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Pentecost University launches five engineering programs

By
STEPHANIE BIRIKORANG
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The new Engineering Programmes being officially launched by the Vice Chancellor of PU, Aps. Prof. Kwabena Agyapong-Kodua (second from right), and the Deputy Minister for Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour(first on the left)

Pentecost University (PU) has launched five unique Engineering programs to develop the professional and requisite skills aimed at changing the engineering market across the world.

The new programmes include; B.Eng Robotics and Automation Engineering, B.Eng Electricals and Electronics Engineering, B.Eng Systems Engineering, B.Eng Manufacturing Engineering and B.Eng Environmental Engineering.

This makes PU the first indigenous Ghanaian University to start industry-focused B.Eng programmes on its own, according to the school.

Speaking at the launch on Thursday, August 17, 2023 in Accra, the Deputy Minister of Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour remarked that a profound prophecy by the founder of the Pentecost Church, Rev. James Mckeown had come to pass after seventy years.

He said that the church would raise a center where people from different countries will come together to seek knowledge.

Some innovations on display at the technology fair by stakeholders

Today, “we are proud to say that the PU has over seventeen countries represented in the school, seeking knowledge and contributing to the ongoing innovations,” he added.

He commended the founders of the University and the authorities for the great transformation, under the leadership of the Vice Chancellor, Aps. Prof. Kwabena Agyapong–Kodua.

The Deputy Minister, who was speaking on behalf of the Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum added that, the leadership of the university should reposition the institution, to duly respond to the fourth industrial revolution era, an era of innovation and being driven by technology.

According to the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin South Constituency, “we are in the fourth Industrial Revolution era where the global push for industry is 4.0 and of course, if we want to train to feed the industry’s 4.0– it means we must reposition and restructure our education to represent it.

“We at the Ministry of Education have a vision to raise and equip our population with the required skill to make a difference”, he said, adding that “we are in the twenty first century era, therefore, our education system must respond to the twenty first century needs.”

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Aps. Prof. Kwabena Agyapong-Kodua, in his presentation called both the public and private organisations to enrol and train some of their staff in the engineering programs of the university, as it is a way of evolving with advanced technologies.

He reiterated that, his work experience with various companies over the past years has thought him that integrity, character and skill has always been a leadership tool needed to develop and build upon innovations.

Aps. Agyapong-Kodua added that, the type of engineering programs the school runs can provide services for all institutions and it has pre-engineering programs for members of the public, who have no science or engineering background but have interest in Engineering.

“It is my hope that in the near future, all plumbers, carpenters and other artisans will go through skillful transformation for the development of Ghana,” he said.

Delivering his goodwill message, Mark Hammah, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mark Hammah Engineering Company Ltd., explained that, the company is ever ready to contribute their quota to the success of the new introduced programs.

He urged the university to move above the usual systems currently running by most universities to be more proactive and practically oriented in delivering their programmes.

The event also saw the exhibition of technical and engineering innovations by stakeholders of the industry and some past students of the university.

In an interview with an Innovator, who is also a past student of the Pre-Engineering program at PU, Yaw B. Frimpong, who had his engineering products on display at the fair, explained that he built everything he had on display from indigenous materials he found around him.

He said “Every product you are seeing here, including the Bluetooth speaker, bedside lamp, radio set, etc., were all built with materials that will be thrown away, but he collects and recycles them to create something new out of them.”

Ghana lost over 500 nurses last year -GHS

By
JENNIFER AMBOLLEY
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Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye

The Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye, has disclosed that the Service had lost over 500 nurses, but measures had been put in place to recruit more.

“We have also lost experienced and skilled staff, but we are also putting systems so that [within] the next two years, we are able to replace them with further training and recruitment. [In] the last one year we lost about 525 nurses, but we are currently having recruitment of additional nurses across the country,” he stated.

Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye made this known at a news conference, organised by the Ministry of Information in Accra yesterday. He further added that his outfit had also been able to send doctors to the rural areas. He, however, encouraged communities to put in place systems that would attract skilled staff to their districts and areas.

