WORLD TEACHERS DAY; ‘WOMEN SUSTAINED G.E.S’-DR. AFUN

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October 6, 2011

“But for women, the Ghana Education Service may have collapsed”, this is according to Dr Jakpasu Victor Afun, Rector of the Ho Polytechnic, who was speaking at a durbar of teachers to mark this year’s World Teachers Day on the theme “Teachers for Gender Equality,” in Ho on Wednesday.

According to him, in the late 1970s and early 80s, women were the people who hold the fort when most men were running away from Ghana to Nigeria.

Dr. Afun said due to the effort of women teachers, many different professional women are being churned out to compete favorably with their male counterparts. He said Gender parity in educational opportunities is imperative for accelerated national development and as such for the world and that matter Ghana to achieve the millennium development goals on schedule, there is the need to get women on board.

He therefore called for non discrimination against women since they have a lot to offer for the development of the country.

In a speech read on his behalf, Mr Samuel Alobuia, Acting National President of Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) said while teachers strived to put in their best, other stakeholders in education should also play their part more effectively to facilitate better results.

Mr Alexander Mawusi Buadi, Regional GNAT President said it will be wrong to apportion blame to only teachers in this time of poor educational performance. He also complained about the inability of the GES to absorb teachers from study leave without pay, back into the system and the long delays in placing 2010 newly trained teachers on their official salary scales.

The Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, said teachers’ performance is major factor to the abysmal performance in the recent Basic Education Certificate Examination and promised government commitment to better the lot of teachers to help reverse the situation.

A retired Educationist and a former Ho municipal director of education Mr Francis Korwu, said the package needed to be given to teachers to give them the verve to work are not being delivered early enough and therefore called on government to provide the incentives it had consistently promised teachers, some of whom work in deprived areas to motivate them to improve on their performance.

Mr Korwu also called for circumspection in the posting and transfer of lady teachers to some duty posts, so as not to jeopardize their lives.

In all, 30 teachers and non teaching staff including three staff of the regional GNAT secretariat were awarded for meritorious service to GNAT over the years.
Click link and listen to Dr. Afun and Joseph Amenowode audios

The Woes of a Rural teacher

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Kwadwo Duodu

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October 5, 2011

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October 5, every year is celebrated as World Teachers’ Day, but have you ever thought of the daily troubles teachers in rural areas go thru in dispensing quality education?

Miss Cynthia Adjololo, is a young trained teacher who has been posted to Klave, a rural farming community in the Ho municipality last year.

She tells me her experience teaching in a rural community over the past one year. Click and Listen Cynthia narrates her experience as a rural teacher

POOR READING HABIT; MAIN CAUSE OF FAILURE AT B.E.C.E

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Kwadwo Duodu

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October 5, 2011

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Poor reading habits of students at the Klave L.A J.H.S in the Ho municipality have been identified as one of the main causes of the abysmal performance at the 2011 Basic Education Certificate examinations.

According to Miss Cynthia Adjololo, a teacher at the school, most students in J.H.S cannot identify the alphabets left alone pronouncing two or letter words.

This came to light at the first School Performance Appraisal meeting (SPAM) organized by the Ho municipal education directorate to engage Stakeholders in identifying the causes of the poor performance of students in the 2011 B.E.C.E and to find ways of reversing the trend at Klave on Tuesday.

Mr. Francis Sedor, the PTA chairman of the school, said since 2008 the school have scored zero percent in the B.E.C.E and blamed the situation on lack of teachers in the school in previous years.

According to him, not until recently, the primary school have only four teachers teaching pupils from KG to P6 and three teachers handling the junior high school students and this make teaching and learning less effective.

Other problems identified included the inconsistency of students and teachers in the classrooms as some of the students abscond from school to engage in stone quarrying which is a lucrative business in the area.

The meeting which was attended by parents, teachers, school children and opinion leaders from the Klave community as well as officers from the education directorate, led by the municipal director of education forms part of measures being taken to address the poor performance of students in the municipality.

According to Mr Emmanuel Keteku, Ho Municipal Director of Education, 1720 out of 3233 candidates who wrote the B.E.C.E in the municipality had aggregate 6 to 30. He said the poor performance of the pupils amounted to wasting of government’s limited resources and blamed all stakeholders including parents for being less concerned with their children’s education. He therefore urged parents to invest in their children’s education and not to rely solely on government to finance the education of their wards since it is now expensive for government alone to bear.

