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Police service introduces ‘snatch them young’ policing initiative

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Dr George Akuffo Dampare with the pupils

The leadership of the Ghana Police Service, on Tuesday, 19th September, 2023 paid a visit to the pupils and staff of St. John the Evangelist Catholic School, Adenta, Accra, as part of the Snatch Them Young Policing Initiative dubbed STYPI.

During the visit, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr George Akuffo Dampare and his team engaged the pupils in an open dialogue on the role of the Police in society and their responsibilities as young people in ensuring a safer environment for all.

The IGP emphasised the importance of the “Snatch Them Young Policing Initiative” as a programme which aims to make pupils and the younger generation comfortable with the Police and see them as their friends and partners in ensuring the safety of their communities.

He further added that the initiative represents a significant step towards building a safer and more trusting society while laying the foundation for mutual respect between the Police and the citizenry regardless of their age.

STYPI is expected to expand its reach to schools and communities across the country, with a focus on nurturing positive relationships between the Police and the nation’s youth.

CPP will take advantage of Alan’s resignation

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Mr. Abdul Malik Jeleel, CPP Deputy National Communications Director

The Deputy National Communications Director of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Abdul Malik Jeleel, has indicated that his party stands a chance to pull a surprise at the 2024 Elections, following the resignation of Alan Kyerematen.

According to him, the brouhaha in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the moment would have an adverse effect on the electoral fortunes of the party, as floating voters would consider an alternative.

In his view, the favourable alternative to the NPP was not the National Democratic Congress (NDC), but the CPP, and expressed optimism that Nkrumah’s party could benefit from the woes of the NPP.

He further told journalists at a press meeting that the possibility of further agony in the NPP after November 4 was high, and the same brightens the chances of his party.

He noted that Alan’s resignation “is a disaster and would let most party faithful lose focus and might decide to look for an alternative, and the NPP’s best voting alternative is the CPP.”

He cited the NDC’s famous Swedru Declaration ahead of the 2000 General Elections, which resulted in Gossie Tandoh leaving the NDC to form his own political party, adding that the CPP increased its tally in that poll.

However, he observed that ethnocentrism had become an integral part of politics in Ghana, claiming that the internal wrangling in the NPP were being blamed on ethnocentrism, particularly between the Akyems and Northerners on one side and the Ashantis and Fantes on the other.

Meanwhile, Jeleel predicted bad days for the NPP with its internal issues should the Vice President, Dr. Bawumia, defeat Kennedy Agyapong next month.

Science students’ population up 25% -Akufo-Addo

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President Akufo-Addo

President Akufo-Addo, has re-echoed government’s determination to continue prioritizing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education, as an essential tool towards equipping the future workforce of the country, with 21st Century skills necessary for the emerging fourth industrial wave.

According to President Akufo-Addo, it is for this reason that his government is putting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in its central, relevant place in the nation’s educational curriculum.

Speaking at the 85th anniversary of the Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School on Saturday, 30th September 2023, the President stated that, pursuant to this, the percentage of General Science students in senior high schools, which has been some twelve percent (12%) over the years, has risen to some fifteen percent (15%) this year.

He added that, in 2024, “it is expected to increase even further to some twenty-four percent (24%)”.

Explaining into detail some of the STEM policies introduced by his government, President Akufo-Addo noted that a STEM pipeline has been created to increase STEM enrolment at tertiary education level, through pre-engineering programmes.

“The pre-engineering programme has been introduced to target Senior High School Graduates in General Arts, Visual Arts and Business. The George Grant University of Mines and Technology, the Pentecost University, and the Kumasi Technical University have admitted students into this flagship programme, that allows students to study subjects such as Physics, Elective Mathematics, Engineering Practice, Chemistry, Technical Drawing, Applied Electricity and ICT,” he noted.

The one-year pre-university programme, which was launched in February 2022, he said, is “already admitting its second cohort of students, the talent pool from which engineers can be selected will mean the number of engineering graduates; that is First degree and Higher National Diploma, will increase from the current six thousand, five hundred (6,500) to thirty thousand (30,000) by 2030.”

