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Headteachers commend the JICA’s program for improving pupils’ mathematics performance.

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The heads of Kyebi Ebenezer Presbyterian Primary School and Apedwa Newtown M/A Primary School commended the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) COMPASS Programme for helping their students perform better in mathematics.

This was made known during a media tour of the schools to observe the progress of the COMPASS project.

JICA established the Project for Improving Learning Outcomes through Community Participation for Sustainable School for All (COMPASS) in 2020 to improve numeracy learning outcomes in primary schools.

The four-year project, running from March 2020 to March 2024, benefited 1,868 primary schools across 60 districts in the Eastern, Volta, and Oti regions.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) runs the project with technical assistance from JICA, in collaboration with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, the National Teaching Council, and the National Schools Inspectorate Authority.

Madam Irene Odonkor, Head Teacher of Kyebi Presbyterian Primary School, said her pupils’ numeracy skills improved over the four years of the project.

She said they had a set time in the morning to practice the project’s numeracy learning materials four times per week and gave some of the lessons to the pupils as assignments.

Madam Odonkor said those routines sparked her pupil’s interest in numeracy and resulted in improved scores during examinations, particularly the National Standardised Test for Primary Two and Four pupils.

The Headteacher urged parents to fully commit to their children’s education, adding, “They had critical roles to play to ensure their kids took their studies seriously after school and during vacations.”

Madam Charity Ohene Brako, Headteacher of Apedwa Newtown M/A Primary School, also confirmed an improvement in the performance of her pupils.

She, however, indicated that the mathematics workbook for practice was insufficient for her pupils and that they needed to use exercise books for practice.

Stephen Ekpe, a Class Six pupil at Apedwa Newtown School, explained that before the initiative, he was not doing well in mathematics; however, after enrolling in the lesson periods in the workbook, he was catching up.

He said the workbook made Mathematics more practical and easier because it guided students through basic additions, subtractions, divisions, and fractions.
Elizabeth Serwaa, a Class Five student, said Mathematics had never been a subject she liked; but with continued practice, she was gradually becoming interested in the subject.

Mr. Bright Dey, COMPASS Project Operations Team Lead, said that they had recorded such success stories in each one of the other primary schools participating in the program.

He said that based on reports from field supervisors, they had achieved an 80 percent success rate in the project.

African Games: Ghana qualifies for round 16 after defeating Uganda 3-2

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  • Ghana’s female national Table Tennis team – Black Loopers has qualified for the round of 16 after beating their Ugandan counterparts 3-2 at the ongoing 13 African Games in Accra International Conference Centre.

The hard-fought victory puts Ghana a step away from winning its first medal at the African Games 2023.

They would be playing South Africa on Thursday in a crucial encounter for a place in the semi-finals.

However, the team lost to reigning African champions Egypt, before displaying a spirited performance to advance to the next stage of the competition.

13-year-old Juanita Borteye defeated Shanitah Namaala 3-0 while Cynthia Kwabi beat Judith Nangonzi 3-0.

Celia Baah-Danso also beat Jemimah Kakawala 3-2, but Cynthia Kwabi and Celia Baah-Danso had earlier lost a game each to their Ugandan opponents.

Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, and Tunisia have also booked their spots in the semifinal.

Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, and Tunisia have booked their spots in the semifinal round of the event after topping their groups while they await the second-place teams in the four groups to determine the semifinal pairing.

In the men’s team category, Egypt emerged leader in group A, after beating Ethiopia and Gabon 3-0 each, while Nigeria, drawn in group B alongside DR Congo and Mauritania had a 3-0 win over the two teams to top the group.

Algeria also beat Angola and Guinea with a 3-0 margin to progress to the last eight, while Tunisia defeated Cote d’Ivoire and Kenya to progress.

Madagascar edged Ghana and Sudan to join the League of the Elite Teams in the quarterfinal.

Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, and Tunisia have booked their spots in the semifinal round of the event after topping their groups while they await the second-place teams in the four groups to determine the semifinal pairing.

Play resumes on Thursday 7th March at the Accra International Conference Centre where Table Tennis matches are taking place.

National Cathedral: Okudzeto calls for dissolution of Board of Trustees, closure of Secretariat 

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Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament of North Tongu, has called for the immediate dissolution of the Board of Trustees and the closure of the Secretariat of the National Cathedral for failure to effectively execute their mandate.
 
He said the Government must also give a full account of what happened to the US$58,141509.52 (GH¢740 million), which was supposed to be used to commence construction works on the Cathedral and why the contractors, RIBADE JV, abandoned the project for lack of payment two years ago.
 
The National Democratic Congress Legislator said this on Wednesday when he led some colleague Minority members, the media, and security personnel among others to satirically “commission” the National Cathedral Project, even before it was completed, as a symbolic gesture to highlight government’s perceived failure to finish it.
 
