Professor Ahmed Abdulai Jinapor, the Deputy Director of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), has announced that the commission will soon release the names of educational institutions that are offering unaccredited programs.
He emphasized that unaccredited programs are those that have not been officially published on the GTEC website. Professor Jinapor further explained that administering such programs is a violation of the law and can result in imprisonment for those involved.
The move to publish the names of institutions offering unaccredited programs aims to ensure transparency and protect the interests of students seeking quality education in Ghana.
Starting from this week till next week, we are going to start publishing all centres, programmes that are run by various institutions that are unaccredited. By law, we are supposed to have published those that are credited, and by inference, it means that if the programme is not published on the GTEC website or in the newspapers, automatically, it is unaccredited,” he said on JoyFM’s Midday.
“It is a “prisonable offence for you to run a programme that is unaccredited or to even advertise it,” he added.
In addition, the Deputy Director highlighted that it is not acceptable for institutions to advertise programs while they are in the process of seeking accreditation. Merely applying for accreditation does not grant permission for program advertisement, he cautioned.
Despite previous warnings from GTEC, some institutions continue to offer programs without proper accreditation. This disregard for the guidelines set by GTEC has been addressed by the commission, urging these institutions to cease such practices.
Furthermore, the Vice Chancellor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson, revealed that the university currently has over 300 programs awaiting accreditation. Prof. Dickson clarified that most of these programs are in various stages of the accreditation process, emphasizing that it would be unfair to halt these programs based on their current status.
“Currently, we have more than 500 programmes and as we speak, we have about over 140 accredited but some of them are at various stages of accreditation.
“For example, I am able to report that we’ve been working very closely with GTEC to ensure that these programmes are accredited.
“As we speak, we have over 100 programmes that we are expecting GTEC to mobilise faculty and come and review on our campus,” she explained.
Also, authorities of the University of Ghana (UG) say they have taken steps to ensure the accreditation of some of the school’s programmes listed as unaccredited in the 2021 Auditor General’s report.
Speaking at the Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday, Registrar, Emelia Agyei Mensah said, the University has made sure 60 out of 80 undergraduate programmes are now accredited.
“Out of the 80, I would say that currently, we have 60 of the undergraduate programme fully accredited and the rest are in the process of being accredited,” he told the Vice-Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Samuel Atta Mills.
A brilliant Secondary School graduate, Benjamin Darko, whose impressive 2021 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) result went viral online has been offered a full educational scholarship by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) to pursue Chemical Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST).
Announcing the scholarship package during a meeting with Darko and his family today at the office of the Vice Chancellor (VC) of KNUST, the Executive Director of the GNPC Foundation, Dr. Dominic Eduah, said the Education & Training unit of the Foundation is offering the support to restore young Darko’s hopes and has, in collaboration with its educational partners, initiated steps to facilitate his successful admission in the University’s next enrolment window.
Despite scoring 5A’s and 3Bs, the intelligent 21-year-old former Science student at Presbyterian Senior Secondary School (PRESEC) – Legon has had his desire to pursue a Medical-Science related course at the University hindered by the lack of financial support.
In keeping himself busy and to give his dreams a chance, the boy from Bepowase, a farming community in Akuapim North Municipality of the Eastern Region, has since 2021 taken to several menial jobs in a rather daunting bid to save for his education.
Currently working as a fuel attendant at a GOIL station in Kumasi, Darko’s predicament gained national attention after his story was highlighted in a GHOne news report that went viral on social.
“At GNPC Foundation, we understand the challenges of many parents and students seeking advancements in education amidst tight financial constraints and we are happy to play the role of facilitating the realization of many dreams through our scholarships and other educational intervention programmes,” Dr. Eduah commented.
Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, VC of KNUST, expressed delight in the opportunity to contribute to the molding of Benjamin Darko when he begins his KNUST journey. She congratulated him and advised him to stay disciplined.
Excited about the prospects of finally getting his education back on track, Benjamin thanked GNPC for contributing to supporting his future and assured to do his best.
Former Ghana Premier League team, Ashanti Gold SC, has been handed a suspension from all football competitions under the jurisdiction of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
The club has been inactive in football following its involvement in a match-fixing scandal that occurred during a game against Inter Allies FC on July 21, 2021, at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium.
Ashanti Gold SC emerged victorious in that match with a 7-0 scoreline.
Despite attempts to return to the top-tier division and seeking resolution through legal means, the club’s efforts have been unsuccessful.
The announcement of Ashanti Gold SC’s expulsion from the Ghana Football Association was made during the GFA’s 29th Ordinary Congress on July 10, 2023, held at the Great Hall of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi.
During the congress, the issue of Ashanti Gold SC’s absence and exclusion from the Premier League was raised by FA General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo.
The motion was supported by Black Stars team manager Mohammed Ameenu Shardow, while Alhaji Grusah, the bankroller of King Faisal FC, requested a vote for Ashanti Gold’s reinstatement.
In the vote, 64 members opposed Ashanti Gold SC’s return for the 2023-24 league season, while 17 members voted in favor of their inclusion.
As a result of the suspension,Ashanti Gold SC will lose all membership rights and will not be able to participate in any football competition, including the Ashanti Regional Football Association Division Two League.
The lack of street lights in certain areas has raised concerns about security among residents, as incidents of petty crimes occur in areas lacking proper lighting.
There have been suggestions for the region to be illuminated in order to increase security, in addition to the creation of a community watchdog group to help curb crime in Ayigya Zango in the Oforikrom municipality of the Ashanti Region.
Security issues have arisen as a result of some areas of the community lacking street lighting.
“This timely support will not only brighten the dark corners of the area but improve security as well. Our target is to reduce crime to the barest minimum since there is no zero-crime community. We thank the management of KNUST for the intervention”, Assemblyman for Ayigya Zango, Issaka Ali Sambo said.
Alhaji Mohammed Bashir, the Sarkin Zango for the area, expressed optimism that the installation of streetlights would enhance security in the community.
“Crime advances in dark areas so brightening all corners of the area will definitely reduce it since no one wants to be seen engaging in crime acts. We are grateful to the Vice Chancellor of KNUST and the assemblyman of the area for this”.
TheGhana Football Association (GFA) has officially announced that its long-awaited Election Congress will be held before the end of October 2023.
Addressing concerns regarding a potential extension of the current Executive Council’s mandate, GFA President Kurt Okraku and his team have taken decisive measures.
In a statement released on Thursday, July 6, 2023, GFA General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo assured the public that the Election Committee has already commenced discussions with various clubs to establish a clear roadmap for the upcoming elections.
The GFA expressed its commitment to ensuring a fair and transparent process that aligns with its statutes and regulations.
As stated in the General Secretary’s statement, the Election Committee highlighted the importance of determining the nomination fee, which will be approved during the forthcoming Ordinary Congress scheduled for July 10 at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi.
Once the nomination fee has been finalized, the GFA will proceed to accept nominations for the highly-anticipated elections.
93% of sexually active university students in three selected public universities do not use contraceptives, despite 80% having basic adolescent sexual reproductive health (ASRH) knowledge.
The findings highlight the need for increased attention from university authorities and policymakers to address the sexual reproductive health needs of these students.
The study, conducted by Dr. Gifty Ekua Merdiemah, a Research Fellow and Clinical Trials Coordinator at the University of Ghana Medical Centre, was presented at a workshop organized by the African Health Economics and Policy Association (AfHEA) in collaboration with UGMC and ISSER.
The workshop aimed to share the study’s findings on ASRH interventions and develop operational and policy recommendations for equitable access to ASRH services in and out of schools.
The study was conducted between 2018 and 2021, focusing on three public universities: University for Development Studies (UDS) representing the northern zone, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) for the middle zone, and UPSA for the southern zone.
Dr. Merdiemah highlighted that the study identified the health needs of adolescents, including sexual reproductive health (SRH) education, sexual intercourse, and contraceptives.
It emphasized that the cost and location of healthcare services posed significant barriers for adolescents in accessing reproductive health facilities.
The study recommended collaborative efforts from stakeholders to develop policies and programs addressing the SRH needs of adolescents in public universities.
Dr. Merdiemah stressed the importance of ensuring a smooth transition to adulthood by implementing well-structured ASRH orientation programs and establishing adolescent health corners with comprehensive SRH services at strategic locations within all public universities.
Additionally, she urged the Ministry of Education to ensure age-specific sex education programs in educational institutions, supported by well-trained teachers and peer educators.
Presenting another study titled “Access to adolescent sexual and reproductive health services in Ghana: a qualitative study,” Dr. Ama Pokuaa Fenny from ISSER highlighted the inadequacy of sex education in schools and the lack of affordable and non-judgmental SRH services.
She emphasized the need for training teachers and health staff to provide relevant sex education and the importance of making adolescent-friendly services accessible and affordable.
Member of Parliament for Wa Central, Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, called for increased accessibility to information and services for adolescents, stressing the need to expand avenues where they can easily obtain assistance and relevant information.
Dr. Linda Narh, has joined the School of Graduate Studies at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) as the new Coordinator for the Master of Arts in Brands and Communications Management and the MBA Corporate Communications programs.
In a vibrant ceremony on Tuesday, Dr. Narh, a Chartered Marketer and lecturer at the Faculty of Management Studies, took over the position from Dr. Ibn Kailan Abdul-Hamid.
The newly appointed coordinator completed her undergraduate studies at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and later earned a postgraduate diploma from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK.
She also holds a Master’s in Business Administration (Marketing) from the University of Liverpool, UK, and a Doctorate in Philosophy (PhD Marketing) from the University of Ghana.
Prior to entering academia, Dr. Narh amassed considerable experience as a marketing professional in sectors such as advertising, media, telecommunications, and finance.Her significant contributions to the field are reflected in the numerous accolades her work has garnered from prestigious organizations like the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG) and Ghana Information Technology & Telecom Awards (GITTA).
Dr. Narh’s appointment has received congratulations and well-wishes from the University community.
MA Brands and Communications Management Program Overview:
The MA Brands and Communications Management program aims to equip graduates with specialized skills in brand and communications management. The program’s unique blend of brands and communications concepts aligns with the current developments in the country and the marketing profession. It focuses on enhancing skill development in designing brand and communications strategies for both national and corporate reputation. The program offers multiple application options, including regular, evening, weekend, and sandwich, and can be completed within one year.
MBA in Corporate Communications Program Overview:
The MBA in Corporate Communications program is designed to produce corporate communications professionals with a strong foundation in business administration. The curriculum emphasizes empowering graduates to utilize appropriate corporate communications and management tools for strategic business decision-making. The program spans two years and provides application options for evening and weekend classes.
