L’Oreal refurbishes Tetteh-Ocloo State School

Jun 29 , 2019
BY: Benjamin Xornam Glover

Staff of L'Oreal West Africa have handed over five refurbished classroom blocks with washrooms to the Tetteh-Ocloo State School for the Deaf at Adjei-Kojo in the Greater Accra Region.

The once dilapidated classroom block had its ceiling, doors and windows painted while the washroom had the entire plumbing system and ceiling replaced and also painted.

The playground for the pre-school was also renovated with play items installed .

The company also donated a deep freezer, 20 office chairs and L'Oreal products to the school.

Managing Director L'Orėal West Africa, Mr Sekou Coulibaly (right), handing over the items to Mr Isaac Arthur, the headmaster of the Tetteh-Ocloo State School for the Deaf. Picture: BENJAMIN XORNAM GLOVER

Presentation

At a ceremony to hand over the classroom blocks to the management of the school, the Managing Director of L'Oreal West Africa, Mr Sekou Coulibaly, said the gesture formed part of the company's annual community volunteering programme dubbed: Citizen’s Day.

Citizen’s Day was initiated by the company 10 years ago during which period, staff devoted a working day in the year towards making a difference in the communities they operated in.

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Mr Coulibaly expressed the hope that the enhancement of the infrastructure at the Tetteh-Ocloo State School for the Deaf would improve the overall well-being and academic development of the students.

"This initiative demonstrates each year, the outstanding commitment and solidarity our employees have with the communities they work in and the world around us" stressing that Citizen’s Day was at the core of their corporate culture and a source of shared pride.

Social responsibility

Over the years, staff of L'Oreal West Africa, headquartered in Accra, have celebrated the day by undertaking initiatives such as the building and refurbishment of the Hair Academy at the Demonstration School for the Deaf, Akuapem-Mampong, the renovation of the Information Communication Technology (ICT) centre at the Martey Tsuru Presby Basic School on the Spintex Road, as well as the economic empowerment for women with physical challenges in collaboration with the Ghana Federation for the Disabled.

The company has also built a multi-purpose unit for nursing mothers at the Abokobi Government Hospital, provided dustbins and cleared plastic waste at the La Beach in Accra.

Appreciation

The Headmaster of the Tetteh-Ocloo State School for the Deaf, Mr Isaac Arthur, commended the staff for renovating the classroom block and washroom facilities.

He said the gesture would go a long way to support the learning needs of the students.

He appealed to the government and other stakeholders to help provide accommodation for staff and also pave the school compound.

According to Mr Arthur, the school had a population of about 300 boarding students and 60 teaching and non teaching staff, majority of whom were outside the campus due to insufficient bungalows to house them.

He, therefore, appealed to the government and benevolent organisations to support the school by providing a fitting accommodation for the staff.

via : https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/l-oreal-refurbishes-tetteh-ocloo-state-school.html

Tema registers over 5,000 in limited voter registration exercise

Jun 29 , 2019

BY: Benjamin Xornam Glover

Nana Oduro Numapau (hand stretched), Tema Metropolitan Electoral Officer, explaining the process to the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Ishmael Ashitey (middle). With them is the MCE for Tema, Mr Felix Anang-La (right)

The Tema Metropolitan Office of the Electoral Commission (EC) had, as of last Thursday, registered a little over 5,000 Ghanaians in the ongoing limited registration exercise for persons who have attained the age of 18 and those who could not register in the last exercise.

The figure covers prospective voters from all the three constituencies in the area, namely Tema East, Tema West and Tema Central constituencies.

In an interview with the media on the sidelines of a visit by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Ishmael Ashitey, to monitor the exercise, the Tema Metropolitan Electoral Officer, Nana Oduro Numapau, indicated that the centre had recorded a high turnout since the exercise started but indicated that the office had put in place strategies to ensure a smooth operation to register a lot more prospective and eligible voters.

Minor challenges

Nana Numapau said they had encountered very minor challenges with the online registration system meant to complement the manual exercise, adding that in spite of the sensitisation over the weeks, some persons who had misplaced their cards still visited the centre to register.

He said to prevent double registration, a special desk had been created where persons above 22 years who reported to the centre to register were verified from the online registration system to determine if they were new registrants or existing registered voters.

High turnout

Nana Numapau said the turnout at the centre had been very high since the exercise started on June 17, 2019, but indicated that the commission had provided canopies to protect the new registrants and officials from the vagaries of the weather.

