Accra, Oct. 18, GNA - The 8th Security Watch Africa Lecture series and 9th Security Watch Africa Awards on Thursday opened in Accra. The lecture, which being hosted for the second time in Ghana, brought together renowned African leaders, policy makers, opinion leaders, Security experts and the media and provided an opportunity for the discussion of the continent’s security challenges and applicable solutions. The lecture is on the theme: “Developing regional strategies and best practices in the fight against crimes and conflicts in Africa.” Brigadier General Joseph Nunoo-Mensah, National Security Advisor to President John Mahama, said there was the need for West African countries to work together in maintaining peace and security in the sub-region. He said citizens of many countries in the west African sub-region were trapped in conflicts and armed robbery because of bad social and economic lapses and that this, could be control when governments make the living conditions of their citizens better. Bridg Nunoo-Mensah noted that information sharing was important in the control and maintenance of peace and security, adding that African countries must share information to maintain peace. He said war was not the right option for the African Continent and that African countries must not resolve issues by war when the issue can be solved through dialogue. Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, Minister of Foriegn Affairs and Regional Integration, in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Kwadjo Wadie, Head of Policy Bureau of the Ministry, said the quest for peace has eluded Africa for too long and that despite the tremendous gains by some African countries, the entire continent was often judged on the basis of the few brutal conflicts and grave human rights violations. He said the African continent was yet to rid itself of conflicts that threaten peace, security and political stability. Alhaji Mumuni said the destruction caused to property and plight of refugees and internally displaced persons in their own land "Africa" should renew the continent commitment to tackle conflicts more forcefully. He said the current security challenges in the sub-region, and Africa for that matter, go beyond conflict. Alhaji Mumuni noted that food insecurity was also a problem and that a recent survey report on Food Security Index revealed that out of 59 countries that are most at risk of food insecurity in the world, 39 were in Africa. Mr Patrick Agbambu, International Coordinator of Security Watch Africa said stated that the idea for the Lecture and Awards was borne out of the desire to see a safe and secured Africa where citizens could live in peace. Security Watch Africa is a media NGO based in Nigeria that covers issues and events across Africa. GNA ...
Tamale, Oct 18, GNA - The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has donated 600 street lights to the six newly created district assemblies in the Northern Region as part of efforts to provide adequate security for residents. The Ministry also donated 21 loudspeakers to the assemblies to support their communication drive. Some of the new districts in the region include North Gonja, Sagnarigu, and Tolon. Mr Moses Bukari Mabengba, Northern Regional Minister, on behalf of the Ministry, presented the items to the beneficiary districts in Tamale on Thursday. Mr Mabengba also announced that the government, through the District Assemblies Common Fund, had released GHC100,000 each for the six new districts to undertake their activities. He reiterated that the idea behind the creation of the districts was to bring governance to the doorstep of the people and called on their District Chief Executives (DCEs) to discharge their duties creditably to justify the confidence reposed in them. Mr Sorku Yahuza, DCE for North Gonja, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, thanked the Ministry for the donation and promised to put them to good use. GNA ...
Accra, Oct.18, GNA - Dr. Michael Abu Sakara Foster, Flag bearer of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), on Thursday officially filed his nomination papers to contest Election 2012. Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), after scrutinizing the nomination forms formally declared Dr Sakara as a Presidential Candidate to contest the Election 2012. He called for collaboration among electoral stakeholders to ensure that the December Presidential and parliamentary polls are conducted in an atmosphere of peace for attainment of credible results. Interacting with the media after the filing, Dr Sakara, who was earlier the morning asked to correct some errors on the nomination forms, expressed reservations about the security of Biometric Voters Identification Cards. “ID cards numbers of some electorates who endorsed Dr Sakara’s nomination were not captured in the EC’s data base....possibly fake ID,” he said. Dr. Sakara appealed to the EC to ensure that all holders of the Voters Identity Cards had records with the Commission to enable them to exercise their franchise in the upcoming general elections. The CPP Presidential Candidate said a government of the party would work for all Ghanaians and not few individuals and pledged that the party would not also get itself involved in acts that have the potential of causing confusion in the country. Mr. Christian Owusu-Parre, EC Acting Director of Public Affairs, in an interaction with journalists, said the Commission was still in the process of coming out with the final voters register for the elections. He said after the exhibition of the voters register, the district offices of the Commission were still compiling the names of some people which had not yet reached the headquarters. “It is therefore too early for people to express worry about why their names are not with the Commission. The Commission will not disfranchise anybody,” he said. Dr Sakara was accompanied by Nana Akosua Frimpomaa Sarpong, the CPP’s running mate and Hajia Haruna Hamdatu, National Women Organiser and other leading members. Two other political parties, the United Front Party and Ghana Freedom Party have their nomination forms returned to them for corrections to be made. GNA ...
