GRIDCO Supports Varsity for Health and Allied Sciences in Ho

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August 7, 2013

The Ghana Grid Company has presented two sets of distribution transformers to the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho on Wednesday. The two transformers valued at GHC 80,000 have capacities of 500kvA and 250kvA.

Rev. Samuel Kwofie, Director of Engineering at GRIDCo, who made the presentation on behalf of the company, said the company as part of its 5th anniversary celebrations, chose to support the budding tertiary institution in its development as it seeks to train the nation’s human resources in the area of health.

“This donation is in support of a major national cause in education, within the context of our corporate social responsibility” he said.

He also assured the University of GRIDCo’s readiness to provide any support within its area of operation.

Professor Fred Binka, Vice-Chancellor of the UHAS, receiving the transformers, thanked GRIDCo for their kind gesture and described the presentation of the transformers as timely. Stating that it will enhance the supply of adequate electricity to the university’s permanent site, as the Chinese contractor commences the construction of the first phase of permanent structures

Prof. Binka also said UHAS as a new university needs a lot of infrastructure investment and appealed to other corporate bodies to support the university in its development.

Meanwhile, Prof. Fred Binka has disclosed that the University 0f Health and Allied Sciences, is putting in place structures to increase enrollment by over 200 percent in the 2013/2014 academic year. He also hinted of the introduction of a two year top up programmes for diploma holders in public health, nursing and midwifery.

Story by: Lambert Atsivor

Sustaining SSPP, freeze annual pay increases; FWSC boss

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Kwadwo Duodu

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August 7, 2013

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Mr. George Smith-Graham, Chief Executive of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, has suggested a possible freeze in annual pay rise for public sector workers and as a means of curtailing the galloping wage bill.

He said the pay increments that are negotiated annually by workers, despite the rise in the salaries of almost all workers migrated onto the single spine, culminated in the increasing wage bill.

“We have implemented Single spine and apart from the fact when they (worker) are migrated, they get increases, we also have the annual increases that we do and we think that these are reasons why the wage bill is going very high”.

Mr. Graham, who made a presentation on the Single Spine implementation challenges and the way forward, at the on-going SSPP National Review forum in Ho on Monday, said organized labour and other stakeholders at the forum should come to a consensus on a possible freeze in annual pay increments

“I think that it should be possible for us all to sit down and as social partners to discuss, even if is possible freezing or slashing of salaries of article 71. So that we will be able, all together manage the wage bill” he suggested.

The FWSC boss also attributed the huge wage bill to the inequities which hitherto existed among the various salary structures but are being corrected on the single spine. He also called for streamlining of public sector recruitment and a thorough audit of the public sector payroll to remove ‘ghost names’ and block leakages to sustain the policy.

Difficulties

Mr. Smith-Graham said the commission was unable to forestall the numerous labour agitations that plagued the implementation of the SSPP because of resource constraints. He noted that the agitations which were mostly out of the high public expectation could not be effectively managed because of lack of resources to carry out enough public education.

He also said lack of proper offices for the commission coupled with limited staff hinders the proper functioning of the commission.

“We are very lean on the ground, this is commission that do not have offices, even critical middle level employees that we need, we don’t have”.

Mr. Graham further disclosed that, the commission is yet to receive any support from government of Ghana, noting “since the establishment, government of Ghana have not given us any single vehicle to work with. Most of the supports we have are from donor partners. This needs to be looked at”.

He also bemoaned the over politicization of the SSPP and stated the ‘pulling of strings’ behind the scene by politicians when there are labour agitations is major difficulty facing the commission.

“While there is an agitation we are trying to resolve, you see the politicians behind given assurances to some of the labour unions, some the decision given at labour commission are sometimes influenced by ministers. These I think we should all be careful with”. Mr. Graham stated.

‘Stop blaming SSPP for Economy woes’ TUC tells Gov’t

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Kwadwo Duodu

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August 7, 2013

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Mr. Kofi Asamoah TUC Secretary General

Mr. Kofi Asamoah, secretary general of the Ghana trade Union Congress (GTUC) has asked government not to blame the current woes of the country’s economy on the single spine pay policy implementation.

He said, that notion being created with the SSPP is erroneous, and called on government to disaggregate the figures bare for all to see “who takes what”. “After all, the salaries are not free, they being paid for service rendered to the state” Mr. Asamoah said.

