Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong and his Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro colleague, Sylvester Tetteh, have the smoked pipe in Parliament.
This comes hours after the two were involved in a near fisticuff in Parliament on Tuesday, February 13, while the House was in session.
Some Scenes of the reconciliation by Hon.Ken Agyapong,Sly Tetteh with some leaders in Parliament
In a dramatic turn of events, tensions reached a boiling point as other parliamentarians found themselves needing to play peacemaker roles to prevent a physical altercation.
There was near blows in Parliament on Tuesday between Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong and his New Patriotic Party (NPP) colleague MP, Sylvester Tetteh of Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro over unpaid personal loan.
Sly Tetteh had attempted to extend pleasantry with his colleague, Agyapong, when the latter got infuriated for no apparent reason, Graphic Online’s Parliamentary reporter, Daniel Kenu who witnessed the incident reported.
It was the Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markinw who swiftly stepped in to whisk Sly Tetteh away from the chamber.
Ken Agyapong clashes with Sly Tetteh in Parliament over unpaid personal loan.
A scene captured by Daily Graphic reporter
Although the issue happened at the blind side of the first Deputy Speaker, Joe Osei Owusu, who was presiding, and the fact that the two did not speak into the microphone, it got the attention of journalists and those in the public gallery.
According to Graphic Online’s reporter Daniel Kenu, Sly Tetteh owes Mr Agyapong and when the Assin Central MP confronted him for the money, Tetteh allegedly told him to take him to court, which apparently infuriated Mr Agyapong to react angrily.
Associate Professor of Soil Fertility at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Prof Kwame Agyei Frimpong, has expressed deep concerns about the lack of investments in the agricultural sector.
He further lamented the huge investments pumped into beauty pageants and musical concerts, which benefit a few, calling on Ghanaians to invest in the agricultural sector as well.
Addressing participants during ‘The Swedru Conversations’ under the theme ‘Feeding Ourselves as a Nation,’ Prof Agyei Frimpong bemoaned the lack of support for the agricultural industry, calling for massive support for people in the value chain.
The event is an annual thought leadership program organized by the Alumni Association of the Swedru Senior High School, which took place on Monday, February 12, 2024, at the Alisa Hotel in Accra.
Prof Kwame Agyei Frimpong
“We need to rebrand agriculture, we need to view agriculture as a business as a sustainable and profitable profession. We should look at agriculture from the value chain perspective. In Ghana, we have a season of glut and seasons of scarcity. We need to develop infrastructure for distribution and storage. Some people have the money, imagine if this event was a beauty pageant, a musical concert, or some sports event, you cannot imagine what the attendance would have been.”
He stressed, “Even if people were supposed to pay through their noses, they would do it. But because it’s agriculture, see how many of us are here. That is how we treat our agricultural industry. But I dare say that those of us who decided to do agriculture even up to this point cannot hold our own very much against our contemporaries.”
Some Scenes from the event
Prof Agyei Frimpong advocated for the youth to venture into agriculture, arguing that there are more job opportunities in the sector than in other professions.
He also urged government to focus on agricultural training and not only STEM education.
“We have classmates who are lawyers, medical doctors, you name them, but we’re not poorer than they are. We can do maybe better than they do. I can tell you that for those of you who are students, there are perhaps even more opportunities in agriculture than there are in other professions,” he advised.Source: Leticia Osei
The Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, has touted the significant contributions of the erstwhile John Mahama administration in developing the Ghana Card system.
According to him, the NDC government started the implementation process of the Ghana Card as far back as 2016, arguing that the NPP government only continued with the system developed by the Mahama government.
He claimed that the Mahama administration in 2016 collected biometric and demographic data on about 16 million Ghanaians and processed about 4.7 million cards.
Commenting on Dr Bawumia’s address to the nation, Sammy Gyamfi claimed that the Mahama administration distributed about 900,000 cards before leaving office in 2016.
“Dr. Bawumia deliberately ignored the significant contributions of the NDC/Mahama administration in developing the Ghana Card system to what it is today.
Sammy Gyamfi
“It is important to note, that by 2016, the NDC/Mahama administration had Passed the law that makes the Ghana Card the sole document for identification purposes for any transaction (L.I 2111). Collected biometric and demographic data on about 16 million Ghanaians. Processed about 4.7 million cards. Distributed about 900,000 cards.
“Clearly, this government only came to continue the implementation of a system that had already been developed by the NDC/Mahama government, as a continuation of what was started under [former] President J. A Kufuor and continued by [former] President J.E Atta-Mills of blessed memory. The Ghana card credit must therefore be shared by all successive governments who have contributed to where we are today. Note that Bawumia does not even credit his boss, Akufo-Addo.”
