Day: November 22, 2023

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Federation of Labour supports 24/7 economy proposal


The Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) says it supports the creation of an economic and national development system that would hinge on a 24/7 economy, as proposed by former President John Dramani Mahama.

‘Our Federation is indeed elated by the former President Mahama’s assurance of implementing an economic policy that will revive collapsed industries and create more jobs.

‘In the 1970s up to the early 90s, a three-shift system operated in manufacturing industries in the country, which created employment for thousands of workers,’ Mr. Abraham Koomson, GFL Secretary General, stated in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency on the proposal by former President Mahama.

Mr. Koomson explained that unfortunately, systemic failures of the economic policies of governments took a toll on the thriving industries, resulting in massive layoffs of workers.

He revealed that some investors had relocated capital to other African countries where the business environment was favourable, creating massive unemployment in
the country.

‘That’s why we’re obliged as trade unions to embrace the proposed policy of reviving the three-shift system to create more jobs.

‘We believe once effective measures are enforced to deal with smuggling, pirating of locally manufactured products, and the removal of outrageous and nuisance taxes, the local industries will rebound to create jobs to fulfil the objectives of the 24/7 policy.

Mr. Koomson challenged political parties to come out with manifesto policies that would address the national economic challenges.

‘The era of political cheap promises is over. In Election 2024, labour unions will scrutinise the policies and proposals of political parties.

‘We would also monitor political pronouncements on campaign platforms and challenge parties to them. Labour unions would expose political parties that would come up with hallow proposals and support tangible ones’.

Mr. Koomson encouraged political parties to bring out policy proposals that focus on job creation in both the private and public
sectors and spell out measures to strengthen the nation’s economy.

He emphasised that the next government must promote revenue generation, job opportunities, and private sector development, reduce the cost of living, and eliminate taxes that hinder business growth, affecting small, medium, and large companies.

The Federation of Labour tasked the various labour unions to monitor sector by sector; the Ghana Medical Association must monitor political pronouncements on health; all unions and associations that relate to the education sector; and the federation will work with other labour associations and bodies to monitor the political campaign from a non-partisan point of view.

Mr. Koomson also called on civil society organisations, religious and traditional leaders, gender and youth groups, sports, and other allied groups to all set up a monitoring mechanism to examine political messages from a professional perspective and advise accordingly.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Take advantage of German market to increase revenue – exporters urged


Mr Richard Ekow Mensah, the Head of DEinternational Services and Key Account of the German Industry and Commerce in Ghana, has advised Ghanaian exporters to take advantage of the German market space to increase revenue.

He said the Ghanaian diaspora in Germany were more than 37,000, which was a huge platform for exporters in Ghana to tap into and increase revenue generation.

‘The Ghanaian diaspora in Germany also wants to eat and purchase Ghanaian foods and products, so if you are an exporter in Ghana, there is a huge potential,’ he added.

Mr Mensah said this during an interactive session organised by the Compete Ghana Programme on access to selected European markets.

The Programme is offering technical assistance to the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) in the implementation of the stepping-stone Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and related accompanying measures, with funding from the European Union.

Mr Mensah urged exporters interested to do business within the German market space to visit the
Ghana Export Promotion Authority to be trained on the regulations, rules and policies as far as standardisation was concerned before exporting.

He encouraged Ghanaian exporters to always stick to the standards to expand their businesses to the European market in general.

‘Also, when you want to expand your reach to Germany, you should always look out for partnerships because for most exporters, sometimes they just limit themselves to a specific country but a buyer in Germany could have connections to other European markets,’ he added.

Mr Nicholas Gebara, Team Lead, Compete Ghana, said they had been training 40 companies on how to access the EU market under the EPA, with representatives from various embassies and bilateral chambers of commerce presenting the opportunities in their respective countries to the Ghanaian exporters.

‘We also invited the British High Commission as there is a big diaspora and lots of interest from the participants to export to the United Kingdom, where the standards and requireme
nts are similar,’ he added.

Mr Raffaele Quarto, Trade Counselor, EU Delegation in Ghana, said due to the EPA, Ghanaian exporters no longer faced duty or quota restrictions because of the negotiations in 2016 to give free access.

While in a united market space, there were 22 different languages representing 27 countries in the union, hence the need to consider this diversity, particularly with consumers with different approaches, languages and needs, he said.

