Day: April 28, 2024

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Four hundred and forty-six women trained in various technical, vocational skills


Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry in collaboration with World University Service of Canada (WUSC), under the scholarship ‘Invest-In-Her’ Scholarship has trained four hundred and forty-six women in technical and vocational skills.

The six months intensive training and the second of its cohort includes heavy-duty machine operation, electrical and solar installations, welding and fabrication, electric vehicle assembling and maintenance, computer hardware, networking and programming.

The scholarship programme was aimed at reducing gender specific barriers for women’s participation in economic development, equality and no -discrimination to enhance access to decent work for women inclusion in high-growth.

Mr Emmanuel Cherry, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry, said the training would help scale up the low levels of knowledge on women’s labour right among responsibility-holders, employers, and industry partners.

He said there was, therefore, the need to empower and equip
women, especially the up-and-coming graduates, in the construction sector to catch up in the often male-dominated area.

Mr Cherry said this at the 2nd Greater Accra graduation ceremony of the ‘Invest-In-Her’ Scholarship programme in Accra. It was on the theme: ‘Bridging The Gender Gap And Empowering Women For Sustainable Development In Male-Dominated Trades.’

He said the programme was a significant step towards addressing the skills gap in the construction sector and creating an inclusive society where women had equal opportunities to improve their economic lives.

He said the mindset of having only men designated to do construction works was a menace to societal development, urging stakeholders and industry players to seek these trained women and employed them for work.

The CEO said the training should help the country have its own expertise for developmental projects,’the construction industry would not rely solely on foreign companies and expertise,’ he added.

Mrs Emilia Ayipio Asamoah, Country Directo
r of WUSC Ghana, urged the graduates to perfect their skills and set themselves apart to be more unique and work proudly to clear the idea of only males could do construction and hard works.

She said good attitude and punctuality would lead them to job opportunities for greater success in future.

She appreciated their resilience and commitment to learn and be trained in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

She urged them to set the pace for the upcoming young girls to have the zeal to learn TVET, especially in construction.

She said skills development and its related employability had become integral parts of Ghana’s industrial development strategy, saying, TVET initiatives such as ‘Invest-In-Her’ Scholarship would provide the catalyst for realisation of the future.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Rebranding public schools is misplaced priority – Dr Apaak


Dr Clement Abasinaab Apaak, the Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Education Committee, has described as misplaced priorities the Ministry of Education’s decision to rebrand public basic schools.

The Sector Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, at a forum in Accra dubbed: ‘The Free SHS story,’ announced the Ministry’s decision to repaint public basic schools and change the uniforms of pupils to blue and white colours ‘to give them an attractive outlook.’

However, Dr Apaak in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga, called on the Minister to desist from rebranding the schools, saying that the colours represented the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and should not be accepted.

The Deputy Ranking Member, also a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Builsa South Constituency, said, ‘Spending public time and resources painting schools in blue and white, and introducing blue and white uniforms are clearly misplaced priorities.’

He recalled that Dr Adutwum in his report to Parliament during his last visit, i
ndicated that only 65 percent of textbooks were so far supplied.

‘May I remind him, that capitation grants are still in arrears for the equivalent of eight terms? How could rebranding be a priority in the face of these challenges facing public education in Ghana?’ Dr Apaak asked.

‘How can he, at this time of economic crisis in Ghana, be thinking of wasting public resources on furniture?’ he quizzed.

He enumerated challenges that affected teaching and learning in basic schools by a Head teacher, which needed urgent attention, and mentioned among others, the delay in releases of capitation grant of GHS10.00 per head per annum, which he noted was in arrears for eight tranches, equivalent to eight terms.

He said infrastructural deficit, especially poor toilet facilities, the lack of textbooks from KG to JHS for more than three years after the introduction of reforms, the lack of furniture for both teachers and students, the lack of security personnel to protect properties of schools which led to rampant theft
cases needed urgent attention.

