Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru & Mary Ankrah
FOREX bureau operators and other business people have urged the government to stop the operation of dollar accounts and the payment of services in dollars.
Those measures, they said, would enable the government to arrest the depreciation in the value of the cedi against foreign currencies, especially the dollar.
Forex bureau operators and business people in various parts of Accra were sharing their concerns over the continuous fall in the value of the cedi against the dollar in separate interviews with the Daily Graphic.
The cedi is reported to have lost 20 per cent of its value against the dollar in the last three months.
Since the value of the cedi started depreciating against the major foreign currencies, especially the dollar, the Bank of Ghana (BoG) has injected more than a billion dollars into the economy in an effort to stabilise the situation.
The forex bureau operators argued that the fact that people were allowed to operate dollar accounts meant that they could keep enough dollars in their accounts when dollars were most needed on the market.
Besides, people operating dollar accounts were able to transfer their dollars outside, which contributed to the flight of the currency.
A forex bureau operator at Nima, Mr Abu Samad, said the value of the cedi continued to fall against the dollar because there was shortage of dollars in the system.
That situation, he said, had been caused by people who operated dollar accounts and kept many dollars in those accounts.
He said because of the artificial shortage of dollars, the demand for the currency had gone up, thereby affecting the value of the cedi.
Mr Samad, therefore, appealed to the government to pump more dollars into the economy, since that was the only way to save the cedi from its continuous fall against the dollar.
An operating officer with Tigo, Mr Elvis Kyere, cited the charging of rent, school fees and other services in dollars as one of the factors which had compelled people to open dollar accounts.
He said the fall in the value of the cedi against the dollar affected businesses, hence the need for the government to take drastic action to reverse the trend.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Union of Traders Associations (GUTA) has called on the government to take immediate steps to arrest the alarming rate at which the Ghana cedi is depreciating against the major trading currencies.
It said the fall in the value of the cedi had made business planning extremely difficult, if not almost impossible.
Besides, GUTA said, the continuous depreciation of the cedi discouraged savings, which had affected government’s effort to mop up excess liquidity from the system.
The President of GUTA, Mr George Kwaku Ofori, made the call at a press conference on the depreciation of the local currency in Accra yesterday.
He attributed the fall in the value of the cedi to poor management, indicating that there was something basically wrong with the fiscal management of the economy.
“We in the trading sector of the economy have observed that whatever has gone into the thinking and approach in managing the current fiscal policy has been flawed,” he said.
The GUTA President said if the government did not find measures to address the situation, it would collapse business, erode working capital, some of which are loans contracted from banks at high interest rates and from other credit facilities.
He asked the government to monitor the free zone ports by instructing exporters to bring in a certain percentage of goods into the country.
He again requested the state to introduce a vigorous policy to control the amount of profit telecommunication companies repatriated outside the country.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
DAILY GRAPHIC, Thursday, May 30, 2012, Pg.20. Risk factors of cardiovascular disease
Story: Mary Ankrah
THE President Emeritus of Family Health International (FHI) 360, Dr Peter Lamptey, has cautioned against the high intake of salt, lack of exercise and excessive alcohol and tobacco intake and overweight, saying these were the major causes of heart diseases in the country.
Aside those causes, he said exposure to indoor smoke from solid fuels was also a major cause of heart problems.
The President Emeritus of FHI 360, a non-governmental organisation, who gave the warning, explained that changes in the body as a result of those risk factors also caused chronic ill health and disabilities sometimes leading to death.
He observed that unhealthy diet such as those high in animal fat and eating too much salt were health behaviours that put people at risk and in the case of pregnant women, put their babies at risk.
Dr Lamptey made this known at the launch of the cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention awareness campaign last Saturday in Accra.
The campaign dubbed: “From your heart to theirs” is aimed at increasing awareness of the impact of lifestyle choices to prevent CVD and increase positive behaviour that would lower risk factors, including healthy eating and increase physical activities.
The CVD prevention campaign is targeted specifically to female heads of households to adopt healthy cooking habit and serve foods with less oil and salt to prevent heart diseases among their families.
A branded mobile van would visit designated communities where cooking demonstration and CVD risk factor screening would be conducted.
Speaking on the topic: “The growing burden of chronic diseases in Ghana and other developing countries,” Dr Lamptey stated that six out of 10 deaths among human beings worldwide, were the result of chronic diseases, including hypertension, stroke and heart diseases.
He said heart diseases accounted for 60 per cent of the global burden of chronic diseases and most of these deaths occurred in developing countries.
He said chronic diseases killed people at an early age in developing countries such as Ghana than in Europe or the United States. He added that those diseases were on decline in industrialised countries but rising rapidly in developing countries.
He observed that in Ghana and most developing countries, local information on heart disease was generally inadequate even though some important research had been conducted.
He cited that inadequate health infrastructure and healthcare delivery, poor access to affordable diagnostics resources, medicines and technologies and poverty as some of the key challenges to heart disease control in Ghana.
According to Dr Lamptey, one out of three of the over 10,000 people who were screened at the out patients departments of the Police and Atua hospitals, between August 2011 and March 2012, were hypertensive and most people with high blood pressure were unaware they had it.
He said over half of the people screened were overweight, a common contributory cause to many chronic diseases, indicating that the findings were consistent with results of programmes in other parts of the country and data from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The president acknowledged that heart diseases had a devastating health, social and economic impact on society because of the cost and long term consequences and therefore advised Ghanaians to maintain a normal weight, stop smoking, reduce intake of salt, eat less fatty foods, eat more fruits and vegetables and exercise regularly to stay healthy.
He also advised people to go for regular medical examinations to check their blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar level.
He urged the public and private healthcare centres to strengthen health services for prevention, treatment and control of chronic diseases and also mentioned that the government should increase resources to improve services of chronic diseases as well as change policies and regulations to advance healthier lifestyles in the country.
Launching the CVD campaign, Public Health Specialist at the Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Alex Korshie Nazzar, expressed the hope that the campaign would effect healthy lifestyle in feeding and living habits among Ghanaians.
The event was used to conduct free health screening for those in attendance and a popular actress, Madam Akorfa Edzeani-Asiedu, performed a cooking demonstration and taste testing exercise on how to use less oil and salt but more vegetables to cook healthy meal.
THE President Emeritus of Family Health International (FHI) 360, Dr Peter Lamptey, has cautioned against the high intake of salt, lack of exercise and excessive alcohol and tobacco intake and overweight, saying these were the major causes of heart diseases in the country.
Aside those causes, he said exposure to indoor smoke from solid fuels was also a major cause of heart problems.
The President Emeritus of FHI 360, a non-governmental organisation, who gave the warning, explained that changes in the body as a result of those risk factors also caused chronic ill health and disabilities sometimes leading to death.
He observed that unhealthy diet such as those high in animal fat and eating too much salt were health behaviours that put people at risk and in the case of pregnant women, put their babies at risk.
Dr Lamptey made this known at the launch of the cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention awareness campaign last Saturday in Accra.
The campaign dubbed: “From your heart to theirs” is aimed at increasing awareness of the impact of lifestyle choices to prevent CVD and increase positive behaviour that would lower risk factors, including healthy eating and increase physical activities.
The CVD prevention campaign is targeted specifically to female heads of households to adopt healthy cooking habit and serve foods with less oil and salt to prevent heart diseases among their families.
A branded mobile van would visit designated communities where cooking demonstration and CVD risk factor screening would be conducted.
Speaking on the topic: “The growing burden of chronic diseases in Ghana and other developing countries,” Dr Lamptey stated that six out of 10 deaths among human beings worldwide, were the result of chronic diseases, including hypertension, stroke and heart diseases.
He said heart diseases accounted for 60 per cent of the global burden of chronic diseases and most of these deaths occurred in developing countries.
He said chronic diseases killed people at an early age in developing countries such as Ghana than in Europe or the United States. He added that those diseases were on decline in industrialised countries but rising rapidly in developing countries.
He observed that in Ghana and most developing countries, local information on heart disease was generally inadequate even though some important research had been conducted.
He cited that inadequate health infrastructure and healthcare delivery, poor access to affordable diagnostics resources, medicines and technologies and poverty as some of the key challenges to heart disease control in Ghana.
According to Dr Lamptey, one out of three of the over 10,000 people who were screened at the out patients departments of the Police and Atua hospitals, between August 2011 and March 2012, were hypertensive and most people with high blood pressure were unaware they had it.
He said over half of the people screened were overweight, a common contributory cause to many chronic diseases, indicating that the findings were consistent with results of programmes in other parts of the country and data from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The president acknowledged that heart diseases had a devastating health, social and economic impact on society because of the cost and long term consequences and therefore advised Ghanaians to maintain a normal weight, stop smoking, reduce intake of salt, eat less fatty foods, eat more fruits and vegetables and exercise regularly to stay healthy.
