Day: March 21, 2023

Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister of Education, is elated about the 38 per cent quantum leap in the number of Ghanaian primary two pupils who can read.

As of 2015, only two per cent of primary two pupils were found to either read or understand English or any Ghanaian language properly, he said, citing the Early Grade Reading Assessment Report commissioned by the Ghana Education Service (GES).

Dr. Adutwum attributed the improvement in reading ability of the pupils to the Government’s investment in basic education, resourcing of schools, including the provision of libraries, capacity-building courses for teachers and comprehensive approach to teaching methodologies in reading.

Briefing the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra on his recent unannounced visit to some schools in the Eastern Region, the Minister said until recently, reading had not been developed as a habit for many Ghanaian children.

Therefore, there was the need for serious work to be done to address the situation, he noted, and affirmed the Nana Akufo-Addo-led Administration’s commitment to providing the requisite incentives to enhance the literacy rate amongst the people.

Schools visited by the Minister were the Methodist Girls’ Senior High School (SHS), Presbyterian SHS, Aburi Girls’ SHS, Presbyterian Senior High Technical School, Mampong Senior High Technical School for the Deaf, as well as Demonstration School for the Deaf and Aburi Presbyterian Basic School ‘A’ and ‘B’.

He was accompanied by Dr. Eric Nkansah, Director-General of the GES.

Dr. Adutwum said the Government’s resolve to strengthen Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and other disciplines was also yielding positive results.

According to him, an analysis of the 2020 performance of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) candidates revealed that the average performance of the candidates was the best when compared with WASSCE results within the past six years, with all four core subjects (English, Mathematics, Integrated Science and Social Studies) recording above 50 per cent pass marks.

The performances in Mathematics and English Language were the highest, recording 65.71 and 57.34 per cent, respectively, while Social Studies and Integrated Science recorded 64.31 and 52.53 per cent, respectively.

The Education Minister explained that his working visit to the schools was to interact with the administrators, staff, pupils and students, identify challenges and also share the Government’s vision on educational development.

He encouraged the staff, pupils and students to strive for excellence.

Dr. Adutwum re-echoed the Ministry’s readiness to cooperate with all stakeholders to boost the implementation of education policies and programmes successfully.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Judicial Committee of Parliament has paid a familiarisation visit to the Judicial Service of Ghana as part of its oversight responsibilities.

The visit was also to strengthen the relationship between the legislature and other arms of government.

A statement issued by the Public Affairs Directorate of Parliament, copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the Committee was led by its Chairman, Mr Alhassan Abdallah Iddi, Member of Parliament (MP) for Salaga North.

It said other Members of the Delegation include Mr Cletus Apul Avoka, the Ranking Member of the Committee and MP for Zebila; Mr Yao Gomado, MP for Akan; Mr Sanja Nanja, MP for Atebubu/Amantini; Mr William Okoto-Dateh, MP for Jaman South and Mr Kwadjo Asante, MP for Suhum.

It said according to the Chairman of the Committee, the way forward considering the oversight mandate of the Committee, especially in matters relating to the judiciary and their budget estimates, it must critically and timeously be considered.

The Committee was received by Mr. Joseph R. Amponsah Fosu, the Director of Communications, and Mrs Patricia Naa Aforley, the Manager of Lower Court Complex(LCC).

Mrs Aforley welcomed and briefed the Members about the activities of the LCC.

The statement said the Committee later toured the complex made up of three main divisions; namely Land Jurisdiction Court, Commercial Jurisdiction Court and General Jurisdiction Court proceedings with about 43 courts.

It said the Committee was also allowed to sit in all the divisional Courts to better acquaint themselves with the proceedings, the court system and how judgement was administered.

It noted that during the interactive session between Members of the Committee and the Judges, the delay in adjudicating some cases was explained.

It said some of the reasons include lawyers and clients given excuse duties, plaintiffs not serving all the parties involved, payments of filing fees not in time and parties travelling out of the Jurisdiction.

Commenting on the E-Justice system, which has not been rolled out in other parts of the country, Mrs Aforley noted that plans were far advanced to extend it to other regions of the country.

But for now she was of the view that only the court complex has the facility.

