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Today’s Uefa Champions League Fixtures &Preview

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PSG players

PSG, Juventus in top of the table clash

Paris Saint-Germain take on Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday. Surprisingly, these two European giants have not faced each other in a competitive match since Juventus ran out 9-2 aggregate winners in the 1996 UEFA Super Cup.

Much has changed since then, of course, with PSG’s trajectory shooting massively upwards since being taken over by Qatar Sports Investments in 2011, helping them purchase superstars such as Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi along the way.

However, the Champions League continues to elude the Parisians, with their 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the final in 2020 the closest they have come to lifting Europe’s elite competition for the first time.

Christophe Galtier has succeeded Mauricio Pochettino in the dugout this summer, and the former Lille boss looks to have made PSG a more balanced unit already.

Juventus, meanwhile, have won the European Cup on two occasions in their history, although they are considered the eternal bridesmaids having lost in seven other finals.

Since losing in the final to Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid in 2015 and 2017 respectively, the Turin-based side have not progressed beyond the quarter-finals of the Champions League, disappointingly losing to Lyon, Benfica and Villarreal at the last-16 stage in each of the last three seasons.

Expect PSG to have too much quality for Juventus, who are missing several key players with injuries. The Parisians look capable of going far in this season’s Champions League, whereas the visitors may struggle to go beyond the last-16 stage once again.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

 

Man City‘s quest for Champs league glory begins at Sevilla

Erling Haalaand, Manchester City

Manchester City‘s latest in a long line of quests for Champions League glory begins on Tuesday, as La Liga giants Sevilla welcome the Premier League champions to the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in Group G.

The Citizens were dumped out in the semi-finals by Real Madrid last year, while Sevilla were eliminated from the group stage before unsuccessfully challenging for Europa League glory.

The breakup of the Jules Kounde–Diego Carlos defensive partnership has had a profound effect on the Sevilla team, though, and Lopetegui has steered his side to just one point from their opening four La Liga fixtures.

Man City ran out 5-2 winners over two matches when they first met Sevilla competitively in the 2015-16 group stage, and if the home side were not already fearing an in-form Haaland enough, the 22-year-old struck four goals in two games for Borussia Dortmund against Sevilla in 2020-21.

With a new-look defence already under the cosh due to injuries and their attackers largely failing to fire, Sevilla’s European baptism of fire is unlikely to end with home celebrations.

City’s Premier League title defence may have already hit a couple of snags, but Guardiola’s side are a dangerous beast when seeking to bounce back from a disappointment, and a comfortable away win is the only outcome that we can see here.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

Celtic welcome defending champions Real Madrid

Real Madrid skipper, Benzema

Arguably the pick of the fixtures in the opening round of Champions League group-stage games will take place in Glasgow on Tuesday, as Scottish giants Celtic welcome European champions Real Madrid.

Celtic have won all seven of their matches at the start of the 2022-23 campaign, while Real Madrid have been victorious in their first five, four of which have been in La Liga.

Celtic could hardly have warmed up for this match any better, with the Hoops thrashing bitter rivals Rangers 4-0 in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.

Celtic will play in Group F of this season’s Champions League alongside Real Madrid, RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk, and while Los Blancos are the huge favourites to top the section, second looks open, and there is no question that Celtic Park will be bouncing on Tuesday for this glamorous fixture.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, are the holders of the European Cup, lifting the trophy for the 14th time last season by beating Liverpool 1-0 in the final.

Los Blancos are also the reigning Spanish champions, and they already claimed some silverware this season, beating Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 in the UEFA Super Cup towards the start of last month.

This has all of the makings of a brilliant match, and we are expecting an entertaining contest this night. It would certainly not be a surprise to see a draw or a Celtic win in Glasgow, but we just have a feeling that Real Madrid’s quality and experience will allow them to secure all three points here.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

Dinamo Zagreb host Chelsea in group E

Raheem Sterling, Chelsea

This will be Chelsea’s 19th season where they are taking part in Europe’s elite competition, as the club hope to win their third Champions League title.

The Blues kick off their Group E exploits with a trip to Croatia’s capital, where they hope to take three points off the country’s best football team, Dinamo Zagreb, to send a message out to the rest of Europe that they are here to cause a stir as unlikely challengers for the most coveted European trophy in football.