He also advised people to go for regular medical examinations to check their blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar level.
He urged the public and private healthcare centres to strengthen health services for prevention, treatment and control of chronic diseases and also mentioned that the government should increase resources to improve services of chronic diseases as well as change policies and regulations to advance healthier lifestyles in the country.
Launching the CVD campaign, Public Health Specialist at the Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Alex Korshie Nazzar, expressed the hope that the campaign would effect healthy lifestyle in feeding and living habits among Ghanaians.
The event was used to conduct free health screening for those in attendance and a popular actress, Madam Akorfa Edzeani-Asiedu, performed a cooking demonstration and taste testing exercise on how to use less oil and salt but more vegetables to cook healthy meal.
DAILY GRAPHIC, Wednesday, May 30, 2012, Back page. Huawei hands over ICT lab to UG
Story: Mary Ankrah
AN International Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solution provider, Huawei, has handed over an ICT laboratory to the Faculty of Engineering Sciences at the University of Ghana to enhance the teaching and learning of ICT.
The laboratory, valued at $200,000, is equipped with 40 computers, routers, switches, firewall software, projector, furniture and a two-kilometre fibre cable connection to enhance Internet connectivity and data transfer within the faculty.
In addition, Huawei intends to provide possible research projects, telecommunication networks and device designs and development, software development or other related areas of interest for the students of the computer engineering department of the university.
The laboratory is among one of the four laboratories the company promised President Evan Atta Mills during his visit to the Huawei headquarters in China, Shenzhen, in September 2010.
In fulfilling that promise, Huawei last year donated two ICT laboratories to the University of Cape Coast and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The facilities are to help students in computer engineering gain practical and hands-on experience with ICT softwares and equipment.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony in Accra yesterday, the Deputy Managing Director of Huawei, Mr Daniel Guo Zhi, said the company was committed to contributing to the sustainable development of social, economic, health and safety environment as well as education in the country.
He said Huawei had recently donated a telepresence conference system to the government, adding that it would engage in public and private partnership ventures in meeting the needs of society through strategic collaboration efforts for the benefit of Ghanaians.
As part of the company’s commitment to empowering students in the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences, Mr Zhi said the company would recruit graduates from the department of computer engineering for national service placement and prospective job offers.
“Huawei would provide all the facilities and direct sponsorship initiatives to enhance quality training of graduates and undergraduate students of the Computer Engineering Department, he added.
Mr Zhi noted that the company had the capacity to bring ICT solution to the educational sector through the provision of a comprehensive network infrastructure in the sector, noting that it would “better enhance a more effective and efficient educational system for the entire country.”
The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Guo Jianzhong, maintained that the donation by Huawei would strengthen the co-operation and relationship between China and Ghana and encourage the company to continue to make such donations “as long as the company does business in Ghana”.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, commended Huawei for building the first major laboratory for the university to facilitate the training of students to promote research in telecommunication networks that would lead to finding solutions to the problems of industries in the country.
He said Ghana was committed to having an ICT driven economy, and for that to be fully achieved required high skill training of students in such a field and computer engineering was well placed in the university to provide the leadership role and declared that the lab would be known as the “Huawei ICT lab”.
In appreciation, the Dean of the faculty, Prof. Richard J. Bani, thanked Huawei for the gesture and pledged that the laboratory would be used appropriately for the benefit of the students and the school.
As part of the event, Huawei signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Faculty of Engineering Sciences to engage in various activities with the department.
AN International Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solution provider, Huawei, has handed over an ICT laboratory to the Faculty of Engineering Sciences at the University of Ghana to enhance the teaching and learning of ICT.
The laboratory, valued at $200,000, is equipped with 40 computers, routers, switches, firewall software, projector, furniture and a two-kilometre fibre cable connection to enhance Internet connectivity and data transfer within the faculty.
In addition, Huawei intends to provide possible research projects, telecommunication networks and device designs and development, software development or other related areas of interest for the students of the computer engineering department of the university.
The laboratory is among one of the four laboratories the company promised President Evan Atta Mills during his visit to the Huawei headquarters in China, Shenzhen, in September 2010.
In fulfilling that promise, Huawei last year donated two ICT laboratories to the University of Cape Coast and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The facilities are to help students in computer engineering gain practical and hands-on experience with ICT softwares and equipment.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony in Accra yesterday, the Deputy Managing Director of Huawei, Mr Daniel Guo Zhi, said the company was committed to contributing to the sustainable development of social, economic, health and safety environment as well as education in the country.
He said Huawei had recently donated a telepresence conference system to the government, adding that it would engage in public and private partnership ventures in meeting the needs of society through strategic collaboration efforts for the benefit of Ghanaians.
As part of the company’s commitment to empowering students in the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences, Mr Zhi said the company would recruit graduates from the department of computer engineering for national service placement and prospective job offers.
“Huawei would provide all the facilities and direct sponsorship initiatives to enhance quality training of graduates and undergraduate students of the Computer Engineering Department, he added.
Mr Zhi noted that the company had the capacity to bring ICT solution to the educational sector through the provision of a comprehensive network infrastructure in the sector, noting that it would “better enhance a more effective and efficient educational system for the entire country.”
The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Guo Jianzhong, maintained that the donation by Huawei would strengthen the co-operation and relationship between China and Ghana and encourage the company to continue to make such donations “as long as the company does business in Ghana”.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, commended Huawei for building the first major laboratory for the university to facilitate the training of students to promote research in telecommunication networks that would lead to finding solutions to the problems of industries in the country.
He said Ghana was committed to having an ICT driven economy, and for that to be fully achieved required high skill training of students in such a field and computer engineering was well placed in the university to provide the leadership role and declared that the lab would be known as the “Huawei ICT lab”.
In appreciation, the Dean of the faculty, Prof. Richard J. Bani, thanked Huawei for the gesture and pledged that the laboratory would be used appropriately for the benefit of the students and the school.
As part of the event, Huawei signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Faculty of Engineering Sciences to engage in various activities with the department.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
DAILY GRAPHIC, Tuesday, May 29, 2012, Pg. 20. Intergrate cultural diversity in places of Ministries
Story: Mary Ankrah
THE United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has implored the government to integrate the principles of cultural diversity and values of cultural pluralism in the policies of the various ministries through partnership.
That was because, according to Mrs Charity Amamoo, the Secretary-General of the Ghana National Commission (GNC) for UNESCO, when the strategy to incorporate culture into all development policies was properly related to education, science, communication and dissemination of information, health, environment and tourism, it would speed up growth.
Mrs Amamoo made this known at a gathering to commemorate this year’s World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development organised by the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, the Ministry of Education, the GNC for UNESCO and the National Commission on Culture in Accra last Wednesday.
This year’s celebration was dubbed, “Cultural Diversity, Cultural Expression for Peace and National Development”.
In 2001, UNESCO adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity and in December 2002 the UN General Assembly, in its Resolution 57/249, declared May 21 the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.
The 2012 campaign aims to raise awareness world-wide of the importance of inter-cultural dialogue, diversity and inclusion by encouraging people and organisations from around the world to take concrete action to support diversity, build a world community of individuals committed to support diversity and combat polarisation and stereotypes to improve understanding and co-operation among people from different cultures.
Mrs Amamoo observed that a culturally diverse nation was one which had the potential to sustainably improve the needs of its citizens and that Ghanaians needed to take advantage of that diversity to improve their lives.
She said the cultural policy developed by the National Commission on Culture in 2004 indicated that Ghana had over 50 ethnic institutions, with a lot of diversity, and that diversity was recognised in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana as a tool for national integration, peace and development.
She said Ghana was a beneficiary of the ongoing UNESCO culture for development indicator suite project in the country financed by the Spanish Agency for International Co-operation for Development (AECID).
The project, she explained, sought to establish a set of indicators that highlighted how culture contributed to development and economic growth in some pilot countries in the world, including Ghana.
The Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr Alexander Asum-Ahensah, acknowledged that it was important to focus on the strengths and advantages of cultural diversity in order to build national and international dialogue and consensus towards achieving peace and sustainable development.
“There cannot be development without peace and there cannot be peace if Ghanaians do not learn to appreciate and tolerate one another, regardless of one another’s cultural diversity,” he stated.
In a presentation to raise awareness of the importance of inter-cultural dialogue and cultural diversity, Dr Kodjo Gavua, an Archaeology lecturer at the University of Ghana, said cultural diversity was inevitable and unavoidable and that dialogue among people of diverse cultural backgrounds was necessary for people to appreciate one another and seek understanding and harmony.
THE United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has implored the government to integrate the principles of cultural diversity and values of cultural pluralism in the policies of the various ministries through partnership.
