The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is reviewing its academic curricula and research programmes to meet the current socio-economic needs of society.

According to the Vice Chancellor for the school, Professor Kwasi Obiri-Danso, more emphasis is being placed on research with a focus on technology and innovation development, since they are the foundation for building a prosperous society.

“Research, science and technology is the solution to alleviating the high poverty rate, technological gap, low agricultural productivity and infrastructural deficit and the zeal to create wealth amongst the people”, he told participants in a speech read for him, at a symposium at the university in Kumasi.

The symposium was jointly organized by the KNUST, Arizona State University in the United States of America (USA) and Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme, under the theme “Understanding Research and Pedagogical Practices”.

It brought together some international technocrats and faculty members of the two universities to share ideas, while also seeking technology transfer in order to build their competencies in various research areas of the sciences.

Topics treated ranged from ‘Research Publication’, ‘How to be an Effective Reviewer’, ‘Project-based Learning’ to ‘Understanding Research’.

Prof. Obiri-Danso pointed out that KNUST could not be left out in the changes taking place within the academic space through technological advancement and globalization.

He said the university is mobilizing the needed resources towards research activities that would innovate ideas for accelerated socio-economic development.

Prof. William Otoo Ellis, former Vice-Chancellor of KNUST said a total of 20 students from the university were last academic year, offered scholarships to study in Arizona.

Thirty students have been selected from the University this year, to pursue courses in engineering and business at the university in America.

Prof. Ellis, who was instrumental in bringing the Mastercard programme to the KNUST, said in all, some 700 brilliant-but-needy students all over the country had been identified to benefit from the initiative within the period of the programme.

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Source: GNA

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The leadership of the Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana (TTAG) has given the Principal of St. Vincent College of Education, Yendi, a one-week ultimatum to refund all monies collected from students of the institution who they say have been victimized due to his decisions.

About 70 students of the college were sacked because they did not meet the entry requirements for admission in 2017/2018.

But TTAG in a statement is arguing that the Principal, Erasmus Nario Multi, deliberately flouted the National Council for Technical Education (NCTE) regulations by admitting the students even though they were unqualified and “later pushed the blame to innocent students.”

“Per our consultations and interactions with the affected students and after critical scrutiny of both receipts and admission letters of such students, it is very clear that about 98% of the students affected were admitted after the admission requirements have been released by the NCTE,” the statement added.

The association also wants all relevant stakeholders to offer the affected students an avenue to better their WASSCE results, rather than dismissing them.

“We appeal to the MoE [Minsitry of Education], NCTE and all relevant stakeholders to reconsider their decision on the affected students and give them the opportunity to better their WASSCE results this year since the principal violated the regulations of the admissions process.”

They argued further that the students “spent one semester in college and took part in the End of First Semester Examination conducted by the University of Cape Coast, Institute of Education.”

Find their full statement below

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Grameen Ghana, with support from Global Giving, has donated reading materials to the Bolni D/A primary school in the Nanumba North Municipality of the Northern Region.

Grameen Ghana is a non-governmental organization working in the north with a focus on issues relating to food, nutrition and post-harvest loss.

The organization has noted that the lack of reading materials negatively affects teaching and learning in the school.

The Programmes Manager for Grameen Ghana, Mr Mugmin Musah, said the gesture is to ensure that pupils have access to some reading material in order to improve their work in school.

“The school lacks reading materials and a lot of children cannot read. This is a big worry because even in the upper primary, very few children could read, 3 out of 30 children could read and we think that lack of access to reading materials is contributing greatly to this particular challenge.”

He expressed hope that teachers and parents will help the children to utilize the learning materials that are supplied so that a lot more children will take up reading as well.

The head teacher of the school, Samson Nikpe Sanja, expressed his gratitude to Grameen for the gesture saying the materials have come at the right time

He also pledged to ensure that the materials are put to good use.

Parents also expressed their joy for the support from Grameen Ghana saying this, and other interventions by the organization have greatly eased the pressure of buying school materials for their wards.

They also pledged to ensure that their wards put the materials they had been given to the best use possible.

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By: Mohammed Aminu M. Alabira/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Prisca Amponsah, a student of Aburi Girls SHS, emerged victorious at yesterday [Saturday]’s Young Debaters competition held in Accra.

The Final round had the 10 speakers battle it out for the ultimate price of representing Ghana in the International Public speaking competition to be held in the United Kingdom(UK).

The day finally ended with Daniel Mawunge Kweku Amanor from Presbyterian  Boys’ Senior High School taking the third spot with 262 points, Jasmine Tekyi-Acheampong from Achimota SHS coming in second with 268 points and Prisca Amponsah from Aburi Girls SHS  taking the first place with 272 points.’

Top the Young debaters

Below are the names of the 10 speakers and their topics;

Papa Nyan Neizer from Presbyterian  Boys’ Senior High School (PRESEC) -The media controls how and what we think.

Danielle Nyameye Ghansah from Aburi Girls’ SHS – To be grown up is a state of mind.

Enoch Nii ArmahTagoe from Accra Academy – Poverty is a state of mind.

Prisca Amponsah from Aburi Girls’ SHS – Talking to someone and speaking with someone.

Daniel Mawunge Kweku Amanor from Presbyterian  Boys’ SHS (Presec)- Real wealth is never measured in money or possession.

Deborah Korkor Macauley from Achimota SHS- Cities are for people, not cars.

Jasmine Tekyi-Acheampong from Achimota SHS – What more human quality do we need and why?.

Mate Paa Kwesi Narh from Achimota SHS- Advertising targetting children is immoral.

Gloria Akwa Achimota SHS – Being young is overrated.