Mr. Asamoah who was speaking at Single Spine Pay Policy (SSPP) implementation review forum in Ho yesterday, noted that, issues of labour and wages are very sensitive, and called on stakeholders especially government and its communicators to stop the unnecessary vilification of the SSPP on the airwaves. “Labour relations in practice or theory are not done on radio, it is unfair labour practice”.

He also called on government to take steps to block the wastage in the public sector payroll and also close the difference between the wages of article 71 office holders and those under article 190.

Mr. asamoah, however said in spite of the migration challenges, the SSPP has offer government opportunity also harmonized the numerous pay structures that were in operation and to take charge of the public sector wage bill and scrapping it will be very chaotic.

“There is no viable alternative to the single spine pay policy, reversing it will be a chaotic alternative” he emphasized.

Opening the two day forum on the theme “Building National Consensus for sustainability of the Single Spine Salary Policy” President John Mahama said the difficulties being experienced with the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) was the absence of a well thought out plan to implement the scheme within budgetary constraints.
“In my estimation, the one major missing factor that was not carefully thought out and considered was the implementation of the Single Spine Pay Policy (SSPP) within budgetary constraints to make the scheme sustainable.”

He also said the misconception that the SSPP is meant for a general increase in the wages of all workers is also a contributing factor to the challenges being experienced but He however assured workers that the SSPP will not be scraped.

“We have come far and opting out of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) or cancelling the programme, is not an option for government.” He said.

The president therefore charged the stakeholders at the forum, “to engage in a frank, non-partisan discussion to generate options and feasible strategies and build consensus on critical issues within the broader context of our national quest for accelerated economic development.”

In a presentation on wages and fiscal slippage, the finance minister, Mr, Seth Terkper said the Single Spine Pay Policy (SSPP) is not sustainable going forward because the country’s wage bill could exceed the total revenue if steps are not taken to address the situation.

The minister said Governmentspent GH¢ 4.3 billion on wages and salaries alone for the first half of this year, representing 70.1% of total national revenue. A figure he said is higher than the one recorded during the same period last year.

“The key point here is that to just use the non-earmarked funds [the country is] using everything to pay wages, we still have some arrears which are pending…this is the reality”, said Mr Terkper.

The two day forum is under the auspices of the ministry of Employment and Labour Relations and outcomes of the forum will be implemented by a committee constituted by the ministry.

Tributes Pour in for late Ford Kamel

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Kwadwo Duodu

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December 29, 2012

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Tributes have been pouring in for the late Volta Regional Minister and MP for Buem constituency, Hon. Henry Ford Kamel who died on Tuesday 25th of December. His death came as shock to many especially staff of the Regional Coordinating Council. The atmosphere at the premises of the RCC on Thursday, the first working day after the Christmas break was that of sorrow, as people from all walks of life trooped in to pay their last respect and sign the book of condolence in honour of a man many describe as ‘gentle and calm’.

Right Rev. Francis Amenu, moderator of the E.P church in his tribute describe the late minister as a ‘gifted and humble steward’ given to the region and his death was a ‘great and terrible loss’.

A colleague of the late Ford Kamel and minister for Roads and Highways and MP for North Tongu, Hon. Joe Gidisu stated that the death of Hon. Ford Kamel ‘once again confirms the vanity of this life’ describing life as nothing but ‘an empty dream’.

Meanwhile, The Paramount chief of the Gbi Traditional Area, Togbega Gabusu VI who expressed shock at the death of the Regional Minister, describe Mr. Kamel as a ‘unifier and a selfless’ person who played a key role in bringing peace to the Gbi Traditional Area during the crisis between the indigenes of Hohoe and the Zongo community in June this year.

The regional Coordinating council in a statement signed by the Deputy minister Henry Ametepe, have put on hold all it official engagements in honour of the late minister.

The Minister collapsed on Tuesday afternoon at his home town of Guaman in the Volta Region whilst engaged in a conversation with his guests. He however died few hours later at the Jasikan Government Hospital where he was rushed for treatment.

Prior to his appointment as the Volta regional minister in March, Mr Ford Kamel was the deputy Minister for Lands and Natural resources during the Mills administration.

He was survived by a wife and three children. He was an economist and banker by profession.

Voice-Ghana launches ‘Disabled Children for School’ Campaign

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Kwadwo Duodu

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September 27, 2012

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A Ho-based NGO, Voice of People with Disability, Ghana, (Voice-Ghana), has launched a campaign dubbed ‘Disabled children for school’ aimed at sensitizing parents, guardians and caregivers of Children with Disability (CWDs) on the need to enroll their disabled children in school.

