Obeng Kyereh Adjudged Journalist Of The Year

By Edmund Mingle

Kingsley Obeng Kyereh has every reason to smile

Mr.  Kingsley Obeng Kyereh of (GBC) Radio, was at the weekend adjudged the Journalist of the Year at the18^th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) 2013 Awards at the Banquet Hall in Accra.

His award was for an expose on the dangers of lead poisoning of foods through the use of metallic cooking utensils.

Mr. Kyereh, who also won the Best Science Report award, captivated the awards committee with his piece titled, “Where did half the ladle go?”.

The Banquet Hall went agog with the announcement of the ultimate winner, as his family members, staff of GBC and friends jubilated, while others in the Hall accorded him a standing ovation.

For his prize, which was sponsored by Unilever Ghana, Mr. Kyereh would embark on a fully sponsored training programme abroad, a holiday in the United Kingdom, as well as receive a laptop computer and an LED television.

It was a night of recognition for professionalism and development of journalism as journalists from the Graphic Communications Group Limited and Ghana Broadcasting Corporation topped the awards chart.

The other winners, all of whom will have a LED television, were Charles Benoni Okine of Graphic Business, (Best in News Reporting-Print); Kwaku Owusu Peprah of  Joy FM, (Best in News Reporting-Radio); Manasseh Azure Awini of Joy FM, (Best in News Reporting-TV); Edmund Kofi Yeboah of Daily Graphic, (Best in Feature-Print); Odelia Ofori of TV3, (Best in News Reporting-TV); Kwetey Nartey of TV Africa, (Best in Investigative Reporting);

Emmanuel Quaye of Daily Graphic (Best in Photojournalism); Dzifah Tetteh of The Ghanaian Times (Best in Sports Reporting) and Rebecca Awuah of GTV24, (Best in Arts/Entertainment & Domestic Tourism).

The rest are Maxwell Akalaare of Graphic Business, (Best Entry in Small and Micro Scale Enterprises); William Asiedu of The Mirror (Best in Environmental Report); Rebecca Quaye of The Mirror (Best Report in Health Reporting); Jamila Akweley Okerchire of Daily Guide (Best Report in HIV and AIDS Reporting); Efua Acquaah-Harrison  of TV3 (Best in Development Journalism for furthering MDGs); Gifty Andoh Appiah  of Joy FM (Best in Rural Reporting); Konrad Kakraba of GTV (Best in political Reporting); Fanny Nana Ampong of GTV (Best Human Rights Report on Child Rights); Rosemary Gaisie  of GBC Radio (Best Report on Disability); Seth Bokpe  of Daily Graphic (Best Report on Education) and Isabella Owusu Oppong of GTV (Best Report in Agriculture)

The Young Promising Journalist of the Year award went to Hannah Acheampong Amoah of Junior Graphic while David Adadevoh of The Ghanaian Times was adjudged the Young Promising Journalist of the Year (Runner-up).

Radio XYZ, won the Best Report on Peace, Democracy and Peace Building while the

Best radio programme in Akan went to Radio Peace (Winneba), with Best radio programme Ga going to Obonu FM

Honorary awards were presented to Mr. Cyril Acorlatse, Ms Wendy Asiamah, Mr. Tom Dorkenoo,

Mrs Margaret Sarfo and Mr Theophilus Mawusi Afele, all senior journalists for their contribution to the progress of the GJA and the media in Ghana. 

Ghana Needs Men Of Integrity---Chief Justice

By Edmund Mingle

Chief Justice Georgina T. Wood

The Chief Justice, Justice Mrs. Georgina Theodora Wood, has called for high level of integrity at all levels of the Ghanaian society to deal with the nation’s development challenges.

Citing corruption as a major menace which has to be tackled, she said there was an urgent need for men of integrity to deal with the challenges.

“Ghana needs men of integrity, able, visionary and decent leaders urgently,” she said, and bemoaned the increasing politicization of corruption in the country.

Addressing the 18^th annual Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards ceremony at the Banquet Hall in Accra on Saturday night, the Chief Justice, who was the guest speaker, said it was regrettable that “greed, corruption, abuse of office, nepotism have become the bane of Ghana.”