In the attainment of the Universal Health Coverage by the year 2030, Dr. Aboagye indicated that it remained a focal agenda. “The Service has revisited the strategy to strengthen primary health care and deepen our collaboration partners towards redesigning of the primary health care system to improve the quality and more patient centered care.”

He continued that the Service, in the last few years, had been able to reduce the maternal mortality rate.

“Our institutional maternal mortality has dropped from 875 deaths in 2018 to about 809 in the 2022. And this for mortality looks like not a very significant relation, but for maternal mortality, that’s quite significant, especially when our deliveries have moved from about 9000 as increase over the years by about 13 % and we still are able to maintain a significant reduction in deaths,” Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye added.

Also, he noted that malaria deaths had dropped significantly in the last five years, from one 1.42 per hundred thousand to 0.45 per hundred thousand, which was also the best significant reduction.

“We have improved our supply chain system through making sure it is visible to be able to see in real time where supplies are, where we are short, or where we are over stock. And so this is also an important area we talk about, and it’s gone as far as from the national level to the CHPS compounds, will be able to basically see our supplies.

“We have also been able to improve our E-health system by ensuring that the E tracker, which gives us real data and detailed it, and not just the summary data and also electronic medical records through the Light with Health Information System, has also been introduced across the country,” he said.

To improve the status of health, he emphasised that they have introduced significant programmes in Adolescent Health, not just of adults, but also adolescents, “and also our future leaders.” The last one, he said, was a yellow programme, which seeks to improve the health of adolescents, and also reduce the risk approaches they took as a group.

Editorial: Pragia carrying fee paying passengers in Accra?  No Sir!

By
THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

The Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) has reinforced its ban on the operations of tricycles, popularly known as ‘Pragyia’ and ‘Aboboyaa’, on some principal streets of Accra.

The affected areas, according to a Daily Graphic report, include the Central Business Districts (CBDs) of the Accra and Tema Metropolitan Assemblies, as well as the Krowor, Korle Klottey, La Dade-Kotopon and the La Nkwantanang Madina CBDs.

The rest are the Ayawaso East, Ayawaso West, Ayawaso Central, Ayawaso North, Ledzokuku, Okaikwei North and Adentan Municipal Assemblies. The ban, the story continued, was in line with regulation 128 (1-4) of the Road Traffic Regulations 2012 which states that: “The licensing authority shall not register a motorcycle to carry a fare-paying passenger.”

Though ‘Pragia’ or ‘Aboboya’ have created employment for our teeming youth, The Chronicle does not think it is a good transport service that we should be encouraging. It should rather be deployed to the rural areas to transport goods from one short distance to the other. Unfortunately, the authorities have allowed its deployment in big cities, which is now creating problems for some of the local assemblies.

Just last week, there was chaos on the streets of Kumasi, Ghana’s second largest city, after the Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) made an attempt to prevent tricycle riders from accessing the main Central Business District. To these tricycle riders, the KMA was trying to deprive them of their daily bread and they would not allow that to happen.

Obviously, one cannot blame the protesting riders, because the KMA sat down and allowed them to extend their services to the Central Business District without any restraint.

At Ho, in the Volta Region, the ‘Pragia’ is what is operating as the main commercial transport in the city. Kumasi is not there yet, but in a few years, if not months to come, all taxis in the Garden City will be ‘Pragia’.

Interestingly, all these developments are happening at the time there is a law that bans motorcycles from carrying fare-paying passengers. In India, where the ‘Pragia’ business was imported from, the streets are disorderly and chaotic. Is this a good practice for us to copy in Ghana?

In our opinion, it is good the AMA and the Municipal assemblies in Accra have started flexing their muscles, regarding the subject matter. Fortunately for them, the ‘Pragia’ as a means of transport is not popular in Accra, as we are witnessing in Ho, Kumasi and other regional capitals. These assemblies must, therefore, put their feet down and refuse any bait that will allow these tricycle riders to ply the busy roads and streets in the national capital.