At the Senior High School level, President Akufo-Addo said, “increasing enrolment in STEM has been made possible by operationalising four (4) newly constructed STEM Model Schools, and converting three (3) existing schools into STEM Model Schools.”

The schools are the Ghana STEM Academy Schools as Abomosu STEM Academy, Awaso STEM Academy, Kpasenkpe STEM Academy, Bosomtwi Girls STEM Academy, Bosomtwi STEM Academy, Accra High School STEM Centre, and Koase Secondary Technical School.

These schools have been equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories and classrooms, dormitories, assembly halls, dining halls and conducive environments to foster teaching and learning.

There are some 2,400 students enrolled to study General Science and STEM in the seven schools”, coupled with the introduction of new STEM pathways including engineering science and robotics, aviation and aerospace, computer science, biomedical science, agricultural science and manufacturing.

Also included in these massive interventions, President Akufo-Addo said, is the completion of ten regional STEM Centres to train a complete STEM pipeline from primary through JHS to SHS.

“The Accra High School STEM Centre is operational, and it receives some 250 students every day who undertake training in robotics, 3D printing, coding, physics, chemistry and biology for JHS and SHS students who are in the Greater Accra Region. Six other centres, which are at some 90 percent complete, are located at Mfantsipim School, Fijai SHS, Koforidua SHS, Jinijini SHS, Ahafoman SHS and Abuakwa SHS, whilst the rest, namely Mawuko SHS, Sefwi Wiawso SHS and Atebubu SHS are between thirty to fifty percent complete,” he indicated.

The President also cited the retooling of science laboratories (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology) of 180 selected Senior High Schools, including Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School, and the construction of Model Junior High Schools to replace clusters of basic schools and equipping the existing schools for STEM programmes as a lot more of the STEM-targeted interventions.

NSS releases first batch of postings

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Mr Osei Assibey-Executive Director of NSS

The management of the National Service Scheme says it has released the first of batch of postings. A statement from the Scheme said 122,275 national service personnel have been posted to various parts of the country. The following is the full statement, which was signed by the Executive Director, Osei Assibey Antwi

The Management of the National Service Scheme (NSS) has today, Friday, September 29, 2023, released the first batch of postings for 122,275 National Service Personnel to undertake their one-year mandatory national service in various sectors of the economy for the 2023/2024 service year. The second batch of postings will be released in due course.

All deployed service personnel are required to follow the validation and registration process as follows: a. Log onto the Scheme’s website at www.nss.gov.gh to check for placement. b. Print the appointment letter and proceed to the place of posting for endorsement of the appointment letter. c. Book an appointment online for the date and time for registration after the endorsement. d. Proceed to the assigned NSS Regional Validation and Registration Centre with an endorsed appointment letter and a valid Ghana Card to complete the process.

Note: Regional validation and registration will begin on Monday, 16th October 2023 at all centers across the country.

The 2023/2024 National Service Year begins on Wednesday, 1st November 2023.

Management does not support change of postings, and therefore wishes to caution National Service Personnel to avoid getting in contact with faceless individuals or groups to get their posting changed for them.

Management extends best wishes to all deployed service personnel as they take up their civicand patriotic responsibilities to serve Mother Ghana.

Thank you.

Signed

Osei Assibey Antwi

Executive Director

Rejoinder: Our party is corrupt to the core, it will die soon – Amoako Baah

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Rejoinder

The rancid utterances of Professor Amoako Baah have become one too many to keep mute over especially that he is on a mission to self-destruct his political relevance being blinded by the hypnotic effect of a separatist crybaby, Alan Kyerematen, who has decided to take to flight on the feeble wings of a butterfly than make a grand entrance into the 2025 New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, in shaa ALLAH, on the shoulders of an elephant that will surely stampede the few butterflies fluttering alongside their Monarch (afrafranto)!

