Some teachers in the Accra metropolis are kicking against a compulsory ICT exam for Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has sent sample questions on ICT to schools for candidates sitting this year’s exams in April but the teachers say it’s wrong to make ICT a compulsory paper this academic year.
In an interview with Joy News on Wednesday, the teachers said since most schools do not have the facilities and personnel to teach ICT, it should rather be optional.
“This is just a bomb-shell class yet the questions are technical. You just can’t use three months to do it,” one of the teachers complained.
Meanwhile the Ghana Education Service says it has not given approval for WAEC to begin the ICT exam this academic year.
Public Relations Officer Charles Parker-Allotey tells Joy News that although discussions are ongoing, it will be unfair to assess the students in ICT when ICT facilities have not been provided.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Schools can register BECE on-line
Schools in Ghana with internet connectivity can now register on-line for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) conducted by the West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC).
This follows the introduction of an on-line registration procedure for the BECE last Monday after almost two decades of running the examination in the country.
The head of the Test Administration Department of WAEC, Mr Kweku Nyamekye-Aidoo, who made this known to Daily Graphic, said the on-line registration would be done alongside the old registration procedure (Batch Registration) which involved the registration of candidates in groups on Compact Discs.
He said the aim of the introduction of the on-line procedure was to ensure that core data of the candidates remained intact, thereby preventing the mixing up of candidate’s data. He said the Batch Registration was being done alongside the on-line registration to ensure that those who did not have the on line facility could do so, saying that the online registration was done by the schools of candidates and not individuals.
Mr Nyamekye-Aidoo indicated that all the information of candidates who would be writing the examination had to be on-line, and that the council would transfer the information of candidates who were registered through the Batch Registration, on-line.
He said there was no cause for alarm as the council undertook education programmes to educate school authorities on the new registration procedure.
He said information of candidates on-line would be for reading only, and that no one, no matter the access to the password of a school would be able to change any candidate’s information.
Mr Nyamekye-Aidoo said it was only at WAEC that a school that wanted to make a change to the bio-data of a candidate could do so.
He, therefore, advised parents and guardians to ensure that whatever information they provided on their children was accurate.
Mr. Nyamekye-Aidoo said “parents and guardians should state clearly how they want the names of their children spelt, in which order and provide their accurate date of birth”.
On the cost of registration per candidate, he said, the examination fee was GH¢6 as the government was paying GH¢14 per candidate as subsidy for each candidate, adding that schools must adhere strictly to the registration fee of GH¢6 and not add anything.
The Director of Basic Education Division of the GES, Mr Stephen Adu, urged heads of basic schools to spell out any additional fee for the registration of candidates and not lump all the fees as registration fees. He said there should be a breakdown of any fee, such as cost of photographs and extra tuition or extra mock examination should be made clear to parents. He added that such additional fees should be approved by a district education director.
Mr Adu said schools must make parents aware of the money (GH¢14) government was paying for each candidate since the original fee of the examination was GH¢20.
“Schools, be they public or private must give a clear break down of fees they are charging for the examination and not lump the registration fee of GH¢6 with other fees and term them as BECE examination fee,” he said.
This follows the introduction of an on-line registration procedure for the BECE last Monday after almost two decades of running the examination in the country.
The head of the Test Administration Department of WAEC, Mr Kweku Nyamekye-Aidoo, who made this known to Daily Graphic, said the on-line registration would be done alongside the old registration procedure (Batch Registration) which involved the registration of candidates in groups on Compact Discs.
He said the aim of the introduction of the on-line procedure was to ensure that core data of the candidates remained intact, thereby preventing the mixing up of candidate’s data. He said the Batch Registration was being done alongside the on-line registration to ensure that those who did not have the on line facility could do so, saying that the online registration was done by the schools of candidates and not individuals.
Mr Nyamekye-Aidoo indicated that all the information of candidates who would be writing the examination had to be on-line, and that the council would transfer the information of candidates who were registered through the Batch Registration, on-line.
He said there was no cause for alarm as the council undertook education programmes to educate school authorities on the new registration procedure.
He said information of candidates on-line would be for reading only, and that no one, no matter the access to the password of a school would be able to change any candidate’s information.
Mr Nyamekye-Aidoo said it was only at WAEC that a school that wanted to make a change to the bio-data of a candidate could do so.
He, therefore, advised parents and guardians to ensure that whatever information they provided on their children was accurate.
Mr. Nyamekye-Aidoo said “parents and guardians should state clearly how they want the names of their children spelt, in which order and provide their accurate date of birth”.
On the cost of registration per candidate, he said, the examination fee was GH¢6 as the government was paying GH¢14 per candidate as subsidy for each candidate, adding that schools must adhere strictly to the registration fee of GH¢6 and not add anything.
The Director of Basic Education Division of the GES, Mr Stephen Adu, urged heads of basic schools to spell out any additional fee for the registration of candidates and not lump all the fees as registration fees. He said there should be a breakdown of any fee, such as cost of photographs and extra tuition or extra mock examination should be made clear to parents. He added that such additional fees should be approved by a district education director.
Mr Adu said schools must make parents aware of the money (GH¢14) government was paying for each candidate since the original fee of the examination was GH¢20.
“Schools, be they public or private must give a clear break down of fees they are charging for the examination and not lump the registration fee of GH¢6 with other fees and term them as BECE examination fee,” he said.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
YPF-Ghana calls for Lasting Solution in Bawku
The Youth in Politics Foundation (Ghana), a non-governmental organization and a non-partisan group is seriously worried about insecurity and the lack of peace within the Bawku Municipality.
The situation at hand is alarming and it is also creating problems for the youth and elderly.
Insecurity in the municipality is holding back development and a sense of agency is needed to tackle the growing conflict to forestall lasting peace in the area.
Some have said Chieftaincy issues, Politics and some other deep seated tribal issues have contributed mainly to the escalating conflict in the area.
But, we believe as a youth group that, there must be first of all dialogue between the feuding parties. This we believe will bring on board chiefs, traditional rulers, tribal lords on a common platform to talk amicably about the consensus building.
We are humbly calling on the Government (Security Agencies), Political Parties, Muslim Leaders, Christian Leaders, Security Experts, and other CSOs/NGOs to put in their maximum efforts to forestall lasting peace in Bawku.
We welcome the decision by the Ministry of Interior to impose a curfew on the Municipality and its environs. But will this solve the problem?
