The World Health Organization (WHO) says almost 2.4 million Ghanaians could be suffering from various degrees of mental illness.
The organisation believes this calls for enhanced cooperation in the area of infrastructure and technical support to revamp Ghana’s wobbling mental healthcare system.
Ghana’s Mental Health Authority has on countless occasions remarked negatively about the state affairs with respect to the heavily underfunded nature of the mental healthcare system of the country.
This, according to the authority, coupled with the drastic deterioration of pre-existing infrastructure does little to address the psychological needs of Ghanaians.
Speaking in an interview with Blessed Sogah on Foreign Affairs on JoyNews, World Health Organisation representative to Ghana, Professor Francis Kasalo expressed worry about the trend in Ghana.
Professor Francis Kasalo
“It is in Ghana for example out of the population of almost thirty million plus it is estimated that almost 2.4 million have a form of mental illness. That’s not a small number and if you are looking at that number why are we not investing in ensuring that those people receive appropriate care? So the numbers are huge” he said.
The WHO country representative says a major factor complicating the mental healthcare delivery in Ghana is the attitude of the general public to the health condition which is most likely to be treated as a light-hearted matter.
He also decried the penchant to socially tag persons suffering these illnesses as either being naturally difficult or having anger and, in extreme cases, spiritual problems.
In light of these developments, Professor Kasolo revealed that his outfit – WHO, Ghana is working out a comprehensive framework of partnership with the government of Ghana that will aim at reversing the deficiencies in the mental healthcare sector.
“People should understand that we can build capacities for people who we assume are difficult people to be able to access these services to understand why is it that they’re behaving like that?” he quizzed.
Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, a stalwart of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has vehemently denied claims of being the third-richest individual in Ghana.
An anonymous individual on TikTok alleged that Dr. Addo-Kufuor has a net worth of US$1.2 billion making him the third richest person in Ghana.
Responding to this allegation in a statement, Mr Addo-Kufuor’s legal representatives, Zoe, Akyea & Co. Legal Practitioners & Notaries Public described the allegations as ‘vain calculated to dent’ the ‘hard-earned integrity of Dr Kufuor’.
“We have the firm and unqualified instructions of our client to state in no uncertain terms that he has no such levels of money and will exact the strictest proof of this vain allegation from the individual who is conveniently enjoying anonymity”.
His lawyers maintained that the former Board Chairman of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) acquired his money through legitimate means.
Dr.Kwame Addo-Kufour
They threatened to issue a defamatory suit after the perpetrators have been fished out fish.
“We have further instructions to fish out those behind this disdainful practice of character assassination with the view to taking them on in a defamatory suit in a court of competent jurisdiction”.
ZOE, AKYEA & CO.
22 September 2023
10 RICHEST MEN IN GHANA AS BROADCASTED ON TIKTOK-THE VILE AND FOUL MISINFORMATION CALCULATED TO DENT THE IMAGE OF HONOURABLE DR KWAME ADDO-KUFUOR
We act as lawyers for Honourable Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor who has instructed us to respond to the rather vile and foul misinformation currently trending on TikTok calculated to dent our client’s hard-earned integrity
The coward behind this shameful act of sleazy propaganda has not been bold enough to furnish his name nor is there a scintilla of evidence to back these watery effusions about our client.
The unknown voice painfully alleges that our client is the third-richest man in Ghana with a net worth of US$1.2 billion. He insinuates that our client’s level of money are invested in banking, farming, media and mining.
We have the firm and unqualified instructions of our client to state in no uncertain terms that he has no such levels of money and will exact the strictest proof of this vain allegation from the individual who is conveniently enjoying anonymity.
The record of our client is well-known. He has been a successful physician who even lectured medicine in the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
His political life has been exemplary, He was a Member of Parliament for Manhyia from 1997 to 2009. In President Kufuor’s government, he was the Defence Minister and for some time was burdened with the additional responsibility of the Ministry of Interior. During the first term of President Akufo-Addo, our client was made the Board Chairman of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).
His assets declaration is not a fetish but duly lodged with the Auditor-General
We have further instructions to fish out those behind this disdainful practice of character assassination with the view to taking them on in a defamatory suit in a court of competent jurisdiction.
