producing from the Colleges are half-baked and not professionally prepared to be posted to teach in our schools?
Furthermore, the Mahama decision to stop the periodic exams align with international practices in educa9on, where countries such as Finland, Singapore, and Canada have implemented similar models that prioritize the acquisi9on of quality skills during the teacher training programme rather than relying solely on periodic examinations.
It is crucial to acknowledge that teachers play a pivotal role in shaping the future of a nation.
Their role extends beyond simply delivering curriculum; they serve as mentors and sources of inspiration to their students.
Stan Xoese Dogbe
By easing the financial burden on teachers and focusing on quality training, the proposal to abolish licensure exams aligns with the broader goals of providing enhanced education opportunities for all children in Ghana.
Let me conclude by saying that the decision to abolish the mandatory licensure exams for teachers demonstrates a commitment to improving the quality of education.
By prioritizing quality training during the teacher trainee phase and linking licensure to ongoing professional development, this proposal will not only empower teachers but also ensure that students receive the education they deserve.
It is our duty as a na9on to support these progressive changes and work towards a brighter future for all Ghanaian children.
Take advantage of technological transformation agenda – GES boss urges tertiary students
By Boakye Baafi
The Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Dr. Eric Nkansah, has urged tertiary students in the country to take advantage of the technological transformation agenda which is controlling the workforce in the world.
He noted that technology had become a tool which is transforming the way people live, work, and learn.
According to him, technology is redefining the skills and knowledge needed in modern workforce, hence it has become important for every university student and graduate to show interest in it.
Dr. Nkansah gave the advice when he addressed students and graduands at the 57th congregation of the KNUST College of Humanities and Social Sciences in Kumasi.
He indicated that what would set them apart from their peers in the journey ahead was the development of the soft skills they had gained.
He, therefore, encouraged them to invest in the acquisition of soft skills related to technological transformation.
“While your academic achievements have laid a solid foundation, your soft skills will be the compass guiding your success,” he indicated.
Dr. Nkansah told the graduands that technical expertise alone was not enough in the dynamic landscape they were entering, rather their ability to communicate effectively, collaborate seamlessly, and adapt to change would be their greatest asset. He said those were the soft skills that would transform their knowledge into impact.
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), with the support of Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety, a not-for-profit organisation (NGO), has donated consumables, among other items, to road crash victims at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Accident & Emergency Unit.
Mr.Samuel Pyne making presentation to KATH CEO,Prof.Dr.Addai-Mensah
Mr. Samuel Pyne, the Mayor of Kumasi, on behalf of the Assembly and its partners, made the donation on Monday, 20th November 2023, at a short ceremony in front of the Accident & Emergency Unit of KATH.
The items donated included toiletries, detergents, hospital consumables and a hospital bed. They were donated to the Accident and Emergency Unit.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for KATH, Prof. Dr. Otchere Addai -Mensah, received the items on behalf of the hospital and the victims.
The Kumasi Mayor said, “Today is World Remembrance Day for Crash Victims and the Assembly (KMA) supported by our partners Bloomberg Philanthropies decided to donate these items, including bandages, tissue papers, bottled water and the rest to patients who are accident victims. We also plan to talk with victims as we visit them at their beds.”
Some scenes from the event
According to him, the donation formed part of the celebration of World Remembrance Day for Crash Victims. “Unlike previously when public events were held to commemorate the day in Kumasi, I suggested to the Assembly to rather donate these items to the unit and use the opportunity to visit patients and victims of accidents,” he disclosed.
Mr. Pyne, therefore, seized the opportunity to caution drivers to be careful and adhere to all road traffic regulations, especially as Christmas and New Year are just around the corner, to help prevent road crashes. He also cautioned them against speeding.
The Mayor reminded all drivers that good drivers are the ones who embark on their duties with caution and not those who go for more rounds even when they are tired and sleepy.
Mr. Pyne announced that plans were far advanced for the Assembly to intensify public awareness on road safety for commercial drivers in particular.