This is Chelsea’s first journey to Eastern Europe since 2018/19, when they travelled to the Czech Republic to take on Slavia Prague in the Europa League, a competition they went on to win. If that is anything to go by, fans will hope this could be their year once again.

Chelsea come into this game off the back of a slender victory over West Ham despite their poor performance.

Credit: si.com

Missing Ellembelle galamsey excavator; DCE Bonzo, BNI Capo Arrested

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KWESI ALFRED ADAMS
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District Chief Executive for Ellembelle, Mr. Kwasi Bonzo and Francis Apeni, a member of the Ellembelle small scale committee
The 2 controversial excavators

Information filtering in from Ellembele in the Western Region indicates that the District Chief Executive (DCE), Kwasi Bonzoh, the Director of National Investigation Bureau (NIB), formally BNI, in charge of the district and a member of the Ellembelle Small Scale Mining Committee, Francis Apeni, were arrested last week Friday over the missing excavator saga.

Whereas Kwasi Bonzoh confirmed to The Chronicle that he was arrested and made to write a statement, the Divisional Police Commander, ACP Hlordzi Dordzi denied the claim when this reporter contacted him, insisting that the DCE and the BNI officer were never arrested.

He, however, admitted that Mr Francis Apeni, the Small Scale Mining Committee member, who he (ACP Hlordzi) described as the Special Assistant to the DCE, was arrested.

The statement issued by the police

He told this reporter, via telephone, that he the Divisional Commander, the District Commander and the two officers, alleged to have guarded the said excavators, have all given their statements to the Police.

Despite the insistence of the police that they did not arrest the BNI officer (name withheld), sources close to him confided in The Chronicle that he was indeed arrested and was granted bail, with one of the senior police officers reportedly standing surety for him.

Francis Apeni, the Ellembelle Small Scale Mining Committee member on his part told this reporter that he was indeed arrested and later granted bail in connection with the missing excavator.

Last week Friday, the Spear of the Nation carried a front page banner headline, where DCE Bonzoh claimed that two excavators seized from illegal miners and kept in the custody of the police have disappeared.

The police at the time declined to speak to The Chronicle on the matter, when they were contacted.

The DCE had told reporters that when the excavators were seized and handed over to the police, he called the Police Command, who was reluctant to guard the equipment, with the explanation that they did not have enough men.

However, the Police Command later agreed to assign two officers to guard the seized equipment, but on condition that they would guard it to 6pm. By the next morning, the seized excavators had disappeared into thin air.

How the seized excavators disappeared from the custody of the police is unknown. This led to the DCE expressing his disgust over the development, saying it appears illegal mining has become an organised crime, with too many actors fighting those fighting the canker.

But immediately the Chronicle publication hit the newsstands, the police issued a statement denying the claim by the DCE.

 

The Police statement, with the headline -“POLICE DID NOT TAKE CUSTODY OF ANY EXCAVATORS AS ALLEGED BY ELLEMBELLE DCE” reads;

The Western Regional Command has noted with concern a report in Friday edition of The Chronicle newspaper, which alleged that some two excavators, which were in the custody of the Police at Ellembelle have disappeared.

We wish to categorically state that no excavators were handed over to the Police by the DCE or any other person from the Assembly. We, therefore, urge the public to disregard the publication and treat it with the contempt it deserves.

Meanwhile, the DCE, his personal Assistant and one other, are being investigated in connection with the alleged missing excavators. We wish to assure the public that anybody implicated in the course of the investigation will be taken through due process of the law.

Sources close to the police told The Chronicle yesterday that they are conducting meticulous investigation into the case to unravel how the two excavators disappeared.

Though Francis Apeni, a member of the Ellembelle Small Scale Mining Committee, is now a suspect in the case, he told news men in Ellembelle yesterday that he led two police officers to the site where the seized galamsey excavators were parked.

According to him, after going to the police to report the seizure of the excavators by his team,  the Police gave him two personnel  to the site to guard the excavators.

Apeni alleged that he drove the two police personnel, who he named as Eric Koranteng and Abdul Razak Muhammed to the site.

