Organised Labour has announced the suspension of its strike which took effect today, Monday, July 15, against moves by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to offload 60% shares in four hotels to a private firm owned by Ghana’s Food and Agriculture Minister, Bryan Acheampong.
The decision was announced at a news conference today by the Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Dr Yaw Baah after an emergency meeting on Monday, July 15.
The Ghana Medical Association has confirmed the suspension of the strike in a statement issued on Monday.
In a statement signed by the GMA President and General Secretary, Dr Frank Serebour and Dr Richard Selormey, the association said “NEC in light of this decision, suspends with immediate effect, the earlier issued roadmap for industrial action and directs that all members return to post. NEC is grateful to members for your support”.
Before the suspension of the strike today, some members of organised labour had already started implementing the directive by abandoning their duty posts.
In some courts in Accra, there were no activities. At some state agencies in Accra, many workers had abandoned their offices.
GMA suspends strike
At the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, for instance, Outpatient Department Services have been suspended leaving many patients stranded.
With the new decision by organised labour, it is expected that things will return to normal.
Source: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has released an additional GH¢135.6 million to healthcare providers nationwide.
This disbursement is to settle outstanding claims for February 2024 for higher-tier healthcare providers and March 2024 for most lower-tier facilities.
The payment seeks to reduce the gap between higher and lower-tier facility payments, ensuring that the only outstanding payments owed by the Authority are within the agreed three-month reimbursable period.
This latest disbursement follows an earlier release of GH¢300 million to mixed-tier health facilities across the country.
According to NHIA CEO Dr Da-Costa Aboagye, the Authority recognises the vital role healthcare providers play in the success of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and is committed to maintaining a strong partnership with facilities while preventing illegal charges
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) is calling for a complete overhaul of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) board, and the immediate stepping down of the top management team, citing a need for fresh leadership and a reset of priorities to ensure responsible management of pension funds and a restoration of public confidence.
The call comes after a sustained protest against the intended sale of SSNIT’s 60 per cent shares in four hotels to a private hotel owned by Ghana’s Minister of Food and Agriculture.
Although the protest eventually led to the termination of the deal by SSNIT, UTAG believes the current board and management’s participation in the widely-criticised and contentious deal has exposed a significant failure in their (SSNIT) decision-making and accountability, demonstrating a clear disconnect from public opinion and a lack of understanding of the collective wisdom.
Read also: Organised Labour declares strike over NPRA’s approval for sale of SSNIT hotels
In a statement issued on Saturday, July 13, 2024, signed by the UTAG President Prof Mamudu Akudugu and General Secretary Prof Eliasu Mumuni, UTAG said, “Those in positions of power within SSNIT must step down to allow new people with a better appreciation of the enormity of the responsibility of managing pension funds to take over and restore public trust and ensure that such actions are not repeated in the future.”
UTAG also asserts that the SSNIT Board and top management have exhibited egregious judgment and a profound lack of corporate governance expertise, thereby rendering their continued tenure untenable.
“Their initial decision to proceed with this transaction, despite widespread public outcry, indicates a disregard for the sentiments and welfare of the broader populace. This action has undermined confidence in the board and management’s capacity to manage our pension funds and assets prudently and transparently.”
UTAG also backed the call by organised labour for a nationwide strike action against SSNIT. It is unclear whether the strike will go ahead from Monday, July 15 or not, following the termination of the sale of SSNIT hotels to a minister of state.
“In light of the declaration of a nationwide strike by Organized Labour on 12th July 2024, the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) unequivocally supports the action.
Consequently, UTAG has begun the necessary steps to activate a nationwide strike as per the declaration by Organized Labour, strictly following the UTAG Constitutional provisions. This decision is not taken lightly but reflects our deep-seated concern over the current handling of SSNIT investment interests and its assets.”
Residents and motorists who use the Mampong-Ejura highway road have made a passionate appeal to President Akufo-Addo, through the Minister of Roads, Mr Asenso Boakye, and the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Mampong Constituency, Mr Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong, to fix the Sataso River bridge at Sataso, near Adidwan off the Mampong-Ejura road, which has deteriorated and could collapse at any time.
According to Elder Freddick Boamah, a frequent user of the road, and other residents and motorists who spoke to The New Trust newspaper online, the bridge serves important purposes not only for drivers and passengers, who use it to link adjoining communities from the Mampong-Ejura direction, but also for local farmers who have to cross it to their various farms.
The residents and motorists said the government, through the Ghana Highways Authority, should urgently fix the only bridge linking other communities to Ejura and its environs.
They cautioned that any delay in fixing the nearly collapsed Sataso bridge could plunge the nation into a serious disaster, especially the users of big trucks.
Pictures and video
of the deathtrap Sataso bridge collaborate the narration by the concerned residents and motorists in the area.
The pictorial evidence shows clearly the major cracks in the bridge, for which reason it needs urgent attention before worse things happen.