He also urged opinion leaders to motivate the teachers to give off their best and not to be insulting them.

Other officers from the education directorate also took a swipe at some of the teachers for deserting duties to engage in their personal businesses.

They therefore advised both pupils and teachers to work hard to justify the investments being made in education.

On the way forward, officers from the education directorate will be at Klave in a forth night to undertake a reading clinic for teachers, as the directorate intensifies supervision and monitoring of schools to ensure that teachers are at post and punctual in class.

A task force have also been set up by the community members to ensure school children do not stay at home during school hours and also to ensure punctuality among teachers and students.

“CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IS ILLEGAL” CHRAJ

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Kwadwo Duodu

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October 3, 2011

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Teachers and parents have been asked to avoid the use of corporal punishment and find civil means of disciplining children since the act breach article 28 clause 3 of the 1992 constitution which says ‘A child shall not be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.’

Mrs Joy Animah Debrah, a Senior Public Education officer at the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), made the call on Monday at the start of a two day training workshop for 55 patrons of human rights clubs drawn from schools in the Volta and Eastern regions in Ho.

According to Mrs Animah Debrah, corporal punishment such as canning which is administered mostly through anger have not proven to be effective as a means of training children over the years.

She said the continuous use of the cane in schools imprints on the minds of children that cruelty is the best way in resolving problems and urged head-teachers to advise their staff to stop the use of canes in schools.

Mrs, Debrah advised parent to incorporate children in decision making and not just imposed things on them since they are growing and they should be help to grow properly. She also advised teachers and parents to desist from verbally abusing children.

Mr. Samuel Bosompem, deputy director of Public Education at CHRAJ and a facilitator at the workshop, said human right is about the behaviour of persons and therefore urged teachers and parents to live exemplary behaviours for children to emulate.

The Volta Regional Director of CHRAJ, Mr Joseph Nuertey, on his part urged the patrons to respect and protect the rights of children at school and also be on the lookout for human and child rights abuses at schools and address or refer them to the appropriate authorities for redress.
click to listen Mrs. Debrah.

GHANAIANS ASKED TO PATRONIZE DOMESTIC TOURISM

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Kwadwo Duodu

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September 28, 2011

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A mona monkey

Ghanaians have been urged to patronize domestic tourism in order to learn about other cultures to enhance peaceful co-existence among them.

The minister for tourism, Akua Sena Dansua made this call at a Grand Durbar at Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary in the Hohoe municipality of the Volta region to commemorate this year’s world tourism day on Tuesday.

According to the minister, aside the promotion of national cohesion, patronizing domestic tourism will help create jobs and grow the domestic economy which will lead to the development of the country.

This year’s celebration which is on the theme “Tourism: Linking Cultures”, according to the tourism minster provide the opportunity to educate the public on the importance of tourism in fostering national unity, global understanding, cohesion and mutual respect.

Hon. Akua Sena Dansua said tourism is the 4^th foreign exchange earner and have contributed 6.2% to d country’s GDP in 2010.

She said the development of tourism need a multi-sectorial approach and therefore called on corporate Ghana, MMDAs and individuals to partner government in the development and promotion of tourism in the country.

The chief of Tafi Atome, Togbe Dabrah V, commended government for commemorating such an important and international day in their community and appealed for the construction of the road leading to the community and the provision of boreholes to alleviate the water situation in the area as well as the provision of educational infrastructure.

On his part, the Volta regional Minister, Joseph Amenowode who is also the MP for the area said the Volta region is the most important tourist destination in the world and the celebration of the world tourism day in the region is the beginning of harnessing the tourism potential for the development of the region and the country.

He also assured the people of Tafi Atome that the road to the area will be tarred and other infrastructure provided.

Thomas Aquinas Quansah, deputy minister for local government and rural development said as part of the ministry’s support for the development of tourism, all MMDAs have been asked to set aside a percentage of their internally generated and common funds for tourism development in their jurisdictions.