But whilst making the efforts to ban motorcycles carrying passengers for a fee in the Accra Metropolis, the authorities must also not take their eyes off the ball, when it comes to tricycles that carry refuse.

These tricycles, loaded with garbage, do not have tail lights or driving mirrors among others. When they want to change lanes, they do so in a dangerous manner, because they do not have side mirrors to determine whether a car is following them or not.

We need to check this before it starts developing into something else on our roads. We admit that the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council some time ago warned tricycle riders carrying refuse to stop using the major streets in Accra, but it appears to us that they have ignored the caution. A word to the wise is enough!

Addressing environmental issues while creating employment

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admin
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Opinion

Waste management remains a significant challenge, with blocked drainage systems leading to flooding. Thus, making it a major is a significant environmental issue and health issue as well.Only 2% to 5% of the roughly a million tons of plastic waste that Ghanaians produce each year is adequately recycled. The infrastructure needed to safely dispose of plastic waste is lacking in many areas of the nation.

The fact that Ghana is one of the top 10 most polluted nations in the world indicates how serious the issues are.Each year, Ghana imports around 2.58 million metric tonnes of raw plastic, 73% of which is wasted.  Only up to 5% of plastic garbage gets recycled; the remainder accumulates in the environment, goes to landfills, and approximately 30% ends up in the ocean.

The lack of proper waste managements systems means recycling is is not option, resulting is plastic wastes materials being left to accumulate in open dumpsites’ around communities, rivers and the ocean, in many places the communities such as GLefe at Dansoman, Okornyain Somanya and communities around the ocean try’s to solve this issues by burning the waste or dumping them is the sea, which also turn out to cause another environmental crisis due to the toxic gases that is release in to the atmosphere or the ocean.

The situation of plastic garbage in Ghana is a serious environmental concern that needs to be addressed right away by all parties involved.

It is essential to put in place sustainable waste management procedures throughout the nation, including a system for gathering, sorting, and processing garbage. through informing the public about the effects of plastic waste and urging them to adopt sustainable lifestyles.

Due this issues many stakeholders both intentional and local have taken numerous initiatives to help menace this crisis. Currently, the green youth organization (Gayo), La Dade Kotopon municipal Assembly with Sesa recycling have partnered up in Ghana to launch an initiative aimed at managing plastic waste and recycling it into products that can generate income and become a valuable source of employment for the impoverished communities in the country.

the initiative Coined “Trash to Cash,” is centred around encouraging the separation of plastic waste materials from household’s waste, and raising awareness about the negative effects of improper disposal of plastics.

The partnership between the green youth organization (Gayo), a non-profit organization that addresses environmental issues, and Sesa recycling, a social enterprise that focuses on creating sustainable livelihoods and environments, this partnership is a collaborative effort to tackle the rising plastic waste crisis in Ghana.

Over 500 Residents from three selected communities ( Tashie, Labadi and Osu) Within Accra has benefited from this initiative. This because the organisation has empowered women and the youth by providing them with training that leaves them with the skill that is needed to effectively segregate and manage plastic waste properly in a bid to safe guard the environment from further destruction.

They have established local recycling centres within the communities where the individuals or a group of people go around residential areas, landfill sites, collect plastic waste such as bottles, containers and other plastic items bring there and exchange for money, they have also employed individual (women and men) who are in charge of sorting, cleaning and preparation of the plastic waste, the cleaning and sorting of the plastic ensure that the plastic is recycled into propriate materials.

It has also made me more environmentally conscious. By actively collecting and properly disposing of plastic waste, we contribute to reducing plastic pollution and its harmful effects on our environment.

We prevent plastic from ending up in landfills or polluting our natural ecosystems. It’s fulfilling to know that we are playing our part in creating a cleaner and healthier environment for future generation. The initiative has fostered a sense of unity and collaboration within our community.

We all work towards the common goal of making our surroundings cleaner and more sustainable. Collectively, we share a sense of responsibility for the environment and the well-being of our community. We support and motivate each other, build stronger relationships, and create a positive impact that extends beyond just collecting plastic waste.

