Ghana Government Urged To Consult Polytechnics On Conversion Matters

Professor Abdulai Salifu Asuro, the Rector of Tamale Polytechnic, has appealed to the Government to give the Polytechnics more representation on the teams and committees working on the conversion of the polytechnics into technical universities.

Prof Asuro who made the appeal at the 9th Congregation of the Tamale Polytechnic in Tamale, at the weekend, stated that it was the surest good way for the laudable dream to grow and bear the expected fruit.

“Certain key decisions involving the conversion are taken before the Rectors and Polytechnic Community are asked to contribute,” he complained.

“It is not to the blind side of everyone here that similar well-thought out ideas have failed not for the lack of funds but because the targeted beneficiaries had not been adequately consulted or involved in the implementation process of such projects”.

Prof. Asuro also said the thorny issue in relation to the government’s support for research and the replacement of the existing book and research fund with a research fund needed to be discussed thoroughly with the Polytechnic Teachers’ Association of Ghana”.

He said: “I am reliably informed that tempers are getting flared on our various Polytechnic campuses because of this”, and appealed to the Government to take urgent steps to address the issue.

Prof Asuro gave the assurance that the Tamale Polytechnic would continue to introduce industry-specific, specialised programmes to cater for the country’s industrial needs.

A total of 1,560 students graduated with Higher National Diploma Certificates in various disciplines, including Accounting, Marketing, Agricultural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Statistics, Building Technology, amongst others.

Alhaji Abdullah Salifu, the Chairman of the Governing Council of Tamale Polytechnic, said: “In a bid to ensure quality teaching and learning at the School of Engineering, the Polytechnic has procured an auto-diagnostic equipment through the Skills Development Fund to set up an ultra-modern auto-diagnostic laboratory to diagnose vehicles”.

Alhaji Salifu appealed to the Ghana Education Trust Fund to release more funds for the completion of infrastructural projects at the Polytechnic to facilitate even a better teaching and learning environment.


Source: GNA

Asabedie gets new school complex

Asabedie (E/R), June 16, GNA - Mr Antwi-Boasiako Sekyere, Eastern Regional Minister, has commissioned a six-unit classroom complex, at the cost of GH¢ 20,4200 for the Asabedie District Assembly(D/A) Basic School in the Akyemansa District of the Eastern Region.

Work on the facility, comprising a library, an office, and a toilet, with funding from the GETFUND, started in August 2014, and completed in May 2015.

Mr Antwi-Boasiako advised people in the area to take education seriously, and urged children in the community to take advantage of the facility to learn, be obedient, and come out as good citizens to contribute towards the development of their communities.

The commissioning formed part of a three-day working visit of the Regional Minister to the Birim South, Akyemansa and the Birim North Districts

Mr Tom Budu, the District Chief Executive (DCE), advised the youth of the area to use the knowledge acquired for the benefit of the residents.

He thanked government for adding the district to the LEAP programme, which he said, would cater for 1,200 elderly people in the district.

Nana Kwesi Dadzi, Odikro of Asabedie, was grateful for the facility, and appealed for computers to enable the students to become computer literates.

He appealed for the provision of reception for mobile telephone services in the community, to promote business activities.

Mr Antwi-Boasiako also visited an ICT facility at Ofoase, and inspected the 14-kilometre road stretch from Chia through Ofoase to Ayirebi, which is under construction.

The cost of the project to be completed within 14 months, is 16.2 million Ghana Cedis.

As part of his working tour, the Minister also commissioned a National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Office at Akyem Awisa, inspected a classroom block under construction at the Akim Swedru Presbyterian School, a school project at Akyem Awisa Presbyterian Boarding School, and a school building under construction at Akim Asawase Methodist School, all in the Birim South District.