‘’I want to use this opportunity to advise drivers, especially commercial vehicle drivers, to be cautious on the road seeing that during these times there are a lot of people who visit the cities to trade and do other businesses. It’s my hope they obey traffic rules and drive carefully so that they can arrive safely with their passengers at all times,” added.
He also renewed his appeal on the need for all Ghanaians, especially all residents and those from the Ashanti Region to support the “Heal Komfo Anokye” project, an initiative by the new KATH CEO and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. He cautioned against the politicisation of the initiative.
On his part, Prof. Dr. Addai-Mensah expressed his appreciation to the KMA Mayor and the Assembly for their continued support.
He thanked KMA for the donation.
According to the CEO, they recently received some wastebins from the KMA and that clearly demonstrates that Mr. Pyne and the Assembly have KATH at heart. “We hope this good relationship would continue because it is heartening to see the KMA and in particular the Mayor of Kumasi show so much support to KATH by paying money to enable us to renovate this facility as well as provide us with wastebins so we can keep the facility tidy at all times and on behalf of this hospital I want to say we are grateful,” he added.
The CEO of KATH, KMA boss and his entourage also interacted with a number of road crash victims at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital.
The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has expressed support for the licensure exams for teacher trainees, asserting that it is a beneficial policy and should not be cancelled.
The Association’s President, Prince Obeng Himah says the policy provides specialized training for teachers, distinguishing it from other professions.
This goes contrary to the stance of National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, who has promised to abolish the licensure exams.
Mr Himah believes that cancelling the policy would have a detrimental impact on the entire educational sector.
“In my opinion, it is something that is good and it shouldn’t be cancelled. That is CETAG, we have stated that we should implement what we agreed two years ago when we had a conference that the students wanting to enter the teaching profession should be subjected to entrance exams,” he said in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM on Monday, November 20.
Former President John Dramani Mahama
During his ‘Building Ghana Tour’ in the Bono Region, Mr Mahama pledged to eliminate the exams, arguing that subjecting teacher trainees to an additional assessment for qualification is unnecessary.
According to him, the concept surrounding the entire licensure examination was not well thought through which raises some concerns.
While Mahama advocates for the cancellation of the licensure exams, CETAG emphasises the importance of these exams in ensuring the competence and quality of future teaching professionals.
Six people have reportedly died following a road crash that occurred at Asanso near Asante Bekwai in the Ashanti Region on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
The incident is said to have happened when one of the five vehicles conveying mourners from Aputuogya to Manso Fahiakobo collided with a truck.
Five people died on the spot, while another person died later at the hospital.
Several others who sustained injuries were taken to the Bekwai Government Hospital and the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).
A scene from the accident
An eyewitness, Nana Ampong, told Citi News, “This is a sad event that occurred at Asante Bekwai-Asanso Afidjase. One of the five vehicles conveying mourners from Aputuogya to Manso Fahiakobo collided with a truck carrying sand, leading to the death of five people—four adults and a child—on the spot.”
“The sixth person died when we got to Asante-Bekwai hospital. About seven of the people who were also involved in the crash were taken to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, and the rest at Asante Bekwai
Vice President of the Confederacy for the Development of Poultry in Africa (CADA), Mr. John Bewuah Edusei has called for a ‘pragmatic program’ to grow the poultry business in Ghana and reduce frozen chicken imports.
He said there is the need for a full and quick attention given to the frozen chicken business if government really wants to stabilize the economy of the country.
According to the CADA Vice President, the amount of foreign currency used for these imports is quite huge and has the ability to impact negatively on Ghana’s currency, the Cedi.
Mr. John Bewuah Edusei
“Our youth need jobs and a lot of agricultural schools and Universities have turned out so many agriculturalist onto the field. Persistently allowing the growth of this frozen Chicken importation, simply means that we are promoting the businesses of other countries from where these frozen Chicken are imported.