The awards had the theme, “Promoting healthy and fruitful Partnership in governance: the role of the media.”

The situation, she noted had been worsened by the blame game by the political parties over corruption issues.

According to her, the situation had been worsened by the blame game by the political parties over corruption issues.

Describing the situation as dangerous to the nation’s democratic and economic growth, the Chief Justice, indicated that tendency undermines the country’s ability to deal with effectively the corruption menace.

 “Unhealthy politicization of corruption only breeds equalization,” which she said does not help in nation building.

Touching on the performance of the media, Justice Wood commended the media for its contribution to the sustenance of Ghana’s democracy and good governance, but noted that there was more room for improvement.

She particularly lauded the role the media play in the coverage of the 2012 presidential election petition, and noted that although there were a few violations of the rules of court by journalists, the performance was generally good.

The Chief Justice also criticized the media for allowing its platform to be use by people to attack the Justices after the ruling on the petition, describing the attacks as unwarranted and should have been prevented, especially where there are avenues to channel grievances against Judges for redress.

“This is very dangerous and does not promote national cohesion,” she stressed.

She lauded the theme for the event, saying she was glad that the media recognized the need for quality partnership with other arms of government and sections of society.

Ruby Sandhu-Rojon, United Nations Resident Coordinator, who chaired the event, lauded the contribution of the media towards socio-economic progress, saying the UN appreciates the work of journalists and would continue to promote interventions to protect their welfare.

“A strong media equals a strong democracy,” he said.

Mahama Ayariga, Minister of Information and Media Relations, for his part, congratulated the nominees and promised the media of a stronger partnership with government to help in addressing the societal challenges.

He said the government appreciates and recognizes the critical role of the media as reliable development partners, and called for more development oriented journalism.

“It is critical that the media focuses more on developmental issues and reduce the attention of politics,” he said, adding that there was a need for less partisanship in national discourse.

Kabral Blay-Amihere, Chairman of the National Media Commission, also lauded the theme and the desire for increased partnership in governance.

He, however, warned that the quest for partnership should not result in the media losing its focus from its core mandate of playing a watch-dog role.

Dr. Roland Affail Monney, President of the GJA, in his welcome address, reiterated the call for the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill and the Broadcasting Bill, to improve access to information and effectively regulate the broadcast industry, respectively.

“The GJA considers the passage of the broadcasting law as crucial to promoting greater professionalism and decency on our airwaves.

“We cannot afford to leave the development of an influential medium as broadcasting, to chance,” he said.

END

Conversion Of Polytechnics To Technical Universities Gets Boost

By Edmund Mingle

Efforts to convert the Polytechnics into Technical Universities have been given a major boost, as the technical committee working on the conversion process, completes its task.

Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa,
Deputy Education Minister

Consequently, the technical committee, which was tasked to work on the modalities for the conversion of the Polytechnics into universities, has presented its report to the Education Ministry.

The submission of the report, which endorses the introduction of public technical universities, paves the way for the government to implement the next phase of the conversion process which involves the upgrading to the polytechnics.

Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Education, who disclosed this to the Ghanaian Times in Accra yesterday, described the submission of the report, as timely to address the waning interest in polytechnic education.

He said the Ministry would study the report and make the appropriate input for a final report to the submitted to Cabinet before the end of the year.

“After that the President would decide when to do full implementation,” he said.

He explained that the final report would include an action plan to effectively implement the project which he said was critical to holistic skills training in the country.

“President is committed to fulfilling the promise of transforming the polytechnics into universities to help in building the needed skilled human resource base which is vital for national development,” he said

Among other things, the report recommended that in addition to the characteristics of technical universities globally, those to be established in Ghana should research into, and provide support for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises; promote technology adaptation and innovation; train skilled personnel for key sectors of the economy; emphasize industry and business driven curriculum and develop strong training partnerships with employers and industry.