Universities, although envisioned as bastions of knowledge and personal growth, now grapple with a silent crisis that demands immediate attention, an alarming trend of students taking their lives.
An alarming trend of students taking their lives appears to be gaining grounds on various university campuses in the country, with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the University of Ghana, Legon, recording quite significant numbers in the past few years.
Various reasons: depression, a loss of a bet, bipolar disorder, and so on, have all been identified as the cause of the incidents.
Here are 10 cases of suicide/near suicide recorded on various university campuses.
KNUST student attempts suicide but is saved by friends:
But for the timely intervention of some friends, a medical student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) would have tragically lost his life on 4 July 2023. He attempted to commit suicide by jumping from the last floor of the Brunei Complex. He was captured in a viral video hanging from the balcony of a seven-storey building with about four boys pulling him up to safety.
‘I QUIT’ – Level 300 KNUST student sends message to her friends before committing suicide
In a similar development, a level 300 student from the same institution committed suicide on 29 June 2023. Prior to the incident, she left a note saying ‘I QUIT’.
The student who was studying Real Estate Development prior to her demise is said to be one of the residents of Ultimate Hostel, Bomso. According to the source, she sent out a message to her friends saying ‘I QUIT’ but upon getting to her hostel, she had already ended her life.
Reports indicate that her door was locked and some other residents of the hostel had to break the door to be able to save her but it was too late. The police were called to the scene of the act to convey her lifeless body to the morgue.
Ghanaian University student commits suicide over US$10,000 bet loss
A level 400 student from the Kwame University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is reported to have laid violent hands upon himself in a sad report trending on social media on Aug 23, 2021.
Details surrounding his death have it that the deceased owned a couple of people to the tune of GHC 200,000 and he ridiculously decided to stake a bet of GHC 60,000 so he can win a bonanza and pay off his debts.
Unfortunately for him, he lost the bet and, unable to withstand the intense pressure which was imminent, decided to join his ancestors in the cruelest way.
Legon medical student ‘commits suicide’
Also on September 5, 2019, a third-year student of the University of Ghana Medical School reportedly committed suicide. Joseph Opuni is said to have taken his life after failing his courses and therefore billed for repeat.
Though the cause of death is yet to be verified, Master Opuni nicknamed Mobb Deep, is said to have contemplated suicide based on his posts on social media.
MP’s daughter allegedly commits suicide on KNUST Campus
An 18-year-old daughter of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante Akyem Central Constituency, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, has allegedly committed suicide at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The deceased, Adwoa Agyarkwa Anyimadu-Antwi, a first-year student, is believed to have hanged herself on Friday morning, [February 24, 2017].
The late Adwoa Agyarkwa Anyimadu-Antwi, was found lifeless with a rope around her neck hung to her room’s ceiling. The cause of her death has not been unraveled.
Legon student allegedly committed suicide
On March 8, 2017, a Level 400 student of the University of Ghana jumped to her death at the university at dawn, and her parents have attributed the demise of their daughter to a mental disorder she had suffered for the past five years.
The deceased, Jennifer Nyarko, 23, was an Agriculture and Consumer Science student of the university. She is said to have fallen from the fourth floor of the Akuafo Hall Annex A and was found by a student who was on her way to pray.
The passer-by, who found the victim lying motionless in a pool of blood, raised an alarm which attracted other students who were either sleeping or getting ready for lectures in the early hours of the day.
KNUST level 100 student commits suicide:
A level 100 student of KNUST, on 30 September 2017, was reported to have committed suicide by drinking an insecticide in his room. The student, identified as Stephen Nana Agyei Manu, was studying Geography and Rural Development and was a resident of Unity Hall.
He was found lying in a prone position inside a female washroom in the CCB building on the campus with an empty bottle of Nopest insecticide. He was rushed to the KNUST Hospital by the security officials of the university, but he died on arrival.
The motive behind his suicide is unclear, but some sources say that he was depressed over personal or academic issues.
How can we prevent student suicides?
The rising cases of student suicides on Ghanaian university campuses are a cause for concern and call for urgent action. While some institutions have taken some measures to address the situation, such as setting up counseling units and helplines, more needs to be done to prevent further loss of lives.
Some possible interventions that could contribute to mitigating this disturbing phenomenon are:
The promotion of mental health awareness: Increase awareness about mental health issues through campaigns, workshops, and orientation programs for new students. Encourage open discussions on mental health to reduce the stigma surrounding seeking help.
The improvement of counseling services: Ensure that counseling services are readily available and easily accessible to students. Allocate sufficient resources to hire qualified mental health professionals who can provide individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, and ongoing support.
Training faculty and staff: Provide training sessions to faculty and staff members on recognizing signs of distress, dealing with mental health crises, and referring students to appropriate support services. This empowers them to support students in need and intervene effectively.
Strengthening peer support programs: Establish peer support programs that train students to provide informal counseling and emotional support to their peers. These programs can create a sense of community, reduce isolation, and provide an additional layer of support.
Collaborating with local mental health providers: Forge partnerships with local mental health providers to ensure students have access to a broader range of mental health services beyond what the university can offer. Establish clear referral systems and maintain regular communication with these providers, among others.
In addition to implementing these measures, it is essential to emphasize the importance of seeking help for individuals who may be feeling suicidal or for those who are concerned about someone in that state. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, it is crucial to take immediate action. Here are some steps to consider:
Reach out for support: Speak openly and honestly about your feelings with someone you trust, such as a friend, family member, or counselor. Sharing your thoughts and emotions can provide relief and help you gain perspective.
Seek professional help: Reach out to mental health professionals, such as therapists, psychologists, or counselors, who are trained to offer support and guidance in times of crisis. They can provide appropriate interventions and help develop coping strategies.
Contact helplines or crisis centers: Many organizations offer helplines, hotlines, or crisis centers that are available 24/7. These services provide immediate support and can guide you through difficult moments. Research local helplines or consider reaching out to organizations like Samaritans or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Encourage open conversations: Create an environment where open discussions about mental health and suicide are encouraged. Breaking the stigma surrounding these topics can help individuals feel more comfortable seeking help and support.
Stay connected: If you are concerned about someone who may be suicidal, reach out to them and let them know you care. Be a good listener, offer support, and encourage them to seek professional help. Remember, you don’t have to handle the situation alone, and involving others who can provide assistance is crucial.
Remember, suicidal thoughts should always be taken seriously, and immediate action should be taken to ensure the safety and well-being of those affected. If there is an imminent risk of harm, contact emergency services or local authorities right away.
DISCLAIMER:Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s, and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
Sleep paralysis occurs when a person wakes up but is temporarily unable to move.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, it is a horrific situation as one perceives the presence of another in the space he or she finds him or herself. Most often, the indication is that one is out to harm you while you are unable to move to save oneself.
Sleep disorder specialist Alicia Roth, PhD says “this happens when there’s a malfunction between REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and wakefulness.”
Per the recent case, the reason for this article, the KNUST student, per the death note, allegedly revealed that he encountered demons.
“I’ve been seeing demons and actually heard one speak. I’m so sane and I know a lot of people are gonna think I’m making it up but screw it. I’m probably not alive by now.”
“Stupid boy” – the demon’s exact words were.
This information is imperative as it is speculated that sleep paralysis is caused by demonic attacks, hence the name “sleep demons”.
Research has described some of these “attacks” as a shapeless presence trying to suffocate them.
Sleep Paralysis with Demon in bed. nightmare horror scene illustration vector Creator: Aryo Hadi | Credit: Getty Images
This is what scientists have to say about the phenomenon.
Dr. Raj Dasgupta who completed his residency serving Internal Medicine at Michigan State subscribes to the assertion that the phenomenon of seeing something demon-like while experiencing sleep paralysis is real.
Such a condition is termed as hypnagogic or hypnopompic hallucination.
In one of its articles, Healthline reveals that vivid dream-like experiences, referred to as hypnagogic or hypnopompic hallucinations, can seem real and are often frightening.
They may be mistaken for nightmares, and they can occur while you’re falling asleep (hypnagogic) or waking up (hypnopompic).
“During these hallucinations, you may see scary people or creatures near you or even lying in your bed. And they’re often accompanied by sleep paralysis.
These hallucinations can happen if you’re partially conscious during the rapid eye movement (REM) cycle of sleep. In that state, you’re looking at the real world but also dreaming — the prefect recipe for seeing things that aren’t really there.”
There is also the instance of one seeing a distortion of something that really is there.
For instance, the pile of clothes on a chair could turn into a person sitting there watching you sleep.
In Dr. Roth’s view, the “demonic” perception has more to do with the history of one’s culture and the ways in which such events have been interpreted.
Causes of sleep paralysis
Narcolepsy
Sleep paralysis is said to be a symptom of narcolepsy – a neurological disorder that can affect the brain’s control of sleep and wakefulness.
According to Dr. Roth, this includes periods of excessive daytime sleepiness and even instances in which a person has no control over falling asleep, even in the middle of the day or an activity.
Stress
Stress is categorised as an indirect cause. Dr Roth notes that stress can play a factor in disrupting your sleep.
Though sleep paralysis can be traumatizing, research indicates that it is not dangerous to one’s health.
Source: The Independent Ghana | Andy Ogbarmey-Tettey
In a viral video on social media, the said student attempted to take his life by jumping from the last floor of the Brunie Complex.
His attempt to take his life was foiled by some students who pulled him up from the balcony.
But prior to this, he had allegedly left a death note explaining the reason behind his actions. According to the medical student whose identity has been withheld to protect his sanity, he had suffered sleep paralysis for close to two years and had been seeing demons.
He recounted how he encountered a demon after praying on fateful night.
“I’ve been seeing demons and actually heard one speak. I’m so sane and I know a lot of people are gonna think I’m making it up but screw it. I’m probably not alive by now.”
He said the said the demon’s exact words were “Stupid boy”.
The student was also suffering from depression. With all these, he “didn’t think there was reason enough to live.”
📍📍BREAKING NEWS 📍📍
A male student of KNUST attempted to commit suicide at the Brunie Complex. The student has been saved and well.
Per the lengthy note, the male student reached out to some friends before attempting suicide, but the counsel received did not persuade him to desist from taking his life.
The student revealed that he was scared to take his life but he had comfort that the action would not last for long.
“I’m very scared but it will just take a few second,” he wrote.
He began his death note with a message to his mum and dad. “I had to do this. I love you mum. Daddy, I’m sorry I couldn’t go through with medical school,” he wrote.
The death message has deeply touched the hearts of many, leading them to reflect upon its profound meaning.
Oh but how can you be in a school where it’s only book, book, book with no form of entertainment?