A leading Member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, has called for attitudinal Change of Ghanaians especially the youth in all their endeavours.
According to him,every youth you meet in Ghana who is hot or unemployed is always blaming their family members, friends, or government for not helping them.
Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah stated emphatically that to be rich or poor is a choice.
He therefore encourages the youth to find something to do and stop blaming others for not helping them.
Adding that “If we don’t change our attitude or mindset, even if an angel becomes our president or the head of our family, there will not be any change in our lives. How can an unemployed person be using an iPhone 14 max, buy a wig or bag that costs Ghc 10,000,and drive his or her own car?
The former Chairman of Association of constituency Chairmen in the Ashanti region who doubles as the former Kwabre South NPP chairman gave the advised in a Facebook post.
Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah (COKA)
The full text of Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah who is popularly known in the political space as COKA is published below;
Every youth you meet in Ghana who is hot or unemployed is always blaming their family members, friends, or government for not helping them.
To be rich or poor is a choice, so find something to do and stop blaming others for not helping you.
If we don’t change our attitude or mindset, even if an angel becomes our president or the head of our family, there will not be any change in our lives.
How can an unemployed person be using an iPhone 14 max, buy a wig or bag that costs 10,000 gh, and drive his or her own car? Coka, l care’.
In the realm of education, the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) points-based system has emerged as a vital mechanism for teachers in Ghana to bolster their professional growth. While this system enjoys widespread endorsement from educational agencies and institutions, there are pockets of resistance among certain groups of teachers.
In this essay, we will explore the importance of the CPD points-based system in teacher professional development in Ghana, criticize opposing viewpoints, and elucidate why it is reasonable for teachers to allocate a portion of their Professional Development allowance for their own career development, referencing Section 16 of the collective agreement document.
Furthermore, we will underscore how the CPD points-based system enables teachers to create convincing CPD transcripts to support their diversification into other specialties.
Importance of CPD Points-Based System
Elevating Teaching Quality: The CPD points-based system is pivotal in elevating the quality of teaching in Ghana. This system compels teachers to continually upgrade their skills and knowledge, ensuring that they can deliver top-notch education to their students.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) underscores the significance of CPD in its policies, striving to cultivate a cadre of highly competent educators.
Staying Aligned with Educational Trends: Education is a dynamic field, characterized by evolving pedagogical approaches, technological advancements, and curriculum changes. The CPD points-based system urges teachers to stay in tune with these developments. This ensures that they can adapt to changing student needs and provide pertinent, up-to-date instruction.
Fostering a Culture of Lifelong Learning: Education is a lifelong journey, and teachers are quintessential role models for their students. By participating in CPD activities, educators embody the value of lifelong learning. This not only serves their professional growth but also instills a culture of continuous learning among students.
Facilitating Career Advancement: CPD points are intricately linked to career advancement within the teaching profession in Ghana. Teachers who actively partake in CPD activities accumulate points that contribute to their prospects of promotion. The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and other educational bodies stress this linkage, incentivizing teachers to invest in their professional development.
Condemnation of Opposition to CPD Points-Based System
Though the CPD points-based system has shown its effectiveness, there exist dissenting voices within the teaching community. These critics argue that it places an undue financial burden on teachers and lacks flexibility. However, these arguments are refutable:
Shared Responsibility for Professional Growth: Section 16 of the collective agreement document explicitly stipulates that teachers and non-professional teachers are to use their professional development allowance to access CPDs, which will count towards their promotions. This underscores the shared responsibility for professional growth. Just as other professionals invest in their development, teachers must do the same to provide the best education to their students.
Resource Allocation: It is reasonable to allocate a portion of the Professional Development allowance for CPDs, as it directly contributes to the teacher’s career. This allocation represents a prudent investment that leads to long-term career gains, including enhanced teaching skills and career progression.
Creating Convincing CPD Transcripts: The CPD points-based system enables teachers to generate CPD transcripts, providing compelling evidence to support their diversification into other specialties. This flexibility allows educators to pursue broader knowledge and potentially enhance their contributions to the education sector.
