A group of candidates, primarily from the Visual Arts program, erupted in anger after what they perceived as overly strict invigilation during their Integrated Science exam.
The unrest led to a scene of chaos where students threw stones and sachets of water at teachers, forcing them to flee for safety.
Walter Yesutor Adanunyo, one of the targeted teachers, recounted that he and his Head of Department were warned about the impending attack by a student.
Despite this, a mob gathered at the school gate, threatening violence. Mr. Adanunyo was injured in the confrontation and sought medical treatment.
The incident has been reported to the police, who are now on high alert as the students have threatened to return on September 20, the final day of the WASSCE.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Veterinary Services Department, Dr. Alejo Cudjoe, has reported a significant rise in dog bites and rabies cases, particularly in the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions.
Rabies, a fatal viral disease that affects mammals, is primarily transmitted through bites or scratches from infected animals. It causes severe inflammation of the brain and nervous system, often leading to death if untreated.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that rabies claims around 70,000 lives annually, with 144 people dying from the disease each day, the vast majority occurring in developing countries in Africa and Asia.
Ghana, in particular, has seen a recent surge in rabies cases.
At a recent rabies awareness event, Dr. Alejo Cudjoe, highlighted that the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions have the highest number of stray and unvaccinated dogs, which significantly contributes to the increase in rabies cases.
He urged the government to expedite the review of the Animal Health Act of 1961 to address the rising threat.
Dr. Cudjoe further explained that efforts to eradicate rabies are anchored on collaboration between three key ministries: the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Environment.
“One may ask why we are experiencing so many rabies cases in Accra and Kumasi. The population of stray unvaccinated dogs are growing in these areas. The time has come for us to change focus and pay more attention to aquatic animal health because that is where our source of protein comes from .
He added that “all the efforts in eliminating rabies are enshrined in three pillars. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ministry of Health and Environment we walk closely together”.
He stressed the importance of a unified approach to tackling this public health issue.
Meanwhile, the Director of the Veterinary Services Directorate in Accra , Dr. Joseph Kofi Abu,has noted that one of the biggest challenges in combating rabies is inadequate funding for the animal health sector.
He pointed out that the shortage of veterinary personnel, including cleaners, across the regions limits the visibility and accessibility of veterinary services, making it difficult to control the spread of the disease.
According to the 2023 Ghana Health Service DHMIS report, approximately 3,311 suspected rabies cases were recorded in 2023, with fears that the numbers could rise in the coming months.
The report added that without adequate intervention, the risk to public health remains high, particularly in areas with a growing population of stray and unvaccinated dogs.
Urgent action, including policy reviews, increased funding, and improved veterinary services, will be crucial in controlling the spread of rabies and reducing the toll it takes on communities across Ghana.
The 2023 Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey (AHIES) by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) highlighted significant findings on youth aged 15 to 35 not in education, employment, or training (NEET). As of the third quarter of 2023, this group totaled 1.9 million, with females comprising 1.2 million and males 715,691.
The Greater Accra Region had the highest concentration of NEET youth, with 565,360 individuals, followed by the Ashanti Region (352,503), Central Region (155,171), Eastern Region (143,601), and Western Region (137,865).
Females had a higher NEET rate (21%) compared to males (15%), reflecting a 6-percentage-point disparity. Greater Accra had the highest NEET rate among regions (26.9%), followed by the North East Region (19.5%).
Comparing 2022 and 2023, the national youth NEET rate decreased from 24.1% to 18.2%, with Greater Accra being the only region to experience a slight increase. Overall, the number of NEET youth decreased by 462,998 during this period.
The 2024 World Youth Skills Day underscored the importance of targeted interventions to bridge the gaps in education, employment, and training opportunities for Ghana’s youth, aligning with the theme “Youth Skills for Peace and Development.”
“Greater Accra had the highest NEET rate with a little over a quarter (26.9%) of the population 15 to 35 years not engaged in education, employment, or training. North East Region (19.5%) had the second highest rate with about one in five youth NEET,” GSS said.
“In all, the total number of youth NEET decreased by almost half a million (462,998) over the period. Between the third quarters of 2022 and 2023, the percentage of youth NEET declined in all regions except Greater Accra which experienced a marginal increase of 0.5 percentage points,” the report added.
The Supreme Court of Ghana has debunked the claim made by the Numo Nmashie family of Teshie, asserting that they are not the rightful owners of 70 villages encompassing more than 72,000 acres of land in the Greater Accra Region.
The court’s ruling challenges the family’s long-standing assertion of ownership, opening a new chapter in the intricate landscape of land rights in the region.
As reported by graphic.com.gh, a definitive stance has been taken by a five-member panel of the court, presided over by Chief Justice Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. The panel emphasized that the Numo Nmashie family holds no valid claim to the mentioned land. This assertion contradicts a Court of Appeal decision in 1982 that had previously declared them as owners of the contested piece of land.
In a report by graphic.com.gh, a decisive position has been established by a five-member court panel led by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. The panel unequivocally stated that the Numo Nmashie family lacks a legitimate claim to the specified land. This assertion stands in direct contradiction to a 1982 Court of Appeal decision that had previously recognized them as owners of the disputed piece of land.
It, therefore, ordered the Lands Commission to expunge all registrations and certificates issued to the Numo Nmashie family of Teshie, and the Tetteh Olewolon Family, in respect of the 72,000 acres.
The villages affected by the decision are Peduase, Obuom, Nsakye, Agyemanti, Brotrease, Danfa, Adoteiman, Otinibi, Malidzano, Okyrekomfo Kotei, Taboadidi, Ayim, Adenkrebi, Abefia, Ayimensa, Kweiman, Odonkorkurom and Kwadwokurom.
The clarification by the Supreme Court was an affirmation of its judgment dated March 22, 2023, in favour of the Boi Stool and 13 others.
The panel that made the judgment had Justice Jones Victor Mawulorm Dotse, as the presiding judge, with Justices Issifu Omoro Tanko Amadu, Nene Abayateye Ofoe Amegatcher, Avril Lovelace-Johnson and Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi, as members.
The Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) has acquired 20,000 street lights for distribution and installation across various metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies (MMDAs) within the Greater Accra Region.
This initiative aims to enhance both the lighting system and overall security in the region.
Currently, the council is compiling a comprehensive list of all electoral areas within the region.
This information will aid in devising a schedule for contractors to deploy and set up the new street lights.
Henry Quartey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, announced this development during the annual GARCC meeting.
The meeting was convened in accordance with Section 191(I) of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936).
Quartey outlined the allocation plan for the street lights distribution: the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and Tema Metropolitan Assembly will each receive 600 lights, while various municipalities will receive 400 each. Additionally, district assemblies are set to obtain 300 street lights each.
The meeting convened metropolitan, municipal, and district chief executives (MMDCEs) from the region, along with their presiding members.
Discussions revolved around regional development and challenges faced by their respective areas, including sanitation, flooding, traffic congestion, road conditions, and chieftaincy issues.
MMDCEs provided updates to the minister on ongoing projects and their progress within their respective assemblies.
Quartey highlighted the influx of petitions and grievances submitted to his office, which should ideally have been addressed at the assembly level.
He urged MMDCEs to prioritize efficient service delivery, prompt resolution of complaints, and the establishment of effective feedback mechanisms.
This, he emphasized, would build trust and confidence in local governance, leading to better payment compliance with rates and fees.
Quartey also emphasized the importance of Internally Generated Funds (IGF) for capital projects, directing MMDCEs and presiding members to allocate a minimum of 30% of the total IGF for direct community benefit.
He stressed the need for enhanced waste management and environmental sanitation efforts, calling for integration of informal waste collectors through registration and regulation to improve solid waste collection and management.
The Ada Asafotufiami Festival unfolded in a magnificent display of tradition, culture, and heritage, captivating attendees and enthusiasts alike.
Hosted annually in the Ada Traditional Area of Greater Accra Region, the festival showcased a vibrant tapestry of customs and rituals dedicated to preserving the Ga-Dangme people’s rich heritage.
Leading the festivities was Nene Abram Kabu Akuaku III, Paramount Chief and President of the Ada Traditional Council.
Spanning several days, the festival honored the bravery and prowess of Ada warriors, providing a moment for reflection and gratitude toward the gods’ blessings.
The celebration exuded a joyful ambiance with its lively performances, striking colors, and time-honored practices.
A notable highlight was the procession of warriors, donned in traditional attire and bearing ancient weaponry.
Their proud march symbolized reverence for ancestors who courageously defended their lands and traditions.
The festival also showcased the Ada people’s intricate craftsmanship, featuring elaborate beadwork, vibrant clothing, and ornate accessories.
Special patron of the event, President Akufo-Addo, was warmly received with cheers.
During the 2023 festival, President Akufo-Addo reiterated his support for local industries, emphasizing Electrochem Ghana Limited’s Songor Salt project in Ada.
He expressed commitment to the area’s development, despite not having the mandate of the Ada people.
The Ada Asafotufiami Festival encapsulated the spirit of heritage, unity, and cultural pride, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended.
A pre-term baby was found dead in a gutter in Abeka-Beriberi, a community in the Greater Accra Region, in a shocking incident that has outraged the residents.
The baby, believed to be about six to seven months old, was apparently aborted and dumped in the gutter by an unknown person.
The body was discovered early on Tuesday, August 2, 2023, by a young female nail technician who was on her way to her shop.
She said she screamed and called for help when she saw the baby. “I don’t know who could do such a thing,” she said.
The community is demanding that the police investigate the matter and find the culprit behind this horrific act.