That was because, according to Mrs Charity Amamoo, the Secretary-General of the Ghana National Commission (GNC) for UNESCO, when the strategy to incorporate culture into all development policies was properly related to education, science, communication and dissemination of information, health, environment and tourism, it would speed up growth.
Mrs Amamoo made this known at a gathering to commemorate this year’s World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development organised by the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, the Ministry of Education, the GNC for UNESCO and the National Commission on Culture in Accra last Wednesday.
This year’s celebration was dubbed, “Cultural Diversity, Cultural Expression for Peace and National Development”.
In 2001, UNESCO adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity and in December 2002 the UN General Assembly, in its Resolution 57/249, declared May 21 the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.
The 2012 campaign aims to raise awareness world-wide of the importance of inter-cultural dialogue, diversity and inclusion by encouraging people and organisations from around the world to take concrete action to support diversity, build a world community of individuals committed to support diversity and combat polarisation and stereotypes to improve understanding and co-operation among people from different cultures.
Mrs Amamoo observed that a culturally diverse nation was one which had the potential to sustainably improve the needs of its citizens and that Ghanaians needed to take advantage of that diversity to improve their lives.
She said the cultural policy developed by the National Commission on Culture in 2004 indicated that Ghana had over 50 ethnic institutions, with a lot of diversity, and that diversity was recognised in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana as a tool for national integration, peace and development.
She said Ghana was a beneficiary of the ongoing UNESCO culture for development indicator suite project in the country financed by the Spanish Agency for International Co-operation for Development (AECID).
The project, she explained, sought to establish a set of indicators that highlighted how culture contributed to development and economic growth in some pilot countries in the world, including Ghana.
The Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr Alexander Asum-Ahensah, acknowledged that it was important to focus on the strengths and advantages of cultural diversity in order to build national and international dialogue and consensus towards achieving peace and sustainable development.
“There cannot be development without peace and there cannot be peace if Ghanaians do not learn to appreciate and tolerate one another, regardless of one another’s cultural diversity,” he stated.
In a presentation to raise awareness of the importance of inter-cultural dialogue and cultural diversity, Dr Kodjo Gavua, an Archaeology lecturer at the University of Ghana, said cultural diversity was inevitable and unavoidable and that dialogue among people of diverse cultural backgrounds was necessary for people to appreciate one another and seek understanding and harmony.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
DAILY GRAPHIC, Saturday, May 26, 2012. Pg. 14. New framework to encourage low income group into insurance
Story: Mary Ankrah
THE National Insurance Commission of Ghana (NIC) is in the process of introducing a new legal and regulatory framework that would incorporate micro insurance to encourage low income earners to purchase insurance.
The draft legislation is aimed at ensuring legal certainty that would give insurance companies the flexibility to design and designate micro insurance products based on specific criteria that would be specified in the insurance code.
More importantly, the new legislation, which is expected to be passed before the end of 2012, is geared towards increasing the insurance penetration rate on the local insurance market and to contribute to the financial inclusion and social protection for the majority of Ghanaians.
This was made known by the Commissioner of Insurance, Mrs Nyamikeh-Kyiamah, at an international micro insurance conference held in Accra last Tuesday.
The conference was organised by the NIC in collaboration with the German International Co-operation (GIZ) and in partnership with the Munich Re Foundation, the Micro-Insurance Network (MIN) and Making Finance Work for Africa (MFW4A).
The conference brought together stakeholders of the NIC, micro insurance representatives across the country and international insurance experts, as well as consultants, to simulate ideas on the development and practical implementation of micro insurance in the country, identify a set of activities that would facilitate the transition to the new framework and present key lessons of insurance and micro insurance policy implementation from other relevant countries.
At the conference, Mrs Kyiamah said access to insurance services in Ghana was very limited, especially among low income population. In 2010, only 4.1 per cent of the total population held any insurance policy excluding public health insurance while insurance penetration stood at 1.89 per cent.
She indicated that the informal sector, particularly low income households, were typically excluded from the insurance market, even though they were vulnerable to the various kinds of risks that were inimical to their survival and progress.
“Increased access to insurance by low income households is, therefore, a key tenet of financial inclusion and social protection policy and geared towards increasing the insurance penetration rate on the insurance market,” she added.
Mrs Kyiamah said the NIC had placed much emphasis and efforts on the development and implementation of micro insurance and had, therefore, been working in collaboration with the GIZ and other partners to develop the capacity of the insurance industry that would handle micro insurance and other things under a project dubbed: "Promoting Micro Insurance in Ghana (ProMiGH),".
Under the project, the NIC and GIZ would support the development of micro insurance in six key areas through a policy framework and legal review, actuarial capacity development, research, information system and technology, technical services and consumer education and insurance awareness creation.
In addition, the ILO/UNCDF and A2ii from Ethiopia, Mr Yoseph Aseff, pointed out that Ghana was still below five per cent of the insurance penetration because knowledge, products and access to relevant and affordable services were lacking in the insurance market.
This, he said, was because the traditional insurers focused on serving the middle and upper market with the unfounded belief that serving the low income population was not a viable business proposition.
“The poor do not value insurance because they perceive it to be unaffordable and of little relevance to them,” he opined.
Mr Aseff emphasised that the poor required specific products and distribution channels that could support their risk exposure in asset building and innovation that could, in turn, create jobs and wealth for them.
He added that an empowered regulator equipped with a functional insurance Act, regulation and codes could be a catalyst to the development of micro insurance and encouraged insurers to launch scalable and efficient products and services to meet the needs of the population.
THE National Insurance Commission of Ghana (NIC) is in the process of introducing a new legal and regulatory framework that would incorporate micro insurance to encourage low income earners to purchase insurance.
The draft legislation is aimed at ensuring legal certainty that would give insurance companies the flexibility to design and designate micro insurance products based on specific criteria that would be specified in the insurance code.
More importantly, the new legislation, which is expected to be passed before the end of 2012, is geared towards increasing the insurance penetration rate on the local insurance market and to contribute to the financial inclusion and social protection for the majority of Ghanaians.
This was made known by the Commissioner of Insurance, Mrs Nyamikeh-Kyiamah, at an international micro insurance conference held in Accra last Tuesday.
The conference was organised by the NIC in collaboration with the German International Co-operation (GIZ) and in partnership with the Munich Re Foundation, the Micro-Insurance Network (MIN) and Making Finance Work for Africa (MFW4A).
The conference brought together stakeholders of the NIC, micro insurance representatives across the country and international insurance experts, as well as consultants, to simulate ideas on the development and practical implementation of micro insurance in the country, identify a set of activities that would facilitate the transition to the new framework and present key lessons of insurance and micro insurance policy implementation from other relevant countries.
At the conference, Mrs Kyiamah said access to insurance services in Ghana was very limited, especially among low income population. In 2010, only 4.1 per cent of the total population held any insurance policy excluding public health insurance while insurance penetration stood at 1.89 per cent.
She indicated that the informal sector, particularly low income households, were typically excluded from the insurance market, even though they were vulnerable to the various kinds of risks that were inimical to their survival and progress.
“Increased access to insurance by low income households is, therefore, a key tenet of financial inclusion and social protection policy and geared towards increasing the insurance penetration rate on the insurance market,” she added.
Mrs Kyiamah said the NIC had placed much emphasis and efforts on the development and implementation of micro insurance and had, therefore, been working in collaboration with the GIZ and other partners to develop the capacity of the insurance industry that would handle micro insurance and other things under a project dubbed: "Promoting Micro Insurance in Ghana (ProMiGH),".
Under the project, the NIC and GIZ would support the development of micro insurance in six key areas through a policy framework and legal review, actuarial capacity development, research, information system and technology, technical services and consumer education and insurance awareness creation.
In addition, the ILO/UNCDF and A2ii from Ethiopia, Mr Yoseph Aseff, pointed out that Ghana was still below five per cent of the insurance penetration because knowledge, products and access to relevant and affordable services were lacking in the insurance market.
This, he said, was because the traditional insurers focused on serving the middle and upper market with the unfounded belief that serving the low income population was not a viable business proposition.
“The poor do not value insurance because they perceive it to be unaffordable and of little relevance to them,” he opined.
Mr Aseff emphasised that the poor required specific products and distribution channels that could support their risk exposure in asset building and innovation that could, in turn, create jobs and wealth for them.
He added that an empowered regulator equipped with a functional insurance Act, regulation and codes could be a catalyst to the development of micro insurance and encouraged insurers to launch scalable and efficient products and services to meet the needs of the population.
DAILY GRAPHIC, Saturday, May 26, 2012, Front page. Peace rally in Accra.
Story: Mary Ankrah
A PEACE rally has been held in Accra to solicit the support of Ghanaians towards keeping the peace in the run-up to the December elections and beyond.