With regard to the criteria for qualification, the Committee, chaired by Dr. George Afeti, “recommends that in order for a polytechnic to be granted technical university status, it should be offering a minimum of four Bachelor of Technology (B-Tech) degree programmes which should be skewed in favour of science and technology based disciplines.”

In addition, the committee recommended that conversion should be accompanied by clear policies and regulations to prevent the new institutions from deviating from the desired objective of providing technical training and skills development of the kind that are not currently available in the traditional universities.

“The lessons learnt from the upgrading of the polytechnics to tertiary status provide a useful backdrop of policy shortfalls and implementation pitfalls to be avoided in transforming the polytechnics into technical universities,” the report said.

END

Second Lady Calls For Quality Teaching In Rural Areas

 From Edmund Mingle, Bobikuma.

The Second Lady being welcomed  to Bobikuma

The Second Lady Mrs. Matilda Amissah-Arthur has asked teachers, especially
in the rural areas not to allow the quest for best conditions of service to
take the better part of them.

Rather she urged them to provide quality teaching for children in the rural
areas to perform creditably, as the government works to enhance their
remuneration.
The Second Lady made the call when she opened an ICT Centre for Lower Bobikuma in the Agona West Municipal area of the Central region on Thursday.

She bemoaned the poor academic performance of children in the rural areas,
and encouraged teachers to help reverse the trend.

Mrs Amissah-Arthuer being assisted
by Nana Kofi Yeboah (second left) and
Samuel Sarpong (third right) to cut the
tape to open the Centre

According to her, although children in the rural zones were disadvantaged with access to education facilities, evidence showed that they could compete academically with those in the urban areas when offered quality teaching.

She also urged all stakeholders including district directorates of education and community leaders to monitor the academic performance in basic schools towards improving output of both teachers and pupils.

The newly opened ICT Centre for Bobikuma

In addition, she gave the assurance that the government would play its part by providing the necessary facilities to enhance teaching and learning, adding that the ICT Centre was indicative of government's commitment in that regard.

Touching on the relevance of the centre, she was optimistic that the
facility would enable children in the area to acquire the necessary IT skills to
advance their knowledge to effectively participate in the global village.

Mrs. Amissah-Arthur therefore, admonished the education authorities to properly maintain the facility to serve its purpose.

The Centre, which consists of an IT section, a library and a teachers’ research unit, was built by the Agona West Municipal Assembly at the cost of GHc 123,480 with funding from the World Bank, while the computers, furniture and library books were provided by the Second Lady.

The Second Lady interacting with pupils working
on the computers at the Centre.

She secured the computers from the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFTEC) and personally funded the furnishing and stuffing of the library with the books.

Nana Kofi Yeboah VIII, chief of Agona Bobikuma, in his remarks thanked the Second Lady for the support in helping to improve the level of education in the area.

He described the establishment of the centre as the realization of dream by the traditional leaders, saying the speed in which the Second Lady and Municipal Assembly responded to their request for the centre was commendable.

The chief however, noted that more needs remained to be addressed, citing the need for the provision of tarred roads, potable water and extension of electricity coverage to parts of the area.

The Second Lady addressing the durbar of
 chiefs and people of Bobikuma

Samuel Sarpong, Central Regional Minister, addressing durbar, asked community to own the project, and also charged the school authorities to properly maintain the facility in order to derive the desired benefits.
End

Ghana, 2 Others Adopt Common Position On CET

Saturday, October 26, 2013

From Edmund Mingle, Dakar, Senegal.

Ghana, Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire have adopted a common position on the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET), as the Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Governments of ECOWAS opened in Dakar, Senegal yesterday.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur in a chat with Nigeria's
Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Dakar, Senegal
on the sidelines the ECOWAS meeting

The three countries rooted for the operationalisation of a CET that would not be inimical to the growth of economies, but facilitate regional integration and promote the growth of industries.

In addition, the three want the summit to adopt adequate protective measures for industrial products in protocols proposed in the CET and Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union.

Details of the common position, which was reached between Ghana's delegation to the summit, led by Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, and the delegations of the two other countries in separate closed door meetings before the start of the summit, was not disclosed to journalists.