Conclusion
In Ghana, the CPD points-based system is an indispensable component of teacher professional development, with steadfast support from educational agencies like the GES and GNAT. Despite dissenting voices, this system plays a pivotal role in enhancing teaching quality, aligning educators with evolving trends, fostering lifelong learning, and facilitating career advancement. Teachers should embrace the CPD points-based system as a means to not only improve their professional skills but also secure a brighter future in the teaching profession.
Ultimately, investing in CPD is an investment in the nation’s education system and its students. Moreover, it empowers teachers to diversify their specialties and contribute even more effectively to the education sector.
Notice to occupy Mahama’s office in 14 days on the Mahama Airbus Corruption
Fixing the Country Movement is appalled at the nonchalant attitude being deployed on the Airbus Corruption investigations.
It has been over three years when Airbus SE, a global provider of civilian and military aircraft based in France, agreed to pay combined penalties of more than $3.9 billion to resolve foreign bribery charges with authorities in the United States, France and the United Kingdom arising out of the Company’s scheme to use third-party business partners to bribe government officials, as well as non-governmental airline executives, around the world.
As part of this coordinated global resolution, the Company also entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the United Kingdom’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) over bribes paid in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Indonesia and Ghana, and the Company agreed to pay approximately 990 million Euros equivalent (approximately $1.09 billion) pursuant to the SFO agreement. The PNF and SFO had investigated the Company as part of a Joint Investigative Team.
According to admissions and court documents, beginning in at least 2008 and continuing until at least 2015, Airbus engaged in and facilitated a scheme to offer and pay bribes to decision makers and other influencers, including to foreign officials, in order to obtain improper business advantages and to win business from both privately owned enterprises and entities that were state-owned and state-controlled.
As a matter of fact, judicial records made public on 31 January 2020 by the British and American authorities, which Airbus acknowledges to be true, shows that between 2009 and 2015 an Airbus subsidiary specialising in the defence sector hired the brother of a high-ranking Ghanaian elected official(GovernmentOfficial 1), as well as a friend of the said brother and a third person to serve as commercial partners in the sale of three military transport aircraft, model C295, to Ghana.
It turned out that Philip Middlemiss, a renowned British actor, Leanne Davis and John Mahama’s brother, Samuel Adam Mahama were the intermediaries between Airbus and the former President.
In fact, per the court records, “Government Official 1” had such a reputation as a prolific bribe-collector that within three weeks of the election of the incoming Government, AND BEFORE IT WAS SWORN IN, Airbus reached agreement with brother of “Government Official 1,” described in the US version of Court documents as “Individual 1.”
Intriguingly, the British judge in charge of the case found that Airbus had sought, through these kickbacks, to obtain an “undue favour” from a member of the Ghanaian government.
As a result, Ghana indeed bought three Airbus C295 military transport aircraft – two in 2011 and another in 2015, all under the presidency of Mills/Mahama.
Again, the UK court documents revealed that the intermediaries established a company in Ghana on 7 December 2009 and that a company with the same name was established in the United Kingdom in February of the following year.
The Ghanaian company they looked into was owned by the brother of Mr Mahama, and a British television actor who had publicly claimed to be the “best friend” of John Mahama.
Indeed, the former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, who had found the corruption suspicions credible enough to open an investigation in February 2020, announced that he had summoned four “suspects,” Philip Middlemiss and his collaborator Sarah Furneaux, as well as Leanne Davis and Samuel Adam Mahama.
The current Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyabeng has in a public statement indicated that he is investigating the matter.
It has been over a year since the Special Prosecutor announced the new phase of investigations into the matter.
Just last week, I personally petitioned the office of the Special Prosecutor to help the public with the status of the Airbus/Mahama case. And we’re yet to receive any response from the office of the Special Prosecutor.
In the light of the above, we are issuing 14 days ultimatum to whoever it may concern to see to it that action is taken on the Mahama Airbus Corruption affair.
As trusting citizens, we want the Ghanaian justice system to open a thorough enquiry on the Airbus Corruption because we strongly believe that former President Mahama has a lot of questions to answer.
And if after the 14days, there’s no action in that regards, Fixing the Country Movement will lead a citizens coalition to congregate and picket in front of the office of former President, John Mahama.
The nonchalant attitude being deployed on this Airbus matter ought to give way to real action.