Other matters discussed include Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR).

Mr Avoka, on his part, noted that it was an opportunity to demystify the public conceptions about the judicial system, stressing that the Public believe that the Judicial Service was not fair, open, and transparent.

The statement said some of High Court Judges, who were present and had interactions with the committee, were Justice Kwasi Anokye Gyimmah, Land Court, Justice Olivia Obeng Owusu of General Court, who is also the Vice President of Association of Judges and Magistrates.

It said the Committee was expected to visit the Supreme and Courts of Appeal tomorrow and have engagement with Madam Cynthia Pamela Addo, the Judicial Secretary.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has signed a $5 million performance partnership deal with the USAID.

The money will fund activities to improve its performance and ensure the quality of health services in the country, according to the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Madam Virginia Palmer.

The Ambassador on Monday, March 20, 2023, joined the Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, to launch the new, five-year partnership.

The NHIA, on the other hand, would be contributing $1.7 million towards this project, making a total of $6.7 million over the 5 years.

In a brief ceremony to sign the partnership, Ambassador Palmer said the US Government funding would support the digitization of NHIA processes, make available the Scheme’s performance data, and would ensure that health services delivery was safe and effective.

“The health sector is at the core of Ghana’s development. It is essential for the well-being of all Ghanaians that funding for health is prioritized. A healthy population is a basis for a prosperous population,” said Ambassador Palmer.

Dr Okoe Boye said the NHIA-US Government partnership aimed at improving the NHIA’s capacity to digitalize all its information systems.

“Digitalization will make data available to NHIA to better communicate the Scheme’s financial and programmatic status to stakeholders. The partnership will also focus on building NHIA systems to monitor the clinical quality of healthcare services.

“This actionable clinical data will help NHIA advocate for improved quality of care across public, faith-based, and private healthcare facilities contributing to improved health outcomes across Ghana, ”he said.

Dr Okoe Boye further said that the funding from the US Government would not only make the operations of the National Health Insurance Scheme transparent but would also make the scheme attractive, thus increasing its membership.

USAID’s integrated health programming supports the Government of Ghana in the areas of health system strengthening, maternal, reproductive, newborn and child health, as well as malaria, HIV, social protection, water, sanitation and hygiene, global health security, and COVID-19.

USAID supports the Government of Ghana to build a more resilient health system and prepare Ghana to face future health emergencies.

USAID is the leading U.S. Government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential.

USAID’s activities and strategic partnerships support Ghana to advance an integrated approach to development. It promotes accountability, sustainable systems, and inclusive development.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has encouraged women to apply for various positions in the Military, saying there are no barriers in the military career.

The GAF said although there had been an increment in female applications into the Forces in recent years, a large number of women preferred to be in the service support units instead of combat support units.

Speaking to journalists at a sensitisation tour on gender mainstreaming at the Burma Camp in Accra on Monday, Colonel William Abotsi, the GAF Project Coordinator for the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations, said the Armed Forces had put measures in place to ensure the meaningful participation of women in all activities.

“Research has found that a lot of our women are in the service support units and so you hardly see women in infantry, armoured units and airborne.

“Now it is coming up, so we are to tell them that opportunities are there. If you want to be whatever you want to be, apply. Nobody is going to stop you from achieving anything because you are a woman,” he said.

The sensitisation tour, which was in collaboration with the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) formed part of a Project dubbed: “Enhancing Ghana Armed Forces capabilities to address barriers to women in peacekeeping”.

Funded by the Global Affairs Canada, the 18-month Project seeks to build the capacity of the GAF to address the challenges undermining the deployment of women to UN peace operations.

The Project stemmed from the recommendations of the 2020 Measuring Opportunities for Women in Peace Operations (MOWIP) Report, which examined GAF’s ability to deploy women to, and ensure their “meaningful participation” in UN peace operations.

The Report identified eligible pool, gender roles, and social exclusion as top barriers to women’s meaningful participation in UN peace operations.

Col. Abotsi said the Project Team had so far toured six garrisons across the country and the target was to train about 14,000 military personnel and civilian employees on gender mainstreaming.

“When we say we are mainstreaming and including all these, it does not mean we are just collecting women into the Armed Forces. Whatever you are employed for you must be worth it and the promotions you get must be of merit,” he said.