Earlier, the minister of tourism and Volta regional minister commissioned a renovated information centre which was sponsored by rlG communications and a footbridge constructed by the tourism ministry in the sanctuary to aid easy movement .

The United Nations set aside 27th September each year to celebrate World Tourism Day as a way of fostering awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural and economic values.

As part of this year’s celebration was a tour of tourist attraction sites in the Kpando District and Hohoe Municipality including Kpando Torkor markets and Volta Lake loading site, Grotto at Agbenoxoe, Togbui Dagadu’s palace and Wli Waterfalls on Saturday September, 24.

There were also an Arts and Culture Exhibition, a Local Gastronomy (food fair), sightseeing of the monkey sanctuary and cultural performances by various cultural troupes from the Volta region during the grand durbar which was well attended by a high powered government delegation.

click link to listen to attached audio Tourism minister and Regional Minister.

2011 ASOGLI YAM FESTIVAL CLIMAXED

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Kwadwo Duodu

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September 26, 2011

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Togbe Afede addressing the Durbar

The 2011 Asogli yam festival came to a climax on Saturday in Ho with a called on chiefs, politicians and opinion leaders in the country to come together and provide the kind of leadership that will strengthen the nation’s unity, inspire and give hope to the people.

Togbe Afede XIV, the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State and president of the volta regional house of chiefs made the call at a colourful grand durbar of chiefs and people of the Asogli Traditional Area and attended by tourists from across the world, government officials as well as chiefs and people from other traditional areas and regions of the country.

Togbe Afede noted that unity has been the foundation that has enabled Ghana to survive as a country and that same oneness is vital for the future especially as the country goes to the polls next year.

He therefore bemoaned the high level of insults on the airwaves by politicians even though the 2012 General Election is about 15 months away and called for the moderation of language and circumspection to bring some sanity into politicking in the country.

He stated that for the nation’s politics to meet the aspirations of the people there is the need for tolerance, respect for one another, forgetting the past no matter how painful and respect for the truth among others.

Togbe Afede said development is what brings happiness, and that among other reasons is why he led a 27 member delegation including the Regional Minister, Chiefs, politicians and businessmen from the region to China where they signed an agreement for the establishment of a sister relationship with Ningxia Region.

He revealed that the intended cooperation with Ningxia in the fields of Agriculture, Education, Health, and Tourism among others will bring development and jobs to the Volta region and to Ghana as a whole.

The Agbogbomefia also commended the efforts of the other chiefs in the State in promoting peace and tourism in the area.

In a speech read on his behave by the Local Government Minister, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, President John Mills, reiterated Government’s commitment to the development of the Volta Region and assured the people of better things in the coming years in fulfillment of the Better Ghana Agenda.

He commended the Chiefs and people of the Asogli State for their contribution to the development of the country and congratulated them on the Yam Festival that signifies their commitment to Agriculture which is a major area for development.

The president also advised the youth to eschew all forms negative conducts that will affect their lives and the future of this nation.

The paramount chief of Notsie and the president of Togolese House of Chiefs Togbe Agorkorli IV who chaired the occasion congratulated the people of the Asogli State and Ghana as a whole for the peace and development that has engineered the stability of the country.

There were fraternal messages from the national house of chiefs and the ministry of chieftaincy and culture.

The celebration which was under the theme: ‘Our Politics must bring about Peace, Unity and Development’ was characterized by traditional dances, mystical performances, and cordiality among the thousands of local and visiting revelers.

click link and listen to TogbeAfede speech in ewe and Ofosu_Ampofo’s_speech.

ZIAVI-DZOGBE CELEBRATE MAIDEN YOUTH FESTIVAL

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Kwadwo Duodu

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September 19, 2011

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The youth of Ziavi-Dzogbe in the Ho municipality have climaxed their maiden youth festival with a fund raising durbar at Ziavi-Dzogbe on Saturday.

The festival according to the organisers forms part of the annual yam festival of the chiefs and people of Ziavi.

According to Togbe Ayibor II, Sohefia of Dzogbe, the youth festival was instituted to organise and galvanize the youth from the area to contribute to the development of the area.