Organised by Oparedawuro Media Consult, the rally brought together the youth choirs of the South Ghana Conference of the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church to use song ministration to drum home the effects of violence on the development processes of the country.
Some of the pastors and youth who were at the event shed tears when the lyrics of some songs and the choreography accompanying the songs depicted scenes of violence resulting in death during campaigning, voting and declaration of electoral results in some countries in Africa.
The choristers reminded Ghanaians of the importance of peace in any development engagement to construct roads, create jobs and enhance incomes to improve the quality of life of the people.
Speaking on the topic: “The responsibilities of the police and the general public”, the acting Public Affairs Director of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mr Cephas Arthur, assured Ghanaians that the police and other security agencies were ready to provide security to ensure the peaceful conduct of the December elections.
In that regard, he said, the service had put in place a comprehensive preparation regime to secure a peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the elections.
He said a National Election Security Task Force would be set up and that some 16,000 members from all the security agencies were being trained to provide security for the conduct of the elections.
“The Ghana Police Service has gained experience from the various elections and it was in a position to do even better in the 2012 elections,” he said.
Mr Arthur said peaceful elections were a shared responsibility and, therefore, the public owed it a duty to the state to conduct themselves in a responsible manner.
To that end, he encouraged Ghanaians to avoid the use of intemperate language in their political discourse and desist from inciting others or taking actions likely to inflame passions.
For his part, the Administrative Officer of the Religious Affairs of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Pastor Captain P.N.K. Duodu, said it was not enough for people to talk about peace.
Quoting Matthew 5: 9: “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God”, to buttress his point, Captain Duodu said apart from Ghanaians talking about peace, they believed in peace and acted for peace.
He observed that only disciplined people could be real peacemakers and suggested that healthy interpersonal relationships could promote peace.
Some of the stakeholders in the electoral process were made to sign a Peacemakers Banner enjoining them to uphold peace at all times.
The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Ransford Tetteh, for his part, said the media would do their best to promote peace by providing accurate information for the public in the coming elections.
He observed that elections were for people to elect their leaders but not to fight and cause violence, which in turn would be detrimental to the development and growth of the country, especially the youth and children.
“Should we continue to fight in order to elect people to lead us? I guess no,” he said.
He advised the public to abstain from using the media as a platform to insult and incite others.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
DAILY GRAPHIC, Tuesday, May 22, 2012, Back page. Fire guts portions of Sodom and Gomorra
Story: Mary Ankrah
FIRE gutted portions of Sodom and Gomorra in Accra yesterday leaving in its trail massive destruction of property and rendering many homeless.
Personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) deployed six fire tenders to bring the fire, which started at about 7:30am yesterday, under control in about one-and-half hours.
Some of the items destroyed included cash, jewellery, clothing, shoes, mattresses and pillows, electronic appliances such as television sets, video decks and tape recorders, as well as physical structures.
An unattended to electric water heater in a kiosk allegedly caused the fire.
The resultant fire from the kiosk then spread quickly to other wooden structures nearby.
Interestingly, even before personnel of the GNFS could leave the scene, some of the affected squatters had started to erect new structures to replace their destroyed ones while others searched through the rubble to retrieve some property.
Sodom and Gomorrah, which is one of the slums in Accra, has witnessed a series of fire outbreaks of late.
According to the Assistant Divisional Officer II (ADO) of the Accra regional office of the GNFS at Makola, Mr Samuel Aryee, difficulty in accessing the place due to road congestion contributed to the delay in bringing the fire under control.
He said some of the victims were able to retrieve some of their belongings due to the direction of the wind.
When the Daily Graphic got to the scene at about 10:15am, all the wooden structures and belongings of the squatters had been burnt to ashes while personnel of the GNFS were still on board the fire tenders putting out the remnants of the fire.
A squatter, Mr Alex Ansah, whose personal belongings and structure were burnt in the outbreak, told the Daily Graphic that he had taken his children to school that morning when he heard the place was on fire.
He said a thick smoke had engulfed the place when he rushed there.
Another victim, who gave her name only as Amina, bemoaned the frequent fire outbreaks at the place since she took residence there some five years ago.
“I left the North to seek greener pastures here in Accra and now I have lost everything, I have no helper now, where do I begin from,” she said while wiping the tears from her eyes.
The only things she managed to salvage from her room were her mattress and some few utensils.
A resident in the area, Mr Mohammed Amidu Harfa, explained that the fire had spread quickly because there were no spaces in between the structures.
This, he said, was because some of the squatters had failed to heed to the warning that they should not build at spaces demarcated as roads.
FIRE gutted portions of Sodom and Gomorra in Accra yesterday leaving in its trail massive destruction of property and rendering many homeless.
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| Fire Service on board quenching the fire |
Personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) deployed six fire tenders to bring the fire, which started at about 7:30am yesterday, under control in about one-and-half hours.
Some of the items destroyed included cash, jewellery, clothing, shoes, mattresses and pillows, electronic appliances such as television sets, video decks and tape recorders, as well as physical structures.
An unattended to electric water heater in a kiosk allegedly caused the fire.
The resultant fire from the kiosk then spread quickly to other wooden structures nearby.
Interestingly, even before personnel of the GNFS could leave the scene, some of the affected squatters had started to erect new structures to replace their destroyed ones while others searched through the rubble to retrieve some property.
Sodom and Gomorrah, which is one of the slums in Accra, has witnessed a series of fire outbreaks of late.
According to the Assistant Divisional Officer II (ADO) of the Accra regional office of the GNFS at Makola, Mr Samuel Aryee, difficulty in accessing the place due to road congestion contributed to the delay in bringing the fire under control.
He said some of the victims were able to retrieve some of their belongings due to the direction of the wind.
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A displaced woman and her children and the woman pouring out her frustration
|
When the Daily Graphic got to the scene at about 10:15am, all the wooden structures and belongings of the squatters had been burnt to ashes while personnel of the GNFS were still on board the fire tenders putting out the remnants of the fire.
A squatter, Mr Alex Ansah, whose personal belongings and structure were burnt in the outbreak, told the Daily Graphic that he had taken his children to school that morning when he heard the place was on fire.
He said a thick smoke had engulfed the place when he rushed there.
Another victim, who gave her name only as Amina, bemoaned the frequent fire outbreaks at the place since she took residence there some five years ago.
“I left the North to seek greener pastures here in Accra and now I have lost everything, I have no helper now, where do I begin from,” she said while wiping the tears from her eyes.
The only things she managed to salvage from her room were her mattress and some few utensils.
A resident in the area, Mr Mohammed Amidu Harfa, explained that the fire had spread quickly because there were no spaces in between the structures.
This, he said, was because some of the squatters had failed to heed to the warning that they should not build at spaces demarcated as roads.
DAILY GRAPHIC, Tuesday, May 22, 2012, Pg. 20. Youth advised to seize available opportunities
Story: Mary Ankrah
THE youth have been advised to open their eyes to see the opportunities around them and work hard with their hands to become successful entrepreneurs.
This is because they could transform their own lives and situations through hard work if they believed they could make it in life.
“If the youth are positive, they would be able to achieve their dreams if they work towards it but if they think negatively that they can’t do it, no matter what they do it would not work,” the former Manager of Amal Bank now Bank of Africa, Mr Menson C. D. Torkorno, observed.
Mr Torkorno stated this at the media launch of the interactive and practical young entrepreneurs conference (IPYEC) in Accra.
The theme of the IPYEC is: “Equipping young entrepreneurs with practical knowledge in order to enhance their contribution to national development through job creation.” It is organised by Chade Havilah in association with the office of the Vice President and supported by the Canadian Embassy.
The conference, which was slated for May 25 and 26, 2012, would bring together young entrepreneurs across the country to exchange and share ideas to promote entrepreneurship among the youth.
The conference would include corporate tour, exhibition, business seminar and interactive caucus sessions.
It is expected that the conference would raise entrepreneurs who would impact positively to national economic growth and address most of the challenging issues confronting entrepreneurship in the country.
According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chade Havilah, Mr Charles Kweku Nkrumah, most of the young entrepreneurs in Ghana face lots of challenges in managing their enterprises.
Some of these challenges, he said, could be technical and monetary so there was the need to adequately equip young entrepreneurs with the requisite skills and knowledge to efficiently and effectively manage their own businesses.
Mr Nkrumah observed that the conference would expose delegates to the systems, structures and the technicalities of the day to day running of some of the leading companies and industries in the country and afford young entrepreneurs the platform to showcase their ideas, products, services and businesses to the world.
“There is the need to adequately equip young entrepreneurs in order for them to take advantage of the opportunities around them,” he added.