Accra, Oct. 18, GNA-President John Dramani Mahama says government would expand the country’s social and economic infrastructure when voted back into power in the forthcoming general election in December. He mentioned the expansion of facilities at the Tema and Takoradi harbours, construction of the eastern and western corridor roads, establishment of an inland port for the SADA zone and the upgrading of all the regional airports into international standards. President Mahama announced this when he outlined the NDC’s policy for the coming years in the IEA evening encounter in Accra. President Mahama said apart from the provision of these facilities, government would also upgrade the Tamale airport to become the second international airport in Ghana. He said the Takoradi, Kumasi and Sunyani airports would also be upgraded, while aerodromes would be established in all regional capitals to facilitate air transport in the coming years. The President said government had set aside a 100 million dollars facility from the Chinese loan to empower small and medium scale enterprises to undertake their own programmes that would make them employers, rather than being perennial dependents on government Ministries, Departments and Agencies. President Mahama said government would also review the procurement law that would be advantageous to the local businesses to take the centre-stage in employment and achieve the local content desires of Ghanaians. He said the production of gas and its by-products in the coming years would not only create jobs, but would also revive the dwindling fortunes of the Volta Aluminium Company to undertake major production for both domestic consumption and for export. The President said the Takoradi Polytechnic would be supported to train more technical persons in oil and gas extraction and production to sustain the industry for Ghanaians in the coming years. President Mahama also answered questions on various areas of national life including the economy, education, health, salary structures, labour issues, science and technology, employment, housing and social interventions in the country. GNA ...
Tema, Oct. 19, GNA – Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Minister of Local Government and Rural development, has called on religious bodies to pray for God’s blessings on the nation. He said the nation needs peace and stability at all times in its development efforts. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo made the call when he joined in worship with three Tema based churches, namely, Liberty Revival Ministries; Holiness Mission International Church and the Church of Pentecost. The Minister, who is also the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate for Tema West, expressed the optimism that as Ghanaians prayed for peaceful elections in December, the will of the Lord would prevail so that whoever was chosen to lead the nation would be accepted by all. He said he would bring comfort and smiles onto the faces of the disadvantaged and under-privileged in society when given the mandate to lead the people of Tema West saying “I can offer the best solutions to the numerous challenges facing the Constituency”. He said “I have passion for development and to assist the poor, vulnerable and the marginalized.” Later at the inauguration of the Constituency branch of the Youth for Mahama and Ampofo Fan Club, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said the time has come for Ghanaians to desist from voting along party lines. He said Ghanaians should rather give their mandate to people who have their wellbeing at heart and promised to offer an efficient leadership that would address the numerous challenges facing the constituency. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo urged members of the Fan Club to be good and worthy ambassadors of NDC, and desist from acts that would soil the good image of the party. GNA...