Akua Aduwaa Brifo from Aburi Girls SHS- The world is a smaller place these days.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The Brong Ahafo Regional branch of Old Vandals Association (OVA) made up of alumni of Commonwealth Hall of the University of Ghana, Legon, has been inaugurated in Sunyani with a call on members to remain resolute and demonstrate true brotherliness to the unbroken spirit of unity that binds them as a family.

According to the Association, vandals are the voice of the voiceless who stand for the oppressed and fight against injustice not only in the university settings, but in the country as a whole.

In the region, calls for the inauguration started six years ago, and so far more than 200 members have registered.

The National President of OVA, Isaac Nketsiah Sarpong, in an address expressed concern about how people misconstrue the ‘Vandals’ concept by associating it with occultism  barbarism and rowdiness.

He explained the Association exists to fight the ills of society by helping the needy, saying it is not  associated with crime, violence and deviant behaviour as many are made to believe,and pledged the commitment of the Association to mobilize members to offer services to humanity.

He called on members as major stakeholders in development not to sit idle but rather contribute to the socio-economic development of the nation.

“In a country where we are polarized on political lines and religious charlatans have taken over the media space exploiting the goodwill and gullibility of our desperate and ignorant populace, where are the Vandals who are suppose to be the voice of the voiceless”, he wondered.

Mr. Nketsiah Sarpong cautioned members against using the Association’s platforms to advance their partisan and parochial interest.

“Every individual has a political party he/she supports, but we are mindful of the fact that partisan politics can always break our front, so we have a resolution that no partisan politics will be entertained on any platform of ours. So our members are not allowed to do partisan politics in the name of the association or on any of our platforms. If you want to do your politics, you can do it elsewhere but do not bring it into our ranks. So when we meet as old vandals, we discuss political issues that affect us and the nation, but we do not engage in partisan debates that will destroy the unity and cohesion of the association”, he emphasized.

He tasked the regional executives to demonstrate more commitment and dedication to make the association attractive to more people as well as contribute effectively to the development of the region.

Mr. Gabriel A. Apae-Nyelom, Brong Ahafo Regional President of the Association, commended the Association for the confidence reposed in him and his team, and pledged to revive the spirit of the Association to make a positive impact in the region.

He called on all vandals in the country to return to their roots, values and traditions that are positive and contribute to national and societal development.

“We are custodians of the truth. To us truth is the only virtue and our duty is to hold it and speak the truth. What is bad is bad and what is good is good”, he added.

Mr. Apae-Nyelom promised to collaborate with agencies and institutions to enhance and accelerate development in the region.

The Brong Ahafo Regional Branch has Gabriel A Apae-Nyelom as President, Frank Boachie-Mensah as Secretary, Henry Osei-Financial Secretary, Togbui Gameli as Organizing Secretary and Abdul Razak Abdulai as Deputy Organizing Secretary.

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By: Mashoud Kombat/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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A Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education, Professor Kwesi Yankah, has called for a national discussion on the accepted cutoff grades for enrollments into tertiary institutions in Ghana.

Prof. Yankah, who has a long held view that persons with grades D7 and E8 should be accepted to Ghanaian universities insist that such grades do not connote failure.

“We have for several years now been deluding ourselves into thinking that below A1 to C6 – that is those who get D7 and E8—are not qualified to enter into the university. I think we should begin revising our ideas. In countries like Britain, USA, it is individual universities that determine the cutoff point not the government.”

When asked whether he was making such a call because some private universities struggle to admit qualified students Prof. Yankah said “absolutely no.”

I can’t bulldoze my way through

Prof. Yankah also explained that, although he is in government, he cannot bulldoze his way through because it could create some uproar in the country.

“I don’t want to make a pronouncement on it. There has to be a shared national consensus on it. Let me come tomorrow and say D7 is now accepted and there will be a whole hullabaloo on it,” he added.

Public Universities in Ghana are not permitted to accept students who had below grade C6 in any of the subjects from the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

There have been varied opinions on the matter.

Whereas some believe grades below A6 – C6 especially D7 and E8 do not mean fail [F9], others argue that accepting such grades would mean lowering standards for university education.

Over 70 students sacked

At the St Vincent College of Education in Yendi in the Northern some two weeks ago, over 70 students of the college were asked to go home for using grade D7 they had in English, Mathematics and Science to gain admission.

According to the school, the decision was taken following a directive from the Executive Secretary for the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), captured in a letter the school gave one of the affected students and sighted by citifmonline.com.

The letter signed by the Principal of the College, Erasmus Nario Multi said the decision was reached at, during a meeting with principals of public colleges of education “called at the instance of the Minister for Education [Matthew Opoku Prempeh].”

The letter said at the meeting “it was resolved that all unqualified students must be withdrawn from the colleges forthwith.”

“…We have been formally instructed… to withdraw all unqualified students who do not meet the current minimum entry requirements into public colleges of education. It is in line with this directive that we the management of St Vincent College of Education, Yendi are writing to formally inform you that your ward/student….whose submitted grades do not meet the current criterion of entry into a public college of education is withdrawn from the college forthwith,” the letter addressed to one of the affected students added.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Let’s debate cutoff grade for universities – Prof. Yankah appeared first on Ghana News.

The Minister of State in-charge-of-Tertiary Education, Professor Kwesi Yankah, has warned that many of Ghana’s private universities are in danger of collapse.

One of the signs of this danger is in the unused capacity within the private tertiary sector, the Minister noted on the Citi Breakfast Show.

“The smaller number, being the state-owned [universities], have a bigger share of the student enrollment. They have about an 80 percent share as against what the private universities have. They have only about an 18 to 20 percent share… Many of the private universities are in danger of collapse and I must say that there are signs in various parts of various private universities.”