The residents are grieving and saddened by the loss of the innocent life that was cruelly ended.
An infant who had just been born was discovered abandoned in a drain at Abeka-Berieberie, located in the Greater Accra Region.
The 2022 Auditor General report, contains details which indicate that two account officers working at the Greater Accra Regional Department of Urban Roads have been implicated in a fraudulent scheme, allegedly misappropriating an amount of GHS1.9 million between January 2020 and March 2022.
The individuals involved in the embezzlement case include a former Greater Accra Regional Accountants Officer and another individual who held a position as an account staff within the department.
The Regional Accountant is under suspicion for allegedly embezzling around 1.6 million cedis through fraudulent withdrawals on their own.
Furthermore, both officers were implicated in separate incidents where they collected a combined revenue of over three hundred thousand cedis, but they failed to provide proper records of the amounts collected.
The Auditor General discovered these revelations by conducting a thorough examination of the public accounts of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.
Based on these findings, the Auditor General has strongly advised the Acting Regional Director of the Department to promptly recover the misappropriated funds from the two staff members involved.
Management of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, also known as Ridge Hospital, has refuted claims that it hosted a fraudster who was supposed to serve a 15-year jail term for two months.
In a press release, the hospital said that David Aseye Tay, who was convicted of defrauding a bulk distribution company of over GHc27.9 million in 2018, was referred from the Nsawam Prison Clinic and admitted to the hospital on June 23, 2023, after falling ill.
The hospital said that he underwent a series of surgical procedures and was discharged on July 21, 2023, after spending a total of 28 days on admission.
The hospital denied reports that Tay was living in luxury at the hospital, receiving visits from family and friends and occasionally going home to be with his wife and family.
The hospital said that it uses electronic records systems to keep track of patients’ medical records in real-time and that these records can be verified by the necessary legal authority.
The hospital said that it was open to any suspicions or doubts regarding the matter and that its doors were always open for such verifications.
The hospital’s statement comes after some media reports alleged that Tay had been staying at Ridge Hospital for almost two months under the guise of being very sick, despite being sentenced to serve 15 years at the Nsawam Maximum Prison.
Tay was found guilty of 23 counts of defrauding by false pretence, issuance of false cheques and money laundering by an Accra High Court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo in May 2023.
He admitted to having collected petroleum products from Misyl Energy Company Ltd., owned by Dr Nick Danso Adjei, through dubious means in 2018.
He was also ordered to forfeit some properties he acquired from the proceeds of his fraud, including houses, cars, a G&G operating licence worth GHc1.3 million and seven fuel stations across Ghana.
The Bortianor Traditional Council has called for an impartial investigation into the shooting of some people claiming to be land guards by the Ghana Police Service in June 2023 in Bortianor, Greater Accra Region.
The traditional authority has disputed accusations that the people were land guards who terrorized villagers.
According to the Traditional Authority, the Parliamentary Committee established to investigate the subject has yet to visit the enclave.
Some traditional chiefs in the area spoke to the media about their outrage at the occurrence and urged the government to investigate the killings.
A leader mentioned that the local police commands were unaware of the raid until after the killings occurred.
“The Divisional Police didn’t know anything about the incident the day it happened. The Weija District and the Krokobite Division didn’t know anything about it and this was just about 500 meters from where the incident happened.”
He refuted claims that the victims were armed land guards who had been terrorizing the local residents.
“They were not having guns and the bullet casings shown on TV were brought from else, and we know the people who did that and wrongfully killed the people.”
“The government should wake up and find a way to investigate this thing, and we are ready to give to them telephone numbers to start with their investigations,” the angry traditional leader added.
A flagbearer hopeful of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto will on Monday, July 3, 2023, begin a nationwide campaign tour starting with the Greater Accra Region.
The two-term Member of Parliament for Kwadaso in the Ashanti Region will first visit the Shai-Osudoku constituency, Ningo-Prampram constituency and then Ashaiman constituency where he will meet with polling station executives and delegates to sell his vision for the party and Ghana to them.
On Tuesday, July 4, 2023, he will visit Domeabra-Obom, Ayawaso East and Ayawaso North Constituencies where he’ll convince the delegates to vote for him to become the party’s Presidential Candidate for the 2024 election.
The former Minister for Food and Agriculture will then move his campaign to the Central and Eastern Regions.
He will be accompanied by two Co-campaign Chairmen, Alfred Boye, a former Greater Accra NPP Regional Chairman, and KEN-WUUD Norwusu, also former NPP Volta Regional Chairman, the National Coordinator of the campaign team, Peter Oteng Darko and Campaign Spokesperson, Dr. Prince Sodoke Amuzu.
The New Patriotic Party on May 26, 2023, opened nominations for its Presidential Primary and closed on June 24, 2023.
Four polling station executives in the Greater Accra Region have been suspended due to misconduct by theMadinaconstituency of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Phillip Nyame is a polling station organiser for S.D.A JHS (B) in the Social Welfare 2 electoral area, Mrs. Mireku-Addo Grace Ansah is a polling station organiser at S.D.A JHS (B) is also in the Social Welfare 2 electoral area.
Others are Mr. Nicholas Amposah, polling station organiser at D.C Primary School in Kweiman electoral area – suspended indefinitely, and Mrs. Mabel Appiah Sarpong, a polling station secretary at No. B3 Redco also suspended for six months.
The Constituency Secretary, Reginald Bosompem, announced this in a letter dated May 30, 2023.
The Asere Tsono Mantse, Nii Quao Donkor II, has voiced deep concern over the ongoing decline of fish stocks in the Greater Accra Region. In a compelling statement, he expressed his worries about the alarming rate at which the region’s fish population is diminishing, highlighting the urgent need for immediate action to address this critical issue.
With the livelihoods of countless individuals reliant on the sea’s resources, the Asere Tsono Mantse’s apprehension underscores the importance of sustainable fishing practices and conservation efforts to safeguard the region’s marine ecosystem.
He said that it is important that the sea, which is a gift from God, be treated with some level of candour.
Nii Quao Donkor II is the Asere Tsono Mantse
He also stated that this is the reason he and his people give the sea some rest every week as a sign of respect.
“The ocean is an important God-given asset which contributes to food security, nutrition, jobs and livelihoods, as well as trade, sports, and recreation. We the Ga-Dangbe people, have special respect for and attachment to the sea.
“So, for example, we give it a rest on Tuesdays when no one goes fishing. Prior to Homowo, we also bless the ocean, pacify it, and pray for bumper fish harvest for the ceremonial food, kpokpoi, (sic),” he said.
Nii Quao Donkor II, however, indicated that the fish stock in the sea is gradually depleting.
This situation, he added, is occasioned by the fact that the population, especially in Accra, continues to grow, mounting pressure on the sea.
“Due to the rapid population growth, especially in Accra, being the capital, and our hospitality, a lot of pressure is put on our coastal ecosystem. Bad fishing practices have resulted in the depletion of our fish stock, while poor sewage and solid waste management are contributing to sea pollution, thereby posing a threat to marine seas and the ecosystem,” he stressed.
The National Blue Economy Summit enters its second day on Thursday, June 1, 2023.
Rescue activities are in full swing to retrieve individuals feared trapped in a rubble after a three-storey building collapsed at Bortianor, Greater Accra Region.
The building which collapsed on Tuesday, May 9 is said to serve as an edifice where Christians gather to worship.
It is reported that some church members were in the building when the disaster struck.
Personnel from the Ghana Police Service have been spotted at the scene. Reinforcement has been called from the Ghana National Fire Service and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
A collapsed storey buildingat Adentan in the Greater Accra Region has left one person inside.
Three others have sustained injuries and have been rushed to the hospital for treatment after the incident that happened on Monday.
The Member of Parliament for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu confirmed the incident on Eyewitness News.
Officials from theNational Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Ghana National Fire Service and the Ghana Police Service are having a tough time retrieving the trapped person from the debris as there are no equipment to assist with the rescue operations.
The collapsed building is a three-storey building close to the Kpogas furniture and the Adentan footbridge around the SDA church junction and the West African Hardware Company.
The lawmaker is thus appealing to benevolent individuals with excavators to immediately come in to help.
“According to the NADMO officer, the only excavator available to them at 37 has broken down. Currently, it is a desperate call we are making for help to rescue one person under this rubble, and so we are currently waiting anxiously for support. What is happening doesn’t look like an emergency because it is really disappointing “, he pleaded.
The only option available to the security officers at the scene is the use of shovels and hacksaws in the operations.
Former president, John Dramani Mahama, has voiced his worries over the information contained in the US State 2022 report on Ghana’s violations of human rights.
The U.S. Department of State last week released its 2022 annualCountry Reporton Human Rights Practices which cited Ghana for several human rights cases of abuse.
The report cited Ghana for a number of human rights abuses including arbitrary or unlawful killings, extrajudicial killings; torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment by the government or on behalf of the government among others.
According to the report, although the government took some steps to address corruption and human rights abuses by officials, whether in the security forces or elsewhere in the government, impunity remained a problem.
The report highlighted that corruption, brutality, uneven training, lack of oversight, and an overburdened judicial system contributed to police impunity.
It stated that police often failed to respond to reports of crimes. In many instances, police did not respond to complaints unless members of the public paid for police transportation and other operating expenses.
Speaking during his tour of Kpone Katamanso in theGreater Accra Region, Mr Mahama said “Recently, the US Human Right report has come out and it makes very bad reading.
“Human rights abuses, corruption, torture, so many things. And that is why I said when we come into office we will pursue constitutional review so that we tighten the constitution to ensure that it guarantees our freedoms and rights and make things better.