THE youth have been advised to open their eyes to see the opportunities around them and work hard with their hands to become successful entrepreneurs.
This is because they could transform their own lives and situations through hard work if they believed they could make it in life.
“If the youth are positive, they would be able to achieve their dreams if they work towards it but if they think negatively that they can’t do it, no matter what they do it would not work,” the former Manager of Amal Bank now Bank of Africa, Mr Menson C. D. Torkorno, observed.
Mr Torkorno stated this at the media launch of the interactive and practical young entrepreneurs conference (IPYEC) in Accra.
The theme of the IPYEC is: “Equipping young entrepreneurs with practical knowledge in order to enhance their contribution to national development through job creation.” It is organised by Chade Havilah in association with the office of the Vice President and supported by the Canadian Embassy.
The conference, which was slated for May 25 and 26, 2012, would bring together young entrepreneurs across the country to exchange and share ideas to promote entrepreneurship among the youth.
The conference would include corporate tour, exhibition, business seminar and interactive caucus sessions.
It is expected that the conference would raise entrepreneurs who would impact positively to national economic growth and address most of the challenging issues confronting entrepreneurship in the country.
According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chade Havilah, Mr Charles Kweku Nkrumah, most of the young entrepreneurs in Ghana face lots of challenges in managing their enterprises.
Some of these challenges, he said, could be technical and monetary so there was the need to adequately equip young entrepreneurs with the requisite skills and knowledge to efficiently and effectively manage their own businesses.
Mr Nkrumah observed that the conference would expose delegates to the systems, structures and the technicalities of the day to day running of some of the leading companies and industries in the country and afford young entrepreneurs the platform to showcase their ideas, products, services and businesses to the world.
“There is the need to adequately equip young entrepreneurs in order for them to take advantage of the opportunities around them,” he added.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
DAILY GRAPHIC, Saturday, May 19, 2012, Centre spread Pg. 17. GJA names 2011 awards committee
Story: Mary Ankrah
THE Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has received 434 entries and nominations for this year’s GJA Awards slated for the Banquet Hall of the State House in Accra on August 25, 2012.
The figure shows an increase of 184 entries over last year’s, a number which is unprecedented in the history of the GJA Awards.
Out of the 434 entries, 43 will be selected for various awards, including the journalist of the year and the most promising young journalist.
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| Some members of the committee during the inauguration ceremony in Accra |
An 11-member committee has been inaugurated to examine and assess the entries received this year.
The committee members are Mr Edward Ameyibor and Ms Ajoa Yeboa-Afari, two former presidents of the GJA; Ms Roberta Gardiner, the Head of Training of Ghana Television; Mr Ato Amoaning-Annan, the acting Dean of Journalism and Communication at the African University College of Communications, and Nanabanyin Pratt, the Dean of the GIMPA Public Service School.
The rest are Ms Cornelia Amoah, a former News Editor of TV Africa; Mr Enimil Ashong, a former Editor of the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator; Mr George Adjei, a former Editor-in-Chief of Ghana Television; Ms Diana Heymann-Adu, a senior lecturer in Journalism at the Ghana Institute of Journalism; Mr George Bosompim, the Manager of Production Services at the GAMA Film Company Limited, and Mr Ken Bediako, a veteran sports journalist.
Inaugurating the committee yesterday, the President of the GJA, Mr Ransford Tetteh, said the inauguration was part of the transparency process, as well as an opportunity to show to the public the entries received.
He dismissed the notion held by a section of the public that the media would compromise their critical instinct because of the support the association received from friends and well-wishers for the organisation of the awards.
“The media houses and the award winners do not directly go about soliciting for support and are, therefore, not obliged to compromise their critical role for the sake of winning awards. The committee is an independent body,” he said.
Mr Tetteh observed that the awards would help motivate Ghanaian journalists and the media to aspire to higher standards and professionalism.
He urged Ghanaians and all stakeholders to be supportive in promoting media excellence because a “free society with a free independent and responsible media will engender development and economic growth”.
The GJA Awards has become a regular feature of activities of the association since August 14, 1949.
At this year’s event, journalists will be rewarded in areas including investigative reporting, social security (individual and media institution), anti-corruption, agriculture, HIV & AIDS, human rights, as well as crime and court reporting.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
DAILY GRAPHIC, Tuesday , May 15, 2012, Pg. 20. Youth urged to exhibit skills
Story: Mary Ankrah
THE youth have been encouraged to exhibit their first aid skills and renew their commitment to volunteerism in order to carry the movement and lifesaving mandate of the Ghana Red Cross Society forward.
Ghanaians have also been advised to recognise, invest in and empower the next generation with the understanding and knowledge of serving humanity.
The Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS), Mrs Yvonne Asare, made the call at the World Red Cross Red Crescent day celebration in Accra.
To mark this year’s celebration, dubbed: “Youth on the move: Saving lives through Volunteerism,” the GRCS recognised the contributions of young people and encouraged them to continue to do more and better.
The GRCS had supported millions of people in various states of vulnerability to promote good health, disaster response management and preparedness, promotion of peace and International Humanitarian Law (IHL), peaceful co-existence among people, improvement of livelihoods, health education, social mobilisation and first aid.
The bulk of the work of the GRCS is carried out by the society’s corps of dedicated volunteers numbering about 60,000 with the youth making up nearly 60 per cent of the number.
Speaking at the event, Mrs Asare emphasised that in the face of major challenges in the world such as climate change, conflicts and violence, migration and urbanisation, young people across the world were showing their desire to be part of the solution.
She further said that the youth were helping their communities prepare for disasters, facilitating safe and equitable access to health care, accepting responsibility as agents of behavioural change and building a culture of peace.
“The youth around the world are exploring humanitarian law, enabling them as tomorrow’s leaders to take decisions preventing unnecessary suffering in times of armed conflicts and other situations of violence,” she said.
She observed that young people were already making a profound difference in the lives of the vulnerable people and had true capacity to become community champions to provide the needed expertise in the world.
For those reasons, she urged the youth to fill the positions of leadership within the humanitarian network, and said they should be afforded real support to advise on strategic decision-making of the movement in the country.
“The youth should increasingly become the face and the voice of the movement, allowing greater access to new generation of volunteers and leadership to come after them,” she observed.
For her part, a representative from the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Idrissa Sow, pointed out that volunteers had been the backbone of the movement since its inception, assisting millions of vulnerable people in times of need yet most of the volunteers worked under harsh conditions.
He added that the volunteers would need support and good management to be able to make a difference in the country.
She, therefore, called on stakeholders to assist in addressing some of the challenges facing the volunteers.
The celebration was marked with a parade, blood donation and a first aid competition by children from different schools in Accra.
THE youth have been encouraged to exhibit their first aid skills and renew their commitment to volunteerism in order to carry the movement and lifesaving mandate of the Ghana Red Cross Society forward.
Ghanaians have also been advised to recognise, invest in and empower the next generation with the understanding and knowledge of serving humanity.
The Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS), Mrs Yvonne Asare, made the call at the World Red Cross Red Crescent day celebration in Accra.
To mark this year’s celebration, dubbed: “Youth on the move: Saving lives through Volunteerism,” the GRCS recognised the contributions of young people and encouraged them to continue to do more and better.
The GRCS had supported millions of people in various states of vulnerability to promote good health, disaster response management and preparedness, promotion of peace and International Humanitarian Law (IHL), peaceful co-existence among people, improvement of livelihoods, health education, social mobilisation and first aid.
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| A coss section of members of the red cross in parade. Picture: Mary Ankrah |
The bulk of the work of the GRCS is carried out by the society’s corps of dedicated volunteers numbering about 60,000 with the youth making up nearly 60 per cent of the number.
Speaking at the event, Mrs Asare emphasised that in the face of major challenges in the world such as climate change, conflicts and violence, migration and urbanisation, young people across the world were showing their desire to be part of the solution.
She further said that the youth were helping their communities prepare for disasters, facilitating safe and equitable access to health care, accepting responsibility as agents of behavioural change and building a culture of peace.
“The youth around the world are exploring humanitarian law, enabling them as tomorrow’s leaders to take decisions preventing unnecessary suffering in times of armed conflicts and other situations of violence,” she said.
She observed that young people were already making a profound difference in the lives of the vulnerable people and had true capacity to become community champions to provide the needed expertise in the world.
For those reasons, she urged the youth to fill the positions of leadership within the humanitarian network, and said they should be afforded real support to advise on strategic decision-making of the movement in the country.
“The youth should increasingly become the face and the voice of the movement, allowing greater access to new generation of volunteers and leadership to come after them,” she observed.
For her part, a representative from the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Idrissa Sow, pointed out that volunteers had been the backbone of the movement since its inception, assisting millions of vulnerable people in times of need yet most of the volunteers worked under harsh conditions.
