Day: April 28, 2024

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2024 Election: Dr Bawumia starts nationwide campaign tour on April 29


The Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, will officially begin his nationwide campaign tour on Monday, April 29, from the Eastern Region.

The first phase of his tour will take him to all the 275 constituencies across the 16 regions till the first week of June.cd

The NPP Flagbearer has christened his campaign: ‘Bold Solutions for our Future,’ focusing on three key pillars: The battle of ideas and character; The battle of records; and The battle of effective campaign.

A statement issued by Mr Dennis Miracles Aboagye, the Director of Communication, Bawumia Campaign, copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Sunday, said campaign would be issue-based.

It would tackle cogent, practical and tailor-made ideas to deal with issues dear to the Ghanaian people.

‘The NPP Flagbearer will also meet with a wide range of stakeholders, including traditional rulers, the Clergy, youth groups, traders, drivers, farmers and students, and also interact with businesses and associations,’ th
e statement said.

‘He will visit market centres and other public places to listen to the concerns of both traders and consumers.’

Dr Bawumia would engage the media, hold townhall meetings and continue with his regular stakeholder engagements with Ghanaians, it said.

Since his election as the NPP Flagbearer on November 4, 2023, for the December 7 Election, Dr Bawumia had been very active in undertaking broad consultations and interactions with various groups across the country.

Apart from fulfilling his constitutional mandate as Ghana’s Vice President, he had been putting the necessary structures, personnel, logistics and programmes in place to embark on a comprehensive, inclusive, and impactful presidential campaign.

Dr Bawumia was buoyed up by the strong backing from the Party’s grassroots and the growing enthusiasm and confidence resonating throughout the Elephant family, the statement added.

‘This burgeoning energy signifies our preparedness for the activities that lie ahead in the upcoming contest.’

‘As Ghana moves into the next phase of our development, it is more important than ever to elect a leader that holds himself to the highest standards, a man of character, performance, work ethic, vision, programmes, wisdom, decisiveness, self-discipline, integrity, with a very high credibility.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Four hundred and forty-six women trained in various technical, vocational skills


Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry in collaboration with World University Service of Canada (WUSC), under the scholarship ‘Invest-In-Her’ Scholarship has trained four hundred and forty-six women in technical and vocational skills.

The six months intensive training and the second of its cohort includes heavy-duty machine operation, electrical and solar installations, welding and fabrication, electric vehicle assembling and maintenance, computer hardware, networking and programming.

The scholarship programme was aimed at reducing gender specific barriers for women’s participation in economic development, equality and no -discrimination to enhance access to decent work for women inclusion in high-growth.

Mr Emmanuel Cherry, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry, said the training would help scale up the low levels of knowledge on women’s labour right among responsibility-holders, employers, and industry partners.

He said there was, therefore, the need to empower and equip
women, especially the up-and-coming graduates, in the construction sector to catch up in the often male-dominated area.

Mr Cherry said this at the 2nd Greater Accra graduation ceremony of the ‘Invest-In-Her’ Scholarship programme in Accra. It was on the theme: ‘Bridging The Gender Gap And Empowering Women For Sustainable Development In Male-Dominated Trades.’

He said the programme was a significant step towards addressing the skills gap in the construction sector and creating an inclusive society where women had equal opportunities to improve their economic lives.

He said the mindset of having only men designated to do construction works was a menace to societal development, urging stakeholders and industry players to seek these trained women and employed them for work.

The CEO said the training should help the country have its own expertise for developmental projects,’the construction industry would not rely solely on foreign companies and expertise,’ he added.

Mrs Emilia Ayipio Asamoah, Country Directo
r of WUSC Ghana, urged the graduates to perfect their skills and set themselves apart to be more unique and work proudly to clear the idea of only males could do construction and hard works.

She said good attitude and punctuality would lead them to job opportunities for greater success in future.

She appreciated their resilience and commitment to learn and be trained in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

She urged them to set the pace for the upcoming young girls to have the zeal to learn TVET, especially in construction.

She said skills development and its related employability had become integral parts of Ghana’s industrial development strategy, saying, TVET initiatives such as ‘Invest-In-Her’ Scholarship would provide the catalyst for realisation of the future.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Rebranding public schools is misplaced priority – Dr Apaak


Dr Clement Abasinaab Apaak, the Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Education Committee, has described as misplaced priorities the Ministry of Education’s decision to rebrand public basic schools.