Read below portions of Sammy Gyamfi’s speaking notes on Dr Bawumia’s address to the nation
THE GHANA CARD LIE
*Dr. Bawumia deliberately ignored the significant contributions of the NDC/Mahama administration in developing the GhanaCard system to what it is today.
It is important to note, that by 2016, the NDC/Mahama administration had:
Passed the law that makes the Ghana Card the sole document for identification purposes for any transaction (L.I 2111)
Collected biometric and demographic data on about 16 million Ghanaians
iii. Processed about 4.7 million cards
Distributed about 900,000 cards
Procured 9 million blank cards
Upon assumption of office in 2017, Dr. Bawumia constituted a three-man committee headed by Prof. Ken Attafuah, to review the contract and implementation of the Ghana Card system.
The committee established the facts enumerated above which is contained on page 1 of the report and recommended the use of the existing database to continue from where the NDC left off.
Indeed, the NIA boss Prof. Ken Attafuah told Parliament that the contract that was signed by the NDC/Mahama administration with the Margins Group, is the same contract that is being implemented today.
Clearly, this government only came to continue the implementation of a system that had already been developed by the NDC/Mahama government, as a continuation of what was started under President Kuffour and continued by President Mills of blessed memory.
The Ghana card credit must therefore be shared by all successive governments who have contributed to where we are today. Note that Bawumia does not even credit his boss, Akufo-Addo…Source:Leticia Osei
Journalism Professor Kwame Karikari says the media has the right to exercise its discretion and blackout any newsmaker or public official whose actions are deemed disrespectful to the media profession.
According to him, the 1992 Constitution guarantees the independence of the media, describing it as offensive to the constitutional provisions should newsmakers, particularly, politicians assault a media practitioner.
Professor Karikari contended that if a public official, especially a minister, engages in behaviour that disrespects the principles of journalism and fails to rectify such actions, the media is well within its rights to impose a blackout.
Professor Kwame Karikari
He argued that this approach serves as a powerful tool for the media to protect its integrity and uphold journalistic standards.
“For a minister to behave like that to any sector of the media and without rectifying that action, then the politician deserves to be simply blacked out,” Professor Karikari said on JoyNews’ PM Express on Monday.
He drew attention to the fact that in the current media landscape, politicians can boycott specific media houses and not invite certain media teams to their programmes. Therefore, he argued, the media should also have the right to reciprocate such actions.
Last two weeks, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) imposed a total media blackout on the Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Minister, Mavis Hawa Koomson.
The GJA directed journalists to avoid covering any activities involving the Awutu Senya East MP following an attack on a journalist allegedly by the MP’s thugs during the NPP’s parliamentary aspirants’ vetting in Cape Coast.
The Yendi MP, Farouk Aliu Mahama, has also been included in this total blackout after he was reported to have assaulted a Citi FM reporter during the NPP Parliamentary elections.
Although some have criticised the strategy as one which is not in the public interest, Prof Karikari clarified that while media blackout of key institutions like Parliament and the Presidency would be highly inappropriate, individual politicians who engage in disrespectful behavior towards the media should face the consequences of being blacked out.
“When you assault a journalist, you are telling the media ‘We don’t want you,’ so what business does the media have rendering a service that you claim you do not want? So for me, the media blacking out anyone is within their right.”
On the same show, the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah urged the GJA to ensure that thorough investigations are carried out before the blackout policy is implemented.
He noted that although the directive is a laudable one, it can be abused if left unchecked.
In the vast expanse of technological innovation, the name Dr. Eric Gyamfi stands out as a beacon of brilliance and resilience.
A Ghanaian-born computer scientist, Dr. Gyamfi’s journey is not merely a tale of personal triumph but a testament to Africa’s untapped potential in the realm of technology.
Dr. Eric Gyamfi
His remarkable achievements and unwavering dedication to pushing the boundaries of innovation serve as an inspiration to aspiring tech enthusiasts across the continent.
At the heart of Dr. Gyamfi’s legacy lies his ground-breaking work as the architect behind Ghana’s first-ever electronic voting system.
This revolutionary system, developed under his guidance, was deployed for the Sunyani Technical University Student Representative Council (SRC) elections, facilitating the democratic process for over 5000 student voters.
The President of Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has stated emphatically that the association is very focused and determined to protect media practitioners across the country and will not allow anyone or a group to detract them.
According to him, the system has failed to protect journalists, but they won’t keep mute until action is taken to prevent further attacks on journalists and also see to the prosecution of perpetrators to serve as a deterrent to others.
Albert Kwabena Dwumfour (first from right),Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo, NMC Chairman (2nd from right) and Kevin Brosnahan,US Embassy Press Attache’ at the workshop.