He cited the straitjacket on the grade cut-off points set up by the government as one of the causes of this problem.

“We have for several years now been deluding ourselves into thinking that that below C6, that is those who get D7, E8 and so on, are not qualified to enter university. I think we should begin revising our ideas.”

“For many private universities and public universities in general, admissions are declining… [There is] higher competition, there are many new universities sprouting every day of the week and so on and so forth. So for the same resources and the same pool of potential applicants, we have many many more [schools],” Prof. Yankah explained.

Role of tax breaks

In 2017, the government announced that privately-owned universities were granted tax reliefs, and will no longer be required to pay the 25 percent corporate income tax.

Prof. Yankah explained that “the real reason for that is to allow the private universities to expand so they can reinvest any money they make.”

He however said the government was not going to interfere in the pricing of school fees, which could potentially lead to an increase in admissions of private schools.

According to him, “competition will drive that [school fees] down automatically… we cannot dictate to a private entity what they must charge.”

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Many private universities in danger of collapsing – Prof. Yankah warns appeared first on Ghana News.

Ghana’s Second Lady, Mrs Samira Bawumia, has pointed out that the struggle for gender equality will be meaningless until the girl child is empowered through education.

She said access to education plays a crucial role in women empowerment, and has therefore bemoaned the alarming figures of girls of school going age who are out of school, which could adversely impact on their future as adults.

“The progress made in individual nations is commendable but the global picture leaves much to be desired. According to UNICEF, there are more than 1.1 billion girls in the world today. This is a significant number whose fate should not be left to chance. Without a deliberate effort and policy to help shape their future, the prospects for some of these girls are bleak,” she warned.

There are still 31 million girls of primary school age out of school. Of these, 17 million are expected never to enter school, according to UNESCO. Also, UNESCO estimates that there are 34 million female adolescents out of school while almost a quarter of young women aged 15-24 today numbering 116 million in developing countries have never completed primary school and so lack skills for work; and two-thirds of the 774 million illiterate people in the world are said to be females.

“Let us not take these numbers just as abstract figures. Unfortunately, these figures represent girls and women who bear the brunt of society’s difficulties because they lack the basic skills and the springboard which education provides for their economic and social take offs,” Mrs. Bawumia stated.

She stressed on the need to prioritise girl child education now since that will have a ripple effect on national development.

She said: “Lack of education has a debilitating effect on women empowerment, maternal health, job opportunities, and exposes girls to gender based violence and forced marriages. To illustrate, UNICEF estimates that ‘if all women had secondary education, there would be 49 per cent fewer child deaths. Again, according to UNICEF; if all women had secondary education in sub-Saharan Africa, South and West Asia, child marriage would drop by 64 per cent.

“One of the greatest educationists in the history of Ghana, James Kwegyir Aggrey once said that ‘if you educate a boy, you educate an individual but if you educate a girl, you educate a nation’. Nearly a century after his death, all evidence still points to the fact that prioritizing girl child education, especially in the developing world, does not only empower the girl but it serves as a catalyst for the development of the entire nation.”

Mrs. Bawumia has therefore touted the Free Senior High School Education programme being spearheaded by the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration, believing it will help break the shackles impeding the progress of women.

“For these reasons, it is imperative that as we champion the cause of women, we should endeavor to shape national policy such as access to education. This is because if the frontiers are opened, girls and women stand to benefit more.

“In many countries, education opportunities exist but because of poverty, girls are often sacrificed. Countries such as Ghana are making some progress in this regard. I am happy to say that the government of Ghana last year made education at the secondary level absolutely free for all children of school going age. This means the government pays for tuition, books, feeding, uniforms and boarding fees.

“Initiatives such as these are not gender biased but from the statistics, it is clear however, that girls would benefit immensely and the standard of living of women will be greatly enhanced in the long run,” the Second Lady told her global audience.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education, Professor Kwesi Yankah, has said government is committed to ensuring that the University of Ghana is not privatized.

Mr. Yankah’s comments come weeks after the Education Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, indicated that the school  might soon be privatized if it fails to meet its obligations in a $64 million agreement it entered into with a private company, Africa Integras.

But speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, Professor Yankah said government will ensure the school remains a valuable state asset.

“It is our prime university, the number one university in the country – probably the number one in West Africa…Fortunately, there appears to be a resolution in the offing. Parties are talking as we speak now and there appears to a resolution in one form or the other. We will do anything possible to save the University. We will not just sit and allow the University to collapse.”

Prof. Aryeetey denies fraud claims in $64m UG deal

In 2017, this same agreement came up for discussion after the former Vice Chancellor of UG, Prof Aryeetey, was accused of failing to do due diligence when the deal was signed under his tenure.

He however rubbished these claims, explaining that UG had gone through all the right procedures before signing the agreement with the company.

Professor Aryeetey insisted the processes leading up to the signing of the agreement with Integras were transparent, with all relevant stakeholders being kept informed of all developments.

“There is no scandal at all in relation to the $64.4 million contract. Africa Integras signed an agreement that they were supposed to spend that money. As far as I know, by the time the project stopped, they had spent about $28 million. How does a phony company come and spend $28 million? You can see the buildings coming up and yet it has been written that I have signed an agreement with a phony company. We haven’t spent any money ourselves, it’s the ‘phony’ company that’s spending the money; how does a phony company put up buildings?,” Professor Aryeetey asked.

He also dismissed assertions that that he had received financial inducements to allow the project to proceed.

“I can assure the public that nothing untoward took place. The processes that were followed were very transparent. It’s being suggested that there was something corrupt, but there’s no such thing. I was never offered any money by any of the persons we dealt with. I have never asked for anything nor have I taken money from anybody in relation to this or any other project. Any suggestions of wrongdoing will be completely misplaced.”

