Day: January 22, 2024

Mr. Richard Kovey, the National Convenor of the Campaign Against Privatisation and Commercialization of Education (CAPCOE), has called for the detachment of education from politics, as politicising education has not yielded anything profitable to the sector.

Mr. Kovey said policies in the education sector had always been based on the manifestos of political parties, which led to the change of policies whenever a new party took office, regardless of its effect on the students.

Speaking on the topic, ‘Effect of inadequate financing on learning outcomes at the pre-tertiary level,’ at a stakeholder engagement organised by the Tema Ghana News Agency.

He urged Ghanaians to be interested in education matters and the happenings in the sector, indicating that policies in the sector would have either a positive or negative effect on their children’s future; therefore, it was a must for them to be interested in them without political colouration.

He said accountability in the education sector should not be left onl
y to the teacher unions, but rather that parents, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders must be involved and demand answers on issues concerning curriculum, infrastructure, teaching, and learning materials, among others.

‘If the system is not good, your child will go through it; accountability should be the responsibility of all citizens, not just teachers,’ he said.

Mr. Kovey noted that teachers were policy implementers, therefore mandated by law to implement policies from the government for the education sector, hence their inability to turn down policies they might not agree with.

He explained that teacher unions called for collaboration and dialogue prior to policy formulations for all stakeholders to contribute to it before implementation.

The National Convenor of CAPCOE said policymakers do not engage stakeholders before policy formulation, especially when it was aimed at benefiting them rather than the public.

According to him, when the policy is about to be rolled out, stakeholders
are called to a meeting, and only highlights are shown to them while painting the public picture that they have been consulted.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Enterprise Banking team of Stanbic Bank Ghana has donated GHS50,000 to enable a five-month old baby with congenital heart defect to undergo surgery.

Staff of the bank presented the cheque to Mr and Mrs. Agbedor, parents of the child, at the Company’s end-of-year thanksgiving service held in Accra.

Mr Eric Tsiri, Head of Enterprise Banking at Stanbic Bank, said access to affordable health care was a basic human right hence the commitment to support the couple.

‘I am very grateful to the leadership and members of the Enterprise Banking team for allowing ourselves to be used as vessels of hope to restore baby Jaydens health.

‘We are very positive today’s donation will bring Gods destined plans for Jayden to manifestation, and he will certainly contribute his quota towards Ghana’s growth one day,’ he stated.

Mr and Mrs Agbedor thanked Stanbic Bank for the support, saying the gesture would help transform the life of their ward.

‘With this amount, we can already see baby Jayden having his first real smil
e since birth, because he would soon have the strength to pump out a smile.

‘It is more than comforting to know that there’s still hope for humanity. The words of encouragement, financial assistance and the general support we have received from the employees of this great bank is what has kept us going,’ Mr Agbedor stated.

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are conditions that are present at birth and can affect the structure of a baby’s heart and the way it works.

As part of corporate social responsibility, the staff of Stanbic Bank have carried out similar initiatives in the past, giving back to people and the communities where they operate.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu in the Volta Region, has urged Finance Minister to ensure that 2024 budget allocation to alleviate the plight of the flood victims were released in full.

The Parliament unanimously approved GhS 220m in the 2024 budget, which the Government has allocated to address the difficulties encountered by those impacted by the flood disaster caused by the Akosombo and Kpong Dams spillage.

Mr Ablakwa said this at Battor during a visit by the U.S Ambassador to Ghana, Madam Virginia Evelyn Palmer to some affected communities in the North Tongu constituency.

He asked the finance minister to ensure full release of the allocation approved by Parliament, noting that sometimes there was a discrepancy between what was released and what was allocated in the budget.

Mr Ablakwa disclosed that the chiefs in the area had donated large acres of land at higher grounds, hence, a full release of the fund was necessary to facilitate the recovery of construction wo
rk to address the plight of the people.

He further said they were on track to complete the second resettlement project, which was presently being carried out at Mepe and was 85 per cent to house another 300 affected persons.

Mr Ablakwa said the catastrophe had shown ‘our true humanity’ and unified the country as there had been no NPP or NDC in its management and the nation had responded to the problem with unity and solidarity.

The MP described the disaster as ‘hydra-headed,’ stating that the majority of rice farmers were severely hit, with their irrigation equipment flooded and destroyed in the flood.

Mr Ablakwa also disclosed that the area was a food basket, with 90 per cent of the population employed in agriculture, and appealed for prompt agricultural interventions to help the people because agriculture was their primary source of income.

He feared that the area would have issues with food security if pragmatic steps were not taken to help the victims with farm inputs to crop in the upcoming farming
season.

The MP praised the victims for their composure, which he said exemplified genuine perseverance, as well as the governments of the U.S and Ghana, and everyone who helped in various ways to mitigate the situation.