We call on all parties involved in solving the escalating conflict to fast track the process of sustainable peace in the municipality before things really get out of hand. We are throwing a challenge to these various personalities in our country to let peace prevail in Bawku.
They are Bawkunaba, Asantehene, Ga Mantse, Togbe Afedzi, Okyehene, Okuapemanhene, Asante Manponhene, New Juabenhene and other stakeholders.
Signed
Mr. Fred Sarpong
(President)
About YPF- (Ghana)
The foundation was set up by a group of young media practitioners and a young civil engineer, who intend to help deepen Parliamentary Democracy in Ghana.
The objectives of the foundation are to:
Encourage the youth to engage in active Politics,
Educate the youth in the danger of violence in Politics,
Enlighten the youth in Parliamentary Democracy,
Equip the youth with the role of Parliamentarians in Parliamentary Democracy,
Facilitate the youth to engage in Parliamentary proceedings.
The situation at hand is alarming and it is also creating problems for the youth and elderly.
Insecurity in the municipality is holding back development and a sense of agency is needed to tackle the growing conflict to forestall lasting peace in the area.
Some have said Chieftaincy issues, Politics and some other deep seated tribal issues have contributed mainly to the escalating conflict in the area.
But, we believe as a youth group that, there must be first of all dialogue between the feuding parties. This we believe will bring on board chiefs, traditional rulers, tribal lords on a common platform to talk amicably about the consensus building.
We are humbly calling on the Government (Security Agencies), Political Parties, Muslim Leaders, Christian Leaders, Security Experts, and other CSOs/NGOs to put in their maximum efforts to forestall lasting peace in Bawku.
We welcome the decision by the Ministry of Interior to impose a curfew on the Municipality and its environs. But will this solve the problem?
We call on all parties involved in solving the escalating conflict to fast track the process of sustainable peace in the municipality before things really get out of hand. We are throwing a challenge to these various personalities in our country to let peace prevail in Bawku.
They are Bawkunaba, Asantehene, Ga Mantse, Togbe Afedzi, Okyehene, Okuapemanhene, Asante Manponhene, New Juabenhene and other stakeholders.
Signed
Mr. Fred Sarpong
(President)
About YPF- (Ghana)
The foundation was set up by a group of young media practitioners and a young civil engineer, who intend to help deepen Parliamentary Democracy in Ghana.
The objectives of the foundation are to:
Encourage the youth to engage in active Politics,
Educate the youth in the danger of violence in Politics,
Enlighten the youth in Parliamentary Democracy,
Equip the youth with the role of Parliamentarians in Parliamentary Democracy,
Facilitate the youth to engage in Parliamentary proceedings.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Cash for Youth in Agric Programme to rise to GH¢60m
Government is to increase budgetary allocation for the Youth In Agriculture programme by 500% raising the amount from GH¢10 million to GH¢60 million next year.
The move is to encourage medium and large scale food production among the youth, especially in areas of comparative advantage, to triple food production within the next three years.
It is also meant to cut down on the country's use of foreign exchange on food imports and make the cedi much stronger.
According to Vice President John Mahama, Ghana currently imports food to the tune of one billion dollars annually, a trend that the government was determined to reverse.
To this end "government is mapping out a strategy to encourage the production of soyabean, maize and other cereals that form the core of staples enjoyed by the citizenry.”
He said the government was also designing an initiative on poultry production, which it planned to roll out soon, to ensure a reduction in the amount of poultry products the country imported.
"Our policy is to encourage import substitution by increasing the production of crops and livestock in areas of comparative advantage, to the country to cut down on foreign exchange rate," he said.
Mahama said government was implementing a farm mechanization concept by providing tractors at affordable rates, to groups and individuals to provide ploughing services to rural farmers at low costs to enhance their production.
He said the government was also carrying through with its interventions to subsidize farm implements, equipment, fertilizers and seedlings, among other things.
The vice president noted that government's interventions in the agricultural sector, coupled with the level of food production going on nationwide, indicated that the country was on course to reducing her food imports drastically within the next three years.
He observed that the youth had not embraced agriculture as a means to
earning a livelihood and urged them to take to farming because it could make them have meaningful living.
The move is to encourage medium and large scale food production among the youth, especially in areas of comparative advantage, to triple food production within the next three years.
It is also meant to cut down on the country's use of foreign exchange on food imports and make the cedi much stronger.
According to Vice President John Mahama, Ghana currently imports food to the tune of one billion dollars annually, a trend that the government was determined to reverse.
To this end "government is mapping out a strategy to encourage the production of soyabean, maize and other cereals that form the core of staples enjoyed by the citizenry.”
He said the government was also designing an initiative on poultry production, which it planned to roll out soon, to ensure a reduction in the amount of poultry products the country imported.
"Our policy is to encourage import substitution by increasing the production of crops and livestock in areas of comparative advantage, to the country to cut down on foreign exchange rate," he said.
Mahama said government was implementing a farm mechanization concept by providing tractors at affordable rates, to groups and individuals to provide ploughing services to rural farmers at low costs to enhance their production.
He said the government was also carrying through with its interventions to subsidize farm implements, equipment, fertilizers and seedlings, among other things.
The vice president noted that government's interventions in the agricultural sector, coupled with the level of food production going on nationwide, indicated that the country was on course to reducing her food imports drastically within the next three years.
He observed that the youth had not embraced agriculture as a means to
earning a livelihood and urged them to take to farming because it could make them have meaningful living.
Glorious Satellites shock Brazil for gold
Ghana’s Black Satellites in one of the most difficult circumstances shocked Brazil to lift their first, and Africa’s first gold in the history of the U20 championships.
And it took 120 minutes of goalless nerve racking football, with ten men and a 4-3 penalty victory to exorcise the Brazilian ghost which has long haunted the Satellites.
Agyemang Badu, with equally a man of the match performance converted the last kick to glory but the exploits of goal keeper Daniel Agyei cannot be overemphasized.
The Brazilians were gunning for their fifth gold and it was all looking manifest in the opening 30 minutes of the game. Nearly a minute and half into the game, the Ghanaians had not kicked the ball.
The sweet playing South American side assaulted the goal area of the Satellites, and in the 3rd minute, Dalton, proved why he is a central defender, when he dug his head into a superb cross from Douglass in Ghana's final third. His efforts went flying high into the sky and to Ghana's relief.
the Satellites were left off the hook in the 9th minute after a delectable free kick missed Henrique's head and the goal post by inches.
