‘Disabled Persons Are Social Partners’

By: Bismarck Nii Ogbamey Tetteh
THE INFORMATION Minister, Mrs. Zita Okaikoi has urged Ghanaians to see persons with disabilities as social partners who have a big role to play in our quest for development and growth as a society.
Mrs. Zita noted this noted during the official launch of a six month campaign on improving attitudes towards people with disabilities at the British council last Wednesday. It was on the theme “Improving Attitudes towards Persons with Disabilities”.
She further explained that the passage of the Disability Act in 2006 has created the necessary legal framework within which the constitutional rights of persons with disability and their welfare can be explored and protected. This she said, would enable them realize their full potential and contribute their quota towards national development.
She also added that is the Government was determined to enhance the social well-being of all, including persons with disabilities and to demonstrate this commitment; government had set up the National Council for Persons with Disability to implement the Law.
She stressed that government was ready to provide any assistance to the Centre for Employment of Persons with Disabilities and declared the campaign and Bohyeba documentary launched.
Mr. Charles Appiagyei, the acting Executive Director of Action on Disability and Development (ADD) in his closing remarks defined tradition as “handing down from generations to generations of opinions, beliefs, customs etc” or “opinions, beliefs, customs handed down”. Also, he added from the traditional perspective that the birth of physically challenged children most of the time to couple causes broken homes. He continued to say that in Einar Helander’s book “Prejudice and Dignity” stated “that the simplest definition of a disabled person is one who in his or her society is regarded as disabled because of a difference in appearance or behaviour.”
Explaining further, he added that the People with disabilities (Pwd) are stigmatized, marginalized and neglected making many excluded, poor, deprived and vulnerable, making them objects of pity, charity and rituals.
People with disabilities do not need our sympathy and the equal opportunity to help in the development of the country

Read More

Fishermen To Smile

By Bismarck Nii Ogbamey Tetteh & Leticia Allachie

THE RECENT shortage of premix fuel was last Wednesday resolved with the unveiling of a new brand of fuel.
Briefing the fishermen on the current issue pertaining to the premix fuel at Mantse Agbonaa, James Town in Accra, Zita Okaikoi, the Minister of Information said “people who are politicizing the shortage of the premix fuel are the very people causing the shortage.”
She added that measures have been put in place to ensure that fishermen do not face such problems stressing that “if the fishermen do not go and fish, prices of fish will rise and the consumers will be greatly affected.”
Mrs Okaikoi added that the colour of the new premix fuel has been changed from the old colour yellow to blue and that the new fuel will not affect the engines of the fisherman’s outboard motor in any way.
She also admitted that the new structures put in place requires that the premix fuel tanker drivers must inscribe premix on all the sides of their trucks and that anyone who refuses will not be allowed to purchase the premix fuel at Tema Oil Refinery.
The Information Minister also stated that tracking devices would be placed on each and every premix tanker to prevent the drivers from diverting from their locations.
Mrs. Okaikoi declared that the current government has cancelled pair trawling and asked fishermen to report any foreign vessel fishing on the sea to the police.
Nii Abeo Kyerekuanda, the chief fisherman added that the days where fishermen were regarded as useless and worthless is over.
Mr. Nicole also added that the fishermen are suppose to bring representatives for the formation of the committee which will be in charge of the sales of the premix.
Mr. Jonathan Nii Tackie Kommey, M.P. for Odododiodoo, assured that before the close of the week, they will provide the names of the representatives.

