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Seidu Agongo attempted to ‘rescue’ me -Amoabeng

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Cpt Prince Kofi Amoabeng (RTD), founder of defunct UT Bank

The Founder of the defunct UT Bank, Capt. Prince Kofi Amoabeng (RTD), has revealed in a radio interview that business mogul, Alhaji Seidu Agongo, actually extended his benevolence to him when he appeared on social media wearing an unusually scruffy beard.

According to him, while a section of Ghanaians used those pictures to mock him, Alhaji Agongo, the founder of the collapsed Heritage Bank contacted him on the quiet to ask if he was in any financial difficulty so that he might help.

The seasoned entrepreneur said although he did not pursue the benevolent request, the gesture by the owner of the Class Media Group (CMG), among other businesses, touched him in a manner that made him understand that at least one of his fellow Ghanaians cared about his welfare.

Capt Amoabeng,who made the disclosure when he spoke on CTV’s Breakfast Show in Accra recently, said the gesture led him to form a pleasant image about Mr Agongo’s personality, although he had not met him before.

He added that it was also the main reason why he accepted to appear on the breakfastshow of the CTV, one of the stations of the CMG Empire, owned by Seidu Agongo.

“Actually, the reason why I could not say no to your invitation was because of Seidu Agongo’s personality,” he said on the show that was also broadcasted live on the CTV social media channels.

CaptAmoabengadded that “I have never set eyes on him, but at some point in time, after the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I started wearing this beard and I took a picture of myself and posted it on social media.

“That set tongues wagging that ‘I was on the verge of death’, ‘I’ am now a pauper,’ among other negative comments.

“But the boss of this place [CMG], Seidu Agongo, sent me a WhatsApp message that if I am in difficulty, I should send him my account number for him to give me some money,

“Of course, I did not pursue it but I am ever so grateful that, at least, one Ghanaian thought that instead of laughing at him, let me help,” notedCapt (rtd) Amoabeng, whose UT Bank championed speedy disbursement of loans in the country said.

The said pictures, which had Capt (rtd) Amoabeng in a cap over T-shirt and having a scruffy beard, were released around May 2020.

They came at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when lock down forced many to cultivate new lifestyles that included keeping beards and bushy hairs.

Prior to those pictures coming out, Amoabeng was known for his dapper suits or neat African prints pressed over trousers.

Pain

Commenting on the collapse of Heritage Bank, Capt Amoabeng said he was pained by the action, given the state of the bank at the time of the collapse.

“The Bank of Ghana had issued a license to Heritage Bank and it had not operated for long. So, unlike UT Bank, Heritage Bank had no bad loans or anything and it was a wholly-owned Ghanaian company that we had to nurture to grow,” he said.

“Secondly, the owners of Heritage Bank found it fit to appoint a solid board. I mean, the chairman was Prof Kwesi Botchwey. When it comes to finance in this country, he is the safest hands you can get; he has seen it all. As chairman, the board members ran the bank, not the owner, I do not know Seidu Agongo – as I told you, I haven’t met him before – but I know Kwesi Botchwey and I know his track record.

“So, if you have a bank that hasn’t got any baggage, it is fresh and it is gotten a board headed by Kwesi Botchwey, then it means its closure was a worse decision than UT Bank,” Capt (rtd) Amoabeng said.

“As for UT Bank, we owed and they could have bailed us out, but they decided not to bail us and that is why I mention that Heritage Bank, for example, was collapsed out of sheer wickedness”, he added.

He said the financial sector clean up exercise set out a dangerous precedent that must be discouraged.

The UT Bank was collapsed in August 2017, as one of two banks whose closure would herald a financial sector clean up exercise that saw the licenses of nine banks and more than 370 financial institutions revoked.

The exercise cost the state in excess of GH¢21 billion and threw thousands of employees and hundreds of thousands of their dependents into disarray.