It is crucial to understand that mental health is as vital as physical health. Seeking professional help for mental health issues is a courageous act and demonstrates strength, not weakness. Therapists, counselors, and psychologists are well-trained to support individuals in navigating their emotions, building effective coping strategies, and discovering a renewed sense of purpose.
Alarming statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO) reveal that over 700,000 people lose their lives to suicide annually. For every suicide, there are numerous others who attempt to take their own lives. This highlights the urgent need for mental health awareness, support, and intervention to prevent such tragedies from occurring.
Source: The Independent Ghana | Andy Ogbarmey-Tettey
A second-year medical science student at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) who recently made a suicide attempt is now in a stable condition and receiving comprehensive care from medical professionals and counselors, as confirmed by the university administration.
The incident took place on Tuesday evening when the student tried to jump from the fifth-floor balcony of the Brunei hostel.
Fortunately, quick-thinking fellow students intervened, preventing the tragedy and immediately seeking medical assistance for the student.
The Public Relations Officer of KNUST, Dr. Daniel Norris Bekoe, emphasized the significance of seeking timely support from counselors and discouraged students from resorting to such extreme measures.
The university is committed to providing the necessary resources and assistance to help students navigate their challenges and promote their mental well-being.
A recent incident at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) involved a student named Kwadwo Asare Konadu Gyamfi, who was saved from a suicide attempt by his fellow students.
Gyamfi, reportedly a medical student, was seen in a video shared by The KNUST Voice, a social media page focusing on campus events, hanging from a balcony of an 8-story hostel block on campus.
Fortunately, his colleagues acted swiftly and managed to hold onto him, ultimately pulling him to safety by dislodging the balcony.
Following the circulation of the video, a purported suicide note that Gyamfi had left behind was also shared on social media. In the note, he expressed condolences to his parents, siblings, and friends, explaining that his decision had been a difficult one to make but had ultimately become his last resort.
He put his situation down to depression which pushed him into seeing nothing to live for. “I’ve been seeing demons … and actually heard one speak,” he wrote in portions of the note sighted by GhanaWeb.
GhanaWeb is unable to independently verify the authenticity of the said note.
Neither the school administration nor the hostel operators have commented or respeonded to GhanaWeb enquiries.
Two of Ghana’s prestigious universities, the University of Ghana (UG) and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), are among ten African public universities that have been awarded a $15 million research grant for food security research.
The grant has been provided by South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF) and Department of Science and Innovation as part of the O.R. Tambo Africa Research Chairs Initiative (ORTARChI).
Supporting organizations include the Oliver & Adelaide Tambo Foundation (OATF), the International Development Research Centre of Canada (IDRC), and seven sub-Saharan African science granting councils.
KNUST will focus its research on the humanities and sciences, with an emphasis on entrepreneurship and youth employment. On the other hand, UG will prioritize food security, with a specific focus on food safety and quality.
The other universities receiving the grant are the Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Eduardo Mondlane University of Mozambique, University of Joseph KI-ZERBO in Burkina Faso, Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania, Makerere University in Uganda, Copperbelt University in Zambia, University of Zambia, and the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology in Tanzania.
In addition to funding research, the selected universities will serve as research hubs and facilitate high-end skill development. They will also provide training for Ph.D. and MPhil student researchers to develop their problem-solving abilities in various thematic areas.
The identified sectors for research include food security, climate change, public health, quality water delivery, entrepreneurship and youth employment, antimalarial drug delivery, sustainable agriculture, environmental management, and livestock health.
For the next five years, the research will be concentrated on specific thematic areas, with the possibility of extension based on performance. Research chairs are awarded to universities that demonstrate leadership, talent, and commitment to supporting high-quality research after a rigorous review process.
Research grants for universities are crucial funding opportunities provided by various organizations, government agencies, foundations, or private institutions to support academic research activities carried out by faculty members, researchers, and students. These grants play a significant role in advancing scientific knowledge, promoting innovation, and addressing societal challenges through research initiatives.
Securing research grants is vital for universities to conduct meaningful research, attract talented researchers, and foster innovation. These grants not only support the academic mission of the institutions but also contribute to the advancement of society as a whole. Universities often have dedicated offices or departments that assist faculty and researchers in identifying suitable grant opportunities, preparing proposals, and managing awarded grants.
A third-year Real Estate female student was found dead on June 28, at the Ultimate Hostel, Bomso, where she resided. Her demise was announced on KNUST’s Twitter page.
Per the announcement, her colleagues had cause to worry after they received a message that read “I Quit” from her.
They then prompted the hostel authorities who broke into her room and found her lying unconscious.
📍📍BREAKING NEWS📍📍
Sad News Hits KNUST as a Third-Year Female Real Estate student passes on at Ultimate Hostel, Bomso.
The student is said to have been found dead after her room was broken into and the last message she sent to a close friend is said to have read “I Quit”💔🕊️
The number of death cases recorded by KNUST raises several concerns. While some of the incidents have been accidental, others have been deemed to be deliberate.
In February this year, a second year Industrial Arts student fell from the third floor of a private hostel at Bomso in Kumasi.
In April 2022, level 200 student with the Biological Science department was killed his friend at Sewua in an attempt to avoid payment of GH¢300 debt.
Source: The Independent Ghana | Andy Ogbarmey-Tettey
Policy and Planning lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Stephen Takyi has warned that more floods will be recorded during this rainfall periods.
He also made a projection of more deaths to be recorded during the floods as a result of the failure of the authorities at various cities to develop urban strategic plans.
As a planning expert, Stephen Takyi noted that indiscriminate sales of land, especially the wet lands by land overseers have contributed to the floods the country is facing.
The lecturer was contributing to a panel discussing on Otec FM’s morning show ‘Nyansapo’, hosted by Captain Koda, on Thursday, June 22, 2023.
He was reacting to the deaths recorded in Kumasiand Accra during the torrential rain that hit the country on Wednesday, June 21, 2022.
“If you look at how Ghana development process has been planned, flooding during the raining season will account for more deaths, and this will bring residents uprising against the politicians,” he furiously said.
“Lands are sold indiscriminately by city authorities and chiefs without hesitation, wet lands are been sold, lands earmarked for social infrastructures are also sold, making it impossible for free flow of rain water during rainfalls,” he added.
To prevent floods and its related casualties, Stephen Takyi advised residents to resist any attempts by cities’ authorities and chiefs who may attempt to sell flood-prone and reserved areas to save their lives.
The Coordinating Dean of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Obuasi campus, Prof. Richard Buamah, has revealed that plastic garbage makes about 85% of all marine debris.
He warned that the dire situation does not seem to be ending and could triple in the coming years if proper measures are not put in place to curb it.
“Currently, plastics account for 85 percent of all marine litter. By 2040, it will nearly triple, adding 23 to 37 million metric tonnes of waste to the ocean per year. This seems to be about 50 kilogrammes of plastic waste per metre of coastline. Due to these, all-marine lives face grave risks of behavioural disorder, starvation, and suffocation.”
Prof. Buamah said this when he addressed a durbar of chiefs, pupils, and stakeholders at Obuasi to mark this year’s World Environment Day, organised by AngloGold Ashanti.
He bemoaned that the use of single-use plastic is on the rise, stating that the chemicals used in its production have harmful effects on the environment and have been linked to certain diseases.
“It is an established fact that more than 10,000 chemicals are used in these plastics, of which 25 percent are potentially dangerous and linked to diseases like cancer and diabetes,” he added.
Meanwhile, during the celebration, Senior Manager of Sustainability, Environment for AngloGold Ashanti, George Owusu-Ansah, indicated that the mine has partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other stakeholders to enhance environmental sustainability on plastic waste management.
The partnership forms parts of AngloGold’s 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) on environmental sustainability, which seeks to treat plastic waste as a valuable resource rather than waste.
This year’s World Environment Day focused on tackling plastic pollution through a campaign dubbed ‘Beat plastic pollution’, in an effort to raise awareness, mobilise action and promote environmental sustainability.
Mr. Owusu-Ansah said plastic waste is one of the leading environmental challenges globally today, and that AngloGold is making a positive contribution toward an enduring world by being responsible stewards of the environment in which they operate.
Highlighting some impactful projects to protect the environment, Mr. Owusu-Ansah said the company has also impacted the community through good waste management practices, pollution prevention, and the release of treated water for public consumption.
The company has since its commencement of operations in 2019 streamlined operations in environmental management and has successfully been certified by the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System.
Obuasi Municipal Head of EPA, Prempeh Adarkwaa Yiadom, for his part, encouraged the use of reusable items.
Some items made from waste plastic are on display Awards
Awards worth GH₵600,000 were given to schools, individuals, and organisations that excelled in the campaign against the disposal of plastic waste. The awards included laptops, tabletop computers, dustbins, shovels, wheelbarrows, school bags, books, flat-screen televisions, and T-shirts, among other items.
An exhibition on plastic waste recycling by schoolchildren who turned waste plastic into usable materials was also held.
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has been recognised as the best university in the world for providing quality education under the Sustainable Development Goal 4.
The university gained the recognition in the 2023 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings on Thursday.
The 2023 Impact Rankings, in its fifth edition, encompassed a total of 1,591 universities from 112 countries/regions.
The Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings are the sole global performance tables that evaluates universities based on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Employing carefully selected indicators, THE provides comprehensive comparisons across four key areas: research, stewardship, outreach, and teaching.
Demonstrating unparalleled excellence, the KNUST secured the top position globally with an outstanding score of 93.1, surpassing all other universities worldwide.
The SDG 4 – Quality Education category evaluates universities’ contributions to early years and lifelong learning, research, and their dedication to inclusive education.
This year, an impressive 1,304 universities from 109 countries/regions participated in the category.
The 2023 feat is a massive improvement over the 2022 rankings which placed the University at number one (1) in Africa and 14th globally in terms of SDG-4.
In response to the latest ranking, Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson, said the achievement reflects the substantial and strategic investments made by the university’s management over the years.
She praised the past and current administrations for the investments in infrastructure, ICT, and e-learning resources, which have significantly enhanced the educational experience at KNUST.
The school has over the last few years commenced the Support One Needy Student with One Laptop (SONSOL) programme initiated by Professor Mrs Rita Akosua Dickson to support brilliant but needy students.
The initiative is aimed at bridging the digital divide.
The school has provided various scholarships covering accommodation, food, clothing, and special vehicles to enhance mobility of persons with disabilities.
These accomplishments reflect KNUST’s commitment to inclusivity.
University Relations Officer, Dr. Daniel Norris Bekoe, commended the university’s administration for their proactive implementation of policies pertaining to gender, anti-sexual harassment, mentorship, quality assurance, teaching and learning, research, and professional evaluation of teaching and disability.
