A total of 4,120 fresh students, comprising 2,470 males and 1,650 females, were matriculated at the Ho Technical University (HTU) on Friday, February 28.
The students, who took the matriculation oath at the university’s 32nd matriculation ceremony held in three sessions, will pursue various certificates, diploma, HND, Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes, including the newly introduced BA Communication and Applied Media Technology.
In his address, the Vice-Chancellor of HTU, Prof. Ben Q. Honyenuga, urged the freshers to uphold the values of discipline, responsibility and law-abiding citizenship.”You are expected to maintain good relationships with your colleagues and lecturers, and to refrain from any form of indiscipline or misconduct,” he cautioned.
Prof. Honyenuga also reminded the students that their time at HTU was not only for academic learning but also for character development.
The ceremony was attended by senior university officials, including the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Deans of Faculties, and Heads of Departments.
With the admission of the new students, the total student population of HTU has risen to almost 10,000.
Illegal mining activities popularly known as ‘galamsey’ have significantly reduced on the Pra River since President Mahama took office on January 7, 2025.
The fear of a government crackdown has forced many miners to abandon their operations, leaving behind deserted mining sites and heavy machinery. A visit by some media personnel from Takoradi on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, to illegal mining areas in Twifo Praso revealed that most illegal miners had removed their excavators, large generators, and other mining equipment from their sites.
The reason, as discovered by the newsmen, is the uncertainty surrounding their operations under the new government. Many miners fear that the administration may relaunch Operation Vanguard, a joint military-police task force set up to combat illegal mining in Ghana.
Speaking to the media, Mr. Richmond Homatu, a security guard at one of the mining sites in Twifo Praso, Central Region, stated that most of the site owners had become skeptical about continuing their operations due to the change in government. “We have to be careful because the government can send soldiers to arrest us, and this fear is discouraging people from investing in galamsey,” he said.
According to him, the uncertainty about the government’s stance on illegal mining has led many miners to withdraw their operations until there is clarity. However, he revealed that some miners are still operating because their illegal concessions are owned by Chinese nationals and their well-connected Ghanaian counterparts. These individuals allegedly receive advance warnings about security raids, allowing them to evade arrest.
“Some of our bosses are well-connected, and they get information about raids before they happen. So, we leave the sites before the security personnel arrive,” Mr. Homatu added.
While illegal mining activities on the Pra River have slowed down, residents continue to suffer from the devastating environmental impact caused by years of uncontrolled mining. The once pristine Pra River, which was a primary source of drinking water and domestic use, has now turned muddy and polluted, making it unsuitable for consumption.
Mr. Hussieni Adams, a local resident who guided the journalists to the galamsey sites in Twifo Praso, lamented the destruction caused by illegal miners. “In the past, we used the water from the Pra for all our domestic needs, but now it is completely unusable. This river was once very clean; we even drank from it. Now, it’s muddy, and we can’t even wash our clothes with it,” he said.
The community members are calling on the government to take urgent steps to restore the river, as the pollution has affected their health, agriculture, and fishing activities.
Further checks by the media team confirmed that despite the decline in illegal mining activities on the Pra River, the water remains highly polluted. Residents attribute this to ongoing galamsey operations on rivers such as the Offin and Tano, which are tributaries of the Pra.
Some of the residents warned that unless illegal mining is stopped completely across the country, the pollution of water bodies will persist, posing a serious threat to public health and livelihoods.
Many residents are now looking to the government for decisive action to reclaim the country’s water bodies, enforce mining regulations, and provide sustainable job opportunities for youth engaged in illegal mining.
Source: Dawda Mohammed Kakale-Journalist, Takoradi
Dr. Senanu Kwesi Djokoto has been appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Operations at the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), VoltaOnline has gathered.
Dr. Djokoto, who is currently the Deputy Director of Health in charge of Public Health at the Volta Regional Health Directorate, is expected to transition into his new role in the coming weeks.
A medical practitioner and public health specialist, Dr. Djokoto has worked with the Ghana Health Service for several years, serving as District Director of Health for Nkwanta North and Ho Municipal.
As a member of the NDC, He was a one-time Constituency Chairman for Keta, a two-time parliamentary aspirant, and aide to the late former President Jerry John Rawlings.