Residents and motorists who use the Mampong-Ejura highway road have made a passionate appeal to President Akufo-Addo, through the Minister of Roads, Mr Asenso Boakye, and the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Mampong Constituency, Mr Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong, to fix the Sataso River bridge at Sataso, near Adidwan off the Mampong-Ejura road, which has deteriorated and could collapse at any time.
According to Elder Freddick Boamah, a frequent user of the road, and other residents and motorists who spoke to The New Trust newspaper online, the bridge serves important purposes not only for drivers and passengers, who use it to link adjoining communities from the Mampong-Ejura direction, but also for local farmers who have to cross it to their various farms.
A private legal practitioner in the Manhyia South Constituency of the governing New Patriotic Party, Nana Adjei Baffour Awuah has emerged victorious in the party’s parliamentary primary held on Sunday, July 14.
He polled 376 votes to beat Nana Owusu Prempeh, a brother to the outgoing MP, who garnered 141 votes.
Among the two other contestants, Akwasi Coker Gyambibi polled a paltry 2 votes, while James Owusu had 7 votes.
Following the selection of Manhyia South Member of Parliament Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh as the running mate to the New Patriotic Party flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP in the constituency held the primary to elect a new candidate for the impending by-election.
Nana Adjei Baffour Awuah has
Five persons picked had forms to contest when nominations opened, but only four contested on the day.
Manhyia South is a stronghold of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), and it is expected that whoever wins the primary will eventually go through the main election to become the MP.
Source: Nana Boakye Yiadom
The Director General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Prof. Ahmed Abdulai Jinapor, has stated that the role of technical expertise was very critical in the transformation of every economy.
He has therefore lauded the leadership of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for its effort towards improving the technical knowledge of their staff to enable them to perform effectively and efficiently as tax experts in the country.
Prof. Jinapor made the observation when he welcomed the Commissioner of Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Brigadier General Ziblim Ayorrogo after leading a high-powered delegation to the headquarters of GTEC in Accra.
Also present at the meeting were some management members of the University of Cape Coast who signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the GRA last year to design two Masters programmes; Master of Science, Customs Administration (MSc) and Master of Commerce, Customs Administration (MCom) which are expected to begin by October this year.
The visit by the team was to discuss how best they could collaborate with GTEC to help them get accreditation for the running of the two new programmes.
Congratulations
He congratulated the Commissioner on his appointment and the efforts he was making towards ensuring that everything was done to help their staff get the right skills towards the promotion of development in the country.
The Director General pledged to send a team to assess the preparedness of Cape Coast University towards running the two programmes.
He described the move by the Customs Division to get a course designed for its staff to enhance their capacity as very apt so they could perform their duties very well.
The DG was upbeat that the move by the Customs Division was a great feat which would help bridge the gap between academia and industry towards the development of the country.
Prof Jinapor applauded the Staff Association of GRA for being the originator of the educational concept and thanked the commissioner for the bold initiative in seeing the idea through.
He encouraged the association to strengthen the relationship that exists between them and management, and called on his colleague staff at GTEC to emulate same.
Appeal
The Commissioner of Customs Division, Brigadier General Ziblim Ayorrogo, appealed to GTEC to help them in running the course which would enrich the skills and knowledge of their personnel in the course of their work.
He stated that the course when commenced would go a long way towards filling the current skill gap they were facing which does not
support their operations as an institution.
The Commissioner pledged the Customs Division’s readiness to cooperate with GTEC and UCC towards creating the right environment to run the course.
Background
Until the commencement of the two master’s programmes at the UCC, the Customs Division has been depending on the experience of their personnel with the knowledge acquired from the various fields but the two courses when operationalized will give specific training skills to the personnel right from the commencement of their work.
The new programme would then give hands-on training to the personnel so they would operate effectively without further training by their employers.
END
In a significant stride towards enhancing the quality of education in Ghana, the National Service Scheme (NSS) launched the NSS Pedagogy Module in 2022, a progressive programme designed to equip National Service Personnel (NSP) with advanced teaching methods and educational techniques.
Jon.Osei Assibey Antwi
This initiative, spearheaded by the Executive Director of the NSS, Hon. Osei Assibey Antwi, in collaboration with the National Teaching Council (NTC), Transforming Teaching, Education, and Learning (T-TEL), and the Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF), aims to bridge the gap between untrained and qualified teachers, ensuring that every classroom in Ghana is led by competent and effective educators.
It would be recalled that this collaborative effort has culminated in the development of a comprehensive Pedagogy Training Manual, which was launched alongside the commencement of the first training session.
The programme’s primary goal is to equip the NSPs entering classrooms for their mandatory one-year service with basic teaching skills to foster effective learning environments in schools, particularly in deprived and hard-to-reach communities.
Addressing the Teacher Gap Over the decades, the NSS has played a pivotal role in addressing the pupil-teacher ratio gap by deploying over 40 per cent of service personnel to basic and second-cycle institutions annually.