However, en route from the Parliament House to the project site at Ridge, the members had a confrontation with some personnel of the Military and the Ghana Police Service, who had mounted barricades restricting access to the premises. 

Mr Ablakwa explained that on Thursday, July 29, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, during his presentation of the 2021 Mid-year Budget Review to Parliament, announced that the Cathedral would be officially commissioned on March 6, 2024. 

“Mr Ofori-Atta told Parliament that work on the Cathedral was progressing speedily and would be ready for commissioning in March 2024.” 

Mr Ablakwa, therefore, expressed dismay over the “misuse” of the tax-payers money and called for the Board of Trustees and the National Cathedral Secretariat to account for all private donations so far received. 

“…All those responsible for this gross financial loss to the state must be prosecuted with immediate effect,” he said.
 
He demanded an explanation from President Akufo-Addo on his inability to fulfill his promise to God to commission the “US$450 million (GH¢5.7 billion) Cathedral as scheduled for March 6, 2024.

He called for a national debate leading to a possible consensus on the next plans to be taken on the project.
 
“Some have suggested a specialist children’s hospital, which Ghana currently lacks, we also note that recently the Secretary-General of the Trade Union Congress, Dr Anthony Yaw Baah suggested the place be converted to a hospital,” he said. 
 
The National Cathedral project was proposed by the government in March 2017 as a physical embodiment of national unity, harmony, and spirituality, the design of which was unveiled by the President in March 2018.
 
At the time, the President said the “construction was a fulfillment of a promise he made to God in the run-up to the general election in 2016.”
 
The $100-million inter-denominational Cathedral is expected to have an auditorium capable of seating 5,000, as well as chapels and a baptistery. 

The site would also house a music school, an art gallery, and a museum dedicated to the Bible.
 
The project, which was designed by renowned architect David Adjaye, later received criticisms from the public who perceived it was “a misplaced priority.”
 
The criticisms heightened when the Government had to demolish some state property, including accommodation for judges at a prime area in Accra, to pave the way for the construction of the Cathedral.  

Ghana, Canada to leverage bilateral relations to promote extractive industry investments

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Ghana’s Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, says Ghana is ready to leverage her historical ties with Canada through the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business to promote investment in the extractive sector.


The Minister gave the assurance at the 25th Annual African Mining Breakfast and 22nd Annual Investment in African Mining Seminar held in Toronto, Canada.


“It’s time Ghana and Canada ramp up their collaboration with investment in the extractive sector as the focal point of the renewed relations,” Mr Jinapor stated.


“We must leverage these cordial relations to promote business and trade between Canada and African countries.”


“That’s why the work of the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business and this Seminar are very consequential; for there is no better sector to promote trade and business than the extractive sector, which has proven to generate significant rent for its owners and stakeholders.”


Mr Jinapor highlighted the various components of Ghana’s mining architecture and encouraged potential investors to take advantage of it and invest in Ghana.


He mentioned Ghana’s stable political environment, friendly mining policy climate, legislation, and fiscal framework as some of the conducive factors.


“Our modern-day lives depend largely on minerals and mining, which provides the components for the manufacturing industry. And this has become even more profound as the world works towards a green energy transition.”


The Minister said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), headquartered in Ghana, provided a common marketplace for trade and Investment.


Africa’s mineral endowment placed the continent in a unique position, particularly on the journey towards green energy.


“I am hopeful that this breakfast and seminar will renew the cordial relations between Africa and Canada, and encourage more businesses to invest in Africa’s mining industry,” the Minister stated.


To realize the goal of the Africa Mining Vision, Mr. Jinapor called on African countries to utilize their mineral endowments for sustainable development.


The Government of Ghana, under President Akufo-Addo, is promoting three main policies within the mining industry: diversification of the mineral resources, value addition, and enhancing local content and local participation, the Minister said.


Mr Peter Marrone, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Allied Gold Corporation, urged African governments to create a conducive policy framework since many investors around the world were looking up to Africa for opportunities to invest in the extractive industry.


Africa had a youthful population, therefore its mining industry should present the best opportunities for them to benefit, he noted.


He urged African governments to keep their countries competitive to obtain the right investment from the major mining companies globally.

Medical and Dental Council inducts 295 Physician Assistants, Qualified Anesthetists

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The Medical and Dental Council, Ghana, has inducted 295 Physician Assistants and Qualified Anaesthetists, who have undergone training and met all requirements of the Council.


The newly qualified inductees from various training institutions across the country have passed their licensure examination and will soon be posted for a mandatory one-year internship.


The Physician Assistants would augment and fill the gaps at health facilities, diagnose and administer medical, oral, and anesthesia to patients.


Dr. Divine Nanyubala, Registrar of the Council, urged the inductees to be responsible and uphold the ethics of the profession as human lives had been entrusted in their care.