“We will set up a Governance Advisory Council and that would include Civil Society Organisations, religious leaders, chiefs and ordinary grassroots people.”
Superintendent Effia Tenge, the Ghana Police Service’s Head of Public Affairs at the Volta Regional Command, has resigned from her position.
Mrs. Tenge announced her exit which takes immediate effect on Friday in a post to journalists she has worked with in the Volta region.
“…this is to inform you that I have formally exited my post as Director, Public Affairs and for that matter the Ghana police service,” she wrote.
She added that, “I want to use this medium to thank you all for your immeasurable support during my appointment as Public Affairs Officer of the noble profession. We will definitely meet again hopefully in a different working environment.”
Until her arrival in the Volta region, Mrs. Tenge was the head of Public Affairs Unit of the Ghana Police Service in the Greater Accra region for several years.
She was first appointed into the service as a Public Affairs Officer in 2005 and stationed at the Media Monitoring Center of the Police Public Affairs Directorate, National Headquarters where she served and later became the supervisor, placing her in a vantage role to conduct media analysis of police and security-related information and deal with potential negative publicity likely to affect the reputation of the institution.
Effia Tenge introduced the Police Regional News Magazine ‘Police Diary’ to ensure regular information flow on law enforcement activities that promotes police professionalism, respect for human rights, transparency in police operations, and accountability to the public.
She was a lead advocate against sexual and gender based violence and also led several sensitization campaigns on the crime of kidnapping in schools.
Just recently, Mrs. Effia Tenge led another campaign against substance abuse and school hooliganism across the Volta region.
She is regarded an astute communicator with an enviable working relationship with the media and the general public.
Her premature retirement has undoubtedly come as a shock.
The Court of Appeal’s sessions in four regional capitals have been suspended, according to the Judicial Service.
Tamale, Cape Coast, Ho, and Koforidua are the affected cities.
As contained in the Public Notice, all appeals from the Northern Sector of the country including the Upper East, Upper West, North East, Northern, Savannah, Bono East, Ahafo, Western North and Ashanti regions would be heard in Kumasi while all appeals in the Southern sector including the Western, Central, Eastern, Oti, Volta, and Greater Accra Region will be heard in Accra.
“In view of this, all pending appeals in the Court of Appeal listed above are accordingly transferred to Kumasi and Accra respectively”.
However, in a Twitter post, Minority Chief Whip and MP for Adaklu constituency, Governs Kwame Agbodza has questioned the reason for the closure of the Court of Appeal.
According to him, it is surprising that such a decision has been taken at a time when there is advocacy for the construction of more courts and the training of more lawyers and judges to bring justice closer to the people.
The Managing Editor of The Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has described as reckless the removal of the Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu by the leadership of the National Democratic Congress.
He said the NDC has created room for speculation amongst the party’s political opponents.
“This is a reckless move, absolutely reckless move. So what have you achieved? You have created conditions for all manner of speculations. I was listening to some of my friends in the NPP discuss this matter, come and see, it’s like they have won a bonanza.
“One of them actually went to the extent of saying John Mahama directed this move because he has a rift with Haruna, he wants to show Haruna some sense. This is not true, John Mahama was not comfortable with this move,” Mr. Pratt said on the Alhaji and Alhaji show on Radio Gold.
He described the popularity of the MP for Tamale South as legendary adding that his removal will affect the fortunes of the party up north.
“His popularity is legendary and anytime he has been touched, there have been repercussions. He is not God, he is not all-knowing, he is not omnipotent, he is not omnipresent, he can be removed. But if you want to remove him there are things that you have to do knowing the political circumstances. Were those things done?” the Editor of the Insight Newspaper asked.
According to him, though the outgoing Minority Leader has his shortcomings, he is the primus inter pares in the Northern region.
“Haruna Iddrisu may have all his faults, but he is the primus inter pares [first amongst equals] in the Northern Region. I have been to Tamale on many occasions, I went to school in Tamale, and I know Tamale fairly well. This is a man who comes to Tamale and he doesn’t drive a car. I have seen him riding just an ordinary bicycle moving from place to place holding caucuses in the streets, and playing cards with members. I have seen him on a motorbike going to funerals and so on,” Mr. Pratt noted.
There have been some disagreements amongst the Minority caucus after the party replaced Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu with Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembelle also replaced Ketu North MP, James Klutse Avedzi as the Deputy Minority Leader while Kwame Governs Agbodza replaced Asawase MP, Muntaka Mubarak as the Minority Chief Whip.
Some MPs signed a petition to reject the decision of the party over lack of consultation. Another set of MPs also petitioned the leadership of the NDC to ignore calls for the reshuffling to be reversed.
The Council of Elders of the NDC subsequently called on both sides to cease fire.
The Management of Ghana Water Company Limited has announced rationing of water supply as raw water bodies from various sources deplete due to the cut down of trees.
In a statement, the Ghana Water Company Limited revealed that consumers may encounter erratic flow of water in some parts of the country, especially the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Central Western and Northern regions.
“With the onset of the dry season, the entire country is expected to experience challenges with water supply because of the depletion of raw water from the various water bodies,” the statement said.
Speaking on News Desk on Monday, the Head of Communications, Stanley Martey, said trees giving water bodies cover have been cut down.
“Trees that give our water bodies cover have all been cut away because of farming activities. We are also aware that the pollution in our water bodies has silted most of our water bodies and such rate of evaporation is high and we do not have huge volumes of water in our water bodies,” he said.
The Management has therefore called on consumers to play their role to minimise the impact of the situation as it cannot tell when the erratic supply could end.
“For now, because of the climatic changes as we know, it is a bit difficult to determine whether it will end in a month or two. The Ghana Water Company Limited has put in resilient measures and we also expect that consumers will also play their role so together we can minimise the impact.”
Read the full details of GWCL’s statement below:
DRY SEASON WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES
With the onset of the dry season, the entire country is expected to experience challenges with water supply because of the depletion of raw water from the various water bodies. As a result, consumers may encounter erratic flow of water in some parts of the country, especially the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Central, Western and the Northern Regions.
The Management of the Ghana Water Company Limited wishes to assure the consuming public, that it has put in measures to ameliorate the situation. Management therefore wishes to call on all to be part of the solution, hence, consumers are advised to strictly adhere to the following conservation measures;
Cease indiscriminate watering of lawns with treated water,
Moderate the use of treated water for car washing by resorting to the use of buckets, instead of hosing,
shut all taps when not in use,
Repair all leakages in your homes, like overflowing reservoirs and dripping taps, valves, etc. (the little drops also swell your water bills.)
Report all burst pipes and leakages immediately to the nearest GWCL District offices, Customer Service Centers and Fault Offices.
Report all persons engaged in illegal connections, by-passes, and all malpractices against GWCL.
You can also send google GPS locations, pictures and videos of the burst and leakages on the GWCL WhatsApp lines 0555123393, 0555155524, (WhatsApp information only and not calls)
The public can call GWCL on these numbers; 0207385089, 0207385090. The toll-free line is 0800 40 000 for Vodafone cell and land lines only and 0302 218240 for all other networks.
The GWCL has currently resorted to Water Demand Management to ensure equitable distribution of the water from the various treatment plants. All District Offices have been requested to announce to customers, days on which water will be flowing so customers can store water.
During dry seasons, consumers resort to the use of treated water for keeping lawns green, for commercial washing of vehicles etc. currently the dry season is on and consumers with greater dependence on rainwater have also compounded the problem by taking to treated water use. These practices ease the pressures in the pipelines thereby causing low pressures and no flow in some areas, especially the hilly areas.
Management of GWCL is very much concerned about the impact of the dry season on the raw water sources, which has been compounded by the excessive pollution of the water bodies and wish to assure the public that, the company, together with the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, and allied Ministries, are working assiduously to improve on raw water resources in the Country.
The cooperation of the public is greatly appreciated.
The Ashanti Region and the Greater Accra Region are considered to have Ghana’s deadliest and most dangerous roadways, respectively.
This is supported by data on the amount of mishaps and fatalities in these two regions’ cities, particularly in the capital cities of Accra and Kumasi.
Data from the Road Safety Authority of Ghana shows that the two regions recorded the most accidents and fatalities for 2022 and this has been the story for years.
In 2022, Greater Accra Region, for instance, recorded the greatest number of accidents in the country with nearly 46 percent of the total number of accidents recorded in 2022. It recorded some 6658 accidents followed by the Ashanti Region which recorded 3372 accidents, representing over 23 percent of accidents in Ghana.
The Oti Region recorded the lowest number of accidents in 2022 with only 0.64 percent of the total accidents recorded in 2022. Three other regions including the North East, Savana and the Upper West contributed less than 1 percent each to the total number of accidents recorded in 2022.
In terms of death and injuries, the two regions recorded the highest in the country with Greater Accra recording 485 accident deaths (25.01 percent of total road accident deaths) and 1989 injuries while the Ashanti Region recorded 382 deaths and 1202 injuries.
But does this mean that Greater Accra and Ashanti are the regions with the deadliest roads in Ghana?
The two regions according to statista.com host more than one-third of Ghana’s population so it should not be surprising if they see more road accidents and deaths. To check the rate of accidents and casualties, cases recorded are conventionally measured per 100,000 population.
The number of accidents per 100000 people in all the regions shows that the Greater Accra and Ashanti have the highest rate of accidents in Ghana.
The Greater Accra Region recorded approximately 123 accidents per 100000 population while the Ashanti Region recorded approximately 62 accidents per 100000 people.