Nana tells MMDCEs: I’ll not protect anybody

By
ERNEST BEST ANANE
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The President exchanging pleasantries with Nananom on arrival at the meeting

Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo has told Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) that he is not in the position to protect anybody found culpable in the act of illegal mining.

According to him, there has being allegations of some MMDCEs involvement in illegal mining (galamsey), which he said is putting the reputation of the government into disrepute and cautioned those allegedly involved in the act to desist from it.

Speaking to all the MMDCEs across the country in Kumasi, to seek their assistance in the fight against the illegal mining menace, he said the party and by extension government is committed to ensure that illegal mining is stopped.

He stressed that any MMDCE found to be engaged in the act would be sanctioned appropriately without favour, after he or she has been given the opportunity to be heard.

The President stated that, the MMDCEs are aware of what is happening in the mining areas across the length and breadth of the country and urged them to work together to actively reverse the menace.

He said the constant allegation of MMDCEs being the conveyers of illegal mining is not the best and challenged them to clear their names and government’s reputation.

Nana Akufo-Addo disclosed that several means have been championed by government, including new legal régime and community mining, saying there would be severe punishment for anyone, irrespective of one’s status.

He stressed that the MMDCEs are his representatives in the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and for that matter cannot be engaged in illegal mining (galamsey).

He urged the MMDCEs that together they can help contain the galamsey menace, especially in the Western region, where the electorate turned their back on the party because of his determination to fight the canker.

Mr. Dan Kwaku Botwe, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development stated that, reports from the various MMDAs reveal that the Ashanti region is leading in illegal mining activities with 23 districts.

He disclosed that, the ministry is having the number of districts in the region where mining activities are going on.

According to the Minister, there are 13 districts in the Eastern Region, two in Savannah region, Upper West (6), North East region (2,) Upper East (8), Central region (6), Western North (8), Western Region (15), Ahafo region (4), Bono region four (4) and Ashanti region (23).

He challenged the MMDCEs to collaborate with the various Metropolitan, Municipal Security and District Security Councils to fight the menace in their various jurisdictions.

Journalists urged to join hands in the fight against corruption

By
JENNIFER AMBOLLEY
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Participants of the forum
Some dignitaries at the Forum

The Executive Secretary of the Ghana Anti-corruption Coalition, Beauty EmefaNarteh has urged journalists to follow up on anti-corruption cases in the country.

Speaking at a Public Forum on the theme: “Declaration of Assets by Public Office Holders and the fight against corruption in Ghana” organised by the Media Foundation of West Africa (MFWA), in Accra,on Tuesday, she noted that the media plays a vital role in the dissemination of information to the public and that it is important for them to recognise the fight against corruption.

On the Declaration of Assets, she emphasised that public office holders who should declare their assets before the assumption of office, but some of them have still not done it.

The Executive Director of Ghana Integrity Initiative, Mrs. Linda Ofori-Kwafo, on her part said   “the culture of integrity will make our country more productive, our public sector institutions efficient, effective and more trusted. In short, integrity can deliver better society and lives.”

To her, there was the need to focus on anti-legislation and in particular Ghana’s asset declaration regime.

Quoting the 2021 Corruption Perception Index, CHRAJ and Ghana Statistical Service, Ghana Integrity of Public Services Survey, 2021 and Afrobarometer Round 9 findings for 2021/2022, she argued that one needed not be told that corruption remained a key developmental challenge in Ghana.

“The Afrobarometer findings showed how the public perceives officials of key accountability institutions including the Police, Office of the Presidency, Parliament, Judges and Magistrates and Tax officials as the top five most corrupt institutions.

Let me not bore you with the findings of the 2021 Auditors General Report and the recent work and findings of the OSP, which demonstrates the extent of the rot in our public service and lives.”

Mrs Linda Ofori-Kwafo contended that the importance of an effective assert declaration regime to the fight against corruption cannot be over emphasised, adding that Public sector officials who occupy positions of power and have managerial control over government budgets and spending can be particularly vulnerable to corruption.