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, who was accompanied by the Metropolitan Chief Executive for Tema, Mr Felix Nii Mensah Anang-La, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise in the metropolis and also commended the agents of the political parties for observing the process keenly.

He was optimistic that with the measures put in place by the commission, the exercise would proceed smoothly in the subsequent days.

Two aspiring assembly members from the Tema West Constituency expressed concern about the congestion at the centre and called on the EC to reconsider its rules to allow the exercise to be held at the electoral area level in future.

Mr Henry Ubor and Maame Serwah Bonsu, who are aspiring assembly members for the Klagon and Baatsonaa Electoral areas respectively, told the Daily Graphic that due to the fact that some prospective voters were living as far as Adjei Kojo, Baatsonaa and Klagon, some influential persons had contributed to bus those interested in registering to vote, a situation that was not encouraging prospective voters to show up.

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/tema-registers-over-5-000-in-limited-voter-registration-exercise.html

They indicated that if the exercise was organised at the electoral area level, such inconveniences would be curtailed.

GNAT provides life jackets to teachers in island community schools

Date: Jul 04 , 2019 , 10:17

BY: Benjamin Xornam Glover

Teachers in deprived island communities in the Ada East District in the Greater Accra Region have called on the government to improve school infrastructure, provide teachers bungalows and ensure timely distribution of supplies and logistics to encourage the retention of teachers posted to the schools on the island.

The teachers said an additional insurance cover for teachers as an incentive would also entice trained teachers to the deprived islands.

According to the teachers, due to the poor accommodation situation on the islands, teachers stayed at Ada Foah and crossed the Volta River daily to school, risking their lives in the process.

Mr Thomas Musa, handing over the life jackets to Mr Ato Kwamina Dompoh, who received them on behalf of the teachers. Picture: Benjamin Xornam Glover

The Head teacher of Pediatorkope DA Basic School, Mr Sampon K. Sewornu, said this during the presentation of 30 life jackets to teachers on the island by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT).

Boat trips

The teachers commute daily from the mainland, Ada Foah, to schools on the islands, namely Azizakpe, Alorkpem, Aflive, Pediatorkope and Tuanikope.

Mr Sewornu explained that provision of the incentive packages for teachers in such communities would be an appropriate response to the attendance problems which can make a huge difference in a child's life.

The Head teacher of Azizakpe D/A Primary School, Mr Moses Gbli Pertiafo, which has only four trained teachers, said that due to the absence of a junior high school (JHS) on the island, about 25 pupils commute daily in hand-paddled boats from Azizakpe to other islands such as Alorkpem or Ada Foah to access JHS education.

He, therefore, appealed to the district assembly and corporate bodies to assist the Azizakpe island with the construction of a JHS block.

The head teachers expressed appreciation to GNAT for the provision of life jackets, emphasising that it would mitigate the fears of teachers who made the perilous journey to the island daily.

Safety of teachers

The Head of Membership Education of GNAT, Accra, Mr Thomas Musa, who toured the island schools together with the executives of GNAT and Mr Ato Kwamina Dompoh, the Dangme East District Chairman of GNAT, expressed concern about the safety of their members, especially those in the deprived communities.

He said GNAT was committed to the retention of teachers in the classroom and would do everything possible to advocate the construction of teachers’ bungalows and provision of safe means of transport for its members in underserved areas.

"It is only when our teachers feel safe at their duty posts that they can deliver quality education," he said.

Mr Musa said the provision of life jackets and other necessities to teachers in the deprived areas of Ghana formed part of GNAT's programme to improve conditions of service of teachers and to attract and retain them to areas where their services were needed most

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/education/ghana-news-gnat-provides-life-jackets-to-teachers-in-island-community-schools.html

Tema West Municipal Assembly evicts squatters along motorway

July 5, 2019

Benjamin Xornam Glover, TEMA

The Tema West Municipal Assembly in collaboration with the National Security Council Secretariat on Wednesday, July 3, 2019 carried out the second phase of the eviction of illegal squatters along the Accra-Tema Motorway.

Yesterday’s exercise, the second after the a similar exercise carried out by the Ayawaso West Municipal a week ago, covers the stretch near Dominion Center of the Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC), Ghana, a place popularly known as kiosk estates

Four bull dozers were deployed to the area on Wednesday morning clear the area of the unauthorized structures on the piece of land that serves as a buffer for the carriageway.

Not even pleas of leniency by the frustrated occupants of the wooden structures residents will stop the team, which also included heavily armed police personnel from carrying out the exercise.

Some of the occupants in their desperation to save their structures quickly mobilised young men to their kiosks across the motorway, a situation which created a traffic jam on the express road.