The Brazilians knocked the ball around in no hurry at all for a goal, and kept the Satellites chasing their shadows.
The underdogs lifted up their game but the only opportunity to punish goal keeper Rafael was missed by serial goal scorer Dominic Adiyiah.
Just when their confidence was soaring after a scrappy opening, the bombshell came with a straight red card flashed in a rather controversial circumstances to defender Daniel Addo in the 38th minute.
Samuel Inkoom contributed to the woes of the defender, when he needlessly gave away the ball to the Brazilians and in a counter attack left Addo helpless, bringing his attacker down in the process and attracting a straight red card.
But truth be told the Belgian referee Frank DE BLEECKERE was harsh with his call.
Agyemang Badu was pulled back to assist Jonathan Mensah in the heart of defence and the two did a superb job albeit some desperate moments.
World Champions
The South Americans had their tactics spot on, clipping the flying wings of wing backs, Samuel Inkoom and David Addy whose rampaging runs up-field could not be crowned with their usual incisive cross.
From recess the strategy was unchanged. The Satellites defended as if their lives depended on it, whilst the Selacao poured in to unlock the tight defence.
Goal poacher Dominic Adiyiah was was usually overcrowded by Junior and Toloi after his strike partner Ransford Osei was pulled out for tactical reasons.
The Brazilians got edgy as the minutes wore on, displaying some erratic long range shots which forced second time saves from Agyei after he spilt it in the first attempt.
Teixeira proved a slippery customer for Addy on the left and in one of his superb runs picked an unmarked Souza whose final shot in the 67th minute went wide.
The resolute Ghanaian defence kept the South American attack at bay till the end of 90 minutes.
In extra time the game was even more nervy. The Satellites caught the Brazilians on the break on few occasions, but an instinctive and heroic save from Daniel Agyei in the 96th minute kept the Satellites dream alive.
Teixeira breached the Ghanaian defence set Maicon but the striker could not keep his nerve and shot into the path of Agyei.
It always looked like the tussle will be settled by firing squad and the Belgian referee rightly pointed to the spot after 120 minutes of barren exchange.
The South Americans again had the opportunity after Jonathan Mensah and Addae wasted their kicks, but a Teixeira and a Maicon miss turned the tables around.
Skipper Ayew, Adiyiah, Samuel Inkoom had earlier converted their kicks and needed the final kick of glory from Agyemang Badu to realize a long held ambition of winning Africa’s first U-20 trophy since 1970.
And it took 120 minutes of goalless nerve racking football, with ten men and a 4-3 penalty victory to exorcise the Brazilian ghost which has long haunted the Satellites.
Agyemang Badu, with equally a man of the match performance converted the last kick to glory but the exploits of goal keeper Daniel Agyei cannot be overemphasized.
The Brazilians were gunning for their fifth gold and it was all looking manifest in the opening 30 minutes of the game. Nearly a minute and half into the game, the Ghanaians had not kicked the ball.
The sweet playing South American side assaulted the goal area of the Satellites, and in the 3rd minute, Dalton, proved why he is a central defender, when he dug his head into a superb cross from Douglass in Ghana's final third. His efforts went flying high into the sky and to Ghana's relief.
the Satellites were left off the hook in the 9th minute after a delectable free kick missed Henrique's head and the goal post by inches.
The Brazilians knocked the ball around in no hurry at all for a goal, and kept the Satellites chasing their shadows.
The underdogs lifted up their game but the only opportunity to punish goal keeper Rafael was missed by serial goal scorer Dominic Adiyiah.
Just when their confidence was soaring after a scrappy opening, the bombshell came with a straight red card flashed in a rather controversial circumstances to defender Daniel Addo in the 38th minute.
Samuel Inkoom contributed to the woes of the defender, when he needlessly gave away the ball to the Brazilians and in a counter attack left Addo helpless, bringing his attacker down in the process and attracting a straight red card.
But truth be told the Belgian referee Frank DE BLEECKERE was harsh with his call.
Agyemang Badu was pulled back to assist Jonathan Mensah in the heart of defence and the two did a superb job albeit some desperate moments.
World Champions
The South Americans had their tactics spot on, clipping the flying wings of wing backs, Samuel Inkoom and David Addy whose rampaging runs up-field could not be crowned with their usual incisive cross.
From recess the strategy was unchanged. The Satellites defended as if their lives depended on it, whilst the Selacao poured in to unlock the tight defence.
Goal poacher Dominic Adiyiah was was usually overcrowded by Junior and Toloi after his strike partner Ransford Osei was pulled out for tactical reasons.
The Brazilians got edgy as the minutes wore on, displaying some erratic long range shots which forced second time saves from Agyei after he spilt it in the first attempt.
Teixeira proved a slippery customer for Addy on the left and in one of his superb runs picked an unmarked Souza whose final shot in the 67th minute went wide.
The resolute Ghanaian defence kept the South American attack at bay till the end of 90 minutes.
In extra time the game was even more nervy. The Satellites caught the Brazilians on the break on few occasions, but an instinctive and heroic save from Daniel Agyei in the 96th minute kept the Satellites dream alive.
Teixeira breached the Ghanaian defence set Maicon but the striker could not keep his nerve and shot into the path of Agyei.
It always looked like the tussle will be settled by firing squad and the Belgian referee rightly pointed to the spot after 120 minutes of barren exchange.
The South Americans again had the opportunity after Jonathan Mensah and Addae wasted their kicks, but a Teixeira and a Maicon miss turned the tables around.
Skipper Ayew, Adiyiah, Samuel Inkoom had earlier converted their kicks and needed the final kick of glory from Agyemang Badu to realize a long held ambition of winning Africa’s first U-20 trophy since 1970.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Gov't to Implement ?50m Youth in Agriculture Proj in 2010
Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday announced a 50-million- cedi “youth- in-agriculture” project to be executed in 2010 as part of determined measures by government to arrest unemployment.
He said although the project started on a modest scale this year, funding for it would be dramatically increased next year to encourage more youth to venture into agriculture as a viable livelihood to reduce poverty.
The project, which will run alongside the proposed 225 million -cedi Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) initiative, is a targeted policy by the Mills administration to deliver a better Ghana for Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions and the contiguous Savannah
belts in the Volta and Brong Ahafo regions.