To her, asset declarations could play an important role in focusing on interest of public officials. “It could help to detect abuse of power and its transformation into unexplained wealth, hence a tool for uncovering bribery and other forms of corruption such as nepotism, conflicts of interest and undue advantage.”

If asset declaration regime is effectively implemented, Mrs. Linda Ofori-Kwafo said, it could make it easier to identify potential cases of enrichment, contribute to anti-money laundering efforts and asset recovery efforts, help manage and provide evidence of illicit flows.

The Forum brought together anti-corruption campaigners, legal experts, CSOs such as CHRAJ, Audit Service, Parliament, Attorney-General, Journalists and media support groups.

Our efficient policies have impacted positively on our revenues -BOST

By
AGNES ANSAH
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Mr Edwin Alfred Provencal , Managing Director, Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST)
Some dignitaries and media personnel at the presser

The Managing Director of Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST), Mr Edwin Alfred Provencal, has attributed the successes his outfit is witnessing to some sound policies put in place by the current management.

According to Mr Provencal, policies on Bonus, Human Resource, Finance, Field Operations, Health and Safety policy, Ethics and others has rescued the company from numerous challenges, spanning from finances to operations has given BOST a positive outlook.

“We put in place some fifteen policies that is now guiding our behavior in the company and I can say that is one of the few drivers of performance in our company.”

He made the comment at a news conference organised by the Ministry of Information in Accra yesterday.

Addressing the media, Mr Provencal said that prior to the implementation of the polices, BOST was saddled with more than half a billion-dollar debt comprising of trade liabilities, legacy loans, debt owed to Bulk Oil Distribution Companies (BDCs), capital expenditure liabilities and tax arrears. He also noted that the company had some unaudited accounts from 2015 to 2106.

However, BOST, based on a sound financial policy, has first of all been able to increase its revenue-earning assets from 43% to 95 %, the MD said.

He also noted that the company has been able to offset 92% of its loans, representing GH₵384m, noting that GH₵187m of the total money paid was from BOST’s Internally Generated Fund (IGF).

He also stated that the company has also paid an amount of $612m of its Trade Debt, representing 98% of the total debt and was left with only 2% to go, noting that $427m of this debt was also paid with BOST IGF.

He continued that the company has cleared all tax arrears and has also ensured that its accounts, starting from 2015 through to 2021 have been audited.

On the benefit of implementing a Field Operations policy, the MD said such a policy has led to the repair of 12/15 tanks in Kumasi, Buipe and Bolga, as well as the rehabilitation of six Tema-Akosombo Pipeline Project & B2P3 petroleum pipelines.

He again said that the company has been able to repair and spray four barges, extended eight pipelines to Jetty and installed new loading arms, pumps and mass flow meters at APD, Kumasi and Buipe.

He observed that BOST has now commenced export from its Bolgatanga depot to Mali and started a Front End Engineering Design for LPG tanks.

Mr Provencal also indicated that BOST has reduced Barge loading time from seven days to two days, as well as reduced inter-depot loading time from four hours to one hour and 30 minutes.

Aside these policies, Mr Provencal said the company has also put in place a risk and compliance unit that would identify risk and mitigate them before they become challenges.

He, however, observed that it would not have been able to register the success it is witnessing now, if it had not gotten some support from National Petroleum Authority and hence, expressed his appreciation to them.

Speaking on the way forward for the company, Mr Provencal said that BOST will focus on human capital development, engage in strategic trade and add more marine facilities to existing ones to boast their operations.

Editorial: Politicians should be involved in the Galamsey fight

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THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

The devastating effects of the dreadful menace of illegal mining in Ghana, also known as galamsey, cannot be over emphasised.

Huge hectares of land and several rivers have been destroyed, and most pathetic of all is how efforts by Ghana Water Company to produce safe drinking water has fallen into the abyss because of galamsey.

The water company says illegal mining activities have become an impediment to their work, as it is burdened by huge sums of money spent on chemicals to treat high turbidity levels of raw water.

