GHANAIANS SHOULD PATRONIZE LOCAL PRODUCTS

By Sandy Kobby Jah Dzidzornu

A walk through our markets in recent times clearly depicts what the next generation is bound to experience if they don’t patronize local manufactured goods.

The lack of patronage of the locally manufactured products sets the nation on a high risk of developmental retardation.

Years back, Ghana was tagged as a Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) by the former president, H.E John Agyekum Kuffour.

What lessons did we learn from the situation the nation went through as an individual?

The key factors in ensuring that people patronize the local manufactured products are growing, advertising, processing and above all the purchase of the end product.

It's about time citizens of this noble country stop depending on our leaders and the government as a whole.

Ghanaians should rather come together; motivate the farmers in cash, kind and even pieces of advice that can assist them to bring quality products for processing.

As citizens, let's cultivate the habit of purchasing what the farmers produce.

This will serve as an indirect motivation to the farmers to continue producing more since a ready market is available.

The media also has a major role to play in the transformation of the economy when they advertise made in Ghana goods; this creates awareness and draws people attention to the products thus boost the patronage of that products, goods or services.

The performance of various financial institutions must be applauded although there is more work to be done.

In as much as the citizens have their role to play, the government also has a keen role to play in the development of the agriculture sector.

The government must provide farmers with requisite resources and farming implements such as fertilizers, farming tools, seedlings and the needed motivation to strengthen them to do their best. 

However, there's a perception that local manufactured products are of low quality.

This statement can't be falsified because I purchased a bag of made in Ghana rice and to my dismay, the rice contained lots of impurities.

This should not also be enough reason to deny the local farmers the right to manufacture goods, I believe, the quality of the products can be improved if only our industries are well equipped with necessary resources and farming implements.

 Let us come together and build a better Ghana through agriculture.

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KATECO LAUNCHES 60TH ANNIVERSARY

     

By Joyceline Natally Cudjoe

REV. AMOO SPEAKING AT THE 60TH LAUNCH

Kaneshie Senior High Technical School (KATECO) launched its 60^th anniversary on Wednesday with a call on Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service (GES) to help improve the school facilities to enhance learning.

The Headmistress of the School, Miss Pearl Bruce, speaking at the launch appealed to the two institutions to construct Information Communication Technology (ICT) laboratory, Science laboratory, library, bus and bungalow to improve the learning and the living conditions of teachers and students.

The Anniversary was on the theme “6o years of Technical/Vocational Education: The role of stakeholders.”

She said education was paramount and it set the motion of development therefore various hands had to come on deck to make KATECO a great school with quality academic environment.

Miss Pearl Bruce said the school had come far and it should get access to all the necessary learning facilities and amenities to ensure student achieve the desired results.

“We need an ICT lab that could contain all students to prevent congestion in the classroom where the students have their practicals,” she said.

She noted that although the school was currently facing some challenges, they would strive hard to make use of what was available to them to nurture students to become professionals.

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“We will still make use of what is available to us to train students to become doctors, engineers, teachers among others,” she stressed.

Rev Dr. Amoo Darku, the Guest Speaker in his remarks urged the school to continue to work hard to develop the needed human resource for the country.

He urged various stakeholders and former students of the school to support in improving the school's infrastructure to meet the desired project.

“The project for the school is to construct high rise building to contain lot of staffs and students therefore all the former students should support this project,” he said.

Alexander Kojo Nyarko, ICT Cordinator Technical/Vocational Education who read the speech on behalf of the Director General of GES Professor Kwesi Amankwah, promised to support the school because Technical and Vocational education has the potential of improving the socio-economic sector of the country.

He further stated that the country stands a chance of benefiting when proper attention is given to Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET).

KATECO STUDENTS

He said his outfit would do their best to ensure that students of the school are well equipped with necessary materials in order for them to gain the requisite skills and competencies to meet the job market.

WOM LAUNCHES BOUNDLESS III MAGAZINE

By JoycelineNatallyCudjoe

The founder of Women on the Move (WOM) media advocacy, Miss. Ama Lawson has urged women to unleash their full potentials to help in nation building.

According to her, women are epitome of development and should strive to be independent by climbing up to a greater height in terms of profession.