Wa (UWR), Oct 19, GNA - Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, running mate of President John Dramani Mahama for the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ghana’s forthcoming December 2012 elections, on Friday said a “one touch victory” for the party would benefit all Ghanaians. He told a milling crowd of party enthusiasts at Sumbo, within the Wa Municipality that the hierarchy of the party would work with them to get more people to understand the NDC’s message of fair and equitable development. “I have come to see the work the Regional Minister is doing. Thanks the warm welcome. I will encourage you, and you will also encourage me, and for us to do as much as we can to bring “one touch victory” for the benefit of the NDC and all Ghanaians,” the Vice President said. Vice President Amissah-Arthur is in Wa, the capital of the Upper West Region, at the start of a five-day campaign tour of the Upper West, Upper East and Northern Regions ahead of the December 7, 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections. During the tour, Vice President Amissah-Arthur would market the party and its programmes and explain to the electorate Government development programmes and solicit the electorate to give the NDC a second term to continue with its development projects under the “Better Ghana” agenda. From the Wa Airstrip through the Municipal street, the Vice President was given a rousing welcome by party supporters, wearing party paraphernalia and using automobiles, bicycles, tricycles and motor bikes; they shouted slogans of the NDC, touted horns, and moved beside the convoy of the Vice President to the residency at Sumbo. With his forefinger pointing to the sky, the Vice President accompanied by sitting MPs of the area, said a one touch victory was assured for the NDC. He gave thumbs up to President John Mahama for an excellent performance at the Institute of Economic Affairs Presidential encounter, adding that, “this is the kind of person we need to lead Ghana.” He urged the electorate to vote massively for the NDC, and stressed that there was no need to be complacency, but hard work and convincing campaign to win more people to the side of the NDC. Vice President Amissah Arthur later called on the Paramount Chief of Wa, Wa Na Fuseinu Pelpuo III, at his palace and introduced himself to the King. He assured the King that the NDC Government would continue to engage traditional rulers in the governance process and team up with them in the development of their areas. Vice President Amissah-Arthur said the NDC would continue to keep faith with the chiefs and people of the Wala Traditional Area. Naa Pelpuo thanked the Vice President for the call, and underlined the need for the polls to be conducted in a peaceful manner. At a meeting with the council of elders and landlords, the Tengdaanaba, the Vice President reiterated his earlier message, and assured the chiefs of fair and equitable development. They expressed their gratitude to the NDC for keeping faith with the area, since 1992. GNA...
Accra, Oct. 19, GNA – Ms Akua Sena Dansua, Minister of Tourism on Friday called on beauty pageants to preserve their moral chastity for their future husbands. She advised them to resist the allurement of promiscuous male promoters expressing concern about public perception that pageants in contest were often exploited by some irresponsible men. She insisted that such immoral acts needed to be exposed. Ms Dansua gave the advice when she presented a Hyundai-EON saloon car to Miss Emmanuella Esinam Awunyo, winner of the Club-Miss Tourism Ghana 2012, at a short ceremony in Accra. She advised Ms Awunyo, who was accompanied by other six finalists, to cherish their spiritual values, saying virtue would keep them from being exploited by those who might seek them for their sexual gratification. Ms Dansua encouraged them to promote tourism potentials in the country. Miss Awunyo expressed gratitude to the sponsors, particularly Accra Brewery Limited, the title sponsor, for the support. She told the Ghana News Agency that cultural tourism remained an identifiable area that needed to be further developed. Miss Awunyo called for more efforts to develop and promote the Ghanaian culture. Miss Awunyo, who majored in Theatre Management, is a graduate of the University of Ghana, Legon. She represented the Volta Region in the contest and was crowned as Club-Miss Tourism Ghana 2012 on September 22, 2012, after beating nine other contestants at the final competition held in Accra. The competition was organized to promote tourism in Ghana. It was also to create awareness, in order to get the inclusiveness of all and the youth in particular, and to also awaken in the authorities in developing the existing and prospective tourism potentials in localities throughout the country. Her winning package included a comprehensive car insurance from Metropolitan Insurance, a laptop and a mobile phone from AGAMS Group, an international travels sponsored by the British Council and Seasons Travel and Tour. Others included winter clothing, accommodation and spending money in London, one year supply of Darling Hair product, a monthly cash allowance and assorted t-shirts. Miss Nancy Antwiwaa Baah, who represented the Northern Region, emerged the First Princess, while Miss Clementina Yelim Boapeh of the Upper West Region emerged the second Princess. GNA...