However, when it comes to road accident deaths, the two regions with the highest rate of accidents, do not have the highest rate of deaths.
The Eastern Region has the highest rate of accident deaths in Ghana with approximately 11 deaths per 100,000 population compared to Greater Accra which has 9 road accident deaths per 100,000 population.
The Ashanti Region, which has the second highest rate of road accidents in Ghana, has a lower death rate (7.03 deaths per 100,000 population) compared to regions like the Western North (7.44 deaths per 100,000 population) and Ahafa (8.33 deaths per 100,000 population) which have lower accident rates.
So, it can be concluded that even though the Ashanti and Greater Accra Regions have high rates of accidents, they do not necessarily have the most dangerous roads in Ghana.
A specialist in family medicine at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana’s Greater Accra Region, Dr. Ernest Anim-Opare, has defined the process of overcoming addiction as a long journey and a cycle.
Speaking on the GTV Breakfast Show on how to do away with or manage one’s addiction to alcohol, especially during the festive season, Dr. Anim-Opare generalised addiction as one that “needs a very meticulous process to be broken”.
He explained that for one who is addicted to either alcohol, gambling and hard drugs to break away, required, “a behavioral transition”.
According to him, the behavioral transition or cycle begins with the “precontemplation stage”. Here, he described as the stage where the individual may be hooked on something but may not be able to identify what it is or the dangers therein.
The second stage of the cycle, he termed as the “contemplation stage”. Here, the individual begins to realize the danger their deeds may have or lead them into and begin to reason into it. The third stage of the cycle, which is the “planning stage”, is where the individual plans or decides on refraining from some engagements or friends that lure or push him or her into such addictive acts.
The fourth stage of the cycle is the “action stage”. Here, Dr. Anim-Opare described as the stage where the plan of refraining from addictive acts is implemented or put to effective work. The “maintenance stage”, follows after the plan has been put into action for at least six months or more to see progress.
The last and final stage of the cycle is the “relapse stage”. This stage is where the individual after going through all the five stages explained above will have to go through guidance and counselling.
Dr. Anim-Opare described the relapse stage as one that is very essential in the breakaway process.
“The fact is that all five stages are not a linear journey but indeed a tough one.
By the first quarter of 2023, the much-discussed Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) would be completely operational, this is according to a statement from the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
According to the NPA, this is to eliminate the activities of gas filling stations stemming from the gas explosion at the Atomic Junction in the Greater Accra Region.
On October 7, 2017, a petrol tanker offloading products at the state-owned Ghana Oil Company (GOIL) station caught fire resulting in a large-scale explosion at the site of a Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) station located at Atomic Junction in the Madina Constituency of the Greater Accra Region.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NPA, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid announced the phasing out of the gas filling stations at a press soiree held in Accra.
He said going forward, gas fillings stations will become exchange points where customers will have to exchange their cylinders for a filled one from the cylinder bottling plants.
“We are encouraging investors to venture into the cylinder bottling plant establishments in the county, particularly up north,” he said.
He said already GOIL is doing one in the Kumasi metropolis of the Ashanti Region and one at Tema in the Greater Accra Region.
He added that these two bottling plants will come on stream by the first quarter of next year for the full implementation of the CRM exercise.
He expressed worry over the delay in rolling out the CRM exercise all these years.
He revealed that four other companies have renewed their licences with the NPA to start the processes for the establishment of the bottling plants.
The Director of Agriculture for Tema West Municipality in the Greater AccraRegion, Mrs. Patience Alloh has encouraged Ghanaians to learn and practice backyard farming under hygienic conditions for home consumption.
Mrs. Alloh advised households to use any available space around their homes to cultivate vegetables under healthy conditions.
She said the agriculture department would intensify sensitisation on climate-smart agriculture and continue to promote “One House One Tree” to help reduce the adverse effects of climate change and enhance nutritional status.
“The department would scale up the sensitisation on alternate livelihoods such as mushroom and snail production, as well as build the capacity of interested individuals in catfish production.
“We would also facilitate group formation of farmers and all other actors along the agricultural value chain to enhance extension (services) delivery,” she said.
Mrs. Alloh reiterated that the global economic challenges call for a concerted approach to the concept of value addition in agriculture in the area of crop/livestock production and aquaculture.
She said value addition in agricultural production presents an opportunity for additional revenue generation, job creation, food security, improved food safety, foreign exchange earnings, and effective post-harvest management, satisfying Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) I & II.
SDG I calls for an end to poverty in all its manifestations by 2030 and SDG II is about creating a world free of hunger by 2030.
She said the agriculture department of the assembly would continue to raise seedlings of economic benefit under the government’s Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) for distribution to households.
“The survival and progress of a nation depend largely on the performance of its agricultural sector. Agriculture can, therefore, not be left out in our developmental agenda as a nation,” Mrs. Alloh said.
The fraction of the populace that had access to better sanitary facilities was used to access the two municipalities, Krowor and Adentan.
The measure was one of around 22 indicators evaluated across seven sectors, including governance, water, sanitation, education, and energy.
The Krowor and Adentan municipalities were also part of Metropolitan, Municipal and District (MMDs) ranked the top 12 MMDs in the sanitation sector with more than 90 score points.
Other 10 MMDs
The 10 were Akuapem North Municipality, Berekum East Municipality, Atwima Kwanwoma District, Asutifi North District, Ahafo District, Tema Metropolis, Oforikrom Municipality, Tema West Municipality, Accra Metropolis, La Dade-Kotopon Municipality and the Ada East District.
Nine out of the top 12 ranked MMDs in the sanitation sector were municipalities and metropolises.
The DLT report was aimed at generating evidence for addressing unequal access to services and development opportunities for children.
According to the report, the results on sanitation indicated that specific policies were adopted by the highest performing MMDs to tackle poor sanitary issues.
It noted that the provision of adequate sanitation was, therefore, a crucial measure of the quality of life of people since it reduces their vulnerability to diseases.
Poor sanitation
However, the report also named 10 lowest scoring MMDs in the sanitation sector.
They were Lower Manya Krobo District, East Mamprusi Municipality, Mfantsiman Municipality, North Dayi District, Adansi South District, Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District, North Gonja District, Amenfi Central District, Builsa North District and Sekyere South District.
Eight out of the least 10 performing MMDs on sanitation were districts, which were usually rural.
The report indicated that the Greater Accra, Western, Western North and Ashanti regions scored above 50 per cent, while Savannah and Upper East scored below 30 per cent.
Access to water
Meanwhile in the water sector, 12 MMDs scored 100 per cent in the provision of safe drinking water sources.
They were accessed by the proportion of population with access to safe drinking water sources.
Nine out of the top 12 ranked MMDs in water provisions were in the Greater Accra Region, with the remaining in the Central and Ashanti regions.
They were also in the municipalities and metropolises, which were predominantly urban in nature.
The MMDs were Ablekuma North Municipality, Ablekuma West Municipality, Accra Metropolis, Ayawaso Central Municipality, Cape Coast Metropolis, Effutu Municipality, Ga North Municipality, Korle-Klottey Municipality, Kpone-Katamanso Municipality, Krowor Municipality, La Dade-Kotopon Municipality, Mampong Municipality.
Meanwhile, the 10 lowest performing MMDs in the provision of safe drinking water were Tatale-Sanguli District, Saboba District, Kumbungu District, Zabzugu District, Mion District, Kwahu Afram Plains North District, Atwima Nwabiagya North District, Suame Municipality, Nanumba South District and Nanton District.
From the results, nine out of the 10 least ranked were districts, with seven located in the Northern Region.
Suame Municipality in the centre of Kumasi scored 28 per cent, whereas Nanton District in the Northern Region was the lowest ranked MMD with only 1.11 per cent of inhabitants having access to safe drinking water sources.
A yet-to-be-identified Nigerian man has been arrested by the police in Ghana for allegedly beheading his girlfriend.
A journalist in the country, Serwaa Amihere disclosed this on Twitter.
According to her, the incident occurred in Spintex.
“A young Nigerian man has been picked up by the Ghana Police Service for allegedly beheading his girlfriend at Spintex,” she posted while attaching a video of the incident.
The corpse of the lady was seen being taken to the back of a pickup vehicle in the video.
This is coming a few weeks after the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) arrested seven Nigerians in connection with alleged involvement in activities of cybercrime in Ghana.
The suspects were nabbed after the EOCO acted on intelligence to raid a residence at Manhean, Obeyeyie in the Greater Accra Region.
A young Nigerian man has been picked up by the Ghana Police Service for allegedly beheading his girlfriend at Spintex. pic.twitter.com/itSjjuwPqz
The largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is set to begin its regional election conferences nationwide beginning today, Friday, November 11, 2022.
The party has asked delegates to play by the rules outlined.
Delegates in the Greater Accra Region will vote for the positions of youth organizer and women organizer at the Du Bois Memorial Center today.
At least 712 candidates will be contesting the various positions that are up for grabs.
This includes Chairman and Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Deputy Secretary, Organiser and Deputy Organiser, Treasurer and Deputy treasurer.
Others are Communications Officer and Deputy, Women’s Organiser and Deputy, the Zongo Caucus Coordinator, Youth Organiser and Deputy.
Elections have been suspended in the Bono East and Ahafo, while, in the Eastern Region, only the women and youth organiser elections will come off as scheduled.
Upper West Region
The election in the region will have a delegate list of 407 to make the decision.
Some key executives such as Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Organizer, Zongo Caucus, and communications officer positions are asking to be retained in their positions come Saturday while other incumbent executives have sought to seek other positions.
