Ghanaians urged to contribute towards the development of the chieftaincy institution

The Minister responsible for Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr Kwaku Boafo, has appealed to Ghanaians to contribute towards ensuring the development of an effective chieftaincy institution that would help serve as a centre-point for stability and a fulcrum for progress and prosperity. He said the relevance of the chieftaincy institution must engage the attention of all well-meaning Ghanaians and must help reduce disputes in the society so that such conflicts do not hold back the development of the people. Mr Boafo made these observations when addressing the chiefs and people of Awukugua- Akuapem in the Eastern Region at a durbar of chiefs and people of the area organized to climaxed the celebration of their annual Ohum festival on Saturday. The event was used to seal the resolution of an 18-year chieftaincy dispute in the town, a development which was hailed by Mr Boafo as progressive. He said although there had been a decline in the number of chieftaincy disputes in the country, he nonetheless re-echoed Government's plea for well-meaning individuals to help in restoring peace to traditional areas still mired in conflicts. He said the Government welcomes moves toward the resolution of conflicts among royal families to promote peace and to serve as the pivot for transformation in various communities. Mr. Boafo said the stability of the nation should not be the task of only the political class, but the traditional rulers as well, who he said, must ensure that they create avenues for the timely resolution of breaches of the peace that might arise in their areas. Mr Boafo appealed to the people not to supplant their values for foreign ideologies and referred, in particular, to a growing tendency of some parents not encouraging their wards to acquire literary skills in the local language in preference for the English and other foreign languages. A former Minister of Information, Mr Dan Botwe, who chaired the function, said celebration of festivals should focus more on uplifting the conditions of the people and less on entertainment and the display of fashion. He said traditional authorities should also make conscious effort towards imbuing in the youth values that stress on strong believes in themselves, truthfulness and honesty. Mr. Botwe lauded the Awukugua Reconciliation Committee that helped resolved the conflict that had made peace to return to the community. The Chief of Awukugua, Nana Asare Brempong II, pledged his commitment towards sustaining the peace that has been crafted and gave the assurance that, while he would not do anything to reverse what has been chalked, there was also the need to expose and put to shame individuals spreading false information about the town. Nana Brempong outlined some projects, including the granting of land to the Presbyterian University College Church to use as part of the Akuapem Campus of the Presbyterian University.GNA

Give priority to Science and Math teachers-Anamuah-Mensah

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education (UEW) Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, has observed that if Ghana is to develop its science and engineering capacity, the training of science and mathematics teachers should be given a priority attention. Laboratory space should be expanded while facilities for practical activities should be provided at all level of education, he said. Professor Anamuah-Mensah said this at the 11th Congregation of the University of Education, Winneba where 2,281 Bachelor of Education graduates passed out through its regular programmes. The Vice-Chancellor said the 110 Science Resource Centres in the country should be rehabilitated and re-equipped to provide training for the students. He said following the important role played by Science, Mathematics and Technology, the UEW has been increasing output in this area yearly, adding that this year about 596 constituting 25.6 per cent graduates from these disciplines passed out of which 107 were women. Professor Anamuah-Mensah said the University has started a number of Masters of Arts and Masters in Philosophers programmes for the training of teachers in various subjects as well as the training of college administrators to handle the 38 Teacher Training Colleges. He said the College of Language Education has limited working space and lecture halls and has been waiting for the past three years to move to Ajumako and appealed to Ministry of Education to quicken the movement. Professor Anamuah-Mensah urged the graduands to go into the “corners of the country” and carry out a silent but effective revolution to uproot and demolish the strongholds of ignorance and poverty. An address read for the President Mr John Agyekum Kufour by the Minister of Ports, Habours and Railways, Professor Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi, urged stakeholders to show keen interest and partner with the university authorities in the provision of infrastructure, facilities and scholarship to help the universities produce high level manpower needed by the nation.GNA

Lufthansa Profits Rise

Despite the high oil prices, Lufthansa, the German International Airlines, says its operating profits in the first nine months of the year has gone up by 46.7 per cent to 691 million Euros. Mr Silvio Uhlfelder, General Manager Lufthansa, told journalists in Accra that while all the group's business segments had a hand in the company's success, the passenger business made a substantial contribution towards the improved results. "Based on current trends in the present business environment, the Executive Board has raised its forecast and is now expecting a full year operating profit of around 750 million Euros," he said. Mr Uhlfelder was speaking at reception for the media to enable them to see and taste the food that is provided to passengers on board the airline in the three classes by First Catering Limited, its catering services provider. First Catering Limited is a free zone company established some seven years ago and operates in the airline catering industry. Mr Uhlfelder said the growth strategy had reflected in recent orders for 35 new aircrafts. He said the company's cost savings programme was on track and would improve results by 1.2 billion euros by the end of the year. "These savings will be reinvested in profitable growth in new products and also in perspectives for the staff." Lufthansa hopes to employ 2,500 new staff in 2006. Briefing the journalist on the preparation of the dishes for the various classes, Mr John Ansah, Assistant Quality Assurance Manager, said rigorous processes were followed to prevent microbiogical growth. He said meals were presented cold to prevent microbiological growth. Mr Ansah said about 70 per cent of supplies for the meals were imported, explaining that most local suppliers were unable to meet requirements because of the high standards required. Mrs Maud Lindsay-Gamrat, Head of Finance and Administration said although a young company, First Catering had employed the best professionals in the industry and currently has a staff level of 170, made up of both expatriates and Ghanaians. The company serves seven major airlines, including Lufthansa, Emirates, KLM, South African Airlines and soon to be added Delta, which begins operation on December 12 this year.GNA