Addressing the press at a stakeholders’ meeting in Ho on Tuesday, Mr. Francis Asong, director of Voice-Ghana said despite national and international enactments which seeks to guarantee the right of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to education, the prevalence of anti-disability sentiments and beliefs as well as institutional flaws had hindered the education of the disabled.

Mr. Asong noted that majority of parents still discriminate against their disabled children in the area of formal education specially, because to them it is a waste of resources.

As a result “most children with disability are not formally educated and this reduces their chances of accessing gainful and meaningful employment and to be self-informed about human rights and health issues to live descent lives”, Mr. Asong stated.

As part of the campaign, Mr. Asong noted that, Voice-Ghana would engage the Ho municipal assembly to consider enacting a byelaw to waive the payment of levies including PTA dues for CWDs at the basic school level in the municipality.

This intervention, he said “would invariably reduce the financial burden on many parents and caregivers of children with disabilities who are already overburdened with financial commitments in supporting their disabled children…”

The campaign which is in collaboration with of Governance Issues Forum, a Ho-based NGO and the Special Education Directorate of the Ho Municipal Ghana Education Service (GES), is part of a three-year advocacy project with funding from STAR-Ghana.

A survey conducted under the programme, indicated that at least 51 children with disabilities in 35 communities within the Ho Municipality were not in school for various reasons. 37 of such children were also identified in 26 communities in the Nkwanta-South District where the survey was replicated.

According to the survey, 47 out of the 51 parents/guardians of CWDs’ are unaware of the provisions under section 16(1)(2) of the Disability Act, 715 of 2006, which states that;
(1) ‘A parent, guardian or custodian of a child with disability of school going age shall enroll the child in a school.

(2). A parent, guardian or custodian who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding ten penalty units, or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding fourteen days.’

Mr Michael Tsikudo, Ho Municipal GES Special Education Officer, said it was the right of the disabled to go to mainstream schools. He therfore called for the support of all to eradicate the inequalities perpetuated against the disabled in the society.

Ho Poly students in fear over rampant criminal attacks

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Kwadwo Duodu

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September 25, 2012

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Students of the Ho Polytechnic, particularly the females, are currently living in fear as they have become the prime targets of rape, assault and robbery by criminals.

During the last academic year, students complained of over 50 attacks on their roads, hostels and vicinity around the polytechnic. Both male and female students had their fare share of attacks; the males were stabbed and females, raped.

During the second semester o the last academic year, five females were raped, with most of them happening between the Central Hostel and the GETFund Hostel which is quite a distance from the main campus.

Information gathered indicated that, a rape victim from last semester was yet to return to campus due to trauma.

Before classes could begin for the first semester of this academic year, a third-year marketing student of the school was attacked and raped by two criminals. The incident, being the latest, happened last Tuesday night between 8:00pm and 8:30pm just behind the GETFund Hostel, near VORADEP Village.

This brings the number of raped female students to six.

According to students who pleaded anonymity, the student was in the company of some friends in the hostel and decided to get some items from a shop a few meters away. As soon as she got on the street behind the hostel, two guys from nowhere hit her from behind, sending her to the ground. They dragged her into a hut in a farm by the street. The knife and gun-wielding goons took her mobile phone and money. They also stripped her and raped her in turns at gunpoint. She then returned to the hostel in dirt, tears and bleeding.

The case was reported to the police who gave her a medical form to attend the municipal hospital where she was admitted and later taken home by her parents.

the crime scene was totally dark at night when visited, although there were streetlights. Interestingly, the streetlights which had been off for over a month miraculously came on last Friday night, three days after the incident.

Apparently, they had been off for over a month. Other danger spots where students had been attacked had untarred roads, inadequate or no streetlights and were bushy. Unfortunately for the students however, most of these roads were their only alternative.

The SRC president, George Egeh, appealed to the school administration and the municipal assembly to liaise in providing streetlights all over the campus and its surroundings. He also appealed to the police to detail their men to some danger spots which were noted for such attacks. He also called for public support to provide a police post within the polytechnic or its immediate vicinity.

The registrar, David Dzontoh, also conceded that students had suffered a lot of attacks since last academic year and noted that a lot of measures had been put in place to improve security within and around the polytechnic. However, it appeared more needed to be done, he added, commiserating with the victim and her family and assured that more was going to be done to keep the students safe.

He also advised students never to walk alone at night but in groups and also be wary of strangers around the campus and report such people to the school’s security for further action.