They say Ghana may have to import water soon, should galamsey continue to destroy our water bodies—it will be such a shameful situation if it happens.

As if that were not enough, we are told that Ghana’s once-coveted cocoa may be rejected by the global market. When that happens, we do not think Ghanaians will describe the rejection as a slap in the face, because we brought it onto ourselves.

The Chronicle observes with sadness the rate at which people are selling cocoa farms to illegal miners, who destroy both the crops and the land. We are not surprised that our neighbour, Cote d’Ivoire, has suddenly overtaken us in cocoa production.

On Monday, the Ghana Cocobod signed a $1.3 billion syndicated loan with international banks to finance purchases for the upcoming season this month. These dollars are coming in the midst of the free fall of the Ghana cedi.

Among others, the Central Bank shores up the country’s foreign exchange reserves with these cocoa syndicated loans by receiving the dollars and paying farmers the cedi equivalent.

There is no gainsaying the effort by the Bank of Ghana will be zilch, because there will be no cocoa to borrow the dollars to purchase, if the cocoa lands are destroyed at this rate.

The Chronicle acknowledges the fight the government has put up since assuming office, though the administration admits the same has not yielded the expected outcome.

Yesterday, President Akufo-Addo met with the National House of Chiefs and solicited support for the fight against illegal mining. His argument was that the chiefs owned 80% of all lands and he, the President, had 20% in trust for the people through acquisition.

The President said in his address that the fight can only succeed if it is a truly national battle, which no one seeks to exploit for political gain.

Much as we agree with the President in principle, we beg to clear our thoughts that the political angle does not mean the collaboration would shy away from politicians. If our debatable assumption is the case, we will implore the President to give it a second thought.

We would be glad to see a collaboration involving politicians, especially from the opposing sides. Political parties have a large following in the traditional areas of these chiefs, especially where galamsey is rampant, and as much as the residents respect and obey their chiefs, those in politics revere their political leaders.

There have been suspicions that politicians, both in power and opposition, are involved in illegal mining. If the government is able to check these political leaders to understand that galamsey is terrorising the nation and, therefore, needs every patriotic citizen to help so that the expected result will be achieved.

We base our advocacy on the 2020 election campaign, where some party officials were seen on video making statements that were in obvious contrast to the government’s fight against illegal mining.

It is instructive that we emphasise again that The Chronicle supports the government’s fight against galamsey, evidenced by the huge publicity the paper gives to the efforts.

However, we want to urge the government to use the same Nananom he believes can help to end the fight, to convince heads of political parties to join government’s efforts, devoid of their political interests.

We are optimistic that if the political party leaders are actively and openly collaborating with the government and Nananom, their supporters, just like the subjects of these chiefs, would obey the party leaders not to engage in galamsey.

The fight against galamsey needs all Ghanaians on board.

KATH Engineer develops Prosthetic Limbs from plastic waste

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admin
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Ing. Emmanuel Wireko-Brobby displays the prosthetic limbs
An amputee who has benefited from the prosthetic limb

An innovation to find a simple and cheaper way to provide prosthetic limbs for amputees, especially those roaming our streets and soliciting for arms could also become part of the country’s solution to the plastic waste problem.

Ing. Emmanuel Wireko-Brobby, a Senior Clinical Engineering Manager at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, has developed prosthetic limbs from plastic waste by re-chanelling plastic bottles to useful product.

The innovation is not only putting smiles on the faces of amputees who are benefiting through the replacement of their lost limbs, but will also reduce plastic bottles that choke drainage systems and water bodies.

Ing. Wireko-Brobby, who is the Head of Electrical Engineering department of KATH, told The Chronicle in a telephone interview that he needs support from government, corporate organisations and health oriented Non-profit Organisations (NGOs) so as to go into commercial production.

He said as an engineer, he owed it as a duty to contribute his quota to improving society and finding innovative ways to turn plastic bottles into prosthetic limbs was one of the contributions to the advancement of society.