Tema, Oct. 19, GNA – Participants at a sensitisation workshop in Tema, have called for the need for politicians to factor issues relating to environmental protection into their developmental agenda. This, they contended, would enable the electorate to hold political parties accountable if they failed to deliver on their promises after being voted into power. The call was contained in a 12-point communiqué issued at the end of the workshop which was attended by more than 20 participants from political parties, media practitioners, assembly members and community members. Organised by WACAM with financial support from STAR Ghana, USAID, the EU and DANIDA, the workshop was aimed at interacting with political parties on the need to include mining and environmental issues in their campaign and manifestoes, and above all, ensuring peace in the country even beyond the December 7 polls. The workshop participants also called on political parties to join hands to campaign against companies whose activities pollute the environment, including water bodies. They stressed the need to review the Minerals and Mining Act 2006 (Act 703), to ensure that mining companies did not exploit the land and that investors also did not hide behind their so-called corporate social responsibility programmes as a form of development, while totally destroying the land. The communiqué also called for a sustainable development plan for affected mining communities because compensation normally paid them by mining companies are woefully inadequate to sustain their future. It also stressed the need for the law to be crafted in such a way that it dealt ruthlessly with investors whose activities adversely affected the environment within mining communities. GNA...
Accra, Oct. 19, GNA - Management of Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) on Friday cut the sod for construction work to begin on the 350-seater auditorium for the Institute. Dr Christina Amoako-Nuama, Chairman of GIMPA Governing Council, said the project was necessary because the institution does not have an auditorium for its international programmes saying when completed the project would enhance teaching and learning for the Institute. Dr Amoako-Nuama said the cost of the project is GH¢ 1.486 million which is funded by the Ghana Education Trust Fund and is expected to be completed in November 2013. Mr Cornelius Atsu Defeamakpor, Technical Officer of GET fund, said their outfit was mandated to provide funds for the project in its quest to facilitate teaching and learning in the institute. He said The Ghana Education Trust Fund was established by an Act of Parliament in 2000 (Act 581) with the object of providing finance to supplement the provision of education at all levels by government. Mr Osei Poku, Project Consultant for the project, said they would also work assiduously to meet the stated deadline. GIMPA WAS Established by the United Nations in 1961,and has served as a world-class centre of excellence providing several Ghanaians and others from the sub-region with quality training in management, administration, governance and leadership and development training programmes. GNA...
Ho, Oct. 19, GNA - Ho Christian Women Intercessors Fellowship (HCWIF) has condemned the recent action of the chief of Likpe-Abrani, Pius Clemefi, who ordered the stripping naked and banishment of a woman from the town. The fellowship called on all stakeholders seeking to protect the rights of women join in its condemnation of the grievous act. A statement signed on behalf of the group by Rev Mrs Dinah Abbey-Mensah and copied to the Ghana News Agency said the act of the Mankrado of Likpe-Abrani, whose domain is located in the Hohoe Municipal Area, was most unfortunate and must be condemned in uncertain terms. The statement said Anastasia Adom, 33, was reported to have been summoned to the chief’s palace at Likpe-Abrani on September 25, and was accused of insolence and banished from the community. It said she was then stripped naked and paraded through the town whiles onlookers took snapshots of her. The statement said without prejudice to the judicial process which had been initiated by the state, it was registering its abhorrence for the act, which was not in consonance with the modern thoughts of giving the woman her due place in family and in the society. It said the fiat of banishment imposed on the Anastasia was outrageous and called for a “revisit of the impact certain outmoded customs and practices are having on our society”. Pius Clemefi, Mankrado of Likpe-Abrani and nine others were picked up by the police for the offence and are being prosecuted. GNA...