The project was structured as a 25-year Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) contract.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post UG won’t collapse over supposed ‘bad contract’ – Prof. Yankah appeared first on citifmonline.com.

The Deputy Interior Minister, Henry Quartey, has asked the 2017 graduates of Bluecrest College to use their expertise acquired from the school to assist the country fight cyber-crime.

According to him, the negative impact of cyber-crime in the country cannot be underestimated.

Speaking at Bluecrest College’s 12th graduation ceremony, Mr. Quartey said products of Bluecrest must take up the challenge to help bring an end to this canker.

“It is my hope and prayer that the products of this school and many more will spread this creative and innovative ability to fight this canker through the use of information technology. We will count on you to help fight the increase in cyber-crimes across the country.”

Former Principal of the College of Technology Education, University of Education, Kumasi, Professor James Flolu, who was the guest speaker charged the graduates to make themselves resourceful to the country.

“Create jobs for yourselves and employ others. You have sufficient training you are adequately equipped. Remember that to be successful in life, you need to live above reproach. Be disciplined, honest, morally sound, and embrace hard work. Be men and women of integrity and be the change you would like to become.”

The school over the weekend passed out one hundred and seventy-six students who studied various courses such as information communication technology, banking and finance and human resource management.

BlueCrest College is accredited by National Accreditation Board of Ghana as a Private Tertiary Institution. BlueCrest College is increasingly popular among its clientele due to the diverse nature of quality programmes offered to students.

The College has an innovative approach that incorporates multiple intelligence pedagogy to suit different learning styles. Students are imparted with strong theory and practical skills by its internationally reputed local & international faculty.

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By: Philip Nii Lartey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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As part of efforts to make Ghana an enabling environment for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to lead dignified and meaningful lives, Lancaster University Ghana is preparing to host this year’s conference on disability.

This year’s Multidisciplinary Conference on Disability and Development is scheduled to take place on Friday 16th of March, 2018 at the Lancaster University Ghana A & C Square campus.

The conference, which starts at 9:00am provides a platform for vigorous and intellectually stimulating discourse from advocates, policymakers, and academics from various disciplines including healthcare practice, law, psychology, business and ICT.

The central focus is to consider ways to make Ghana an enabling environment for Persons with Disability, their families and their caregivers.

The Chairperson is Mrs Nana Oye Lithur, former Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, and the Plenary Speaker is Mr Kwame Dadzie-Denis, representing Madam Otiko Djaba, the Minister, Gender, Children and Social Protection.

The theme for the 2018 edition of the conference is Disability and Development: Perspectives from the Family.

This theme recognizes the integral nature of the family in any relevant societal discourse and seeks to foster critical engagement with the place of the family in issues relating to PWDs and in particular, explore how a focus on the family can assist in tackling the disability issues that we face as a society.

In previous years, a number of special guests have attended and chaired this event including Ms. Bruce-Lyle, a member of the Ghana Federation on Disability, Prof Henrietta J.A.N Mensa-Bonsu, former Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the UN Mission in Liberia and Mr. Ivor Greenstreet, 2016 Presidential candidate for the Convention People’s Party.

Other important personalities who have chaired or spoken at the Conference are Father Campbell of the Christ the King Parish, and Prof Angela Ofori-Atta, former deputy Minister, Ministry of Manpower Development and Employment.

This conference is led by one of Lancaster University Ghana’s law lecturers, Maame Yaa A. Barnes.

When asked for her motivations and thoughts on the conference Maame Yaa said, “We want to encourage a rigorous academic discourse on disability. It is extremely important that the Conference is multidisciplinary. I wanted to push the idea of disability being something that affects everyone in society, and not just a section thereof. While more obvious in some areas than in others, I believe that Disability overlaps and intersects with every field – law, medical sciences, engineering and related sciences, architecture, education, economics, religion and sports”.

“It would be difficult to find a field that is completely un-impacted by Disability, yet a lot of the time, we act like only a small section of people are affected. If we all are affected, one way or another, by disability, then the solutions to the problems faced by those most closely-affected: PWDS and their families, must come from all of us; it is a conversation in which we ALL must participate.”

Several papers will be presented at the conference with each touching on key thematic areas  such as social and cultural perspectives on disability; disability, family and the role of law; disability, the family, and marriage.

The conference is open to the public and all those with an interest in lending their voices to the growing and stimulating discussion on disability and development.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Students of The Academy of Christ the King Senior High School at Cape Coast in the Central Region, have demonstrated against encroachers who have allegedly taken over the school’s lands.

The students, who had wore red armbands on Tuesday, said they do not feel safe because they have received death threats from some of the encroachers.

“We are demonstrating because the school is not safe. Not long ago, a student was threatened by some community guys that if the headmistress does not stop protecting the school, they are going to kill the students”, one student demonstrator said.

The students thus want the encroachers to stop their activities that threaten the existence of the school and the lives of teachers and students.

Another student said, “Looking at the things happening in the school, we know that learning without a peaceful environment we can’t make it, so if we don’t speak for our right that the land is for us, people will take up the land”.

Government has awarded a contract for the construction of a twelve-unit classroom block on the school land, but the supposed violent encroachers have been frustrating the work of the of contractors.

The foreman at the site said, “three or four days ago, I started the profile and the people over here came and destroyed it; I did it again with police presence, but overnight they came and destroyed it again”.

The contractors have asked for security in order to continue with the project because they still fear for their lives as the threats from the local people continue.

Speaking to journalists, the Headmistress of the school, Madam Florence Siaw-Offei, lamented how the school land has reduced drastically from over 74 acres to less than 34 acres, while the school is actually occupying less than 20 acres due to encroachment.

