I want to extend my heartfelt best wishes to all the senior high school students who are beginning their West African Examinations today.
Your journey through senior high school has been a significant chapter in your lives, made even more special by the opportunities afforded by the Free Senior High School initiative. Now, as you stand on the threshold of your exams,
Obidombie Kwabena Asamoah
I encourage you to approach each paper with confidence, determination, and the knowledge that you are well-prepared.
May you excel beyond your expectations, and may success be your companion every step of the way.
Good luck, and may your results reflect the brilliance that lies within you.
Obidombie Kwabena Asamoah Deputy CEO MASLOC Patron of the Coalition for First-Time Voters and Free Senior High School Graduates
The General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP), Justin Frimpong Kodua, has assured Ghanaians of the party’s flagbearer’s commitment to his promise to construct a 5000-seater capacity stadium in the six newly created regions.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia gave this promise at the 2024 Manifesto Launch at GSTS in Takoradi on Sunday, August 18.
Lawyer Justin Kodua Frimpong
Among the many policies in the manifesto outlined by the NPP flagbearer was that he will ensure stadiums that can sit 5,000 spectators are constructed under his era as President.
This, he said, in hope of winning the votes of Ghanaians in the December 7 polls.
But there are skeptics particularly from within the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress(NDC), who find this overly ambitious and don’t believe Dr. Bawumia will honor his promise.
In reply to the critics, Justin Kodua Frimpong dissolved the skepticism surrounding their manifesto.
“I’m surprised that at this time, people still doubt the NPP when we say we will do something. Haven’t we done the Legon Sports stadium? Go and check the state-of-the-art Sports complex we’ve built at Borteyman. When we came into government, there were only 3 astro-turfs and we have increased it to 150 today,” he said on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” show.
Two hundred and eighty-five (285) second-cycle institutions in the country have registered to participate in the 2024 edition of the novel STEMNNOVATION competition.
This number shows an increase of 57 additional schools registering to participate representing an increase of 24 per cent as against 228 for the previous year’s event.
Nana Afrah Sika Mensah, Deputy National Coordinator for the Free Senior High School Secretariat, who disclosed this to the media in Accra stated that the competition which is slated to kick start on 26th August with a roadshow will be climaxed on 24th September where awards will be presented to the winners.
She explained that the institutions which are Senior High School/Senior High Technical Schools (SHTS), Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institutes which have registered a total of 570 projects for the 2024 competition as against 251 the previous year, signifying a 127 per cent increase.
The Deputy National Coordinator indicated that this year’s competition has seen an additional 319 projects registered as against 251 registered last year.
This, she attributed to the rising interest in the project by the various stakeholders and the Ghanaian populace.
Project categories
This year’s completion has projects in the areas of Food Sovereignty (89), Sustainable Energy (134), Environmental Sustainability (187) and Digital Technology (113)
Eastern region registered a total of 105 being the highest followed by Ashanti and Central regions with 81 and 70 schools while Bono East and Western North recorded the lowest with seven schools each.
Nana Afrah Sikah stated that the project this year focused on the use of digitalization projects towards finding lasting solutions to challenges confronting various societies across the country.
One unique feature of this year’s event is the massive increase in the number of schools from 97 in 2022, 228 in 2023 and 285 in the 2024 competition.
Background
The STEMNNOVATION competition, an initiative of the Free Senior High School Secretariat which started in 2022 has led to students being offered the opportunity to explore and innovate with projects.
These projects which centres on finding solutions to society’s challenges also assist students from various second cycle institutions to try their hands on practical skills and innovations and also learn how to work with other people in a team among other skills.
Winners of last year’s event Ahafoman Secondary/Technical School and the 1st runner-up school, Wesley Grammar as part of their prizes embarked on a one-week educational tour to Japan where they took part in this year’s international STEM conference.
END
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has better records in political office than the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), says Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.
Affectionately called ‘Napo’, the NPP running mate has urged the electorates to vote for Dr Bawumia, the NPP presidential candidate, to sustain the gains achieved so far.
Addressing the chiefs and people of Tepa Traditional Area on Wednesday, he assured that Dr Bawumia’s government will continue President Nana Akufo-Addo’s good works.
He therefore advised the electorates to compare the NPP and NDC works in government and cast their ballot for the NPP, which has superior records in government.
Eric Nana Agyemang Prempeh and Napo
“The NPP has better records in government than the NDC. The NPP introduced free SHS, a nursing training allowance and stopped intermittent power cuts aka ‘Dumsor’, among others.
“We have also constructed roads, built schools and worked assiduously to ensure massive transformation in all sectors in the state so we deserve another term”, he said.
According to him, the alternative (the NDC) failed woefully to perform in government so they were voted out of political office, stressing that the NDC is not an option now.
“Compare NPP and NDC records and vote massively for Dr Bawumia and all the NPP parliamentary candidates on December 7”, Napo appealed to the electorates.
The Head of the Electoral Commission’s Training Department, Dr Serebour Quaicoe, has clarified that the GH₵0.50 fee for checking voter registration details online is paid to the service providers, not to the EC.
According to him, none of the fees goes to the Electoral Commission, and this charge has been consistent at 50 pesewas in both the 2016 and 2020 elections.
The Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has expressed concerns about this fee.
The EC introduced a short code, *71151#, allowing voters to verify their registration details ahead of the 2024 general election. However, Mr Dafeamekpor objects to the cost associated with this service.