He said the festival which was made possible with the support of Dutorfia of Ziavi, Togbe Adzanye IV and Togbe Dexe II, as well as Ziavi-Dzogbe Community Development Association (ZICODA) , an association of citizens of Ziavi Dzogbe based in Accra, will be celebrated every year to raise funds to undertake developmental projects in the community.

The Assembly member for the area, Mr. Raymond Norgbe, said the community lacks public place of convenience hence proceeds from the fund raising will be used to complete a 20 seater WC toilet which was start by ZICODA, Accra chapter in 1999.

Togbe Dexe II on his part urged the youth from the Area to embrace the festival which has come to stay and contribute their quota towards the development of the area.

A total of GH¢ 21,600 was realised through the fund raising to support the completion of the toilet project.

Music at the durbar was provided by Leticia band, a youth brass band group set up by the Dutorfia, Togbe Adzanye IV and Norvisi Borborbor group.

VOLTA NHIS RECORDS LOW RENEWAL OF MEMBERSHIP

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Kwadwo Duodu

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September 12, 2011

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Out of over 1.3 million subscribers of the national health insurance scheme in the Volta region, just a little over 400 thousand representing about 30% subscribers are active members, that is; those who have renewed their membership as at June 2011.

Mr. Elliot Nestor Akototse, the Volta regional manager of the national health insurance authority made this known at a two day mid-year review meeting of the 15 schemes in the region held in Ho last Thursday.

Mr. Akototse therefore urged the various schemes to assess their performance during the first half of the year and also develop new strategies to encourage existing subscribers to renew their membership and also lure non-members to join the scheme in order to attain the national subscriber base target of 64% from the current 54%.

In a later interview with Volta Premier FM in Ho, the regional NHIA boss attributed the large number of inactive membership to the attitude of subscribers, who according to him wait until they are sick before they renew their membership.

Mr. Akototse said, from the beginning of October 2011, health insurance subscribers who renew their membership would have to wait for three months before using their cards to access health care.

He therefore called on subscribers whose memberships have expired to renew before October 1, 2011 to continue benefiting from the scheme.

HEALTH ALERT: FAKE TOMATO PASTE ON THE MARKET

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Kwadwo Duodu

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September 8, 2011

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the fake tomato pa

The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) has alerted Ghanaians about some fake tomato paste with inscription “Tomato King” being smuggled into the country.

In a press release, the FDB said the fake “tomato king” tomato paste contains an undisclosed colour whose safety could not be guaranteed because it had not been registered with the Board, is sold along the eastern corridor of the country.

The fake tomato paste is produced in China by Mickachi Impex Co. Ltd. for Sonam Togo Sarlu Company in Togo.

content of the fake tomato past

Later in an interview with Volta Premier fm on Thursday, the zonal officer of FDB in charge of Eastern and Volta zone, Mr. Roderick Daddey-Adjei, said the board was informed of the fake tomato paste by a consumer who used the product for soup and realized the soup and the fish in it turned very red and she became suspicious.

He explained that the FDB market surveillance team is going round in the markets to seize and destroy the fake tomato paste.

He therefore advised the public to report retailers and wholesalers dealing in the fake tomato paste to the Board on the following numbers; 024-6814175, 024-4337235, 024-4337232 and 024-4337251or report to the nearest police station.

Click on link and listen to Mr. Daddey-Adjei FDB Zonal officer for Volta & Eastern

HO BIOMETRIC PASSPORT CENTRE COMMISSIONED

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Kwadwo Duodu

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August 30, 2011

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The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni has commissioned a new Biometric Passport Application Centre in Ho with an appeal to those holding “machine-readable” passports not to rush to obtain the new passports since they would be in use until November 2015.

Alhaji Mumuni said the new passports which have high security and bio-data features would require prospective applicants to be personally available at the Centres to complete the application processes and requirements.

The new passports according to the minister permit any Ghanaian to travel to any ECOWAS country without a visa and also stay in that country for three months without a resident permit.

He therefore urged Ghanaians to protect the integrity of the biometric passports by reporting any foreigner who might attempt to obtain it and that no middle-men would be required to obtain the new passports.

Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode said the opening of the Centre was a welcome relief to prospective passport applicants in the region since the acquisition of the passport is a right to every Ghanaian.

The opening of the Ho centre brings to six after Accra, Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi, Tamale and Sunyani centres.