I am not happy with Ghana Bar Association - Mills

Former Vice President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills on Friday said he was not happy with the Ghana Bar Association's (GBA) undue silence on the abuses of incumbency by the ruling NPP government. He said the GBA came out in 2000 to blame and accuse the then ruling NDC of abuse of incumbency but had now become silent over the incessant abuses of the same status by the NPP. Prof. Mills, one of the Presidential Candidates of the NDC who raised this concern in Tamale, during an interaction with the media said even though incumbency was not a trump card to winning elections, its practice should be discouraged because it does not create equal opportunities. Prof. Mills was in the Northern Region to solicit votes from delegates for the impending national delegates' congress of the NDC to choose a presidential candidate to lead the party in the 2008 general elections. He mentioned that President Kufuor went to campaign in the recent Offinso by-elections with a convoy of 70 official vehicles but some analysts defended him by saying that some of the vehicles were privately owed. "I had wished that the GBA used the same yard-stick it used to measure the NDC when it was in power to assess the NPP to ensure fairness in this democratic dispensation", he said. Prof. Mills gave the assurance that he would be the last person to create factions in the NDC or betray its course if delegates failed to give him their mandate. He said what was happening in NDC was an example of internal democracy and wished other contestants in the presidential race well in their endeavours. He indicated that at the end of the day, one candidate would be selected to lead the party and that the losers should still consider themselves as victors and rally behind the NDC to win power in 2008. He said the party would not be coerced to choose a candidate because one has money, pointing out that money was not the main determinant for the selection of a candidate for the party. Prof. Mills urged other Presidential Aspirants to be decent in their language and to avoid indecent behaviour at the congress. Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, a leading member of the NDC said Prof. Mills was a solid electoral asset and urged the delegates to give him their mandate to ensure total victory in 2008.GNA

Veep calls on Universities to undergo critical re-orientation

The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama at the weekend tasked the country's tertiary institutions to undergo a critical re-orientation to shift their focus from their core mandate and concentrate more on human capacity development. He called on the Universities to play a leading role in the development of the human resources of Ghana to facilitate an effective adjustment of the citizenry in the social, industrial and global market of the 21st century. Alhaji Mahama made the call during the maiden congregation of the Catholic University College of Ghana, at Fiapre in the Brong Ahafo Region, where 44 graduates dressed in academic gowns, received degrees in Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science amidst cheers from friends and relatives. He commended the University authorities for incorporating Information Communication and Technology into the curriculum, which combines practical education with rigorous academic study and research. "I highly commend the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference for the courage, foresight, tenacity of purpose and commitment it has shown in the establishment of the University," he said. Alhaji Mahama said the active involvement of the Churches in the establishment of Universities was a happy and welcome development as it marked a continuation in the history of the role of the Churches in the educational development of the country. Shifting his attention to the graduates, he asked them to be shining examples and good ambassadors of the school through their conduct and performance in the wider society.
Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, Archbishop of Cape Coast and Chancellor of the University, said the academic institution, which started in March 2003, registered the pioneer students to study Economics and Business Administration, Information and Communication Sciences and Technology and Religious Studies and Education. "They have spent four years of serious and assiduous study, research, writing and numeration in partial and total fulfillment of the requirements pertaining to Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees." Most Reverend Joseph Osei-Bonsu, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University said products of the school were trained to understand the social and cultural problems of Ghana, lead a life that expresses Christian ethical and moral values and with a commitment to serve God and country and meet the challenges of an increasingly complex national and global society. Professor Ebow Mensah, Acting President of the University College, commended the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for providing 1.5 billion cedis for the construction of a library facility. "Trustees of the GETFund have just approved an amount of 400 million cedis for the purchase of computers and printers for the University," he said. Prof. Mensah suggested the need for the managers of the fund to spend between 40 and 50 per cent of the money spent on the support and maintenance of the public Universities on private Universities as way of acknowledging the contribution of parents of students in the private tertiary schools. Prof. Ben Ahunu, from the University of Ghana, Legon, observed in a goodwill message that the current global economy was dominated by knowledge based industries in which Universities have a major role to play in producing human resource and in undertaking the necessary research for development.GNA