Dr. Djokoto’s appointment is seen as a strategic move to strengthen the NHIA’s leadership and revamp the country’s premier public health insurance scheme.
Sokode Senior High Technical School in the Ho Municipality has been temporarily closed down following a violent clash between students and some members of the Sokode Gborgame community, which left several persons injured and properties damaged.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, according to eyewitnesses, saw the destruction of properties in both the school and adjacent community.
Some community members mass up behind the school fence wall
Security agencies and regional leadership quickly responded, deploying scores of police to contain the situation, later reinforced by the military.
Hon. James Gunu, Volta Regional Minister, accompanied by Hon. Edem Kofi Kpotosu, Member of Parliament for Ho Central, and members of the Regional Security Council (RESEC), officials from the Education Directorate, and other stakeholders, visited the scene to assess the situation and ensure calm.
He announced the temporary closure of the school, noting that transportation arrangements have been made for students to return home, and appealed for calm among community members as steps are taken to resolve the situation.
Regional Minister Addressing the student body
A committee has been established to investigate the cause of the clash and recommend measures to prevent future occurrences.
The Regional Minister also visited injured victims at the Ho Teaching Hospital and the Ho Municipal Hospital.
Fort San Sebastian, a historical landmark in Shama, in the Western Region of Ghana, built by the Portuguese, is struggling with low tourist patronage, raising concerns about its preservation and economic potential.
In an exclusive interview, Mr. Alex Silas Fummey, Western Regional Inspector of Monuments at the Ghana Museum and Monuments Board (GMMB) and Caretaker of the fort, highlighted the challenges facing the site.
Many people, including locals, are unaware of the fort’s historical significance, leading to minimal visits and low revenue generation. “Most people have not heard about Fort San Sebastian. As a result, the patronization is very low, and the revenue generated is minimal,” Mr. Fummey stated.
To address this issue, he emphasized the need for increased advertisement and awareness creation to attract visitors. He called on the government, local managers, the Ghana Tourism Authority, and individuals to take responsibility for promoting the fort.
“The key to improving patronization is through education and advertisement. If people understand the importance of this site, they will be more interested in visiting,” he added.
The fort’s historical significance is undeniable, featuring the tomb of Dr. Anton Wilhelm Amo, a renowned Ghanaian philosopher and the first African to earn a doctorate in philosophy in Europe.Beyond its historical importance, the fort has the potential to boost local economic activities, benefiting vendors, hotels, and local businesses.
Mr. Fummey noted that the local community plays a crucial role in ensuring the fort serves its purpose as a tourist attraction. However, many residents do not appreciate the fort’s value, making them less involved in its preservation.
To unlock the fort’s full potential, Mr. Fummey called on stakeholders to take proactive measures, emphasizing the need for increased awareness, investment, and community involvement.
Source: Dawda Mohammed Kakale, Journalist-Takoradi
The Catholic Church in Ghana has expressed strong reservations about the government’s handling of education, accusing successive administrations of reneging on partnership agreements and marginalizing the Church in key decision-making processes.
Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, SVD, the Catholic Bishop of Ho and Vice President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, raised the concerns at the Volta/Oti zonal stakeholders engagement of the National Education Forum in Ho.
The Forum, which is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Education, is in fulfillment of the campaign promise of the NDC government to transform the country’s education sector.
“We are worried that some politicians and government appointees are not adhering to the partnership agreements between the government and the Catholic Church in providing education,” Bishop Fianu lamented.
The Church, he noted, is concerned that it is not being involved in the management of its own schools, which is eroding the faith identity of these institutions.
Bishop Fianu also expressed dismay over the Church’s lack of representation on the Ghana Education Council, a decision-making body that oversees the country’s education sector.
He emphasized that the church was committed to partnering with the government to provide quality education, but this must be done in a spirit of mutual respect and trust.”We appeal to President John Dramani Mahama to consider posting newly recruited Catholic teachers to Catholic schools to maintain the Catholic faith identity,” Bishop Fianu urged.
The Church, he added, looks forward to receiving a written policy direction from the government on the partnership between mission/unit schools and the government on the management and delivery of quality education.
Cross section or participants at the zonal engagement
Bishop Fianu commended the government for initiating the National Education Forum, which he described as a laudable effort to transform the country’s education sector.