Some amputees, according to him, have already benefited from this innovation at no cost and explained that the beneficiaries were excited because the weight of the artificial limbs are not very heavy, which makes it easier for the user to move about freely and do their normal daily activities.

Ing. Wireko-Brobby, who has won several awards and received numerous citations, has also produced a Leg Crutch, Radiant Warmer/Phototherapy device, X-ray film viewer, Wheelchair, Water purity tester, Infants bed, Drip stand and Theatre lamp among others.

From Thomas Agbenyegah Adzey

KMA provides 800 pieces of furniture for six schools

By
SEBASTIAN R. FREIKU
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KMA boss (right) presenting the furniture to the Metro Director of Education

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has provided 800 pieces of mono and dual desks to six schools in the metropolis.

The beneficiary schools are; Islamic Senior High School, Kumasi Anglican Senior High School, Moshie Zongo M/A school, Fanyenebra M/A school, Duase M/A and Krofrom CPC.

The set of mono and dual desks

The Islamic Senior High School and Kumasi Anglican Senior High School received 200 and 100 mono desks each, while the dual desks went to Moshie Zongo M/A school -77, Fanyenebra M/A school -180, Duase M/A -100 and Krofrom CPC schools -143.

The KMA boss, Samuel Pyne, who presented the furniture to the Metro Director of Education, Mr. David Oppong for distribution to the beneficiary schools urged them to maintain them, hoping that the furniture would help improve teaching and learning towards building a solid human resource base for the country.

According to him, the KMA had previously presented about 2,000 dual and mono desks to other schools in the Assembly’s quest to promote education.

The Education Director, Mr. David Oppong received the sets of furniture from the mayor and assured that the furniture, which is a major challenge to schools, would be maintained to serve its purpose.

On behalf of the Ghana Education Service (GES), beneficiary schools, teachers and students, Mr. Oppong thanked the KMA for the support and the commitment and efforts of the mayor to improve standards of education in the metropolis.

Kwadaso Agric College to become Agric University –Akufo-Addo

By
SEBASTIAN R. FREIKU
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President Akufo-Addo

The Kwadaso College of Agriculture with collaborative support from the prestigious Mendel University of the Czech Republic is to be upgraded into an Agriculture University. Upon its establishment the transformed agricultural university would serve as incubator for the development of more agricultural professionals in the country.

The Agriculture College, which was established in 1922 to help maintain the enviable position of the then Gold Coast as the world’s leading producer of cocoa, has since evolved into a centre of excellence with increased capacity for training.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who disclosed the proposed upgrading during the centenary celebration of the College at Kwadaso, near Kumasi, last week Friday, said the time has come to reposition the institution to harness its full potential hence the decision to upgrade Kwadaso Agricultural College into an Agricultural University, with collaborative support from the prestigious Mendel University of the Czech Republic.

He said the institution over the years had trained some 100,000 young agricultural assistants.

These graduates, he said, had over the years been absorbed by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Local Government Service, Ghana Cocoa Board, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research as well as the private sector.

President Akufo-Addo said the college had produced a significant number of graduates, who had taken leadership positions in industry, academia, civil society and entrepreneurship, which he said was a testament to its strength.

He said the Agriculture University would mainly focus on the academic and professional development of the country’s agricultural human resources.

The President said “If successful, the plan will include establishing satellite campuses in Ejura and Wenchi Agricultural Colleges.” He also stressed the need for the institution to consciously scale up the number of middle-level professionals who would provide hands-on support in the sector.

President Akufo-Addo acknowledged that some graduates of the Kwadaso College of Agriculture had begun benefiting from training in the government’s greenhouse internship programme in Ghana and Israel.

“The trainees at such centres are prepared for entrepreneurship by being equipped with academic knowledge and practical skills in greenhouse technology,” the President stated and pledged the

continuous support of the government to upgrade the College into a University.