Koforidua, Oct. 19, GNA - The Marketing Officer of Akuapem Rural Bank, Mr Samuel Boateng Nkansah, has called on workers to help remove impediments in the way of pensioners so that when they retire, they would not suffer the same fate. He said some of the impediments in the way of pensioners as forming long queues at the banks to collect their pensions as well as the frustrations some face at the Controller and Accountant General Department before their documents are processed. Mr Nkansah said this when on behalf of the Akuapem Rural Bank, he presented a cheque of GH¢500 to members of the New Juaben Municipal Branch of the Ghana Pensioners Association to support them towards the end of year get-together. He commended the pensioners in the country for the good work they did when they were in active service which contributed to the peace we currently enjoy. Mr Nkansah said it was the desire of the bank to continue to support the association and urged other financial institutions to come to the aid of the pensioners. Mr Emmanuel Darkwa Nimo, a member of the Management Board of the Pensioners Association, who received the cheque on behalf of the Association, commended the Akuapem Rural Bank for being the first institution to respond to the appeals and expressed the hope that the bank would be an enduring partner of the Association. GNA...
Brekumase (E/R), Oct. 19, GNA - Mr Joseph Kwasi Baah Yirenkyi, the Assembly Member for the Brekumase Electoral Area in the West Akyem Municipality, has established an educational trust fund to support needy students in the area. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after the first fund raising harvest to support the project, Mr Yirenkyi said his aim was to raise funds to support secondary education of the youth from the area. He said last year, students of the Brekumase Junior High School scored 100 per cent at the Basic Education Certificate Examination, but only 22 per cent were able to continue their education due to poor financial support from their parents. He explained that as a way of helping to keep the youth of the area in school, he initiated the fund with the support of the chiefs and people in the area. The harvest yielded GH¢5, 000 which would be used as seed money for the project. The chief of the town, Baafour Kwame Ackom, thanked the members of the community for their support for the project. He said next year, similar harvest would be organized to raise more funds to enable the project to benefit more young people from the area. GNA...
Akyawkrom (Ash), Oct 19, GNA – The Forestry Senior Staff Association (FOSSA), has held its annual general meeting at Akyawkrom in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality calling on all stakeholders in the sector to work together to promote sustainable management of the nation’s forest and its resources. It said it was important for the various interest groups to give every needed support to the Forestry Commission to enable it to efficiently carry out its constitutional mandate. Mr. Alex Asare, the Acting President, also encouraged his colleagues to do more to help the people to have better understanding of the forest policies and the present state of the country’s forest. The fast depletion of the forest cover and its dire consequences must be forcefully brought home to the people. He said that could assist influence a change in attitude towards the forest and reduce the recklessness. The one-day meeting was held under the theme: “Enhancing the Contribution of Senior Staff towards an Effective Forestry Commission”. It provided the platform for the members to critically evaluate their performance and explore ways to enhance their role in the management of the forest. Mr. Asare noted with concern the extinction of some plant and animal species due to illegal logging, mining and wildfires and said the trend could not be allowed to continue. He said the extreme weather conditions Ghana had been experiencing in recent times, due to climatic changes, should be a wake-up call to all. He, therefore, called on the relevant bodies and law-enforcement agencies to rigidly enforce the laws on the forest to conserve the ecology and biodiversity. Mr. Samuel Afari-Dartey, the Chief Executive of the Commission, in a speech read for him, asked the Association to use the meeting to discuss ways of enhancing the forest governance. GNA...
Agogo (Ash), Oct 19, GNA - Mr. Samuel Anyan-Kusi, who was disqualified in the Asante-Akim North parliamentary primary for the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), has filed his nomination to contest the seat as an independent candidate. The party had asked him to step aside because of problems with his dual-nationality. He told the Vetting Committee that he had renounced his American citizenship but that was not enough and he was asked to produce a renunciation certificate, which he could not. Mr. Anyan-Kusi after filing his nomination, said his decision was influenced by the unfair treatment by the NPP. He expressed optimism about his chances in the December 7 polls. GNA...