Mrs Agnes Agbevadi, Programmes Officer at the Women Peace and Security Institute, KAIPTC, said the Project would lead to the development of a comprehensive gender policy for GAF to guide the process of mainstreaming gender in the Armed Forces.

As of March 2020, Ghana was the nine biggest Troop and Police-Contributing Countries (TPCC), and the third largest TPCC in Africa after Ethiopia and Rwanda with 2,782 personnel deployed.

It was also the TPCC that deployed the highest proportion of women (averaging 15 per cent) out of the top 10 TPCCs.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr Ebenezer Markwei, Head Pastor, Living Streams International, has charged the authorities and students at the Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School, Legon, to aim high and compete globally in the academic space.

Dr Markwei said: “The School must leave no stone unturned to live a shining example and make the best in academic excellence in Ghana and beyond.”?

Speaking at the launch of the School’s 85th anniversary in Accra, Dr Markwei said the Institution must look beyond Ghana and start thinking about high standards of education for transformational development.

“We need to be bold and courageous to compete globally in academic excellence and be relevant in the emerging markets for sustainable growth,” he said.

Dr Markwei urged the authorities to imbue in the students the “can do” spirit, saying: “We need to achieve more 8As in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and go beyond what we have achieved”.

In a speech read on his behalf, Professor Mike Ocquaye, a former Speaker of Parliament, said the School was founded on the values of discipline, with the Church of Christ as its foundation.

“The School has applied honesty and commitment to everything we do. The time has come to readmit the Church to fully participate in the activities of the School so, it continues to be the best in the country,” he said.

Dr Ernest Ofori Sarpong, Board Chairperson and Global President, Old Boys (ODADE£), said the School over the years had made strides in providing holistic education to students towards the country’s socio-economic development.

He said the School remained committed and dedicated to providing quality education to students, adding, “We believe in the importance of community service projects to respond to the needs of society”.

Activities, including community week celebrations, health walk and screening, retreat for staff, an inter-house competition, family day for parents, technology and funfair, and speech and prize-giving day are to mark the celebration.

Authorities of the School presented GHS5,000 cheque to Mr Michael Yirenkyi Asante, an old student, for designing the 85th anniversary logo.

Source: Ghana News Agency

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has sworn into office Mr Victor K. Brobbey as the Deputy Chairperson of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE).

He has also inducted Messrs. Simon Ofori Ametepey and Bright Kwabla Agbodeka as members of the Board of the Commission.

At a short ceremony at the Jubilee House, Accra on Monday congratulated them on their appointments and charged them to live up to the constitutional obligations required of the Commission and to educate and encourage the citizenry to always defend the constitution.

They should build a strong culture of awareness among Ghanaians of their civic responsibilities and duties, insisting, that that had become expedient “especially at this time when irresponsible elements within the body politic are calling for the overthrow of the constitutional order.”

The President described as irrelevant, the call by some for the abolition of the Commission on the premise that the institution had outlived its usefulness.

He stated that since its establishment 30 years ago, the Commission had done its part in helping Ghanaians recognize the importance of their freedoms and civic rights, “even though it could still do much better in this regard.”

“I am of a different opinion…I believe the NCCE continues to be relevant and still has an important role to play in helping us establish a culture of awareness in our country,” he stressed.

President Akufo-Addo however pointed out that the NCCE ought to be sensitive to the demands made in several quarters for the amendment, wholesale or limited, to the Fourth Republican Constitution.

“Without prejudging the outcome of the national debate on this all-important matter, I can only say for now that there is a need for caution for all of us, by all of us, in calling into question the constitution which has provided the bedrock for the longest uninterrupted free governance of our otherwise turbulent history,” he said.

The President assured the Commission that the Government would not interfere with its independence as stipulated in the 1992 Constitution.

” I assure you of the Government’s recognition of the independence of the NCCE. I need not remind you that all of you are not subject to the control of any authority in the performance of your function including myself as the head of the Executive.

“At the same time, I would urge you to pursue stakeholder consultation for the successful fulfilment of the Commission’s mandate,” he said.