Ms Virginia Palmer, the U.S Ambassador, revealed that the US Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is partnering with UNICEF and the Ministry of Education to provide $500,000 worth of school supplies to children in the flood communities.

Mr Fiachra McAsey, UNICEF Deputy Country Representative, said there was nothing humble other than to collaborate to respond to the critical needs of children, especially the most vulnerable.

He said the impact of the spillage on education in the affected districts was significant as children’s access to quality education had been hindered, thus the situation demanded continuous attention and effective intervention.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia Monday has launched a $55 million Business in a Box (BizBox) Project to equip Ghanaian youth with knowledge and skills in entrepreneurship for sustainable economic growth.

The transformative initiative is a partnership between the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) and the Mastercard Foundation, targeting to empower more than 250,000 youth with start-up kits and financial resources to create jobs.

The project would be implemented in the next four years, starting this year to provide start-up kits to 125,000 individuals, market access to 50,000 micro, small and medium-scale enterprises (MSMSEs) and regulatory support to 40,000 businesses across the 16 regions.

It is targeting the youth between 15 and 35 years, especially young women entrepreneurs, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and vulnerable groups in the 261 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs)

The project would focus on agricultural and agribusinesses, tourism and creative arts, youth social networking a
nd building and construction sectors of the economy.

At the national launch and sensitisation programme held at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) in Accra, the Vice President said, the initiative would rekindle the entrepreneurship spirit of the Ghanaian youth and create a substantial number of jobs across the country.

The project, he said, was in tandem with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government’s vision of creating an additional one million jobs, aside from the 2.1 million jobs already created over the past seven years.

The Vice President explained that the BizBox Project would build on the successful rolled out of the ‘Young Africa Works-Youth Entrepreneurship and Employment programme (YEEP)’, which was executed between 2020 and 2022 that empowered approximately 94,000 youth across the country.

‘Now, armed with a budget of USD 55 million, the new BizBox Project sets an ambitious goal to empower 250,000 individuals, support 125,000 with start-up kits, provide market access support
to 50,000 businesses, and regulatory support to 40,000 businesses Bawumia stated.

The BizBox Project would be implemented across the 16 regions and 261 MMDAs, and benefit diverse groups, including youth, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), vulnerable females, majority women-owned businesses, and female youth-led businesses.

Underlining the significance of the initiative, Vice President Bawumia indicated that it symbolized hope and opportunity for the Ghanaian youth, encompassing the provision of tools, knowledge, and support necessary to initiate, develop, own, and grow successful businesses in Ghana.

The project would be implemented by the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) under five pillars namely; Youth Skills Development, Access to Market, Access to Startup Kits, Youth Social Networks, and Institutional Strengthening, Policy, and Regulatory Support.

Mrs Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GEA, in her welcome remarks, expressed the Agency’s commitment towards the successful implementa
tion of the BizBox Project.

She noted that the initiative was in alignment with the existing government programmes and policies to create jobs for the teeming youth.

‘We recognise the importance of collaboration and partnership, to this end, BizBox will leverage partnerships with private sector BDS providers, industry associations, and various stakeholders to ensure the success and sustainability of this programme.

‘We stand committed to supporting the dreams and aspirations of the youth, nurturing a generation of innovative and successful entrepreneurs who will contribute to the growth and prosperity of our nation,’ she said.

Mr Kobina Tahir Hammond, the Minister of Trade and Industry, lauded the MasterCard Foundation for providing budgetary support for the project and expressed confidence that it would serve as a catalyst for youth entrepreneurship and promote economic growth and productivity.

The ceremony was attended by key government functionaries, including Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance, K
ojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister of Information, Mr Henry Quartey, Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Sylvester Tetteh, Member of Parliament for Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro and Board Chairperson of the Ghana Enterprise Agency, as well as some officials from the Mastercard Foundation.

Source: Ghana News Agency

In less than six months, four small-scale cold store operators within the Odorkor Market area in Accra have folded-up due to rising cost of electricity, which has doubled their cost of operation.

Collectively, these local businesses that heavily relied on electricity created at least 10 direct jobs each. Assuming each of the employees had two dependants, the livelihoods of at least 80 people within a defined area have been shattered.

This is a fraction of the challenges businesses in the country are facing due to rising cost of power.

Rising tariffs

Ghana, in the second quarter of 2023, raised the average end-user tariff for electricity by 18.36 per, adding on to an almost 30 per cent increase in the first quarter. In the third quarter, electricity tariff went up again by 21.55 per cent.

As the country continues to heavily rely on thermal sources of power, experts have warned that the cost of electricity will continue to rise in the coming years.

This has direct implications on businesses and job creat
ion, with industries already spending about 40 per cent of their operational cost on electricity alone.

Countries and communities with little or no access to electrical power tend to have no or less industrial enclaves; this means people who reside in that enclave will have no job opportunities.

