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Showing posts from September, 2018

Literacy and skills development

Ghana on the 8th of September, 2018 joined the international community to commemorate the International Literacy Day. This year’s event celebrated the 52nd anniversary of the World Congress of Ministers’ of Education on the Eradication of illiteracy, which made the Tehran recommendation on the International Literacy Day and advanced the notion of functional literacy. The celebration is an annual event, which is used to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights, and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society. The theme for this year’s commemoration is “Literacy and Skills Development”. The call is for literacy to blend with skills development. This involves instiling skills and competencies required for employment, careers, and livelihoods, particularly technical and vocational skills, along with transferable skills and digital skills in the youth. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural O

Celebrating The Life Of Kofi Annan, Former UN Secretary-General

The death of Mr. Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, is a difficult moment to bear in a world that needs more of his statesmanship to inspire hope and peace. The kernel of his life, however, remains a meaningful chapter of lessons not only for the present generation but also for posterity. In the end, he carved an enviable foothold in history as an avid patriot of humanity, a balm of inspiration and an enduring monument of global legacy. He was a true glittering jewel of Africa and the seal of United Nations trademark of leadership that lit the world in one of her darkest moments in history. Annan vibrantly supported all people working at the UN and its affiliate agencies, especially with African origins. As the first Commissioner of the UN representing Africa South of the Sahara on the International Civil Service Commission and my office as an Under Secretary-General of the United Nations, he was of much support and showed overwhelming interest in my activitie

Kofi Annan: A Diplomat Of The Century

Today, we regret to miss a global icon who has fallen into the bosom of death, a necessary end of all. Kofi Annan’s diplomatic life is over. But the legacy of this African doyen will live on to serve as blueprint to prosperity and peace. From Somalia to Afghanistan, Togo to Djibouti, Japan to Korea, India to China his name is embedded in the minds of the common people. His impact on global environment, education, human rights, poverty reduction, Peace and security will be remembered. Kofi Annan will be mourned in every country from the oppressed in Damascus, Tripoli, Harare, Mumbai, Maiduguri, Mogadishu and many states, cities, towns, villages and hamlets will miss Kofi. Under his all-inclusive leadership of the United Nations, the internationally shared goals for development-the Millennium Development Goals, were adapted for the first time in world history. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria was created during his regime. About one hundred billion dollars of Afr

Double Track System And The Need To Fulfill All Financial Obligations

The launch and subsequent implementation of the Free Senior High School Policy in the 2017/2018 academic year witnessed an astronomical increase in the enrollment figures in all public senior high schools in Ghana. This has resulted in the undue pressure on the limited facilities available in the various campuses in our schools. Every concerned parent, teacher, student and all stakeholders in education were wondering how to solve the problem immediately. This worrisome situation therefore calls for an immediate practical measure to contain it. It is in this vein that we must commend government and leaders for being innovative and proactive in finding solution to addressing a serious national issue like the increase in students population by introducing the double track system. The double track system is a good intervention aimed at giving great relief to parents, students and the entire FREE SHS POLICY. The proponents for the provision of the required infrastructure before rolling out

Lay-offs in some private media organisations

News about lay-offs in some private media houses either because of financial crisis or as part of moves to restructure their organisations is quite worrying, coming almost at the same time of the collapse of certain banking institutions in Ghana. It is believed that this development is taking place due to certain reasons. Many of the owners of such media houses seem not to fully understand what it means to set up media institutions to operate in the country. Many of them appear to be influenced by the mere desire to be media owners without really understanding the nature of media management for different media outlets. They rush into acquiring transmitters in the hope that with the employment of a few people as managers and operating staff, the sky will be the limit as far as effective media management is concerned. It is equally important to note that some of the media owners resort to poaching people from well-established media houses instead of gradually training and grooming the

Need To Support The Double Track System

Last year, government’s flagship policy, the Free SHS was launched. Even though some people criticized the policy, others supported its implementation. But for the initial challenges like overcrowded dormitories and classrooms, the Free SHS would have by all standards been tagged as successful. Several suggestions such as building more classrooms to reduce the classroom deficit and suspending the program entirely until infrastructure is ready and scraping the boarding system to reduce pressure at least on the dormitories has been offered in dealing with the hindrance to the program. In the wake of these suggestions, government has come out with a new policy dubbed Double Track Educational System to help in solving the overpopulation challenge at the SHS level. The double track system has also received the same mixed reactions. There seems to be unending criticism as a characteristic of a new policy. The media has aided in this vain by providing platforms for politicians who may not ha

Intensify Public Education On Preventing Domestic Fires

Gone were the days when people used fire woods, lanterns, box irons and some flammable items in the domestic setting. During those times, the usage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG and household Electrical appliances we use now were very rare. Domestic fire outbreaks in Ghana in recent years have become a matter of concern to many people. Many cities in Ghana such as Accra, Tema, Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale were the most affected places in the past few years when it comes to domestic fire outbreaks. Many lives have been lost in such fires. It is unfortunate that a few weeks ago in Dansoman a suburb of Accra, fire claimed the lives of almost an entire family living only the man alive. These recent development have left many Ghanaians wondering what to do to avert the outbreaks. It is important for the Ghana National Fire Service to intensify education on fire related issues so as to help reduce the fires. NADMO, NCCE, Ministries of Information and Communication should collaborate to h

Implement Stringent Measures To Prevent Collapse Of Banks

In January 2000, two state banks; Cooperative Bank and Bank for Housing and Construction collapsed in what was dubbed A-Life scandal. 17 years after the A-Life scandal, in August 2017, two indigenous banks; Capital Bank and UT Bank ceased to exist as GCB bank took over the two banks through a purchase and assumption agreement. 18 years after the demise of Cooperative Bank and Bank for Housing and Construction, 5 local banks; the Royal Bank, Unibank, Sovereign Bank, Construction Bank and the Beige Bank collapsed in August 2018. Some interesting observations about the situation are: Firstly, 9 local banks have collapsed since 2000 basically as a result of the same reasons which means we have not as a nation learnt any lesson hence the repetition of the crisis. Secondly, in all cases perpetrators go unpunished. Thirdly, when banks experience crisis, their competitors poach their stranded customers. Furthermore taxpayers suffer when a bank collapses. Lastly, in all cases of bank collapse,

Ghana-German Relations

The signing  of  three  Memoranda  Of  Understanding between  Ghana  and  Germany  in  connection  with  Dr Angela  Merkel’s  visit  was  a  matter  of  great significance.  It  shows  that  the  two  countries  are prepared  to  collaborate  with  each  other  to  engage  in trade  matters  in  line  with  their  desire  to  protect their  mutual  interests.  The  Memoranda  of Understanding  cover  the  construction  of  a  vaccine factory,  establishment  of  an  automotive  assembly plant  and  the  setting up of  a  hybrid  solar-hydro power  plant  in  Ghana.  It  is essential that  such memoranda  have  been  signed  between  the  two countries. It is however vital  to  hasten the process to  ensure  that  the  implementation  of  the  various programmes are  speeded  up to become reality within the shortest possible time.  At  the  same  time,  collaboration  between  the  two  countries  should  be made  to  take  place  within  the  framework  of  the President  of  Ghana’s