Day: December 4, 2023

Mr John Kwakuvi Hounlessodji, the Chief Executive Officer of Infiniti Stars Hotel and Den Enterprise in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region, has fulfilled a pledge to Metrikasa DA basic school.

He presented a cash donation of Ghc 10,000 in fulfillment of a pledge he made during the 60th-anniversary celebration of the school where he chaired the event.

Mr Hounlessodji, in a message read on his behalf by Inspector Emmanuel Danyo at the presentation event, tasked the management of the school to remain committed, dedicated and united with truthfulness in all their dealings.

He also pledged an additional 100 bags of cement for the construction of a dining hall.

Mr Brunoo Gadzedzo, Headteacher of the school, located within Akatsi North, expressed gratitude to the donor for coming to the aid of the school and the community.

He further assured Mr Hounlessodji and his team of using the donations for the exact purpose.

Present at the short presentation meeting were Mr David Vorsah, the assembly membe
r for the area, members of the Festival Planning Committee, men and women, as well as youth from the town.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A total of 17,340 out-of-school children in the five regions of the north have transitioned to the formal school system after benefiting from Alternative Learning Programme (ALP).

The ALP afforded these out-of-school children, who were beyond school starting age (eight to 16), the opportunity to acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills within a period of six months in their mother-tongues to facilitate their enrolment into the formal school system in the next academic year (2023/2024).

It formed part of the Ghana Education Outcome Project (GEOP) being implemented by the Ministry of Education (MoE), in partnership with some non-governmental organisations, including School for Life and Plan International Ghana with funding support from the World Bank, Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office and other stakeholders.

The MoE designed the project, among others, to support out-of-school children in districts, which have the highest number of out-of-school children to transition into mainstream primary educati
on and improve learning in mainstream schools, targeting literacy and numeracy improvements at the end of primary grades two and four.

Hajia Nana Fatima High, the National Coordinator, GEOP, at a durbar to observe the transitioning of the learners to the formal school system at the Savelugu M/A Experimental Primary School in the Savelugu Municipality of the Northern Region, said the initiative was in line with the government’s desire to take children off the streets and provide means of livelihood for them.

She commended the implementing NGOs for excellently delivering the project, saying the NGOs, as part of the contractual agreement, would support the learners with teaching and learning materials and other innovative ideas to ensure that they stayed in school.

She added that ‘As a means to ensure continuity and sustenance, the Ministry has decided to contribute two school uniforms to each of the 17,340 learners.’

Hajia Katumi Nantogma Attah, the Northern Regional Director of Education, described the pro
ject as a beacon of hope, providing a unique and accelerated path to education for learners who, for various reasons, found themselves outside the formal schooling system.

She said the transitioning of the learners to the formal school system signified not only their academic achievement but also the government’s commitment to leaving no one behind in the pursuit of knowledge.

She said the project had significantly curtailed rural-urban migration, particularly among vulnerable girls, contributing to the socio-economic development of communities.

Mrs Maamle Andrews, the Chief Director, MoE said the project would go a long way to positively change the attitudes of children towards education and gave assurance of the commitment of the Ministry to creating inclusive and conducive learning environment in the country.

Mr Alhassan Abdul Manaf, Project Manager, GEOP, School for Life, was confident that the project would ensure significant improvement in the lives of children in the regions.

Meanwhile, the manage
ment of GEOP had distributed school bags and learning materials to the transitioned learners at the durbar.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The management of Midwifery Training College in Bolgatanga, Upper East Region has reiterated its appeal for a hostel to accommodate the increasing number of students.

Despite appeals by management to government and stakeholders at its matriculation ceremonies over the years to construct hostel accommodation for students, the College has not received any support in that regard.

The lack of accommodation, according to Madam Christiana Amalba, Principal of the College, had compelled management to deny qualified applicants, admission to the College.

‘I want to use this medium once again to call on all interested parties, investors, local entrepreneurs, alumni, and all stakeholders in and out of the region to help construct hostels to resolve this pressing issue of housing students,’ she said.

Speaking at the matriculation ceremony of first year students at the College, she said a total of 696 applications were received, and 207 applicants gained admission for the 2023/2024 academic year.

‘This is evident th
at large numbers of prospective students apply to this College yearly, and each time, we are faced with the painful decision of having to turn down the applications of many otherwise well qualified applicants due to limitations of our staff, facilities, and most especially accommodation of students,’ she said.

Madam Amalba said management had to construct additional furniture to enhance effective teaching and learning in the lecture halls, especially for the final year students.