She said the Central Regional Minister, Kwame Duncan, the Cape Coast Metropolitan Chief Executive, Ernest Arthur, and other authorities have been holding stakeholder meetings on the land saga, and some orders have been issued to the encroachers, but the threats continue.
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By: Kwamina Ackon/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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One of Ghana’s leading PR agency, Global Media Alliance (GMA), has hosted 40 students from the Public Relations Management Students’ Association (PReMSA) of the University of Professional Studies (UPSA), to give them  in-depth understanding and practical views of Strategic Public Relations in the workplace.

As part of the educational tour, the students were met by Chief Executive Officer of GMA, Mr. Ernest Boateng, who urged them to use digital platforms and every opportunity available to harness their skills while in school.

He said GMA welcomes such initiatives as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility efforts to introduce PR students to the practical side of PR practice.

Interacting with the students, Director of GMA, Ms. Emma Wenani, said GMA is the agency of choice to learn from, owing to its world class clientele, international awards, and wealth of experience across various industries.

“GMA has won the coveted IPR consultancy of the year award three times: first in 2013, 2015 and 2016 concurrently. Aside that, GMA has won Africa Best Employer Brand 2017 awarded by World HRD Congress, Best PR Agency in Corporate Communications 2016 awarded by the International Public Relations Association, among others.”

In the course of the presentations, the students expressed a general appreciation for GMA’s current PR strategies used to execute key PR account campaigns.

“We never knew this amount of work went into the campaigns that we see and read about”, one student said.

On behalf of the students, Kenneth Aidam, President of PReMSA, thanked the management and staff of GMA for their warm reception and making their departmental week celebrations a success.

“We look forward to more partnerships with GMA where students can freely learn the best PR practices from the team at GMA. We are most grateful once again for the opportunity.”

Global Media Alliance is a focused Integrated Media & Entertainment Company with 20 years of experience and expertise in Broadcasting, Public Relations and Media Consultancy, Events Management, Creative Services, Digital and Brand Marketing.

GMA is one of the leading PR Consultancies in the country with experience in the diverse segments of the public relations industry.

GMA is affiliated to Weber Shandwick and Fleishman Hillard, two of the top 5 PR firms in the world.

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Source: Global Media Alliance

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The Nation’s favorite stout, Guinness, has rewarded the first winner in the on-going ‘Win a Piece of Ghana’ promotion, with a plot of land at the prestigious Appolonia City.

The promo, which was launched on 1st March 2018, seeks to reward 16 loyal Guinness drinkers over a period of 16 weeks with plots of land in Appolonia City.

At the end of the first draw, Mr. Alban Maali, from Lawra in the Upper West Region, a Graduate from Wa Polytechnic, emerged as a winner and is now a proud owner of a plot of land at Appolonia city in Accra.

An excited Alban Maali said, “I can’t believe that I am now a land owner in Appolonia City. I started drinking Guinness when I was 21 and now I am 25. The code is 2125. I think that was a sign. I am so grateful to Guinness for this opportunity to be independent. This promo is real and ought to be attempted by eligible Ghanaians for actual progress.”

At a colourful event held at Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited offices in Accra, Marketing Manager for Guinness, Lesego Lebogang Babe, said “as part of Ghana’s 61st independence celebration, we launched this promo to give our loyal Guinness drinkers a taste of independence by owning a plot of land, their very own piece of Ghana”.

“I am very excited that in less than a week since the promo launched, we have had over 200,000 entries, which is a clear sign that Ghanaians have a strong belief in Guinness, the campaign and the feeling of independence,” she added.

She explained that the promotion was one of the brand’s way of celebrating independence with Ghanaians and to also show appreciation to its consumers for their years of loyalty.

Mrs. Lesego Lebogang Babe indicated that there are 15 plots of land yet to be won during the promotion.

Apart from land, the promo which is expected to run until 30th June 2018, also offers Guinness consumers an opportunity to win millions of instant prizes including airtime and data.

On the mechanics, she explained that, people should look out for the limited edition ‘GHANAIAN’ Guinness FES bottles. When they are enjoying their Guinness they should simply look under the crown and SMS the code to 2125to stand a chance to win a plot of land.  She emphasized that this year’s limited edition bottle has never been done before and is a bold move by the brand to truly celebrate the independent and bold spirit of Ghanaians. We want consumers to love and drink from this beautiful GH bottle because it celebrates what makes them uniquely Ghanaian.

She added that winners of the land will be announced weekly by Guinness, and that consumers can find all the latest news about the promotion on the Guinness Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Guinness.Gh.

Guinness is a bold, distinctive beer that has been proudly brewed here in Ghana for over 57 years.  It is an iconic beer that isn’t afraid to express itself, a beer that has the darkest liquid, but the brightest flavours.

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Source: Guinness Ghana

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33-year-old Richard Appiah Akoto, an ICT pupil teacher at Betenase M/A Junior High School at Sekyedomase in the Ashanti Region, who went viral on social media last month after he posted photos of himself improvising by drawing the entire Microsoft Word window on a blackboard to enable his pupils understand how the software functions, received a standing ovation when he appeared on stage at the Education Exchange conference in Singapore.

Richard Akoto, was in Singapore on the ticket of Microsoft as part of the global technology giant’s support for him after he went viral earlier this year.

The event brought together over 400 educators and school leaders from 91 countries to discuss the role of technology in education.

The Vice President for Worldwide Education at Microsoft, Anthony Salcito, praised Richard Akoto for overcoming major obstacles to help his students.

“Your work has really inspired the world. It really shows the amazing innovation and commitment and passion that teachers have for helping their students get ready for the future,” he said.