At the site, he said, he pointed to the seized excavators and the two police officers saw the machines. He then left the excavators in the custody of the two police personnel with the sole aim of going to Takoradi to look for low loader trucks to come and cart the (excavators) away. He further told the journalists that he could not get the truck when he went to Takoradi, but he learnt the following day that the excavators have vanished from the site.

Surprised, he went back to the Police station to report the missing excavators. His statement, he said, was officially taken by the police at the charge office.

He mentioned Abdul Razak Muhammed as one who took his statement when he reported of the missing excavators, after he  had  taken the two police personnel  to the site to guard the equipment.

President commissions more 1D1F factories

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MAXWELL OFORI
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President Akufo-Addo speaking at the commissioning of Rikpat Compnay

President Akufo-Addo has commissioned two factories under the government’s One District, One Factory policy.

The factories are APPEB Company, a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder manufacturing company and Rikpat Company Limited, a lubricant manufacturing company.

Both companies, owned by Ghanaians and located in the Central Region, were all commissioned on Friday, September 2, 2022 when the President embarked on a two-day working visit to the region.

President Akufo-Addo’s brief ceremony to commission the cylinder manufacturing company, APPEB encouraged the proprietors and management to take further advantage of the fiscal incentive package and establish similar industrial enterprises in other parts of the country.

Speaking at the commissioning of Rikpat Company Limited, President Akufo-Addo encouraged all public institutions to procure their lubricants from domestic manufacturing companies, such as Rikpat, indicating that “it is the surest way of helping the company to recoup its investment, expand its operations and create more jobs.”

President Akufo-Addo said the government is committed to supporting private sector operators to become globally competitive.

He said government will continue to enhance the existing incentive framework designed to make 1D1F-designated companies more competitive and sustainable.

President Akufo-Addo continued, “We are waiting patiently for Parliament to give its approval to the fiscal incentive package, and I ask, respectfully, that Parliament expedites action on the matter, which has been somewhat delayed. It is important for investors that the legal processes for the grant of the package to be completed as soon as possible.”

APPEB

The APPEB Company was founded in January 2019 in Chochoe, Awutu Senya West Constituency. It is the largest LPG cylinder manufacturing company in Ghana, in terms of production capacity, with an installed capacity of 4,000 to 5,000 (6kg/15kg) gas cylinders per day.

The current production capacity is about 2000 cylinders per day due to the current market demand. The company imports mild steel from China as the main raw material for production.

The APPEB Company currently employs 250 people, and is expected to employ 500 at full capacity.

RIKPAT

Rikpat Company Limited is an indigenous Ghanaian company with a total investment of $8 million. It has the capacity to produce 350 metric tonnes per day of a wide range of lubricants for both automotive and industrial usage.

The broad range of product offerings of Rikpat includes engine oils of different grades; brake fluids; industrial oils; greases and radiator coolants for local and foreign markets.

Elmina fishing harbour 91% complete

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President Akufo-Addo with the Paramount Chief of Elmina
President Akufo-Addo with Nai Ampem Darko, Kyidomhene of Awutu

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Saturday, 3rd September, 2022 inspected ongoing work on the construction of the Elmina Fishing Harbour, as part of his 2-day working visit of the Central Region.

The 30-month project commenced on 1st August, 2020 following the cutting of sod by President Akufo-Addo.

The Minister for Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, told President Akufo-Addo that the project is currently 91% complete, following the completion of the construction of the south breakwater, the north breakwater, sheet-piling, dredging, scour and ploughing, and reclamation works.

The Minister revealed that currently, civil related infrastructure works, including buildings, pavement works, roads and storm water constructions are ongoing and will be completed on schedule.

“The ongoing construction of the breakwaters, quay walls, civil buildings, together with the dredging and reclamation works of the new port basin will guarantee the sustainable revitalisation of Elmina and the long-term development of this strategic port,” he stated.

The Elmina Fishing Port Rehabilitation and Expansion Project aims at constructing adequate facilities, berthing space and creating a deep marine access to ensure the durability of the Elmina harbour.