Recognising the need for formal training, the NSS has introduced this pedagogy module to ensure that service personnel without prior educational training can still deliver high-quality education. These personnel not only impart knowledge but also serve as role models within their communities.
Inaugural Year and 2023 Milestones
The National Service Scheme (NSS) marked a significant milestone in its efforts to professionalise teaching with the official launch of its pedagogy training programme on December 5, 2022, in Accra.
In 2022, the programme’s launch saw 300 National Service Personnel (NSPs) trained and deployed to senior high schools.
The following year, 2023, the initiative expanded significantly, with 1,934 NSPs undergoing rigorous pedagogy training to enhance their teaching skills for their national service.
It is worth mentioning that the 2023 cohort consisted of 1,122 male participants and 812 female participants.
2024 Projections
With the impressive public support the initiative has received, there are plans to expand its influence.
Looking ahead, the National Service Scheme (NSS) intends to broaden the scope of the Pedagogy Programme to include more National Service Personnel (NSPs) deployed in Basic and Second cycle institutions, particularly targeting those personnel who lack teaching skills.
Leveraging the increased cooperation from our partners, the Scheme is poised to deploy close to 5,000 service personnel to bolster teaching and learning activities in senior high schools.
The groundwork for the third phase of this crucial programme has already been laid, setting the stage for a successful commencement.
There is a concerted effort to develop NSPs’ capacity in Universal Design for Learning (UDL), enabling them to cater to all learners, including those with special needs.
This is particularly crucial in rural areas where the pupil-teacher ratio gap remains significant.
Furthermore, the NSS aims to facilitate the enrolment of NSPs interested in pursuing a career in teaching in postgraduate education programmes through partnerships with colleges of education and other institutions.
Emphasising Professionalism and Compliance
The NSS pedagogy training aligns with the Education Regulatory Bodies Act 1023 of 2020, which mandates the NTC to regulate the teaching profession.
This includes professionalising teaching through standards development, continuous professional development, and licensing.
The training ensures that NSPs comply with these standards, promoting a culture of continuous learning and professional growth.
The training module includes a two-week initial intensive training before service
commencement and intermittent training throughout the one-year period, providing NSPs with year-long hands-on practice and theoretical knowledge essential for effective teaching.
Upon completing the training, NSPs are awarded temporary licenses, allowing them to teach in secondary schools. This temporary licensure is a stepping stone towards obtaining a full professional license, provided they pass the teacher licensure exams.
A New Era of ‘Deployment for Employment’
Under the umbrella of the “deployment for employment” agenda, the NSS is moving towards professionalising teaching among NSPs, ensuring that those without pedagogical training receive basic teaching skills through the Pedagogy Training for Untrained Teachers initiative.
This signifies a shift from merely mobilising NSPs for deployment to equipping them with employability skills that ensure sustainable livelihoods post-service.
This initiative underscores the NSS’s commitment to fostering continuous professional development among NSPs and instilling a culture of lifelong learning and growth.
Conclusion
The NSS Pedagogy Module can be described as a leapfrogging approach towards improving the quality of education in Ghana.
By equipping NSPs with the necessary teaching skills, the programme not only addresses the immediate needs of the education sector but also a means of creating an opportunity for job creation for thousands of Ghana’s youth.
This initiative highlights the NSS’s commitment to transforming education and providing valuable employment opportunities for NSPs.
By::Armstrong Esaah,Head of Corporate Affairs
National Service Scheme
Nana Owusu Afriyie Prempeh, has emerged as the front-runner for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate position for Manhyia South Constituency in the the Ashanti Region.
As the current financial secretary,who doubles as the acting treasurer of the Manhyia South Constituency, Nana Owusu Afriyie Prempeh, has received overwhelming support from majority of the delegates to replace Dr.Mathew Opoku Prempeh aka Napo.
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh,the incumbent MP for the seat,who has resigned as Energy Minister,as a result of his overwhelming endorsement and subsequent outdooring as a running mate to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia,NPP 2024 presidential candidate,has pave way for tomorrow’s parliamentary primaries.
The delegates of Manhyia South praised Nana Owusu Afriyie Prempeh,who is number One(1) on the ballot, as a unifying figure, experienced politician, and visionary leader, who can help the party retain power. Some delegates, speaking anonymously, expressed frustration with some electoral area Coordinators,who are intimidating them.
They, accused some Coordinators of poor leadership, which has created divisions in the constituency. The delegates believe the party may perform poorly in the constituency if Nana Owusu Afriyie Prempeh is not selected.
Nana Owusu Afriyie Prempeh, is seen as a hard-working and accessible leader, who has spearheaded development projects, including the Astro Turf of Konadu Yiadom Park.
The youth in the constituency prefer Prempeh, who they see as a true party person, resourceful, bold, and a unifier among the candidates.
Source:newspointgh.com