“These policies serve the important purpose of guaranteeing high-quality service provision and safeguarding the welfare of vulnerable members within the university community. The university is committed to consistently making strategic decisions and investments aimed at enhancing the quality of education,” he said.
He also highlighted that the institution is assisting emerging researchers through financial support and facilitating the pursuit of impactful research initiatives with transformative implications for the university.
Dr. Bekoe further emphasised the need for all staff and students to sustain the diligence and perseverance spirit.
“This steadfast dedication is driven by the overarching goal of nurturing students who possess not only a profound understanding of their subjects but also exemplary character traits. By steadfastly adhering to this principle, KNUST aspires to equip its students with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel not only within Ghana but also on a global scale,” he said.
This significant achievement stands as a testament to the collective efforts and unwavering commitment exhibited by the entire KNUST community.
For more info. on THE rankings visit: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/rankings/impact/2023/quality-education.
The Asante overlord, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has reiterated his true commitment to getting chiefs involved in galamsey and forest destruction menace severely punished, especially those in the Amansie area.
The king was speaking as a special guest during the launch of the Green Ghana Project campaign at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science Technology (KNUST) on Wednesday. This year’s program, which is scheduled for June 9, 2023, is themed “Our Forest, Our Health”.
Touching on the theme, he urged that the protection of forests and water bodies should be a collective responsibility.
Otumfuo further disclosed that we could only achieve a great impact if we worked collaboratively towards this goal.
According to him, it places a responsibility on all of us to prevent selfish people who put their personal interests above the national interest and end up destroying our forest reserves and natural resources.
“It is very sad that despite the several measures government has been putting in place to curb this menace, illegal logging and illegal mining continue to pose a threat to our forest. This means that government cannot do it alone. We must all get involved and support government and come together to solve these matters.
“My chiefs have noted that I have been strictly speaking about this, and I’m not happy about chiefs in the Amansie area where galamsey has taken over the land, and I say to them that if you sit there and you claim that you don’t know what is happening, then you’re not fit to be a chief over there,” he warned.
In a video footage available to GhanaWeb, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II said he was soon going to start with his recalcitrant chiefs who are involved in these illegalities and, however, urged the government to deal with the other ones. He entreated everyone to take matters seriously to make sure we bring all these things to a close.
According to him, the protection, preservation and sustainable exploitation of our natural resources, including our forest resources, should be a collective responsibility.
Applauding the government for the tree planting initiative, Otumfuo urged everyone, including Nananom, students and the youth, to take an active part in this exercise and contribute to the restoration of our lost forest cover.
He also commended the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for actively engaging our youth in this national exercise through the one-student one-tree initiative. “Each one should make a conscious effort to plant trees”.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, in his speech, disclosed that the number of trees targeted to be planted this year across the country is 10 million.
Member of Parliament for Tema West constituency, Carlos Ahenkorah has mounted a spirited defense for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia following comments by a Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Lecturer that he (Bawumia) cannot be president.
Mr Ahenkora who is a known supporter of Mr. John Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten in the New Patriotic Party(NPP) flagbearer race, revealed that he personally started calling Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia Mr President in 2017.
He says anyone who thinks Dr Mahamudu Bawumia will not be the President of Ghana certainly does not understand politics in Ghana or is naturally ignorant
He made this known when he appeared on Accra-based UTV’s AdeKye Nsroma.
The Parliamentarian said “If you’re a member of the New Patriotic Party and you are observant and thoughtful and you can say Dr Mahamudu Bawumia will not be a President in Ghana then you don’t understand how politics works.
He continued “That man, that Doctor, will be a President in this country. I call him Mr President and I’ve been calling him Mr President since 2017. He will certainly be a President of this country”.
Kumasi may have more statues than any other city in the nation. A statue of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, was just unveiled, adding to this honor.
Situated at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) the gold-plated statue shows the Asantehene, who is also the Chancellor of the school, in traditional kente cloth, with what appears to be royal jewelry on his arms and wrists.
The statue also captures Otumfuo with a head ornament.
The statue, which exceptionally captures Otumfuo’s facial details, could also be described as an exact duplicate of his image.
Following the unveiling of the statue in March 2023, some people took to social media to heap praises on the man who is said to have been behind the near-perfect work.
Prof. Edwin Kwesi Bodjawah, the Head of the Department of Painting and Sculpture, as well as the Head of the KNUST Museum, has been mentioned as the man.
In a post by Voice of KNUST on March 26, 2023, it named the professor as the man who completed this giant work of the Ashanti king.
GhanaWeb has made an extra effort at knowing who this professor is.
Edwin Kwesi Bodjawah (b.1970) grew up in the centre of Accra but he currently lives and practices in the city of Kumasi. He was introduced to commercial cold cast techniques by Francis Nee Kwartei Owoo, a protégé of the once internationally famous pioneer—Giovanni Schoeman, in the early 1990’s while still in art school.
Bodjawah’s early works in this vein depicted genre scenes of the emerging African cities—with traditional African ornament—akin to the typical social realist works of the early postcolonial African canon.
Employing antique-finish cold cast technique for his resin-bronze and multi-metal sculpture, he also worked on a number of private and public sculpture commissions. However, a few years into the 21st Century, his practice would take a radical turn after epiphanic engagements with k?rî?k?chä seid’ou on contemporary art.
With Bodjawah’s new and expanded perspectives into the politics and infrastructure of international sculpture practice and thought, coupled with an enduring interest in African masking traditions, a new space of criticality was opened in his practice.
In his new body of works, he repurposes decommissioned and de-accessioned materials and objects which have intervened in the lives of individuals and communities on the African continent, especially, those mediated through colonial intervention and modern market economies.
Critical to Bodjawah’s current practice is his ritual surfing of the internet to select images of masks that have found their way into museums of the global north and reproducing them serially through a hybrid of artisanal and semi-mechanical means, collaborative manufacture and display.
In recent years, Bodjawah’s work has seen several exhibitions including Spectacles Speculations… (2018, Kumasi) and Silence speaks: Of Blood, Soil and more (2017, Cape Coast), curated by Kwasi Ohene-Ayeh. His publications are in the areas of art history, contemporary art and art education.
Bodjawah is a principal Trustee and Patron of blaxTARLINES, an art incubator and project space affiliated with the KNUST Fine Art Department and Associate Professor in the same Department. He is also the coordinator of the KNUST Museum (Opoku Ware II Museum).
The Government has approved a budget of GHȼ2.5 million for this year’s exercise.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor who announced this at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, April 26 said it intended to plant 10 million seedlings across the country.
The Green Ghana Project was launched by President Akufo-Addo in 2021 as part of the government’s aggressive afforestation and re-afforestation programme to restore the degraded landscape.
So far, about 31 million seedlings have been planted nationwide with an average survival rate of 81 and 72 per cent in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
“This year, we have revised our target downwards to 10 million trees. This will give us space to devote some resources and attention to the trees planted over the last two years, while not losing momentum on our quest to restore our degraded landscape,” Mr Jinapor said.
He expressed the hope that it would receive the usual massive support from the public to build upon the successes achieved in 2021 and 2022.
He urged the media to carry the message across and mobilise support toward the success of the project.
The Lands Minister appealed to all well-meaning Ghanaians, including chiefs and queen-mothers, religious and faith-based organisations, civil and public servants and students, to support the Ministry to make this year’s Green Ghana Day a success.
“As we did last year, we have compartments for adoption by private institutions, and we will brand these compartments with their names and logos,” he said. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to launch 2023 Green Ghana Day
Seedlings will be made available at the Ministry, District Offices of the Forestry Commission, and at various designated locations for collection on the Day.
The Minister said details of the seedling distribution and pick-up points will be published in due course.
“Trees play a crucial role in our survival and the survival of planet earth…When the last tree dies, the last man dies,” he added.
A Deputy Minister of Lands, in charge of Forestry, Mr Benito Owusu-Biotold the media that it had so far secured 7.5 million seedlings and expected to receive the remaining 2.5 million from donors.
The Forestry Commission provided three million seedlings, the Mineral Commission supplied three million, while Plantation Fund Board and Rotary clubs and churches have supplied 500,000 and one million seedlings, respectively, he said.
TheKwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology‘s (KNUST) Nursing Department of Midwifery has received equipment and training materials for midwifery from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The items worth $30,000, is part of the Funds’ efforts at contributing to the effective and efficient training of midwifes to acquire the needed skills that will help reduce maternal deaths in the country.
Among the items were dilation curettage instruments, tenaculum uterine forceps, delivery trolley, uterine sound, suction machines, adult, and baby weighing scales, birth stimulators, digital thermometers, cervical cerclage models, sims viginal speculum, uterine dilators, and stainless-steel dressing drums.
Others were surgical scissors,examination screens, sphygmomanometer, green army forceps, penguin newborn suctions, mobile examination lamps, hot water bottles and drip stands.
Dr Emmily Naphambo, Deputy UNFPA Country Representative, speaking to the media after handing over the items, said the organization had been working with the KNUST for more than 10 years in the discharge of quality education.
The UNFPA supported the school together with the government and other stakeholders to come up with the first curriculum for the degree programme in midwifery.
Since then, the collaboration has grown stronger and instituted the donation of equipment including a skills laboratory and training faculty staff in delivering best practical and theoretical knowledge to students.
“This donation comes in the context of UNFPA’s support.
Midwifery has been our core pillar; we are making sure we contribute meaningfully to eliminating maternal deaths.
Ghana is making strides, there are still alarming levels of maternal deaths of about 320 deaths per 100,000, that is still too much, and we must support the advancement of midwifery studies”, she explained.
Hospital Equipment
This donation, she said would go a long way as the KNUST was training staff and skilled personnel to be attending to pregnant women.
“Though the support is for the school, the beneficiaries of the materials provided will go far beyond and contribute to the well-being of women in Ghana, to the health sector and also development goals for the country.”
Dr Naphambo pledged that the UN agency that specialized in reproductive health would continue to give the needed support to institutions to help reduce maternal mortality.
Dr Daniel Norris Bekoe, the University Relations Officer, KNUST, who received the items, said they would supplement the skills and training of the students for Ghana and sub-Saharan region and commended the UNFPA for the assistance.
He said the working relationship that existed between the University and the UNFPA would continue, adding that, the two institutions were working on curriculum development for Master’s and Doctor of Philosophy Programmes in midwifery.
Dr. Bekoe urged other donors to resource the KNUST to acquire state-of-the-art skills laboratories for the training of health personnel.
