Maulvi Shahid Mahmoud Ahmad, Regional Missionary of Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission of Ghana for Ahafo, Bono and Bono East Regions, has called on stakeholders of Education in Ghana to do everything possible to fight the increasing rate of examination malpractices among Ghanaian learners of late.
He made the call when he addressed the members of Bono Ahafo Regional Managers of Education Units in the three regions at their general meeting held at Techiman in the Bono East Region.
He expressed worry and great concern about the way and manner examinations malpractices had become part of Ghana Education system which was regarded as one of the best in the international front.
‘It is time all those who matters in the education in Ghana must put stringent and effective measures in place to combat the immoral act in the education system to redeem the image of Ghanaian certificate’, He lamented.
He entreated the Regional Managers of Education Units to lead the crusade against the examination malpractices in mission schools for others to emulate.
Mr. Abdul-Mumin Abubakar SampanePresident of Bono Ahafo Regional Conference of Managers of Education Units indicated that the conference would do everything within their domain to lead the crusade against examination malpractices in the three regions.
The Italian government has praised Ghana for promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in the country since that was a catalyst to speed up the nation’s transformation.
Mr Marco Riccardo Rusconi and Dr.Osei Yaw Adutwum
Mr Marco Riccardo Rusconi, Director of the Italian Agency for Cooperation, who announced this explained that the promotion of STEM education in the country would go a long way to train the needed technicians to operationalize industries and other institutions to boost the nation’s economy
He announced this when he led a 13-member Italian delegation to pay a courtesy call on the Education Minister in Accra on Monday.
The visit was to deepen the already existing relationship between Ghana and the people of Italy which spans several decades.
Apart from deepening the ties between the two countries, the delegation also used the visit to discuss other areas that stood the chance of promoting the development of the two countries.
The Director for the Italian Agency for Cooperation hinted at plans to support the development of Ghana’s education by enhancing the curriculum as well as promoting entrepreneurship among the populace so they could enhance their business activities.
Increase in trade.
The Italian Ambassador to Ghana, Daniela d’Orlandi, on her part stated that effort was being made to bring many investors into the country to invest in various sectors to boost the local economy.
She recounted efforts being made to establish a skills training centre in the country to uplift the skills of the youth as well as entrepreneurship.
The Ambassador promised to collaborate with various institutions and stakeholders to promote the development of their operations to improve the local economy.
Transformation progressing
The Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, indicated that frantic efforts were being made to innovate the nation out of poverty, reiterating the fact that education remains the priority of the government since that was the tool for the development of the nation.
He recounted how the introduction of the Free Senior High School programme has boosted school enrolment in the country by creating the opportunity for many youth to get access to quality education which was critical in poverty reduction.
Shifting from 19th to 21st century
Dr Adutwum stated that all that he was doing was to help shift the nation’s education from the 19th-century to the 21st-century system so that Ghanaian students could compete with their peers across the rest of the globe.
He announced that moves were underway to introduce the Italian language in one Senior High school so they could promote the speaking of the language in the country and the rest of the world.
END
FIDELITY BANK GHANA LTD CLARIFIES ISSUES RAISED BY KMA REGARDING THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE KMA-KROFROM MARKET PROJECT
Accra, May 11th, 2024 – Fidelity Bank would like to clarify some aspects of a press release issued by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) on Friday, May 10, 2024, regarding the Krofrom Market Redevelopment Project. Below are the facts:
• In November 2020, KMA transferred an amount of GHS 5 million as advance mobilization into the KMA-Krofrom Market Redevelopment project account held at Fidelity Bank. Readers should kindly take note that these initial funds were from KMA’s own resources.
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• In December 2020, at the request of KMA, Fidelity Bank approved a GHS 5 million short-term loan facility for the KMA-Krofrom Market Redevelopment project which was to be disbursed in phases based on the progress of work done.
• In February 2021, Fidelity Bank disbursed GHS 4 million out of the GHS 5 million approved short-term facility to KMA. The Assembly (KMA) then utilized the facility of GHS 4 million together with their own funds of GHS 4.6million to support payments to project contractors amounting to GHS8.6 million under the first phase of the project
• In December 2021, KMA paid off the total outstanding facility of GHS 4 million to Fidelity Bank.
• From the foregoing records of Fidelity Bank Ghana, there is no missing or unaccounted for amount of GHS 3.6 million as indicated in KMA’s release. The entire amount of GHS 8.6 million disbursed for Phase 1 of the project comprised GHS 4 million disbursed from Fidelity Bank’s approved facility of GHS 5 million and the KMA’s own funds of GHS 4.6 million disbursed from their contribution of GHS 5million towards the project.
