Day: June 20, 2024

Africell Telecommunications Company is revolutionizing the telecommunications landscape in Sierra Leone through its innovative Africell Customer Care Engagements (ACE) initiative. Speaking on Radio Democracy 98.1’s Good Morning Salone program, Managing Director Shadi Gerjawi highlighted the company’s unwavering commitment to customer priorities, satisfaction, constant communication, and rapid response times as the pillars that distinguish Africell from its competitors.

“The Africell Customer Care Engagements (ACE) initiative is designed to ensure our valued subscribers are well-informed about Africell’s operations, products, and services,” Shadi Gerjawi explained during the interview. This nationwide campaign involves extensive radio and television engagements, reinforcing Africell’s dedication to maintaining open lines of communication with its customers.

Shadi Gerjawi emphasized that Africell’s customer-centric approach is what truly sets the company apart. “Our primary focus is on prioritizing customer n
eeds, ensuring their satisfaction, and providing swift responses to their inquiries. This is what differentiates us from other telecommunications providers,” he stated.

In a bid to celebrate and appreciate their customers, over thirty managers and directors from Africell are actively participating in this initiative. “Our customers are the heart of our business. As their expectations grow, so does our commitment to enhancing service delivery,” Shadi Gerjawi added.

Africell is also advancing technologically to meet the diverse needs of its users.

The company operates on various segments, offering 2G for voice calls and 3G and 4G for data services, depending on the capabilities of the customer’s device. Notably, Africell has launched its 5G network, which is in the final stages of implementation. Mr. Gerjawi mentioned that only 8% of the country, mainly areas with low population density, remains to be covered, but Africell is steadfast in its goal of achieving 100% network and internet availability across S
ierra Leone.

This initiative underscores Africell’s commitment to bridging the digital divide and providing top-notch telecommunications services to every corner of the country. With Africell’s ongoing efforts, Sierra Leoneans can look forward to a future where connectivity is seamless, and customer service is unparalleled.

Source: Sierra Leone News Agency

Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has published more allegations against son of former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman, Freddie Blay.

Ablakwa in a social media post dated June 19, 2024, published company registration documents that showed that Kwaw Worsemao Blay’s company was among the shortlisted entities in the controversial sale of SSNIT’s hotels.

Ablakwa has in the last few weeks reported about how Kwaw Blay was in a legal battle with a partner over a popular beachfront belonging to the state-owned Labadi Beach Hotel.

“Apparently, Freddie Blay’s son, Kwaw has bigger plans for Labadi Beach Hotel beyond controlling its lucrative beachfront.

“This latest information pointing to a spirited effort by Mr. Kwaw Blay to purchase SSNIT’s hotels after his infamous beachfront encroachment is certainly bound to create fresh credibility crisis for Mr. Freddie Blay who claimed only last week, amidst issuing threats, that his sons have never been interested in capturing or owning SSNI
T’s hotels,” his post read in part.

The MP has dared the former NPP chairman to proceed to court over the allegations he (Ablakwa) has put out so far.

Ablakwa on June 18 led a protest against the planned sale of some SSNIT hotels to Rock City Limited, a hotel conglomerate owned by agric minister Bryan Acheampong.

The North Tongu MP has since submitted a 15-point petition to the presidency demanding the sale be cancelled.

He is also pushing a private members’ bill against public officials buying state assets.

Source: Ghana Web

The District Chief Executive of Nkoranza North and Dean of the MMDCEs in the Bono East region, Peter Osei Fosu, has stated that the NPP-led government will provide the necessary support to the National Council for Curriculum Assessment (NaCCA) in developing a new Secondary Education Curriculum and ensuring its successful implementation.

He explained that the government is fully committed to providing quality education to the Ghanaian people, hence their readiness to support NaCCA and the Ghana Education Service (GES) in implementing the new Secondary Education Curriculum currently under development.

Peter Fosu made this statement at the AJ Plaza Hotel in the Techiman South Municipal of the Bono East region during a stakeholder engagement and town hall meeting organized by NaCCA.