She told the students that ‘We understand your concerns as students, and we assure you that we are working seriously to ensure you have a comfortable and conducive environment to pursue your academic work’.

She said the matriculation ceremony marked a defining milestone in the students’ educational journey, and a stepping-stone towards their future endeavours.

‘This matriculation marks the beginning of your tertiary/College experience, a period that holds immense potential for growth and learning. It symbolizes a transition from t
he familiar comforts of high school to the stimulating environment of higher education.

‘Each one of you carries unique stories, dreams and aspirations, and it is within the walls of this College that you have the opportunity to pursue them,’ Madam Amalba told the fresh students.

She said it was the vision of the College to attain tertiary status and become a centre of academic excellence in the training of health related manpower for the country.

Madam Amalba said to achieve the vision, the College, in addition to the direct Diploma in Midwifery programme, runs post basic midwifery programme for the Nurse Assistant Clinical (NAC) and Nurse Assistant Preventive (NAP).

She said the College was also a centre for Degree Midwifery and Nursing programmes in the Region for the University for Development Studies (UDS), University of Cape Coast (UCC), and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology KNUST).

‘We are spreading our tentacles and exploring more avenues to create more facilities to run more
programmes effectively and efficiently,’ she added.

Despite the numerous challenges, the Principal said the College would not relent in its quest to produce competent health professionals equipped to meet the health needs of society.

She said with knowledge generated through research, the college was committed to providing effective tuition by competent tutors and clinical exposure in the hospitals to equip students with sharp and fine midwifery skills at the end of their programme.

Madam Amalba congratulated the fresh students on behalf of the College Council and staff, and encouraged them to take their studies seriously.

‘I will encourage you as students to avail yourselves to be groomed and become fully ‘baked’ midwives in the next three years, and also raise the flag of the school higher. I assure you that you are in the right place at the right time,’ she said.

In a speech read on his behalf, Mr Bernard Anankor, the Regional Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, appreciated the efforts and impact of
staff and management of the College towards the training of competent midwives.

‘Indeed, your hard work has always played a very key and pivotal role in improving health delivery outcomes in the Upper East Region, especially in the area of Maternal, Child Health and Newborn (MCHN) indicators.

‘It is my wish that you would continue with this good and hard work, so that the region will continue to chalk and encounter positive maternal health outcomes,’ he said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), has recognised Ghana as a shining example in the implementation of the continent’s free trade agreement.

‘We started with seven countries, and I am happy Ghana is taking the lead in this process of implementing the AfCFTA agreement,’ said, Mr Didier Bonyeme, Division Head, Rules of Origin, AfCFTA Secretariat.

Mr Bonyeme said this at a GIZ/CUTS International public-private dialogue on the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) – a pilot implementation of the AfCFTA agreement, in Accra.

Ghana is one of the eight countries which have satisfied the requirements to participate in the GTI out of the 29 that have submitted their tariff offers and host to the AfCFTA Secretariat, which has the largest global free trade area by number of member states.

Some 14 Ghanaian companies, assisted by the government, have so far, engaged in 40 trades with neighbouring African countries under the under the GTI.

The Guided Trade Initiative is a pilot implementation
phase, aimed at ensuring an acceleration in the operationalisation of AfCFTA, by testing the institutional, legal and trade policy environment for the free trade agreement.

Speaking with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Bonyeme explained that compared with other African countries equally implementing AfFCTA, the Government of Ghana had done more to facilitate private sector participation.

He noted that through the National Coordination Office, the Government had created opportunities for partnerships between Ghanaian companies and their African counterparts, leading to increased trade under AfCFTA.

Dr Diana Ogwal Akullo, Principal Officer, Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary (SPS), AfCFTA Secretariat, also said: ‘The Ghana government has been exemplary in the implementation of GTI under AfCFTA.’

Mr Isaac Kwame Ansah, Head of Operations, G-mith Enterprise, a natural deodorant manufacturing company which trades under AfCFTA, said the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) had been assisting many SMEs in the direction.

H
e said through GEPA’s trade house, they were able to keep their products in other African countries when they go for trade shows and were able to sell all their products.

‘We don’t go through any customs challenges in shipping our goods, it’s just a phone call or mail.’ Mr Ansah said.

He said trading under AfCFTA had helped take a lot of burden off their shoulders, stating that the removal of tariffs had enabled their company to export freely to other countries.

Mr Fechin Akoto, Assistant Commissioner, Tariff and Trade, Customs Division, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), explained that before the start of AfCFTA, the country had put in place measures to facilitate trade.