He added that the volunteers would need support and good management to be able to make a difference in the country.
She, therefore, called on stakeholders to assist in addressing some of the challenges facing the volunteers.
The celebration was marked with a parade, blood donation and a first aid competition by children from different schools in Accra.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
DAILY GRAPHIC, Saturday, May 12, 2012, Pg. 23. Fake operative arrested for swindling magistrate
Story: Mary Ankrah
A SELF-STYLED national security operative has been remanded into police custody for allegedly attempting to dupe a magistrate at the Sanitation and Motor Court at Abeka in Accra.
The suspect, Salifu Issifu, 42, who claimed to be a Deputy Co-ordinator of the Confiscated Vehicles Allocation Committee, has been accused of collecting GH¢100 from the magistrate, Mr Emmanuel Nana Antwi-Barima, with the view to processing documents for the allocation of one of the confiscated vehicles to the magistrate.
The police are also investigating the accused for allegedly collecting money from other people to either help enlist them into the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) or get them some of the confiscated vehicles.
Narrating the case to the Daily Graphic after Issifu had been remanded into police custody for two weeks, the Tesano District Crime Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr George Lysander Asare, said Issifu approached and convinced the magistrate that he could help the magistrate to get one of the confiscated vehicles.
Issifu then collected GH¢100 and passport size pictures from the magistrate to begin processing the documents for the release of the car to him.
Mr Asare said the magistrate, however, reported the matter to the Tesano Police after realising that Issifu was not forthcoming with the truth regarding the processing of the documents and when the car would be released.
He said further checks by the magistrate also revealed that the accused person was a swindler.
Mr Asare said the suspect was subsequently arrested.
According to him, the police uncovered various documents with Ghana’s Coat of Arms embossed on them when a search was conducted in Issifu’s room at the Diana Guest House at Dome CFC, where he was lodging.
Some of the documents, he said, also had the stamp of a Deputy Chief of Staff on them.
The crime officer said further investigations also revealed that Issifu had collected GH¢290 from someone identified as Isaac Kwabena Adjanor, a resident of Dome, with the promise of getting him enlisted into the GNFS through the Office of the President.
He said the accused also had in his possession prospectus for women applicants into the Ghana Immigration Service for 2012/2013.
Mr Asare said the police suspected that the accused could have been using those documents to swindle unsuspecting people.
A SELF-STYLED national security operative has been remanded into police custody for allegedly attempting to dupe a magistrate at the Sanitation and Motor Court at Abeka in Accra.
The suspect, Salifu Issifu, 42, who claimed to be a Deputy Co-ordinator of the Confiscated Vehicles Allocation Committee, has been accused of collecting GH¢100 from the magistrate, Mr Emmanuel Nana Antwi-Barima, with the view to processing documents for the allocation of one of the confiscated vehicles to the magistrate.
The police are also investigating the accused for allegedly collecting money from other people to either help enlist them into the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) or get them some of the confiscated vehicles.
Narrating the case to the Daily Graphic after Issifu had been remanded into police custody for two weeks, the Tesano District Crime Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr George Lysander Asare, said Issifu approached and convinced the magistrate that he could help the magistrate to get one of the confiscated vehicles.
Issifu then collected GH¢100 and passport size pictures from the magistrate to begin processing the documents for the release of the car to him.
Mr Asare said the magistrate, however, reported the matter to the Tesano Police after realising that Issifu was not forthcoming with the truth regarding the processing of the documents and when the car would be released.
He said further checks by the magistrate also revealed that the accused person was a swindler.
Mr Asare said the suspect was subsequently arrested.
According to him, the police uncovered various documents with Ghana’s Coat of Arms embossed on them when a search was conducted in Issifu’s room at the Diana Guest House at Dome CFC, where he was lodging.
Some of the documents, he said, also had the stamp of a Deputy Chief of Staff on them.
The crime officer said further investigations also revealed that Issifu had collected GH¢290 from someone identified as Isaac Kwabena Adjanor, a resident of Dome, with the promise of getting him enlisted into the GNFS through the Office of the President.
He said the accused also had in his possession prospectus for women applicants into the Ghana Immigration Service for 2012/2013.
Mr Asare said the police suspected that the accused could have been using those documents to swindle unsuspecting people.
DAILY GRAPHIC, Saturday, May 12, 2012, Pg. 11. Celebrating our illustrious mothers
Salome Donkor & Mary Ankrah
MOTHER is undoubtedly the most beautiful and lovable word in any language. This goes to show the importance of a mother in our lives. Mother stands for millions of things she gives to her children. It also stands for sacrifices pain, grief and sorrows which she has to undergo to keep her children happy and secure.
No joy can match the joy of a mother looking at her child - those craving eyes-deeper than a whole ocean. The most important woman in an individual's life is her/his mother. Her presence affects us our entire life and she can't be replaced by anyone.
Celebrated every year, Mother's Day is an occasion when individuals express their love and respect that they have for their mother. It's time to pamper her for all she has done for us over the years.
On Mother's Day, you can tell your mother that she will always be important to you all and that you will continue to love her for ever. While many countries of the world celebrate their own Mother's Day at different times throughout the year, there are some countries such as Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, Belgium and Ghana which also celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May.
Rev Dei Awuku of the Madina Saviour congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, told the Daily Graphic that although his mother left him for eternity 19 years ago, he is still appreciative of her role in his upbringing.
He said his mother made them appreciate the relevance of the adage that “the hand that does not work, will not eat.” With such powerful teachings, he and his siblings worked hard to make it in life.
He saluted all mothers for their enormous contribution to the upbringing of children, stressing that “in these modern times, it is not uncommon to see a number of mothers combining their household chores and work, with schooling to upgrade themselves for corporate and social responsibilities.
He specially congratulated his wife, Antie Mary, for the care and support she offered to the family in general and his three sons in particular.
A visit to the Makola Market in Accra showed that a number of mothers struggle under strenuous conditions to work hard to work to improve the lives of their families. Some of them wake up as early as 3am to do their household chores and set off to the market to sell their goods.
It is common to see mothers with their babies strapped at their back and seriously marketing their items or selling under the scorching sun.
A wheat seller at the market, Ms Mary Lamptey, told the Daily Graphic that she had been in the wheat business for almost 20 years and used the proceeds to sponsor her three children in school.
Ms Lamptey said her business was important to her than anything because that is what her family survives on and pointed out that even though her children are grown now, she still loves to work rather than to stay at home.
“Indeed women are suffering. Most of us single mothers in the market have to go through so much ordeals to put food on the table for our children,” Daavi, a “kontomire” seller, lamented.
Narrating her story, she said despite her struggling to make sure her children were well catered for, there was no improvement in her life but she would not give up.
She said the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has also made things difficult for the market women to sell their items.
Daavi complained that sometimes the AMA task force destroys their goods and items and even beat them up for selling on the streets. They have nowhere to sell.
A number of the women also expressed the gratitude to God for His love and blessing to all mothers in the world.
Despites the challenges and struggles they face in their daily activities, most of them said they were glad to be women, “I am glad to be a woman and a mother,” one of the women exclaimed while heartily playing with her baby.
In another development, Founders of Ghana Twins Foundation, Zeena and Maya Abou-Jaoude, have described Mother's Day as a special day for every mother and saluted all mothers, especially mothers of multiple birth which comes with an additional responsibility.
In a statement, they said being a mother was special but being the mother of twins (triplets or more) is something that is very special, adding that such mothers benefit from a gift that others do not experience.
They recognised the great sacrifices and contribution of mothers of twins and said their efforts afford their children the opportunity to survive the hardships of social life and other challenges.
“It is worth noting that a significant number of women in the urban poor communities with multiple births ironically are neglected by the fathers of the children. They therefore spend their lives deprived, while some end up on our streets using the children (twins, triplets etc) to beg for alms. The increasing use of twins in soliciting arms in the streets by some twin mothers is unfortunate and a bad reflection of the harsh conditions some mothers endure in raising such children.”
“We may not be able to pay our mothers for their tremendous sacrifices but the day certainly provides the opportunity for all to appreciate their efforts and honour them” they said.
“On the occasion of mother’s day, we congratulate all mothers and admonish mothers and women to rise and shine above the many limitations and challenges that beset them. It is our hope that society will commit itself to uphold this value and promote better appreciation and understanding of mother’s not just as female parents but as a tool for peace building and social harmony, the statement said.
MOTHER is undoubtedly the most beautiful and lovable word in any language. This goes to show the importance of a mother in our lives. Mother stands for millions of things she gives to her children. It also stands for sacrifices pain, grief and sorrows which she has to undergo to keep her children happy and secure.