When the municipal police commander, Samuel Owusu Berko, was contacted, he confirmed the incidents and noted that patrols had been improved and more men had been deployed especially to the polytechnic area through to VORADEP Village and the SSNIT Flats area. He however said, “All the men cannot be at all the places at the same time.”

He expressed his sympathies to the victims, adding that they would do everything in their power to arrest the situation. He also lamented about the indiscriminate sabotage of streetlights in parts of the municipality, particularly between SSNIT Flats and VORADEP Village, Ho Poly (between Central Hostel and GETFund Hostel) and the Flat Junction Road through to Ring Road. Others are the Nurses Training and Medical Village area.

He warned the public to desist from such an act as it posed a security threat in the municipality. Credit: Fred Duodu, Ho

‘Eschew Pettiness from Ghanaian Politics’- Afede Charges Politicians

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Kwadwo Duodu

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September 23, 2012

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Listen to Togbe Afede

The Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV has stated that, the development of the nation is a shared responsibility which requires the contribution of every individual. He said ‘to exclude some people, because of their party affiliation is to deny the nation of meaningful human resource and contributions’.

He therefore called on politicians to shun political pettiness and bring all hands on deck to move the nation’s developmental agenda forward.

Togbe Afede, who is also the President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs made the call on Saturday at a grand durbar of chiefs and people of the Asogli Traditional Area to climax this year’s Asogli Yam Festival at Ho, on the theme “Political Tolerance, a Prerequisite for Peace and Development”.

The Agbogbomefia also noted that the nation’s development should not only favour members of a ruling party but rather open up opportunities for every Ghanaian in order to achieve equity. This he said is the only way to ensure the relevant peace and tranquility needed for the nation’s development.

Togbe Afede again reminded Ghanaians to be tolerant of each other’s opinion and not to allow differences in opinion to derail the nation’s progress. “To expect that we all think alike, would be to expect the impossible” he empathized, urging Ghanaians to live in peace and unity to accelerate the nation’s progress.

Speaking at the ceremony, Nana Mprah Besemuna III, Paramount Chief of Krachi Traditional Area, and chairman of the occasion, said political tolerance is a vital ingredient of democracy which needed to be cultivated and nurtured, to pave way for peace and development.

He lauded Togbe Afede for building bonds between traditional areas in the region and the country regardless of distance.

The defense Minister, Lieutenant-General Joseph Henry Smith, who represented President John Mahama, reiterated the president’s commitment to peaceful polls in December and stressed, that is the only means to honour the memory of Late president John Atta-Mills.

The minister also lauded the dynamism of Togbe Afede, who he said had made the Asogli Festival one of the prestigious traditional events in Ghana.

The durbar was characterized with traditional dancing, magical displays, and funfairs.

Present at the event were dignitaries from far and near, including Togbe Agorkorli IV, Ewe Fia (Ewe Chief) and Chief of Notsie in the republic of Togo, Mr Kofi Wayo, Leader of the United Renaissance Party, as well as other traditional leaders, politicians, government officials and tourists from across the country and beyond.

The Asogli Yam Festival celebrated every year , affords the people of Asogli Traditional area the opportunity to thank God and their ancestors for a bumper harvest and also serves as an occasion to offer prayers for good health and prosperity for all.

Gloria Dakpa crowned Miss Asogli 2012

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Kwadwo Duodu

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September 17, 2012

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The Ultimate Prize

Miss Gloria Dakpa, of Ho Dome and an old student of Kpedze Senior High School was on last Saturday night, crowned the winner of the 2012 Miss Asogli Beauty pageant held at the Ho Polytechnic auditorium.

After a night of thrilling talents display, and cultural performances by fifteen contestants, Gloria seem to have charmed the judges on the night with her eloquent and intelligent performances including the traditional war dance ‘Adawatsram’.

For her prize, Gloria took home the keys to a brand new Hyundai Accent saloon car, provided by Asta foundation, organizers of the pageant.

Miss Atti Charity Akorfa, a Travel and Tour Agent and Miss Bansah Christabel Enyonam a final year student of University of Ghana, all of Ho Dome, were adjudged first and second runners up respectively.

Christabel and Charity also won the most eloquent contestant and best house captain accordingly.