Furthermore, the Project will strengthen Elmina’s position on the fishing and salt industries and place the city at the heart of the cultural ambitions of the Akufo-Addo Government, making Elmina one of the most dynamic coastal cities in Ghana.

In all, the Project will first see to upgrading existing facilities such as the administration building, the slipways, workshop and the maintenance and dredging of the existing Port.

Secondly, the Project will also include the construction of a new fishing harbour, with a main breakwater and a quay wall to enable larger fishing vessels to safely moor and offload, a dedicated access road to the Port and a warehouse for storage.

Other new works include the construction of an additional administrative building; a shed for the fish market; a shed for fishing net mending; two (2) Cold Stores/ Ice factories; a new slipway for bigger vessels with a boat refurbishment area; a toilet block and a day care centre.

Akoti Junction to Senya Beraku Road

The Project will also provide beach and coastal protection works, as well as restoration of the area in front of the Elmina Castle, to enhance tourism.

In another development President Akufo Addo says he had instructed the Minister for Roads and Highways to commence work on the construction of the Akoti Junction to Senya Beraku Road.

He dropped the hint when he commissioned the APPEB Cylinder Manufacturing Company Ltd. in Chochoe, in the Awutu Senya West Constituency, in the Central Region, last week Friday.

In paying tribute to the late Haruna Esseku, the President asked the gathering at the ceremony to observe “a minute’s silence in honour of the memory of a stalwart of the New Patriotic Party, Haruna Esseku, who was a former National Chairman of the party and a former Minister for Transport in Prime Minister Kofi Abrefa Busia’s Progress Party Government of the 2nd Republic.”

He also told the gathering that the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Mr. Eugene Arhin “has done a very good job in lobbying persistently for this road to be constructed, just as he did for the Bawjiase-Kasoa road and I assure you that it will be completed before 2024.”

President Akufo-Addo continued, “It is public knowledge that he has intention of contesting on the ticket of the NPP in 2024. If he is successful in the NPP parliamentary primaries, Nananom, I am confident that he will do an excellent job as Member of Parliament for you and I appeal to all of you to support him if and when that time comes. You have seen for yourselves what he is doing for Awutu Senya West.”

Central Regional Minister, Justina Marigold Assan

Prior to the commissioning of the cylinder manufacturing plant, the President cut the sod for the official commencement of construction of the Bawjiase-Kasoa road.

“Already, under the Akufo-Addo Government, we have completed the construction of the Bawjiase-Adeiso and the Bawjiase-Swedru Roads, all in this constituency. The construction of a District Hospital, under Agenda 111, is also ongoing at Ahentia, not too far from here,” he added.

Bawjiase-Kasoa Road

Expected to be completed in two years, this critical road project will link the central region to the southern part of the Eastern Region, and ease traffic off the Kasoa-Accra-Nsawam stretch.

Chiefs and people of the area have over the years made countless appeals to successive governments for the construction of that stretch.

The area has already seen the partial reconstruction of the 25km Bawjiase-Agona Swedru road, as well as the partial reconstruction of the 15km Bawjiase-Adeiso road, which are all part of a total of 70 kilometers of major trunks that have been completed throughout the region, since 2017.

Solely financed by the Government of Ghana, the project is being undertaken by General Construction Limited. When completed, the road will boost commercial activities along the route, which is widely known as an industrial and agrarian area for citrus and poultry farmers.

President in Netherlands

Meanwhile President Akufo-Addo left Ghana on Saturday, 3rd September, 2022 at the invitation of Ban Ki-Moon, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the Board of Global Centre of Adaption (GCA), to participate in the African Adaptation Summit to be held on Monday, 5th September, 2022 at the GCA Headquarters in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

The Summit is expected to garner further support and resources for the region’s flagship Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP).

The programme is realising the vision of the Africa Adaptation Initiative by mobilising $25 billion of investments by 2025 for climate adaptation in food security, resilient infrastructure, adaptation jobs and climate finance.

At the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, His Excellency Mark Tutte, President Akufo-Addo will undertake a working visit from 6th to 7th September, 2022 where he will, amongst others, hold bilateral discussions with his Dutch counterpart, aimed at strengthening the ties of co-operation that exist between the two countries.