Global situation

According to data from the International Energy Agency, electricity prices for businesses amounted to 8.8 U.S. dollar cents per kilowatt-hour in China in March 2023. Business electricity prices decreased in the country from over 10.4 U.S. dollar cents per kilowatt-hour in June 2020.

This explains why many industries are relocating to China for reliable and affordable power. The country currently operates 55 nuclear reactors, with capacity of over 53 gigawatts.

Ghana goes nuclear

Ghana has taken decisive step to add nuclear power to its energy portfolio to support the country’s industrialisation agenda.

Beyond financial commitment, public perception and acceptability of nuclear power is crucial
for the successful execution of the project.

Communication barriers

One critical communication setback has been that the debate on nuclear power has been largely centred on safety issues which somewhat fuels public fear and apprehension about the negative uses of nuclear.

The association of nuclear with wars and weapons had for many years poisoned perception about nuclear such that the positive uses of nuclear in the areas of health, food security research, among others have been silenced.

There has also not been much concentration on the economic implication of adding nuclear to Ghana’s energy mix and how that could affect the financial strength of businesses especially those in the industrial sector.

The reality of the problem on the ground and the non-sustainability of thermal and hydro as baseload for a developing country must be well articulated and emphasised for the public to buy into the alternative.

As of 2021, hydro accounted for 38 per cent of the country’s energy generation portfolio whiles
thermal accounted for 60 per cent (making it the baseload). Thermal plants need constant supply of gas to function and that has proven costly with gas prices continuously shooting up on the international market.

Another communication crisis that can be envisaged is the cost of the nuclear power project. Constructing a legacy project that would exist for at least eight decades would require enormous resources. Given the country’s economic situation, people may question the financial viability of the project and that could affect policy direction if not well explained.

The media’s role

It is important for the media to be armed with adequate information and data to effectively propagate the nuclear gospel to the understanding of the ordinary Ghanaian. With over 83.24 per cent of Ghanaians connected to electrical power, any discussion on sustainable and affordable electricity would be well received.

Oftentimes, opponents of nuclear power become louder and set the agenda because the proponents are usually reac
tive. This must change. As Ghana prepares to hit the ground soon, the experts in the area must lead the discussion and feed the public with the right message.

A simple Google search on nuclear power would show that negative articles on nuclear abound. With many journalists and students resorting to the internet for information, this is not good for building effective communication strategy.

Experts should be commissioned to write extensively and tout the importance of nuclear power to Ghana’s development agenda and demystify justifiable or non-justifiable concerns or fears about nuclear to balance intellectual discourse on the subject.

Way forward

Ghana’s energy demand keeps increasing whiles its existing energy resources keep diminishing. The reliance on thermal is not affordable and sustainable and failure to find alternative sources such as nuclear power that is reliable and affordable could spell doom for the country soon.

This message should be at the centre of our communication and education on the
need to support efforts to build and operate the country’s first nuclear power plant.

Issues of waste management and safety are paramount but that should not dominate the discussion on nuclear power technology especially in a developing country seeking to industrialise.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr. Samuel Atuahene Antwi, the nutritionist for the Tema Metropolitan Health Directorate, has disclosed that the early initiation of breastfeeding for babies born in Tema increased to 77.7 percent in 2023.

Mr Antwi, speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview, stated that the percentage showed a 5.7 percent increase over the 72.0 percent early initiation seen in 2022.

He said while the Tema North sub-metro had about a 19 percent increase in early breastfeeding initiation, the Tema South sub-metro saw a slight increase of 6.5 percent, and Community One recorded a decrease of 3.7 percent in its early breastfeeding initiative.

He noted that 88.1 percent of babies born in 2023 were exclusively breastfed for three months, while only 2.5 percent of them continued breastfeeding at age one.

The nutritionist encouraged mothers to breast-feed their babies within the recommended time after delivery, noting that the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that the initiation of breastfeeding be done within
the first hour after birth.

Mr Antwi said the colostrum, which is the yellowish, sticky breast milk produced first at the onset of breastfeeding, was the perfect food for the newborn and must be given to the baby within an hour after birth.

The first milk, he noted, contained important compounds and antibodies that build the baby’s immune system and help in fighting infections, as well as providing vitality and growth for the baby.

He explained that to derive the full benefits of breastfeeding, mothers must do their best to practice exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of the baby’s life and then start complimentary feeding for at least two years before weaning the baby off the breast.

He said the benefits of breastfeeding for babies included the promotion of growth development, which prevents stunting, adding that breast milk is easily digestible for the absorption of nutrients into the baby’s body.

He indicated that the process of sucking the breast also helped the baby’s jaw and teeth to d
evelop, as it served as an exercise for the facial muscles.

He said that while breast feeding had many benefits for the baby, its early initiation also facilitates the expulsion of the placenta in the mother as the suckling stimulates uterine contractions and reduces the risk of bleeding after delivery.

Source: Ghana News Agency