These skills laboratories, according to him, must essentially be stocked with equipment to help hands-on training before students go out to various health facilities for attachments.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has pledged to support Ghana in combating maternal deaths by the end of 2030.
In this regard, the Fund and its partners will continue providing relevant support, including technical and logistics in quality human resource training and maternal healthcare to ensure safe childbirth in Ghana.
The Deputy Country Director of the UNFPA, Dr. Emily Naphambo, gave the assurance in Kumasi in an interview with Radio Ghana on the sidelines of a presentation of assorted training equipment to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
UNFPA is one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations and is concerned and working towards responsible reproductive health in member nations with a target to achieve Zero maternal deaths by 2030.
The training equipment donated to the KNUST forms part of the strategies being deployed by the Agency towards the attainment of this goal.
The Deputy Country Representative of the UNFPA, Dr. Emily Naphambo, who led the delegation of the United Nations agency, handed over the equipment to the Vice Chancellor of the KNUST, Professor Mrs. Rita Dickson.
Dr. Naphambo explained that until Ghana’s unimpressive maternal deaths record, which currently stands at 320 deaths per 100 thousand live births, gets better, the UNFPA, with the support of its partners like Canada, will not relent in assisting the country in any way possible.
Asked how long her agency was ready to support Ghana, Dr. Naphambo quickly responded amidst giggling “As long as women continue to die, we’re here as UNFPA. UNFPA is a UN that specializes in reproductive health and maternal deaths. As long as women are dying, we’re here, we’re not going anywhere. Our agenda is to ensure Zero maternal deaths in 2030.”
The Director of Nursing and Midwifery at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bannor, who witnessed the presentation, said the Ministry has identified capacity training as the most important need for quality maternal care in the country hence his appeal to local and external organizations to offer support in the development of relevant curricular for postgraduate programmes for nurses and midwives in the country.
The Deputy Registrar in charge of University Relations at the KNUST, Dr. Daniel Norris Bekoe, in thanking UNFPA for the generous assistance, described the gesture as timely for hands-on training of the would-be nurses and midwives during their practical learning sessions at school.
The equipment donated by the UNFPA, valued at 30 thousand Ghana Cedis, included a cardi otoscopy machine, multipurpose manual obstetrics bed, MVA kits, Urine dilators, sets of Dilation and Curettage, assorted Thermometers, cervical dilation and, effacement, birth stimulators among others key logistics.
The items are meant for the Midwifery Skills Laboratory of the Department of Nursing of the College of Health Sciences of the KNUST.
The presentation forms part of the standing partnership between the KNUST and the UNFPA since 2011 which has also seen the UNFPA assist the KNUST to establish the Nursing and Midwifery School and still together, developing curricula for postgraduate courses in the two professional fields.
The United Nations Population Fund, or UNFPA, has assured Ghana that it will continue to provide aid until the country’s efforts to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity are successful.
In this regard, the Fund and its partners will continue with the provision of the relevant support including technical and logistics in quality human resource training and maternal healthcare to ensure safe child birth in Ghana. From Left: Vice Chancellor of theKNUST, Professor Mrs. Rita Dickson in a warm embrace with Dr. Emily Naphambo, Deputy Country Director of the UNFPA
The Deputy Country Director of the UNFPA, Dr. Emily Naphambo, gave the assurance in Kumasi in an interview with Radio Ghana on the sidelines of a presentation of assorted training equipment to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
UNFPA is one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations and is concerned and working towards responsible reproductive health in member nations with a target to achieve Zero maternal deaths by 2030.
The training equipment donated to the KNUST forms part of the strategies being deployed by the Agency towards attainment of this goal.
The Deputy Country Representative of the UNFPA, Dr. Emily Naphambo, who led the delegation of the United Nations agency, handed over the equipment to the Vice Chancellor of the KNUST, Professor Mrs. Rita Dickson.
Dr. Naphambo explained that, untill Ghana’s unimpressive maternal deaths record, which currently stands at 320 deaths per 100 thousand live births, gets better, the UNFPA, with the support of its partners like Canada, will not relent in assisting the country in anyway possible. Dr. Emily Naphambo, Deputy Country Director of the UNFPA
Asked by how long her agency was ready to support Ghana, Dr. Naphambo quickly responded amidst giggling “as long as long as women continue to die, we’re here as UNFPA. UNFPA is a UN specializes in reproductive health and maternal deaths. As long as women are dying, we’re here, we’re nit going anywhere. Our agenda is to ensure Zero maternal deaths in 2030.”
The Director of Nursing and Midwifery at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bannor, who witnessed the presentation, said the Ministry has identified capacity training as the most important need for quality maternal care in the country hence his appeal to local and external organizations to offer support in the development of relevant curricular for postgraduate programmes for nurses and midwives in the country.
The Deputy Registrar in charge of University Relations at the KNUST, Dr. Daniel Norris Bekoe, in thanking UNFPA for the generous assistance, described the gesture as timely for hands-on training of the would-be nurses and midwives during their practical learning sessions at school.
The equipment donated by the UNFPA, valued at 30 thousand Ghana Cedis, included cardiotoscopy machine, multipurpose manual obstetrics bed, MVA kits, Urine dilators, sets of Dilation and Curettage, assorted Thermometers, cervical dilation and, effacement, birth stimulators among others key logistics.
The items are meant for the Midwifery Skills Laboratory of the Department of Nursing if the College of Health Sciences of the KNUST.
The presentation forms part of the standing partnership between the KNUST and the UNFPA since 2011 which has also seen the UNFPA assist the KNUST to establish establish the Nursing and Midwifery School and still together, developing curricular for postgraduate courses in the two professional fields.
The Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Professor Mrs. Rita Akosua Dickson, recently met with the Tamale Chapter of the KNUST Global Alumni Association as part of the university’s effort to track how its products contribute to the development of the nation.
The event, which took place on March,11, 2023 was to showcase the contribution of KNUST has made over the years and to engage the alumni on the critical role they could play to support the University.
Prof. Dickson, said products of the University could be found in all sectors of the economy and were contributing their quota to the national development.
“Teknokrats are found on every part of the globe. We are everywhere creating opportunities for people, making the problems of humanity our problem and professing solutions to them,” she said.
She said there was the need to protect and promote the KNUST brand for the growth of the institution.
She also praised the staff and students of KNUST for their roles in lifting the high the flag of KNUST and winning laurels in respective global competitions.
She cited the recent achievement of KNUST Debate Team, who came second in the World Universities Debating Championships.
She called for the alumni and promised to fix emerging challenges to ensure the university’s continual growth
In his welcome address, Kwame Ohene-Ampofo, the Tamale Chapter President of the KNUST Alumni Association, was grateful to the Vice-Chancellor and her team for the initiative and pledged the Chapter’s support to the development of the University.
For his part, the Global President of the association, Dr. Kwaku Agbesi, lauded the Vice-Chancellor for paying particular attention to KNUST alumni and its activities.
According to him, her interventions have resulted in the marked progress in the alumni hostel project, currently ongoing on campus.
As part of activities marking the 70th anniversary of KNUST, Dr. Agbesi said the Global Executives established a Garden in Mamfe, awarded full educational scholarships to three future Teknokrats of the University, organised mentorship programme for final year students, held a virtual for Global Teknokrats with the Vice-Chancellor and visited the North America Chapter of the Association among others.
The Senior Assistant Registrar of the Advancement and Alumni Relations Office (AARO) of KNUST. James Kwasi Oberko, highlighting the vision of the Vice-Chancellor, informed the alumni that the office has been resourced to liaise between the alumni and the university for their mutual benefit.
He urged the Tamale Chapter to promote the University by conceiving, executing and taking active part in Chapter related activities.
Present at the meeting included Prof. Gabriel Teye, former Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies; Prof. Bashiru Imoro Ibn-Saeed; Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Tamale Technical University, Yaw Nimo-Baffour, Finance Officer of KNUST and Ibrahim Mahama, a globally acclaimed artist.
The administration of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has formally exonerated some executives of the Students Representation Council (SRC) who were suspended in 2020 following accusations of financial mismanagement.
According to the management, former President of the SRC, Michael Abuah, and former Speaker of the SRC Parliamentary Council, Andrew Anokye Kyeremateng, the vice-president, Reginald Amo Yeboah and Financial Secretary, Derek Dadzie were exonerated by the school’s Disciplinary Committee after series of investigations over allegations of misappropriation.
“Following an allegation of misappropriation of funds levelled against you, a committee was constituted to investigate the said allegations.
“Based on the investigations conducted and the evidence elicited, the Committee concluded that you did not misappropriate the funds for your travel.
“The Vice-Chancellor, as the Chief Disciplinary Officer of the University, has considered the Committee’s report and accepted the recommendations of the Committee for your exoneration.
“I therefore, write on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, to exonerate you accordingly,” a letter signed by the Deputy Registrar of the University, Mrs Margaret Dzisi, dated March 23, 2023, stated.
The Management of KNUST in August 2022 issued a letter asking the president of the SRC and some executives to step aside of allegations of malfeasance.
“Pursuant to the allegations of misconduct against you for which reason the University has empanelled the Junior Member Disciplinary Committee (JMDC) to investigate same per letters referenced LWS/621A and dated August 18, 2022, I write on behalf of the Registrar to inform you to step aside as the President of the Student Representative Council (SRC) by close of today the 25th of August 2022, pending the outcome of the official investigations into the alleged matters,” the statement said.
“By a copy of this letter, the SRC Judicial Committee is to ensure, in accordance with the SRC Constitution, that no hiatus is created in the administration of the student body.
“The Judicial Committee should liaise with the Director of Students Affairs for the necessary actions to be taken for the effective running of the SRC Administration,” the notice said.
This was after the executives of the SRC had been accused of misappropriating funds meant for a trip to South Africa.
The Overlord of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has admonished the government to be be mindful in its spending and cut down on frivolous spending.
He said this is necessary to reduce the economic hardship the indiscriminate expenses government has plundered the nation into.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II during the 56th congregation of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi was telling the government to be transparent and candid with the citizens about the true state of Ghana’s economy.
“The current economic difficulty should also serve as a wake up call for all of us to carefully review our economy and implement some significant adjustments.
“The moment has come for us to reduce wasteful spending and direct resources towards economically productive areas in order to improve the quality of life of our people,” he advised.
Meanwhile, the Asantehene wants government to assemble the best of brains in the country irrespective of political affiliation in its final proposal to the International Monetary Fund to get the best value for the country.
“As we move to negotiate with our external creditors, I urge government to bring together the best brains with the requisite expertise from all political perspectives to present the final proposal so that whatever decision the country chooses will be everyone’s responsibility,” he indicated.