Signed:
Ernest Kofi Owusu-Bempah Bonsu (Convener – Fixing the Country Movement)
The Presidential Elections Committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) says it will be conducting its presidential primaries across the 275 constituencies on 4th November 2023.
The Election Committee announced this after holding a crunch meeting in consultation with various stakeholders, including the presidential aspirants themselves which the party decided that the elections would be held at the Constituency level.
To ensure transparency, the Elections Committee will generate a voter register, which will be made available to all participating contestants for verification.
The Presidential Elections Committee in a statement expressed their gratitude for the cooperation received from all parties involved in ensuring an equitable, impartial, and transparent process to elect a presidential candidate for the 2024 general elections.The Party also approved the guidelines and regulations for the primaries by all the presidential aspirants and the Elections Committee.
The Party said the elections will take place on 4th November, as well as at the Party Headquarters in Asylum Down, Accra, whereas each constituency capital will have one voting center, and there may be multiple polling stations on the same premises depending on the number of delegates, with a maximum of one thousand delegates per voting center.The Party per its guidelines also noted that there will be no congregations or campaigning allowed on the day of voting.‘’Delegates are expected to “walk in” freely and cast their votes individually.
The guidelines also prohibit the wearing of any clothing or accessories displaying the colors or effigy of a specific contestant,’’ the statement added.‘’Proxy voting will be allowed, and the application process will open on October 9th, with a deadline for submission on October 13th.
The guidelines also outline the composition of delegates, with representatives from various party bodies, including the National Council, National Executive Committee, Regional Executive Committee, Constituency Executive Committees, and special wings of the party,’’ the statement added.
POLICE STATEMENT FOLLOWING THE END OF A THREE-DAY DEMONSTRATION BY DEMOCRACY HUB GROUP
Following the end of the three-day demonstration by the above-mentioned group, the Police would like to express gratitude to members of the public, especially those in Accra, for their support and understanding while we worked within our mandate to maintain law and order during the demonstration.
The Police would also like to apologize to members of the public who were inconvenienced in one way or the other, especially those who were caught up in the vehicular holdups during the demonstration.
As the demonstration has come to an end, we look forward to meeting with the organizers for a debriefing session with them with the aim of fostering a more fruitful engagement in the future.
We would like to assure the public once again, that the Service is not against any person or group of persons who may want to demonstrate.
We have a track record of providing security for demonstrations in the past and would continue to do so within the confines of the law.
We, therefore, urge the general public to continue to partner us, as we work towards deepening our democratic credentials and maintaining peace and security in our beloved country.
We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Hon. Daniel Okyem Aboagye, the immediate past Member of Parliament for the Bantama Constituency, and would like to express our deepest condolences to his family, NPP Ashanti and loved ones.
Hon. Okyem Aboagye’s passing is particularly poignant, because he was recently engaged by the DMB Campaign Team in Ashanti for some support, of which he wholeheartedly offered, and it was even beyond our expectations.
We remember clearly how on that fateful day, he intimated on the phone call that, once Chairman Wontumi has shown the direction, he is following squarely and fully
. The Campaign Team in the region was highly impressed by the unwavering commitment and unflinching support he demonstrated toward the DMB project, and consequently decided that, he is put in charge of Transport and Logistics for the Campaign. The DMB Campaign will forever be grateful to him.
Our hearts and sincerest condolences go out to his family, the Bantama Constituency, Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako and the regional party. The thoughts of the DMB team are with you all, and we promise to offer you the support you need in this difficult period.
Our late brother served his people, party and country well, and his legacies will remain etched, both in Ghanaian politics and business. Rest in peace, Hon. Okyem Aboagye.
signed
Hon. Nana Ayew Afriye
DMB Campaign Coordinator,
Ashanti Region
For Immediate Release Saturday, 23rd September 2023
Bawumia Suspends Campaign for EC Registration Exercise
The Bawumia campaign announces a suspension of its ongoing campaign tour effective Saturday, 23rd September. Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will use the campaign break to visit selected E.C. Registration centers and encourage all party faithful to focus on mobilizing eligible persons to register.
The campaign entreats all party members to take note and work hard to achieve each constituency’s registration target. —– Signed —- Gideon Boako; Ph.D Spokesperson