…By so doing we are also offering jobs to the outside world, when we patronise their produce. I am not in any way suggesting that the businesses of our Importers of frozen Chicken should collapse, I am rather calling and emphasising for the situation where our Chicken importers will invest in local broiler production.” He noted.
Mr. Bewuah Edusei who has been one great voice always advocating for governmental assistance for the poultry industry in Ghana speaking to journalists, pointed that Import values are around a minimum 350,000 metric tons, implying that Ghana eats about 1,000,000 KG of Chicken every single day.
Mr. Bewuah Edusei who is also the Secretary to the Hatcheries Association also questioned government’s plan to select what it called Anchor Farmers to grow broilers locally.
“In the 2024 Budget, read a few days ago, the finance Minister mentioned that there was going to be a selection of Anchor Farmers to grow Broilers locally. The question is, on which market are these going to be sold, when so much of Cheap, but poor quality, frozen Chicken have already flooded our markets. In a situation where the market is already chocked, when we say we are going to grow more, without cutting down on what comes in, forecasting for a possible market, where are we going to sell these local Broilers.” He queried worriedly.
Listing the stages through which the broiler business should pass in order to become a success, he therefore insisted that his proposal of a 10 percent cut of frozen chicken imports will be very helpful if government is serious about local broiler production.
“Joblessness and poverty are dangerous phenomena to our country. We have to work at it by encouraging our rich, frozen chicken importers to invest in local broiler poultry production, to produce to fill in the 10 percent cut off, with local broiler production.” He insisted.
A delegation from the Ghana National Council of Sweden (GNCS) on Friday 17th November, paid a courtesy visit to H.E. Mrs. Sylvia Naa Adaawa Annoh, the Ambassador of Ghana to Sweden and Denmark, to deepen shared interest and explore avenues for cooperation between the Council and the Embassy in Denmark. The visit was also in the spirit of working hand in hand with the trade and investment department to harness growth and investment for the development of Ghana.
The delegation was led by the Chairlady of Ghana National Council of Sweden, Nana Afia Achiaa Deiwaa I (Josephine Antwi) who also doubles as the queen mother of Asante’s in Sweden. In addressing the Ambassador and the staff, the Chairlady praised the embassy for their improved services, good and friendly communication, and their prompt and receptive response whenever they are called upon. She also commended the embassy on the success of the Mobile Consular Service (MCS) that the Embassy offers, which enables several people to have the opportunity to receive consular services at their doorstep in Sweden. The chairlady explained how the MCS has been beneficial to hundreds of people in several different ways. The MCS is an exercise initiated and implemented by the Ghana Embassy in Demark to visit various Ghanaian communities in Sweden to provide visa, passport, and other consular services to a lot of people, both Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians.
Nana Afia Achiaa Deiwaa I also expressed gratitude to the Ambassador for the friendly relationship between the Ghana National Council of Sweden and the Embassy. She elaborated that the nature of her responsibilities as the Chair of the Council requires regular contact with the embassy, sometimes at odd hours. She said she was humbled by the warm reception and response anytime she reaches out to the embassy.
Furthermore, the Chairlady commended the embassy for the drastic improvement in visa and passport delivery time. She however said that there are still few instances where there are delays, and prayed the embassy have a look at it and rectify it. She also appealed to the Consular to have a visa invitation template on its website to make it easier for members when they need to invite someone to Ghana.
Reacting to the comments of Nana Afia Achiaa Deiwaa I, H.E the Ambassador expressed her excitement in receiving the delegates to discuss issues of mutual benefits to propel Ghana. She emphasized the importance of a face-to-face interaction and her delight in such a visit.
The Ambassador thanked GNCS for the compliment on the work the embassy is doing. She added that they are not complacent, and the staff have been working hard to improve the services of the embassy.
The ambassador further said she was happy the embassy’s efforts are being recognized and appreciated by the Ghanaian community in Sweden. The Ambassador commended GNCS for its interest to work with the trade and investment department of the embassy, to enhance the development of Ghana. She assured the delegation that the doors of the embassy are always open to them and added that she believes in open dialogue and stressed the need for GNCS to feel free in coming forward with any issues of concern and not shed them under the carpet.