Speaking during a courtesy call on Na Abdulai Ziblim, Regent of Gulkpegu in Tamale as part of a four-day tour of the Northern Region, Vice President Mahama said the project would help to reverse the migration of the youth in the area to Accra and other urban centres for menial jobs.
To sustain the project, he said government, intends to establish agriculture centres which would provide farming inputs such as seedlings and fertilisers at subsidized rates to improve upon yield.
Mr Mahama asked the people to have faith in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), as it was poised to reverse the affliction of poverty and joblessness among the youth in the area.
Citing the SADA initiative, Vice President Mahama said it was meant to transform the region drastically and give it a face lift.
He said the legal processes for its implementation shall be followed through when Parliament resume sitting.
Vice President Mahama said SADA was being fashioned as a “development vehicle” for the area in line with the pledge of the manifesto of the NDC to the people.
He asked the people to exercise patience with the government as it works diligently to fulfil the mandate for which it was voted for.
Vice President Mahama said the NDC inherited a difficult financial situation but had worked to stabilize the situation, adding: “Everything is now on track. We have been fairly successful in stabilizing the cedi, which was falling like a piece of stone.”
He expressed support for communities which were recently inundated with floods owing to the opening of the Bagre dam in neighbouring Burkina Faso.
Na Abdulai Ziblim asked government to expedite action on upgrading of the Tamale Teaching Hospital to meet its current status.
He also appealed to the government to expand educational facilities in basic as well as Senior High Schools to facilitate teaching and learning.
He said although the project started on a modest scale this year, funding for it would be dramatically increased next year to encourage more youth to venture into agriculture as a viable livelihood to reduce poverty.
The project, which will run alongside the proposed 225 million -cedi Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) initiative, is a targeted policy by the Mills administration to deliver a better Ghana for Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions and the contiguous Savannah
belts in the Volta and Brong Ahafo regions.
Speaking during a courtesy call on Na Abdulai Ziblim, Regent of Gulkpegu in Tamale as part of a four-day tour of the Northern Region, Vice President Mahama said the project would help to reverse the migration of the youth in the area to Accra and other urban centres for menial jobs.
To sustain the project, he said government, intends to establish agriculture centres which would provide farming inputs such as seedlings and fertilisers at subsidized rates to improve upon yield.
Mr Mahama asked the people to have faith in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), as it was poised to reverse the affliction of poverty and joblessness among the youth in the area.
Citing the SADA initiative, Vice President Mahama said it was meant to transform the region drastically and give it a face lift.
He said the legal processes for its implementation shall be followed through when Parliament resume sitting.
Vice President Mahama said SADA was being fashioned as a “development vehicle” for the area in line with the pledge of the manifesto of the NDC to the people.
He asked the people to exercise patience with the government as it works diligently to fulfil the mandate for which it was voted for.
Vice President Mahama said the NDC inherited a difficult financial situation but had worked to stabilize the situation, adding: “Everything is now on track. We have been fairly successful in stabilizing the cedi, which was falling like a piece of stone.”
He expressed support for communities which were recently inundated with floods owing to the opening of the Bagre dam in neighbouring Burkina Faso.
Na Abdulai Ziblim asked government to expedite action on upgrading of the Tamale Teaching Hospital to meet its current status.
He also appealed to the government to expand educational facilities in basic as well as Senior High Schools to facilitate teaching and learning.
Author: GNA Date: 25/09/2009
Police Grab Ex-NUGS Officers
The Ministries police last Saturday arrested two former officers of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) for refusing to hand over the union’s properties in their possession.
Ahmed Benni, former Education and Democratisation Officer and out-gone Coordinating Secretary Patrick Ayitah were picked at different locations and put behind bars after a complaint was lodged to the police on the state of the union’s assets they were holding on to.
Ahmed Benni was said to have forcibly collected keys to the NUGS vehicle from the official driver and rove it to an unknown destination.
On the part of Patrick Ayitah, police said he was being trailed for locking the offices of the Union at the State Housing Corporation, thereby refusing the new executives access to the union’s official documents.
The duo spent close to three hours at the police station last Saturday before being granted bail through the help of some friends and relatives.
Police said on Saturday that the out-gone student officers were given up to 2pm Monday 28th September, 2008 to produce the union’s assets in their possession. They said that failure from the student leaders will result in their prosecution.
Patrick and Benni were alleged to be part of a faction that frustrated out-gone President Ishmael Tweneboah from successfully running the affairs of the union.
Ishmael, according to sources, was seen by the group as an NDC sympathizer who frustrated any kind of agenda to favour the NPP.
The group recently tried to prevent the holding of a handing-over ceremony at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) but did not succeed when the Tesano police were called in to keep it at bay.
After the handing-over, members of the dissident group were still bent on their activities as they tired to hold a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting to overthrow Ishmael Tweneboah who had already handed over to a new administration under the leadership of Wonder Madilo.
This reporter gathered that the purported NEC meeting did not come off as most of the appropriate representatives under the union boycotted it. The group has been livid with anger following the defeat of some candidates it allegedly had preference for at the Kumasi congress.
NUGS President Wonder Madilo told newsmen via telephone that the development had frustrated new executives from undertaking their constitutional duties.
He disclosed that under normal circumstances, the NUGS official vehicle should be parked at the premises of the Ministry of Education since it was that government entity that provided the bus and the official driver.
As at the time of filing this report, scores of people including new executives had gathered at the Ministries Police Station waiting for the bailed student leaders to hand over the assets of the Union.
Ahmed Benni, former Education and Democratisation Officer and out-gone Coordinating Secretary Patrick Ayitah were picked at different locations and put behind bars after a complaint was lodged to the police on the state of the union’s assets they were holding on to.
Ahmed Benni was said to have forcibly collected keys to the NUGS vehicle from the official driver and rove it to an unknown destination.
On the part of Patrick Ayitah, police said he was being trailed for locking the offices of the Union at the State Housing Corporation, thereby refusing the new executives access to the union’s official documents.
The duo spent close to three hours at the police station last Saturday before being granted bail through the help of some friends and relatives.
Police said on Saturday that the out-gone student officers were given up to 2pm Monday 28th September, 2008 to produce the union’s assets in their possession. They said that failure from the student leaders will result in their prosecution.
Patrick and Benni were alleged to be part of a faction that frustrated out-gone President Ishmael Tweneboah from successfully running the affairs of the union.
Ishmael, according to sources, was seen by the group as an NDC sympathizer who frustrated any kind of agenda to favour the NPP.