Maybe, the incompatible cap that bops on the cushion he wears on his head has rendered him incapable of telling the difference between the slight gloss on the butterfly’s wings from the aurora that accompanies the shine of NPP’s elephant!

Then again, how can he not make such an assertion to the effect that our party is corrupt to the core and will soon die when he has gone everywhere to preach tribalism and divisiveness in the hope that the few extremists in the party will have their way by coercion and arm-twisting of some sort?

Where, at all, did he ever hear that NPP is for his ilk alone and that if they did not have their way, they would rather kill the party and disenfranchise over eighteen million members and sympathisers?

Which executives was he referring to as corrupt? Justin Kodua? Definitely not! That guy is about the best general secretary NPP has had thus far! Steven Ntim? Certainly not! Chairman has proven that he is the one, who should have come a long time ago! By making such disparaging remarks, he is insulting Sammy Awuku, that young dynamic man no one can point a finger at with any instance of corruption, and all the others who have served the party well.

He claims allegiance to the NPP but was close enough to the NDC to be appointed as the Board chair of the Kumasi Polytechnic in 2015, which upon further consultations, and knowing that the defeat of the NDC was imminent, declined the appointment. So, what is expected of someone like that when the tides don’t turn in his favour?

Of course, an ardent ally and supporter of Alan Kyerematen cannot but speak ill of Akufo-Addo and the NPP because in the process of metamorphosis into the weightless and weak butterfly he had to shed his sheath to expose his two-timing standards as both a sympathizer of the NDC and cohort in the NPP, taxidermising his reputation as part elephant part butterfly perched on the tip of NDC’s umbrella.

I find it shameful that he should be talking so much dunk and junk with a reputation that is beginning to stink like a skunk! If the recent happenings did not occur, I would never have imagined that there are some folks in our party who would rather disenfranchise everyone if their demands were not met!

They have introduced bigotry to a whole new level in much an unprecedented manner, and it is for this reason that NPP’s victory at the polls in 2024 will be an opportunity to heal the party by flushing away the stool in our midst; those very dirty people who wish no good for their brethren because they hail not from their locality.

And how does it figure that Professor Amoako Baah remains an NPP person when all his utterances point to a schizophrenic, suffering the urge to soil himself socially, politically, and ethically? He needs to be brought to order or be told to be bold enough to hop onto his friend’s butterfly and flutter away into the foliage of a forest to forage for votes!

Or better still, start his own political party. Maybe he should call it TPP, Taxidermy People’s Party. Motto: Be counted if you want to hang on the walls of hunters!

By Fadi Dabbousi

Editorial: Government must provide funds to tackle Non-Communicable Diseases

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Editorial

A Senior Lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Dr. Elliot Koranteng Tannor, has called for more funds to be made available for tackling Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). He noted that globally, lesser funds are pumped into the prevention of these diseases.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Non-Communicable Diseases kill 41 million people each year, equivalent to 74% of all deaths globally. Each year, 17 million people die from an NCD before age 70; 86% of these premature deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Of all NCD deaths, 77% are in low- and middle-income countries.

However, Dr. Tannor observes that less than 1% of all global health funding is invested on Non-Communicable Diseases prevention. “Now it’s the Non-Communicable Diseases that are killing us more and the communicable diseases are reducing.

Focus has always been on malaria, HIV and Covid-19 because policy makers and governments know that when people are getting the covid it is communicable and we can get it but non communicable is not looked at in that way,” he said.

Non-Communicable Diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and chronic respiratory conditions have emerged as silent epidemics, affecting millions of Ghanaians. These diseases are often chronic, requiring long-term care and imposing substantial financial burdens on individuals, families and the healthcare system. The consequences extend far beyond the health sector, impacting workforce productivity and economic stability.

The urgency of addressing NCDs is underscored by the fact that they are responsible for a significant proportion of morbidity and mortality in Ghana. Moreover, NCDs often strike individuals in their prime years, causing premature deaths and diminishing the country’s human capital potential. This not only affects the affected individuals and their families but also hinders national development.