She said this at the Woman of the Zeniths (WOZ) Summit and magazine launch on Thursday in Accra, dubbed; “Empowering Women Economically.”

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The programme was organized by WOM, a project aimed at empowering women and children to improve their economic well-being.

She revealed that women have unique qualities and attributes thus when they endeavor to work without depending on the men they would contribute immensely to the developmental agenda of the country.

“Think outside the box and come out with unique entrepreneurial ideas that will render you skills to improve your financial wallet without depending on the men,” she said.

Miss Lawson speaking with the Ghanaian Times explained that the Boundless III Magazine was published to motivate and educate women on how to gain requisite skills and new ideas to venture into entrepreneurship.

The 43-page magazine touches on the economic empowerment of women and also showcases the project undertook by WOM.

The magazine raises issue of 2017 women and political leadership, six characteristics that define 21^st Century leaders, among others.

Shiela Azuntaba, Miss Ghana 1996 who launched the magazine advised women to get hold of their feminine power and move from their comfort zone to take their full role in nation building.

“Get out, strive out and make things for yourself in order to build the nation,” she said.

 She stressed the need for women to generate positive ideas that would add value to themselves and the surroundings they would find themselves.

The 1996 Miss Ghana who bought the first copy of the magazine for GH₵2,000.00 urged women to explore their capabilities and make decisions that would benefit the nation as a whole.

The Member of Parliament (MP) of Wa Central, Alhaji Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo in his part called on the unemployed youth to develop unique innovative ideas that would usher them into the job market.

For the country to develop in the right direction, he indicated that the youth should have requisite and problem solving skills adding that “entrepreneurship is the pillar of every successful economy and it helps the citizens to develop themselves into better individuals.”

SETH K. BOATENG RECEIVES 2017 GLOBAL HEALTH REPORTING AWARD

By Joyceline Natally Cudjoe

SETH K. BOATENG HOLDING THE AWARD

A multiple award winning journalist, Seth Kwame Boateng has received 2017 Global Health Reporting  Award.

He received the award from International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) for his story that focused on healthcare at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

The multi-media reporter who was adjudged the winner together with four others from Brazil, China, Benin and India slated him as the first Ghanaian to win such prestigious award.

A panel of international experts selected the 2014 Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) Journalist of The Year as the winner of the International Center for Journalists’ 2017 Global Health Reporting Contest for his “Next to Die” Special Assignment documentary.

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The Vice President of Programs at the International CFJ, Emily Schult, in an email announcing Seth Kwame Boateng as the winner urged him to be proud of his accomplishment.

As a winner of the contest, ICFJ invited him to the United States for a study tour focusing on global health issues.

 The event which brought together international journalists and members of various prominent media, health, and communication professionals built a robust and collaborative network of health reporters. 

ICFJ’s mission is to advance quality journalism worldwide; their programs combine the best professional practices with new technologies.

HISTORY OF SETH KWAME BOATENG

On June 24, 2017, Seth won the Exclusive Men of The Year Africa Award (EMY AFRICA AWARDS) in the Communication Category for his impactful stories that continue to change lives in his community.

The EMY Awards, created in 2016, are designed to recognize Ghanaian men whose passion and dedication have instituted major development at both the familial and national levels.

In June 2017, the Media For West Africa (MFWA) named Seth Boateng as the first winner of its Journalist of the Month Series in recognition of his compelling television documentary that raised alarm and prompted action on the devastating maternal and child mortality situation in Ghana’s second largest medical facility.

The “Next to Die” documentary which highlighted how four babies die on the average each day and how an average of 100 women die each year, while in labour at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

Ghana’s First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo in partnership with The Multimedia Group Limited raised funds towards the construction of a new Maternity as well as Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) for (KATH) to ease the congestion there. 

 

Seth with other journalists

That ward would have five maternity beds, three operating rooms, four emergency delivery beds, 20 incubators and 20 phototherapy units.

TUC COMMENDS GOVERNMENT FOR THE FREE SHS POLICY

By Joyceline Natally Cudjoe

TRADE UNION CONGRESS

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has commended the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo for improving the standard of education in the country through the Free Senior High School policy.

According to them the government’s flagship programme was one of a kind since the independence of Ghana.

