A total of 14,830 teachers have sat for the second edition of the subject-based assessment under the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination (GTLE) nationwide.
The number comprised of 6672 fresh candidates and 8158 re-sitters of which 7122 are males and 7708 are females.
The teachers are being tested in the areas of General professional knowledge, Grade level specialism pedagogy and multiple subjects content (single subject specialism) instead of the previous test in which they were tested in general knowledge.
Assurance
Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, Deputy Minister for Education, in charge of general education, visited the Accra College of Education where he wished them well and assured them of the government’s readiness to engage those who would pass the examination.
He explained that the examination which is mandatory for all new teachers was a sure way of granting them the right to teach across the country.
“You have been trained in your various colleges of education and universities. The best of skills have been imbibed in you and this examination is one that is essential,” Rev. Fordjour said.
Seeking support
The Deputy Minister said the Education Ministry was seeking financial clearance to post as many that would pass to various schools and communities where their services would be needed the most.
“I always say that the most crucial flight anyone can be on is education. But you will never be on a flight if the pilot doesn’t have a licence to fly. Therefore, when you sit for this examination and pass to obtain your license, it gives you the legitimate confidence to be among members of our noble profession,” he said.
GTLE backed by law
The Board of Chairman of the National Teaching Council, Mr Anis Haffar, who accompanied the Deputy Minister stated that the GTLE policy had come to stay, adding that one of the most essential things of any profession, especially teaching, was for people to understand that teachers had to be licensed as professionals.
He said there was no legitimate profession anywhere in the world without licensing. “The most important thing now is how teachers can stay abreast of development consistently,” he said.
In addition to licensing, there had to be lifelong learning, Mr Haffar said about Continuous Professional Development (CPD).
By:A News Desk Report
Several market women in Accra have commended the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy as a groundbreaking initiative, asserting its pivotal role in leveling the educational playing field within the country.
During a symposium titled ‘The Free SHS Story,’ organized by the Ministry of Education at the UPSA Auditorium, these women took turns to share their experiences and perspectives on the transformative impact of the FSHS policy.
Social change
They recounted the challenges they faced in the past, struggling to pay school fees for their children attending Senior High Schools (SHS) and compelling it to the implementation of the FSHS policy, they expressed relief as both rich and poor students can now attend the same schools without financial hindrances.
A section of market women and Dr.Osei Yaw Adutwum
Madam Esinam Akpedo, a fish seller from the Madina market, highlighted how the FSHS policy has empowered her to support three of her children through university education. She emphasized that the elimination of financial constraints has enabled students to focus on their studies without distractions, ultimately opening doors for them to pursue their desired courses at the tertiary level.
Afia Serwaa, known as the Queen of tomato sellers at Agbogbloshie market, shared her struggles as a single mother supporting her daughters through SHS. However, she noted a significant difference with her son, currently in his third year at a SHS in the Eastern region, who now studies without difficulty thanks to the FSHS policy
Economic Transformation
During the symposium, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Education Minister, emphasized the pivotal role of the FSHS policy in shaping the nation’s economy by nurturing 21st-century manpower.
He commended the recent academic achievements of the five Northern regions, attributing their success to the FSHS policy’s impact on education quality and access.
Dr. Adutwum showcased various educational developments in the country, expressing optimism that sustained progress would position Ghana as a leader in education within the African continent.
FSHS Policy’s Social Impact
Mr. William Darkwa, the National Coordinator for the FSHS policy, highlighted the positive societal changes catalyzed by the policy.
He emphasized improvements in equity, access, and quality across all SHS/TVET institutions, underscoring the policy’s overarching objectives.
Background: FSHS Policy Driving Educational Advancements
Initiated by the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government in 2017, the FSHS policy continues to shape the skills and knowledge of Ghanaians through various innovative initiatives.
These include STEM education, the revitalization of TVET education, and the introduction of Pre-Engineering and robotics programs, among others.
The FSHS Secretariat, in support of the policy, has launched projects such as STEMNNOVATION to nurture students’ diverse talents and abilities, further enhancing the educational landscape of the nation.
END
The Transport Minister, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah says the Kumasi International Airport will be commissioned and put to use in June this year.
According to him, the opening of the airport to traffic would ease the burden on air travelers in the northern part of the country who have to commute to Accra for their international travels.
Already, the Ghana Airport Company, says an estimated 800,000 air passengers are expected to use the new facility annually.
Speaking to JoyNews, Mr. Asiamah said “by the end of June we should start operationalizing this terminal.”
The assertion by the Transport Minister follows an earlier one made by the Finance Minister in February.
According to Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, the Kumasi International Airport project, which was stalled for months is expected to be completed in April this year.