The President will also participate in a High-Level event to commemorate the 3rd Observance of the International Day to Protect Education from Attack. The event will be held in Paris, France.

The President was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey; the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, MP for Sefwi Wiawso and by officials of the Presidency and Foreign Ministry.

President Akufo-Addo will return to Ghana on Saturday, 10th September 2022 and in his absence, the Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, shall, in accordance with Article 60(8) of the Constitution, act in his stead.

Address challenges in the education sector -Chief Imam

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Dr. Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu, National Chief Imam

The National Chief Imam, Dr. Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu, has praised Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Education Minister and the government for the reforms introduced into the nation’s education sector.

According to Chief Imam, the reforms when continued and sustained stood the chance of speeding up the nation’s transformation agenda.

The National Chief Imam made the commendation when Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum paid a courtesy call on him in Accra last Thursday.

The Minister’s trip to the chief Imam is part of visitations to various Faith-Based Organizations in the country and was aimed at dialoguing and sharing Ideas, explaining government policies on education and also seeking their opinion on other issues relating to the development of education and other facets of life in the country.

Dr. Nuhu Sharubutu was particularly happy with the introduction of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) education which he hoped stood the chance of catapulting the nation’s industrialization and development initiative.

Strategic reforms

Chief Imam described the ongoing education transformation as strategic since it could lead to a sharp increase in industrial development which could create thousands of jobs as well as help produce more products for export to earn the country foreign exchange.

He appealed to the government to have a second look at the challenges confronting the education sector in the country and find a lasting solution to them to promote continuity.

Dr. Sharubutu pledged to continue to support the government in its bid to create enabling environment in the country for a peaceful co-existence among all FBO’s political parties, ethnic groups, political parties and social affiliations.

Commendation

Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum on his part lauded the various FBOs in the country for their support of the development of the various facets of the nation’s economy.

He said everything possible was being done by the government to shape the fortunes of the country through education which held the key to poverty alleviation for all.

The Education Minister pledged to deepen ties with all FBOs in the country to help improve the performance of the country’s economy.

He spent some time enumerating some of the development in the education sector and reforms being introduced to catapult the economy to match the 21st Century job market standard.

Spare driver remanded over alleged stealing

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Court

Kwame Boateng, 42 and a commercial driver, has been remanded into police custody for allegedly stealing a trotro vehicle.

He was said to have stolen the VW Sprinter bus with registration No. GB 6366-21, valued at GH¢200,000.00, and property of a Civil Servant, Pauline Dakorah.

Kwame was arrested and put before an Accra Circuit Court, presided over Afia Owusuaa Appiah, last Thursday.

The brief facts presented to the court by Chief Inspector Samuel Ahinbor indicated that Kwame was given the bus by a colleague, Felix Allotey, who was given the vehicle by the complainant, Pauline.

The initial instruction given to Allotey by Pauline was that he should operate within Accra and its environs, as well as make weekly sales of GH¢1,260.00.

But on August 5, 2022, Allotey, without the consent of the complainant, gave the vehicle to the accused as a spare driver, and further instructed that the accused should return the vehicle after close of work.

Regrettably, the former’s instruction fell on deaf ears, as the accused neither returned the vehicle, the sales, nor answered calls from Felix Allotey.

C/Insp Ahinbor narrated that a report was made to the police and the information was sent to all Police Stations to be on the lookout for the vehicle.

Fortunately, he said, on August 22, 2022, intelligence gathered led to the arrest of the accused from his hideout at Techiman/Tanoso, together with the vehicle.

He further added that the accused was then escorted to the Teshie Police Station where he admitted the offense, and “when the accused person was confronted with the sales between August 8 and 21, he could not account for it.”

After investigations, the accused was accordingly charged with stealing and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The case has been adjourned to September 12, 2022.

Rent Control Officer accused of stealing GH¢65,000 from client

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Court

A Senior Executive Officer at Rent Control, Rita Agorsu-Morrison, is being tried for allegedly stealing an amount of GH¢65,000 paid to her as part of a settlement agreement between disputing parties.

The amount was part of a GH¢90,000.00 settlement agreement between Madam Victoria Tsorme, a trader (tenant), and Charles Gyimah Junior (landlord), somewhere in 2017.