Madam Priscilla Brookman-Amissah Impraim, the Chief Executive Officer, AB Ovo Confectionery Limited, said the Compete Ghana Programme was beneficial because the Ministry of Trade and Industry had selected 40 companies to assist them export their products to the EU.

She said the selected exporters had undergone a series of training courses to help them go through the main processes in trying to get the paperworks done and appealed to the EU to avoid stringent measures to facilitate the process.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Laweh University, Ghana Women Forum offer scholarships/support to victims of Akosombo Dam Spillage


Laweh University College, Accra, in collaboration with the Ghana Women Forum (GWF), has announced a scholarship package valued at about GhS102,000.00 to four females of the Krachi West Constituency in the Oti Region.

The scholarship package is to enable the beneficiaries, who are victims of the recent Akosombo and Kpong Dams Spillage, pursue any four-year first-degree programme of their choice at the University.

A statement issued by Laweh University College, copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the beneficiaries had demonstrated the spirit of perseverance in the wake of the havoc caused and were determined to pursue tertiary education.

Professor Goski Alabi, President of Laweh University and Patron of the Ghana Women Forum (GWF), made the announcement when she led a delegation of professionals of the GWF to engage the Minority Women’s Caucus in Parliament on support for the flood victims and other related matters.

Prof Alabi was accompanied by Madam Adeline Baidoo, President of GWF, and Reverend Dr Max
well Dela Yao Gakpo, Dean, Laweh University College.

Madam Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe, Second Deputy Minority Whip and National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Ada, led a delegation of the NDC Minority Women’s Caucus to the event.

Prof Alabi reiterated LAWEH’s dedication to supporting the academic pursuits of displaced female students and believed in their potential to positively impact Krachi West Constituency and beyond.

The statement noted that in a similar generous gesture, the GWF donated a set of assorted relief items, including drinks, rice, sugar, toiletries, gari, water, vegetables, cassava, and corn dough to the victims.

It said the support was aimed at addressing the immediate needs of the affected community in their recovery.

Madam Helen Adjoa Ntoso, the NDC MP for the Krachi West, expressed her gratitude to both Laweh University College and GWF for their respective compassionate gestures.

Madam Ntoso assured the delegation that the donated items would reach the intended re
cipients and pledged the Minority Women’s Caucus’s continuous support to the cause of the flood victims.

Among its objectives, the GWF aims at providing opportunities for feminine groups, for the all-around development of women and girls to make them active participants in societal development.

The GWF encourages women to be ambitious and confident and seeks to equip them with a reliable support system to help them realise their true potential. It boasts of over 2000 members.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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University graduates urged to take interest in technological transformation


Dr. Eric Nkansah, Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), has urged university graduates to take keen interest in the ongoing technological transformation, which was controlling the world.

Technology, according to him, had become a tool which was transforming the way people live, work, and learn and it was redefining the skills and knowledge needed in the modern workforce.

It had, therefore, become very important for every university student and graduate to show keen interest and be very conversant with their use and application so as to be able to compete well in the world of work.

Dr. Nkansah was addressing graduands of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) at the 57th congregation of the university in Kumasi at the weekend.

‘To remain competitive and thrive in this digital age, you must upskill with the requisite digital literacy skills, critical thinking abilities, and adaptability to excel in an ever-changing, t
echnology-driven world,’ he stressed .

He indicated that what would set them apart from their peers in the journey ahead was the development of soft skills they had gained and encouraged them to invest in the acquisition of soft skills in relation to technological transformation.

‘While your academic achievements have laid a solid foundation, your soft skills will be the compass guiding your success,’ he stated.

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.

These, he said, were the soft skills that would transform their knowledge into impact.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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CKT-UTAS student receives Google fellowship award


Mr Strato Angsoteng Bayitaa, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) candidate of the Clement Kubindiwo Tedem University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS) in the Upper East Region, has received the prestigious Google PhD Fellowship Award.

The award was to enable him to conduct research into machines, using multi-learning techniques for tabular data under the supervision of Professor Edward Yellakour Baagyere and Dr Moses Apamibila Agebure, both Lecturers of the University, and a mentor from Google.

The yet-to-be conducted research, by Mr Bayitaa, who is in the Department of Computer Science at the School of Computing and Information Sciences of the University, could impact on the machine-learning ecosystem, and the general research community.