All Constituency executives are expected to participate in the elections but for Nandom where five Coptic members are not expected to vote.
Greater Accra
In the Greater Accra Region, the incumbent chairman, Kobina Ade Coker, who is seeking re-election, is being challenged by four other candidates.
They are a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Adentan, Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore; Thomas Ashong; Kojo Obeng Berkoh and Michael Tetteh Kwetey.
A statement signed by the NDC’s Deputy Director of Elections, Daniel Amartey, said all is set, in terms of security arrangements, logistics and venues, for the regional contests.
The exercise will end on Sunday, November 13, 2022.
A Chairman hopeful of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), in the Greater Accra Region, Mr. Joseph Ade-Coker has boldly stated that he can match his opponent in the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) boot for boot to win massively in the next general elections in 2024.
He said the NDC needs a courageous person like him to lead the battle and amass votes for the party to be at the helm of affairs in the country.
Interacting with NDC delegates during his campaign tour, Mr. Ade Coker said, “I have demonstrated that l have the courage to fight the NPP, they should also watch the posture of the NPP, they have been telling us that they are going to break the eight-year jinx, …If that is the case, the NDC needs a very courageous, bold and articulate person to be able to lead them in the battle in the Greater Accra region, which always determines the winning votes of the NDC. They should vote for me, I have come to you with a message and with a plan.”
The incumbent Greater Accra regional Chairman of NDC said the calibre of regional executives the delegates will elect internally will determine the party’s chances in the 2024 general elections.
“The calibre of people you elect tomorrow will determine the success of the NDC going into the 2024 general elections. If you elect people who are not mature, competent, tried and tested, the results will be GIGO, Garbage in Garbage out,” he warned.
He further advised delegates to desist from being influenced by money and enticing goodies.
The NDC is expected to elect its regional executives on November 12-13, 2022, to steer the affairs of the party.
Some frustrated drivers in the Greater Accra Region have pledged to review their prices anytime there is fuel increments in the country.
According to them, they will not wait on the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) to engage with government on the upward adjustment percentage.
Speaking to Accra-based TV3, one driver argued that, Oil Marketing Companies (OMC) don’t give any announcement prior to the increment of fuel, thus, drivers don’t need to alert government about their transport fares as well.
“We wake up and petrol and diesel prices have been increased. Do the operators announce their decision to increase it? So why should we inform government about our decision to increase transport fares?
“Nowadays, we will just make things simple. If we go to the filling stations and fuel prices have increased, we will just increase our fares as well,” one angry driver told the journalist.
This comes after the Concerned Drivers Association increased transport fares for the second time in two weeks.
Drivers on Saturday, October 29, started the implementation of the 19% increment in transport fares. At the time a litre of diesel and petrol was sold at ¢15.99 and ¢13.99.
A litre of diesel now sells at ¢23.49 and petrol sits at ¢17.99.
This has forced drivers to unilaterally increase transport fares again without any consultation with government.
The drivers bemoaned the state of the economy. Describing it as terrible, one driver asked, “Where are we going? Does government want to kill us?”
Considering the impact of skyrocketing prices of fuel on the economy, one driver suggested that government should revamp the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to prevent the import of expensive fuel.
“Things are really getting out of hand so this move will help to an extent.” Meanwhile, the GPRTU says it will not make any public comment on the matter until a meeting is held.
A basic school set up by the New Life Nungua Children’s Home located at Nungua in the Greater Accra Region to educate children under their care has been shut down for the past seven months due to lack of funds.
The school was set up in 2010 to offer quality education to children and help eliminate the stigmatisation against them when they were enrolled in public schools.
A total of 92 children have been admitted by the Orphanage and since the establishment of the Home in 2000, it had relied solely on donor funds to operate, but since the COVID-19 pandemic struck, donations have dwindled significantly.
Nii Afotey Botwe II, Founder of the Orphanage Home, told the Ghana News Agency, that the situation had taken a toll on the academic performance of the children as some of them complained about being stigmatised in the schools in which they have been enrolled.
“We pay special attention to the children in our school such that we didn’t keep more than 10 children in a class. But things are difficult for us, so, we had to shut down and enrol the children in nearby schools.
“Their mates call them names and that affects their studies. That is why we set up the school so they could concentrate on their studies and avoid the stigma,” he said.
The Orphanage currently caters for 92 children. The Home solely relies on donor support to cater for the needs of the children as well as pay for utility bills.
Nii Botwe II, said the Home required at least GHS30,000 monthly to effectively operate.
He said the Home had suspended its quarterly programme where it supported Persons Living with Disability with food, clothing, and other essential needs due to the decline in resources.
“The food we have in stock now can only last for two months and we appeal to individuals and organisations to come to our aid because we are struggling to survive,” Nii Botwe II said.
He appealed to the Government to exempt licensed Orphanage Homes from payment of utilities to cushion them under the current economic circumstances.
An engagement with some other orphanages paints a disturbing picture of the challenges facing these homes under the current economic hardships as some of them have still not recovered from the challenges occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Give To Eat Missionary Work, Ghana, located at Agona Nkum in the Central Region has established Ghana’s first Teenage Mothers Home, where it has integrated three classrooms to educate 71 children from Crechè, KG, and Preschool.
The NGO supports a total of 201 children located in the Central, Eastern, Volta, and Greater Accra Regions. The Organisation caters for their food, school, and medical costs, and assists them with monthly stipends.
The Management of the Organisation said the COVID-19 pandemic slashed its donor income by nearly 50 per cent, and the current recession, inflation, and energy crises worldwide had decreased its donations “drastically”.
Reverend Dr Kingsley Arthur, President, of Give To Eat Mission, Ghana, said the Organisation has been exploring innovative strategies to sustain its operations.
“We are now using alternative means to generate income for sustainable humanitarian work. We are involved in agriculture, planting for food which flows into feeding the numerous children in our Mother-Child Home, the residence of teenage mothers and their children,” he said.
Data from the Department of Social Welfare indicate that currently there are about 3,460 children in 124 Orphanage Homes, out of which 69 have been licensed.
These homes provide alternative care in non-family-based group settings, such as children’s homes and villages, orphanages, and shelters for an emergency, or temporary care.
Ghana has signed onto the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and has also passed the Children’s Act, 1998, all of which recognises the establishment of Care Homes for the development of the rights and well-being of the child particularly orphans who lacked family care and fosterage.
The Children’s Act states that under no circumstance should a person below the age of 15 be allowed to work or fend for himself or herself.
When children are neglected, they are likely to end up on the streets and are exposed to all manner of activities that hamper their growth, their welfare, and become a threat to national security.
A 2021 UNICEF report titled: “Children Living in Residential Care” found that only one-third of children in residential care had foundational reading skills, while a much lower proportion had developed foundational math skills.
Without the contributions of Orphanages, thousands of children without family care may have ended up on the streets, which has its consequences on the welfare of the child and national security.
Amid the pressing economic hardship, failure on the part of the State, organisations, and individuals to go to the aid of licensed orphanage homes to sustain their operations could hamper efforts to build an inclusive society that guarantees the welfare and protection of all children.
Efforts to get the Department of Social Welfare to contribute to the discussion proved futile.
At least 29 suspects have been picked up by the police for their involvement in violent clashes between two factions at New Tulaku, Ashaiman, in the Greater Accra Region in the small hours of Friday (28 October 2022).
Initial investigation has disclosed that a misunderstanding between two rival factions at the New Tulaku meat market resulted in the attack in which six people sustained various degrees of injuries, the police said in a statement.
The injured are currently at the hospital receiving medical attention, and are all in stable condition, according to the medical authorities.
The suspects in the Ashaiman violence | Photo: Ghana Police Service
The police have since restored calm and deepened personnel presence at Ashaiman and its environs.
Investigation continues and all those involved will be brought to justice, the police added.
A national chairman hopeful on the ticket of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nii Armah Ashitey, is urging the rank and file of the party to unite and challenge the governing New Patriotic Party’s ‘Break the Eight’ mantra in 2024.
“We can alone break the NPP’s break the eight mantra if we solidly unite for a purpose,” he rallied.
The former NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Klottey Korley Constituency in the Greater Accra Region made this comment speaking in an interview with Emmanuel Quarshie (The Hitman), host of the Ghana Yensom morning show on Accra 100.5 FM on Thursday, October 27 2022.
“Unless the NDC unites after the elections that it can devise a strategy to break the NPP’s quest to break the eight,” he said.
“It is incumbent on the winners in the last elections to reach out to the losers in last Saturday’s Constituency elections to achieve the purpose of breaking the NPP’s break eight,” he added.
“Unfortunately, as a party, we have not taken any interest in the NPP’s mantra to break the eight but we can break the NPP’s quest to break the eight,” Mr Ashitey bemoaned.
“I have always shied away from scoring the president on his performance because he has failed on all cylinders,” he noted.
He added that NPP has failed to give Ghanaians hope by not bringing the needed change in the country.
“Ghanaians have had enough of the bad governance of president Akufo-Addo,” he put forth.
The former Minister of Manpower and Labour Relations said Ghana as a nation, ‘we have it all but we have not been able to fix the problems of the country because all economic measures being churned out favour foreigners in the country.”
He called for the need for Ghana to domesticate its economic gains.
The man who is a lawyer by profession said he had worked in various capacities within the rank and file of the party hence he is capable to lead the party as a national chairman.
“I’m ready to share my experience in the leadership of the party” he said, adding that the NDC has a problem because it lost elections in 2016 and in 2020.