Mr Appiah Kusi Adomako, West Africa Regional Director, CUTS International, said Ghana’s participation in the implementation of AfCFTA signified a strong political will, and an encouragement to countries, yet to submit their tariff concessions to do so.

Stakeholders, called on the AfCFTA Secretariat to enhance working with governments across
the continent to resolve challenges of transport and certification to boost trade.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ms. Doris Ocansey, the Adolescent Reproductive Health Focal Person for the Tema Metropolitan Health Directorate, revealed that the directorate is set to host an impactful Adolescent Health Advocacy Week on the theme ‘Every Adolescent Counts, Accessible Health for All.’

The week-long celebration, scheduled to start on December 7 would be used as a platform to address the unique health challenges faced by adolescents in the Tema Metro region. 

The global theme for the commemoration, ‘Building a healthier and more inclusive future,’ also seeks to look at the menace of drug abuse among adolescents and how we can meaningfully and sustainably address it by planning together with our dear adolescents.

Ms. Ocansey, who was speaking at the weekly health advocacy platform ‘Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility,’ an initiative of the Ghana News Agency’s Tema Regional Office to promote communication on health-related matters, explained that the focus on accessibility underscores the importance of ensuring that e
very young person could receive adequate health care.

She also stated that the initiative aims to highlight crucial health issues affecting adolescents and is not only about raising awareness but also actively engaging the community in meaningful discussions about unique health challenges faced by adolescents.

She explained that adolescence was a period of life with specific health and developmental needs and rights and was also a time to develop knowledge and skills, learn to manage emotions and relations, and acquire attributes and abilities that would be important for enjoying the adolescent years and assuming adult roles.

Therefore, Ms. Ocansey noted that the week also served as a platform for young people, their health care providers, their teachers, their parents, their advocates, and their communities to come together and celebrate young people, with the goal of working collectively towards improving the health and well-being of adolescents across the metropolis. 

It is also to inspire adolescents
and their communities to advocate a successful transition into adulthood.

She added that what sets this advocacy week apart was the call for support from corporate bodies, governmental and non-governmental bodies, and religious and traditional leaders to join forces with adolescent reproductive health workers to sensitise the youth. 

She said the Tema Metro Health Directorate acknowledged the significance of collaboration to amplify the impacts of their efforts, and ‘we appeal to all to consider it as part of their corporate social responsibility initiatives to support and train the adolescents in the communities.’

‘By fostering partnerships with companies, the directorate aims to strengthen its capacity to reach a wider audience and make a more significant impact on adolescent health in the Tema metro,’ she further stated.

Ms. Ocansey said as the directorate takes proactive steps towards creating a positive change, they are inviting corporate entities to join hands in this noble cause.

She said Advocacy
Week promises to be a beacon of change, advocating accessible healthcare for all adolescents and emphasising the well-being of the younger generation.

The Tema Metro Adolescent Reproductive Health Focal Person also stressed that adolescents represent the well-being of a society and its development potential, and good health helps ensure independence, security, and productivity across the life course.

Mr Francis Ameyibor, Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Manager stressed on the need for companies and philanthropists especially those in Tema to support efforts at empowering the adolescents and shape their transition into adulthood with positive mindset.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, Monday said the failure of Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum to appear before the House to provide clarification on Ghana Education Service’s decision to maintain Monday, December 4, 2023, as the opening date for first-year Senior High School Students will have the Minister referred to Parliament’s Privileges Committee.

He therefore directed that Dr Osei Adutwum appear before Parliament by 1230 hours on Monday, December 4, 2023.

First-year Senior High School (SHS) students across the country are expected to report to their respective schools on Monday, December 4, 2023, despite concerns about the reconsideration of the reopening date.

The Parliament of Ghana, parents, guardians, and other relevant stakeholders called for an extension of the reporting date, citing assorted reasons, but the Ghana Education Service (GES) maintained the December 4 date.

Parliament urged the Minister of Education to consider rescheduling the reopening date to the first week of January instead of Mon
day, December 4.

A statement issued by the Parliamentary Service said: ‘Due to the short notice with its attendant inconvenience to students, parents, teaching, and non-teaching staff, the House proposes for the consideration of the Hon. Minister of Education the first week of January 2024 as a more convenient and appropriate time for parents, students, and teachers to adequately prepare for academic work.’

However, the request was turned down by GES.

In the Service response through its statement signed by Madam Cassandra Twum Ampofo, the Public Relations Officer of GES, it reminded parents, students, and the public that the reporting date for first-year students of SHS was December 4 as indicated on the Placement form.