Government, the President stated, would continue to provide the needed resources to enable the commission effectively carry out its role in national development.

Mr Brobbey thanked the President for the opportunity to serve the nation and pledged to deliver on their mandate and promote the course of constitutional democracy in the country.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Scores of customers of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) at La, Accra, Monday boycotted all activities and stormed the Company’s offices to pay their outstanding bills.

This is after officials of ECG, as part of a month-long revenue generation exercise, descended on the community to disconnect customers owing it.

The Company’s officials from the Makola District Team, Accra East Region, told the Ghana News Agency that some residents owed bills for months and years, with others engaged in “bypasses” – their consumptions not passing through meters.

For instance, a two-storey building, which had a pharmacy at the ground floor and sports bar at the first and floors in the Communuty had two of its three prepaid meters tampered with.

The occupants of the edifice were given a summon letter.

A bartender too had her meter disconnected for refusing to pay her debt of GHS3,700.

After acquiring the meter, she never paid a bill because there were no bills coming from ECG since 2021

Madam Mary Eshun Oppong, Communications Officer, Accra East ECG, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said: “Most people don’t pay their bills with the excuse of not receiving bills. The least amount we have seen them owe is around GHS1,500 and the highest is GHS5,000,” she said.?

Madam Eshun Oppong said the disconnection had yielded results, with the affected individuals and households making prompt payments.

The Ghana News Agency observed that some residents closed their shops until the ECG Officials left.

The team will continue its work in the community for some days before moving to another area.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mrs Yaa Amekudzi, the Country Director for Cocoa Life Ghana, has urged women in cocoa farming to embrace new technologies to improve production and enhance the quality of their crops.

She said if women used technologies such as pruning saws, cocoa harvesting knives, wheelbarrows, and steel loppers, it would help them save time with less stress in their activities.

She made the call on Tuesday at the commemoration of the 2023 International Women’s Day celebration in Accra, on the theme: “Strengthening Innovation for Promoting Gender Equality in the Cocoa Life Programme,” as part of promoting gender equality in the cocoa sector.

Mrs Amekudzi said there would be a programme to teach women how to use fertilizers, turn soils and manage weather conditions.

“By encouraging the use of new technologies, which enhance quality and healthy cocoa pods, I’m not saying we should throw away the old ways of farming, but rather merge the new and traditional methods to improve yield,” she said, and that farmers were being monitored at the various communities to ensure the usage of new technologies.

Dr Rose Mensah Kutin, the Director of ABANTU for Development, a Civil Society Organisation, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said one major challenge in the cocoa industry was the hidden role of women in the sector.

It is assumed that cocoa is cash crop production, therefore, the field is dominated by men.

However, through research and engagement with women in the communities, it was identified that women were productive in the sector, and there were specific areas they predominated when it came to cultivating the cocoa beans.

Women play a major role in terms of carrying the cocoa pods and working with their male counterparts to break the pods.

“We must forget the idea that cocoa production is mainly a male activity. Women are actively involved, women are being very productive, and women are enhancing their wellbeing and that of their families,” Dr Kutin said.

“Women should be recognised as such, and valued in terms of the productive capacity they bring to the sector”.

She called for government’s support to create and implement policies to strengthen the activities of women in the sector.

Mrs Mariam Bafowaa Opoku, the Programmes Officer, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, said the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women was an action that enjoined the removal of barriers for equal participation.

The Ministry, she said, had several interventions in place to mainstream gender equality in the development process, one of which was through the development of the Five-Year National Gender Policy, currently being reviewed.

“The Ministry salutes all women around the world and applaud all men for supporting the cause of gender equality and women empowerment.”

This year’s International Women’s Day theme offers ABANTU and Cocoa Life the opportunity to broaden its engagement with key women leaders, including women presidents of farmer societies, as well as leaders of the Gender Dialogue Platforms from all the districts.

The Cocoa Life Programme has for the past 10 years employed a holistic approach in empowering cocoa communities. Key among them was the implementation of the Women Empowerment Strategy, implemented by ABANTU for Development.

The implementation of this strategy has resulted in various successes, especially within the areas of women’s leadership, women’s economic empowerment and enhanced voice.

Source: Ghana News Agency