Richard Akoto said he was excited about the support being provided by Microsoft, adding that it was refreshing he was no longer going to the blackboard to teach ICT in his school.

Richard Appiah Akoto in Singapore

“I wanted to teach them [the pupils] how to launch Microsoft Word. But I had no computer to show them. I had to do my best. So, I decided to draw what the screen looks like on the blackboard with chalk,” he said.

“I drew the features and labeled them correctly so that they would know what-was-what. Then I drew what you would see on your computer screen after launching Word.

“I have been doing this every time the lesson I’m teaching demands it. I’ve drawn monitors, system units, keyboards, a mouse, a formatting toolbar, a drawing toolbar, and so on. The students were okay with that. They are used to me doing everything on the board for them. When I did this, it was nothing new or strange for them,” he said.

“Something very positive has come out of this and I am very happy. We are no longer going to use the chalkboard again. We will have computers,” he added.

Microsoft will be working with Richard through a local partner in Ghana to provide device and software support required for his students at the Betenase Municipal Assembly Junior High School in the town of Sekyedomase in rural Ghana.

He will also gain access to the Microsoft Certified Educator Program (MCE) for professional development, so he can nurture his passion for teaching and build rich, custom learning experiences for his students.

Meanwhile, Richard Akoto’s viral story has gotten a benefactor at UK’s University of Leeds to donate a brand new laptop to this school.

NIIT Ghana, an IT training school, has also donated five (5) desktop computers to the school and one laptop to Mr. Akoto for his personal use.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana with additional information from Microsoft

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A Senior Lecturer at the Department of Chemistry at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Richard Tia, has responded to the supposed damning claims made by veteran journalist and Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper Kwesi Pratt against the university.

Kwesi Pratt reportedly lambasted KNUST for not being able to produce a solar panel or provide any solution for the country’s energy problems, 50 years after its establishment.

“We have a University of Science and Technology which is more than 50 years but in the entire nation, we can’t construct a battery and solar panel…This is extremely disturbing…What happened to the Science and Technology?” Mr. Pratt reportedly said on Accra based Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” show on Tuesday.

But the KNUST Lecturer, Richard Tia, who’s unhappy with the assertion has rubbished same in a detailed article.

“I am not sure I know what Mr. Kwesi Pratt wants to see to know that KNUST can make a solar cell. Is he expecting a factory on campus fabricating solar cells or he expects to see KNUST-branded solar cells in the market. I am afraid none of the two is the mandate of the university, and if I were its leader, we won’t do anything of the sort. Our job is to create the knowledge based on which the solar cell fabrication will be done, and then in partnership with investors, the patent holders set up companies to do their business.”

KNUST

“The way a university is set up, it is almost impossible for the institution to be the driving force of the setting up of companies. So we train the students, endow them with the technical know-how and send them into the world, what happens there then is a function of the business environment of the country and the continent and not necessarily on the quality of training we give them.”

Dr. Tia however lamented that they are constrained in undertaking research projects for the country because of lack of support and funding.

“They employ you as a scientist in the university and they give you an office (if you are lucky), a white board marker and a duster and they wish you good luck. How you fund your research is your business. I have a colleague who took a loan from his wife to buy the basic equipment he needed to start his research program! What happens to those of us who don’t have rich wives, or have no wives at all?”

Read Dr. Tia’s response to Kwesi Pratt below:

Dr. RICHARD TIA WRITES
So yesterday, I woke up to news that ‘senior journalist’ Mr. Kwesi Pratt has said that after more than 50 years of existence, KNUST, the nation’s premier university of science and technology, cannot even make a solar cell.

That is a serious indictment of a university that was set up to, in the words of Kwame Nkrumah, lead the scientific and technological advancement of the Ghana and Africa.

I am the first to admit that the university has probably not done enough to engage the public on an informed discourse on the mandate of the university and what it has done so far in the discharge of that mandate. But sometimes, there is so much an academic can do.

I am not sure I know what Mr. Kwesi Pratt wants to see to know that KNUST can make a solar cell. Is he expecting a factory on campus fabricating solar cells or he expects to see KNUST-branded solar cells in the market. I am afraid none of the two is the mandate of the university, and if I were its leader, we won’t do anything of the sort. Our job is to create the knowledge based on which the solar cell fabrication will be done, and then in partnership with investors, the patent holders set up companies to do their business.

The way a university is set up, it is almost impossible for the institution to be the driving force of the setting up of companies. So we train the students, endow them with the technical know-how and send them into the world, what happens there then is a function of the business environment of the country and the continent and not necessarily on the quality of training we give them.

Incidentally, when the debate on Kwesi Pratt’s statement was raging on, I was sitting in a Ph.D. viva voce in the conference room of the School of Graduate Studies at KNUST where the candidate was presenting her thesis on the synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials from single source precursors for solar cell applications. That is the cutting-edge in solar energy research world-wide. The candidate was not talking about what can be done; she was talking about what she HAS done. And she is not the only person doing these kind of work here at KNUST. Has Kwesi Pratt heard of the KNUST Energy Centre? Of course not, otherwise he wouldn’t say what he is reported to have said.

When I was entering the KNUST in 2001 an interesting debate was raging on. It had just been publicized that the electoral commission had spent a very huge amount of money to import indelible ink from India for the elections, so naturally the question arose as to whether indelible ink couldn’t be made locally.

The attention shifted to the universities – particularly KNUST – and questions started being asked about the right of KNUST to exist when they couldn’t make something as simple as indelible ink. So one lecturer in the Department of Chemistry got up and assigned an undergraduate student the task of formulating indelible ink for Ghana’s electoral commission, to, in his words, ‘demonstrate that making indelible ink is no big deal’.