The group recently tried to prevent the holding of a handing-over ceremony at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) but did not succeed when the Tesano police were called in to keep it at bay.
After the handing-over, members of the dissident group were still bent on their activities as they tired to hold a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting to overthrow Ishmael Tweneboah who had already handed over to a new administration under the leadership of Wonder Madilo.
This reporter gathered that the purported NEC meeting did not come off as most of the appropriate representatives under the union boycotted it. The group has been livid with anger following the defeat of some candidates it allegedly had preference for at the Kumasi congress.
NUGS President Wonder Madilo told newsmen via telephone that the development had frustrated new executives from undertaking their constitutional duties.
He disclosed that under normal circumstances, the NUGS official vehicle should be parked at the premises of the Ministry of Education since it was that government entity that provided the bus and the official driver.
As at the time of filing this report, scores of people including new executives had gathered at the Ministries Police Station waiting for the bailed student leaders to hand over the assets of the Union.
Author: The Insight Date: 30/09/2009
Military training for National Service personnel
All national service persons from next year will undergo military training before being dispatched to work at their various stations.
The National Service Secretariat (NSS) said this will equip the personnel physically and mentally, as well as instil in them a sense of patriotism they are expected to acquire at the end of the service.
The Executive Secretary of the secretariat, Mr Vincent Senam Kuagbenu said this in an interview with the press in Accra.
He said his outfit is simply responding to calls to bring back a useful component of the scheme when it was started.
Mr Kuagbenu said the secretariat is currently working on the modalities to ensure a smooth take-off of the programme but hinted the budget for it is huge.
Meanwhile, the NSS has deployed 230 national service persons to assist Members of Parliament (MPs) in the performance of their duties.
The secretariat said the service personnel are expected to conduct researches to facilitate the job of the MPs they are assigned to.
Kuagbenu explained that the move is in fulfilment of a promise by President Mills to get graduates to assist the MPs.
“I don’t expect to see parliamentary research assistants sitting in Parliament, that is not the work of a research assistant,” he said.
He said MPs have for long been unable to scrutinise bills before they are passed into laws because the legislators have had no assistants to help them with their work.
The NSS has posted a total of 60,700 personnel to serve in various sectors including education, health and the private sector.
Source: Joy News/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
The National Service Secretariat (NSS) said this will equip the personnel physically and mentally, as well as instil in them a sense of patriotism they are expected to acquire at the end of the service.
The Executive Secretary of the secretariat, Mr Vincent Senam Kuagbenu said this in an interview with the press in Accra.
He said his outfit is simply responding to calls to bring back a useful component of the scheme when it was started.
Mr Kuagbenu said the secretariat is currently working on the modalities to ensure a smooth take-off of the programme but hinted the budget for it is huge.
Meanwhile, the NSS has deployed 230 national service persons to assist Members of Parliament (MPs) in the performance of their duties.
The secretariat said the service personnel are expected to conduct researches to facilitate the job of the MPs they are assigned to.
Kuagbenu explained that the move is in fulfilment of a promise by President Mills to get graduates to assist the MPs.
“I don’t expect to see parliamentary research assistants sitting in Parliament, that is not the work of a research assistant,” he said.
He said MPs have for long been unable to scrutinise bills before they are passed into laws because the legislators have had no assistants to help them with their work.
The NSS has posted a total of 60,700 personnel to serve in various sectors including education, health and the private sector.
Source: Joy News/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Youth Asked to Shun Social Vices
The national Prayer Director of Women Aglow, Gifty Afenyi Dazie, has entreated the youth to desist from social vices such as internet fraud and prostitution.
She urged the youth to rather engage in productive ventures that will help better their lives and the country.
The national Prayer Director of Women Aglow, Gifty Afenyi Dadzie, was speaking at the women's division of the Methodist church, new Achimota circuit breakfast meeting in Accra.
The meeting was on the theme, ''come Holy Spirit and empower your church for mission, the role of the Christian woman''.
Women in the division were entreated to live exemplary lives and role models so as to impact positively on the younger generation.
Gifty Afenyi- Dadzie, lamented the youth in recent times are getting involved in many social vices and promiscuity, and advised the older women to continue to direct and correct them.
She said the surest way to ensure national development is through unity and tasked the gathering not to habour bitterness in them.
She urged the youth to rather engage in productive ventures that will help better their lives and the country.
The national Prayer Director of Women Aglow, Gifty Afenyi Dadzie, was speaking at the women's division of the Methodist church, new Achimota circuit breakfast meeting in Accra.
The meeting was on the theme, ''come Holy Spirit and empower your church for mission, the role of the Christian woman''.
Women in the division were entreated to live exemplary lives and role models so as to impact positively on the younger generation.
Gifty Afenyi- Dadzie, lamented the youth in recent times are getting involved in many social vices and promiscuity, and advised the older women to continue to direct and correct them.
She said the surest way to ensure national development is through unity and tasked the gathering not to habour bitterness in them.
Author: TV3 News
Three basic schools receive 90 laptop computers
Three basic schools in the Eastern Region have received 90 laptop computers under the "one laptop per child project" instituted last year, to enhance the teaching and learning of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in basic schools. The schools are Akropong Salem in the Akuapem North District, Kodjonya Presbyterian School in the Lower-Manya District and Nana Kwaku Boateng School in New Juaben District.
The Regional Director of Education, Mrs Renee Boakye-Boaten, who presented the items to the schools, advised staff and management of the schools to guard against charging fees from the pupils for usage of the computers.
She said no beneficiary school had been authorized to charge a levy or fee whatsoever under the pretext of maintenance and trainer allowance, adding that any teacher found culpable would be penalized. According to Mrs Boaten the project was instituted by Government through the Ghana Education Service (GES), to be integrated into the curriculum of the schools, and so there was no need to levy pupils. She said very soon all teachers would be trained in ICT teaching and maintenance, to enable them teach the children without hiring the services of an instructor.
Mrs Boakye-Boaten said for the meantime, teachers with knowledge in ICT would be posted to the beneficiary schools, to facilitate the teaching of the subject, and urged the schools to take good care of the facility to serve its purpose.