• Fidelity Bank reiterates that it has consistently maintained open communication channels with KMA regarding the project fund, exchanging letters and emails since April 5, 2023, to address inquiries and concerns. We have provided all necessary information as of September 27, 2023, and remain open to further communication. All correspondence is on record.
We would like to assure KMA and the public that we are fully committed to cooperating with any investigations or inquiries to address this matter comprehensively. Our priority remains upholding the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and integrity in all our dealings.
Fidelity Bank remains steadfast in our commitment to serving the best interests of Ghanaians, our clients and the communities we operate in.
NDC RESPONDS TO ARREST OF THE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR ASUTIFI SOUTH, HON. COLLINS DAUDA IN CONNECTION WITH ONGOING VOTER REGISTRATION EXERCISE.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC), has taken note of a statement by the Ghana Police Service, that it has arrested the Member of Parliament for Asutifi South, Hon. Collins Dauda for his alleged involvement in some disturbances at a Voter Registration Center at Kukuom in the Asunafo South constituency in the Ahafo Region.
Having had the benefit of the facts surrounding the said incident, the party wishes to respond as follows;
On or about 10:00am on Saturday, 11th May, 2024, a group of thugs belonging to the ruling New Patriotic Party numbering about 40, besieged the Asunafo South Constituency registration center at Kukuom.
Wearing face masks and dressed in what looked like military apparel, these NPP thugs unleashed violence on the registration center. They attacked and chased away perceived first-time NDC voters numbering about 150, who were in a queue waiting to be registered.
These hooded NPP thugs who were led by one “Anointing”, threatened the accredited NDC agent, Police Officers and other observers, insisting that they will not allow the first-time voters to be registered. The attacks persisted from 10:00am until 3:00pm on that fateful day.
At about 3:00pm, the Police at Kukuom called for reinforcement from the Regional Police Command at Goaso. This did not however deter the NPP bandits, who continued to engage in heated verbal exchanges with the Police at the scene, insisting that they will not allow the perceived supporters of the NDC to register.
In the midst of the pandemonium, one Daniel Arthur, a known NDC member and the Assembly Member for the Denyase Electoral Area: Abu, the NDC Coordinator for Asarekrom Electoral Area as well as the NDC’s registration agent at the center, were severely brutalized by the NPP thugs.
Upon hearing about the ongoing chaos, some NDC supporters, rushed to the scene to ascertain the situation for themselves and offer some support to the NDC supporters who were under attack. Upon seeing the NDC supporters, some of the NPP thugs bolted. Calm was restored at the center for sometime, allowing some of the harassed supporters of the NDC to register.
In a sudden turn of events, one of the NPP thugs drove across and blocked the road when the Asutifi South NDC supporters were leaving the center. He then pulled a gun and began to shoot indiscriminately at the NDC supporters in their vehicle. At this point, the NDC supporters in exercise of their right to self-defence, shot back to deter the thugs. No one sustained gunshot injuries.
This fact was corroborated by the Police in their investigative report read to Hon. Collins Dauda, MP for Asutifi South, in the presence of Hon. Eric Opoku, MP for Asunafo South, at a meeting on the morning of Sunday, 12th May, 2024.
We wish to place on record that, at no point was the Member of Parliament for Asutifi South, Hon. Collins Dauda present at the Kukuom registration center on Saturday, 11th May, 2024. Contrary to the claim by the Ghana Police Service, Hon. Collins Dauda was busily monitoring the ongoing registration exercise in his Constituency, Asutifi South and was nowhere near the incident at Kukuom which is located in the Asunafo South constituency.
Several NDC supporters who were hospitalised after being brutalized by the NPP thugs, have since lodged official complaints with the Kukuom Police.
The NDC condemns in no uncertain terms the unprofessional haste of the Ghana Police Service to publish the so-called arrest of the Member of Parliament for Asutifi South, and create the impression all over the media as though he has committed a crime. For emphasis, Hon. Collins Dauda has committed no crime. The allegation by the Police that he was involved in some disturbances at the ongoing voter registration in Kukuom is palpably false and must be treated with the contempt it deserves.
The National Democratic Congress reiterates our commitment to peace in the ongoing limited voter registration exercise. We are a law-abiding political party committed to respecting the laws of the country. Our Parliamentary Candidates, agents and supporters throughout the country have so far comported themselves in the ongoing exercise, even in the face of extreme provocation and in some cases, violent attacks.
We are however concerned by the widespread violent incidents across the country in which NDC supporters have been at the receiving end of unprovoked brutalities, intimidation and harassments from the ruling New Patriotic Party, as happened in Adugyama in the Ahafo-ano South East Constituency in the Ashanti region, few days ago.