However, an Accra Circuit Court presided over by Samuel Bright Acquah was told that to date the landlord has not received the said amount.

The court has ordered the prosecution to file all disclosures for the commencement of the case after the accused had pleaded not guilty to the charge of stealing last week Thursday.

Prior to the court’s order, it was informed that the complainant, Madam Victoria Tsorme, was a trader and resides at Tesano while the accused, Rita Agorsu-Morrison was a Senior Executive Officer at the Rent Control Department and lives at Weija-Choice, all in Accra.

According to the prosecution,  in 2006, the complainant and her husband rented a store for 10 years from one Charles Gyimah, now deceased, at Kantamanto in Accra. And by the time the rent was due in June 2016, the property had been bequeathed to a relative of the deceased, Charles Gyimah Junior.

In order to renew the rent agreement that the complainant had with the deceased, Charles Gyimah Jnr demanded an amount of GH¢100, 000.00 from the trader for another 10 years period.

The court was further told that the complainant disagreed and claimed that the amount demanded by the new landlord was outrageous, creating a misunderstanding between the complainant and the landlord.

To find an amicable solution to the problem, both sides reported the matter to the Rent Control office in Accra for redress.

A meeting was arranged between the complainant and the landlord somewhere in January 2017 at the Rent Control office, and the matter was referred to the accused Rita Agorsu-Morrison to handle.

And, after the meeting, an amount of GH¢90,000.00 was agreed upon by the disputing parties, as rent for a 10-year period.

Per the terms of the agreement, on January 25, and February 1, 2017, the complainant paid an amount of GH¢20,000.00 and GH¢45,000.00 respectively to the accused to be given to the landlord as part of payment of the rent.

Accordingly, the Rent Control Senior Executive Officer also issued two separate receipts to the complainant to reflect the payment.

Unknown to the complainant, Rita Agorsu-Morrison failed to give the money to the landlord as expected.

However, efforts made by the disputing parties to retrieve the said amount from the accused proved futile, since the accused kept on giving them stories that yielded no results until the matter was finally reported to the Police.

As a result, the accused was arrested and during interrogation, she admitted having received an amount of GH¢65,000.00 from the complainant but declined to lead Police to where she kept the money.

Police investigation revealed that the accused used her office as a Senior Executive Officer to appropriate the money paid to her to be given to the landlord, Charles Gyimah Junior. Rita is currently on bail and would be appearing before the court this week.

Editorial: Conversation on Free SHS is a welcoming call

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THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

President Akufo-Addo has said that he is open to a broader conversation on education in our national development.

According to the President, the conversation must look at funding, access and other factors that must work for the good of the educational sector of the country.

“One of the things people have been calling for is the review of the Free Senior High School (SHS).

I think we should have a broader conversation about the incidence of education on our national development,” the President said, in a meeting with the leadership of the National Union of Ghana Students at Jubilee House on August 31, 2022.

The Chronicle welcomes the call, given that it has been the chorus many Ghanaians have been singing since the introduction of the program, due to the initial difficulties that it encountered.

Education is undoubtedly the bedrock upon which every society develops and as such access to it is very important.

There are numerous examples of people whose SHS education was curtailed due to lack of funds, and who wish they were in this dispensation where SHS education is free and this could have changed their status and that of their family.

This was one of the reasons the idea of free SHS policy was welcomed in 2008, when it was announced by then candidate Akufo-Addo. Many believe the policy was a major contributing factor to his victory in the 2016 election.

However, the financial constraints this policy started putting on the public purse was what led to people calling for a review, including the President’s own Finance Minister, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta.

The argument put forward by Mr. Ofori-Atta and some other senior citizens was that people who are capable of funding their wards’ education should be made to do so, whilst those who genuinely cannot afford should be made determined and assisted.

Mr. Ofori-Atta even stated that he cannot fathom why he would sit back and allow his ward to attend school for free when he is capable of paying for it.

Another argument was that whilst fees for admission, tuition, examination, meals and textbooks could be waived, boarding and uniforms could not.

If the government had heeded to these arguments and had not played politics with them, we would not have been in the situation by now.