The award, according to a statement from the Public Affairs Directorate of the University, copied to the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga, said ‘This award is a significant achievement not just for Mr Bayitaa, but also for CKT-UTAS.’

The statement noted that CKT-UTA
S was one of only three African Universities recognized in the Machine Learning category along with other globally renowned institutions such as the Stanford University, Harvard University, and the University of California-Berkeley.

‘This award is a testament to his exceptional talent and the quality of research being conducted at CKT-UTAS.

‘This also highlights the University’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of research and innovation, ensuring that it remains at the forefront of technological advancements,’ the statement said.

It indicated that ‘CKT-UTAS, nestled in the Upper East Region of Ghana, stands proudly as an institution fostering academic excellence in the domain of Computing and Information Sciences.

‘The institution’s recognition by the Google PhD Fellowship for its work in Machine Learning demonstrates its ability to nurture and support exceptional talent in the field of emerging technologies,’ the statement added.

The University said the award was a well-deserved recognition of Mr B
ayitaa’s accomplishments and would help to support his continuous work in the field, and further serve as inspiration not only to the academic community at CKT-UTAS, but also to aspiring researchers in Africa and around the world.

‘The future undoubtedly holds promise for Mr Bayitaa, CKT-UTAS and the wider academic community as they continue to collaborate, innovate and inspire in Machine Learning and beyond,’ the statement said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Enhance Digital Technology Education in Second Cycle Education


Dr. Emmanuel Kwame Obeng, a Pharmaceutical Executive and Regulations Professional, has called on the government and other stakeholders to ensure an enhancement in digital technology education in schools if the country wants to remain competitive in the global economy.

Dr. Obeng, who is also a member of the Tema Secondary School Old Students Association (TOSA) 1973-year group, said this during the 62nd Speech and Prize giving day celebration of the school on the theme: ‘Enhancing Digital Technology Education in Ghana for Competitive Advantage.’

He said that technology had transformed the way the world works, how people communicate and learn, how they socialise, how politics is conducted, how homes are built, and our engagement with the universe; therefore, students must be equipped with the necessary skills to thrive in this ever-evolving landscape.

He explained digital technology as the devices, systems, and resources used in creating, storing, and managing information and data, adding that the use of inf
ormation and communication technology (ICT) for socio-economic transformation, investments, and the provision of appropriate legal and institutional frameworks for easy access, usage, affordability, and participation have been implemented in all sectors.

‘Digitalization has become the buzzword in policy cycles in policy circles, as it is seen as the vehicle that drives change in terms of service delivery and participatory governments,’ he noted.

Dr. Obeng again disclosed that digital technologies could liberate students and teachers from the confines of the traditional classroom and enable students and teachers to learn and teach anytime and anywhere.

He further explained that with the appropriate investments in servers and learning management systems in schools, teachers can create short videos and brief podcasts and provide access to online libraries for students to use on their mobile phones.

He said that digital technology education would equip students with essential technical skills needed to thrive
in the modern workforce, fostering a culture of

creativity and innovation while enabling students to tailor the learning experience to their unique peace and style.

He added that for the enhancement and aggressive digital technology education that will permeate seamlessly throughout the students experience, targeted and sustained investments must be made in computer hardware, software, programming, digital communication, multimedia, networks, and cybersecurity for teachers and students.

‘Students who cannot afford smart phones and tablets must be assisted through public or private partnerships to acquire these devices to ensure that no student is left behind in this digital revolution,’ he said.

He stated again that to recognise the vital role of integrating new technologies into learning delivery, the Ghana Education Service (GES) must be discouraged from practices such as prohibiting students from bringing smartphones to school because such practices create enormous disadvantages for junior high (JHS) a
nd senior high school (SHS) students.

Dr. Obeng concluded that to enhance digital technology education in Ghana, the governments and other stakeholders needed to invest in the schools and teachers, provide ongoing training and support, and encourage students to pursue careers in this dynamic field.

He said such initiatives would ensure that Ghana remained at the forefront of the digital revolution and that students were equipped with the skills needed to thrive in the 21st century.

He added that it was imperative for decision-makers at the Ministry of Education to champion the digital technology revolution in education, abandon policies that are roadblocks to modern education for the youths and embrace and lead the transformative changes that would leave a lasting and positive legacy for all.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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