The Sector Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, at a forum in Accra dubbed: ‘The Free SHS story,’ announced the Ministry’s decision to repaint public basic schools and change the uniforms of pupils to blue and white colours ‘to give them an attractive outlook.’

However, Dr Apaak in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga, called on the Minister to desist from rebranding the schools, saying that the colours represented the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and should not be accepted.

The Deputy Ranking Member, also a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Builsa South Constituency, said, ‘Spending public time and resources painting schools in blue and white, and introducing blue and white uniforms are clearly misplaced priorities.’

He recalled that Dr Adutwum in his report to Parliament during his last visit, i
ndicated that only 65 percent of textbooks were so far supplied.

‘May I remind him, that capitation grants are still in arrears for the equivalent of eight terms? How could rebranding be a priority in the face of these challenges facing public education in Ghana?’ Dr Apaak asked.

‘How can he, at this time of economic crisis in Ghana, be thinking of wasting public resources on furniture?’ he quizzed.

He enumerated challenges that affected teaching and learning in basic schools by a Head teacher, which needed urgent attention, and mentioned among others, the delay in releases of capitation grant of GHS10.00 per head per annum, which he noted was in arrears for eight tranches, equivalent to eight terms.

He said infrastructural deficit, especially poor toilet facilities, the lack of textbooks from KG to JHS for more than three years after the introduction of reforms, the lack of furniture for both teachers and students, the lack of security personnel to protect properties of schools which led to rampant theft
cases needed urgent attention.

‘According to the Head Teacher, basic school Administrators are struggling to manage the affairs of schools, because of inadequate funding, neglect and delay in the releases of the capitation grants, etc.’

The Deputy Ranking Member emphasized that ‘These are issues Dr Yaw Adutwum should be worried about, not the colours of school blocks and school uniforms.’

According to him, ‘Besides the overt attempt to brand public basic schools in NPP colours, the only other reason is to create an avenue to award sole sourced contracts to families, friends, and party members.’

Dr Apaak called on Ghanaians to resist the ‘needless initiative’ in the collective interest of the country and said, ‘If the Ministry of Education has funds, advisedly, those funds should go to address the long list of challenges narrated by Heads of public basic schools.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Fijai old students hold global Annual General Meeting in Takoradi


The Fijai Old Students Association (FOSA), an Alumni group of Fijai Senior High School (SHS), in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis of the Western Region has held its 2024 global Annual General Meeting.

The meeting was to celebrate the successes and achievements of the Association, spot out challenges and discuss strategies to spur the growth and development of their alma mater.

It was attended by FOSA 1955 to 2009 year groups, current staff of the school, and representatives from corporate institutions among others.

Mr Kenneth Dotse Agbomadzi, the Headmaster of Fijai SHS, expressed delight for seeing the old students come together for the collective growth of the Association and the school in general.

He commended the old students for their tremendous efforts and support in ensuring the development of their alma mater.

He, however, appealed to members of the Association to continue to be instrumental in the school’s management efforts in maintaining the institution’s glory it had attained since its establi
shment.

Professor Edward Appiah, the President of FOSA Global, in a speech read on his behalf congratulated his members for their hard work and commitment towards the growth of the Association and Fijai SHS.

He also applauded the Headmaster and his team for the excellent performance of students in the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), saying it was the very best in the last eight years.

He gave the assurance that the Association would continue to collaborate with the management of the school to help improve upon the students’ performance through strategic policies.

Prof Appiah mentioned that the FOSA would see to the completion of a fence wall for the school to help guarantee the security and safety of students and staff on campus.

Dr Sally Sarah Acquaye, the First Vice-President of FOSA Global, who chaired the occasion, commended all year groups for their enthusiasm, selflessness and commitment in ensuring growth and development of the school.

As part of the meeting, new
Global Executive Council Members were inducted into office to steer the affairs of the Association for the next two years.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Students of KETASCO elects new prefects


?Students of Keta Senior High Technical School (KETASCO) have elected new prefects to manage the affairs of the school for the next academic year.

The election, done electronically at the school’s computer laboratory saw third and second year students totaling about 3,300 participate in the exercise.?

A total of 23 students were elected into office with Master Ewoenam Faith Bessie emerging as the School’s Senior Prefect with Edmond Seyram Eddah?as the first Deputy Senior Prefect and Miss Fafali? Elorm Amoah as second Deputy Senior Prefect.

