government to adequately resource the National Disaster Management Organisation to help personnel assist disaster victims promptly.

Mr Mohammed Alhasan, the Agona East District Coordinating Director, told the media that the Assembly had to intervene as early as possible after the authori
ties sent an SOS (save our souls) to avert truncation of teaching and learning.

He urged the students to study hard to become prominent personalities and avoid bad friends, who could jeopardise their future and make them irresponsible adults in future.

Mrs Harriet Oduraah Idan-Sagoe, the Assistant Headmistress in charge of Domestic, who received the items on behalf of the the Headmaster, Rev Kenneth Osafo-Amankwa, commended the Assembly for the timely intervention.

She said the school authorities were highly impressed about the quick response and called on the Government to complete the girl’s dormitory, which had been neglected for many years.

She reiterated calls on the Assembly to help re-roof the tutors’ bungalows ripped off 12 years ago, adding that the situation had compelled the teachers to rent houses outside campus, negatively affecting teaching and supervision.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Sunyani Municipal ‘Adolescent Parliament’ has called on the government to expedite action for work to resume on the abandoned Bono Regional Library complex in Sunyani.

The Global Media Foundation (GloMeF), a media advocacy non-government organisation (NGO) inaugurated the ‘parliament’ under the Resilient City for Adolescents (RC4A) project it is implementing in the Municipality.

GloMeF is non-profit organisation, which specialises in the usage of social, and behaviour change communication, right and evidence-based research approaches to facilitate inclusive development programmes targeting young people, women, children and other vulnerable groups

in the society.

At its maiden parliamentary session held in Sunyani, the 23-member house expressed worry that work on the project, being funded by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) had stalled and abandoned for years to continuously deteriorate.

The ‘Adolescent Parliament’ identifies and helps to tackle the pressing developmental needs of young people
in the Sunyani Municipality, and accordingly elected 19 parliamentarians from the

localities in the Municipality.

They lead the adolescent movement and give them a voice in the decision-making process, as part of the implementation of the RC4A project, expected to directly benefit 1,500 and indirectly reach out to 3000 boys and girls.

The Swiss Botnar Foundation under its Resilient City for Adolescents Initiative is funding the implementation of the 300,000-pound sterling project, which seeks to improve the lives of adolescents in the country.

After an extensive debate on the floor of ‘parliament’ both the majority and minority sides admitted the construction of the library was long overdue, and the government ought to expedite action for its resumption and completion for use.

Master Daniel Frimpong, the ‘Speaker’ of the ‘Adolescent Parliament’ and a student of the Abesim St James Seminary/Senior High School observed library played significant role in the lives of the adolescent, and thus described the s
ituation as unfortunate for the GETFund and successive

governments to leave it to rot.

‘In fact, all the stakeholders, including parents, the government, Ghana Library Authority, GETFund have failed us because the library plays an essential role in promoting literacy, accessing information and aids research work’, he stated.

‘We need the regional library to advance our learning and reading skills and it is imperative as it is for the government and all stakeholders to ensure that our educational needs as children and

adolescents are met to enhance our academic performance in school,’ the ‘Speaker’ stated.

Throwing more light on RC4A project, Mr Raphael Godlove Ahenu, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GloMeF noted though Ghana was the first country to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Right of the Child, many adolescent boys and girls were still denied some basic rights and privileges.

Besides, he indicated the African Union Conventions and Protocols on the Rights and Responsibility of
the Child as well as the Children Act required young people access to shelter, food, quality health and participation in decision-making.

Mr. Ahenu said it was therefore imperative for the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to capture and address the needs of adolescent people in their four-year medium development plans.

‘The adolescent parliament is not geared towards inciting or instigating young people, but rather, to ensure their voices are heard in the decision-making process at the local levels,’ he stated.

Under the ‘Adolescent Parliament’, Mr Ahenu said the project was also empowering vulnerable adolescent boys and girls with employable skills training, career development and digital innovation programmes.

He said about 45 of them between 13 and 21 years would benefit from the digital innovation programme while 15 of them would also be enrolled in the skills training which covered dressing making, hairdressing, body makeups, manicure and pedicure.

Meanwhile, checks by the Ghana News
Agency (GNA) showed the construction of the Bono Regional Library was initiated in 2003, by the late Mr. Joseph Henry Mensah, the then Member of Parliament (MP) for Sunyani East and under the former President John Agyekum Kufuor’s

government.

Further checks revealed work on that project, initially scheduled to be completed within 18 months, had been re-awarded to more than three different contractors.