Mr Antwi-Boasiako in an interaction with the heads of department in the districts, urged public servants to be principled, determined and exhibit professionalism and commitment in their work, to ensure that the country moved forward

Source: GNA

Teachers Have The Power To Change The Country

Ms Marian Lily Adams, a Retired Senior Lecturer of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), has entreated government to cherish teachers in the country, since they wield the power to educate any nation’s human resources.

Ms Adams explained that teachers were one of the pillars of the society and the country, and without dedicated and efficient teachers no nation could develop.

The Retired Senior Lecturer made this statement at the eighth Congregation of the Holy Child College of Education in Takoradi on the theme: “The Teacher-A Tool for Development.”

A total number of 184 graduated this year.

Ms Adams, an old student of the college, noted that no other personality could have an influence more profound than a teacher, because students were deeply affected by a teacher’s love and actions.

The Principal of the College, Mrs. Margaret Boadiwa Lemaire, said the students continued to produce excellent results due to the dedicated staff.

She urged the graduands to further their education, and not to relapse into mediocrity.

Mrs. Lemaire revealed that some infrastructure projects in the college, such has the school library, had been completed, while the refurbishment of other projects such as the college's Assembly Hall and classroom blocks were in progress, to increase the seating capacity, and also to upgrade the college to befit its current state.

The Principal expressed gratitude to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETfund), stakeholders, benefactors and friends, for their immense support towards the development of the school.

She appealed to government and other corporate entities to come to the aid of the College with the provision of infrastructure and the construction of potable roads.

Miss Ajara Bassaw, overall best student, appealed to government to tackle the issue of a high level of graduate unemployment to enhance the human resource of the country.


Source: GNA

Legacy Girls College - All-girls private boarding school opened to empower women

Legacy Girls College, a privately owned all-girls boarding school has been opened in Akuse,  a town in the Lower Manya Krobo district of the Eastern Region.

Speaking at the grand opening of the senior high school, Co-Founder of the institution, Ellen Hagan, admonished young girls to excel in the world of work, know their self-worth, discover their purpose and be more solution-oriented in making the world a better place.

Ellen Hagan (left) and Mrs. Essie Anno Sackey, Co-Founders of Legacy Girls College, jointly giving their remarks at the inaugural ceremony.

The inaugural ceremony, according to school, was to introduce Legacy Girls College to guests and Ghana as a whole and to acquaint them with the ideals on which the school was founded.

In a keynote address, CEO of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Mawuena Trebarh, noted that every girl who attends Legacy Girls College is destined to be successful and leave a worthy legacy because of the foundation on which the school was established.

The principal of the school, Maranatha Kove, revealed that Legacy Girls College has a mission to “nurture the immense potential of girls to be whatever they want to be in a fast-changing and increasingly complex world".

She adds that education for the Legacy girls will be aimed at preparing them to succeed in the real world by  training them to be confident and caring with state of the art facilities that make learning enjoyable.

The school crest was unveiled by Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, CEO of Micro Finance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) and Her Excellency Ms. Margit Thomsen, Danish Ambassador to Ghana.

The Ambassador said the timing for the inauguration of Legacy College - which aims also to empower women - was appropriate because it coincides with Denmark's celebration of  100 years of women’s voting rights.

The crest was then explained by Queen Nana Adwoa Awindor, Executive Director at Obaapa Development Foundation and Premier Productions.

Essie Anno Sackey, Co-Founder of Legacy Girls College, in her closing remarks, thanked all those present and encouraged them to choose Legacy Girls College in order to give their girls the grounding needed to make a meaningful impact in society.

Also present at the event was Dr. Erica Bennet, Ambassador for the Diasporan African Forum (DAF); Nana Oye Lithur, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection; Dr. Mrs. Sylvia Boye, former Head of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) and Mrs. Joyce Boeh - Ocansey, Head of Recruitment, LAINE Services Limited.

Courses offered at Legacy Girls College are Enhanced Ghanaian curriculum and British Curriculum for Senior High Schools with ancillary departments for BECE remedial.

Source: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com