He said: “From today, a greater responsibility lies in your care of patients and this role is between life and death. Having met the basic training requirement, the Council will supervise your basic training and formally admit you into the profession. You will be eligible for permanent registration only after you have met the standards.”


Dr Constance Adoyobo, Member of the 10th Board of the Medical and Dental Council, advised the professionals to stay within their limits and refrain from indulging in malpractices that were outside their areas of competence.


She said: “You may be exposed to a variety of tasks or procedures which may not necessarily fall in your scope, the caution here is to observe and not to be tempted to go beyond your limit.”


“Do not present yourself as possessing leaders or training you do not have to the detriment of your patients, develop a cordial and respectful relationship with your seniors, and consult your supervisors whenever in doubt,” she added.


Dr. Hafez Adam, Director for External Health Cooperation, at the Ministry of Health (MOH), said professional negligence, improper conduct, and unethical behavior of medical professionals being recorded at health facilities were unacceptable.


“ The people who swore their professional oaths and committed themselves to serve us in our most vulnerable states are now abusers,” he stated, saying, in line with the Ministry’s commitment to ensure professionalism and accountability, the Ministry had developed and launched the scope of practice guidelines for Physician Assistants to ensure that they practiced within the competency level conferred by their training.


Dr Adam was hopeful that the development of the supervision model would be the Council’s top priority activity for 2024 to ensure the quality of internships of Physician Assistants and effective implementation of the guidelines.


The Director for External Health Cooperation said as the sector was trying to meet its responsibility to deliver on its mandate of universal health care, the caliber of professionals who could deliver would be needed.


Dr Adam noted that most districts did not have doctors so, the posting of Physician Assistants was necessary to augment and fill the gaps.

2024 President Cup: Coveted trophy heads to Cote d’Ivoire as ASEC beats Kotoko in Kumasi

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Two first-half goals were enough to aid ASEC Mimosas to lift the 2024 President Cup at the expense of Asante Kotoko at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

Despite playing in a packed stadium, Kotoko failed to glitter and succumbed to a 2:1 defeat to a dominant side with abundant quality.

In attendance were President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Ivorian President, Alassane Ouattara who is in the country to join Ghana mark its 67th Independence Anniversary on Wednesday.

It was a dominant display by the Ivorians who hit the ground running, dominating the early exchanges as they kept Kotoko in their half.

They played with so much confidence to the admiration of the fans, leaving Kotoko with the unpleasant duty of chasing the ball for most of the first 15 minutes.

Their dominance paid off on the 16th when Alphonse Yao Kouame scored a spectacular goal to crown their near-perfect start.

Kouame received the ball in the middle of the pitch, and took a solo run toward the Kotoko goal area, before unleashing a long drive beyond Frederick Asare from 30 yards.

The opener did not alter the pattern of play as the visitors continued to dictate the pace of the game despite Kotoko’s intermittent threats.

Arthur Bada doubled the lead for ASEC from the spot in the 27th minute after Justice Blay handled the ball during a goalmouth melee.

After conceding the second goal, Asante Kotoko lifted their performance in an attempt to reduce the deficit before the end of the first, but their efforts yielded little results as they went into the break two goals behind the Ivoirians.

Coach Prosper Nartey Ogum introduced Nicholas Mensah in place of Baba Yahaya just before the restart, but his inclusion did not make any significant difference as the Ivoirians continued to exert their authority over their hosts.

As the match progressed, Kotoko injected some urgency into their play as they raced against time to redeem themselves as the home team.

With their two-goal advantage,  ASEC Mimosas slowed the tempo of the game obviously to frustrate their opponents who were in desperate need of goals.

Their strategy worked for some time but the Porcupines managed to pull one back from the spot through Steve Dese Mukwala.

The Ugandan import made a blistering run from the left into the box and was on the verge of unleashing a shot when a defender brought him down.

With a chance of pulling parity in sight, Kotoko raided the visitor’s goal area in the last five minutes with incessant attacks, but it was too late for them to come to the party as the visitors stood firm to repel all the threats.

Ghana to settle on nuclear power plant vendor by the end of 2024

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The Ministry of Energy has announced that Ghana will by the end of 2024, select a vendor for the establishment of the country’s first nuclear power plant, expected to be operational by 2030.


Dr Robert Sogbadji, Deputy Director of Power (Nuclear and Alternative Energy) made this disclosure on the sidelines of a policy dialogue to mark World Sustainable Energy Day in Accra on Tuesday, March 5.


It was organized by the Centre of Excellence in Public Utility Regulation (CEPUR), a brainchild of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PUCR) and the Ghana Institute for Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).


“We’re currently in phase two of our nuclear power program, and by the end of this year, we should be able to announce our vendor company to build our first nuclear power plant, which we foresee to be in the energy mix by 2030,” Dr Sogbadji said. 