Read More

Pakro’s school project unveiled

By: Bismarck Nii Ogbamey Tetteh

Mr. Martin Eson- Benjamin, the Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), unveiled a plaque as part of activities to commission rehabilitated schools at Pakro in the Akuapim South Municipality over the weekend.
Mr. Martin in his speech last Friday admitted that he was happy the school project was completed successfully. He continued to say that he was overwhelmed by the turnout of all the dignitaries and the District Chief Executive (Akuapim South Municipal), Honourable Doctor Osei Bonsu to grace the occasion and that he has seen the importance the people of Pakro attach to education.
He explained that one of the key projects of the Development Projects of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Ghana Programme is to provide community service in support of Agricultural Transformation Programme. This support, he added covers the rehabilitation and construction of Kindergarten and primary schools, provision of portable water, sanitary facilities and the provision of electricity to rural areas and cottage industries in selected farming communities within 30 beneficiary Districts.
Mr. Martin added that the United States Agency for international development (USAID) has also agreed to address the unmet demand for quality teachers in MiDA – constructed schools. They have identified unqualified individuals to be trained by the international foundation for education and self- help (IFESH) to teach in MiDA Schools that are experiencing shortage of teachers. He further explained that the programme has already been launched in Amankwakrom in the Kwahu North District on the 16th day of July this year.
“I will like to reiterate the need to maintain these schools.” He added. He urged the district assembly, parent teacher associations and school management committees to undertake periodic and routine maintenance schemes to keep the buildings in good shape all the time.

Read More

Biggest Promo Ever

VODAFONE, ONE of Ghana’s best telecommunication networks has launched the biggest promotion ever in the history of Ghana’s telecommunication industry.
Speaking to Business guide last Thursday, Amone Gbedemah the marketing manager of Vodafone admitted that “Vodafone”, is aimed at rewarding prepaid mobile and fixed line voice customers across the country and also to say a big thank you for the overwhelming patronage Vodafone has enjoyed since its launch in Ghana. She also added that retailers were not left out in the promotions, there is one ongoing called “Stock and win”.
The promotion started on 20th July and is due to end on 31st October this year. The promotion, she added, entails a furnished Trasacco Valley home with a 4x4 and a personal driver and other exciting prizes to be won including 3 Pajero 4x4 vehicles, 15 Yamaha motorcycles,60 two year scholarships, 30 Dell Laptops, 300 iPod shuffles, 1,500 mobile phones and loads of bonus talk time
She further explained that company did not want to impose the promotion on their customers so they allow customer to register anytime they want by dialing “1111” .To ensure that the fairness and integrity of the promotion is not compromised, Vodafone has contracted PriceWaterhouseCooper as the sole auditing company to authenticate all entries and the selection of winners.
She also urged all customers to register, top-up and keep their phones on since winners will be contacted on their phones.
Speaking to Business Guide, people chosen at random admitted that the other networks are also doing some promotions but “Vodafone Rewards” is the biggest promotion they have heard in Ghana with heard blowing prizes and as loyal customers of the network, they believe they can win if not the grand prize, the other prizes involved. Three out of the people whose names were not disclosed said they were happy such a promotion was running and it will attract more customers towards the company but it wasn’t enough to drift them from their old network Zain since Zain gives them back the total amount of credits they buy at the end of every month.
A retailer located just beside the Vodafone head office also added that since the launch of the promotion, the number of people who patronize the Vodafone scratch cards have really shot up, making his business very lucrative. Another retailer who deals only in the Vodafone phones also admitted that since the launch of the “Vodafone Reward” promotion, people have been rushing to her shop to purchase the Vodafone phones and that she had run out of the Vodafone music box.

Read More

“Implement Youth Policy Now”

Mr. Dennis Ofosuapea, the President of the Federation of Youth Association of Ghana (FEDYAG) has called on the youth to support the implementation of the national youth policy programme.
This he noted will prevent young women and men from engulfing in brothels and hotels and sleeping in coffins in the name of “sakawa” respectively. Adding, the policy will serve as measuring tool to enable us monitor and evaluate the progress being made.
Mr. Ofosuapea made this known at the International Press Centre during a press conference last Tuesday.
A press statement issued by the federation indicated that, for about seventeen years now the country had been run without a youth policy on the premise that the policy had no action plan and also government is making the policy relevant to the young people of Ghana.
He also added that in July, 1999, the policy was launched and in July, 2001, they were told the policy could not be implemented because it was not dynamic enough and that there was no action plan therefore the policy had to be put on hold.
The president of FEDYAG however said that in December 2008, they were told the policy had received executive authority. “The young wings of all the political parties were in favour of the policy when it was launched” he stated. He concluded that the youth can hold able arms of government. “For the war to be won, the young men had to hold the able arms of Moses. I therefore call on all young people to stand up and fight for our future”.
George Appiah, a media practitioner from Vibe Fm asked if the government would be able to finance the policy in its current economic state if it is implemented. Mr. Ofosupea in his response state that money is not needed to do everything, the policy comes with codes in programme to be held every year. Another media practitioner from Ghanaian Times also advised the house to educate youth on the policy and its advantages and then they can talk of an action plan. He stated that the youth needed to set the trend themselves.