After the deliberation, the delegation from GNCS had opportunity to visit the Consular section of the embassy to get some insight in the work of the Consular, Mrs. Adoma Owiredu and her staff.
The staff shared some of the challenges they face in their work. It was mutually agreed that GNCS and the Consulate work together to educate the Ghanaian community in Sweden and beyond on various application processes to avoid some of the delays highlighted by the Chairlady during her speech. The Consular also commended the suggestion to have a visa invitation template on its website, and gave assurance that they will work on it as soon as possible. Present during the discussions also were the Deputy Head of Mission – Mrs. Elizabeth Dodoo, Trade and Investment Officer – Mrs. Joycelyn Atiase, General Secretary of GNCS – Simon Boahen, and the Treasurer of GNCS – Mr. Patrick Asiedu Frimpong.
FORFEITURE OF MEMBERSHIP PURSUANT TO THE PROVISION OF ARTICLE 3(9)(1) OF THE NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY CONSTITUTION
The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has taken notice of recent activities of Hopeson Adorye, Yaw Buaben Asamoa, Nana Ohene Ntow and Boniface Abubakar Saddique which includes publicly endorsing the candidature of a person other than the duly elected Presidential Candidate of the Party; His Excellency Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia.
Yaw Buaben Asamoah
Nana Ohene Ntow
In spite of their flagrant breach of the Party’s Constitution particularly Articles 3(5)(A)(4) and 3(9)(1), the afore- named men still hold themselves out as members of the NPP.
For the avoidance of doubt, Article 3(5)(A)(4) of the NPP Constitution enjoins all members of the Party to
”abide by and publicly uphold the decisions of the Party”
Justin Frimpong Kodua,NPP General Secretary
Also, Article 3(9)(1) of the Constitution provides as follows:
“A Member of the Party, who stands as an independent candidate against the officially elected member of the Party, or who joins or declares his or her support for another Political Party, or for an independent candidate, when the Party has sponsored a candidate in a general or by-election, automatically forfeits his or her membership of the Party”.
In line with these constitutional provisions, it is the view of the NPP that Hopeson Adorye, Nana Ohene Ntow, Boniface Abubakar Saddique and Yaw Buaben Asamoa have AUTOMATICALLY FORFEITED their membership of the Party. They are, therefore, no longer members of the Party.
The NPP entreats its members to remain true to their duties as per Article 3(5) of the party Constitution. We further call upon our members to bear in mind that the Party’s focus is to unite its ranks and rally the support of Ghanaians to make history by winning the 2024 general elections.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has urged Ghanaians not to lose hope in the country, as they have the opportunity to change the managers of the country’s economy in the 2024 general elections.
He said many Ghanaians are going through extreme hardship under the Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
According to him, many of the youth he had interacted with across the country had lost hope in the country.
The ex-President addressed the congregants of the Apostolic Continuation Church at Techiman in the Bono East Region on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
The flag bearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, who is in the region for his “Building Ghana Tour,” went to the church to worship with them.
The NDC leaders commenced the “Building Ghana Tour” to engage Ghanaians and revitalize the NDC in readiness for the 2024 presidential campaign.
The Building Ghana Tour serves as a platform for Mr. Mahama to meet and interact with Ghanaians from all walks of life, supporters, and sympathizers of the NDC.
As part of the tour, he will make crucial stops in key cities, towns, and villages and engage local communities to listen to their concerns, insights, and aspirations for a prosperous Ghana.
John Dramani Mahama
Mr. Mahama also urged Ghanaians to give thanks to God at all times, irrespective of the challenge.
He, however, admonished Ghanaian voters to learn their lessons from deceitful politicians who give juicy promises but fail to honour them and vote against such persons.
“Let us learn from our mistakes and vote wisely,” he said in Twi, adding, “I’m aware of what every Ghanaian is going through. The hardship is unbearable.”