Mr Vincent Quarshie, Head of Works Department of the Tema West Municipal Assembly who supervised the demolition exercise, in an interview said the removal of temporary structures along the motorway follows a directive from National Security.

CONCERN

According to him, the presence of unauthorised settlements and slums along the Accra-Tema Motorway has become a source of concern to motorists who ply the 19-kilometre highway.

Mr Quarshie said apart from the wanton disregard for road traffic regulations, activities of the squatters creates piles of garbage along that stretch of road.

He added that apart from the nuisance they create, the kiosks and metal containers were sighted under electric pylons which posses a threat to life and property of the owners of the shacks.

Mr Quarshie said it was estimated that over 2,000 shacks have been placed illegally on a stretch of land earmarked for the expansion of the motorway.

He said the Assembly would not sit down and look on unconcerned while unauthorized persons occupy the land illegally. He stressed emphasised that the development control team of the Assembly will continue its monitoring exercise to ensure that illegal occupation are immediately dealt with.

NECESSARY EVIL

The Presiding Member of the Tema West Municipal Assembly, Mr Kwesi Poku Bosompem, in an interview with the Daily Graphic said the eviction of the squatters, though a painful one has become necessary due to the fact that the motorway enclave have become a death and a den for of undesirable elements.

He said the Assembly spent an average of GH c 3,500 weekly to evacuate filth generated by the squatters along that stretch of road, a situation, he said the Assembly cannot sustain.

Mr Bosompem said as far as 2018, the Ministry for Roads and Highways ordered squatters along the Tema Motorway to relocate to pave way for the expansion of the carriage. Following that, the assembly has continuously engaged the squatters and marked the structures for evacuation but none of such warnings has been heeded to.

The PM assured the squatters that the Assembly would meet the squatters and come out with some resettlement plan.

REACTION

Ms. Faustina Amuzu who hailed from the Volta Region of Ghana had stayed in the area for three years and had her livelihood there.

She said every occupant pay between GH c 150 and GH c 300 to a man, whose name she gave as Baba, aka Old Soldier before placing of a kiosk on the land after which they are charge monthly fee of GH c 40 per structure.

According to her, due to the employment situation in the country coupled with the lack of accommodation they are compelled to settle in the slum.

Another resident, Ali Issifu said about a week ago,  officials  of the Assembly were in the community to inform the occupants that they have been given three months to evacuate the place only to be taken by surprise with Wednesday unannounced eviction

Police prepare duplicate docket on Tema Port Marketing Manager murder case

July 9, 2019
Benjamin Xornam Glover, Tema 


Police prosecutors say they are preparing a duplicate docket of the case
involving the murder of Mrs Josephine Asante, the Marketing and Public Affairs
Manager of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) to be forwarded to the
Attorney-General’s (A-G’s) Department for legal advice.
Mrs. Asante was murdered on January 13, 2019 at her residence at EMEFS Estates near
Afienya in the Greater Accra Region.
Two persons, Amos Apeku, her personnel driver and Christian Adjei, a houseboy of Mrs
Asante, have been arraigned before the Tema TDC Magistrate court for the death of the
former Marketing and Public Affairs Manager of GPHA
Mr Apeku has been granted bail by the High Court in Accra while the houseboy has been
on remand.
Hearing
When the case was called yesterday, (June 8, 2019), the Prosecutor, Inspector Beatrice
Ayeh indicated the report on the footprint analysis as requested by the court at its last
sitting was filed on June 28, 2019.
Two other reports requested by the court, namely the DNA report and the fingerprint
print analysis had already been submitted by the prosecution
The court at its previous sitting ordered the investigator in the case to, within seven days,
provide a report on the footprint analysis conducted on the two suspects in the case,
Christian Adjei and Amos Apeku, by the Forensic and Science Laboratory of the Ghana
Police Service.
Investigation ongoing
Inspector Beatrice Ayeh said investigations were ongoing and the prosecution was
preparing a duplicate copy of the docket to be forwarded to the Attorney-General’s
Department for advice.
The A-G’s office is expected to review the case, decide whether or not the charges
levelled against the accused merit the facts and if there is sufficient evidence to support
the case.
The court presided over by Mrs Akosua Anokyewaa Adjepong, ordered prosecutors to
keep the court informed on the date of submission of the duplicate copy to the A-G’s
Department.

The case has been adjourned to July 22, 2019.