The president of FEDYAG, Mr. Ofosuapea in his closing remarks stated that the youth forms the largest labour force in the country. He asked the government to beat the drums,give them a sense of direction and they will dance to it.

Read More

FDB raises fake drug alarm

By: Bismarck Nii Ogbamey Tetteh.
The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) is alerting the general public on the presence of fake Coartem tablet being distributed countrywide.
In a press statement issued by Dr. Stephen K. Opuni, Chief Executive of FDB, it indicated that after series of tests into the efficacy of the product by the Quality Control Laboratory, Coartem tablets turned out not to contain active ingredients as in the original drug. The active ingredients include Artemether and Lumefantrine.
The fake Coartem drug, which comes in a dummy-shape, has no positive bearing on patients due to the absence of effective anti-malaria components.
The release further emphasized that pharmacies, licensed chemical stores and healthcare facilities ought to dispose off all fake Coartem and its associated drugs from their shelves and dispensaries.
Also, it urged healthcare professionals to assist both patients and consumers to distinguish between the genuine Coartem from the counterfeited ones on the market.
The public, it added could visit the FDB website, www.fdbghana.gov.gh for pictorial presentations of the fake product and the genuine brand.
FDB however assured the public of its commitment to bring such perpetuators in the fake drug business to book.

Read More

Journalists Must Be Interested In Economic Issues

<

By Bismark Tetteh

The acting Director of the School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana, Dr. Audrey Gadzekpo, has tasked journalists to be interested in issues relating to the Global financial crises.
This, she said, will equip them on economic development strategies which will help solve the current economic problems.
Speaking at a four-day workshop on the theme: “The State of Business and Economic Reporting,” Dr. Gadzekpo revealed that a recent story she read on export market of pawpaw, quoted only the experts, forgetting completely the farmers who were affected, adding “people want to read and hear good and compelling stories on people’s plight, therefore journalists should humanize their stories for people to see and accept the stories. People are not reading business stories because they do not comprehend the stories.
She further warned journalists against the use of technical language.
Dr. Gadzekpo urged all Business Journalists to go beyond the normal reporting and do more investigations because it enriches their stories.
The workshop, held at the Fiesta Royale Hotel was organised by the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) and sponsored by Unilever Ghana and the U.S Embassy

Read More

A BEAST AS PRESIDENT

PRESIDENT YAHRYA Jammeh has succeeded in turning Gambia into a burial place for human rights.

Over the years, Journalists and Ghanaians staying in Gambia have disappeared, been murdered or arrested and detained for no apparent reason.

Lots of Journalists have escaped into exile and those living in the country are practicing self-censorship as means of preventing arrests.

Yahya Jammeh, President of Gambia, is a disgrace to Africa as a whole. Press freedom is just not visible in that country. He claims he will stay in power for over 1,000years. Many Gambians believe their president will never be defeated through elections.

It was very difficult to believe that these inhuman atrocities were going on in African until a Journalist from Gambia came out to bravely confirm the whole story and added that what the world knew under rated.

He also gave instance where Journalists including Deyda Hydara (a critic of the Jammeh’s administration) and Omar Barrrow were shot and killed by security agents.

He also added that others had been arrested and detained incommunicado for long periods without charge and those who are charged were not given fair trials by the courts.

Chief Ebrima Manneh, a reporter of a pro- government Daily Observer, was arrested on April10,2006 by the notoriously feared National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and up till now, the government denied holding him and has not made any effort to find his whereabouts despite an eyewitness accounts of his arrest at the newspaper's premises in Gambia.