Accra, Oct 19, GNA - Nana Asantewa Afadzinu, Executive Director, West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), on Friday urged civil society groups to adopt indigenous methodologies at capacity develop programmes to make it more acceptable to those involved. She expressed concern about the huge adoption of foreign methodologies which sometimes made it difficult for indigenous people to grasp and implement. Mrs Afadzinu stated during the closing ceremony of a two-day capacity building seminar organized by the Institute for 20 capacity development experts from West, East and Central Africa in Accra. She called for the adoption of new and familiar methodologies in which could make learning easier. The workshop was to brainstorm on the best means of promoting capacity development for civil society organisations in West Africa. Mrs Afadzinu said the consultative meeting was organized to enable WACSI, a leading capacity building Institute in West Africa, to fill capacity gaps within civil society, to gather valuable perspectives on the way forward for its capacity development programmes. The Institute used the platform to gain insights on how to tailor its programmes to effectively address identified capacity gaps of CSOs in West Africa. The WACSI Executive Director said the meeting also created a platform for WACSI and African capacity development experts with unique specialties to reflect on the effectiveness of capacity development initiatives, quality of programmes and quality of delivery for training programmes aimed at enhancing the capacities of CSOs and practitioners. The experts meeting will enable WACSI to identify best practices and novel and indigenous ways of designing and delivering capacity development initiatives to meet the institutional needs of CSOs in West Africa. “The meeting served as a valuable platform to draw vital lessons that would inform the process of identifying, designing and delivering capacity development initiatives for CSOs in West Africa”, she said. In an open forum, the experts urged WACSI to engage in research to develop a baseline for the state of civil society that would support the assessment of the achievements and challenges facing CSOs. WACSI was also urged to create a working group from the pool of experts who would substantively contribute to research, and the design and delivery of capacity development initiatives to be implemented by the Institute. GNA...
Akropong Akuapem, Oct. 19, GNA - Mr Kenneth Nana Addo, Okere Constituency Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has expressed optimism that the party would retain the parliamentary seat in the December polls. He said his confidence was based on the hard work of the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mr Dan Kwaku Botwe. Mr Addo said even though the party would surely retain the seat, he was appealing to all party supporters within the constituency to avoid complacency and work harder in order for them to achieve their aim of winning the seat for four conservative times. The NPP constituency Secretary said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Akropong Akuapem after he had filed the nomination forms on behalf of Mr Dan Botwe. Mr Addo said since 2009, a lot of infrastructure development had taken place within the constituency through the efforts of Mr Botwe and believed that the people would give him their mandate once again to lead them. He mentioned some of the development projects to include construction of classrooms blocks for some selected schools, payment of fees for brilliant but needy children and scholarships for some students at the various tertiary institutions. He said apart from education, the MP was also assisting some communities to put up health facilities such as clinics and health centres to make health accessible to them. Mr Addo said the NPP was solid on the ground due to the presence of the MP as compared to the previous years. According to him, Okere was one of the many seats the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), had earmarked to snatch this year but was optimistic that the NPP would defeat Mr George Opare Addo, the parliamentary candidate for the NDC. GNA...
Kukurantumi (E/R), Oct. 19, GNA - Mr Victor Smith, the Eastern Regional Minister, has pledged his commitment to ensure a peaceful and fair contest devoid of conflicts not only in the Abuakwa North Constituency but the entire region. He said as the “father” of the region and the head of the Regional Security Council (RESEC), he would ensure that the peaceful environment the region was enjoying would be sustained at all times. Mr Smith was speaking to newsmen after filing his nomination at the Abuakwa North Constituency office of the Electoral Commission (EC) at Kukurantumi. The Regional Minister who received a rousing welcome from friends, sympathizers and supporters of the party arrived at the EC office to file his nomination at about 11:20 hours and was accompanied by some regional party executives. Mr Smith was optimistic of winning the seat saying “I am certain of winning the seat come December 07 because the electorates are satisfied with the numerous developmental projects government has undertaken through me”. He mentioned the on-going rehabilitation of the Kukurantumi market, a road and the construction of vocational and technical institute for the area as some of the major projects the people are benefiting from. Mr Smith announced that he had brought in some foreign investors to seek ways of establishing businesses and help create more jobs for the people in the region. He urged supporters of all political parties to adhere to peaceful campaign so that the peaceful environment would be maintained. Mr Smith also appealed to Electoral Officers to conduct themselves properly and desist from partisan politics. Mr Ebenezer Osei, the Returning Officer for the area, received the nomination form on behalf of the EC and promised to forward it to their headquarters. GNA...