The Akuapem North District Director of Education, Mr Alexander Osei, who chaired the ceremony, urged the beneficiary schools to put the facility to good use to serve as an example to other schools. He said the world was fast becoming a global village and so children must be encouraged to learn ICT to enable them compete with others. He called on the teachers to arouse the interest of the children in computer studies. 28 Sept 09
The Regional Director of Education, Mrs Renee Boakye-Boaten, who presented the items to the schools, advised staff and management of the schools to guard against charging fees from the pupils for usage of the computers.
She said no beneficiary school had been authorized to charge a levy or fee whatsoever under the pretext of maintenance and trainer allowance, adding that any teacher found culpable would be penalized. According to Mrs Boaten the project was instituted by Government through the Ghana Education Service (GES), to be integrated into the curriculum of the schools, and so there was no need to levy pupils. She said very soon all teachers would be trained in ICT teaching and maintenance, to enable them teach the children without hiring the services of an instructor.
Mrs Boakye-Boaten said for the meantime, teachers with knowledge in ICT would be posted to the beneficiary schools, to facilitate the teaching of the subject, and urged the schools to take good care of the facility to serve its purpose.
The Akuapem North District Director of Education, Mr Alexander Osei, who chaired the ceremony, urged the beneficiary schools to put the facility to good use to serve as an example to other schools. He said the world was fast becoming a global village and so children must be encouraged to learn ICT to enable them compete with others. He called on the teachers to arouse the interest of the children in computer studies. 28 Sept 09
| Source: GNA |
Friday, September 25, 2009
NDC youths demand dismissal of GBC boss
The Youth Activist Network (YAN) of the National Democratic Congress has called for the dismissal of the Director General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, William Ampem-Darko.
In a statement signed by the spokesperson of the group, Otokunor Boamah Peter, YAN expressed its displeasure at the recent failure of GTV to show a live presentation of President John Evans Atta-Mills’ speech during the 64TH Annual UN General Assembly and similar events it was supposed to air.
“The continuous inability of the nation's broadcasting corporation to stick to its intentions of broadcasting live programs is disappointing”, the statement said.
According to YAN, the state broadcaster, though under government’s subvention, continuously exhibits gross “disregard and contempt” in discharging its duties.
This, they charged, was an attempt to sabotage the government “in its bid to improve public access to information”.
Therefore, “YAN calls on the National Media Commission or the Ministry of Information to as a matter of urgency dismiss the Director General of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Dr. William Ampem-Darko and Mr. Moses Gyapong, the Technical Director of GTV."
The group said it would advise itself if the two are not removed from office.
By: Dorcas Efe Mensah/myjoyonline.com/Ghana
In a statement signed by the spokesperson of the group, Otokunor Boamah Peter, YAN expressed its displeasure at the recent failure of GTV to show a live presentation of President John Evans Atta-Mills’ speech during the 64TH Annual UN General Assembly and similar events it was supposed to air.
“The continuous inability of the nation's broadcasting corporation to stick to its intentions of broadcasting live programs is disappointing”, the statement said.
According to YAN, the state broadcaster, though under government’s subvention, continuously exhibits gross “disregard and contempt” in discharging its duties.
This, they charged, was an attempt to sabotage the government “in its bid to improve public access to information”.
Therefore, “YAN calls on the National Media Commission or the Ministry of Information to as a matter of urgency dismiss the Director General of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Dr. William Ampem-Darko and Mr. Moses Gyapong, the Technical Director of GTV."
The group said it would advise itself if the two are not removed from office.
By: Dorcas Efe Mensah/myjoyonline.com/Ghana
Thursday, September 24, 2009
NPP chairman and youth organizer assaulted by party supporters
Nana Yaw Boateng, the Nkawkaw constituency chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Mr Baah Achamfour, the youth organizer, were last Sunday allegedly assaulted by party supporters at a constituency executive meeting at Nkawkaw.
Speaking to the GNA, the youth organizer said that the Eastern Regional Chairman, Mr Yaw Gyekye-Amoabeng, called the meeting to plan the formation of a constituency electoral college.
He said at the meeting some non-executive members including the former NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mr Okerchiri Adusa, were present and he was directed by the chairman to ask the non-executive members to leave the meeting.
Mr Achamfour said in the process of asking them to leave for the meeting to start, some stoutly built members of the party including Yaw Robert, Kwasi Mireku and Yaw Wiafe pounced on him and assaulted him severely whiles the constituency chairman received some slaps.
He said that development brought the meeting to an abrupt end and he reported the matter to the police who issued him with a medical form to attend hospital.
The Nkawkaw police confirmed the incident but no arrests have been made.
Source: GNA/Ghana
Speaking to the GNA, the youth organizer said that the Eastern Regional Chairman, Mr Yaw Gyekye-Amoabeng, called the meeting to plan the formation of a constituency electoral college.
He said at the meeting some non-executive members including the former NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mr Okerchiri Adusa, were present and he was directed by the chairman to ask the non-executive members to leave the meeting.
Mr Achamfour said in the process of asking them to leave for the meeting to start, some stoutly built members of the party including Yaw Robert, Kwasi Mireku and Yaw Wiafe pounced on him and assaulted him severely whiles the constituency chairman received some slaps.
He said that development brought the meeting to an abrupt end and he reported the matter to the police who issued him with a medical form to attend hospital.
The Nkawkaw police confirmed the incident but no arrests have been made.
Source: GNA/Ghana
Chereponi: All must ensure violence free election - CPP
By: Dorcas Efe Mensah/myjoyonline.com/Ghana
The Convention People’s Party (CPP) has called on all stakeholders to ensure a peaceful bye-election at Chereponi.
A statement signed by William Dowokpor, Communications Director of the CPP, said it has noted with concern, signals of impending violence in the run up to the September 29, 2009 bye-elections in Chereponi, following accusations and counter accusations from the NDC and NPP camps, of stockpiling of arms and ammunitions for the purpose.
The party therefore calls on authorities in charge of security, elections and civic education to take immediate steps to prevent any confrontation and violence at Chereponi.
The statement charged security agencies to deploy personnel in the area to enforce peace professionally, and without fear or favour.
“We also call on the Electoral Commission (EC) to prepare adequately in terms of personnel and logistics to conduct a free and fair bye-election to meet the expectations of any objective observer”, the statement said.
“We wish to remind the NDC and NPP that election is the vehicle that drives democracy. There is, therefore, no place for violence in democratic elections and good governance”, it added.
According to the statement, the CPP condemns all moves by the two main political parties to engage in violent acts without reservation.