Mr. Dwumfour was very upset about the criticisms by the President of the National Media Commission (NMC), who doubles as a veteran journalist, Mr. Yaw Boadu Ayeboafoh, and ACP George Ankomah, the Ashanti South Police Regional Commander, whose comments seem to have been motivated by the NMC Chairman’s criticism against GJA and other groups for declaring to blacklist two Members of Parliament (MPs) – Hawa Koomson and Farouk Aliu Mahama – for allegedly attacking journalists.
Albert Kwabena Dwumfour
The GJA President made the rebuttal at the same workshop organised by GJA, in collaboration with US Embassy, dubbed: “Journalists for Peaceful Discourse” held at Camp Martin Hotel at Femesua in Kumasi on Friday, 9th February 2024.
The workshop was on the theme: “Promoting Peaceful Journalistic Media Platforms Ahead of Elections 2024”.
Mr. Dwumfour said journalists wouldn’t just come out and speak without having facts; after all, they also know the basic laws of the land.
He said in all the recent attacks on journalists, GJA had always come out to speak against them weeks after the incidents.
According to him, in the case of Hawa Koomson’s alleged attack on a journalist, the case was reported at the Kotokraba Police Station on 4th January 2024. In the case of the “Citi TV” journalist which involved Farouk Aliu Mahama, the case was reported on the same day at the Yendi Police Station but, unfortunately, the police are yet to invite the accused persons.
Some scenes from the workshop
Apart from that, the association has officially written to the IGP, Dr. Akuffo Dampare, and he (Albert Kwabena Dwumfour) has had personal discussions with the IGP but, to date, the IGP has been running away from pursuing the case, for which reason the Police Service and the IGP must sit up.
Mr. Dumfour directed the following response specifically to Mr. Yaw Boadu Ayeboafoh, whose earlier criticism got the support of ACP/Mr. George Ankomah to also paint a picture as if GJA and other groups which made a joint statement on the blackout of the two MPs didn’t follow the necessary procedures to enable the police administration to investigate the incidents.
“… I’m utterly shocked that no other person came here to use our platform to chastise us than the NMC Chair. He’s a senior journalist and a veteran. He didn’t take his time to even ascertain from us what informed the decision; he hasn’t communicated to us. And he just came here to say it’s just dysfunctional. He couldn’t give us functional ways to solve it, and he has run away,” Mr. Dwumfour said.
The NMC Chairman, who delivered a keynote address at the workshop, took a swipe at GJA and other groups for blacklisting the two MPs, describing the action as dysfunctional and unproductive.
Mr. Yaw Boadu Ayeboafoh said,
“Let me turn my attention to the recent violent, vile attacks on journalists for exercising their primary obligation of informing our people. This has resulted in the equally unilateral decision of the GJA in calling for a boycott of a blackout or blacklist of such people. While the approach is popular, it is dysfunctional. I still hold the position that while it is disheartening for journalists to be attacked violently, the unilateral resolve to black out or boycott the MPs is not the most productive reaction.
“We cannot fight impunity with impunity. I will support any efforts to ensure that justice is done against all such deviant acts, rather than blackout or boycott. We must follow the rule of law and due process.”
The National Service Scheme (NSS) has today, Monday, 12th February, 2024 released the first batch of
PIN CODES for thirteen thousand, three hundred and fifty-three (13,353) eligible Ghanaian Trained Teachers to enable them to enroll to be deployed to offer their one-year mandatory national service for the 2024 service year.
Hon.Osei Assibey Antwi,NSS Boss
All eligible trained teachers are requested to log onto the Scheme’s website at www.nss.gov.gh to follow the online enrollment procedure.
Please note that a registration fee of GH¢40.00 should be paid at any branch of the ADB Bank to obtain access to the main enrolment platform to complete the enrolment process.
Alternatively, payment of GH¢41.00 could be made via MTN MoMo.
Enrollment starts on Wednesday, 14
th February, 2024, and ends on Wednesday, 28th February,2024.
All eligible trained teachers are to ensure that they complete their online enrolment process themselves within the stipulated period.
— End —
Thank you.
Signed
AMBROSE ENTSIWAH JNR.
AG. DIRECTOR, CORPORATE AFFAIRS
The Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has launched the Communities of Excellence Programme (CEP) which aims at fostering collaboration between all stakeholders to improve the quality of education in the country.
The initiative is to build a strong network of highly literate communities across the country where no child is left behind and every citizen is empowered to make a meaningful contribution to the socio-economic transformation of the country.
Launching the programme at Mamfe in the Akuapem South District last Friday, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Minister for Education called on opinion leaders, chiefs, political leaders, teachers and other participants to take a keen interest in the education of their children.
He explained that under the CEP, chiefs would play a critical role in ensuring improvement in learning outcomes by providing accommodations and other support to teachers and education providers.
