04-07-08
Page 29
THE Tourism Investors and Practitioners Organisation (TIPO) has called on the government to expedite action of the establishment of the Tourism Development Fund.
The organisation said such a measure was bound to propel the country’s efforts in tourism to greater heights.
The President of TIPO, Mr Forster Nyarko, made the call at a ceremony to brief the press on its study tour of Mauritius.
He pointed to the fact that security and good governance of the country should provide an opportunity to draw tourists from different parts of the world and increase the number of visitor arrivals.
Unfortunately, even combined with our extraordinary landscape, unique culture and variety of attractions, the vision to brand the country as a destination of preference unequalled anywhere else in sub-Saharan Africa had not fully materialised, he said.
Mr Nyarko said that the WTO Tourism Vision 2020 forecast that international arrivals were expected to reach more than 1.56 billion over the period, adding that the three top receiving regions were Europe (717 million tourists), East Asia and the Pacific (397 million), the Americas (282 million), followed by Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.
He said the organisation would continue to push its programmes with a view to improving tourism generally in the country.
TIPO’s programme and activities, he said, included assisting to attract domestic and foreign investments, ensure an appropriate environment and adequate incentives for current operators and new investors, seek support for small- and medium-size entrepreneurs and create a forum for stakeholders to express their views.
Mr Nyarko said Mauritius had identified tourism as a prime industry contributing to the build-up of national revenue, adding that it took investors in the sector a maximum of only 48 hours to go through the required processes to commence business or get approval.
He stressed the need for cleanliness, adding that that was true of Mauritius, since that country had consciously developed its beaches to attract visitors and pleasure-seekers from around the world.
A member of TIPO, Nana Dr Baah Wiredu, said like the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), the Tourism Development Fund would be able to address the challenges in the tourism sector.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Ghana saves GH¢800,000 from recycling waste
04-09-08
Page 31
THE country saves GH¢800,000 every year as result of the transformation of waste materials by research scientists at the Animal Research Institute and the Cocoa Research Institute into animal feed for the livestock industry.
They include cocoa husks, palm kernels, coconut chaff, cocoa puds, pito mash, cassava peels and copra.
The Director of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Prof E. Owusu-Bennoah, stated this in an address read on his behalf at the opening of a two-week refresher course for West Africa alumni of Practical Training Centre plus (PTC+) at Barneveld College in The Netherlands.
The programme which is on the theme, “Chain Management for Sustainable Pig/Poultry in West Africa”, aims at among other things, to keep the alumni abreast with modern trends in agriculture. PTC+ in Barneveld has for the past 35 years, trained about 130 Ghanaians in the field of poultry, pig and feed milling.
Prof Owuwu-Bennoah noted that increase in agricultural productivity and production should be the immediate focus in the attempt to create and increase wealth despite the discovery of oil.
“The CSIR through the activities of its scientists has been the main engine powering this drive in this country by the continuous release of new and improved crop varieties such as quality proten maize as well as effective and efficient animal feeding strategies and disease control packages,” he said, adding that future programmes in the animal sector would include the use of molecular biology techniques for characterisation of disease agents and the diagnosis of diseases such Swine Fever, Bird Flu, Gumboro disease and Newcastle disease.
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Ernest Debrah, said the government had established a Poultry Development Board to advise it on the development of the poultry industry.
He named some of the major constraints in the sector as low genetic material of livestock species, poor management practices and low productivity, inadequate availability of quality feed, low application of good agricultural practices in the production, handling and transportation of livestock products as well as low awareness of food safety.
As part of measures to address such constraints, he said, the ministry would undertake the breeding of genetically superior livestock for farmers, develop and promote good management practices and appropriate housing for livestock and improve the nutritive value of rangelands by the introduction of proven forage legumes.
The acting Director of the Veterinary Division of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Dr E.B.M. Koney, said about 40,000 birds were destroyed last year during the outbreak of the Avian Influenza.
The Deputy Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Ms Benedicta Naana Biney, said the involvement of teachers in the programme meant a lot since it would arouse the interest of the youth in the area of agriculture.