It said: ‘It is the expectation of Management that schools begin registration and orientation of students from Monday, December 4th.

‘Per the academic calendar, there would be a Christmas break on the 21st of December and resume on the 3rd of January 2024, to continue academic work till M
arch 5th, 2024,’ the statement said.

Commenting on the issue on the floor of the House, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, NDC MP for Tamale South said the Ministry’s action was weakening the Parliament of Ghana’s oversight responsibility adding ‘There must be respect. So, when the Speaker directs on our behalf, it is not for any PRO in any ministry but for the minister to show respect to the House, particularly since he is also a member of this house,’ he said.

About 585,797 out of 598,839 candidates were placed in various Senior High Schools and Technical and Vocational Education and Training Schools (TVET) nationwide through the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).

Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr. Kofi Ashiboe Mensah, Head of Quality Assurance at Ho Technical University, stated that assessment has become a weapon for all teachers in the 21st century; hence, they must take assessment as seriously as teaching.

He advised teachers to assess the students by identifying if they were performing well or not, and the strategy they need to use should be assessment for learning and of learning.

Dr Mensah stated during an assessment strategies and test item construction workshop organized for teachers by the Diamond Key Consult, a National Teaching Council-accredited service provider, in collaboration with the Kpone-Katamanso Education Directorate.

He said the strategic forms were all formative; hence, teachers should assess students by allowing them to assess themselves, termed ‘self-assessment’, by writing answers to questions on the board for them to answer personally with a marking scheme that helped them learn on their own.

He added that the ‘peer assessment’ was where students exchanged scripts amo
ng themselves with three marking schemes provided to aid in opening the child’s oralism.

‘This strategy, when inculcated in the students by teachers, would help them excel’, he stated.

He said group presentations by mixing up the average and low-average students would reduce the task on teachers, even though it is time-consuming; therefore, teachers should not look at time but instead, focus on the students based on what they know.

He urged teachers to supervise the students when they were marking their own scripts to ensure if they are on the right path, and then after the teachers should remark the scripts.

Dr. Mensah pleaded with teachers to refrain from using mobile phones in the classroom when lessons are ongoing, even though taking videos of them answering questions in class serves as evidence. This is a good initiative by him.

He advised teachers to set their questions immediately after every class lesson, which should consist of an objective test and an essay-type test for them to learn more with
understanding, and to make the low-average students their favourites for them to catch up with learning easily.

According to Ms. Ivy Ablordepey, coordinator of Diamond Key Consult, in an interview with Ghana News Agency, Tema Regional Office stated that the organisation runs a continuous professional development programme for teachers.

She said the decision to host the workshop for teachers in districts by identifying the areas where the National Teaching Council wants them to develop programmes based on their needs.

She noted that the programme was based on assessment and test item construction for teachers to educate them well on how to set examination questions.

She said as part of the criteria for the renewal of the teacher licence, they must attend such programmes to build CPD points, of which they had a maximum number of points they needed to build every three years; therefore, every district should help the teachers plan such programmes for some points.

She added that this programme held for teach
ers would give them two CPD points, which was the maximum number of points the National Teaching Council had given all service providers when they engage teachers.

‘All participating teachers would be awarded a certificate after the workshop,’ she said.

Madam Janet Atamudzi, a grade 3 teacher at Gos Favour School Complex, said she had learnt that as a facilitator, it was important to know the child’s capacity or ability by imparting their knowledge.

Mr. Eric Aggrey, a teacher at Pride Future Crown Academy, emphasised that the training would help him encourage the students to learn well and also not discourage them from learning.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Apart from their educational prowess, the Northern College of Science and Technology has been adjudged the Yendi Municipal Best Education Institution.

They are engaged in fish farming and produce tilapia, catfish, and rearing of livestock like goats, sheep, cattle, birds like guinea fowls, turkey, vegetables like bera, pepper, okro, tomatoes, among others.

Mr. Nathaniel Adams Jnr, Founder of the school who received the certificate on behalf of the school said they used crops in agriculture to teach and feed the students and sell the excess and the funds used for some of the needs of the school.

He said the school started agricultural programmes since its inception 10 years ago for both boys and girls and most of the old students were doing well in agriculture with good grades in BECE examination.

He said the school engagement in agriculture helped the school by reducing their expenditure on food.

Alhaji Hammed Abubakar Yussuf the Yendi Municipal Chief Executive who presented the certificate to the schoo
l commended them for farming to feed themselves and urged other institutions to emulate and engage in agriculture.