The President has thus directed the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to step-up efforts and strengthen the partnership and collaboration with Mendel University to realise this vision.

“The collaboration between the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and Mendel University exemplifies the wisdom of collaborating to make our institutions very valuable to our developmental efforts,” he added

Kwahu Nkwatia Nkosuohene settles medical bills for 18 new mothers

By
ISAAC AKWETEY-OKUNOR
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The development chief

The development chief of Kwahu-Nkwatia in the Kwahu East district of the Eastern region, Nana Owiredu Wadie, has paid GHC17,000 medical bills to free eighteen mothers from the maternity ward of the Eastern Regional Hospital.

Nana Owiredu Wadie and some officials of Kabaka Foundation and Eastern Regional hospital in a group picture prior to the presentation

The kind gesture by the young development chief, who is known in private life as Richard Owiredu Wadie, a business mogul, was made possible through his Kabaka Foundation, a Non-Profit Organisation.

The Kabaka Foundation is a Non-Profit (Charity) Organisation and its mission is to spread the love of God by putting a smile on the faces of the needy and underprivileged in our society, through impactful social interventions and community development programs.

The Foundation undertakes projects focused on orphans, nursing mothers, street children, sick & terminally ill, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable people in the society, that all will experience love through sustainable social interventions and community development programs.

These programs encompass social interventions, economic empowerment, health and education, disability rehabilitation and development, community infrastructure development and environmental, water and sanitation projects.

It is from this background that the Foundation on Tuesday paid the aforementioned medical bills for the 18 new mothers, as well as to mark this year’s natal day.

The philanthropist and chief also gifted the new mothers assorted drinks, packs of water, toiletries, provisions and newborn baby essentials, and also donated two table-top refrigerators, two microwave ovens to the pre-natal, post-natal and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the hospital.

Nana Owiredu Wadie I took the opportunity to inspect progress of work on the GHC1.9 million Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) he is constructing for the Regional Hospital.

The facility consists of a children’s ward, Out Patient Department (OPD), Consulting rooms, Conference rooms, High dependency ward, Low dependency ward, an additional mother’s hostel, stable patient ward, isolation ward, standard OPD and emergency ward.

The project is about 60% complete and it would help admit more babies and mothers who hitherto slept on bare floors to take care of their newborns.

The Executive Director of the Kabaka Foundation, Henry Larbi, is confident the project will be completed by the end of January 2023.

The Executive Director disclosed that the foundation has supported various expansion projects at the hospital, adopted one of the wards rehabilitated and named after the mother of Nana Owiredu Wadie I, as “Yaa Boatemaa Special ward”.

The Medical Director of the Eastern Regional Hospital, Dr. Arko Akoto-Ampaw lauded Nana Owiredu Wadie I and Kabaka Foundation for the relentless support to the hospital, adding that the NICU project under construction would help improve neonatal health care services.

In a related development, Nana Owiredu Wadie has disclosed his readiness to make Kwahu Afram Plains a preferred tourism destination, not only in Ghana but the world at large.

The young development chief seeks to lead the developmental transformation of Kwahu-Nkwatia in the shortest possible time.

The Kwahu-Nkwatia development chief, who was recently adjudged a winner of Under-40 entrepreneurs, said tourism has become one of the main sources of income and employment generation in the country.

He continued that the tourism industry is contributing $1.6 billion to the economy and is seen as the fourth largest foreign exchange after gold, cocoa and remittance from Ghanaians living abroad and that, the Kwahu Afram Plains South District is yet to reap its full benefit.

The former student of Presbyterian Boys Secondary School (PRESEC) continued that there are a number of tourist sites in the district that have the potential of rivalling some of the well-known tourist sites in the country and by extension the world.

Nana Owiredu Wadie is of the view that Kwahu Afram Plains has the potential to put Kwahu on the global map as a preferred tourism destination and not only Kwahu Easter, adding that “we can develop the river banks and put more recreational spots along these river banks, like in Ada and Akosombo, to attract individuals to visit Afram Plains.”