A trainer at PTC+, Mr Helmich van Rees, said the institution was an international training centre which focused on all the links in the production chain of plant and animal commodities, agricultural and food technology.
The main activities of the institution, he said, were designing and conducting application oriented training programmes and transforming of information to become knowledge of clients.
He said PTC+ had undertaken projects in South Africa, Senegal, Zambia and Uganda.
Page 31
THE country saves GH¢800,000 every year as result of the transformation of waste materials by research scientists at the Animal Research Institute and the Cocoa Research Institute into animal feed for the livestock industry.
They include cocoa husks, palm kernels, coconut chaff, cocoa puds, pito mash, cassava peels and copra.
The Director of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Prof E. Owusu-Bennoah, stated this in an address read on his behalf at the opening of a two-week refresher course for West Africa alumni of Practical Training Centre plus (PTC+) at Barneveld College in The Netherlands.
The programme which is on the theme, “Chain Management for Sustainable Pig/Poultry in West Africa”, aims at among other things, to keep the alumni abreast with modern trends in agriculture. PTC+ in Barneveld has for the past 35 years, trained about 130 Ghanaians in the field of poultry, pig and feed milling.
Prof Owuwu-Bennoah noted that increase in agricultural productivity and production should be the immediate focus in the attempt to create and increase wealth despite the discovery of oil.
“The CSIR through the activities of its scientists has been the main engine powering this drive in this country by the continuous release of new and improved crop varieties such as quality proten maize as well as effective and efficient animal feeding strategies and disease control packages,” he said, adding that future programmes in the animal sector would include the use of molecular biology techniques for characterisation of disease agents and the diagnosis of diseases such Swine Fever, Bird Flu, Gumboro disease and Newcastle disease.
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Ernest Debrah, said the government had established a Poultry Development Board to advise it on the development of the poultry industry.
He named some of the major constraints in the sector as low genetic material of livestock species, poor management practices and low productivity, inadequate availability of quality feed, low application of good agricultural practices in the production, handling and transportation of livestock products as well as low awareness of food safety.
As part of measures to address such constraints, he said, the ministry would undertake the breeding of genetically superior livestock for farmers, develop and promote good management practices and appropriate housing for livestock and improve the nutritive value of rangelands by the introduction of proven forage legumes.
The acting Director of the Veterinary Division of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Dr E.B.M. Koney, said about 40,000 birds were destroyed last year during the outbreak of the Avian Influenza.
The Deputy Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Ms Benedicta Naana Biney, said the involvement of teachers in the programme meant a lot since it would arouse the interest of the youth in the area of agriculture.
A trainer at PTC+, Mr Helmich van Rees, said the institution was an international training centre which focused on all the links in the production chain of plant and animal commodities, agricultural and food technology.
The main activities of the institution, he said, were designing and conducting application oriented training programmes and transforming of information to become knowledge of clients.
He said PTC+ had undertaken projects in South Africa, Senegal, Zambia and Uganda.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Northern Ghana to experience normal rains
04-10-08
Page 64
THE northern part of the country is expected to have normal rains this year, a senior meteorologist with the Ghana Meteorological Agency, Mr Amos Narh, has disclosed.
Consequently, he advised people in the area, especially farmers, to take advantage of the rains and plant their crops.
“We are going to have enough rains to sustain agriculture. The people should take advantage of this,” he advised, adding that the rains were expected to start in mid-May in the northern part of the country.
Mr Narh told the Daily Graphic that the agency would inform the public on any changes in the weather condition.
Last year’s rains in the north, coupled with other factors, such as the opening of the spillway of a dam in Burkina Faso, resulted in flooding in the three northern regions, displacing thousands of people.
Bridges, houses and other property running into billions of cedis were also destroyed in the floods. Large acres of farm land and roads were also submerged by flood waters and a number of lives were also lost during the floods.
A rapid response team has been formed by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to undertake emergency operations in Accra, in line with the severe flooding which is predicted to hit parts of the south.