The Chronicle believes that while Ghana has made commendable efforts in tackling infectious diseases like malaria and HIV/AIDS, the response to NCDs has lagged behind. The allocation of resources, both financial and human, to combat NCDs has not kept pace with the growing prevalence and impact of these diseases.

Investing in the prevention, early detection and management of NCDs is not just a healthcare imperative; but also an economic necessity. Health experts have rightly called for increased funding to bolster NCD prevention and control efforts. This funding can be channeled into various initiatives educating the public about the risk factors and preventive measures for NCDs are paramount.

Increased funding can support robust awareness campaigns that promote healthier lifestyles, early diagnosis is key to managing NCDs effectively. Investment in screening programs and accessible healthcare services can ensure timely detection and intervention.

Also, healthcare professionals need training and resources to address NCDs effectively. Funding can be allocated to strengthen the healthcare workforce’s capacity in this regard. The allocation of more funding to combat NCDs is an investment in the health and future of our nation. It demonstrates a commitment to the well-being of all Ghanaians and an acknowledgment of the significant societal and economic costs associated with NCDs.

As we support the call by health experts for increased funding, we also emphasise the importance of a multi-sectoral approach. Collaboration between the health sector, policymakers, civil society, and the private sector is essential to develop and implement effective strategies to prevent and control NCDs. Addressing the rising burden of non-communicable diseases requires a proactive and well-funded approach.

The Chronicle calls on government to heed the call for increased funding to combat NCDs. By doing so, we can create a healthier and more prosperous future for all citizens, strengthening both our public health and our nation’s economic resilience.

Tepa Nursing, Midwifery College holds seminar for freshers

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Albert Opoku, Principal - Tepa Nursing Midwifery Training College

The Tepa Nursing and Midwifery College has held a seminar for the fresh students to ensure that they acquire independent learning skills.

Mr. Albert Opoku, Principal of the College, explained that the initiative was to ensure that the students acquired independent learning skills and organise their own studies to ensure that learning was effective with or without a lecturer.

Fresh students at the seminar

According to him, the initiative would be a part of the school curriculum for every fresher to acquire the skills and knowledge to impact on their learning skills to become successful students after school.

He disclosed that the College had embarked on infrastructural development, including two classroom blocks which were at various stages of completion, through the assistance of some stakeholders and individuals to enhance teaching and learning.

He appealed to the development partners, government and other stakeholders to come to the aid of the school to acquire a new bus for the students to enhance trips for their practicals.

AngloGold Ashanti constructing Robotic Centre for O’SECTEC …and Health Centre for Dokyiwa/Binsere

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Mr. Baidoo breaking the ground for the construction of the Robotic Centre

AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine has cut the sod for the construction of a state-of-the-art Robotic Centre at the Obuasi Senior High Technical School in the Obuasi Municipality of the Ashanti Region.

An Artist’s impression of the proposed Robotic centre

Mr. Emmanuel Baidoo, Senior Manager Sustainability of AngloGold Ashanti, said at the ground breaking ceremony at the school that the initiative was part of the education pillar under the Obuasi Mine’s 10-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan, which had an intermediate goal to empower its host communities through improved quality education.

He noted that the Robotic Centre, when completed, would serve as a hub for innovation and technological growth, and provide students in Obuasi with resources and opportunities to broaden their knowledge and artificial intelligence, particularly in robotics.

The Headmaster of the school, Mr. Ernest Wiafe, noted that the Centre would help in the study of engineering-related programmes in the school, and acknowledged that it would become the first of such centres to be constructed in the country, and thanked the company for the gesture.

On the construction of the Health Centre for Dokyiwa/Binsere , Mr. Baidoo noted that by the initiative AngloGold Ashanti aimed to enhance the overall well-being of the community members by providing a conducive environment to facilitate the delivery of healthcare; improve Patient/Health Care Service Provider relationships, while reducing the commuting distance of community members to access health care.