Speaking on JoyNews AM show, Dr Quaicoe said that “It is for service charges, and not for the Electoral Commission. If the money were to come to the Electoral Commission, then that is our money for us to account for but is for the service charges. If you use MTN, the money goes to MTN; if you use Telecel, it goes to Telecel.”
He noted that the GH₵0.50 fee for online voter registration checks is not part of the Electoral Commission’s budget, explaining that including it would mean the funds would go directly to the EC.
Dr Quaicoe said that the EC’s role is to ensure that voters can verify their names at polling stations, while the service provider is responsible for offering online verification for those who cannot visit a polling station.
“So, if you cannot go, then you are using the service provider’s facilities to check, and that is the charge you pay for using their services.”
DR. BAWUMIA HOSTS THE MEDIA
The Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will host a Media engagement on Sunday, 25th August 2024.
This Engagement follows the successful launch of the 2024 Manifesto of the New Patriotic Party.
Dr. Bawumia is strongly convinced, the Ghanaian people deserve to have a complete view and proper understanding of the vision of their leaders before the 2024 December polls, and the Manifesto properly sets the context for the conversation.
This very important media engagement is part of a series of activities lined up by Dr. Bawumia to deepen the dissemination of the 2024 Manifesto.
All media houses interested in sending representatives to this engagement, should kindly send an email to:
itispossible@bawumia.com, latest by Close of Business Thursday 22nd August 2024.
TO LEAD IS TO SOLVE!
IT IS POSSIBLE!
SIGNED
DENNIS MIRACLES ABOAGYE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
The Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Prof. Amin Alhassan, has clarified that the media house received $105,000, and not $3 million as stated by Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Prof. Amin Alhassan and Mustapha Ussif
Responding to a query from Sam Nartey George, Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, about the payment status for coverage, Mustapha had stated that full payment had been made.
“GBC was the official broadcaster for the 13th All African Games, and I can confirm that full payment has been made to GBC. I can’t remember the exact amount but I know that it is in the excess of $3 million,” he said.
But reacting to the comment, Prof. Alhassan refuted the claims made by the Minister in an interview on GTV.
“We facilitated payments to foreign third parties who came in to do the production and not for the benefit of GBC. GBC’s benefit, I repeat, $105,000 and that is what we got.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry is yet to react to the counter-response from GBC.
The Omanhene of Domeabra Traditional Council, Baffour Owusu Bediako, has given a hint about the involvement of traditional authorities in this year’s general election.
Although traditional leaders are barred from dabbling in partisan politics, the paramount chief emphatically stated that they have the right to scrutinise policies and determine which ones will favour the majority of Ghanaians.
He said chiefs would lead the 2024 election campaigns, not by mounting political platforms but through the scrutiny of policies of all parties to help them offer cogent pieces of advice to their subjects.
Explaining the reason behind his statement, the Omanhene was emphatic that the 2024 general election would largely influence the progress or otherwise of the country.
Welcoming the New Patriotic Party (NPP) running mate for the 2024 elections, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the party, Mr. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, to his palace, the chief explained that every policy by political parties has a direct influence on the people they lead, for which reason he would ensure that the right policies that will be of greater benefits to his people are supported.
Baffour Owusu Bediako
He stressed that though traditional leaders do not have the legal backing to mount political platforms, chiefs would not sit unconcerned and watch the progress of their jurisdictions to derail.
Touting the massive projects and policies of the Akufo-Addo administration, he re-echoed policies such as Free SHS, 1D1F, among others, adding that these policies have had a positive effects on his people.
The chief talked about the road projects in his jurisdiction and called for speedy work on them.
Besides, he encouraged the constituents to retain the Member of Parliament for the Asante Akyem North Constituency, Andy Appiah Kubi.
He expressed appreciation to the NPP running mate for the respect given to the people of the Traditional Area.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh reiterated his party’s vision of effective partnership with traditional authorities in the governance of the country.
In his view, Nananom remain development originators and it is important that the NPP keeps a closer partnership with them.
According to him, the purpose of his visit was to seek cogent advice from Nananom and also remind them of why the NPP remains the best political party in the country.
In a show of unity of purpose, the running mate spoke well of the MP for the area, Andy Appiah Kubi. He urged the constituents to retain him in the interest of the constituency and the country’s development.
Nana Ohene Ntow, a Movement for Change devotee and former leading member of the New Patriotic Party, says he has no confidence in the ruling party’s pledge to streamline the mining sector, relative to curbing the illegal mining menace, popularly called “galamsey”.
The New Patriotic Party launched their 2024 manifesto at GSTS in Takoradi on Sunday,
18th August,2024.
The event saw in attendance the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Vice President and NPP flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and wife, Samira Bawumia, the party’s Vice Presidential Candidate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh alias NAPO, Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare and a host of the NPP leadership together with members and supporters as well as other dignitaries.
Nana Ohene Ntow and Dr.Bawumia
Delivering the manifesto to the gathering and the nation, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia pledged, if elected President, he would introduce some measures which will effectively improve small-scale mining and eliminate galamsey.
But to Nana Ohene Ntow, “if in 8 years of Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government, galamsey situation is worse and the encroachment on forest reserves is worse and we are receiving another promise, then I have an issue with it”.
To him, he has confidence issues with Bawumia’s commitment to tackle the galamsey menace, hence his trust in the manifesto is “very low”.
The manifesto, he said on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” show, does not give him the “kind of inspiration and hope”, stressing “I don’t trust that kind of promise”.