He explained that the huge part of the funds needed to complete the capital-intensive project has so far been released by the government to the contractor for work to resume.
The Minister of Finance said the government is now only required to pay the remaining two million euros in order for the project, which was stalled, to be completed.
He assured that the two million euros would be settled in one week’s time.
“This project would have been completed sometime ago but for the problem that we faced. Having said that, we have made renewed efforts to address those challenges.
“Part of the outstanding amount of money which was to be paid for work to resume has been paid to the contractor,” the Finance Minister said when he visited the airport.
“What is left is about just two million euros which we are going to pay within one week so that the contractor would have no excuse as far as funding is concerned, to work to bring the project to completion.”
Dr. Amin Adam, who sounded positive, said, “I’m impressing upon them to make sure by April 2024 they bring their work to a closure so we can use the airport.”
According to him, the completion of the Kumasi International Airport project would go a long way to improve air travel and also improve the lives of the people.
The Finance Minister reiterated his call on the contractor to expedite works so the project would be completed within the next two months, for it to be opened for public use
The Supreme Court has declared as unconstitutional the decision by Parliament for the wives of the President and Vice President to receive salaries.
According to the apex court, the approval is inconsistent with the 1992 constitution since the First Lady and the wife of the Vice President do not fall under public officeholders.
This follows a suit filed against the Attorney General in July 2021 by the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe, popularly called Abronye.
Among other things, the NPP Chairman was seeking a “declaration that per Article 71(1) and (2), the positions of the ladies do not fall under the category of Public Office holders.”
Current First Lady,Mrs.Rebecca Akufo-Addo and 2nd Lady Samaria Bawumia
The writ added that “… Per Articles 108 and 178 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana: Parliament, cannot on its own accord, initiate or approve payment of any such emoluments which would necessarily be paid from public funds, without a bill to that effect emanating from and introduced by the Government and duly passed into law.”
Again, the suit urged the court to declare that the approval by Parliament to pay salaries to the First and Second Ladies is inconsistent with Article 71 clauses 1 and 2 of the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana and consequently be declared null, void and unenforceable.
Subsequently, a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court presided over by Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo granted three out of the four reliefs sought by the Bono Regional Chairman.
Mr Abronye’s fourth relief, which was praying the Court to to declare that parliament cannot, on its own accord, initiate or approve payment of any such emoluments; which would necessarily be paid from public funds; without a bill to that effect emanating from and introduced by the government and duly passed into law, was not granted.
Although the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament (MPs) for South Dayi Constituency, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, filed a similar action, his reliefs which focused on the recommendations of the Professor Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu Committee were dismissed, while only one was granted.
Committee’s recommendations
The Professor Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu Committee submitted the report of its recommendations, dated 18 June 2020, to President Akufo-Addo.
This was in fulfilment of the Article 71 provision of the 1992 constitution which enjoins every sitting president to set up a committee before the end of his or her four-year mandate to make recommendations on emoluments for Article 71 office-holders.
The five-member committee’s report recommended, among other things, the payment of a salary equivalent to a cabinet minister who is a Member of Parliament to the First Lady while her husband is in office, and the payment of a salary equivalent to 80% of the salary of a minister of state who is an MP if the spouse served one full term as president, or 100% of the salary of a minister of state who is an MP if the spouse served two or more full terms as president.
With Second Ladies, the committee report recommended the payment of a salary equivalent to a cabinet minister who is not a Member of Parliament to a second lady while her husband is in office and, once he leaves office, the payment of a salary equivalent to 80% of the salary of a minister of state who is not an MP if the spouse served one full term as vice-president, or 100% of the salary of a minister of state who is a member of Parliament if the spouse served two or more full terms as vice-president.
Workers of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) have cautioned the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah to settle outstanding electricity bills accrued at his private residences or face disconnection from the national grid.
The warning comes in the wake of a series of protests initiated by the ECG workers, following the Minister’s order for the arrest of one of their managers.
The Minister’s actions have sparked outrage among the ECG workers, particularly after he recently ordered the arrest of the company’s Ashanti East Manager, Mark Wiafe Asomani. This order was given after the ECG’s National Revenue Mobilization Taskforce disconnected power to the Kumasi Technical University due to unpaid bills.
In response to the Minister’s actions, the Workers’ Union of the ECG issued a statement demanding an apology. However, the Minister has yet to issue an apology, despite the ultimatum given by the Union having elapsed on Tuesday.
As part of their protest, ECG workers have started wearing red bands at their offices nationwide. Despite this, they have ensured that customer service remains unaffected.