“This is the most important social intervention programme that has been implemented in our country since independence,” the statement said.

The statement which was signed by the Secretary General, Yaw Baah, said the free SHS policy was effective and equitable way of the government in ensuring every Ghanaian child reach the highest level of their education.

“We believe it is the most equitable way to distribute the country’s resources to all Ghanaians regardless of their socio-economic background,” the TUC said in a statement.

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The TUC noted that the Free SHS programme would provide immense opportunities for the youth and it would increase the pool of educated young Ghanaians in the labour market.

The statement further stated that the policy would propel the country’s development adding that government should work hard in creating jobs as promised in his manifesto.

The TUC however promised it outfit support to ensure quality education under the free SHS policy is improved.

More than eight years after it was touted by the New Patriotic Party as a major policy decision that could propel the country’s development, the free Senior High School programme kick-started last week Monday.

About 400,000 students are expected to benefit from the education policy that will exempt them from paying for tuition and other fees.

Read the full statement from the TUC on the education policy below.

The Implementation of the Free Senior High School Education

On Tuesday, 13th September, 2017, the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, officially launched the Free Senior High School Programme.

Information from the Ghana Education Service (GES) indicates that more than 400,000 BECE candidates have successfully been placed into various Senior High Schools (SHS) across the country. According to the Ministries of Education and Finance, half of the amount needed to fund the Free SHS programme for the current academic year has been released to the schools with assurance that the remainder would be disbursed by mid-term.

The TUC would like to commend the President and his government for keeping one of NPP’s campaign promises. We are particularly impressed with the careful planning and rigour with which the various government ministries and agencies have gone about the implementation of the programme. 

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We would like to assure the government of our support for the Free SHS programme. This is the most important social intervention programme that has been implemented in our country since independence. We believe it is the most equitable way to distribute the country’s resources to all Ghanaians regardless of their socio-economic background. We agree fully with President Nana Akufo-Addo’s statement that “the cost of providing free secondary school education would be cheaper than the alternative of an uneducated and unskilled workforce…”

Data from Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) show that only 15 percent of all Ghanaians who are 15 years or older had attained secondary education or higher. The statistics further indicate that 19.5 percent of Ghanaians have never attended school; 44.6 percent did not complete MSLC/BECE, and only 20.9 percent completed MSLC/BECE. After 60 years of independence, these statistics are not only shameful, but they are also a barrier to sustainable and inclusive development.

We expect the Free SHS programme to dramatically improve access to education in all parts of the country. But we should not end there. The government should address all other related issues and to ensure that quality of education improves.

The Free SHS programme provides immense opportunities for young people. The programme will increase the pool of educated young Ghanaians in the labour market. It will also increase the number of students seeking a university education. Harnessing these opportunities will depend on the preparations we make today. The challenges with job creation need to be addressed to ensure that Free SHS does not produce a pool of educated and frustrated young people. That will be costly for the country. The only way the cost of Free SHS will pay for itself will be to put beneficiary Ghanaians to productive work. Additionally, the government should begin to think of expanding infrastructure at the country’s universities to ensure that the universities ca

FASHION TODAY - FASHION TIPS

By Joyceline Natally Cudjoe

Should today's youth use African Print to sew these type of body appealing dresses.

Yea or Nay

FASHION TIPS

1. Dress to build your confidence level

2. Dress to suit the occasion, environment or ambiance

3. Dress to impact positively in others

4. Dress to suit your body type

5. Dress to depict your nature

6. Dress to depict your mood

WHISPERS FROM THE CORRIDORS OF THE THINKING PLACE -POLITICAL LITERATURE

 By P.K. Sarpong

whispers from the corridors of the thinking place by PK Sarpomg , An NPP political writer

The implementation of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia-led administration's flagship programme, the Free Senior High School policy is portentous of the opposition NDC being relegated to the sidelines for years, and the frustrations out of this inevitability have sunk deep into the bodies, minds, hearts and souls of some members of the NDC, compelling them to make comments which are too pedestrian to be hailing from party stalwarts.

Acquinas Tawiah Quansah, in an interview, painted a very gloomy picture as regards the sustainability of the policy as being implemented. He therefore went ahead to state that no child of his would enroll in Akufo-Addo's Free Senior High School because of its defective nature.