My hope is that this initiative continues to thrive and expand. I want to see more members of our community involved, creating even more employment opportunities. I hope that our efforts in plastic waste collection and recycling inspire others to take action and adopt similar initiatives.

Together, we can make a significant difference in reducing plastic pollution, promoting sustainability, and creating a better future for our community and the environment as a whole.

The initiative has seen success, with recycled plastic products such as bags, mats, and furniture being made and sold in various markets in Ghana. The transformation of waste to high-value products has also been quite impressive, not only generating income but also reducing the amount of plastic waste in the environment.

“Sustainable waste management is crucial to environmental protection and a healthy living environment, and homosexuality is the perfect example for the practice,” says the Environmental Protection Agency. “The initiative provides valuable insights and identifies practical actions pertinent to plastic waste management to serve as a model for other communities.”

Patience Bondzie

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Chronicle’s stance.

Navy impounds vessel with illegally refined diesel in Port Harcourt

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admin
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The impounded vessel

The Nigerian Navy has impounded a 350,000 litre-capacity vessel carrying what is suspected to be illegally refined diesel. Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder who are part of the maritime component of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) impounded the Motor Vessel Cecilia carrying suspected to be illegally cooked diesel.

According to the Commander of the Maritime Component of Operation Delta Safe, Commodore Adedokun Siyanbade, the operation which happened at Meco jetty in the Trans-Woji area of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, was as a result of intelligence and surveillance.

Commodore Siyanbade explained that the vessel which has a carrying capacity of 350,000 litres acts as a storage tank for the product.

Speaking further, he promised that all involved in the operation will be arrested and brought to book.

Operation Delta Safe is a Joint Task Force Operation to secure the oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta.

Credit: channelstv.com

Tinubu assures investors of friendy environment for growth

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admin
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President Bola Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday assured investors of a sustainable and friendly environment for growth and investments. The President gave the assurance while receiving the Managing Director of Energy and Natural Resources in Europe, Africa and Middle East for Standard Chartered Bank, Mr Ade Adeola, according to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.

“We are committed to strengthening partnership, encouraging efficiency, and creating a suitable environment for investors,’’ he said.

“We are already working hard on security. We will improve efficiency across the board for good input and output, and we will build a very friendly environment for growth and investments.”

In his remarks, Adeola said the bank had been committed to enabling investments in Nigeria for many years while focusing on energy and natural resources with a huge portfolio in funding for the oil and gas industry.

Credit: channelstv.com

Ministerial appointment: I’m not complaining being ignored by Tinubu –Adamu Garba

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admin
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Adamu Garba

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adamu Garba, has claimed he has not complained of being ignored for ministerial appointment even though he was attacked and insulted for campaigning for President Bola Tinubu.

Garba is of the view that Tinubu’s ministerial appointees were balanced and objective enough to start a unified and strong government.

In a post on his social media platform on Thursday, Garba claimed that the President did an excellent job as he was fair to all parts of the country.

He wrote, “As you may know, my face is all over the place during the campaign, promoting President Tinubu’s candidacy, but also getting attacked, insulted and was taken to the mud, but I don’t complain for not getting picked, why, because the picks were balanced and objective enough to start a unified and strong government.

“Government is a function of time F(t), the fact that I get nothing now doesn’t mean that I won’t get tomorrow. But I know when things are done the right way and I will support it even if it doesn’t favor me.

“We have problems with the economy, food security and general security issues, our job is to stand behind our leaders to do the right thing for our country.

“The complaint time is over, the campaign is over, opposition is over, now is the time for governance. Governance is apolitical which affects everyone, thus, the success of governance is success for all.”

Credit: dailypost.ng

Court strikes out Govt’s firearms charge against Emefiele

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admin
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Suspended Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has struck out the illegal possession of firearms charges against the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Godwin Emefiele by the Federal Government.

Justice Nicholas Oweibo gave the order on Thursday, following the application of Mohammed Abubakar, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the Ministry of Justice to withdraw the two-count charge.

Abubakar relied on Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

Emefiele’s counsel, J.B. Daodu had argued that the prosecution could not withdraw the charge unless the government first purges itself of its disobedience to the court’s July 25 order granting Emefiele N20 million bail.