Nananom from DokyiwaBinsere, AngloGold Staff, dignitaries in group picture after the sod cutting

When completed, Mr. Baidoo noted, the Health Centre would be equipped with modern equipment and staffed with highly skilled healthcare professionals to deliver efficient health and patient care, as well as provide a wide range of medical services, including general medical consultations, ante-natal, and postnatal among others.

“We are pleased that the construction of this health centre, which will shape the future of healthcare in Dokyiwa/Binsere, has commenced,” he added.

The Odikro of Binsere, Nana Kwame Essien, and the Municipal Director of Health, Mr. Martin Sarfo Osei, expressed their appreciation to AngloGold Ashanti for coming to the aid of the two communities with the Health Centre.

From Frederick Danso Abeam, Obuasi

Atwima Kwanwoma MP cuts sod for multiple projects

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Hon. Amankwah Manu breaking the ground to the admiration of chiefs present

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Atwima Kwanwoma Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Mr. Kofi Amankwah Manu, in conjunction with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, has cut the sod for the construction of five projects in his constituency.

He said it was historic as he cut the sod for the construction of five new key projects dubbed “Gang of 5” projects in the Atwima Kwanwoma Constituency.

The projects includes a three-bedroom nurses’ quarters at Winsa; a 10-unit classroom block for Kotwi D/A School; a 10-unit classroom block at Foase D/A School, a 6-unit classroom block at Atwima Kokoben D/A School, with other facilities – a store, library and a 10-seater toilet alongside a 3-unit classroom block at Anum Asamoah SHS, funded from the the MP’s Common Fund.

The MP, who is also the Deputy Minister of Defence, said all the projects were expected to be completed within 16 weeks, and were expected to help improve on the educational standards in the constituency.

US court gives Chicago university 48 hrs to release Tinubu’s academic records

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The United States District Court in Northern Illinois has given Chicago State University (CSU) 48 hours starting from Saturday to release President Bola Tinubu’s academic records to an opposition candidate in Nigeria’s February presidential election, Atiku Abubakar.

In a ruling delivered on Saturday, the judge, Nancy Maldonado, after dismissing Mr Tinubu’s objection, gave the university until 12 noon on Monday to release the documents to Atiku.

Ms Maldonando dismissed Mr Tinubu’s objection to the 20 September decision of a magistrate judge of the court, Jeffery Gilbert.

The judge on Saturday fully affirmed Mr Gilbert’s ruling ordering the CSU to release Mr Tinubu’s academic records as requested by Atiku. She insisted Atiku had the right to have access to the records.

“For the reasons stated in the Court’s accompanying Memorandum Opinion and Order, the Court overrules President Tinubu’s objections (44] and adopts Judge Gilbert’s recommended decision [40] in full. The Court, therefore, grants Mr. Abubakar’s application under 28 U.S.C. § 1782. [1],” Ms Maldonado ruled.

She said the CSU must complete all necessary filings with regard to the release by 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

“Respondent CSU is directed to produce all relevant and non-privileged documents in response to Requests for Production Nos. 1 through 4 (as narrowed by Judge Gilbert and adopted by the District Court in its opinion) in Mr. Abubakar’s subpoena, by 12:00 p.m. (noon) CDT, on Monday, October 2, 2023.

“The Rule 30(b)(6) deposition of CSU’s corporate designee must be completed by 5:00 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, October 3, 2023,” the court ordered.

Atiku had asked for the documents for use in Nigerian courts to support his argument that Mr Tinubu forged a diploma certificate he claimed to have obtained from CSU in 1979 and submitted to Nigeria’s electoral body, INEC, for the 2023 presidential election.

This, Atiku argued, goes to the root of Mr Tinubu’s qualification to contest the last presidential election.

Although Atiku lost his case against Mr Tinubu at the Presidential Election Petition Court which delivered its judgement in early September, he hopes to reintroduce the issue backed with the documents from the CSU in his appeal which he is pursuing against the election court’s decision at the Nigerian Supreme Court.

Credit: premiumtimesng.com

 

The Ghanaian Chronicle