“We call on all candidates, political parties and officials to respect the political parties and electoral codes of conduct that we have all signed at one time or the other”, it said.
It also calls on the National Commission For Civic Education (NCCE) to lend their support to the EC by undertaking a constituency-wide public awareness campaign, which it suggests should include criminalization of election violence and a ban on guns in the constituency during the run up to the bye-election.
”Finally we call on the Electoral Commission to get the contesting parties and candidates to immediately sign an agreement to conduct the elections peacefully”, it said.
The Chereponi seat became vacant following the death of its Member of Paliament, Honourable Doris Siedu.
The Convention People’s Party (CPP) has called on all stakeholders to ensure a peaceful bye-election at Chereponi.
A statement signed by William Dowokpor, Communications Director of the CPP, said it has noted with concern, signals of impending violence in the run up to the September 29, 2009 bye-elections in Chereponi, following accusations and counter accusations from the NDC and NPP camps, of stockpiling of arms and ammunitions for the purpose.
The party therefore calls on authorities in charge of security, elections and civic education to take immediate steps to prevent any confrontation and violence at Chereponi.
The statement charged security agencies to deploy personnel in the area to enforce peace professionally, and without fear or favour.
“We also call on the Electoral Commission (EC) to prepare adequately in terms of personnel and logistics to conduct a free and fair bye-election to meet the expectations of any objective observer”, the statement said.
“We wish to remind the NDC and NPP that election is the vehicle that drives democracy. There is, therefore, no place for violence in democratic elections and good governance”, it added.
According to the statement, the CPP condemns all moves by the two main political parties to engage in violent acts without reservation.
“We call on all candidates, political parties and officials to respect the political parties and electoral codes of conduct that we have all signed at one time or the other”, it said.
It also calls on the National Commission For Civic Education (NCCE) to lend their support to the EC by undertaking a constituency-wide public awareness campaign, which it suggests should include criminalization of election violence and a ban on guns in the constituency during the run up to the bye-election.
”Finally we call on the Electoral Commission to get the contesting parties and candidates to immediately sign an agreement to conduct the elections peacefully”, it said.
The Chereponi seat became vacant following the death of its Member of Paliament, Honourable Doris Siedu.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Examination malpractices are disturbing - Mills
Source: Daily Graphic
President J. E. A. Mills has described the recent spate of examination malpractices in the country as "a disturbing development on our national landscape", and appealed to civil society, the church and parents to help inculcate desirable, noble and pure attitudes in students.
The concern expressed by President Mills comes in the wake of the cancellation of some examination papers in the ongoing West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidates, following suspicion that there had been leak.
He also advised the youth to recognise that there was dignity in hard work, pointing out that "passing examination is not a game of life and death."
President Mills made the comment in a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, at the inauguration of a GH¢4 million basic school complex for the Trinity Lutheran Church School at Tema last Sunday.
On behalf of the President, Mr Tettey-Enyo unveiled a plaque, while the President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana (ELCG), Rt Rev Dr Paul Kofi Fynn, cut the sod to mark the inauguration of the school.
He advised the youth to let the prospects of academic success which had been achieved through a strong fight or hard work animate their thoughts and actions so that in the pursuit of academic excellence, the genuine sense of achievement would be pre-eminent.
President Mills urged the youth to embrace Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for their personal development and that of the nation and cautioned them against its abuse for cyber crime and immoral purposes.
The President commended the ELCG for making discipline and moral education an integral part of its educational curriculum and urged other educational institutions to emulate the example of the church.
He lauded private sector participation in the education sector, saying, "nothing short of private participation in the provision of education at all levels will succeed in complementing the government’s resolve in educating the whole nation as a means of combating the menace of illiteracy and poverty".
In his personal remarks, Mr Tettey-Eriyo, said the inauguration of the school complex had convinced him that Ghana's education system could be put on a sound footing if the basic level was well developed.
"It's possible for Ghana to achieve quality basic education", Mr Tettey-Enyo stressed.
The Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, Kempis Ofosu-Ware, said the government's agenda of human resource development could only be achieved through good quality education.
He told the ELCG not to see the school as a profit-making venture, but as an investment to help develop the country.
The Chairman of the National Education Board of the ELCG, Dr Delali Hodasi, said it was the aim of the church to establish a first-class basic school in every regional capital with the view to complementing the government's efforts at training children to become good future leaders of the nation.
The school, which is a project of the ELCG, comprises 45 classrooms from the pre-school level to the junior high school level.
It also has vocational, computer and science laboratories, as well as a bookshop, shopping mart and modem toilet facilities.
The air-conditioned computer laboratory has a seating capacity of 80 and it is envisaged to serve a pupil population of 1,500. Currently, the pupil population of the school is 200.
The inauguration of the school brings to three, the number of such magnificent school complexes built by the church in Accra, Tema and Kumasi. Overall, the church has built about 19 schools across the country.
Preaching the ,sermon at a service earlier, Rt Revd Dr Fynn said Ghana was a great nation and, therefore, urged Ghanaians to have the belief that they could do a lot to develop the country.
He, however, observed that there were many Ghanaians and foreigners abroad who did not want to come back home or invest in the country because of bureaucratic processes one had to go through before establishing a business.
Rt Revd Dr Fynn, therefore, urged the government to address such bottlenecks in order to facilitate foreign direct investments in the country.
President J. E. A. Mills has described the recent spate of examination malpractices in the country as "a disturbing development on our national landscape", and appealed to civil society, the church and parents to help inculcate desirable, noble and pure attitudes in students.
The concern expressed by President Mills comes in the wake of the cancellation of some examination papers in the ongoing West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidates, following suspicion that there had been leak.
He also advised the youth to recognise that there was dignity in hard work, pointing out that "passing examination is not a game of life and death."
President Mills made the comment in a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, at the inauguration of a GH¢4 million basic school complex for the Trinity Lutheran Church School at Tema last Sunday.
On behalf of the President, Mr Tettey-Enyo unveiled a plaque, while the President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana (ELCG), Rt Rev Dr Paul Kofi Fynn, cut the sod to mark the inauguration of the school.
He advised the youth to let the prospects of academic success which had been achieved through a strong fight or hard work animate their thoughts and actions so that in the pursuit of academic excellence, the genuine sense of achievement would be pre-eminent.
President Mills urged the youth to embrace Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for their personal development and that of the nation and cautioned them against its abuse for cyber crime and immoral purposes.