‘According to the Head Teacher, basic school Administrators are struggling to manage the affairs of schools, because of inadequate funding, neglect and delay in the releases of the capitation grants, etc.’

The Deputy Ranking Member emphasized that ‘These are issues Dr Yaw Adutwum should be worried about, not the colours of school blocks and school uniforms.’

According to him, ‘Besides the overt attempt to brand public basic schools in NPP colours, the only other reason is to create an avenue to award sole sourced contracts to families, friends, and party members.’

Dr Apaak called on Ghanaians to resist the ‘needless initiative’ in the collective interest of the country and said, ‘If the Ministry of Education has funds, advisedly, those funds should go to address the long list of challenges narrated by Heads of public basic schools.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Fijai old students hold global Annual General Meeting in Takoradi


The Fijai Old Students Association (FOSA), an Alumni group of Fijai Senior High School (SHS), in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis of the Western Region has held its 2024 global Annual General Meeting.

The meeting was to celebrate the successes and achievements of the Association, spot out challenges and discuss strategies to spur the growth and development of their alma mater.

It was attended by FOSA 1955 to 2009 year groups, current staff of the school, and representatives from corporate institutions among others.

Mr Kenneth Dotse Agbomadzi, the Headmaster of Fijai SHS, expressed delight for seeing the old students come together for the collective growth of the Association and the school in general.

He commended the old students for their tremendous efforts and support in ensuring the development of their alma mater.

He, however, appealed to members of the Association to continue to be instrumental in the school’s management efforts in maintaining the institution’s glory it had attained since its establi
shment.

Professor Edward Appiah, the President of FOSA Global, in a speech read on his behalf congratulated his members for their hard work and commitment towards the growth of the Association and Fijai SHS.

He also applauded the Headmaster and his team for the excellent performance of students in the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), saying it was the very best in the last eight years.

He gave the assurance that the Association would continue to collaborate with the management of the school to help improve upon the students’ performance through strategic policies.

Prof Appiah mentioned that the FOSA would see to the completion of a fence wall for the school to help guarantee the security and safety of students and staff on campus.

Dr Sally Sarah Acquaye, the First Vice-President of FOSA Global, who chaired the occasion, commended all year groups for their enthusiasm, selflessness and commitment in ensuring growth and development of the school.

As part of the meeting, new
Global Executive Council Members were inducted into office to steer the affairs of the Association for the next two years.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Students of KETASCO elects new prefects


?Students of Keta Senior High Technical School (KETASCO) have elected new prefects to manage the affairs of the school for the next academic year.

The election, done electronically at the school’s computer laboratory saw third and second year students totaling about 3,300 participate in the exercise.?

A total of 23 students were elected into office with Master Ewoenam Faith Bessie emerging as the School’s Senior Prefect with Edmond Seyram Eddah?as the first Deputy Senior Prefect and Miss Fafali? Elorm Amoah as second Deputy Senior Prefect.

Kingsley Seyram Nyagbenu, George Malorku, Veronica Afetsi and Debora Vorsah were voted as Compound Prefects, Felix Owusu, Ransford Adjei, Jessica Atama and Perpetual Tokolie emerged as Academic Prefects while Maurice Cudjoe Teye, Maur Lucas, Deborah Chimezie and Lawrencia Kemavor were voted Dining Hall Prefects, other positions voted for includes Health prefects and Entertainment prefects.?

Mr Victor Nutifafa Tamekloe, Chairman of the school’s Electoral Committee (EC) i
n declaring the results said ‘We are very grateful to all EC members and the candidates for a successful process. We are happy with the zeal portrayed by both candidates and voters. Everything was transparent, free and fair.’

Mr Segbefia Anthony, Deputy EC Chairman disclosed they were thrilled with?the successful electoral process.

He advised the students to be dutiful saying, ‘To those who could not win, this is not the end of the world, avail yourselves to serve your colleagues. And to the winners, be humble, do not portray any traits of arrogance when power is handed over to you.’?