The National Council for Curriculum Assessment is currently on a regional tour to engage all stakeholders in the educational sector on the development of the Secondary Education Curriculum, seeking their input and elaborating on Na
CCA’s progress in developing the new curriculum.

Hon. Peter Osei Fosu emphasized the importance of quality education in shaping the future of the nation’s youth and ensuring their success in an increasingly competitive global job market. He stated that the government recognizes the need for continuous improvement in the education system and is willing to invest the necessary resources to achieve this.

“Resources are very scarce for every developing country, but we all agree that education is the bedrock, the fulcrum around which all other national development revolves. Therefore, we have to take it very seriously.

“You will all attest to the fact that this government always allocates significant budgets to our education, and some people even question why the government spends so much in the educational sector. However, the government’s substantial investment in education shows that it is a priority for this administration.

“The government is ever ready to provide the money or resources needed to ensure th
e successful development and implementation of this new curriculum. We will gladly do it and are assuring Ghanaians that we will do whatever is necessary to secure the funds to ensure that the new curriculum is effectively implemented because it is very important, and we will treat it as such,” he said.

The development of a new Secondary Education Curriculum is seen as a crucial step in enhancing the quality of education in Ghana. NaCCA, an independent body responsible for curriculum development and assessment, will work closely with the government to design a curriculum that aligns with the country’s educational goals and addresses the evolving needs of students.

Agencies involved in the development of the new Secondary Education Curriculum include NaCCA, the Ministry of Education (MOE), GES, the National Teaching Council (NTC), the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the Reform Secretariat (Reform Sec’t), the National Schools Inspectorate Authority (NaSIA), the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (G
TEC), the Christian Council/Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the Centre for National Distance Learning and Open Schooling (CENDLOS);

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), the Voltaic Group of Companies (VCG), teacher unions, the Conference of Heads of Private Second-Cycle Schools (PRINCOF), the Ghana Education Association (GEA), and the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS).

Source: Ghana Web

An economist and spokesperson for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Gideon Boako, has made a strong accusation against former President John Dramani Mahama, labelling him as the most corrupt vice president in Ghana’s history.

Speaking in an interview with Kumasi-based Hello FM, on Thursday, June 20, Dr Boako criticised Mahama’s tenure as vice president, alleging that it was marked by numerous corruption scandals and financial mismanagements.

He pointed to various instances during Mahama’s term where funds were reportedly misappropriated, leading to substantial economic losses for the country.

Dr Boako emphasised that such corruption undermined public trust and hindered Ghana’s development.

“I must state on record that between Mr Mahama who is the most corrupt vice president because of his conduct in terms of corruption, you can’t compare that to any vice president in the country’s history. He is the only vice president whose president set up an investigation on him for allegations of corruption.

“This
didn’t happen during Ackaah’s era and all the rest that followed after him. So, if that is anything to go by, Mr Mahama is the only vice president whose president accepts that he is corrupt,” he stated.

Source: Ghana Web

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu and convener of the ‘Hands off our Hotels’ demonstration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced a second part of the protest, which will be held in the Central Region.

On Tuesday, June 18, Ablakwa led protesters demanding the government halt the sale of 60 percent shares in four hotels owned by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to Rock City Hotel, a company owned by the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong.

Taking to his Facebook page on Thursday, June 20, Ablakwa assured the people of the Central Region that their concerns had been heard and resolved to stage a protest there.

“May I respectfully assure the revered chiefs and good people of the Central Region who have called us for a patriotic partnership to stage the next #HandsOffOurHotels demonstration since they are vehemently opposed to the sale of Elmina Beach Hotel and Ridge Royal Hotel both in the Central Region that we have unanimously agreed and resolved to hold a simi
lar massive protest in the Central Region if President Akufo-Addo fails to stop the sales within the next few days,” Ablakwa posted.

Source: Ghana Web

The Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has commented on the debate regarding the value of being a Ghanaian PhD holder versus being a holder of a Dutch passport.

Speaking at a public lecture organised by the Christian Service University at Kumasi on the theme ‘Sustainability of Democracy in Africa: The Ghanaian Experience,’ on June 19, 2024, Mahama likened the debate to the analogy of comparing apples to oranges.