The President commended the ELCG for making discipline and moral education an integral part of its educational curriculum and urged other educational institutions to emulate the example of the church.
He lauded private sector participation in the education sector, saying, "nothing short of private participation in the provision of education at all levels will succeed in complementing the government’s resolve in educating the whole nation as a means of combating the menace of illiteracy and poverty".
In his personal remarks, Mr Tettey-Eriyo, said the inauguration of the school complex had convinced him that Ghana's education system could be put on a sound footing if the basic level was well developed.
"It's possible for Ghana to achieve quality basic education", Mr Tettey-Enyo stressed.
The Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, Kempis Ofosu-Ware, said the government's agenda of human resource development could only be achieved through good quality education.
He told the ELCG not to see the school as a profit-making venture, but as an investment to help develop the country.
The Chairman of the National Education Board of the ELCG, Dr Delali Hodasi, said it was the aim of the church to establish a first-class basic school in every regional capital with the view to complementing the government's efforts at training children to become good future leaders of the nation.
The school, which is a project of the ELCG, comprises 45 classrooms from the pre-school level to the junior high school level.
It also has vocational, computer and science laboratories, as well as a bookshop, shopping mart and modem toilet facilities.
The air-conditioned computer laboratory has a seating capacity of 80 and it is envisaged to serve a pupil population of 1,500. Currently, the pupil population of the school is 200.
The inauguration of the school brings to three, the number of such magnificent school complexes built by the church in Accra, Tema and Kumasi. Overall, the church has built about 19 schools across the country.
Preaching the ,sermon at a service earlier, Rt Revd Dr Fynn said Ghana was a great nation and, therefore, urged Ghanaians to have the belief that they could do a lot to develop the country.
He, however, observed that there were many Ghanaians and foreigners abroad who did not want to come back home or invest in the country because of bureaucratic processes one had to go through before establishing a business.
Rt Revd Dr Fynn, therefore, urged the government to address such bottlenecks in order to facilitate foreign direct investments in the country.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Youth should draw inspiration from Osagyefo Dr Nkrumah
GNA -
A reverend minister of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana has praised the late Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah for the leadership and extraordinary commitment he showed to the national cause. The Reverend Dr Kofi Effah-Ababio, the West-Brong Presbytery Chairman, said as the nation celebrated the centenary of his birthday it was important the youth drew inspiration from the first President and to dedicate themselves to the service of the nation. "The youth should be disciplined, well-focused, committed to duty and to exhibit high sense of patriotism at all times," he told the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi.
The Rev Dr Effah-Ababio said Osagyefo Dr Nkrumah defied the odds and challenges of the time to lead the struggle for Ghana's political independence. He said what is left is for the present generation of youth to carry on from where the founding fathers had left off for the achievement of the goal of economic self-sufficiency. The Rev Dr Effah-Ababio appealed to the government to continue with development projects and programmes initiated by Dr Nkrumah. This, he said, was crucial to bringing down the high levels of poverty, unemployment and illiteracy.
A reverend minister of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana has praised the late Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah for the leadership and extraordinary commitment he showed to the national cause. The Reverend Dr Kofi Effah-Ababio, the West-Brong Presbytery Chairman, said as the nation celebrated the centenary of his birthday it was important the youth drew inspiration from the first President and to dedicate themselves to the service of the nation. "The youth should be disciplined, well-focused, committed to duty and to exhibit high sense of patriotism at all times," he told the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi.
The Rev Dr Effah-Ababio said Osagyefo Dr Nkrumah defied the odds and challenges of the time to lead the struggle for Ghana's political independence. He said what is left is for the present generation of youth to carry on from where the founding fathers had left off for the achievement of the goal of economic self-sufficiency. The Rev Dr Effah-Ababio appealed to the government to continue with development projects and programmes initiated by Dr Nkrumah. This, he said, was crucial to bringing down the high levels of poverty, unemployment and illiteracy.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
President won’t be at Tamale Town Hall Meeting
Story by Isaac Essel
Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
It has been confirmed that President Mills will not personally address the maiden Town Hall Meeting slated for Wednesday in Tamale.
“Unfortunately, I think there is some wrong impression that the president is going to be at the Town Hall Meeting personally,” the Presidential Spokesperson, Mahama Ayariga, told Joy FM’s Super Morning Show hosted by Evans Mensah on Tuesday.
The Town Hall Meeting is meant for people within a particular locality to meet collectively to discuss matters concerning their towns and districts, and work with government representatives at that level to plan budgets and allocate resources.
He however noted that some officials from the Office of the President, including himself (Ayariga), would be attending the programme.
The Presidential Spokesperson assured that at the appropriate time, if the president gets the opportunity, he would attend some of the Town Hall Meetings, but “it is not the case that the president will attend every Town Hall Meeting”.
He urged all and sundry, especially members of the opposition New Patriotic Party, who are asking for police protection before attending the meeting, to participate and ensure that their concerns and suggestions are aired to better the situation in the assembly.
Mr Ayariga promised to meet the leadership and members of the NPP youth in Tamale to assure them of adequate protection and allay their fears.
The Town Hall Meeting is a clone of the People’s Assembly under the erstwhile Kufuor administration to deepen local participation in governance.
Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
It has been confirmed that President Mills will not personally address the maiden Town Hall Meeting slated for Wednesday in Tamale.
“Unfortunately, I think there is some wrong impression that the president is going to be at the Town Hall Meeting personally,” the Presidential Spokesperson, Mahama Ayariga, told Joy FM’s Super Morning Show hosted by Evans Mensah on Tuesday.
The Town Hall Meeting is meant for people within a particular locality to meet collectively to discuss matters concerning their towns and districts, and work with government representatives at that level to plan budgets and allocate resources.
He however noted that some officials from the Office of the President, including himself (Ayariga), would be attending the programme.
The Presidential Spokesperson assured that at the appropriate time, if the president gets the opportunity, he would attend some of the Town Hall Meetings, but “it is not the case that the president will attend every Town Hall Meeting”.
He urged all and sundry, especially members of the opposition New Patriotic Party, who are asking for police protection before attending the meeting, to participate and ensure that their concerns and suggestions are aired to better the situation in the assembly.
Mr Ayariga promised to meet the leadership and members of the NPP youth in Tamale to assure them of adequate protection and allay their fears.
The Town Hall Meeting is a clone of the People’s Assembly under the erstwhile Kufuor administration to deepen local participation in governance.
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