Residents in Tema in the Greater Accra Region are expected to stay indoors on Wednesday, October 26 for the funeral activities for the late Tema chief, OsonnaaNii Adjei Kraku II, to begin.
As part of the activities, there will be a total blackout from 7:00 pm to 12:00 am to honour the dead chief.
Based on this development, the Tema General Hospital have asked its staff to report to work earlier to enable those on the night shift to report to work before the blackout.
In a memo shared by 3news.com, it urged staff on the night shift to report early for handing over so their colleagues could leave on time before the curfew time.
“In view of that, Management is urging all staff scheduled for the night shift on Wednesday 26th October 2022 to report to work by 5:00 pm,” a memorandum issued by the Medical Director of the Hospital to all department heads on Monday said.
“This is to enable the staff who will be handing over and those taking up perform such activities in good time to enable their colleagues return home before the total blackout.”
The Chief Fire Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, Julius Kuunor, has said management is making efforts to acquire land in all 16 regions to establish fire colleges and training schools, to ensure adequate manpower for the Service.
According to him, recruits will no longer travel long distances to the Fire Academy and Training School (FATS) at James Town, the only institution which exposes recruits to the rudiments of the profession in the country.
Mr. Kuunor made this known when the Fire Service Council, paid its first working visit to the Greater Accra Regional Command at Korle-Bu.
The visit to the Greater Accra Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service was to introduce members of the Council to the Personnel and acquaint themselves with the challenges confronting Fire Officers in the region.
At the durbar, the Greater Accra Regional Commander, DCFO Richard Gibril Nuhu promised that the command will work hard to fight against the common enemy ‘fire’ to achieve the common goal of protecting lives, property, and investment.
The Chief Fire Officer, Julius Kuunor outlined some plans for Officers of the Service.
The Chairman of the Council, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi while encouraging the officers to continue the good work in saving lives and property, he promised that the Council will support the Management to protect the wellbeing of all officers.
The New Council inaugurated by the President in September last week, is to ensure the growth of GNFS.
The Greater Accra Regional Command is the 4th fire command the Council has visited.
From time to time, there have been reports of how the government is working to restore lands in parts of the country that have been encroached on.
The arguments have continuously been that these lands belong to the state, and as such, they must be retrieved.
Situations like these have also usually come about because people take advantage of the inactivity on those lands and sell to others or build on them.
In this article, GhanaWeb takes a look at some of the reported lands that have been encroached upon, and for which reason the government has taken steps to retrieve them.
A number of these lands are located within the Greater Accra Region, although it must be stated that the region is not the only one faced with these issues.
Sakumono Ramsar Site:
In July 2022, the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council announced that it was set to demolish all structures within the core zone of the Ramsar site at Tema.
According to the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, notices had already been served to owners of properties in the area.
The minister said the notice explained to the affected persons that their houses are being destroyed to clear the waterway leading to the lagoon as more than 4000 houses were said to have been constructed on the Ramsar site without permits.
The Ramsar Site also, known as the Sakumono Lagoon, is a wetland of international importance. It is the only wetland wholly-owned by the state and is meant for protecting Sakumono, Tema and their environs against floods and pollution, for the breeding of fish and other marine species for the Sakumono Lagoon, as well as recreational activities.
It covers an area of 1,364 hectares (3,500 acres) and is situated along the coastal road between Accra and Tema in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, about 3km (1.9 mi) west of Tema.
The site also covers part of Tema Community 3, 5, 6, 11 and 12, through to the Sakumono village, Old Lashibi and Klagon. The site, which used to be a habitat for fishes and other water creatures as well as served as a stopover for migrating birds, currently has a large portion being encroached upon by individuals and estate developers.
The first phase of the demolition exercise commenced on Wednesday, October 19, 2022.
Adenta Katamanso lands:
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Kweku Asomah-Cheremeh, stated in August 2020 that the government was working around the clock to reclaim the Adenta-Akatamanso lands encroached on by individuals and groups.
According to him, out of 7,000 acres of state lands at Adenta Katamanso, only 1000 acres have not been encroached on.
“All lands belonging to the state have been properly acquired under the executive instrument of which private developers ignore what the law states”, he said.
Mpehuasem lands:
The Lands Commission raised an alarm in April 2022 about lands at Mpehuasem in the Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly, that were being encroached on.
According to a statement to clarify the notion that the Commission was using its power to take lands from some people, it noted that the said land is government property and, hence, it is doing everything possible to safeguard the land and prevent private developers from encroaching on it.
“Indeed, the Commission has, previously, issued public notices alerting prospective developers that the said land is state land, managed by the Lands Commission, and cannot be alienated by any stool, clan, family or individual. Any such grant is unlawful, void and confers no title on the grantee of the land.
“Any person who claims to have an interest in any part of the Mpehuasem public land should approach the Commission with his/her documents,” portions of the statement said.
UCC School lands:
The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation reported in April 2021 that lands belonging to the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has been encroached on by private developers.
The situation, described as being at an alarming threat rate to the school, was said to have caused the school to put in place measures to end the problem.
The report added that the university had issued an S.O.S to the relevant bodies to help end the wanton encroachment on the school lands, especially when these actions were affecting the future expansion of the university.
The University of Cape Coast (UCC) was established in October 1962 on the recommendation of an international commission by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s government in December 1960.
In 1963, UCC enrolled its first batch of students, numbering one hundred and fifty -five. Land for the university was acquired under compulsory acquisition in 1969 under Executive Instrument EI 87.
The area stretches from the river Kakum between Cape Coast and Elmina, all the way to the DVLA junction to Cape Coast Technical Institute then to the new Cape Coast stadium area, almost to the Ankaful hospital and back to the Kakum river.
Pantang Hospital lands:
Angered by the situation of encroachment on their lands, the Staff of the Pantang Hospital in the Greater Accra Region embarked on a demonstration June 2021 to protest what they called “a threat to their security.”
They claimed that private individuals had encroached on the hospital, a situation that had brought land guards to the area, making them insecure.
They called on the government to, as a matter of urgency, act on the situation.
They also threatened to lay down their tools should the situation not be resolved.
GCAA lands at La Nkwantanang:
Workers of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority also protested about what they said was the deteriorating state of aviation safety in the country, due to the encroachment of some of their lands.
A Spokesperson for the Workers Union of the GCAA, William Wilberforce Amoako, speaking in 2020, illustrated how the National Cathedral project and its attendant evacuation of judges from their residences at Ridge, was affecting them.
“The lands in question are for private development and the resettling of the judges. But since the area has been demarcated, the government has taken over a portion while another portion has been allocated to the people of La. But it is our portion that we are having challenges with. We expect that the GCAA belongs to the government, as such, whatever the government takes should be for the GCAAA and not for individuals.
“We have only been given fifteen out of the ninety acres which is not enough for the equipment that we have, and we plan to have in future. For the safety of flights, we need these lands for aviation development,” he is reported by gh-aviation.com to have said.
According to the aggrieved GCAA staff, the areas being encroached upon are the GCAA lands at La Nkwatanang, La TX at Cantonments, Ashalley Botwe, and an area around the East Legon Tunnel, all in Accra and ranging between 60 and 800 acres.
A sod-cutting ceremony has been performed for the construction of a 6,000-seater capacity cathedral at the Cedar Mountain Chapel (CMC) of the Assemblies of God (AG), Ghana in the Greater Accra Region.
The project also includes the construction of a children’s chapel and an eight-storey administration complex expected to be completed in a year.
The ceremony was performed by a former President, John Dramani Mahama and witnessed by the General Superintendent of the A-G Ghana, Rev. Dr Stephen Wengam, the First Lady of the CMC, Monica Wengam and other senior officials of both the A-G and CMC.
It was part of activities to climax the 12-anniversary celebration of the Cedar Mountain Chapel.
Speaking at the event in Accra on Sunday, October 2, Mr Mahama stated that the project would be one of the greatest edifices in the country to the glory of God.
He said from a humble beginning, the CMC has grown from a smaller church to a bigger congregation with a 1,000-seater capacity and now a ground breaking ceremony to construct a 6,000-seater cathedral.
“I was the special guest of honour during the dedication of the foremost chapel at American House and it was a small congregation then now look at the size of CMC.
“And so, we pray that CMC will grow from glory to glory and I believe that the groundbreaking today will move the church to the next level of glory,” he said.
Cedar tree
The former President explained that cedar tree was associated with longevity and for that reason the Cedar Mountain Chapel was a chapel built for longevity.
“The cedar tree is also a very good wind block and so, it protects people’s houses and for that reason the church will protect people from any adverse events,” he said.
He underlined the need for Christians to become more Christlike and living to please the Lord.
Hope
Rev Wengam who is also the Lead Pastor of CMC, expressed hope that the construction works would be completed within schedule to serve the A-G Ghana.
“The construction of the cathedral is historic and it will serve the A-G Ghana in the near future.
“When I took over as the General Superintendent, I was informed that Ghana A-G will be hosting the world’s mission conference in 2024 and that we will need a 5,000-seater capacity cathedral for that conference.
“And then in 2026, the A-G Ghana will be hosting the World Fellowship of Assemblies of God Conference,” he said.
He said delegates representing 70 million congregants of the church across the world would converge in Ghana for the two international events.
He urged members of the church to join forces to help build the cathedral within schedule.
“Church, as we enter into our new phase in which we are believing in God for the construction of our 6000-seater Cedar Cathedral, Children Chapel and a multi-storey administration complex, I ask that you not to cease praying, nor relent in your support to the church.
“I also ask that you continue to avail your expertise and technical know-how to the advancement of the kingdom,” he added.