Kingsley Seyram Nyagbenu, George Malorku, Veronica Afetsi and Debora Vorsah were voted as Compound Prefects, Felix Owusu, Ransford Adjei, Jessica Atama and Perpetual Tokolie emerged as Academic Prefects while Maurice Cudjoe Teye, Maur Lucas, Deborah Chimezie and Lawrencia Kemavor were voted Dining Hall Prefects, other positions voted for includes Health prefects and Entertainment prefects.?

Mr Victor Nutifafa Tamekloe, Chairman of the school’s Electoral Committee (EC) i
n declaring the results said ‘We are very grateful to all EC members and the candidates for a successful process. We are happy with the zeal portrayed by both candidates and voters. Everything was transparent, free and fair.’

Mr Segbefia Anthony, Deputy EC Chairman disclosed they were thrilled with?the successful electoral process.

He advised the students to be dutiful saying, ‘To those who could not win, this is not the end of the world, avail yourselves to serve your colleagues. And to the winners, be humble, do not portray any traits of arrogance when power is handed over to you.’?

There will be a handing-over ceremony to transition power from the current prefects to the newly elected ones at the school’s dining hall on July 21, 2024.

Keta Senior High Technical School, with the motto: ‘Dzolali, Now or Never’ is one of the prestigious second-cycle schools in the Volta Region offering?courses including General Science, General Arts, Business, Agriculture Science, Visual Arts, Home Economics and Technical
Skills.

? The school currently has a student population of over 4,000 and has distinguished itself in academic and co-curricular activities including the National Science and Maths Quiz, sports and games, and cultural and drama activities.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Maternal hypertension and diabetes can cause birth defect – Wellness Nurse


Hypertensive and diabetic expectant mothers have been advised to strictly follow the instructions of their caretakers, as the two conditions, if uncontrolled, can cause birth defects in babies.

Mrs Cecilia Ankomah, a Principal Nursing Officer in charge of the Ashaiman Polyclinic’s Wellness Clinic, gave the advice in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), stressing that uncontrolled maternal hypertension and diabetes could negatively affect fetal development, leading to birth defects.

Mrs Ankomah said the diseases also put pregnant women at higher risk of complications such as pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, pre-term birth, and having babies with a large birth weight (macrosomia).

‘These conditions can also lead to increased rates of caesarean delivery and chronic health issues in children, saying, roper antenatal care is therefore crucial to monitoring blood pressure and managing risks,’ she said.

She disclosed that recent statistics indicate that in Ghana, the prevalence of hypertension rang
es between 25 per cent and 48 per cent in adults, while according to the International Diabetes Federation, diabetes also shows a worrying trend, with prevalence rates estimated at around 6.46 per cent in the adult population.

‘These conditions account for a significant portion of the country’s health burden,’ she noted.

She said data from the Ashaiman Municipal Health Directorate revealed that hypertension topped 2023 Outpatients Department (OPD) diseases in the municipality, with 22,002 cases seen between January and December.

The Principal Nursing Officer defined hypertension as a chronic medical condition that was characterised by elevated blood pressure levels, which usually occurred when the pressure in the blood vessel is too high, (140/90 mmHg or higher).

Mrs Ankomah indicated that diabetes, on the other hand, was a metabolic disorder that affected blood sugar regulation and characterised by high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period.

She said diabetes was primarily categorised into two type
s: type (1), where the body failed to produce insulin, and type (2), where the body could not effectively use the insulin it produces.

She said children with diabetes typically had Type (1) diabetes, which could critically affect their growth and development, adding that diabetic children required lifelong insulin therapy and careful dietary management.

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Touching on the causes of these diseases, the wellness nurse said both hypertension and diabetics had genetic factors, saying, diabetics could also cause hypertension.

Other causes of hypertension were unhealthy diets, which contained a high intake of salt, fat, and processed foods; a lack of physical activity; tobacco use; and harmful levels of alcohol consumption, as well as urbanisation and lifestyle changes.

She said Type (1) diabetes, also called ‘juvenile diabetes,’ typically appeared in adolescents, while Type (2) was more common and often linked to obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and genetic factors.

She encouraged the public to make good use o
f wellness clinics to regularly screen for hypertension and diabetes, stating that hypertension was often asymptomatic, as people may not feel any symptoms, while some may experience headaches, dizziness, and blurred vision.

The principal nursing officer said that with diabetes, some symptoms may include excessive thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss.

She said to reduce the rising prevalence of these two diseases, there was the need to raise awareness about their causes and dangers, have screening programmes for early detection and interventions, promote eating diets rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, encourage regular physical activity, and implement policies that reduce salt in processed foods,?restrict marketing of unhealthy foods, and promote healthier environments.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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