As part of celebrations for the university’s 56th Congregation, the Asantehene,Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has officially commissioned the Jericho Wall Police Station at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on March 17, 2023.
In addition to improving local and campus security, the police station, which is meant to service the university and the neighboring areas, is also projected to increase overall safety.
The KNUSTMotorbikes Patrols was also launched as part of efforts by the Police Administration to improve police visibility and incident response time on the university campus.
This is an initiative to ensure motorized police visibility on the campuses of our universities. University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani was the first to benefit from this initiative with the KNUST being the second.
Also present at the commissioning which took place immediately after the 56th Congregation of the university were the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, the Deputy Education Minister, Rev John Ntim Fourjour, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Rita Akosua Dickinson, the Director-General/NPD, COP/Paul Manly Awini, DG/HRD, COP/Frederick Adu Anim and some other Senior Police Officers and some officials of the university.
About 42% of Ghana’s population dwell in rural areas where a large proportion of the people live in various forms of earth buildings constructed primarily through self-help efforts.
Rural areas in Ghana are projected to experience adverse impacts which make adaptation to climate change much more difficult, with detrimental effects on communities.
Students at the Department of Architecture, KNUST, have undertaken a survey at Techikrom in the Ashanti Region to redesign a comprehensive rural redevelopment scheme aimed at improving the quality of life of the residents within the precinct.
Attention will be focused on integrated development proposals.
128 second-year students were camped at Techikrom for a week to conduct surveys in 8 villages and 15 local communities in the Akim South Municipal Assembly in the Ashanti region.
An in-depth analytical exercise of data collected was developed to find practical solutions to resolve problems found during the survey.
Prof. Daniel Duah, Dean of International Programmes Office, explained the purpose of the rural survey. “The theme for our study is reimagining our rural communities and we’re focusing on five themes. We’re going to collect baseline data and put them together, clean it and synthesize it and we’ll come up ideas for developing this community
“In the second year we take students out on a rural survey but over the past 10 years we haven’t been able to take students out mainly because of funding.
“This year we’re fortunate to get funding from the Consulate General of Greece and Cyprus through Three Mountains Cocoa Ltd”.
Six student groups worked on thematic areas identified with human settlements and six scenarios.
Some of the students were optimistic of the project’s outcome.
“This will be relevant to our programs because we looked at people’s economy and looking at the rural setting we know the kind of building we should design for people in the rural area,”Bawa Abdul-Razak, a student said.
Another student, Kwofie Samuelle-Marie Seyram noted,”With the knowledge I have gained from the survey, we will be able to reconstruct and redesign the future of this town and predict how the town will look like in the next 10 or 15 years”.
The students explored the pressing themes of decarbonation and decolonization, through which they investigated design as a social, political and ecological tool that can help enable positive change, as well as architecture’s role in Africa’s rural future.
Dr. Maria Panta is a lecturer at the Department of Architecture.
“As a group we’re looking at ways of reimaging rural ideas of living in Africa in general but this year we’re focusing on West Africa,” she said.
The field survey is sponsored by the Consulate General of Greece & Cyprus through Three Mountains Cocoa Ltd.
A Political Science lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr Kwasi Boateng, has asked Ghanaians to ignore the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful, Kennedy Agyapong because he lacks the moral and political qualification to lead the country.
According to him, the Assin Central Member of Parliament has been captured on tape on several occasions, insulting the intelligence of Ghanaians, including his own party members.
He asserted that Kennedy Agyapong lacks the basic presidential skills and qualifications per the country’s cultural and moral standards.
“He doesn’t have the moral responsibility to even lead this country because he is on record to have insulted women and used unprintable words against some people, including persons within his own government. So, that man is just not serious, he should forget about his presidential ambitions,” he said.
Speaking in an interview with Akoma FM on March 14, 2023, Dr Kwasi Boateng also urged Ghanaians to consider a candidate who has the political will to steer the affairs of the country in the 2024 general elections.
The likes of Kennedy Agyapong, Kwabena Agyapong, Joe Ghartey, Dr Afriyie Akoto and Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, Francis Addai-Nimoh and Kofi Konadu Apraku have all announced their bids for the NPP flagbearership.
However, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia who is yet to officially announce his bid is tipped as a lead contender in the race.
He disclosed this on Akoma FM evening political show, GhanAkoma.
Speaking with host Aduanaba Kofi Asante Ennin, Dr Amakye Boateng averred that without political will, Ghana cannot fight corruption in the country.
“If you really want to fight corruption, you need the will and commitment which unfortunately till now, I have not seen any of such from any part of the country.
“[Ghanaians] are at the forefront, we are supposed to show examples to other West African countriesbut we don’t have the will to do that unfortunately.
“The most important issue about fighting corruption is that we are so segmented in our societies by tribes, by religion, by region, by so many other things that divide us,“ he said.
He called on all to support the fight against corruption.
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has achieved another significant accomplishment at the 2023 World Universities Debating Championships (WUDC).
The Kumasi-based university attained second position in the competition’s English as a Second Language (ESL) category finals.
As a result, the school has broken records by becoming the first African university to achieve this position in a competition that began 43 years ago.
They finished second in Madrid, Spain in January and qualified for the semi-finals in 2023. As reported by the Voice of KNUST, the university was ably represented by Prosper Michael Ametu, a fourth-year BA Sociology student, and Vincent Johnson Attakpah, a fourth-year BSc Statistics student, who qualified through nine rounds of debate.
Internet users are most often swarmed with advertisements as they access different websites and social media.
Worst of all, they are not rewarded for viewing these ads.
But two Computer Science students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Richard Adjetey and Philip Allotey are trying to change this with an App called myAdmo.
MyAdmo is an adblocker extension that does not only block ads but gives users points for the ads they view.
They then earn points they can use to purchase products in amraketplace provided by MyAdmo.
Advertisers can also sell their products through MyAdmo. MyAdmo does not leave the blogger out. With a MyAdmo account, bloggers can also earn more cash from classified ads.
In December 2021, Ghana celebrated Ruth Ama Gyan-Darkwa after she graduated after studying Mathematics at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
Prior to her graduation, Ruth was adjudged the youngest person to gain admission into a university in the country at the age of 13 in 2017.
Two years after her first degree, the female prodigy has chalked another feat by becoming the Youngest Masters/PhD, Graduate Student at the University of New Mexico, at the age of 18.
Ruth who is pursuing a doctoral degree in electrical engineering at the US university has a dream of working with America’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) after her program.
Ruth Ama Gyan-Darkwa beat her older sister, Grace, to the age record when she got admitted into the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) at the age of 13 in 2017.
Today, she has just graduated after completing her studies in Mathematics.
The former student of the St. Louis Senior High School first came to the spotlight when she became the youngest ever student to be admitted at the KNUST and now, she is the youngest graduate from any university in Ghana to have completed school at 17.
Before SHS, she schooled at the Christ Our Hope International School and the Abraham Lincoln Junior High School in Kumasi.
In 2017, she appeared on The Lounge, hosted by Kwaku Sakyi-Addo, along with her sister and their father, Kwadwo Gyan-Darkwa, a Mathematics and Physics tutor at the Prempeh College.
“According to her, she passed her Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) at age 9, while in her first year at Justice International School in Kumasi. As a result, at the age of 10, she was accepted into St. Louis Senior High School to study General Science and successfully graduated in 2017,” a report by knust.edu.gh said.
Speaking with the portal, she also confessed to how not so rosy her journey has been, adding that although she had a very brilliant academic history, she experienced some uncertainties with her tertiary education, feeling quite nervous at times.
“I was able to overcome the many challenges because God saw me through, and I looked to him at all times. Also, I had my eyes focused on the end goal. Some of my course mates felt intimidated because they thought I was too brilliant. Others wondered if I was cut for the journey. All these brought me to the point of questioning my potential but found solace in how far I have come, the support I received and the future that awaits me,” she said.
Ruth plans to pursue a master’s degree and then later, a PhD.
The researchers discovered that these containers rusted at a fast rate due to the use of mild steel instead of galvanised steel to manufacture them.
Mild steel appeared less resistant to atmospheric conditions and rusted even faster because they were placed on concrete.
To address these problems, the study developed an alternative design that is easily dismountable, transportable and easily assembled without damaging its quality and physical outlook.
The new design addresses the issue of rusting
The new design addresses the problem of rust by creating pedestals that are not made of cement.
“Within three hours you should be able to set your kiosk up to start selling,” lead researcher, Dr Samuel Baah Kissi said.
Rightly so, American comedian of Ghanaian descent is getting plaudits for building a modern school complex in his hometown of Agona Nsaba in the Central Region.
The facility with its beautiful structure and aesthetics has impressed many Ghanaians who have lauded the comedian for giving back to his mother’s hometown.
The newly-built facility during the official launch spotted neatly painted white walls, terrazzo slabs, and ultra-modern furniture.
Each of the spacious classrooms has a 12-seater capacity with neatly tiled washrooms; not forgetting the exterior which has an incredible and fancy lighting system at night.
But do you know the man who designed the project? 28-year-old Wisdom Afedzi is the architect behind the structure that won the hearts of many Ghanaians.
Wisdom Afedzi has roots in the Volta Region but grew up in Dasoman, a suburb of Accra.
Wisdom had his high school education at the Mfantsipim before going to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science of Technology (KNUST) where he bagged his first and second degrees in Architecture.
A Sunday school teacher, Wisdom describes himself as someone with an innate desire to share knowledge and inspiration for children.
Wisdom Afedzi prides himself as an architect with special interest in works that solve specific social problems. For him, the purpose of the project comes first before the money.
“I’ve come to accept that the era of the brick architecture is fading away. The world is now looking for great architects. There are a lot of good buildings out there but we are leaning towards a direction where we look out for the good in these projects where the project is solving a problem and inspiring people. That is where I feel the architecture is heading towards now,” he said in the Tales of Africa podcast.
For him, working on the project for Michael Blackson was a dream and surreal moment as he never for once thought he will be working with the man whom he spent hours watching on YouTube.
Wisdom who is currently the Project Manager at Complete Properities Solution details the role the company played in getting the gig to work with the award-winning comedian.
He described the moment he discovered Michael Blackson as the owner of the project as a nervy one but was quick to add that the nerves gave way for a confident and relaxed mood after his first meeting with the ace comedian.
“The first time I met, I didn’t think he was the client I was going to work for. It was all fun. I was nervous when I first found out that I was going to work with Michael. I had the doubt that what if things don’t go well. When I met him, we had a long conversation and he asked me a lot of questions. I was frank with him that I hadn’t done this before but after doing the site walking and reporting to him about my observation, he was impressed.” For Wisdom, the first meeting set him and Michael Blackson on the path of success and they never looked back again.