Government is committed to Polytechnic education - Amoah

Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports has observed that Government was committed to Polytechnic education in the country. "In line with Government's policy of re-positioning Technical and Vocational Educational and Training (TVET) in Ghana, it would continue to equip and strengthen polytechnics to enable them offer technical and practical oriented programmes to meet the demands of industry and national economy," he said. Mr Amoah made the observation when launching the 29th Annual National Delegates Congress of Ghana National Union of Polytechnic Students (GNUPS) in Ho. It was under the theme, "The Achievements of Polytechnic Education - Need for Government's Greater Commitment". Mr Amoah said with regard to the commitment, polytechnics were being provided with enough funding and encouraged to offer degree programmes in science and technology. He said competency-based training was also being emphasized and attachments to industries regularized and strengthen for students to meet the demands of the job market. Mr Amoah said infrastructure facilities such as lecture halls, accommodation for lecturers, halls of residence, teaching and learning materials would continue to be provided for polytechnics to offer tertiary education in their own right with emphasis on practical skills needed to run a productive economy. He said provision of such infrastructure had demonstrated Government's response to the rapidly changing labour economy and the invaluable role of polytechnics in producing the needed human resource base for the country. Mr Amoah said it was therefore, necessary for polytechnics to recognize their unique position in the country's economy and function as such devoid of "ritual strike actions". "It is important that you demand what is yours, but it must be done legitimately and properly not to disrupt academic work," he added. Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, in a speech read for him, said Government was aware of the current graduate unemployment situation in the country. He said though the phenomenon had given a new twist to the problem of youth unemployment facing the country, pragmatic and far reaching programmes had been initiated to improve on the situation. Alhaji Boniface said On-the-Job Training Programme (OJP) and facilitating of meetings between employers, managers and educational institutions to forge partnerships to discuss issues relating relevant skills required for the job market were some of the practical efforts being made by Government. Mr Victor Amponsah, Officer-In-Charge of Training at Ghana Employers Association (GEA), expressed appreciation for Government's interventions in polytechnic education but called for greater commitment to give meaning to Government's agenda on human resource development, private sector growth and industrialization. "Polytechnics are perhaps what we need today. Therefore every effort must be made by Government to re-focus objectives of Polytechnics to provide graduates with employable skills that could feed our growing industries," he said. Mr Martin Kwame Sedem, National President of GNUPS said it was important that Polytechnics, as tertiary institutions were resourced to move away from the "shadows" of universities to have the confidence to concentrate on their objectives. He said this would enable Polytechnics take their role in tertiary education and contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the country.GNA

Ministry of Education to develop comprehensive policy on distance learning

President John Agyekum Kufuor on Saturday said Ministry of Education, Science and Sports would soon set up a committee to develop a comprehensive policy on distance learning for the country. He said Government's determination to expand tertiary education and make it accessible to all Ghanaians was manifested in the President's Special Initiative on Open University and Distance Learning. "I have taken a keen interest in this programme because the nation’s wealth depends on skilled and developed human resources. It is in line with this objective that Government has negotiated a joint cooperation with the largest Open University in the world.” President Kufuor announced this in an address read on his behalf by Professor Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi, Minister for Ports, Harbours and Railways at the 11th Congregation of University of Education (UEW) at Winneba. A total of 2,559 students were awarded with certificates, Diplomas and Masters Degrees. President Kufuor said Government had through GETFUND constructed; renovated and expanded infrastructure and some facilities at UEW to meet the increasing number of students admitted to the university. He said Government would not relent in its efforts to ensure challenges of the university were addressed to facilitate teaching, learning and research. President Kufuor noted that with the increasing number of student intake and ageing lecturers, it had become necessary to train young lecturers through Government Scholarships to continue developing the skills of future leaders for the country. "We would continue to build the capacity of this university by supporting young and talented staff and students to pursue higher degree required to augment the staff strength". President Kufuor however, urged authorities of UEW to manage the Distance Learning programme for teachers in such a manner as not to interfere with teaching during the periods when they ought to be teaching in the classroom. He said Government was making efforts to provide an attractive package for university lecturers and staff and urged them to ensure peace prevailed on campus. Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, Vice Chancellor of UEW said 2,281 students passed the Bachelor of Education through its regular programmes and 234 received Diplomas and Certificates. He said 29 students including eight women had first class in the various disciplines, while 162 women and 258 men obtained Second Class Upper. Professor Anamuah-Mensah said UEW recognized the intrinsic role that the nation's teachers played in the development process and was therefore, committed to ensure that the best practices were obtained in their recruitment and training. Mr Jude Kofi Bucknor, Chairman of the University Council, said the quality of teachers determined a country's future success because teachers represented society's investment in the youth. He urged the graduates to translate the training and exposure they had received into meaningful and substantial contribution to educate the youth.GNA