Thanksgiving service
Mrs Wengam said the ceremony was a thanksgiving service and climax of the church’s 12th anniversary celebration and the end of 21 days of fasting and praying.
She said it was an amazing feeling and with utmost gratitude to God after a flashback and reminisced on how quickly a decade plus two years have passed.
She said more gratifying was how God guided, protected and brought the church to this place – Cedar City.
Media personality Doreen Avio has paid a visit to the Luom Presbyterian Basic School as part of the International Day of the Girl Child celebrations.
Her visit to the school located in the Shai Osudoku district of the Greater Accra Region was to, among other reasons, extend help to the students, especially the girls and talk to them about the importance of education.
The host of JoyNews’ ‘Let’s Talk Showbiz’ observed with worry the challenges facing students, a situation that prevents them from accessing quality education, feeding and infrastructure.
She, therefore, called on organisations and philanthropists to support girls in schools located in rural areas.
“Some of us complain daily about the hardship in Accra, Kumasi and major cities across the country. But from what I observed during my visit to the school, I realised that people in rural areas are mostly sidelined and left out in terms of development.
“I believe there is more to be done to support the Luom Presbyterian School, for instance, because they lack almost everything a school needs to thrive. The girls here lack sanitary products, among others.
“This should be a wakeup call to stakeholders and I hope my visit here would highlight their challenges,” Doreen Avio told MyJoyOnline.com in an interview.
Doreen Avio addressing the school
The International Day of the Girl Child is observed globally on every October 11. The observation supports more opportunities for girls and increases awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide based on their gender.
This inequality includes areas such as access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care and protection from discrimination, violence against women and forced child marriage.
Doreen had a talk with the pupils under a shed
Through her Doreen Avio Foundation, the host of #MatterDey on Hitz FM partnered with the School Support Programme (SSP) to engage the JHS 3 students ahead of their Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE).
She also interacted with the headmaster and his deputy to find out some of the challenges of the school, which include desks for their classrooms, washrooms and lack of transportation for students who travel long distances to access education.
Later in the day, the students gathered under a shed for the talk.
Doreen Avio also used the opportunity to educate the students on the importance of education and encouraged them to take their studies seriously.
She also advised them to stay away from sexually-related activities and focus more on their books since most of the students were in adolescent age.
Doreen Avio
The students who were so excited about the conversations asked pertinent questions about how they could achieve academic excellence, among others.
In a lovely fashion, Doreen and the school children had some refreshments after which was a distribution of sanitary pads for the girls amid the skyrocketing prices of the products on the market.
She shared her life story to encourage the pupils to pursue excellence
The teachers and students expressed profuse delight in the kind gesture shown by Doreen Avio. They asked that she visits them more often and also call on organisations to also support them.
Many people who recognize his face from a 2017 interview GhanaWeb had with him, would remember those words of his that became an almost household catchphrase, “go and ask your grandfather.”
This was after a reporter asked him for clarification to a proverb he used in the interview, to which he furiously retorted with those words.
It has now emerged that the man, Noah Dogah, is vying for a top position in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ada Constituency of the Greater Accra Region.
In a poster that has been sighted online by GhanaWeb, Noah, who is running on the motto, Common Sense, wants to become the Chairman of the NDC in the constituency.
In 2017, GhanaWeb posted the video of Noah Dogah where he made the comments on the back of a chaotic election for the District Chief Executive position in the Ada constituency.
Furious about some of the things that happened on the day, including accusations that they had been sabotaged, Noah Dogah, an assemblyman in the area at the time, explained that he was also brutalized.
“I will face them one by one, and they will see what will happen. I’m a traditionalist; I’m not a Christian so I’m also going to pray because they butchered me, they twisted my neck. They seized my phone, my money, my constitutional book is lost.
“You were there. We were telling you that let the people get out of the room because we know the plans that the people set. We told you from the beginning but you took it for granted. Now, you saw it with your naked eyes. They came into the room first in their suits and we suspected that they are not National Security. We walked them out and before we were counting, they disconnected all the power.
“You saw it, don’t let me be bias. They are totally failures. The officers in that room, they connived with the criminals to rob us so we are telling them that Sarah is not the DCE and she can never be DCE for Ada. Look, when you pluck a fruit, wait till it is ripe before you eat; don’t eat unripe fruits,” he said.
Asked what the meaning of those last words were, Noah Dogah retorted that the reporter should go and ask his grandfather.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) goes to the polls later this year to election executives for all its regional and district offices across the country.
It is the last constituency in the Greater Accra Region before entering the Central Region at Kasoa.
With a voter population of 111,000 going by the 2020 general election, Bortianor-Ngleshie-Amanfro Constituency in the Ga South Municipality has been grappling with multiple developmental issues since its creation in 2012.
Bordered by the Weija-Gbawe Constituency to the east, Awutu Senya East Constituency to the western north, the Gomoa East Constituency to the western south area and Domeabra-Obom Constituency to the north, this coastal constituency covers Aplaku, Bortianor, Oshiyie, Kokrobite, Tuba and parts of Weija.
Swing constituency
Although relatively young, the constituency, one of the 34 constituencies in the region, has politically become a swing seat. It has since its creation voted both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament (MPs).
Its current MP is Sylvester Tetteh, who clinched the seat on the ticket of the NPP in 2020. He is the third MP of the constituency.
Saad Habib was his predecessor, who also stood on the ticket of the NPP to assume that office in 2016, while the NDC MP for the area, Bright Kodzo Demordzi, was the pacesetter in running the affairs of the constituency in 2012.
The 2024 Elections, therefore, remain the litmus test case for the ruling NPP and the opposition NDC as to who will clinch that seat and represent the constituency in the Ninth Parliament from January 7, 2025.
Demographics
The constituency has a mix of both formal and informal workers made up of politicians, civil and public servants, teachers, traders, commercial drivers, fishermen and farmers, among others.
1DIF
In spite of challenges, the constituency is a beneficiary of two factories currently operating under the government’s One-District, one-factory policy. One of them, Everpure Ghana Limited, is sited at Tomefa in Ngleshie Amanfro. The factory produces sachet and bottled water. The other factory established to produce diapers, known as Sunda International, is located at Dunkona.
Major Challenges
Bad roads, inadequate drains, bridges, perennial flooding and faulty or inadequate streetlights are among the major challenges facing the constituency.
Other challenges are youth unemployment with some involved in land guardism, lack of potable water and security.
Roads
Just about two per cent of the 1,700 kilometres of the roads in the area have been tarred.
Four taxi drivers at the Galilea Market taxi rank, Nyavlo Mawuli, Emmanuel Mensah, Richard Agyakwa and Christopher Yaw Ahiable, who spoke to the Daily Graphic, called for the roads, bridges, drains and streetlights to be properly examined and fixed.
They said a good stretch of road at Aplaku, and that leading from Ajasco Junction to Red Top the West Hills Mall were in deplorable state. Kuwait, Holy Market and Emmanuel Estates roads need to be put in good shape.
They also mentioned the non-functional streetlights in some areas including around the Ga South Municipal Assembly that must be urgently fixed.
The taxi drivers were of the view that most of the gutters and drains in the constituency had not been either desilted or were defective thereby causing flooding and damage to the roads.
Two teachers, Florence Baidoo and Justus Abban, also reiterated the need to provide more drains and fix the bad roads around the Ngleshi Amanfro Kingstown Black Gate area.
Flooding in the area, they explained, could be minimised if the drains were provided. It would also help to reduce the negative impact on the deplorable roads.
Opinion leaders
Two opinion leaders, Francis Tetteh and Nii Armah Bannerman, both expressed worry about the floods in the area, which they noted was usually caused by unauthorised structures built on watercourses.
A trader, Rosemary Addai, described the Kingstown area of Ngleshi Amanfro as “an SOS situation” because the lack of drainage systems and properly laid out roads and lanes result in intense flooding.
She pointed out that areas such as the Black Gate stretch through to Fear God and the Darius International School vicinities were among the most affected areas of flooding during the rainy season.
The residents, therefore, called on the Ga South Municipal Assembly and the MP to push harder to save the situation as well as the residents.
Opposition
The Constituency Secretary of the NDC, Sam Ampiah said from Red Top to New Bortianor to Broadcasting area there were many houses that did not have pipe-borne water and so they have drilled boreholes to provide water for the households.
“You need to have a borehole, if you don’t drill it, you will be compelled to buy at least GH¢700 worth of water from water tanker operators per week,” he stated.
The secretary, therefore, called on the government to fast track the pace of development in the constituency because its level of infrastructure, particularly the roads, was not the best.
Some residents, including commercial drivers, teachers, opinion leaders and traders, also expressed concerns about the challenges and called on duty bearers to urgently address them.
Projects
When contacted, the Municipal Chief Executive for the Ga South Municipal Assembly, Joseph Nyarni Stephen, outlined some projects which were ready for inauguration.
They include a Divisional Police Headquarters at Tuba and a community centre at Ngleshie Amanfro.
Other projects are at various stages of completion include the male ward at Ngleshie Amanfro Polyclinic, the Mother and Child Unit at Obom Health Centre and a two-storey six unit classroom block at Ashalaja.
Work is also ongoing to complete a two-unit Kindergarten block at the Bortianor Municipal Assembly (M/A) Basic School.
Acknowledgement
The MP for the area, Slyvester Tetteh told the Daily Graphic that at the time he assumed office, less than two per cent of the 1,700 kilometres of the roads in the area had been tarred, saying that “it tells you the enormity of the challenge we have in the road sector”.