The Union leadership has expressed their determination to intensify the protest if the Minister does not take appropriate action. They maintain that the Minister’s actions are unacceptable and that he must be held accountable for his actions.
A worker told Citi News on Wednesday “If the regional minister owes any bill in his private house we are going there. This week we will get to his house if he owes a pesewa, we will disconnect him then the police must come and arrest all of us.
“If he arrests any regional boss all of us will be at the prison yard. So, they should expand the prison yard all of us are coming. We are expecting him to apologise…We know all his houses …We are going there…He should prepare to pay his money, or we will disconnect him.”
Another worker said “The action of the minister is more of a security concern than our General Manager’s meeting at the REGSEC. The reason is that the actions can lead to other customers emulating what he did and we think that he should just apologise unreservedly to ECG then we move on. We have a series of actions to take. This is the first step That is why we said that if he is not apologizing someone should tell him to do so.”
Pope Francis on Wednesday, April 24, welcomed Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in the “Auletta,” or small study, of the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall, according to a statement issued by the Holy See Press Office.
Following this, Dr. Bawumia held discussions with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.
Pope Francis,Bawumia and Samaria Bawumia
The Holy See Press Office reported that the meeting underscored the positive relations between the Holy See and Ghana, with a particular emphasis on various aspects of Ghana’s political and socio-economic landscape.
The discussions highlighted the ongoing collaboration between the two entities, especially in critical sectors such as education and healthcare.
The talks at the Secretariat of State also delved into current international matters, with a specific focus on security challenges faced by countries in West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.
This exchange of views reflects the shared concern for addressing regional security issues and fostering stability in these areas.
The meeting between Pope Francis and Vice President Bawumia signifies the ongoing dialogue and cooperation between the Holy See and Ghana, aiming to strengthen partnerships and address mutual concerns at both national and international levels.
Away! Away! – Wontumi booed during Ejisu by-election campaign, voters chant Aduomi’s name
R2BEES APRIL 24, 2024
The Ashanti Regional chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, alias Wontumi, was booed in the Ejisu Constituency during campaigns for an upcoming by-election.
Chairman Wontumi
Hundreds of aggrieved residents of Bowire booing Chairman Wontumi and NPP campaign team
The death of NPP Member of Parliament (MP), John Kumah in early March triggered the April 30 vote which the party is widely expected to win.
Videos
During a campaign stop in Bonwire, Wontumi suffered boos and jeers from a section of the public when he attempted to deliver an address accompanied by some party supporters.
A group of young men in front of a shop would not allow Wontumi to address them as they booed him with chants of ‘away! away!’ They are later heard chanting the name of a former MP who is contesting as an independent aspirant.
Second video
The said aspirant, Kwabena Owusu Aduomi is one of three independent candidates seeking to replace the late MP. Aduomi lost his reelection bid to Kumah in the 2020 primaries and has vowed to reclaim the seat as an independent candidate.
The NPP’s candidate is lawyer Kwabena Boateng, who along with Esther Osei (CPP) and Beatrice Boakye (LPG) complete the six slots on the ballot paper.
The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) have opted out of the vote stating that it wanted to concentrate its energies on winning the 2024 general elections.
The full list of candidates for the Ejisu by-election is as follows:
Head of Linguistics at the University of Ghana, Professor Kofi Agyekum has cautioned the governing New Patriotic Party(NPP) against the impact of the current electricity crisis on their performance in the December 7 elections.
Professor Kofi Agyekum, popularly called “Opanyin Agyekum”, registered his displeasure with the Electricity Company of Ghana’s delay in drawing a timetable for Ghanaians.
To him, the call for a timetable is genuine as it will help Ghanaians to plan their activities unlike they being unable to predict the situation.
Opanyin Agyekum also expressed worry over the government’s refusal to be transparent with Ghanaians regarding the cause of the power cuts and when the nation should expect an end to the problem.
Professor Kofi Agyekum
To him, how the government is treating Ghanaians may affect their “breaking the eight” agenda.
“Your breaking the eight will be difficult if this problem lingers on”, he said, advising “it’s not shameful to tell us that you promised us no dumsor but at it stands now, we are in dumsor . . . so, the government should wake up if it’s sleeping and resolve this issue immediately for us because this is extremely disturbing”.
He made this comment during Peace FM’s morning show “Kokrokoo”.
A newly established policy think tank – the Liberal Institute for Policy Studies (LIPS) – has revealed that all indicators show the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has outperformed the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as far as health delivery system in the Ashanti Region is concerned.
“The record of the NPP in the Ashanti Region on health infrastructural development and delivery is stronger than that of the NDC. The NDC did not complete and commission a single hospital in the region in its eight-year term when John Mahama served as a vice-president and, subsequently, a president.