Credit to: http://www.cpj.org/2009/07/cpj-asks-gambian-president-to-reveal-mannehs-where.php
Other Journalist including Lamin Fatty, a Journalist was convicted for publishing “false information” and until his conviction, he was held for 63 days without court order or charge. When he could not immediately pay the fine imposed on him by the court, he was detained again.

The publisher of Foroyaa, Halifa Sallah, who was invited by the NIA to post a bail bond for Journalists arrested for defaming Jammeh, was detained overnight and released without charge. All these facts were brought to light willingly by the Journalist for Gambia.

Innocent citizens, according to the Journalist, are accused for being witches and wizards and arrested for coming out after hearing loud drum beats.

“The drumming is alleged to attract witches and wizards who are fighting against the government,” he explained.

After all these inhuman activities, our African leaders sit with him and allow him to be a member of the African Union and yet do nothing about the current situation.

He continued to say that foreigners also have their fair share of the abuse. Forty four were allegedly murdered out of fifty arrested Ghanaian and were killed by Gambian soldiers who claimed they thought the Ghanaian migrants were hired insurgents brought into the country to topple President Jammeh.

This issue give fellow Journalists around the world a very important duty to monitor the affairs of Journalists in Gambia and also make sure this human abuse and blood sheared is stop.
How can a fellow normal human being do such thing to other humans in the name of power? Journalist, lets fight this mad man with our pens.

Read More

57th speech and prize gving day

57TH SPEECH AND PRIZE GIVING DAY FOR ST. AQUINAS

ST. THOMAS Acquinas senior high school held its 57th speech and prize giving day with the theme “Empowering the Youth, through Quality Education”.
The event was commenced with an Art exhibition by the school’s visual art department. The school’s Cadet together with the Police Band entertained the guests, parents and dignitaries who were present.
The dignitaries included Ernestina Naadu Mills, the first lady of the Republic of Ghana and the special guest for the occasion, the deputy minister of education, Hon. Joseph Anan, Ransford Tetteh, the president of the Ghana Journalist Association, an old student and also the editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr. John A.Larkai, a lawyer and the P.T.A President of the school.
The senior boys’ prefect, Benjamin Yeboah gave a speech which was followed by the Headmaster, who also gave a report. In his report, he stated that the school’s science resource centre bus has been shut down for over 2years now. He also stated that that was not only excelling in academics but in sports as well, explaining further, he said the school’s basketball team emerged as regional champions
Speaking the occasion the Guest speaker, Ernestina Naadu Mills stated that the youth forms a large proportion of therefore they need to be given quality education to enable them make sound choices, also she urged the youth to see Ghana as a unitary state but not a tribal state.

Read More

Fuel rationing in Accra

Fuel rationing in Accra



By : Bismarck Nii Ogbamey Tetteh
The recent fuel shortage in Accra has resulted in some drivers to join long winding queues just to be able to get fuel in their vehicles so they can go on with their daily duties.
Some fuel stations in Accra have to devices ways and means to serve each and every one of their customers and for that matter some of these ways include fuel rationing. People are not able to buy exactly the amount of fuel they need because others also have to be served.
Sky petroleum, a fuel filling station around East Legon this morning around 6am, witnessed long queues of cars at the station. The queues were so long that they had to take part of the road. Anxious drivers waited patiently in the queues only to be told that the fuel station was rationing the fuel and each vehicle owner could buy a maximum amount of GHC 20 of fuel.
Some commercial driver also device smart ways of buy more than what they were told they could buy. What they did was to join the queue and then find gallons. They first filled their gallons then joined then continued with the queues so they could buy more than the GHC 20 worth of fuel they were told they could buy. Others also come with their friends and siblings and give them gallons; these drivers join the queues and allow their friends or siblings to buy them the fuel using the gallons so they can also get enough fuel for their cars.
The bottom line is most of these driver said they wished by the end of today, the fuel rationing situation would be resolved so they will wake up in the morning not only thinking of how to beat hectic traffic in Accra and how to get feed their families but also how to queue for long hours just to get fuel.

Read More