The Greater Accra Regional Co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr Ben Brown, said a team had been assembled from the Navy, the Air Force, the Police Service, the Fire Service, the Red Cross, Civil Aviation, the Ghana Health Service and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to provide rescue and other services wherever flooding might occur.
Page 64
THE northern part of the country is expected to have normal rains this year, a senior meteorologist with the Ghana Meteorological Agency, Mr Amos Narh, has disclosed.
Consequently, he advised people in the area, especially farmers, to take advantage of the rains and plant their crops.
“We are going to have enough rains to sustain agriculture. The people should take advantage of this,” he advised, adding that the rains were expected to start in mid-May in the northern part of the country.
Mr Narh told the Daily Graphic that the agency would inform the public on any changes in the weather condition.
Last year’s rains in the north, coupled with other factors, such as the opening of the spillway of a dam in Burkina Faso, resulted in flooding in the three northern regions, displacing thousands of people.
Bridges, houses and other property running into billions of cedis were also destroyed in the floods. Large acres of farm land and roads were also submerged by flood waters and a number of lives were also lost during the floods.
A rapid response team has been formed by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to undertake emergency operations in Accra, in line with the severe flooding which is predicted to hit parts of the south.
The Greater Accra Regional Co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr Ben Brown, said a team had been assembled from the Navy, the Air Force, the Police Service, the Fire Service, the Red Cross, Civil Aviation, the Ghana Health Service and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to provide rescue and other services wherever flooding might occur.
Let's end Sefwi chieftaincy dispute
04-11-08
Page 31
THE Sefwi Citizens Association in Accra has appealed to the factions involved in the Sefwi chieftaincy dispute to unite and work together for an amicable settlement of the dispute.
It also stressed the need for Ghanaians, especially those from Sefwi, “to put their hands on the wheel to assist in the speedy resolution of the dispute”.
Addressing a press conference in Accra yesterday, the Patron of the association, Mr Francis Assuah, said Sefwi citizens pledged their unflinching support and commitment to any move that would see to the early resolution of the dispute, which, according to him, was eroding their pride.
He said for the period (about two years) the dispute had lasted, divisiveness, hatred and fanaticism had been the order of the day, adding that posterity would not be kind to the factions should they preside over the destruction of the Sefwi state during their life time.
The Yam festival, which had not been celebrated for sometime now, he said, was an occasion that fostered unity among the Sefwis.
“To say that the dispute has brought most economic activities in the area to a standstill will be an understatement. In fact, there has not been any meaningful development in the area since the dispute erupted,” he stated.
Mr Assuah indicated that the dispute had been a drain on the District Assembly’s coffers, saying that the well-being of soldiers who had been stationed at Sefwi Wiawso to maintain peace and order for the past years had been the responsibility of the assembly.
According to him, the area was gradually being isolated from national activities, and cited the change of venue in the celebration of last year’s International Cocoa Day from Wiawso to Bibiani due to security reasons.
He added that the chieftaincy problem might have also accounted for Wiawso not being elevated when a number of district assemblies that were contemporaries of Wiawso were elevated to municipal status recently.
Mr Assuah said a number of politicians would be visiting the area for campaigns and asked how the people would have a common front to demand their share of the national cake.
“As the saying goes, when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. In this case, it is the development of the area, the sense of pride as a people and the innocent and law-abiding Sefwis who are suffering,” he emphasised and said the fact that the dispute had not resulted in violence and loss of life proved that the Sefwis were peaceful by nature.
The chairman of the association, Mr Stephen Kwayie, reminded the factions that no investor would go to an area that was conflict-prone.
Page 31
THE Sefwi Citizens Association in Accra has appealed to the factions involved in the Sefwi chieftaincy dispute to unite and work together for an amicable settlement of the dispute.
It also stressed the need for Ghanaians, especially those from Sefwi, “to put their hands on the wheel to assist in the speedy resolution of the dispute”.
Addressing a press conference in Accra yesterday, the Patron of the association, Mr Francis Assuah, said Sefwi citizens pledged their unflinching support and commitment to any move that would see to the early resolution of the dispute, which, according to him, was eroding their pride.