He urged the students of the school to continue with their good work in academic and agriculture in the municipality.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Minister for Education, has explained that the decision on re-opening date for first year students of SHS was to return the system to the pre-covid academic calendar.

He added that about 81 per cent of them had been placed into Senior High Schools hence pegging the re-opening on Monday, December 4, 2023.

Briefing Parliament on the matter, Dr Osei Adutwum also summarised the harmonised prospectus as the grounds for the commencement of the 2023/2024 academic year.

‘Mr Speaker, given that over 81 per cent of students were automatically placed based on their choices, it cannot be said that a lot of placements are yet to be remedied because some candidates have been placed under the region they reside.

‘In addition, for the first time the Ministry of Education with its relevant agencies and stakeholders, developed a National Harmonized Prospectus for all SHS and TVET students. This was to give parents ample time to buy the prospectus items and get their wards ready for school on Decem
ber 4, 2023,’ Dr Osei Adutwum said on the floor of Parliament on Monday.

First-year Senior High School (SHS) students across the country were expected to report to their respective schools on Monday, December 4, 2023, despite concerns about the re-consideration of the reopening date.

The Parliament of Ghana, parents, guardians, and other relevant stakeholders called for an extension of the reporting date, citing distinct reasons, but the Ghana Education Service (GES) maintained the December 4 date.

Parliament further urged the Minister of Education to consider rescheduling the reopening date to the first week of January instead of Monday, December 4.

A statement issued by the Parliamentary Service said: ‘Due to the short notice with its attendant inconvenience to students, parents, teaching, and non-teaching staff, the House proposes for the consideration of the Hon. Minister of Education the first week of January 2024 as a more convenient and appropriate time for parents, students, and teachers to adequa
tely prepare for academic work.’

However, the request was turned down by GES.

In the Service response through its statement signed by Madam Cassandra Twum Ampofo, the Public Relations Officer of GES, it reminded parents, students, and the public that the reporting date for first-year students of SHS was December 4 as indicated on the Placement form.

It said: ‘It is the expectation of Management that schools begin registration and orientation of students from Monday, December 4th.

‘Per the academic calendar, there would be a Christmas break on the 21st of December and a resume on the 3rd of January 2024, to continue academic work till March 5th, 2024,’ the statement said.

Commenting on the issue on the floor of the House, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, a National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale South said the Ministry’s action was weakening the Parliament of Ghana’s oversight responsibility adding ‘There must be respect. So, when the Speaker directs on our behalf, it is not for any PRO in any
ministry but for the minister to show respect to the House, particularly since he is also a member of this house,’ he said.

About 585,797 out of 598,839 candidates were placed in various Senior High Schools and Technical and Vocational Education and Training Schools (TVET) nationwide through the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).

Dr Osei Adutwum also the New Patriotic Party MP for Bosomtwe refuted the insistence that teaching and non-teaching staff did not have ample time to rest ahead of the re-opening of schools.

‘Mr Speaker, since the introduction of the double track calendar in 2017, more teaching and non-teaching staff have been employed at schools. In fact, most teachers are only at the post when a particular track is in session. So, it cannot be true that all teachers have never had any rest since the double track was introduced,’ he said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

First-year Senior High School (SHS) admission processes commenced smoothly on Monday across the Cape Coast Metropolis.

Various streets and roads leading to the many schools were chocked with vehicles carrying chop boxes, mattresses, parents, and guardians from all walks of life.

As traders hover at entrances of schools, drivers cashed in, picking students, many of whom were seen in groups looking for taxis.

There were long queues in the schools as students went through the admission processes which commenced online.

The process included verification of data, allocation of accommodation and inspection of items in the prospectus.

The Ghana News Agency, observed during visits to a number of SHSs that many students in the company of their parents had reported to school.

At Mfantsipim School, the authorities said admission processes were incident free with adequate measures to receive the 1,145 students.

They confirmed most of the students had reported and going through registration processes under the sup
ervision of dedicated parents.

At Adisadel College, some parents and first-year students, were left frustrated after they were redirected to the online registration portal.

Some parents claimed they did not know students were required to access their prospectus, admission letter, medical forms, programmes among other requirements online before proceeding to their respective schools to complete the admission processes.

Madam Mercy Otoo, a guardian with his son, expressed satisfaction with admission processes and urged parents of students who were yet to receive their placements to be patient as the government would absorb all students.

She said parents had a significant role to play in the academic life of their children and should not abandon their responsibilities.

For the students, she advised them to take their studies seriously and make themselves, their family and nation proud of the investments made in them.

Source: Ghana News Agency