He admitted being aware of the displeasure of residents about the poor state of roads in the communities.
Mr Tetteh, however, revealed that funding had been a challenge for successive governments to be able to put roads in the area in good shape.
“I am very much aware of the challenges but I never promised that I was going to fix all roads; rather I pledged to play an advocacy role and lobby for the road sector to get a facelift,” Mr Tetteh indicated.
Minister visits
The MP stated that apart from bringing the sector minister to assess the poor roads himself to understand the nature of the problem in the constituency, he had initiated steps to get some of them to be awarded on contract.
They include the Broadcasting and American roads, which had been tarred but yet to be asphalted to give it a longer lifespan.
The Finney Hospital road and Bortianor-Chokome road were awarded but the contractors abandoned sites and the projects had been rewarded on contract, Mr Tetteh explained.
The MP further stated that Amanfro and New Bortianor roads now had asphalt overlays.
He said about 30km of key roads had been approved for construction. They include the Ajasco to Red Top area popularly called Odakona to the West Hills Mall area.
A contract has also been signed for the rehabilitation of the 6.4km Chinese-Red Top-Ajasco junction road.
Other areas earmarked for rehabilitation are the Fulani area in New Bortianor, Babadogo, Odasiman, Lighthouse areas, and Akpasa enclave to Ayalolo in Bortianor.
The biggest of all the contracts awarded described as the coastal roads is the 24km old barrier to Tuba junction road which is in a deplorable state. When completed the MP explained, it would be asphalted to give it a longer lifespan.
“This road is a very strategic road because it serves as a link road to all the tourism potentials in the entire area,” Mr Tetteh observed.
Drains, challenges
On drains, he said about 40km of drains in the constituency have been earmarked for construction.
“All that we are talking about, approvals have been given but it all boils down to the capacity of contractors and funding; this is because the government does not give mobilisation for road construction,” he further explained.
Other sectors
The MP indicated that sectors such as education, health, sports, youth employment, security, women empowerment had all received attention during his tenure.
The projects include roofing and completion of a five-bed maternity ward for Kokrobite health centre, and the employment of over 40 youth under an initiative dubbed “C.V. Clinic for Youth”.
Other projects include training of 50 women in entrepreneurship development with Seed capital provided to the beneficiaries, completion of 1,000-seater Astro Turf at Tuba, with two more earmarked for construction in communities yet to be identified.
According to Bullgod who was guesting on Accra-based Hitz FM on Monday, 26 September, 2022, the booing the Ghanaian President received some time during his address at Saturday night’s Global Citizen Festival was an ample indicator.
“Look, what happened that day, if we were going to the ballot box that day he would lose. Trust,” he declared.
Earlier, he opined the Ghanaian leader was at the wrong place when he came to address the audience and thus was booed.
“That environment is not for him,” had shared before giving the impression Mr Akufo-Addo has failed his people and not shown empathy for their hardship.
“If you are leading a people, you need to listen to them. You need to feel what they feel. You need to make their lives better. That’s why we elect leaders,” he said.
“So if you’re in leadership and your followership is not in the right space, the right frame of mind, conditions are harsh, chale, what do you expect them to do? This is the only way [they could register their displeasure],” he stressed.
Bullgod, an entertainment pundit, also opined about 90 per cent of the crowd present at the event booed Akufo-Addo.
The Daybreak Hitz team led by Andy Dosty challenged him on this but he maintained his stance and added “This is the youth and not even a political crowd. So if these youth are seeing this, or they are doing this, you should know where the country is going.”
In its tenth year, the Global Citizen Festivalheld a simultaneous event in Central Park, New York City, New York, USA and at the Black Star Square, Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana on Saturday, 24 September, 2022.
He spent the day with the children of Hopeland Training Centre at Adjei Kojo, Tema West Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.
The Speaker, who was supported by his wife, Mrs Alice Adjua Yornas Bagbin, presented a checque of GH₵50,000.00 to Rev. Brother Cosmas Kanmwaa, Director, Hopeland Training Centre.
Mr Bagbin also presented some sorted items worth GH₵50,000.00 to the Centre.
Hon. Alban Bagbin is a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). He was first elected into Parliament during the 1992 Ghanaian General Elections. He represented the Nadowli West Constituency in the Upper West Region.
Bagbin announced his intentions to run for president in 2008 on the NDC ticket, but he never stood for the primaries. He became the Majority Leader in the Ghanaian parliament in 2009.
Following a cabinet reshuffle in January 2010, he was appointed Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing by President Mills. He also served as the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament from January 2017 to January 2021.
52 of the registered training centers are state institutions, while the other 136 are private.
Meanwhile, six have been given provisional clearance, 14 have obtained conditional approval, while the rest are full approval.
Regional breakdown
The Greater Accra Region has the highest number of training centres and institutions, topping all with 65, while the Ashanti Region follows with 36 institutions.
The Eastern and Northern regions presented 21 institutions each, while the Central Region posted 13 institutions.
The Volta and Western have 12 each, while Western North, Upper West and Upper East have two each and the Ahafo, Bono and Bono East regions together have two institutions.
Levels
All the registered institutions are running one or more of four levels: National Proficiency One, National Proficiency Two, National Certificate One and National Certificate Two.
One hundred and seventy-six of the institutions offer the National Proficiency One, while 128 of them are running the National Proficiency Two.
Fifty-six of the institutions are running programmes at the National Certificate One level, while 16 have programmes for the National Certificate Two level.
Programmes offered
The institutions are all offering job-tailored programmes such as Fashion Design Technology, Catering and Hospitality Management, Garment Making, Furniture Works, Welding and Fabrication, Building Construction Technology and Cosmetology.
Some significantly new courses and high demanding skills are now being offered in some of the institutions.
Some of these programmes include Computer Database Administration; Consumer Electronics; Biodigester Construction; Block Laying & Tilling; Automotive Engineering Technology; Electronic Installation; Plumbing & Gas Fitting Technology and Computer Networking system.
Provisional, conditional approval
Speaking on the registration, the Head of Corporate Affairs of CTVET, Albert Opare, explained that the provisional and conditional approvals were used interchangeably by the Accreditation Committee of the commission.
“It means that the institution seeking accreditation has been approved to implement competency-based training (CBT) programmes for one year and is expected to rectify some deficiencies in the application submitted to enable the institution to meet the minimum standards required for the grant of full accreditation within the one-year provisional or conditional accreditation,†he explained.
He added that the institution “loses the provisional accreditation†if it failed to meet the minimum standards required within the one year.
Full approval
Mr Opare explained that a full accreditation meant that the institution had met all the minimum standards required for accreditation and had no deficiencies to rectify in the application submitted.
He added that the full accreditation was granted for five years after which the institution was required to renew it.
Four levels
Mr Opare said some of the institutions were running all the four courses and mentioned them to include the Tamale Technical University, Dabokpa Technical Institute and Modern Star Integrated School, all in Tamale in the Northern Region; Fr Dogli Memorial Technical Institute, New Agona and Kpando Technical Institute, both in the Volta Region.
Others are the Tema Technical Institute, Tema; the Accra Technical Training Centre, Accra Institute of Technical and the National Vocational Training Institute, all in the Greater Accra Region; the Kumasi Tropical Institute of Agriculture and the Kumasi Technical Institute, both in the Ashanti Region.
The rest are the Kumasi Vocational Training Institute, Ashanti Region; the University College of Agriculture and Environmental Studies, Bunso in the Eastern Region, and the Takoradi Technical Institute in the Western Region.
The Sowutuom police in the Greater Accra Region have detained a 19-year-old stepmother and placed her under arrest for allegedly killing her 4-year-old hearing- and speech-impaired son in Santa Maria, an Accra suburb, by severely abusing him.
Belington Hutchful, the boy’s given name, is said to have been the victim of abuse and torture at the hands of Sandra, his stepmother.
According to the landlady, Emelia Dodson, who reported the issue to the Sowutuom police, the severely-beaten boy was dragged on the floor by the stepmother before his death.
She told Accra 100.5 FM’s mid-day news on Friday, August 26, 2022, that in the past, all attempts to rescue the boy by the neighbours resulted in a quarrel with the stepmother.
The landlady said all this happened without her notice until one day she witnessed the maltreatment of the boy herself.
She explained that she was compelled to lodge a complaint against the stepmother at the police station after witnessing how mercilessly the boy was treated.
She said a team was dispatched to the scene to arrest the stepmother.
Also, the victim, who was seriously hurt as a result of the torture, was sent to the Ridge Hospital in Accra for treatment, where the doctor and police discovered several fresh bruises as well as scars on his body, including his genitals.
Some of the co-tenants who also spoke with Accra 100.5FM narrated how the stepmother had been consistently subjecting the boy to both verbal and physical abuse for no known reason.
For his part, Alhaji Yusif Daku, the Santa Maria Zongo chief, who prevailed on the landlady to report the matter immediately to the police, took the opportunity to charge all residents, tenants and landlords to report such abusive acts to the police to protect lives.
According to the Ghana Police Service, the suspects attacked a company in the area and in the process killed one person while others sustained injuries.
Without giving further details on the incident, the Ghana Police Service in a statement said its men are bent on arresting the suspects for them to face justice.
“The Police are on a manhunt to arrest some robbers who attacked a company at Achiaman in Amasaman, Accra. In the process, one person died, and two others sustained injuries.â€
“We wish to assure the public that we will surely get the robbers arrested to face justice,†the Ghana Police Service added in a statement posted on its Facebook page on Thursday, July 21, 2022.