In a matter of a few months the ink was ready. It was tested during the SRC elections of that year and was found to be far better than what had been imported. Samples were sent to the electoral commission. The electoral commission found one thousand and one reasons why they had to continue importing indelible ink from India (note: they didn’t say that someone’s 10% is in danger if they don’t import). We made all the noise in the media to no avail.

We even appeared on Kweku Sakyi-Addo’s Front Page on Joy FM but the EC wouldn’t budge. As recent as 2015, we granted an interview to Radio Ghana where we spoke extensively about the indelible ink; nothing came out of it. Those who were making so much noise about our inability to formulate indelible ink, why are they not making the same noise about the EC not using the ink? This is the indelible ink we have been using for all SRC elections on campus for the past 17 years! Mr. Kwesi Pratt has lived in this country all that time, what has he done about it?

There is also something that is rarely discussed when we are talking about the contributions of the universities to the development of the nation, and that is the area of funding of scientific research in the nation’s universities.

The Americans have the National Science Foundation (NSF) which funds research in the engineering and physical sciences to the tune of about US$ 7.0 billion (yes, billion, with a ‘b’) per annum, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which supports scientific research in the life sciences to the tune of about US$26.4 billion per annum.

The Canadians have the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the South Africans have the National Research Foundation (NRF). All other developing countries have similar funding agencies. What do we have in Ghana? NOTHING! They employ you as a scientist in the university and they give you an office (if you are lucky), a white board marker and a duster and they wish you good luck.

How you fund your research is your business. I have a colleague who took a loan from his wife to buy the basic equipment he needed to start his research program! What happens to those of us who don’t have rich wives, or have no wives at all?

What we are left with is to compete with our colleagues from the developed world for international grants. It is easier if you can get a little support from home, then you can start something, increase your visibility, build your track record, and then you can compete with the “big boys and girls” for the bigger international grants. But here, no! You are on your own.

In the past few years the Department of Chemistry at KNUST, sensing that scientific research would die if we don’t look outside for support, started targeting international funding opportunities. In a course of a few years we have won quite a lot. Of the about ten awards that were given by the UK’s Royal Society through the Leverhulme Trust Fund, our Department got three. Of the ten awards given by the Royal Society through the DfiD grant, our Department alone got two and the Department of Soil Science got one, making three for KNUST.

Three awards out of ten in a continent with hundreds of universities! We have a L’Oréal grant, a DANIDA grant and an IFS grant. That must mean that the experts out there see something in us, and yet our own people sit here and say we don’t deserve a pesewa of support because we don’t do anything!

Today the argument is that we don’t do anything; what I see happening in the next 10-15 years is that when these grants that we have won begin to bear fruits, the argument will change to “our scientists only do things that are beneficial to the developed world” and then I shall remind them that he who pays the piper calls the tune. If the British are prepared to give me a million pounds sterling to do research on heterogeneous catalysis, that is what I will do whether it would benefit my country directly or not.

The Royal Society is not a philanthropic organization; its fundamental purpose, as reflected in its founding Charters of the 1660s, is to recognise, promote, and support excellence in science, which includes identifying and supporting the work of outstanding scientists. The Royal Society is not made up of jokers; the Royal Society is the UK’s Academy of Sciences and is the oldest such society still in existence.

Sir Isaac Newton was its President between 1703 and 1727, Sir J. J. Thompson presided over it between 1915 and 1920 and Sir Ernest Rutherford between 1925 and 1930. At the time of the Leverhulme and DfID awards, its president was Sir Paul Nurse, a Nobel laureate.

So here we are, the experts at the Royal Society think that my work is important and deserves support to the tune of several thousands of pounds sterling of the British tax payer’s money, but someone who cannot define an atom (and does not have the humility to find out what I do) sits on a radio station in Ghana and questions my right to exist!

Ignorance, they say, is bliss, and Mr. Kwesi Pratt is basking in his blissful ignorance. I no bore!

Shalom!

By: Richard Tia

Author is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Chemistry, KNUST

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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said his government will this year, 2018, extend the free Senior High School initiative to cover technical and vocational institutions in the country.

He said the initiative will be launched later in the year to help equip the youth with skills for the transformation of the Ghanaian economy.

The initiative implies that, students within the various technical and vocational institutions as well as technical universities in Ghana will attend school free of charge.

Ghana currently has some form of free education from the basic level up to the senior high school level.

Delivering a keynote address at the National Conference on Technical and Vocational Educational and Training (TVET), at the Koforidua Technical University on Thursday, President Akufo-Addo said the free technical education will run parallel with the free basic and senior high school programme.

“This year, we are taking an equally dramatic and important step to align education to our needs.  We are this year launching the flip side of Free SHS. Government is launching a system of free technical and vocational education that runs parallel to the high school or secondary school. We are aiming to provide our young people with technical and vocational skills at both the secondary and tertiary sectors of education, to enable graduates employ themselves, and employ others after their training,” he added.

Akufo-Addo said the strategy of his government is to expand technical and vocational opportunities at both secondary and tertiary levels, and thereby strengthen the linkages between education and industry, as well as empower young people to deploy their skills to employ themselves and others.

“What I envisage in the technical and vocational education sector would involve a truly radical change in attitude on the part of all of us. Throughout the years, enough lip service has been paid to the TVET sector,” he said.

The President further stressed that “this time we are backing the talk with money and political will. This time, the interventions will be focused and seen through to proper conclusion.”

Nana Addo also told participants at the conference that his government is starting with the launch of a major project that will emphasize the importance of TVET, and redeem the misconception that technical and vocational education is inferior, and patronized only by less endowed students.