He expressed the hope that the Forum would provide a platform for stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue and find solutions to the challenges facing the education sector.
However, prior to the forum, the Bishops Conference and the Christian Council of Ghana expressed surprise at their initial exclusion from the event, but President Mahama acknowledged and unreservedly apologized for the oversight.
President Mahama also assured that the outcome of the nationwide consultations would be implemented to improve the country’s education system.
The Volta Regional Coordinating Council has warned residents of communities along the Tordze River to stay away from the water body following a massive pollution caused by a spillage of agrochemicals from a truck that crashed into the river.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at Tove in the Republic of Togo, has contaminated the river, making it unsafe for human consumption, fishing, irrigation, and other domestic uses.
The Tordze River is a major source of water for many communities in parts of the Agotime-Ziope and Adaklu districts.
A statement signed by Mr. Augustus K. Awity, Chief Director of the Regional Coordinating Council, cautioned residents of the affected communities to abstain from using the river’s water until further notice.
The statement assured residents that alternative water sources would be provided by the affected Municipal and District Assemblies to minimize disruptions to daily life.
The Council furtherappealed to the public to help disseminate the information to prevent any potential harm to individuals and communities relying on the Tordze River.
The annual Valentine’s Day “Save a Life” blood donation drive by the MTN Ghana Foundation has yielded 6,620 units of blood this year.
According an MTN media release, the exercise, which was held at 42 centres across the 16 regions, exceeded expectations and reinforced MTN Ghana Foundation’s commitment to improving access to quality healthcare.
The “Save a Life” project, initiated in 2011, aims to collect blood to support the National Blood Service and regional hospitals. It is held annually on Valentine’s Day to commemorate the expression of love through the donation of blood to save lives.
Adwoa Wiafe, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, expressed gratitude to donors, healthcare partners, and volunteers, saying: “MTN remains committed to initiatives that improve lives. We are grateful to all donors who volunteered to donate blood during this year’s exercise. Your selfless act will go a long way to save lives.”
Dr. Shirley Owusu Ofori, CEO of the National Blood Service, commended MTN Ghana Foundation for its ongoing commitment to replenishing the country’s blood banks.
Since its inception in 2011, the MTN “Save a Life” campaign has collected over 35,620 units of blood for local hospitals.
President John Dramani Mahama has opened the much anticipated National Education Forum in Ho, aimed at transforming Ghana’s education system.
The 2-day forum brought together stakeholders in the education sector to discuss ways to make education accessible, quality, and relevant.
President Mahama emphasized the need for urgent education reforms, saying the current system no longer meets the demands of a rapidly evolving world. He assured participants that the outcomes of the forum would be implemented, rather than left to gather dust.
Other speakers at the forum included Togbe Afede XIV, who chaired the event, and Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Education.
Togbe Afede XIV commended the government’s commitment to prioritizing education, while Hon. Iddrisu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fulfilling its promises on education.
The Volta Regional Minister, Hon. James Gunu, also addressed the forum, emphasizing the need for collaboration and partnership to drive development in the education sector.
Prof. Joseph S. Agbenyega and Prof. Kwame Akyeampong delivered keynote addresses, highlighting the need for a well-defined National Education Competency Framework and equitable access to education.
The forum featured zonal discussions for stakeholders in the Volta and Oti regions, with similar forums to be held in other parts of the country.
The outcomes of the zonal forums will be validated at a national forum in Accra at the end of February.
Meanwhile, President Mahama apologized to the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Christian Council of Ghana for their near exclusion from the event, which he attributed to an oversight by the planning committee.
The two organizations had issued a joint statement expressing disappointment over their exclusion from the forum, despite owning some of the schools in the country.
The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) and the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) have expressed disappointment and concern over their exclusion from the National Education Forum held in Ho.
The two Christian bodies, in a joint statement, described their exclusion as a disservice to the broader educational community and a blow to the ideals of inclusivity and shared responsibility in national development.
They noted that despite their long-standing commitment to the development and welfare of the educational system in Ghana, they were not invited to the forum.
The GCBC and CCG have, therefore, called on the Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Education, to reconsider their exclusion and extend an invitation to them and other relevant bodies.