He said for the period (about two years) the dispute had lasted, divisiveness, hatred and fanaticism had been the order of the day, adding that posterity would not be kind to the factions should they preside over the destruction of the Sefwi state during their life time.
The Yam festival, which had not been celebrated for sometime now, he said, was an occasion that fostered unity among the Sefwis.
“To say that the dispute has brought most economic activities in the area to a standstill will be an understatement. In fact, there has not been any meaningful development in the area since the dispute erupted,” he stated.
Mr Assuah indicated that the dispute had been a drain on the District Assembly’s coffers, saying that the well-being of soldiers who had been stationed at Sefwi Wiawso to maintain peace and order for the past years had been the responsibility of the assembly.
According to him, the area was gradually being isolated from national activities, and cited the change of venue in the celebration of last year’s International Cocoa Day from Wiawso to Bibiani due to security reasons.
He added that the chieftaincy problem might have also accounted for Wiawso not being elevated when a number of district assemblies that were contemporaries of Wiawso were elevated to municipal status recently.
Mr Assuah said a number of politicians would be visiting the area for campaigns and asked how the people would have a common front to demand their share of the national cake.
“As the saying goes, when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. In this case, it is the development of the area, the sense of pride as a people and the innocent and law-abiding Sefwis who are suffering,” he emphasised and said the fact that the dispute had not resulted in violence and loss of life proved that the Sefwis were peaceful by nature.
The chairman of the association, Mr Stephen Kwayie, reminded the factions that no investor would go to an area that was conflict-prone.
Change science teaching methods-Koram
04-14-08
Page 21
THE Head of the Department of Epidemiology at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), Prof Kodwo Koram, has called for a drastic change in the teaching of science in educational institutions in the country.
He said there should be an opportunity to enable students to explore more, while there should be enough practical lessons.
He noted that the exposure of students to real science at the formative level of the educational system was virtually non-existent, adding, “We must be serious at providing functional practical laboratories where students can undertake practical lessons.”
Prof Koram made the call when he presented a paper on, “Making Science Education a Top Priority in Ghana: Benefits and Challenges”, at the 70th anniversary lecture of the Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (PRESEC) in Accra.
He said there should be innovative ways in the teaching of the sciences to bring out the joy of discovery in students pursuing the subjects, saying that a science culture should be created in the country to assist it in its growth and development.
He indicated that the world was changing fast and that things learnt today might change in the future, hence the need for the educational system to inculcate in students the art of life-long learning.
Prof Koram said the country should have people who would come out with scientifically sound solutions to the common problems facing it to enable it to meet the needs of the people.
Skilled manpower, he said, was needed to produce high-value goods for the citizenry and called on policy makers to provide the right environment for the provision of this skilled manpower.
He said PRESEC should reflect and build on the gains it had made in the past 70 years and charged the current crop of students to make proper use of their time in the school.
The Chairman for the function, Prof Rudolf Darko, said the country needed to invest more in science education “if we are to move forward”.
Page 21
THE Head of the Department of Epidemiology at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), Prof Kodwo Koram, has called for a drastic change in the teaching of science in educational institutions in the country.
He said there should be an opportunity to enable students to explore more, while there should be enough practical lessons.
He noted that the exposure of students to real science at the formative level of the educational system was virtually non-existent, adding, “We must be serious at providing functional practical laboratories where students can undertake practical lessons.”
Prof Koram made the call when he presented a paper on, “Making Science Education a Top Priority in Ghana: Benefits and Challenges”, at the 70th anniversary lecture of the Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (PRESEC) in Accra.
He said there should be innovative ways in the teaching of the sciences to bring out the joy of discovery in students pursuing the subjects, saying that a science culture should be created in the country to assist it in its growth and development.
He indicated that the world was changing fast and that things learnt today might change in the future, hence the need for the educational system to inculcate in students the art of life-long learning.
Prof Koram said the country should have people who would come out with scientifically sound solutions to the common problems facing it to enable it to meet the needs of the people.
Skilled manpower, he said, was needed to produce high-value goods for the citizenry and called on policy makers to provide the right environment for the provision of this skilled manpower.