We wish to remind the Ghana Police Service of their responsibility to protect all stakeholders in the ongoing voter registration exercise. The Ghana Police must display professionalism and impartiality in maintaining law and order, and be fair to all actors in the political space.
We cannot accept a situation where the Police choose to watch on and take little action against NPP thugs who unleash unprovoked violence on NDC supporters in broad daylight.
Even though we in the NDC will never initiate any such attacks, let it be known, that our supporters reserve the right to defend themselves against any violence or attacks.
SIGNED.
SAMMY GYAMFI ESQ.
National Communications Officer
Accusations of Arrest and Involvement in Violent Incidents during Voter Registration Exercise Deemed False and Malicious
Asutifi South, Ahafo Region, Ghana – May 12, 2024 – In response to recent false allegations circulating in the media, Hon. Collins Dauda, Member of Parliament for Asutifi South in the Ahafo Region of Ghana, vehemently denies any involvement in or connection to the reported violent incidents during the voter registration exercise.
Contrary to the misinformation being spread, Hon. Collins Dauda asserts that he is not the Member of Parliament for Asunafo South, the constituency in which the alleged incidents occurred. He confirms that he has not visited that constituency during the period in question, thus making any claims of his involvement baseless and untrue.
These unfounded allegations, purportedly propagated by certain elements within the NPP party in the Asutifi South constituency and the Ahafo Region, are viewed by Hon. Collins Dauda as a deliberate smear campaign aimed at tarnishing his reputation and credibility.
In response to these malicious acts, Hon. Collins Dauda is taking decisive steps to hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions. He is actively engaging legal measures to address the dissemination of false information and defamation of character. Additionally, he urges the Ghana Police Service in the Ahafo Region to swiftly investigate and apprehend those responsible for spreading fake news about him.
Hon. Collins Dauda reaffirms his unwavering commitment to peace, democracy, and the rule of law in Ghana. He emphasizes that such deliberate attempts to undermine the democratic process and sow discord will not be tolerated. As a dedicated public servant, he remains steadfast in his duty to uphold the democratic principles and integrity of the nation.
Hon. Collins Dauda is the elected Member of Parliament for Asutifi South in the Ahafo Region of Ghana. With a steadfast dedication to public service, he is committed to promoting peace, development, and the welfare of his constituents. Hon. Collins Dauda has a proven track record of advocating for the interests of the people and upholding democratic values.
Former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Dan Botwe has urged Ghanaians to elect a capable leader in the forthcoming elections.
Mr Botwe highlighted the biblical precedent in Exodus 18, where Moses is advised by his father-in-law, Jethro, to delegate responsibilities to competent individuals.
Hon.Dan Botwe
Dr.Mahamudu Bawumia
Speaking to an assembly at the Presbyterian Church in Techiman, he alluded to the narrative involving Moses and Jethro.
“Listen to my advice. Look for abled men. Men who fear God, men who hate covetousness, and put them over the people in the fifties, hundreds, and thousands so as to let them counsel the people, and when they are tired, they give it to you. If this is not democratic practice, what is democratic practice? This is representative governance, able governance. Men who fear God. Men who hate covetousness. When we say we are voting, is that not it?”.
He urged Ghanaians to carefully evaluate the candidates in the election and select those who demonstrate competence, drawing parallels to the biblical account in the book of Acts.
Mr Botwe emphasised that when the disciples needed to replace Judas, they sought a leader aligned with God’s will, urging Ghanaians to do the same devoid of religious sentiments.
“In politics, so many issues can come up. People will say what they don’t know, and whip up tribal and religious sentiments just to get votes. I am not here to tell anyone to vote for NPP, but advise your followers to pray for discernment in order not to bring about trouble.”
According to him, “in both Exodus and the prayer of the Apostles, they asked God who knows the heart of men to elect capable men, men who fear God to be in charge.”
“God knows the heart of men, and if we are doing politics here, he knows it, and we believe when it comes to the choice of capable, able men, men who can do it, and that is why we are here so we can come together so the people God has placed under our care as pastors, so we should look for able men who fear God and put the country in their hands so we can work for the flocks of God and make them comfortable”.
The 2024 edition of the STEMNNOVATION competition has been launched with a call on industry and other stakeholders to partner the Education Ministry to commercialise the innovations from the competition.
The competition which is in its third year and organized by the Free Senior High School Secretariat (FSHSS) of the Education Ministry in collaboration with the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP) provides a platform for the students to showcase STEM projects they had developed to solve societal problems.
Apart from helping the students to exhibit their talents through exploration, it also helps them to learn how to work as a team through collaboration as they also learn how to appreciate other students’ talents.
Launching the competition in Accra, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, lauded the leadership of the FSHS Secretariat and the Ghana Education Service for their roles in the successful organization of the competition.