He may not be under compulsion or any obligation to enroll his children in any school in the country, but to pray for fire and brimstone to consume the policy which has been widely embraced by the general populace who would have found it difficult to raise money to school their children in the senior high schools is the height of a greater level of insensitivity if not wickedness!

Well, he was part of the looting brigade, and might have the financial muscle to school his children abroad, so he is at liberty to leave our schools for us!

One noticeable incident occurred while he was being interviewed. Acquinas Tawiah Quansah would do himself a great disservice if he himself fails to enroll under the ongoing system! The cahrcoal cannot claim to be whiter than the kettle!

AL-HAYAAT FOUNDATION ORGANISES FREE CERVICAL SCREENING FOR RESIDENTS OF ADENTA

By Raissa Sambou                             

AdA beneficiary undergoing the screening exercise.d caption

Founder and President of the Al-Hayaat Foundation, a nonprofit organisation, Hajia Hanatu Abubakar has advised women to undergo regular cervical cancer screening to detect the disease early for treatment.

According to her, early detection could be treated successfully to avoid any fatalities that may occur.

Hajia Hanatu gave the advise when her outfit organised a free cervical cancer screening and awareness programme at Adenta in collaboration with the Battor Catholic Hospital.

The exercise brought together about hundred women from Adenta and its environs.

The philanthropist called on government to implement policies that would support the health of women especially those affected with breast and cervical cancer.

Hajia Hanatu also urged corporate bodies and individuals to join the campaign of eradicating cervical cancer through awareness creation.

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Touching on the prevalence rate of the disease, she stated that, World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics show that, about 400,000 women were diagnosed of cervical cancer across the world yearly, adding that about 275,000 women died and 80 per cent of these death cases were recorded in developing countries including Ghana.

AddHajia Hanatu (middle), in a group picture with some nurses of the Battor Catholic Hospital and some beneficiaries of the screening exercise.

“As a result of the impact of the silent killer on women in the society, there was a need for all to come on board to help address the menace,” she stressed.

Her outfit, she added, was poised on promoting healthy lifestyles and educating and empowering of women.

Touching on the symptoms of cervical cancer, a nurse who participated in the screening exercise, Mrs. Comfort Mawusi Wormenor said fatigue, abnormal bleeding from the vagina, such as bleeding between menstrual periods, after sex, or after menopause, pain in the lower belly or pelvis, pain during sex and abnormal vaginal discharge were signs of the sexually transmitted disease.

She therefore reiterated the need for women who experienced such symptomsa to rush to the hospital for immediate attention.

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The health practitioner also advised men to be faithful to their partners to avoid the spread of the disease.

In an interview with the Ghanaian Times after the interview, a beneficiary of the screening exercise, Mrs. Salina Ahmed Tijani lauded Al-Hayaat Foundation for the kind gesture and advised that such programmes should be extended to the rural areas as often as possible.

WEDDING RING IS NOT A SYMBOL OF LOVE - COUNSELOR ADOFOLI SAYS

By Joyceline Natally Cudjoe

The famous Counselor, Counselor Frank Adofoli has entreated women to discard the idea that wedding ring is a symbol of love.

According to him a wedding ring is a symbol that indicates that one is married.

“A wedding ring is a ring worn by a married person, given to her by the spouse during a wedding,” he said.

The renowned counselor in an interview with The Spectator said marriage ring does not demonstrate a man’s love for a woman but the mutual respect, understanding, support, commitment among others that a man shows to his wife is the demonstration of love.

Answering whether expensive rings demonstrate a man's love for a woman, he said love does not have a price and an expensive ring does not guarantee a successful marriage.

“You can have an expensive ring but can have the worse of marriage, the ring can last long but the marriage cannot last,” he said.

 The Counselor further stated that when one’s wedding ring get rust the marriage does not rust adding that couples should spend on things they could afford.

He however advised the female youth to get rid of their obsession for expensive rings which he said was just a way of complimenting their mode of fashion, stating that one can have expensive ring on but the way a man feels for them is less expensive.

THE DEBATE

Is a wedding ring a symbol of love, a bond or a symbol of marriage? When one’s wedding ring rust does the marriage rust as well?