The CET aims at establishing a common tariff regime for products that are trade among the 15 West African countries to achieve a harmonised import and export duty system.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur at the meeting with the Nigerian delegation led by Finance Minister, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, indicated Ghana’s commitment to ensure that the CET and EPA fully benefited the sub-region.

He was hopeful that the outstanding issues regarding the CET, which forms the basis for the EPA negotiations, would be settled at the summit.

Although there were no details, Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Trade and Industry, told journalists that “we are optimistic other countries would buy into our proposals for the entire Summit to adopt it.”

Later at the opening session of the Summit, Alassane Quattara, ECOWAS Chairman and President of Cote d’Ivoire, described the meeting as critical in the to the economic development of the sub-region.

“We will be taking a decisive step in the life of ECOWAS,” he said.

He expressed confidence in the individual and collective determination of the group to address the economic challenges facing the sub-region, saying the high level of participation in the summit was indicative of that commitment.

Touching on the agenda for the summit, he said the decisions that would be taken on the CET, EPA and Community Levy, would be “laying the foundation for shared prosperity.”

Their countries believe in the CET

“We need to harmonise our various positions so as to improve our competitiveness for the benefit of the sub-region,” he urged the member countries.

Kadre Desire Quadraogo, President of ECOWAS Commission, in his report, touched on the recent terrorist attack on the Westgate Mall in Kenya where 67 people died, and particularly paid tribute to Prof. Kofi Awoonor, former Chairman of Ghana’s Council of State, and also expressed condolence to the government and people of Ghana over the loss.

He said the attack was a reminder of the lurking threat of terrorism in Africa, and the need for leaders to work together to fight the menace.

The presidents, who Vice President Amissah-Arthur joined for the summit, included Alassane Quattara of Cote d'Ivoire, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of Mali, Mamadou Issoufou of Niger, Thomas Yayi Boni of Benin and Macky Sall of Senegal.

ECOWAS is the sub-regional grouping of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

END

Ghanaian Artisans Manufacture Airplane

Wednesday October 23, 2013

The plane would make history if it succeeds in flying.

From Edmund Mingle, Akuse.

A group of youngmen has completed the manufacturing of a locally made airplane, using local materials.

 A test flight is being planned, and if it succeeds, it would become Ghana’s first locally made aircraft.

As part of the preparation for the test flight, the plane was taken through an engine, speed and brake testing exercise on an abandoned runway at Akuse in the Greater Accra region at the weekend. The testing also involved the assessment of the propeller and wind panels.

 According to the group, known as “Team Isaac,” experts from the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority have inspected the plane and approved it with suggestions that some polishing was done on the body.

Led by Isaac Otu, 27, who is the mechanic and pilot, the group consists of Daniel Ponani, 28, a business administration graduate from University of Professional Studies who worked on the body and wings, Joseph Sarpong, 23, an IT student who works on the wings, Kofi Yeboah, 34 and Isaac Kombat-Dantiar, 34, both electricians, James Larbi, the gear and brake engineer and Patrick Kofi Kumi, who is in charge of logistics.

The plane ready for the testing

It is the culmination of years of work and creativity by the youngmen inspired by a shared determination to achieve their long cherished dream.

 

As part of Saturday’s testing exercise, the plane sped several times on the about 900 meter runway, as the members of the group rectified minor defects on the 40 horsepower engine, braking system and wind control panels.

 

During one of the speeding sessions, the plane took off momentarily above the runway, but the pilot had to land it because flying was not part of the day’s exercise.

 The engine, which runs on petrol, is a used Volkswagen engine that was redesigned by the group to drive the propeller of the plane.

 

Built with aluminum sheets, the body of the plane is built around a frame of iron square pipes.

It has control system connected to the radar and elevator panels attached to the wings. It also has a speedometer, pressure and fuel meters built on the dashboard, and a six-gallon capacity fuel tank.

 

Members of the group fixing the plane for the test run.

The plane, built by the group at Dome Pillar Two, a suburb of Accra, was conveyed to Akuse in a truck. It had to be dismantled for easy transportation and re-assembled at Akuse for the testing.