He said that the only reason Ghanaians are having this debate is because of the economic mess created by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, which is forcing a lot of people to leave the country.

“There’s widespread despair and anguish amongst our people, leading to an active debate on social media about whether securing a foreign passport to do a menial job in Europe is better than holding a PhD in Ghana.

“It (the debate) is a reflection of the adversity into which our nation has been plunged; otherwise, there is no basis for comparison between
a visa and a PhD,” he said.

The former president said that education is the most important resource a human being can acquire, while a passport only facilitates travel.

“If you had a PhD and you had an opportunity to travel, you would be a more high-value citizen in that country that you have gone to,” he added.

Background:

Academics in Ghana became enraged after a Ghanaian-Netherlands citizen claimed that his Dutch passport offers more opportunities than a Ghanaian PhD.

According to the man, who is known as Mr. Happiness, the opportunities available to him as a Dutch citizen surpass those a Ghanaian PhD can offer to anyone.

He argued that he can easily obtain a visa to the United States of America just because he has a Netherlands passport; something a PhD holder in Ghana cannot do.

His claims have been met with fierce outrage from the academic community in Ghana, who say it is about time people give respect to academics.

To them, obtaining a PhD is not about the monetary benefits but rather how the
knowledge acquired is used to impact society and change fortunes.

One PhD student at the University of Ghana, Chris Atadika, reacting to the claim said, “If you’re a PhD holder and you believe that the essence of your PhD primarily lies in how much you should be able to earn in terms of monetary value after your PhD, and you’re earning less than you expected, so you believe that your PhD is worthless, then I’m sorry to tell you that you are worthless, not your PhD.

“…The PhD training firstly emphasizes one’s contribution to the body of knowledge (literature) and secondly, the significance of one’s research study on policy and practice in that field, all through research. Unless, of course, you enrolled in some strange PhD program somewhere, but where does it say in the PhD training that the more you earn after your PhD, the more valuable your PhD is?” he quizzed.

Another senior government official, Sandra Ewool, said, “Dutch passport mpo nie, na America passport de?, they weeeeeee press press our necks h
ere…”

Several other comments do not agree with the claim that a Netherlands passport offers opportunities that a Ghanaian PhD cannot offer.

Source: Ghana Web

Senior Presidential Advisor, Yaw Osafo-Maafo has expressed concern about the huge numbers of uncollected passports at the various passport centres in the country.

Speaking during an Update on Results Achieved Under the Public Sector Reform Project, the Senior Presidential Advisor revealed that a total of 86,000 passports remain uncollected, a situation he describes as problematic.

‘We are faced with a problem that we ourselves don’t understand. A number of people do not come to collect the passport. People are so anxious and do whatever they can to get the passport but after they have gone through to produce the passport they don’t come to collect it.

“These centers have these uncollected passports. Takoradi alone has 8,000, Cape Coast has 8,696, Accra has 19,500 passports uncollected.

“Because we subsidize the production of these passports – we are printing for people at about $4.00 when we should be printing them for $100. So it means the subsidy of all these passports is locked up capital of government
.’

The former Minster for Finance described government’s investments in all these subsidized passport as a big problem.

‘We did a quick count this morning and found out that we have a total of about 86,000 passports uncollected,” he added.

Source: Ghana Web

The ongoing strike by the Medical Laboratory Professional Workers’ Union (MELPWU) has compelled the Manhyia Government Hospital to suspend all planned surgeries and close its theatre.

Currently, the facility is only open for emergency surgery cases that require immediate attention.

Patients seeking lab services are stranded, as the hospital’s laboratories are closed, with notices about the strike posted.

Frustrated patients are calling for a swift resolution, as their health concerns are being significantly affected.

“I urgently need my lab results to consult my doctor, but the strike has left me stranded,” said Godwin Vinyoh, a patient.

Another patient, Theresah Osei, stated, “I was told to return on Monday, but the strike has disrupted my treatment. I implore the union to reconsider their decision, as patients are suffering.”

Source: Ghana Web