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| A number of mothers at the Makola Market in Accra showed struggle under strenuous conditions to work hard to cater for their families. PIX: MARY ANKRAH |
No joy can match the joy of a mother looking at her child - those craving eyes-deeper than a whole ocean. The most important woman in an individual's life is her/his mother. Her presence affects us our entire life and she can't be replaced by anyone.
Celebrated every year, Mother's Day is an occasion when individuals express their love and respect that they have for their mother. It's time to pamper her for all she has done for us over the years.
On Mother's Day, you can tell your mother that she will always be important to you all and that you will continue to love her for ever. While many countries of the world celebrate their own Mother's Day at different times throughout the year, there are some countries such as Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, Belgium and Ghana which also celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May.
Rev Dei Awuku of the Madina Saviour congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, told the Daily Graphic that although his mother left him for eternity 19 years ago, he is still appreciative of her role in his upbringing.
He said his mother made them appreciate the relevance of the adage that “the hand that does not work, will not eat.” With such powerful teachings, he and his siblings worked hard to make it in life.
He saluted all mothers for their enormous contribution to the upbringing of children, stressing that “in these modern times, it is not uncommon to see a number of mothers combining their household chores and work, with schooling to upgrade themselves for corporate and social responsibilities.
He specially congratulated his wife, Antie Mary, for the care and support she offered to the family in general and his three sons in particular.
A visit to the Makola Market in Accra showed that a number of mothers struggle under strenuous conditions to work hard to work to improve the lives of their families. Some of them wake up as early as 3am to do their household chores and set off to the market to sell their goods.
It is common to see mothers with their babies strapped at their back and seriously marketing their items or selling under the scorching sun.
A wheat seller at the market, Ms Mary Lamptey, told the Daily Graphic that she had been in the wheat business for almost 20 years and used the proceeds to sponsor her three children in school.
Ms Lamptey said her business was important to her than anything because that is what her family survives on and pointed out that even though her children are grown now, she still loves to work rather than to stay at home.
“Indeed women are suffering. Most of us single mothers in the market have to go through so much ordeals to put food on the table for our children,” Daavi, a “kontomire” seller, lamented.
Narrating her story, she said despite her struggling to make sure her children were well catered for, there was no improvement in her life but she would not give up.
She said the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has also made things difficult for the market women to sell their items.
Daavi complained that sometimes the AMA task force destroys their goods and items and even beat them up for selling on the streets. They have nowhere to sell.
A number of the women also expressed the gratitude to God for His love and blessing to all mothers in the world.
Despites the challenges and struggles they face in their daily activities, most of them said they were glad to be women, “I am glad to be a woman and a mother,” one of the women exclaimed while heartily playing with her baby.
In another development, Founders of Ghana Twins Foundation, Zeena and Maya Abou-Jaoude, have described Mother's Day as a special day for every mother and saluted all mothers, especially mothers of multiple birth which comes with an additional responsibility.
In a statement, they said being a mother was special but being the mother of twins (triplets or more) is something that is very special, adding that such mothers benefit from a gift that others do not experience.
They recognised the great sacrifices and contribution of mothers of twins and said their efforts afford their children the opportunity to survive the hardships of social life and other challenges.
“It is worth noting that a significant number of women in the urban poor communities with multiple births ironically are neglected by the fathers of the children. They therefore spend their lives deprived, while some end up on our streets using the children (twins, triplets etc) to beg for alms. The increasing use of twins in soliciting arms in the streets by some twin mothers is unfortunate and a bad reflection of the harsh conditions some mothers endure in raising such children.”
“We may not be able to pay our mothers for their tremendous sacrifices but the day certainly provides the opportunity for all to appreciate their efforts and honour them” they said.
“On the occasion of mother’s day, we congratulate all mothers and admonish mothers and women to rise and shine above the many limitations and challenges that beset them. It is our hope that society will commit itself to uphold this value and promote better appreciation and understanding of mother’s not just as female parents but as a tool for peace building and social harmony, the statement said.
Friday, May 11, 2012
DAILY GRAPHIC, Friday, May 11, 2012, Centre spread Pg. 24. Gbese youth disrupt church service at Calvary Baptist Church
Story: Seth J. Bokpe & Mary Ankrah
Mid-week church service at the Calvary Baptist Church in Adabraka ended abruptly when angry Ga youth from Gbese invaded the church to enforce the ban on noise-making and drumming which is a prelude to the Homowo Festival.
The youth, who arrived at the church in a Mercedes Benz bus and were led by Nii Ayikai, the Gbese Wulomo, were said to have entered the church and asked the members to stop using microphones during the service.
They were also said to have attempted to pack some plastic chairs in the church but they were restrained from carrying them away by the church members.
When the Daily Graphic got to the church premises, the doors leading to the entrance of the church were locked, while groups of church members were seen on the premises discussing the incident.
The Head Pastor of the church, Rev Dr Fred Deegbe, was seen talking to the leaders of the youth from Gbese. A few minutes later, he led the leaders into one of the buildings on the premises.
After a while the two parties returned but declined to comment on the matter.
Armed policemen who arrived on the scene to ensure law and order also declined to comment on the issue.
Nii Ayikai, however, said, “We have resolved whatever it is. There is no need dragging the issue; let’s drop it here.”
A smiling Rev Dr Deegbe could only resort to jokes when asked about how the matter had been resolved.
“What happened? Did something happen?” he asked.
While leaving, some of the youth from Gbese could not resist the temptation to issue threats, saying, ‘’We will come back if we hear the noise.”
In response, some members of the church could only shake their heads.
The Ga Traditional Council declared a ban on drumming, dancing and noise-making within the Ga State beginning May 7, 2012.
A statement issued by the acting President of the council, Nii Dodoo Nsaki II, stated that the ban was to usher in the celebration of the Homowo Festival.
It said the traditional “Odadaw”, which signifies the lifting of the ban, would accordingly be performed on June 7, 2012.
It is expected that the public will respect the ban and honour the customs and traditions of the Ga State.
The Homowo celebrations are expected to take place in the following areas on the stipulated dates: Nungua, July 1; Lante Djan We, July 28, and Tema, August 10, 2012.
For some time now, Christians have been asked to restrict the use of drums in their churches and avoid unnecessary noise-making during the period of the ban on drumming by the Ga Traditional Council in the interest of peace and reconciliation.
The issue does not sit well with some churches, especially some charismatic churches whose leaders have vowed not to obey the ban.
This has led to persistent tension between a segment of the Christian community and the traditional authorities in Accra over the annual ban on drumming.
In 1999, the month-long ban provoked tension in Accra, leading to clashes between supporters of the Ga Traditional Council and some Christians who wanted to continue playing drums in church.
About 20 people were injured, church property vandalised and cars destroyed in the violence in some churches in the city.
Similarly, an agreement reached in 2000 between the churches and Ga leaders to prevent violence was not adhered to in 2001. As a result, there were sporadic clashes between church members and Ga youth.
Mid-week church service at the Calvary Baptist Church in Adabraka ended abruptly when angry Ga youth from Gbese invaded the church to enforce the ban on noise-making and drumming which is a prelude to the Homowo Festival.
The youth, who arrived at the church in a Mercedes Benz bus and were led by Nii Ayikai, the Gbese Wulomo, were said to have entered the church and asked the members to stop using microphones during the service.
They were also said to have attempted to pack some plastic chairs in the church but they were restrained from carrying them away by the church members.
When the Daily Graphic got to the church premises, the doors leading to the entrance of the church were locked, while groups of church members were seen on the premises discussing the incident.
The Head Pastor of the church, Rev Dr Fred Deegbe, was seen talking to the leaders of the youth from Gbese. A few minutes later, he led the leaders into one of the buildings on the premises.
After a while the two parties returned but declined to comment on the matter.
Armed policemen who arrived on the scene to ensure law and order also declined to comment on the issue.
Nii Ayikai, however, said, “We have resolved whatever it is. There is no need dragging the issue; let’s drop it here.”
A smiling Rev Dr Deegbe could only resort to jokes when asked about how the matter had been resolved.
“What happened? Did something happen?” he asked.
While leaving, some of the youth from Gbese could not resist the temptation to issue threats, saying, ‘’We will come back if we hear the noise.”
In response, some members of the church could only shake their heads.
The Ga Traditional Council declared a ban on drumming, dancing and noise-making within the Ga State beginning May 7, 2012.
A statement issued by the acting President of the council, Nii Dodoo Nsaki II, stated that the ban was to usher in the celebration of the Homowo Festival.
It said the traditional “Odadaw”, which signifies the lifting of the ban, would accordingly be performed on June 7, 2012.
It is expected that the public will respect the ban and honour the customs and traditions of the Ga State.
The Homowo celebrations are expected to take place in the following areas on the stipulated dates: Nungua, July 1; Lante Djan We, July 28, and Tema, August 10, 2012.