He believes that the project represents the brand Michael Blackson and also highlights the values of education and the community.
He also credited some local artisans who commenced the project before he took over and gave it the professional and beautiful look that is seen now.
The University of Cape Coast was also ranked 3rd best university in the country and 2,205th in the world.
The report also indicated that the University of Ghana retained its position as the best Ghanaian university under Impact ranking category while the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the University for Development Studies came in 2nd and 3rd respectively.
It added that the University of Ghana (UG) was also ranked the best in the Openness ranking category followed by KNUST and the University of Cape Coast.
KNUST and the University of Cape Coast were also beaten to the first by UG in the Excellence ranking category.
Webometrics.com indicated that its ranking is to engender healthy competition among the various university in the world in terms of web presence.
“We intend to motivate both institutions and scholars to have a web presence that reflect accurately their activities.
“If the web performance of an institution is below the expected position according to their academic excellence, university authorities should reconsider their web policy, promoting substantial increases of the volume and quality of their electronic publications,” is quoted to have said.
About Webometrics.com:
Ranking Web started in 2004 (current is the 18th year of publication) to offer full coverage of Higher Education institutions whatever the country or discipline involved. Currently, we ranked 31 000 HEIs from more than 200 countries.
Editors of the Ranking Web are scientists working at one world-class public research institution with long experience in metrics-guided evaluation
The Ranking Web or Webometrics is the largest academic ranking of Higher Education Institutions offering every six months an independent, objective, free, open scientific exercise for providing reliable, multidimensional, updated and useful information about the performance of universities from all over the world.
Farming improves on food security and also stimulates economic growth.
However, lack of time and resource to go to the farm site to monitor the conditions of the farm and motivation to manually irrigate the farm deter many from partaking in this venture.
Fortunately, two computer science students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Isaac Junior Ampah and Blaise Ayindingo have developed a smart farming system to curtail these problems.
The smart farming system uses sensors to determine the moisture content in the soil and activates the irrigation system when the soil moisture is very low.
It checks for the amount of water left in the reserve tank and tops up if the tank is low on water.
Live Monitoring: This system provides the climatic and soil conditions of the farm to the farmer through a mobile app.
Intelligent Fire Prevention System: This system uses sensors to determine if smoke is present on the farm and automatically activates the irrigation system till the smoke dissipates from the farm.
To learn more about the App and join the waitlist for its release, partners, stakeholders, or investors can visit https://csapps.knust.edu.gh.
Legal Practitioner and a Senior Lecturer of the College of Art and Built Environment of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr Dickson Osei-Asibey has expressed regrets contesting the 2012 parliamentary elections as an Independent candidate.
A staunch member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) went independent and contested against the Deputy Minister for Land and Natural Resource Mr. Benito Owusu Bio in 2012.
According to Dr. Dickson Osei-Asibey, his decision to go independent unknowingly tore his party apart in the constituency and brought a lot of harm to them as well.
“I regretted going independent because it didn’t help the party. It brought a lot of division in the party and I didn’t know that was going to cause that harm”, Dr. Dickson Osei Asibey revealed.
Recounting the genesis of his decision on Ghanaman TV in an interview monitored by MyNewsGh.com, he noted that he contested the primaries with Benito Owusu Bio with another candidate but got disappointed with the party’s decision in the long run and felt betrayed.
“We were three that time and Hon Benito won and I was second. At that time the District had not been divided, it was Atwima Nwabiagya so later they decided to split the district. After the split, I was expecting that after Hon Benito had contested in the North, I would also be allowed to contest in the South but that didn’t happen, the third person instead was made to contest on the ticket of the South leaving me the second runner. So the whole community was not happy”, he narrated.
Dr Dickson Asibey explained that his decision to going dependent was because the community felt he should lead the newly created district.
“Later on I regretted going independent because it didn’t help the party. It brought a lot of divisions in the party and I didn’t know that was going to cause that harm. They had to bring President Kufuor, the late Jacob Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey and some NPP big men to talk to me. I still went on as an independent candidate and amassed a lot of votes, but it didn’t help,” he reiterated.
A parent of one of the beneficiaries of the MTN Bright Scholarship Awards, has paid glowing tribute to MTN Ghana for the positive impact it is making in the lives of needy students across the country.
Madam Afia Agyeiwaa, a 52-year-old widow whose daughter is pursuing Publishing Studies at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology could not help but praised MTN during a ceremony to award beneficiaries in Kumasi.
“I am a tomato seller and the little I make is not enough to support my daughter’s education so, the intervention by MTN is timely and a huge relief from the financial burden on my shoulders,” an emotional but proud mother stated.
She said she could not thank MTN enough for bringing hope to her daughter and many others who had been struggling to stay in school.
“It is my prayer that your business will continue to grow so that you can continue to help more deserving students like my daughter to stay in school, she prayed.
Dubbed, “MTN Bright Scholarship Reloaded”, the initiative seeks to support brilliant but needy tertiary students in public tertiary institutions across all 16 regions with an enhanced package targeting 300 students over the next three years.
The scholarship would cover tuition, accommodation, a stipend of GHC 1,150.00 per semester and a laptop to facilitate learning.
Fifty of the 100 beneficiaries for this year received their packages at a ceremony held at the Law Faculty of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi.
Mr Samuel Koranteng, a Board Member of MTN Foundation, said the Foundation was convinced that education was one of the main avenues for social mobility, the reason it continued to invest in education.
He said during the launch of the scholarship in June, MTN received heart-warming testimonies of how some previous beneficiaries almost dropped out of school but for the timely intervention of the MTN Bright Scholarship Awards.
“The Bright Scholarship became the turning point for them and out of the 119 beneficiaries that graduated, 82 graduated with first class honours with 24 receiving special awards,” he disclosed.
He said special emphasis was placed on selecting students pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Data Analytics, Robotics Vocational and Technical Education.
Persons with Disability interested in studying Information Communication Technology and Computer Science were also given priority, he said.
Beyond the scholarship, Mr Koranteng said the MTN Foundation had built several schools, refurbished hospitals and empowered people economically, thereby impacting the lives of four million Ghanaians directly and one million others indirectly.
He said the Foundation had spent $15 million on corporate social responsibilities in the areas of education, health and economic empowerment.
We are faced with uncertainties about the future due to the impacts of climate change on communities and our livelihoods.
In the past decades, severe flooding in major cities and towns across the globe has resulted in loss of human life, damage to properties and infrastructure facilities, and destruction of crops among others.
Coastal cities and island communities are among those facing the highest risks of climate change impact due to rising sea levels.
Despite their huge tourism potential and economic opportunities, most island communities in Ghana are at risk of being abandoned due to climate crisis and limited investment.
Azizakpe Island, located in the estuary of the Volta River, is one such example.
Azizakpe has been in existence for more than a hundred years. However, in recent years, the island community faces existential threats due to severe flooding and erosion. About 20 acres of Azizakpe’s land has been lost to erosion.
Farming and economic activities such as coconut oil production, crab hunting, boat making, fish mongering, weaving and broom making, etc. have been severely disrupted by this climate crisis and the emigration of most residents.
To revitalize the community and make it attractive to both residents and visitors, a final-year Architecture student at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Miss Rhoda Osei-Nkwantabisa), has designed resilient structures that can help the community withstand the impacts of floods and erosion.
The proposed structures were designed based on the concept of Amphibious Architecture. This approach to design allows buildings to float on the surface of rising floodwater rather than succumb to inundation. The designer adapted local materials such as mangrove trees, thatch roof, woven coconut leaf walls, and bamboo raft floors.
To enable the buildings to float without submerging, the designer created a bamboo cage at the base of each building. The cage is filled with waste plastic bottles for buoyancy in the event of a flood. The shape of the structures was inspired by the roots of the mangrove tree due to its ability to withstand floods and erosion.
If sea levels rise in the future as has been predicted, the structures are designed to stay afloat with the aid of the bamboo cage and supporting mangrove sliding stilts.
Due to the use of locally available materials and low-cost construction techniques, construction cost is estimated to reduce by 40 percent. This proposal, if implemented, will benefit the community socially, economically, and environmentally.
The plastic bottles used to create buoyancy will reduce plastic waste in the community and its environs. The facility will also help to generate income for the community and the nation at large. It could serve as a model for the revitalization of island communities in Ghana.
This research was supervised by Dr. Martin Larbi and Arc. Isaac Annor. The author gratefully acknowledges the support of Mr Emmanuel Kankam in the construction of the 3D impressions.
This research was supervised by Dr Martin Larbi and Arc. Isaac Annor. The author gratefully acknowledges
the support of Mr Emmanuel Kankam in the construction of the 3D impressions.
This follows a bench warrant issued by the Asokore Mampong District court for the arrest of the accused.
The number of persons standing trial in connection to the disturbances so far stands at six.
Out of the six standing trials, one is an alumnus, and five are students.
While four of the accused, are currently in Police custody, the High Court has granted two, including the alumnus, bail.
Lawyers for the accused still in custody, prayed the court to grant the suspects bail, while in court, on Tuesday, October 4, 2022.
However, the Asokore Mampong District Court refused the suspects’ bail.
The University Hall (Katanga) was on a procession during the celebration of their hall week on Thursday, August 19, 2022, and upon reaching Unity Hall (Conti), started to hurl stones into the hall.
The situation degenerated when the colleagues from the Unity Hall (Conti) retaliated, leading to at least 11 students sustaining injuries while 10 cars were vandalised in the process.
The injured students have been treated at the KNUST hospital and discharged.
A forensic pathologist and Head of KNUST School of Medicine and Dentistry, Dr. Paul Ossei Sampene is concerned about the recorded cases of newborn babies with deformities in mining communities.
Speaking to GHOne News, the pathologist observed that illegal mining activities which continue to contaminate food crops and river bodies have far-reaching consequences on human health, which is partly why the country’s health facilities are overwhelmed by strange diseases and defects in births.
He stressed the heavy concentration of metallic substances found in river bodies is worrying.
“We need to appreciate the fact that cumulatively if these patients get even 0.005% of heavy metal, and assuming the person stays there all his life you can imagine the sort of concentration that you can get in a year or in a month, and that is what we should consider. When you live there permanently, that is your place of abode and consume whatever is produced there, you drink the water there and eat the food there, cumulatively it can affect your life. And we need to take action. If care is not taken in the near future we need to import food.”
Irresponsible small-scale mining activities across mining communities in Ghana continue to have adverse impacts on lands and water resources and threaten human survival in mining areas.
Newborn babies with deformities, and kidney failure, among others, are on the rise as a result of the intake of polluted water and consumption of food crops in mining areas, the pathologist observed.