The Education Minister indicated that as part of the programme, the final results of children would be submitted to the chiefs, assemblymen, teachers, Members of Parliament and other stakeholders to help scrutinize and assess the student’s performance.
He spoke of the effort the Ministry made to put in place prudent policies that stood the chance of turning around the country’s development through education.
The CEP programme seeks to ensure that 90 per cent of basic four pupils aged ten attain foundational competencies in literacy, numeracy and socio-emotional development.
It will also ensure that at least 90 per cent of Junior High Schools (JHS) students pass and transition into Senior High School (SHS) while 90 per cent of SHS students pass and transition into tertiary.
According to Nana Baffour Awuah, the Director of Pre-tertiary at the Ministry of Education, the programme held the positive transformation for 700 schools, 232 communities and 40 Districts throughout the country.
He urged the communities to foster a culture of cooperation, innovation and continuous improvement to help sustain the programme.
The Kyidomhene of the Akuapem Traditional Area and chief of Mamfe, Nana Ansah Sasraku III, appealed to his colleague’s chiefs across the country to involve themselves in the implementation of the CEP in other to bring about the change desired.
He noted that education must be of Paramount interest to every traditional area with chiefs taking a keen interest in it.
Nana Ansah Sasraku said education remained the key enabler in dealing with the levels of poverty in the country and the interest of various stakeholders would help improve the quality of education Delivery in the country.
He also appealed for attention to be paid to the boy-child education since much had been attained with the girl child.
The chief said this was necessary because the two genders must be pulled alongside by side, or else the gains made on one side would way down the other.
He also pleaded for the government to find ways to provide free sanitary pads for girls in schools since their menstrual cycle often acted as a hindrance to education.
Background
Ghana has prioritized investment in education and skill training of its youth to develop its human capital and harness its demographic dividend. For a country with a population of 30.8 million people, nearly 40 per cent of whom are under 15 years old, an investment in education represents a viable opportunity to equip the younger generation with the requisite knowledge, skills, and values to become functional and productive citizens.
MoE in Ghana has introduced a series of ambitious national education reforms to address the serious issue of poor basic learning outcomes’ The reforms aim to deliver equitable access to quality education, strengthen education sector accountability and improve the overall educational attainment for young people in Ghana.
The Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has announced that a 22-year-old medical doctor, who graduated from the Cape Coast University in 2023, has been made a motivator for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in the country.
He explained that the young doctor would soon be supported to go around pre-tertiary institutions across the country to motivate students to take their studies seriously after sharing his personal experiences in school with them.
Dr Adutwum announced this when the 22-year-old Dr Kwaku Boakye Gyamfi and his parents paid a courtesy call on him in Accra recently.
In his welcome remarks, Dr Adutwum praised the young doctor for taking his studies seriously leading to the attainment of such a feat and urged him to remain focused as he prepared to begin his housemanship at the 37 Military Hospital soon.
Besides, he eulogised the parents for their support towards his education which has led to how far he has come.
The Education Minister said, “Your story is worthy of emulation by the youth; you have a good story to share to motivate other youths to study hard irrespective of their course of study.”
He indicated that the feat chalked up by the young medical doctor attested to the fact that a lot was going on in the educational sector of the country. He, therefore, pledged to continue to work very hard to help transform the nation through education.
Appreciation
The young Dr Kwaku Boakye Gyamfi told the Minister he was happy with the reception he offered him and pledged to link up with the Education Ministry to motivate other younger students to take their studies seriously.
He also pledged to continue to work very hard so he could support quality healthcare delivery in the country.
Background
Dr. Kwaku Boakye Gyamfi was born in April 2001, and he started Creche in September 2002 when he was only one year and six months old at Danem Royal Montessori School through to Nursery and Kindergarten (KG) at the same school until 2006 when he was five years old.
Primary & JSS Education
He started his primary education at Danem Royal Montessori School in 2006 at age five, and he later moved on to Good Shepherd International School, Oregon International School, and finally to Startrite Montessori School all in Accra, where he completed his JHS education in 2014 at the age of 13. He passed his BECE with an aggregate of 06.
That same year (2014), he gained admission to Prempeh College and completed in 2017 at age 16 with an aggregate of 07.
He then gained admission after successfully passing through the interview process. He was admitted to the University of Cape Coast School of Medical Sciences in the same year (2017) at age 16.
His six-year medical educational training journey successfully ended on 7th September 2023 at the UCC School of Medical Sciences at age 22.
Dr Kwaku Boakye Gyamfi was awarded THE OVERALL BEST GRADUATING STUDENT IN SURGERY at the 5th session of the UCC 56th Congregation.
Dr.Adutwum in a group picture with the Ambassador and others