He said PRESEC should reflect and build on the gains it had made in the past 70 years and charged the current crop of students to make proper use of their time in the school.
The Chairman for the function, Prof Rudolf Darko, said the country needed to invest more in science education “if we are to move forward”.
Graduates urged to prepare for job market
04-15-08
Page 31
THE Chief Operating Officer of Ghana Home Loans, Mr Kojo Addo-Kufuor, has charged graduates of tertiary institutions to prepare themselves adequately to enable them to meet the demands and requirements of employers.
He was because employers needed employees who could add value to their businesses.
Speaking at a career seminar organised by AIESEC, a student-run association, Mr Addo-Kufuor said, there were lot of opportunities for graduates to take advantage of, but for lack of adequate preparations they could not get them.
Mr Addo-Kufuor charged the participants to do some research about organisations or companies they intend to work with, so as to give them a fair idea as to where they were going, adding that that would help them during interview for employment.
“One of the best ways to impress your recruiter is to let them know that you know something about their business,” he explained.
In preparing for interview on the job market, he said, they should prepare for some obvious like “tell me about yourself” to enable them to score full marks.
With regard to the preparation of Curriculum Vitae (CV), he said, they should check their spellings, grammar, use basic fonts like Times New Roman and arranged in chronological order.
Mr Addo-Kufuor asked graduates to give a good impression of themselves by getting to the venue for the interview before the stipulated time, saying that they should be presentable and smart in their appearance.
The Managing Partner of Oxford and Beaumont, Mr Elikem Nutifafa Kuhenhia, said graduates should have interpersonal skills and have a hunger to develop.
He said they identify their strengths in the markets and make adequate use of them, and urged the students to make the most of their time at the university.
Mr Ralph Fiifi Amissah, the acting Head of Human Capital at the United Bank for Africa (UBA), said career planning must be effectively done to enable graduates to achieve the desired results on the job market.
He said career planning did not only happen before work but in the course of work, and stressed the need for graduates to be able to deliver on their responsibilities.
In a related development, AIESEC held a Career Fair for students of the University of Ghana.
It sought to educate them how to prepared for the job market.
Representatives from seven organisations namely- Ghana Home Loans, United Bank for Africa, Standard Chartered Bank, SAS Financial Group, Oxford and Beaumont Solicitors, Nestle Ghana Limited and Corporate Assessment Company mounted stands where students interacted with them.
Some of the organisations took the applications and CVs of students while some of them (students) were interviewed.
Page 31
THE Chief Operating Officer of Ghana Home Loans, Mr Kojo Addo-Kufuor, has charged graduates of tertiary institutions to prepare themselves adequately to enable them to meet the demands and requirements of employers.
He was because employers needed employees who could add value to their businesses.
Speaking at a career seminar organised by AIESEC, a student-run association, Mr Addo-Kufuor said, there were lot of opportunities for graduates to take advantage of, but for lack of adequate preparations they could not get them.
Mr Addo-Kufuor charged the participants to do some research about organisations or companies they intend to work with, so as to give them a fair idea as to where they were going, adding that that would help them during interview for employment.
“One of the best ways to impress your recruiter is to let them know that you know something about their business,” he explained.
In preparing for interview on the job market, he said, they should prepare for some obvious like “tell me about yourself” to enable them to score full marks.
With regard to the preparation of Curriculum Vitae (CV), he said, they should check their spellings, grammar, use basic fonts like Times New Roman and arranged in chronological order.
Mr Addo-Kufuor asked graduates to give a good impression of themselves by getting to the venue for the interview before the stipulated time, saying that they should be presentable and smart in their appearance.
The Managing Partner of Oxford and Beaumont, Mr Elikem Nutifafa Kuhenhia, said graduates should have interpersonal skills and have a hunger to develop.
He said they identify their strengths in the markets and make adequate use of them, and urged the students to make the most of their time at the university.
Mr Ralph Fiifi Amissah, the acting Head of Human Capital at the United Bank for Africa (UBA), said career planning must be effectively done to enable graduates to achieve the desired results on the job market.