“STEMNNOVATION is the way to go. It is not good enough for these young men and women to invent things that are not commercialised so we are appealing to the industry to partner with MOE to ensure that we bring some of these innovations to life especially when there is originality”,he said.
The Education Minister urged people to disabuse their minds of the erroneous impression that inventions only come from the universities, adding that results from the past two STEMNNOVATION competitions have proved that inventions can come from second-cycle levels as well.
Project Topics
Each of the participating second-cycle institutions will be expected to submit a project topic in one of the following areas: Digital Technology, Environmental Sustainability, Food Sovereignty and Sustainable Energy.
Dr Adutwum reiterated that the results and innovations made by the various competitors in the past two events attested to the fact that the innovations brought into the nation’s education sector were yielding the expected results.
Commendation to teachers
He therefore praised teachers at the various levels of the nation’s education for their dedication and commitment towards the development of the nation through education.
The Education Minister stated again that the winners of the two past competitions have proven that the names of educational institutions alone were not enough to impact the knowledge of students but hard work and the preparedness of the students to study irrespective of where the school was located.
The Osu Mantse, Nortse Nii Nortey Owuo IV, who chaired the launching of the event praised Dr Adutwum and other stakeholders for the measures put in place to ensure that the nation was not left behind in the 21st century developmental drive.
He described as precise the various innovations brought on board by the government to ensure that the country does not become a bystander in the ongoing I T development that was shaping the economies of nations as well as the empowerment of the global economy.
President Nana Akufo-Addo and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, have officially commissioned Prempeh I International Airport, Kumasi formerly known as the Kumasi International Airport.
The ceremony, graced by traditional authorities, government officials, and prominent figures of the New Patriotic Party, unfolded in Kumasi in the Ashanti region, on Friday, May 10.
Addressing the occasion, President Akufo-Addo expressed his elation, saying the commissioning underscores his administration’s steadfast dedication to bolstering Ghana’s infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of its people and to position the nation as a beacon of progress and prosperity in Africa.
He emphasised that the timing of the commissioning, coinciding with the 25th-anniversary celebration of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s enstoolment, is not a mere coincidence but a fitting homage to the rich cultural heritage and historical legacy of the Ashanti kingdom.
President Akufo-Addo in a chat with Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene
President Akufo-Addo said that renaming the Kumasi International Airport to honour Otumfuo Agyemang Prempeh I and commissioning it alongside the Asantehene’s anniversary milestone, reflects the profound respect and reverence his government accords to traditional institutions.
“The transformation of Kumasi Airport into Prempeh I International Airport, Kumasi represents more than just bricks and mortar. It embodies the spirit of renovation, excellence and collaboration that defines the Ghanaian people.
“Through meticulous planning, hard work and dedication, we have turned the vision into reality and today we reap the fruits of our neighbour,” he said.
Front view of the Airport
The President said that his decision to rename the Kumasi International Airport after the 14th Asantehene was unequivocal, emphasising that all admirers and historians concur that Otumfuo Agyemang Prempeh I played a pivotal role in consolidating the Ashanti kingdom during his reign in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
“During his reign, he faced significant challenges including colonial encroachment and internal strife but his leadership and vision were instrumental in shaping the destiny of the Ashanti people.”
He recounted that during the heightened tensions between the Ashantis and the British, culminating in the Sagrenti War, won by the British, and leading to Otumfuo Agyemang Prempeh’s arrest and subsequent exile to Sierra Leone and the Seychelles, his final steps on Ghanaian soil were taken on the very grounds on which the airport now stands.
This, he urged the Ghana Airport Company Limited, to ensure the preservation of the premises as a historic site.
President Akufo-Addo emphasised that Prempeh I is revered as a symbol of Ashanti pride, independence, and sovereignty, emphasising that the airport’s commissioning serves as a tribute to his enduring legacy.
He expressed optimism that the airport would alleviate the travails of numerous travellers and businesses in the Ashanti region and beyond.
“The airport will now serve as an important gateway, forging stronger economic ties, supporting international trades and tourism and promoting cultural exchanges,” he said.
He urged Ghanaians, particularly residents of Kumasi, to capitalise on the opportunities presented by the airport for growth and development.
The President said that with the commissioning of the Prempeh I International Airport, Kumasi, the nation embarks on a new chapter towards progress and prosperity.
“Let us work hand-in-hand to build a future that is bright, prosperous and full of promise for generations to come,” President Akufo-Addo said.Source: Prince Adu-Owusu
Apart from deepening the ties between the two countries, the delegation also used the visit to discuss other areas that stood the chance of promoting the development of the two countries.
Apart from helping the students to exhibit their talents through exploration, it also helps them to learn how to work as a team through collaboration as they also learn how to appreciate other students’ talents.