Police on manhunt for Tema Shell filling station robbers

Jul 15 , 2019

BY: Benjamin Xornam Glover, TEMA 

A scene from the CCTV Footage

The Tema Regional Police Command says they are on a manhunt for three persons who allegedly robbed the Shell Filling Station at the Tema Motorway Roundabout on Sunday, July 14, 2019.

A CCTV footage from the scene showed the three men arriving at the filling station on board a black Toyota Corolla saloon car with registration number GG 991-18 at about 11.50am.

They held seven workers and two customers hostage at gunpoint and robbed them of their valuables.

A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Tema Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police, (DSP) Mr. Joseph Benefo Darkwah, said police investigations have revealed that items stolen included an Apple MacBook Pro laptop, a Dell laptop, one Motorola Z2 mobile phone and an MTN router.

Mr Darkwah said other items also taken away included MTN recharge cards worth GHC¢3,000, a computer system unit and an unspecified amount of money.

He said nobody was injured during the robbery.

Mr Darkwah said following a visit to the crime scene, police have retrieved the CCTV footages and other relevant materials as part of the investigations.

He assured the public that the police were working assiduously to make sure the perpetrators of the crime were brought to book.

He appealed to the public to give relevant information to assist the police to arrest the perpetrators. Anybody with information should call:

18555 – MTN Toll Free

0542719093 – MTN

0571017996 – AirtelTigo

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/police-on-manhunt-for-tema-shell-filling-station-robbery.html

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Use positions to serve, not to amass wealth — Mrs Theodora Wood

Jul 16 , 2019

BY: Benjamin Xornam Glover & Della Russel Ocloo, TEMA 

A Former Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, has advised young people seeking leadership positions to consider such elevations as an opportunity to seek the welfare of the people they desire to lead and not as a means to amass wealth.

She emphasised that leadership positions must not be used as avenues for graft and opportunities for families and friends to acquire wealth.

Mrs Justice Wood gave the advice at the opening of the second Democracy and Governance Boot Camp in Tema on Monday.

It is being organised by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), in partnership with Lead Afrique International and with support from Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), both civil society organisations.

Event

The one-week boot camp, which is being attended by 71 students from selected public and private senior high schools (SHSs) across the country, seeks to, among other things, contribute to transformative youth leadership for nation-building through the provision of a practical teaching and learning environment that engages students on democracy and governance issues and also equipping them with leadership skills.

The maiden edition of the camp held last year provided a learning curve and an immersion programme which inspired the participating students to pursue higher leadership positions, increase knowledge and interest in democracy and governance issues and also commit themselves to living upright lives with integrity.

Opportunities

Mrs Wood said although leadership positions came with some pecks of office, such opportunities ought not to be abused by people who occupied such positions.

“Leadership is about offering servant leadership and serving your followers with humility and not the other way around,” she said.

The former Chief Justice also bemoaned the use of strong and offensive language by people, particularly young ones, in the arena of politics and urged students who desired to lead to be mindful of what they said about their leaders today.

Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood (2nd right) interacting with some of the participants. With them is Dr Kojo Pumpuni Asante (3rd left), Director of Advocacy & Policy Engagement, CDD-Ghana­­­­, and Dr Franklin Oduro (left), Deputy Executive Director, CDD-Ghana

Programme

The Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement at CDD-Ghana, Dr Kojo Pumpuni Asante, explained that the 2019 programme would focus on unemployment.

He said as part of the programme, participants would explore various communities within Tema, the host  city, to interact with people who were unemployed to appreciate how they were affected by the decisions leaders took and also come up with employment solution projects that could address such challenges.

The participants, he said, would also undertake a tour of the Jubilee House to understand the workings of the Executive arm of government and engage Members of Parliament in one-on-one interactions to understand how policies were crafted and implemented.

Challenges

The Deputy Director of Programmes at CDD-Ghana, Dr Franklin Oduro, said in spite of the successes chalked up by the country in its democratic journey, it was still faced with a lot of challenges in the areas of leadership, policy making, institutional effectiveness, accountability and responsiveness.

He indicated that the boot camp fell in line with CDD-Ghana’s commemorative activities, which involved tapping into an under-engaged demography by stirring up the interest of participants in governance and democracy-related principles, in addition to building their leadership potential.

Some of the participants who interacted with the Daily Graphic commended the organisers for the programme.

Ms Eudia Awen, a student of the SOS Hermann Gmeiner International College, said the camp would equip her with skills to enable her to become a good leader and also enhance her communication skills.

For her part, Ms Emenyo Afi Nutakor of the Akosombo International School said the programme would give her the opportunity to know what the government had put in place to solve the myriad of challenges facing the youth.