He said career planning did not only happen before work but in the course of work, and stressed the need for graduates to be able to deliver on their responsibilities.
In a related development, AIESEC held a Career Fair for students of the University of Ghana.
It sought to educate them how to prepared for the job market.
Representatives from seven organisations namely- Ghana Home Loans, United Bank for Africa, Standard Chartered Bank, SAS Financial Group, Oxford and Beaumont Solicitors, Nestle Ghana Limited and Corporate Assessment Company mounted stands where students interacted with them.
Some of the organisations took the applications and CVs of students while some of them (students) were interviewed.
Greater Accra Civil Servants housing project begins
04-15-08
Page 24
The Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji Abubakar Boniface Saddique, has cut the sod for the construction of a housing estate, estimated at $11 million, for the Greater Accra branch of the Civil Servants Association (CSA).
The project, which is being financed by VANDT Developers Limited, is situated on 540 acres at Obosomase in the Eastern Region and is expected to be completed in about nine months.
Speaking at the ceremony, Alhaji Siddique said the move by the association was in line with the government’s policy to provide decent and affordable housing to Ghanaians.
He said the government provided the affordable housing scheme to provide houses to the citizenry, adding that about 5,000 of the houses were expected to be completed by the end of this year.
He commended the Grater Accra branch of the Civil Servants Association and expressed the hope that civil servants in the other regions would emulate what their colleagues had done.
The Chairman of VANDT Developers Limited, Mr Isaac Enimil Osei Bonsu, said with housing deficits estimated at 500,000, the delivery of well-priced and affordable houses in a co-ordinated manner had become pertinent for real estate development in the country.
He said the project which started as a dream of the hardworking executives of the CSA, was a clear manifestation of the prevailing economic climate and the golden age of business being enjoyed in the country.
“For this public/private partnership, VANDT would provide financing and construct the houses and the Civi Servants Association will provide buyers who have been pre-qualified for mortgages,” he said, adding that “the pre-qualification process is still ongoing and this will involve the detailed analyses of members’ current salaries, allowances, years to retirement and ability to service a 12 to 20-year mortgage to match the requirements of prospective mortgage providers”.
The Chairman of the Greater Accra branch of the CSA, Mr James Amissah, said the project was expected to address the housing needs of civil servants.
The Chief of Obosomase, Nana Yaw Dartey, called on the government to improve the road network in the area.
Page 24
The Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji Abubakar Boniface Saddique, has cut the sod for the construction of a housing estate, estimated at $11 million, for the Greater Accra branch of the Civil Servants Association (CSA).
The project, which is being financed by VANDT Developers Limited, is situated on 540 acres at Obosomase in the Eastern Region and is expected to be completed in about nine months.
Speaking at the ceremony, Alhaji Siddique said the move by the association was in line with the government’s policy to provide decent and affordable housing to Ghanaians.
He said the government provided the affordable housing scheme to provide houses to the citizenry, adding that about 5,000 of the houses were expected to be completed by the end of this year.
He commended the Grater Accra branch of the Civil Servants Association and expressed the hope that civil servants in the other regions would emulate what their colleagues had done.
The Chairman of VANDT Developers Limited, Mr Isaac Enimil Osei Bonsu, said with housing deficits estimated at 500,000, the delivery of well-priced and affordable houses in a co-ordinated manner had become pertinent for real estate development in the country.
He said the project which started as a dream of the hardworking executives of the CSA, was a clear manifestation of the prevailing economic climate and the golden age of business being enjoyed in the country.
“For this public/private partnership, VANDT would provide financing and construct the houses and the Civi Servants Association will provide buyers who have been pre-qualified for mortgages,” he said, adding that “the pre-qualification process is still ongoing and this will involve the detailed analyses of members’ current salaries, allowances, years to retirement and ability to service a 12 to 20-year mortgage to match the requirements of prospective mortgage providers”.
The Chairman of the Greater Accra branch of the CSA, Mr James Amissah, said the project was expected to address the housing needs of civil servants.
The Chief of Obosomase, Nana Yaw Dartey, called on the government to improve the road network in the area.
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