“Secondly, the NDC did not complete a single hospital it inherited from any of the
previous governments in its 8 years when John Mahama served as vice-president and,
subsequently, a president.
“In contrast, the NPP has completed six out of the eight hospitals the government inherited. The NPP has completed five out of the 24 hospitals the government has initiated. The government has also completed five specialised projects.”
Dr.Keskine Owusu Poku addressing the Media
The above revelations were contained in a statement read by the Executive Director of LIPS, Dr. Keskine Owusu Poku, at a press conference to officially ‘outdoor’ the think tank and its published first research work.
The well-attended press conference was held at Yagola Hotel in Kumasi on Tuesday, 23rd April 2024.
The policy think thank provided a power point intellectual analyses of hospital infrastructural projects inherited, completed and commissioned between the NPP and the NDC for eight years period.
The executive summary of the presentation highlighted projects on health infrastructural development and delivery in the Ashanti Region.
Dr. Keskine, therefore, urged the media to focus more on developmental projects to help ensure issues-based campaign ahead of the 2024 general election.
He disclosed that before the NPP took over office, the Ashanti Region had only five ambulances but only two were functioning. But through the implementation of the ambulance programme, Ashanti Region got additional 19 ambulances.
The full text of the statement reads:
PRESS STATEMENT ON HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE
DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY IN THE ASHANTI REGION
BY THE LIBERAL INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES
Introduction
Good morning ladies and gentlemen from the press, fellow Directors at LIPS and all
other protocol observed.
The LIBERAL INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES (LIPS)
is a centre-right think tank. While we believe on conservatism, property-owning
democracy and the liberties of individuals to pursue their God given talents as away
of contributing to the betterment of society, we are not lost on the fact that the politics
of the state and policy decisions must and should shape the development of our
society. Though government policies are made at the national level, it is an
established policy logic that policies must have localised relevance. There is no
relevance in having an excellent policies on paper if they cannot and do not lead to the
provision of quality health infrastructure, good roads, enhanced security and good
governance in our communities. Hence, LIPS takes a bottom-up approach in a not-too
complicated manner that examines policy and development outputs across the various
regions of Ghana.
As we get closer to the elections 2024, many are left with the critical question as to
what should determine who wins the 2024 elections. Should it be based just on
rhetoric, manifesto, name calling or a critical examination of the development that
each party has delivered across the regions of Ghana? With the gamut of promises
that the two main parties are making ahead of the 2024 elections, it is imperative to
have a fair unbiased appreciation of the facts of their delivery in the respective regions
as a benchmark for examining competence, trust and responsiveness to the needs of
the citizenry.
Luckily, the two leaders of the main political parties have served at the high offices of
Vice President or higher in the last 8 years afforded their parties in the last 16 years.
The evidence of delivery in the respective sectors of the state by the two parties provides an important foreshadow of the level of trust we can commit to their
promises. LIPS commits to providing factual sector by sector analysis of the
performance of the two main parties across the 16 Regions of Ghana. Attention will
be paid to the Health, Educational, Road, Trade/Industry/Commerce, Energy,
Governance/Security/Local Government, among others.
Summary of work
LIPS sets the ball rolling with the health infrastructure development and delivery in
the Ashanti Region over the last 16 years.
A careful study of the hospital projects in
the Ashanti region from January 7, 2009 to April 2024 points to 41+1 hospital
projects in the Ashanti Region. All these hospitals projects were visited to ascertain
the level of work. Contractors on these project sites (ongoing) were also interviewed
to understand the status of some of the ongoing projects. Additional, government
officials and public servants with direct responsibility for the completion and
commissioning of these projects were also interviewed. Lastly, attention was also paid
to official documentation from Parliament and the Ministry of Health. In analysing
the data, we categorised the variables for analysis into 3.
⚫ First, how many hospital projects were inherited from previous regimes as at the
time of assuming office on January 07, 2009 (NDC) and January 07, 2017 (NPP).
Out of these, how many were completed? Out of the completed number, how
many are commissioned for use and actively working?
⚫ The second variable looks at the number of hospitals that were initiated within the
8 years each government was in office. How many of such hospitals were
completed and how many out of the completed hospitals have been
commissioned for use?
⚫ The last variable looks at specialised hospital projects which may have been
initiated by a government agency in the region, embedded with a hospital or
developed for a specialised function. Out of these initiated projects, how many
were completed and commissioned for use. A special case is made about the
Maternal and Child block at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).
The project credited to the Rebecca Akufo-Addo Foundation with the support of
Corporate Ghana. That said, her connection to the current regime cannot be
underestimated.