There will be a handing-over ceremony to transition power from the current prefects to the newly elected ones at the school’s dining hall on July 21, 2024.

Keta Senior High Technical School, with the motto: ‘Dzolali, Now or Never’ is one of the prestigious second-cycle schools in the Volta Region offering?courses including General Science, General Arts, Business, Agriculture Science, Visual Arts, Home Economics and Technical
Skills.

? The school currently has a student population of over 4,000 and has distinguished itself in academic and co-curricular activities including the National Science and Maths Quiz, sports and games, and cultural and drama activities.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Another scientist testifies in GHS271m COCOBOD financial loss case


A witness, Mr Jerome Agbesi Dogbatse, has told the Accra High Court that scientists tested and completed work on lithovit fertiliser before he joined the Ghana COCOBOD on November 4, 2013.

He was giving testimony in the case, in which Dr Stephen Kwabena Opuni, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of COCOBOD, is being prosecuted together with Seidu Agongo, the Managing Director of Agricult Ghana Limited, a fertiliser manufacturing company, for alleged procurement breaches and supplying substandard fertiliser.

The witness was answering questions under cross examination conducted by Mr Benson Nutsukpui, the counsel for the second accused, Mr Agongo, and Agricult Ghana Limited.

Mr Dogbatse, a research scientist at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) told the court presided over by Justice Aboagye Tandoh, that he (Dogbatse) was invited by the Financial Forensic Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and questioned about lithovit.

He said after the interrogation, the police took his writt
en statement.

Mr Dogbatse told the court that he was also invited by a Cocoa Committee, chaired by Dr Adu Ampomah, the Deputy Chief Executive of Agronomy and Quality Control of COCOBOD in 2017.

Mr Dogbatse, who holds a Master’s Degree in Soil Science, and currently a PhD student in Agriculture at the University of Ghana, Legon, said he told the Cocoa Committee that when he resumed work, he was taken to the nursery where some work had been done on lithovit.

He said at the nursery, seedlings treated with different fertilisers, including lithovit were leafy, while those that were untreated were not doing well.

Dr Opuni and Agongo have been accused of causing GHS271 million financial loss to the state through procurement breaches and supplying sub-standard fertiliser to COCOBOD.

The COCOBOD trial had dragged on for more than six years. Justice Clement Jackson Honyenugah, a retired Supreme Court Judge, was the first trial judge until he went on retirement.

The case docket was later assigned to Justice Gyimah
Boadi, who at the outset decided to conduct fresh trial because of what he considered as “suspicions and allegations” from the parties concerned.

Justice Boadi was subsequently transferred and the case was assigned to Justice Aboagye Tandoh.

Before then, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godred Yeboah Dame, appealed the decision of Justice Boadi to conduct fresh trial and later in a ruling, a three-member panel of judges overturned the decision to start the trial afresh.

In March 2018, the Attorney-General charged Dr Opuni and Agongo with 27 counts for allegedly engaging in illegalities that caused financial loss of GHS271.3 million to the state, and led to the distribution of sub-standard fertiliser to cocoa farmers.

Agongo is alleged to have used fraudulent means to sell sub-standard fertiliser to COCOBOD for onward distribution to cocoa farmers, while Dr Opuni is accused of facilitating the act by not allowing Agongo’s products to be tested and certified, as required by law.

The two accuse
d persons have pleaded not guilty to all the 27 charges and are on GHS300,000 bail each.

Source: Ghana Web

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600 million Africans lack access to electricity


Approximately 600 million Africans lack access to electricity and this unfortunate situation is creating significant barriers to health care, education, productivity, digital inclusivity, and ultimately job creation.

It is therefore in this regard that the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) are partnering to provide electricity access to at least 300 million people in Africa by 2030.

This was disclosed following the meeting of World Bank President, Ajay Banga, and his AfDB counterpart, Dr Akinwumi Adesina recently.