“We are aligning and bringing all public TVET institutions in the country under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Education to streamline their curricula, and improve the co-ordination of their training. To this end, one Deputy Minister for Education is to be specifically responsible for technical and vocational education, like there is a dedicated Minister of State for Tertiary Education,” he said.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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A former Deputy Minister of Education under the John Mahama administration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has said the government’s move to make technical and vocational education training (TVET) free is only papering over the cracks in the sector.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Ablakwa said this was “mere rhetoric” that will not address the main TVET challenges.

The initiative implies that, students within the various technical and vocational institutions will attend school free of charge.

Also speaking on Eyewitness News, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, a Deputy Education Minister, said over 200 TVET institutions are expected to benefit from this.

The TVET institutions would come under the umbrella of the yet-to-be-established Technical Vocational Education Service.

Initiative nothing new

Mr. Ablakwa remarked that this initiative was nothing new.

The 2018 budget indicated that TVET reforms will see the alignment of public TVET institutions under the Ministry of Education.

“The impression that we got from the President’s speech was as though there was going to be a special programme for TVET. It is exactly not the case. It is clear that some TVET institutions are benefiting as we were told… What is really going to happen now is a realignment of TVET institutions that are now going to be brought under the Ministry of Education,” he pointed out.

But the former deputy Minister said there were more pressing challenges confronting TVET having to do with infrastructure and patronage.

“The challenge confronting technical vocational education in our country is not an issue of affordability. It is about investing in the sector. TVET is very expensive. You need the tools. You need the equipment… they have not raised additional funds for TVET and that is really where we need to pay attention.”

He noted that monetary commitment from the Akufo-Addo administration’s first two budgets left a lot to be desired.

“The 2017 budget, the 2018 budget, the GETFund formula for 2018 did not address this. If we had not secured the $125 million, there would have been no funding for TVET… they are only relying on the $125 million we raised for the development of skills for Industry projects.”

“Secondly, how to re-brand… the challenge in our country is that the youth do not find TVET attractive so everybody wants to obtain grammar type education,” he added.

Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Deputy Education Minister, agreed with Mr. Ablakwa’s claim that some TVET institutions were already benefiting from the Free SHS.

According to him, about 47 schools in that sector are indeed covered under the Free SHS policy.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Making TVET education free ‘not a special program’ – Ablakwa appeared first on citifmonline.com.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, has explained that the University cannot take responsibility for the closure of the John Evans Atta Mills Library in Cape Coast.

According to him, even though the University of Cape Coast is supposed to be in charge of the library, there has not been a clear handing over of the facility to them.

“The Library was commissioned but it was not handed over, so when it came to the handing over, we sat down with the contractor, but we realized that the place was not complete; there were a number of things yet to be fixed, so we told the contractor that until he fixed those things we would not take over”, the Vice Chancellor explained.

He  added that the contractor finally fixed some of the required things and “handed over a portion” of the facility to the university.

Prof. Ghartey Ampiah was speaking to the University’s Radio Station ATL FM, after concerns were raised about how the facility built in honour of the late President had been left unused.

“There were other things they needed to bring into the Library they had not done, but they felt that we should take over the place and start running it”.

In July 2016, the then President, John Dramani Mahama, inaugurated the John Evans Atta Mills Presidential Library as a memorial and digital research centre, with a 100-capacity auditorium, a forty-five seater multimedia unit, seminar rooms and a museum meant for works and historical materials on the late President.

However, the digital library which was announced to be under the management of the Faculty of Arts of UCC was closed down after some months.

Explaining further, Prof. Ghartey Ampiah revealed that, after holding a meeting with the contractor some time ago, he complained to the University that he was shutting down the facility because there were some monies that had not been paid him.

“Finally, the contractor left with the keys, and we don’t even know where the contractor is”.

The Provost for the College of Humanities and Legal Studies of UCC, Prof. Dora Edu-Buandoh, who was part of the planning and commissioning of the facility, has also debunked the assertion that the facility was officially handed over to the University of Cape Coast.

She said “Officially, we have not signed any document that we have taken over the building. It was commissioned; symbolically, at the commissioning, it was said that it had been given to us, but officially, there is a document we should sign to show that we have taken the building”.

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By: Joseph Ackon Mensah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post We’re not to blame for ‘abandoned’ Atta Mills Library – UCC VC appeared first on citifmonline.com.

The Environmental Health Director of the Old Tafo Municipality in the Ashanti Region, A.G Offin Boateng, has indicated that his outfit will ensure the closure of the Afia Kobi Ampem Nursing Training School for flouting sanitation laws.

The school is reported to have directed its sewage pipe, to a nearby open drain, dumping faecal matter directly into it at Tafo Nhyiaeso in Kumasi.

Mr. Offin Boateng said they will pray the court to close down the school until the insanitary conditions are addressed.

While complaining about the situation, he said the closure will serve as a deterrent to all residents in the metropolis who engage in similar insanitary practices.

“We had a call from Tafo Nhyiaeso that there was something going on so I quickly dispatched my officers and when they got there, it was a nasty scene. The whole place was scattered with faeces and there was a pipe that was coming from a toilet and discharging into the open drain which flows downstream. This would lead to the outbreak of diseases especially cholera, knowing very well of the coming of the rains.”

“We met with the officer in charge of the school and we are preparing to send him to court to serve as a deterrent. When we get to the court, we will plead with the honourable court to close down the school till such time that sanitation issues are at its best,” he said.

Common practice in Kumasi

Mr. Offin Boateng further expressed worry that many homes in the metropolis directly discharge faecal matter into nearby drains, warning that his outfit will descend heavily on such people.

“It is a common practice in Kumasi that people discharge their effluence and toilet into open drains. We are aware, and this time around we are not going to sleep,” he said.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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