For some time now, Christians have been asked to restrict the use of drums in their churches and avoid unnecessary noise-making during the period of the ban on drumming by the Ga Traditional Council in the interest of peace and reconciliation.
The issue does not sit well with some churches, especially some charismatic churches whose leaders have vowed not to obey the ban.
This has led to persistent tension between a segment of the Christian community and the traditional authorities in Accra over the annual ban on drumming.
In 1999, the month-long ban provoked tension in Accra, leading to clashes between supporters of the Ga Traditional Council and some Christians who wanted to continue playing drums in church.
About 20 people were injured, church property vandalised and cars destroyed in the violence in some churches in the city.
Similarly, an agreement reached in 2000 between the churches and Ga leaders to prevent violence was not adhered to in 2001. As a result, there were sporadic clashes between church members and Ga youth.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
DAILY GRAPHIC, Tuesday, May 1, 2012, Pg. 15. Forum on International Baccalaureate courses held
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| Dr Margaret Nkrumah,Vice-President of the SOS Children’s Villages Ghana, giving her keynote address at the symposium in Accra.
Story: Mary Ankrah
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A SYMPOSIUM that is aimed at giving insights into the various courses offered under the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme and ensure its growth in Africa, has taken place at the Lincoln Community School at Abelemkpe in Accra.
The symposium discussed the challenges and opportunities for IB programmes in Africa; support the formation of a West African IB Association, discuss the development of a strategic plan for Africa and to provide the opportunity for schools to know about programme updates and new IB initiatives.
It was also to let school authorities which desire to offer IB programmes to learn at first hand the steps needed to set the programme rolling.
The event brought together heads of schools, local and international lecturers, seven officials from the IB headquarters in the Netherlands and IB coordinators across Africa.
The IB is a non-profit educational foundation that focuses on pupils aged between 3 and 12 and it offers three internationally recognised programmes including Primary Year programme (PYP), Middle Year Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme.
The PYP for pupils aged 3 to 12 focuses on the development of the whole child as an inquirer in the classroom and in the world outside, while the MYP for students aged 11 to 16 provides a framework of academic challenges and life skills through embracing and transcending traditional school subjects, and the Diploma Programme for students aged between 16 to 19 is a demanding two-year curriculum that meets the needs of highly motivated students, and leads to a qualification that is recognised by leading universities around the world.
Founded in 1968, IB works with 3,380 schools in 141 countries across the world including Ghana.
Speaking at the function, the Vice-President of the SOS Children’s Villages Ghana, Dr Margaret Nkrumah, said Africa needed a vigorous attempt to make the IB programmes accessible to state-owned schools in Africa for children to achieve the highest academic level attainment.
However, she indicated that the main challenges confronting the IB programmes in Africa were due to cost, lack of trained and experienced teachers to teach them, and the absence of a certifying examination at the end of the MYP course.
Dr Nkrumah pointed out that though several attempts were made between 2002 and 2006 by the Deputy Director-General of the IB organisation, Dr Ian Hill, to introduce the diploma programme into five state-owned schools in Ghana, namely Achimota, Wesley Girls, Mfantsipim, Presec and Aburi Girls, none of the schools could pay the fees and there was no political will or support from the Ghana Education Service (GES) to accept the competing programme of IB.
That notwithstanding, she said, many state and privately owned schools in Africa would be willing to adopt and introduce IB programmes in their school curriculum if the cost of IB programmes was reduced.
She recommended that the IB organisation comes up with more training programmes in Africa.
She commended LCS for becoming the first and only school in Ghana to offer the three IB programmes despite the challenges and urged the school to share knowledge and experience with less-endowed schools to learn from the school.
Dr Nkrumah contended that “A good education is without price and if Africa was ready to fulfil its potential and emerge out of poverty and exploitation, it needed to move away from rote learning and mere absorption of irrelevant facts and ensure a population which could think, analyse, create and take responsibilities for their lives”.
Schools which have so far introduced the IB programmes in their curriculum include LCS, Tema International School and SOS.
DAILY GRAPHIC, Tuesday, May 1, 2012, Pg. 13. Use constitution to retain or reject govt - NCCE
GHANAIANS have been urged to use the constitutional mechanism to monitor government performance to vote to remove or retain the government of the day through general elections.
The Accra Metro Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Ebenezer Tetteh Wayo, made this call at the 51st rally of the Accra Diocese Women’s Synod of the Methodist Church in Accra on Saturday.
The Women’s synod rally, dubbed “Women, you are a chosen vessel of Christ”, was to create awareness and usher in the main celebration of the 51st annual synod slated for May 2 - 6, 2012.
Speaking on the topic “Citizens’ participation in governance - peaceful election”, Mr Wayo advised Ghanaians to participate actively in the electoral process.
He noted with concern that even after people had registered as voters, some would refuse to vote, adding that, “When the wise men fail to vote, the unwise men rule them”.
That, he said, was the price people paid for showing apathy, saying “effective participation in governance was the surest way to attain the objectives of democracy.”
Mr Wayo continued that the leaders that Ghanaians would choose as their representatives in government and in Parliament should not necessarily be the richest, most educated or most important members of the community but rather those who had the capacity to identify their needs, resolve conflicts, analyse problems and plan with the community.
He, therefore, advised that when choosing leaders or representatives, citizens should not allow themselves to be influenced or bought by money or other gifts, stating that it was an electoral offence to receive or give money or anything with the aim of influencing a voter.
The Accra Metro Director of NCCE explained that once voters sold their conscience for monetary gains or other rewards and vote in a manner that would be against their own conscience, they effectively forfeited their right to the sovereign will, forgo their right to complain if things did not go on well and consequently denied themselves the moral right to put government to task.
To achieve a peaceful election, he entreated Ghanaians to be law-abiding, have respect for each other and should be ready to resolve differences if they arose.
“The youth especially must ensure that they did not engage in the use of vulgar language, generate unnecessary conflict and allow themselves to be lured with deception by politicians who would use them to disrupt the peace and stability in the country but rather be agents of peace even beyond elections,” he added.
In addition, the Accra Diocesan Bishop, Right Rev. Titus Awotwi-Pratt, in a speech read on his behalf, called on the women in the church to take spiritual things seriously and contribute their quota to the ongoing women’s projects.
Touching on the theme for the rally, the Rev Pearl Paintsil from the Abossey Okai Circuit of the Methodist Church encouraged women, as chosen vessels of Christ, to stay in accordance with the word of God and commandments and be law-abiding citizens.
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| Mrs charlotte Osei, NCCE Boss |
The Accra Metro Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Ebenezer Tetteh Wayo, made this call at the 51st rally of the Accra Diocese Women’s Synod of the Methodist Church in Accra on Saturday.
The Women’s synod rally, dubbed “Women, you are a chosen vessel of Christ”, was to create awareness and usher in the main celebration of the 51st annual synod slated for May 2 - 6, 2012.
Speaking on the topic “Citizens’ participation in governance - peaceful election”, Mr Wayo advised Ghanaians to participate actively in the electoral process.
He noted with concern that even after people had registered as voters, some would refuse to vote, adding that, “When the wise men fail to vote, the unwise men rule them”.
That, he said, was the price people paid for showing apathy, saying “effective participation in governance was the surest way to attain the objectives of democracy.”
Mr Wayo continued that the leaders that Ghanaians would choose as their representatives in government and in Parliament should not necessarily be the richest, most educated or most important members of the community but rather those who had the capacity to identify their needs, resolve conflicts, analyse problems and plan with the community.
He, therefore, advised that when choosing leaders or representatives, citizens should not allow themselves to be influenced or bought by money or other gifts, stating that it was an electoral offence to receive or give money or anything with the aim of influencing a voter.
The Accra Metro Director of NCCE explained that once voters sold their conscience for monetary gains or other rewards and vote in a manner that would be against their own conscience, they effectively forfeited their right to the sovereign will, forgo their right to complain if things did not go on well and consequently denied themselves the moral right to put government to task.
To achieve a peaceful election, he entreated Ghanaians to be law-abiding, have respect for each other and should be ready to resolve differences if they arose.
“The youth especially must ensure that they did not engage in the use of vulgar language, generate unnecessary conflict and allow themselves to be lured with deception by politicians who would use them to disrupt the peace and stability in the country but rather be agents of peace even beyond elections,” he added.
In addition, the Accra Diocesan Bishop, Right Rev. Titus Awotwi-Pratt, in a speech read on his behalf, called on the women in the church to take spiritual things seriously and contribute their quota to the ongoing women’s projects.
Touching on the theme for the rally, the Rev Pearl Paintsil from the Abossey Okai Circuit of the Methodist Church encouraged women, as chosen vessels of Christ, to stay in accordance with the word of God and commandments and be law-abiding citizens.
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