The site is located near the Catering Rest House, covering an acre of land and on completion the 600-seater-capacity library would have children’s reference and lending libraries, information and communications technology centre, conference rooms and a secretariat.

During a visit, the GNA noticed the reading rooms of the two-storey uncompleted building had been completed and were serving as the main library.

But, it had limited space and broken glass doors, obsolete tables and chairs not convenient for children and adolescents.

A source at the Ghana Library Authority told the GNA that an assessment report
revealed more than GhC2.5 million was required to complete the project for use.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Mercy Inspire Dream Foundation Ghana (MIDFOG), a non-government organisation, has donated learning materials to some less privileged pupils at Yorogo Asorogubiisi Primary School in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region.

The package comprised 200 exercise books and 276 pencils, and was part of efforts to support needy pupils to stay in school and learn.

At a brief presentation ceremony, Ms Mercy Akane, the Founder and Executive Director of the Foundation, said the foundation was established by dedicated individuals who recognised the importance of addressing challenges and gaps in education and healthcare sectors to empower the vulnerable in society.

She indicated that the goal of the Foundation was to work with relevant stakeholders to contribute to appropriately respond to the pressing needs of underprivileged individuals in Ghana especially those in rural communities.

‘The mission of the Foundation is to provide educational, health care and empowerment opportunities to less privileged
individuals in Ghana. We aim to break the cycle of poverty and empower individuals to become agents of positive change in the Communities.

‘Our vision is a Ghana where every individual regardless of their background, has access to quality education, healthcare and empowerment opportunities to realise their dreams. We envision a society characterized by social justice, equality and human rights for all,’ he said.

She said the Foundation intended to donate more teaching and learning materials to pupils and students especially the less privileged students in rural communities and roll out educative programmes to help empower the youth to become agents of positive change in their communities.

Using herself as an example, she narrated the ordeal she faced in her educational journey.

Ms Akane encouraged the pupils to be determined and motivated to overcome obstacles and challenges to become valuable individuals in society.

Madam Emmanuella Adiita, the Headmistress of the school, thanked MIDFOG for the support
and benevolence shown to the pupils and noted that it would go a long way to relieve financial stress on the schoolchildren and their parents in procuring learning materials.

She encouraged the leadership of the Foundation to continue to undertake such philanthropic initiatives to help build communities and offer opportunities for needy children to be educated.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Some 7, 244 students have reported to the Takoradi Technical University (TTU) out of the 9, 436 admitted for the 2023/2024 academic year to pursue various programmes.

The university received a total of 10,061 applications for the Masters, Bachelor, HND, Diploma and Certificates programmes in the year under review.

The breakdown of the figures are as follows: Centre for Languages and Liberal Studies, 11, students; Applied Arts and Technology, 980; Engineering, 2,327; Business and Management Studies, 1,538; Applied Science, 1,864 and Built and Natural Environment, 524.

Reverend Professor John Frank Eshun, the Vice Chancellor of the university, said during the matriculation ceremony that, admission into TVET constituted 79 percent, while other programmes took 21 percent.

The admission also saw male students representing 68 percent and 32 percent women, indication that the University was operating within its TVET mandate.

He told the new Junior Members that the university was a community of dedicated indivi
duals passionate about education, innovative and societal development

Professor Eshun said: ‘We take pride in our commitment to excellence and strive to create an environment that fosters academic consistency, critical thinking, creativity and innovation…our faculty members are renowned experts in their respective fields, and they will mentor and guide you throughout the academic journey.’

The Vice Chancellor reminded them of the Oath taken earlier which required them to obey and respect authorities in compliance with the policies and procedures of the University.

On infrastructure, he said the university had good facilities for teaching and learning, ‘We have good facilities such as the E-Library, general library, workshops, laboratories…I entreat you to make good use of these resources available to make your stay at the University meaningful.’

He warned the students against any unruly behaviour that could disrupt their academic dreams; and encouraged them to live in all modesty.

‘Note that examination
malpractices, is not tolerated by the University, occultism, alcohol abuse, drugs, promiscuity among others,’ the don said.

Professor Eshun also told the new entrants to avoid the beaches, and be careful in and around the twin city, ‘heighten your security consciousness, by taking great care of your personal safety as the university also does it best to make your stay a memorable one.’

Dr. Victor Fannam Nunfam, who took the matriculants through some orientation admonished them to help the University in electricity use and management.

The university spent 3.7million on electricity bills in 2023, placing a huge financial burden on daily operations of other sectors of the school.

Dr. Nunfam introduced the new junior members of faculty to relationship dos and don’ts, innovation centres for idea incubation and counselling services to take advantage of for continuous personal development.

Source: Ghana News Agency