Veep Appeals to Striking Teachers To resume work

Vice President Aliu Mahama has appealed to the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) to end their prolonged strike action and cooperate with the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) to negotiate for better conditions of service.

He said There is strength in numbers and Larger Associations may enhance the bargaining power.

Vice President Aliu Mahama made the appeal when he addressed the 12th Best Teachers Awards Ceremony in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region on the theme: "Quality Teachers for Quality Education; Uniting to Deliver Quality Education".

He said although Government recognized the right of free association of workers and other professionals in striving to eliminate distortions in Public Sector pay system, it was ideal to deal with them in the context of associations identified by profession, rather than groups within the same profession based on special qualifications.

Vice President Mahama reiterated plans by the Government to establish an independent Inspectorate Division within the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports to supervise the teaching and learning process as part of the Educational Reforms to be implemented in September 2007.

He spoke against teachers, who refused postings to some parts of the country and those who absented themselves from duty.

President Unhappy with Taysec Construction Company

President John Agyekum Kufuor has expressed dissatisfaction at the slow pace TAYSEC construction company is executing the 190 billion-cedi 40 kilometre Offinso - Samproso section of the Kumasi-Techiman Road Project, describing it as unacceptable.

The Project is being funded through the European Development Fund and forms part of the Trans-ECOWAS road network linking Ghana to Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

The contract was signed in November 2004 and work was scheduled to be completed within one year, however, after about two years not much has been done.

President Kufuor, who travelled on road YESTERDAY to acquaint himself with the progress of work, told an enthusiastic crowd that met him at Offinso that the Contractors would have to show seriousness or lose the contract.

He said the Government would hold a meeting with TAYSEC and that if it should emerge that they could not complete the work by December, the project would have to be re-awarded. The delay has led to fury and bitter complaints by motorists, travellers and the people in communities served by the road.

Ghananie.com

Ghananie.com

President Kufuor launches zonal MCA for Northern Ghana

President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday launched the zonal Millennium Challenge Account Programme for Northern Ghana at Savelugu in the Savelugu/Nanton District and urged beneficiaries to use the fund for the development of their communities.

He said: "The fund is not a handout. The fund is for investment and must be used judiciously and with a high sense of responsibility.” President Kufuor urged the beneficiaries to endeavour to repay the credit extended to them to enable other regions and people to also benefit from the facility.

The MCA is a United States Government's reward to countries that rule justly, invest in their people and promote private sector development, he said. Ghana signed the MCA compact on August 1, 2006, paving the way for the country to access a US grant of 547 million dollars spread over a five-year period.

Some 23 districts, five from the Northern Region -- Tamale Metropolis, Savelugu/Nanton, Tolon/Kumbungu, Karaga and West Mamprusi, are to benefit from the facility.
President Kufuor urged people in the Northern Region to let the launch of the MCA galvanise and reinforce the efforts so far made to enable the Region to set the pace for the transformation of the country's agriculture and the quality of life.

He said farmers and citizens of the area should, therefore, accept it as a challenge to help the programme to succeed, adding: "The youth especially, must take advantage of the opportunities coming with the MCA.

"It is the only way to generate and spread wealth", he said, urging the youth for their active participation to enhance agriculture production.
President Kufuor said he was certain that the MCA would contribute to the rapid transformation of the country's economy, thereby helping to alleviate poverty and bringing hope to many individuals and their families.

He mentioned good governance; a general state of poverty, investment potentials and support for the private sector as some of the criteria used in identifying the beneficiary districts and so people should not read politics or ethnicity into the selection of those districts.

President Kufuor explained however that the selection of the 23 out of the 138 districts in the country was based solely on carefully done feasibility studies on the quick yield of specific crops and agro-business activity that would establish the account as a revolving fund.

He gave the assurance that those regions that had not benefited from the fund should not lose hope as much more concentrated support from the Budget and other traditional sources and available credit lines would be extended to them.

President Kufuor told the people that the Government had always recognised the agricultural potential of Northern Ghana. He said through measures such as micro-credit finance; provision of irrigation facilities and supply of tractors, the Government had been supporting the farmers to realise the area's full potential.

President Kufuor called on companies and individuals to seize the opportunities coming with the MCA.
He said: "When farmers produce, they should be able to sell. Storage, processing, transportation and marketing are among opportunities begging for entrepreneurship, so that the farmers' work would not be in vain.

"Buying agencies and other post-harvest entrepreneurs and our youth should see opportunities here and take full advantage of them. It is the only way to generate and spread wealth", he said.
GNA