In his ruling, Justice Oweibo granted the Federal Government application, The Nation reports.

While condemning the Government’s conduct, the judge said: “The conduct of the prosecution has shown that it doesn’t respect the rule of law.

“Of what benefit will it be to keep the file in the court’s docket when the prosecution has shown disrespect to the court?

“Accordingly this charge is hereby struck out for lack of diligent prosecution.”

Credit: dailypost.ng

Army chief Lagbaja visits troops in Niger after fatal attacks

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admin
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Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Taoreed Lagbaja

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Taoreed Lagbaja, has urged troops of the Nigerian Army to remain resolute in bringing the nation’s adversaries to their knees and restore sanity in troubled areas across the country.

Mr Lagbaja gave the charge on Wednesday during an assessment visit to Niger State following troops’ encounter with insurgents in Zungeru general area where some gallant troops paid the supreme price.

The statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu, on Wednesday said the COAS arrived Minna, Niger state capital, late night on Tuesday.

Mr Nwachukwu, a brigadier general, said that Mr Lagbaja immediately moved to Forward Operating Base Erena in Shiroro Local Government Area of the state, where he was briefed on the current security situation by the General Officer Commanding I Division, Bamidele Alabi, a major general.

Addressing troops, the COAS urged them to rally together and be more resolute in bringing the nation’s adversaries to their knees and restore sanity in troubled areas.

He said that the fight against insurgents and bandits was a just cause in defence of Nigeria and Nigerians.

According to him, protecting lives and defending your nation are the noblest service anyone can offer.

“You are therefore in the noble profession of arms and must not allow your morale to dwindle. We must defeat the adversaries of our people and take back every inch of space where they are hibernating in our land,” he said.

Mr Lagbaja assured the troops of his commitment to them and their families the best in terms of welfare within the available resources, adding that welfare was topmost in the pillars of his command philosophy.

He directed the immediate reinforcement of the troops with additional combat enablers to enhance their operational effectiveness.

Credit: premiumtimesng.com

Accra Businessman allegedly defrauds U/W farmer off GH¢410k 

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Accra Circuit Court

Oscar Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, businessman, has allegedly defrauded a farmer in the Upper West Region, Ganiyu Abdulai Seinu Visii Na Il, off GH¢440,000.00 for the purchase of fertiliser.

Oscar was brought before an Accra Circuit Court on the alleged offence, but pleaded not guilty.

The court, presided over by His Honour Isaac Oheneba Kuffour, granted the accused bail in the sum of GH¢500,000.00 to be justified by movable and immovable property.

Before the granting of the bail, the court was told by Chief Inspector John Gohoho that, the farmer lives in Wa, capital of Upper West Region, while the accused is based in Accra.

He said the accused lured the farmer that he could sell to him 800 bags of “Yara” brand fertiliser at a cost of GH¢410,000.00 to boost his farm yield.

Therefore, on December 5, 2022 and January 16, 2023, the complainant deposited cash in the sums of GH¢180,000.00, and GH¢260,000.00, totalling GH¢440,000.00, into the accused person’s bank account under the name “Northfert.”

The accused, after receipt of the money, packaged and supplied the complainant with a different product, but embossed Yara on the fertiliser sacks.

The accused, subsequently, informed the complainant that the supplies were ready and that the farmer had to convey the products from Accra to Wa at his own cost.

Upon receipt of the supply, the complainant caused the products to be tested, and it turned out that the accused delivered different products packaged in Yara fertiliser sacks instead.

The complainant registered his displeasure about the incident to the accused, but the latter pleaded the adulterated Yara fertiliser products should be taken to Nkoranza.

After the complainant returned the agro products, the accused failed to refund his money and kept on giving him excuses.

The farmer then reported the case to police. The court was told that when the accused realised that the complainant had made a report against him, he rushed to the bank to make a cheque deposit of GH¢50,000.00 on July 31. Regardless of this, the police has preferred the charge against him before the court.

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