It was revealed that the World Bank Group would work to connect 250 million people to electricity through distributed renewable energy systems or the distribution grid. The AfDB, on the other hand, will support an additional 50 million people.

‘Access to electricity is a fundamental human right and is foundational to any successful development effort,’ the Bretton Wood institution said on its website.

Speaking on the project, Banga said, ‘Electricity access is the bedrock of al
l development. It is a critical ingredient for economic growth and essential for job creation at scale. Our aspiration will only be realized with partnership and ambition’

According to him, it would require a policy action from governments, financing from multilateral development banks, and private sector investment to see this through.

This partnership is a demonstration of the determination of the World Bank Group and the AfDB Group to be bolder, bigger, and better in tackling one of the most pressing challenges in Africa.

The initiative is the most recent manifestation of the World Bank Group’s commitment to become more impact-oriented and is the byproduct of a concerted work plan to build a better bank.

It is aided by a constellation of regional energy programs that would now be aligned toward this common goal.

For the World Bank Group to connect 250 million people, $30 billion of public sector investment will be required, of which IDA, the World Bank’s concessional arm for low-income countries, woul
d be critical.

In addition, governments will need to put in place policies to attract private investment, and reform their utilities so they are financially sound and efficient with tariff mechanisms that protect the poor.

Connecting 250 million people to electricity would open private sector investment opportunities in distributed renewable energy alone worth $9 billion, World Bank said.

Beyond that, there would be substantial opportunities for private investments in grid-connected renewable energy needed to power economies for growth.

Source: Ghana Web

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Ghanaian graduate appeals for employment on social media after bagging first-class honours in Economics


An unemployed graduate of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, (KNUST), has resorted to social media to appeal for job opportunities.

Identified as Lois Ansaa Asiedu, the young lady who graduated with first-class honors in economics is desperately seeking a job and has shared her plight with the X community.

Fed up with her ‘unemployed status’, Lois has taken the bold decision to publicize her certificate on social media amidst tons of reactions from netizens who have chanced on it.

‘At this point, I’m putting it out there that I’m in search of employment in any financial institution. Anyone with viable leads, please put me on. Kindly retweet,’ her post read.

The post which was made on April 27, 2024, has since garnered over 1,000 retweets and comments.

The reactions are made up of encouragement, referrals, recommendations, and opportunities for the young lady.

In another post, Lois also detailed that although she is in search of a job, she wouldn’t hesitate to grab any opportunity to
pursue a master’s degree abroad.

‘I have thought of doing my master’s degree outside the country. There have been several constraints contributing to my decision to work. If there is an opportunity to apply for these scholarships I would jump on them expeditiously,’ she added.

Source: Ghana Web

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New Kumasi Airport receives A320 aircraft


The plane, transporting the Zamalek football team, landed at the newly renovated Kumasi International Airport at 14:16 local time on Friday April 25, 2024.

The successful landing and taking off of the Airbus A320 is a feather in the cup of airport managers, Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), who are seeking to fully operationalise the airport by the end of June 2024.

This is the third time an A320 has successfully landed and taken off from the facility since 2019.

Already, some international airlines have written to Ghana Airports Company Limited about their intention to operate scheduled passenger flights to the airport located at the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi.

Transport Minister Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, speaking during a recent tour of the facility, said it will be inaugurated in May ahead of the full operationalisation of the airport by the end of June 2024.

Further expansion works are planned to extend the length of the current runway from 1994m to 2,300m plus so that the facility can accommod
ate larger planes above the A320 and B737.

Aviance, a leading passenger and ground handling company, successfully serviced the EgyptAir flight on April 25, 2024.

Mark Kamis, Managing Director of Aviance, told aviationghana.com: “We are excited to expand our ground handling activity to our airline customers in Kumasi and Tamale.’

The extension of Aviance’s services to Kumasi now prevents a situation where there is no equipment to service various chartered flights calling at the airport.

Source: Ghana Web