Koforidua, Oct. 19, GNA - The Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, was on Friday elected unopposed as the President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs at a general meeting of the House in Koforidua. He took over from Daasebre Professor Oti Boateng, the Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area, who did not seek re-election when his four-year term of office ended this Month. Nana Osei Nyarko, Omanhene of Boso Guan Traditional Area, was also elected unopposed as the Vice-President. Three other Chiefs, Nene Sakitey II, Konor of Manya Krobo, Okotwasuo Owaree Agyekum III, Omanhene of the Akyem Bosume Traditional Area and Daasebre Dr Oti Boateng, were all elected unopposed to join the Okyenhene and Nana Nyarko to represent the House at the National House of Chiefs. Justice Surrubarreh, the Regional Supervising High Court Judge, swore the chiefs into office as they took the oaths of secrecy and allegiance. Earlier, Daasebre Dr Oti Boateng told the House that considering his private vocations led to his decision of not seeking re-election as President of the House. He said the decision had become necessary to enable him to concentrate and focus on the various books he intended to publish adding that the first volume of a book had just been completed to be launch at the British Council Hall in Accra on October 29. Daasebre Dr Oti Boateng took the opportunity to thank the chiefs for the support, encouragement and the cooperation which they gave him during his tenure of office as President of the House. He recounted that during his tenure of office and with the help of the Chiefs, some modest successes were chalked. He mentioned in particular the procurement of six new computers and a photocopier which had been appropriately hooked onto the internet. The Okyenhene, in his acceptance speech, said since his enstoolment, issues of ecology, public health, social progress and economic development had been of top priority to him. He said as President of the House, he would be committed to those same noble pursuits and pledged to do his best to live up to expectations. Osagyefuo Ofori Panin told the chiefs that they had a responsibility not only to advocate for the tracking of the decentralization process but to play a more significant role in local governance. He advised them to strive to settle the many chieftaincy disputes and promote peace and unity in the towns and the communities since the goal of social and economic development could only be met in the midst of social harmony and cohesion. The Okyenhene appealed to all political parties to do their best to ensure peace in the coming elections. GNA...
Accra, Oct. 19, GNA - Dr Osei Agyeman, the Acting Executive Director of the National Theatre, has called for the reintroduction of Art in its traditional form to the current school curriculum saying the purpose of education is to make minds and not careers. He said repackaging the Art subject under new areas like Creative Arts and within the context of Vocational Training is not enough to develop and hone the talents of many gifted students. Speaking at the recent 47th speech and prize giving day at the Morning Star Primary and Junior High School in Accra, on the theme: “Art our World of Creativity”, Dr Agyeman said he was happy to learn that there are still some schools in the society where the value of Art in the total development of the individual is appreciated to the point of giving equal attention to all the persuasions in art, adding that the new academic curriculum for the teaching of Art leaves much to be desired. He said it was equally important for the society to change its negative attitudes towards the artist, for though many would love to possess a fine art piece, not many in our society would love to play host to the non-conforming attributes of a typical artist, as they hardly understand that the eccentricities of the artist is a precondition to his creative thinking. Dr Agyeman said the recent call on the universities to run career oriented programs that would meet the manpower needs of the industry cannot be successful, if the enabling atmosphere to generate the creative thinking of the individual is absent, stressing that the conundrum that confronts the calibre of our educated has little to do with the over- flogged debate on the duration of three or four year senior high school education and more to do with the stimulation of creative thinking in early childhood development. He said what the society needs is the congenial atmosphere where problem solving attitudes are honed; imagination and originality of thought is developed; and a place where the playful mentality and freedom to question the status quo and all canons, social or academic are rewarded and encouraged. Dr Agyeman said it would be important for our curriculum developers and policy makers to rethink their recent policy initiatives and introduce new thoughts to ensure that education promotes sensitivity to the human condition as well as the development of well mature minds saying “no significant movement (in Art) has survived by merely reproducing old styles or stereotypes and this our modern curriculum developers know”. GNA...
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