For their prizes, Charity took home a set of living room furniture whilst Christabel walked away with a refrigerator, with the remaining twelve contestants picking up hampers from sponsors.
Performing on the night were home boys Tom & Jerry, Kweku Bizkit, Sensational Kula and the Empire Entertainment hitmaker Guru, who got almost everyone in the auditorium on their feet as he performed his hit song, ‘Lapaz Toyota’.
MC for the show, the famous Bigbrother Africa StarGame Rep and Comedian DBK also got the packed audience including the Agbogbomefia, Togbe Afede IV, cracking their ribs with his hilarious jokes. While, Mawuli Yevu Agbi of
Volta Premier Fm provided him with rear artillery support as Co MC.
The organizers, Asta foundation described the event as a huge success stating that ‘it is the first time a car has been given as the ultimate prize’.
The Asogli Beauty contest is one of the major events of the Asogli Yam festival celebrations which would be climaxed with a grand durbar and a state dinner dance on Saturday September 22.

Varsity For Health & Allied Sciences admits first Students

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Kwadwo Duodu

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September 10, 2012

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The newly established University of Health and Allied Science (UHAS) in Volta region have begun admitting students for the 2012/2013 academic year.
Checks at the university’s official website (www.uhas.edu.gh)revealed the publication of the names of forty (40) students admitted into the Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Public health.

The forty students according to available information, are the first batch of the two hundred (200) students expected to commence academic work at the Ho campus of the university in October.

Out of the forty students, a total of 26 students have been admitted into the school of medicine with 17 of them expected to study BSc Physician Assistantship (Clinical option) and the rest 9 students studying BSc Physician Assistantship (Anesthesia option).

Six students out of the forty has also been admitted into the School of Nursing to study BSc Nursing while the rest nine students have been admitted to study Bachelor in Public Health (BPH)-Disease Control option under the school of Public health.

A Total of seven females have been admitted so far, out of which three have been admitted into the school of nursing, two in the school of medicine and the other two under the school of public health.
At a meeting held last August, between the university council and the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, Professor Fred Binka, Vice Chancellor of the university disclosed that a total of 637 prospective students have applied to the university and out of which 200 students would be given admissions to study in the Schools of Medicine, Basic and Biomedical Sciences, Allied and Health Sciences, Public Health and the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Parliament in December 2011 passed two bills for the establishment of the University of Health and Allied Sciences and the University of Energy and Natural Resources in the Volta and Brong Ahafo regions respectively, in fulfillment of a campaign promise made by the late president John Mills during the 2008 elections.

AFRICAN LEADERS CHARGED TO REMOVE ARTIFICIAL BARRIERS TO BOOST TRADE

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Kwadwo Duodu

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September 10, 2012

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Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of Asogli, has called on political leaders of Africa to evolve practical measures to remove artificial barriers inhibiting trade and commerce among African nations.

He said while other regions and sub-regions in the world had progressively removed such barriers, political leaders in Africa remained inactive, while their citizens suffered inhumane treatments at the various borders.

Togbe Afede was addressing a grand durbar to crown the 2012 Agbogboza of the chiefs and people of Notsie, said to be the ancestral home of the Ewes at the weekend.

He observed that bribery and corruption were responsible for the inability of African countries to meet their aspirations.

Togbe Afede, who led a large delegation of Ewes from Ghana on pilgrimage to Notsie, therefore, called for the reawakening of leaders at the traditional, religious and state levels to reverse these negative trends to speed up economic development of the continent.

“Traditional and political leaders must evolve strategies to curb the hopelessness, poverty, and disease emanating from bad governance and replace it with selflessness,” the Agbogbomefia said.

He counseled the youth to resist the urge to cut corners to succeed at all cost and that the view that participation in mainstream politics was where to hit the jackpot was misplaced.

Togbe Afede said the Asian tigers and tigresses did not actualize development through such aspirations but hard and honest work under purposeful leaderships.

He called on chiefs to inspire the youth if political leaderships were in a dilemma.

Mr Kwadjo Senou, Togolese Minister of Arts and Culture, said it was important to harness the different cultures of the continent for development.

He said the bonding and binding of the people using culture for development had enormous potentials.

Togbui Agorkorli IV, Ewe Fiaga of Notsie, bemoaned the continued fragmentation of ethnic groupings in the area when in other areas bonding was strengthening.

He expressed optimism that the ancestral spirits will shower Ewes in Africa and the Diaspora with good health, bumper harvests and prosperity.

Komla Agbeke, General Secretary of the Union of Ewes in Ghana and Togo, urged the youth to strive to be resourceful and self-reliant.

Togbe Afede, on his installation a decade ago, rekindled ties between the Ewes of Ghana and Togo as part of his bridge-building across traditional areas within and outside Ghana.

Every year he leads a delegation to celebrate the Agbogboza with the chiefs and people of Notsie who return the visit when the Asogli’s also mark their Yam Festival. Credit: GNA