“Per my particular examinations of people that have passed on at certain areas seem to be telling me that there is a lot of heavy metal pollution in our food chain which has found its way into the body of the human.
“The gastrointestinal tract which we call GIT per our medical term is one of the things that is affected when you consume these heavy metals.
“I did one work by using placenta and looking at it I think is alarming. Even though I haven’t been able to do more of these things nationwide, but I think that if we allow it to continue, we will be in a position where in the near future we’ll get a lot of babies with deformities.
“Some of them fortunately the deformities are not compatible with life and so some of them just die immediately after birth. But if you’re not careful and you survive it, you might have somebody with an internal organ deformity.”
This brings to six, the number of persons standing trial in relation to the disturbances which led to injuries to students and destruction of properties including nine cars.
So far, out of the six persons who are standing trial, five are students while one is an alumnus.
Four of them are currently in police custody while two including the alumnus have been granted bail by the high court.
During the court proceedings on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, the lawyers for the other suspects in custody prayed the court to grant their clients bail.
The prosecutor handling the case, ACP Kofi Blagodzi spoke to the media after the court proceedings.
Lawyer for one of the suspects , Elvis Ofori Asante says he is disappointed that his client has been denied bail.
In separate development, the six students of KNUST who have been accused of gang-raping a student have once again been denied bail after they appeared before the Asokore Mampong District Court.
The two cases have been adjourned to October 13, 2022.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has described as alarming, the current rate of deforestation in the country, estimated at 10 million hectares per year.
He said available statistics indicated that Ghana had one of the highest deforestation rates in Africa and the world, at two per cent per annum, on the average losing 135,000 hectares of forest per year as of 2020.
The development, he said, called for a concerted effort by stakeholders to address the situation, stressing that the managers of the country’s natural resources should up their game and help restore Ghana’s forest cover.
Otumfuo made the call in a speech read on his behalf by the Asakyirehene, Nana Mensah Bonsu, during the 40th anniversary celebration of the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources (FRNR), College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
Event
The event was held at the Great Hall last Saturday, October 1, 2022.
A number of dignitaries and stakeholders in the natural resources and environment industry, including the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, graced the occasion.
One of the highlights of the event was the unveiling of a proposed 300-seater computer laboratory being executed by the alumni of the faculty in support of their 40th anniversary celebration.
Mr Abu Jinapor and the Asakyirehene jointly cut the tape to unveil the proposed project.
Challenge, support
Otumfuo, who doubles as the Chancellor of the KNUST, observed that with many rural and peri-urban residents relying on forest products, the forest and natural resources had come under attack for people’s survival.
“With the dependency of rural and peri-urban dwellers on forest products, the challenge of over-exploitation and the spread of agriculture has become one of the factors causing the depletion of our natural resources,” he indicated.
He, therefore, rallied support for eco-system-based programmes intended to enhance the ecology, such as the ones by groups, including FORM Ghana and Miroforestry, to see to the planting of over 15 million trees each year.
“This is critical in reclaiming our lost forest cover,” he remarked, and urged the government to provide the enabling environment for the initiatives to be sustained.
He acknowledged the tremendous progresses made by the FRNR for training over 6,000 graduates and postgraduate natural resources managers – who continued to play various roles in forestry, wildlife, fisheries and water management globally.
Collective responsibility
Mr Abu Jinapor, speaking on the theme: “40 Years of Training Natural Resources Managers: A New Age for A New Focus,” said the theme was absolutely apt and timely.
He said as an educational and research institution, the faculty must take a lead role in educating the general population and local communities on the roles and responsibilities in the management of these natural resources.
He admitted that the government had a greater responsibility for their sustainable management through the promotion of relevant policies and laws.
“But the ultimate responsibility lies on the shoulders of all citizens, residents of Ghana and visitors alike. This is a collective responsibility.
“This new age with its challenges presents us with the opportunity to take stock, re-strategise and adopt new or additional measures for the efficient, effective and sustainable management of our natural resources,” Mr Abu Jinapor emphasised.
Green Ghana Day
The minister also commended the KNUST for being part of history by planting 2,000 trees in commemoration of the Green Ghana Day initiated by the government.
“Let’s continue to support the initiative to restore the lost forest cover of our country and come to grips with the climate crises,” the minister appealed.
Chiefs not to be blamed
Meanwhile, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at a different forum, has said that chiefs cannot be accused of allowing illegal mining to thrive when licences are issued without recourse to traditional authorities.
He also questioned the failure of the security agencies to successfully fight illegal mining in the country.
Welcoming the US Ambassador, Virginia E. Palmer, to Manhyia, the Asantehene acknowledged the economic drivers for illegal mining operations, but said that should not supersede the environmental devastation.
He blamed leadership of Ghana for failing to tackle galamsey.
“In Ghana, chiefs don’t issue permits and licences for mining. Those are issued from Accra and it is done without consulting the chiefs.
“The law says the state holds the land in trust for the people and so determines those things. How can a chief supervise when he has no control over the licence and who should mine and how it should be done?
“At the district level, we have the political administration – the district chief executive and the security council. Are they all saying that they are unaware of the activities of these galamseyers?” Otumfuo questioned.
The Asantehene emphasised that if the political leaders could not stop illegal miners from operating, then they were not up to the task of leading.
“If they are unable to detect and stop the operation of these galamseyers then they are unworthy to be there, it is as simple as that,” he stressed.
Forest cover
According to the National Forest Plantation Development Programme, approximately less than one per cent of forest cover remained outside of the forest reserves, much of which was in small, scattered patches, swamps and sacred grooves.
Over the years, some measures have been instituted to improve the nation’s environment, including the creation of some 120,000 hectares of forest planting in 2007 by the Forestry Commission.
This, however, fall short of the general commitment needed on the part of the citizenry in tackling the current high rate of deforestation in the country, some environmentalists have argued.
Following the issuance of a bench warrant by the court for the detention of more than sixtysuspects in relation to the event, they were taken into custody.
The three students, Emmanuel Appiah Amoah, Eugene Nuamesi, and Kwabena Kwarteng Amaniampong appeared before the Asokore Mampong District Court and have been remanded into police custody.
The accused’s attorneys had asked the court to grant bail to their clients so that they could continue taking the University’s current exam.
The prosecution disagreed with the plea, claiming that if the accused were released on bond, they would probably interfere with the investigation by the police.
The court presided over by her worship Hilda Esther Wryter remanded the accused persons to reappear on October 4, 2022.
The court also asked the police to give the students the needed support to enable them to write their exams.
The three are Emmanuel Appiah Amoah aka Soldier Ba, Eugene Nuamesi and Kwabena Kwarteng Amaniampong aka Zongo Chief.
This brings to five the total number of students arrested out of the 62.
Luv FM’s Emmanuel Bright Quaicoe, who was in court on Friday, September 23, reports that the students were charged with rioting and causing unlawful damage.
Lawyers for the accused prayed the court to grant bail to the three but the court refused to grant the bail.
The court presided over by Hilda Esther Wryter ordered the prosecution to make adequate provisions for the students to sit for their ongoing exams while they stay in custody.
Defence counsels are, however, unhappy with the court’s decision, casting doubts that the suspects might not be allowed to sit for exams.
This was after it had remanded two suspects in custody for the second time to allow the prosecution to arrest other suspects and gather enough evidence.
The two, Daniel Osei Bonsu and Francis Atuahene, were slapped with four charges of conspiracy to commit crime, rioting with offensive weapons, causing unlawful damage and causing unlawful harm.
Head of Legal and Prosecution at Ashanti Regional Police Command, ACP Kofi Blagodzie, presented the names of eleven more suspects as well as evidence of the destruction caused by the riots.
“We substituted the charge sheet and presented the court with a new charge sheet so we are on with the matter”, he said.
Prosecution further argued the suspects should remain in custody as investigators go after other suspects.
Defense counsels argued otherwise, insisting the two should be granted bail.
They argued suspects Daniel Osei Bonsu and Francis Tutu Atuahene will have to report for the examination and work respectively.
However, the court denied them bail and asked them to reappear on September 19, 2022, for the trial to continue.
The two suspects were among a group of students who clashed on the university campus during the hall week celebration of the University Hall.
The confrontation led to the destruction of many properties, including vehicles at the Unity Hall of residence of the KNUST, and injuries to some of the students.
The symposium’s goal was to provide young Ghanaians in schools with academic, mentorship, and career support as they pursue academic and employment prospects. Its theme was “Life After School: Championing Chemistry/science-Related Careers in Ghana.”
The event, according to Dr. Anthony Karikari, Deputy Director of the CSIR-Water Research Institute, would enable students to grasp their particular abilities, relationships, and chances for growth and development as prospective scientists.
He added that it would help the students discover their passion for what they loved, commit to their studies, and establish meaningful careers that would enable them to succeed in their chosen fields of specialization.
He said as part of the CSIR-WRI corporate social responsibility to Ghanaian communities, the institution contributed towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal Four which aimed to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
She said for the students to succeed as young persons, they needed good educational policies, parental guidance and dedicated teachers.
Speakers at the symposium included a Principal Research Scientist at the CSIR-WRI, Dr Ruby Asmah, and the head of the Out Patients Department of the University of Ghana Hospital in Legon, Dr Afua Amoabeng Nti.
Both speakers encouraged the students to develop their spiritual capacity by getting closer to their Maker, build up their emotional, intellectual and social capabilities, and their physical capital through good grooming, learning etiquettes and excellent communication skills.
In a remark, the Director of the CSIR-WRI, Professor Mike Osei-Atweneboana, advised the students to pursue their desires and have a back-up plan in case life did not go as planned.
Institutions which participated in the symposium included Saint Mary’s SHS, Accra High School, Accra Girls SHS, Accra Academy, Achimota School and the Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School.
An early-career research scientist with the ,CSIR-WRI, Dr Pennante Naa Ayikailey Bruce-Vanderpuije was awarded the grant for the symposium from the Royal Society of Chemistry, Inclusion and Diversity Fund (UK).
The High Court sitting in Kumasi has granted bail to an interdicted police officer and a final year student of KNUST, standing trial for allegedly gang-raping a first-year student.
The two have been granted bail in the sum of GH¢80,000 each with two sureties; a relative and a government worker not earning less than a net salary of GH¢1,000 a month.
They were remanded after appearing before the Asokore Mampong District Court in July.
Since the Asokore Mampong District Court lacks jurisdiction in granting bail on the matter, the lawyers for the two accused persons applied for bail at the High Court and has been granted.
The substantive matter which is being heard at the Asokore Mampong District Court has been adjourned to 19th September 2022.