Today, wedding rings are a billion dollar sentiment of love, but no one can really say for sure when this age old tradition actually started.

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Some believe that the oldest recorded exchange of wedding rings comes from ancient Egypt, about 4800 years ago and is mostly worn on the fourth finger of the left hand, known as the ring finger.

To the Egyptians and many other ancient cultures, the circle of the ring was the symbol of eternity, with no beginning or end and the hole in the center of the ring wasn’t just considered a space, but rather a gateway, or door; leading to things and events both known and unknown.

INTERVIEWS

When The Spectator contacted a cross-section of Ghanaians to have their views on the kind of marriage ring they prefer, they said, to give a woman a ring signifies never-ending and immortal love therefore they would opt for something expensive, long lasting, something that symbolically depict their love for them.

According to Isaac Fidel Hayford, an Engineer said in as much as how every woman wants to feel special and unique, a wedding ring should bring the uniqueness in my wife, I will get my wife to be the most expensive ring to demonstrate my true love for her and how I do cherish her.

Nana Micah a radio presenter said oh yes I would even like to spend a fortune on the ring rather than on the event, the ring she will keep forever and can even pass it on to our children bear in mind that ring is a symbol of ownership and control which signals a clear taken status.

Vincentia Enyonam Attipoe a student said I want expensive or quality ring so I can wear till eternity, the ones in the market do not last long, you may have to change it every three years and that alone is a waste of money.

Daniela Amoah a beautician and a divorcee expressed deep sentiment that she would prefer expensive ring that would last long because her former marriage did not last together with her ring.

Fred Sanu Richards a journalist bemoaned that the rate at which some men perceived women to be an object acquired should not be tolerated.

He said many people would say that expensive rocks (rings) were symbol of love and devotion ignoring that the idea itself was manufactured by profiting businesses which gave arbitrary definition of symbol.

“Why can’t long term investment be a symbol? Indeed would it not be more impressive to show off a house than a finger rock? If you need a ring to prove my love, it is not my lack of an expensive ring that’s the problem but what happens after the marriage ceremony.”

STAFF OF NEW TIMES CORPORATION DEMAND REMOVAL OF MD

By Joyceline Natally Cudjoe

The workers of the State Media Organisation, Ghanaian Times has demonstrated against the Managing Director (MD) of the corporation, Carol Annang over poor managing service which has resulted in the decline in sale of the paper.

According to them, the MD has mismanaged the affairs of the organisation thus the need for replacement to ensure smooth sale of the newspapers and effective run of the company.

The demonstration which took place at the premise of New Times Corporation was to ensure there was increment in the salary of  staff.

Clad in red, shirt with red arms and hand band, chanting war songs the demonstrators expressed grievances over what they termed as ‘management incompetence’ they said Carol Annang has proved a great level of incompetence in her duty as an MD.

MS. Diana Bosuh, the Chairperson of Professional Management Staff Union (PMSU) in an interview with the media said the demonstration was to create awareness and also to ensure that right policies and measures were put in place to revive the corporation.

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She said the demonstration was to boost the sales of the Ghanaian Times (GT) papers.

“We are demonstrating today to inform the general public on the mismanagement of the corporation and ways to work as a theme to save the corporation from further lost of sale of our papers,” she said.

She noted that GT pay Gh₵17000 per day in the printing of the papers at Graphic which is costing the organisation huge sums of money.

Ms. Bosou said the idea of the re-branding of GT was to increase sales but it rather decline the sales adding that good measures which was not put in place by Ms. Annang compelled them to print at the door step of their competitor.

She further stated that the MD has failed all her promises to the workers adding that "workers of the company have not received salary increment for the past five years thus has rendered them poor."

Ransford Owulei, a staff said the printing machine was working therefore they could print the GT papers if they use this same machine to print The Spectator papers.

“The Spectator and Ghanaian Times are within same corporation, if we can use the machine to print Spectator why not times.”

Answering on how effective the machine was, he said the printing machine could produce quality papers and could print the papers of the corporation although sometimes they faced little challenges with it.

The demonstrators however called on necessary authorities to change their MD to ensure the smooth run of Ghanaian Times.