Nana Owiredu Wadie, who is the founder and owner of Livic Ventures and Kabaka Constructions and Investments, with 20 years’ experience in the Investment, Supply of General Goods and Merchandise and the Construction made the remarks during a durbar of chiefs and people of Echie Amanfromhene in the Afram Plains South district.

The durbar was organised in honor of Nana Boamah Ayiripe III, the Kwahu-Nkwatiahene during a week-long visit to over 125 communities, under his traditional jurisdiction, within the two sister Afram Plains districts.

Nana Owiredu Wadie, an indigene of the area averred that he would further liaise with other sister districts, namely Kwahu South and Kwahu East Districts and their traditional authorities, to explore the possibility of blending the Easter holiday with the traditional values, in order to have a festival for the Kwahu Traditional Area.

Through his non-profit making organisation, the Kabaka foundation, Nana Owiredu Wadie has changed the lives of many people across the country through the renovation & expansion of neo and prenatal wards at Eastern regional hospital, a new Police station, with barracks at Kwahu Nkwatia and Winneba.

He has also paid hospital bills for detained nursing mothers and distributed waste bins to institutions at Kwahu Nkwatia.

Adutwum lauds academic performance of Dormaa SHS

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admin
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The Education Minister addressing parents and students
Minister Adutwum interacting with the students

The Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has lauded the leadership of Dormaa Senior High School for turning around the school’s academic performance from a low to higher height.

 

He explained that the school’s pass rate moving from 21.5 per cent in 2016 to 89 per cent in 2020 was worth commending and urged other schools to emulate the best practices leading to the turnaround of the Dormaa School.

 

“The Dormaa SHS turnaround is a true testimony of the impact of the Free Senior High School policy which has increased enrolment and quality of education as well”, the Education Minister said.

 

Dr Adutwum made the commendation when he delivered a speech at the Speech and Prize Giving Day and the 75th anniversary of Dormaa SHS in the Bono region on Saturday.

 

The well-attended durbar brought together old students, traditional authorities, various stakeholders in the education space and members of faith-based Organisations among others.

 

Transformation record

In 2016, 21.5 per cent of their students qualified to go to the university, in 2017, 50 per cent qualified, in 2018, 55 per cent qualified, in 2019 – 78.2 per cent qualified and 2020 – 89 per cent qualified.

 

Dr Adutwum urged them to continue working as a team and redouble their effort for the school to be the best SHS in the country. He also cautioned them not to be complacent with the feat chalked. He indicated the President’s commitment to providing the needed resources for the provision of quality education in the country.

 

Dr Adutwum pledged to continue supporting schools in the country with the right policies and initiatives that stood the chance of transforming the nation’s economy through education.

 

The Education Minister urged all stakeholders in the school to continue working very hard to continue with improvement in the academic records of the school.

 

Challenge 

He challenged the leadership of the school to help increase the enrolment of students pursuing science, since it plays a critical role in the transformation of the nation’s economy.

 

“Your future is in your own hands, so be determined, work hard, remain focused and don’t relax. Take advantage of what is going on in the school to shape your future”. Dr Adutwum urged the students.

 

The Headmaster of the School, Mr Nicholas Asamoah, used the occasion to thank both teaching and non-teaching staff, and other stakeholders of the school for their hard-work, leading to the current academic performance, among others.

 

He also praised the government for the support over the years, making the school the first port of call by all parents in the region to ensure that their children benefit from the kind of training being offered by the school.

 

Abandoned projects

 

Mr Asamoah appealed to the government to consider completing an old dining hall and kitchen building started by former President John Mill, which remain unroofed, so that when completed the entire school can go to the dining hall at the same time, instead of the current rotational eating schedules for students due to lack of space. 

 

Again, he appealed to the government to help expand infrastructure in the school to help accommodate the rising population and also appealed for a school bus to enhance easy transportation of both students and staff for field trips and others.

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