The very first hurdle we had to deal with was congestion in boarding schools, since most of the students preferred to stay on campus.

This culminated in the introduction of the double track system, which many believe has impacted negatively on the quality of education.

The other difficulty we had to deal with was the unavailability of food in schools to feed the students. Some heads of institutions threatened to close down their schools until they had enough food to feed the students.

But as our elders say, it is only a fool who does not change his mind, and so we are happy that the government has realised the need to broadly engage the nation on reviewing the Free SHS policy.

If this broad conversation comes on, we expect government to take the suggestions put forward by educationists and stakeholders. It should also give a chance to some of these intellectuals to be part of the decision-making body so that we can get the best out of the policy.

Adumasa community gets new Chief after 53yrs

By
SEBASTIAN R. FREIKU
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The new chief sitting in state after the enstoolment
Nana Owusu Banahene swearing the oath of allegiance

Nana Owusu Banahene has sworn the Oath of Allegiance to the Asafohene, Nana Asafo Boakye Agyemang Bonsu, at the Asafo Palace.

The 54-year-old Chief, known in private life as Owusu Banahene a Kumasi-based businessman, on Tuesday, August 30, 2022, filled the vacuum of Adumasa which has been without a Chief for the past 53 years.

The Asafohene, who is also Otumfuo’s Akwamuhene, Nana Asafo Boakye Agyemang Bonsu, admonished the new Chief to live an exemplary life worthy of emulation, saying: “Your conduct henceforth will be regulated.

You are expected to hold yourself out in dignity and not bring your name and the revered chieftaincy institution into disrepute.”

He also urged the new Chief to be guided by wisdom, honesty, and exhibit quality leadership in order to succeed as a Leader.

Nana Owusu Banahene said he would pay heed to the advice given by his Overlord, and pledged to dedicate his reign to the service of his people and not lord it over them.

He pledged to facilitate the development of the community which had lagged behind in development all these years, assuring the audience that he would prioritise education to produce future leaders for Adumasa’s development.

Nana Banahene, however, cited the bad road network and poor sanitation as some of the challenges facing the area.

91 graduate in Fashion Design, Hair Technology, Make-up Artistry training

By
SEBASTIAN R. FREIKU
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A trainee receives a certificate from the Kumasi Mayor
The graduants in group photograph

Ninety- one persons in the youth age bracket in the Manhyia South Constituency in the Kumasi Region have undergone an eight-week skills training in Make-up Artistry, Fashion Designing and Hair Technology (Hairdressing) under the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP).

The training session was organised by the College of Beauty Arts and Entrepreneurship (CBAE) and Make-Up Ghana and funded by the Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, who also provided all the necessary tools and materials for the programme.

The beneficiaries learnt Time Management, Branding, Professional Book Keeping, Customer Care and Digital Marketing (advertising on Social Media) under Entrepreneurial Skills.

The overall best fashion designer takes his prize from Chief Moshie in Kumasi

Each participant was presented with a certificate of participation, and start up kits which included washing basin, hand dryer, sterilisers, cutting machines, industrial machines and pressing irons, and knitting machines.

Addressing the graduation ceremony last Friday, Dr. Opoku Prempeh, who is also the Minister for Energy, stressed the importance of skills training and development among the youth, adding that expertise in vocational training was a lifetime asset to help reduce economic hardships and unemployment.

He commended the participants for going through the training successfully, and urged them to be good ambassadors of the government’s social interventions and policies.

The MP said the government always sought the welfare of people, and assured them that further training programmes would be held for others in Decoration and Shoemaking.

Some of the startup kits donated by the Manhyia South MP

The Mayor of Kumasi, Sam Pyne, commended the Manhyia South MP for equipping the youth with employable skills, noting that the training of our human resources was paramount to development.

At the graduation ceremony were Ms Rebecca Donkor, Chief Executive Officer of CBAE and Make-Up Ghana and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Ambassador, Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah, Director General of CTVET, Nana Kwaku Duah, Chief of Kokoso Chairman of the Council of Elders of Manhyia South Constituency the New Patriotic Party, and Alhaji Ibrahim Adams, Chief of the Moshie Community, and constituency executives.

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