The testing exercise ended when the propeller unfortunately broke off due to high speed.

But the group said the breaking of the propeller was good.

“It is very good for use since we will now build a new propeller that can withstand the speed of the engine,” said Daniel Ponani, who acts as the spokesman.

Asked whether the plan can really fly, he answered in the positive.

“You witnessed today’s exercise, and we are sure that it will be in the air,” he told this Reporter.

Asked how much they have invested in the product, he could not quantity it, saying “all our little resources have gone into this.”

According to Daniel, the group continues to encounter numerous challenges, including finance to get modern parts for the plane, adding that only their determination has helped them to get to current stage.

“We want to show that it is possible to manufacture these planes here in Ghana, and we need support to be able to get a new engine,” he said.

 

This Reporter had a feel of the aircraft.

ECOWAS Assigns President Mahama To Monitor Convergence Process

From Edmund Mingle, Dakar

The ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government has assigned President John Mahama to facilitate and monitor the convergence process for the establishment of a common currency in the sub-region.

The ECOWAS leaders at the start of the
summit in Dakar on Friday.

The Authority was optimistic that the role assigned to the President would help in speeding the process by countries in the West Africa Monetary Zone (WAMZ) to attain the convergence requirements for the single currency to take off.

It was part of measures taken at the Extra-ordinary Session of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in Dakar, Senegal, to facilitate the process.

Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, who represented President Mahama at the Summit, which ended at the weekend, described the role entrusted to the President as a very critical assignment.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur at the summit
in Dakar, Senegal

He told journalists at the airport in Dakar before departing to Accra that assignment signified the confidence the Authority has the Ghana economy to lead in the process of achieving convergence criteria.

He was confident that President Mahama would effectively deliver on the assignment, and prayed for full cooperation and support from Member States.

The Heads, in a communiqué issued at the end of the summit and read by ECOWAS Commission President Kadre Desire Quadraogo, also charged the ECOWAS Commission to take the necessary steps in collaboration with the West African Monetary Agency and West African Monetary Institute to support efforts of Member States in ensuring smooth implementation of the activities on the roadmap for the ECOWAS single currency.

“To this end the Authority encourages all Member States, particularly those in WAMZ to tale all the necessary measures to ensure the required convergence of their macro-economic policies to the establishment of the monetary zone,” it said.

Touching on controversial Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between African, Pacific and Caribbean (ACP) countries and the European Union, the Authority directed the chief negotiators for West Africa to expeditiously resume discussions with their European counterparts with a view of concluding the agreement as soon as possible.

“The Authority calls for the flexibility needed by the two parties in the search for a compromise on all issues in the interest of the two regions,” the leaders noted.

According to the communiqué, the Heads took into account the new market access scenario attained by the region, and which considers the required coherence with the Common External Tariff (CET) and development objectives envisaged in the agreement.

“The Authority welcomes the spirit of cooperation between the Commissions of ECOWAS and UEMOA which produced significant outcomes in the analysis of various questions on the deepening of the economic integration process.

“It calls for the strengthening of this cooperation in the implementation of the decisions taken to that effect,” the communiqué said.

With regard to discussion on the CET, the Authority underscored the importance of a customs union as a “decisive and irreversible phase in the process of consolidating the common market.”

“The Authority commends in particular the participatory process that characterised the identification of the major axes of the deepening of the regional market and the flexibility demonstrated by Member States in arriving at a consensus on the final CET structure and all its supporting measures,” it said.

The ECOWAS leaders who attended the summit included Alassane Quattara of Cote d'Ivoire, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of Mali, Mamadou Issoufou of Niger, Thomas Yayi Boni of Benin and Macky Sall of Senegal, Mrs. Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson of Libera, Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, Alpha Conde of Guinea, Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso, Manuel Sherifo Nhamajo of Guinea Bissau, Mrs. Ajaratou  Njie-Siady, Vice President of The Gambia and Jose Maria Pereira Neves, Prime Minister of Cape Verde.

ECOWAS is the sub-regional grouping of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

END