Now we turn to the findings of the project, in the same order as the variables were
presented.
INHERITED PROJECTS
NDC did not complete any hospital project inherited from previous governments in
the Ashanti Region in their 8 years (January 07, 2009 to January 06, 2017). These
hospitals include the Bekwai hospital from the Acheampong regime, the 4 Euroget
projects from the Kufour regime (Konongo, Tepa, Sewua and Afari) and the 800 bed
KNUST Teaching Hospital. None of these hospital projects were completed from
January 07, 2009 to January 06, 2017. Hence, none was commissioned. The NDC
sought for funding for Bekwai hospital in 2010 and secured same in 2012. However,
the NDC could not finish the hospital project. On Euroget projects that started in 2008,
the NDC revisited the project in 2014. As at the time of leaving office, none was
completed.
The 800 bed KNUST Teaching Hospital was entirely abandoned in the 8
years of the NDC. Though the project started with Internally Generated Funds (IGF)
from the University, it got no support from the central government despite calls for
support from the Chancellor of KNUST, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, in 2012.
In a sharp contrast, the NPP sought additional funding in 2019 to complete the agelong Bekwai district hospital and commissioned same for use in 2021. Out of the 4
Euroget projects, 3 have been completed with 2, Konongo and Tepa district hospitals,
in use. A power transmission sub-station for the Sewua Regional Hospital is almost
complete. For the hospital structure and installations, all are completed. The 500 bed
Afari Military Hospital is about 95% and work is ongoing in earnest to complete and
commission same for use. Regarding the 800 bed KNUST Teaching Hospital which
was abandoned for 8 years under the NDC, the NPP government has secured a loan of
€80 million for the continuation and completion of the project. In addition to these,
the Fomena and Kumawu District Hospitals which were inherited from the NDC have
also been completed. Fomena Hopsital is currently in use and Kumawu District
Hospital was handed over to the Assembly in the second week of April and expected
to be in use in May according to the District Chief Executive, Hon. Addai Agyekum.
HOSPITALS INITIATED BY RESPECTIVE GOVERNMENTS
NDC did not complete and commission any of the hospital the NDC government
initiated in the Ashanti Region from 2009 to 2016. The NDC, initiated 2 hospitals, the
Fomena and Kumawu District Hospitals, under the NMS projects in 2014. None of
these got completed. On the other hand, in the last 8 years, the NPP has initiated 24
new hospital, with 19 under the Agenda 111 and 5 under VAMED. While all 5 project
under VAMED (Sabronum, Manso Nkwanta, Suame – Anomange, Drobonso and
Twedie) are completed and handed over to government, the 19 Agenda 111 projects
are at various stages of completion.
SPECIALISED PROJECTS INITIATED
In a search for other monumental projects “within” hospitals or that supports critical
health care delivery, the Eye Centre was counted for the NDC from January 07, 2009
to January 06, 2017 at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Luckily, they managed
to complete and commission it for use. On the other hand, the NPP counts 10 major
health infrastructure initiatives that support and assist in the delivery of health in the
Ashanti Region.
Specifically, the Mother and Baby Unit is the legacy of the First Lady, Mrs Rebecca
Akufo-Addo, who through her ingenuity and leadership raised funds from corporate
Ghana to build. Additionally, 5 of these specialised projects are also completed and 4
are in use. The completed ones are the Patase Police Hospital (by the Police Service),
Treatment and Quarantine Facility (Chirapatre), Comprehensive Treatment and
Quarantine Facility (Sewua), Zipline Medical Drone Delivery, 1 Constituency 1
Ambulance. It is interesting to note that before the 1 constituency 1 ambulance project
in Ashanti Region, the Region could boost of only 2 working ambulances out of 5.
Today, Ashanti Region has 48 Ambulances, out of which one is dedicated to each of
the 47 constituencies and 1 dedicated to the Kumasi Sport Stadium. The Medical
Drone Delivery Service is also helping to deliver needed medical supplies to
hinterland in the Ashanti Region.
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, the record of the NPP in the Ashanti Region on health infrastructure
development and delivery is stronger than that of the NDC.
The NDC did not
complete and commission a single hospital in the Ashanti Region in their 8 years
where John Mahama served as a Vice President and subsequently, a President.
Secondly, the NDC did not complete a single hospital it inherited from any of the
previous governments in its 8 years where John Mahama served as Vice President and
subsequently, a President. In contrast, the NPP has completed 6 out of the 8 hospitals
the government inherited. The NPP has completed 5 out of the 24 hospitals the
government has initiated. The government has also completed 5 specialised projects.