“So, by 2030 or 2032, we would have advanced strongly towards meeting net zero and meet energy transition goals,” he said.


On the country’s US$561.9 billion financing requirement for energy transition, Dr. Sogbadji said the government had outlined a strategic plan to get about 46 percent from the private sector.


Mr Herbert Kraper, Deputy Minister of Energy, said the country’s energy transition agenda was on course, with a clear strategy to rake in more investments in that regard.


To that effect, he said the country had developed pipeline projects, such as 2,000 megawatts of solar and wind energy to attract the required financing from various investors. 


“We’re also looking at attracting green guarantees [concessional capital] from the private sector, patient caption, grants, and philanthropic funds to be able to transition,” the Deputy Minister said. 


Mr. Krapa stated that the government was “scaling up the domestic currency, and that, together with carbon capture utilization technology, electronic vehicles, which will contribute to about 40 percent decolonization, green hydrogen – 12 percent, to catch up with the transition pathway we’ve developed for ourselves.”


Mr Kwame Jantuah, Chairman, of the Oil and Gas sector, Association of Ghana Industries, called for a fine balance between conventional (hydro), solar, and nuclear power for sustainable electricity for households and businesses. 


“We should have a policy where we’ll say that a lot of residential users should have solar panels, which will cut down the cost of conventional, then we move the conventional to the industry before we add nuclear,” he said.


“When that happens, the extra that the residential users produce can be added to the mix for export.
Mr Jantuah said it was important for the vendor selection to be left in the hands of the nuclear energy body, rather than being under the office of the President. 


“The moment it goes under the presidency, then you’ll see politics coming in,” especially at a time when there is high interest from countries like France, the United States of America (USA), Russia, and China.
Ghana is looking at a large reactor (1,000-1,200 megawatts) and a small modular reactor (about 300 megawatts) for its nuclear power plant, which is to serve as a clean baseload for the country’s industrialization agenda.


The plant is to produce affordable electricity in a safe and environmentally friendly manner for socio-economic development and in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) seven and 13.

Fireworks lighten up Ghana’s 67th independence anniversary

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The 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has lightened up this year’s commemoration of the nation’s independence anniversary with a beautiful display of fireworks at the Koforidua Jackson’s Park, in the Eastern Region.


The event, held on Tuesday night, attracted a large crowd as the military held the people spellbound with a skillful display of pyrotechnics.


“Such events are held to whip up the enthusiasm of the masses towards the nation’s celebration of the independence day,” Captain Charles Darkwah, who led the fireworks display, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA), in an interview.


For over ten minutes, the skylines of Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital town, lit up with various colorful fireworks as they sparkled to the excitement of the onlookers.


The 67th independence anniversary is being held on the theme: “Our Democracy, Our Pride”.
The event has the Ivorian President, Alhassan Ouattara, as the Guest of Honour

GRASAG endorses candidature of Ayorkor Botchwey for Secretary-General of Commonwealth

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The Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG National) has backed the candidature of Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey for the next Secretary-General position of the Commonwealth.


Madam Botchwey, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, was earlier this year, nominated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as Ghana’s candidate for the position.


The Election for the new Secretary-General of the 56-member organization is scheduled to take place on October 22, 2024, during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.


This election aims to replace Baroness Patricia Scotland, a dual Dominican-British citizen, who will conclude her second and final term at the end of 2024.


GRASAG, in a statement jointly signed and issued by Mr. Emmanuel Owusu, National President, and Mr Gideon Odame Agyiri, International Relations Officer, described Madam Botchwey’s tenure as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana as “remarkable” and one which underscored her exceptional leadership and diplomatic acumen.


Her dedication to fostering collaboration among Commonwealth member states, GRASAG said, aligned closely with its values and aspirations.


“We believe that Hon. Botchwey’s extensive experience and visionary approach make her the most outstanding candidate for the position of Commonwealth Secretary-General,” it said.


The statement added that: “Her leadership will undoubtedly contribute to advancing sustainable development, peace, and prosperity within the Commonwealth and far beyond.”


“As the leading voice for Ghana’s Graduate Students in Ghana and abroad, GRASAG National stands firmly behind Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey’s candidacy and urges all stakeholders to support her bid for Commonwealth Secretary-General.


“We know how resilient she is, the world also needs to see and know the same,” it said.
GRASAG commended the Minister for her steadfast support of Ghanaian students in the diaspora, stressing that her advocacy for educational opportunities had been invaluable in nurturing the academic and professional growth of Ghanaian students abroad as well as international students in Ghana.


The candidate has proposed six areas through which the Commonwealth could be repositioned to transform the economies of its member countries.


They are trade and investment; youth, education, skills, innovation and startups; mobility and labour markets; climate change; small states, and managing resources for an effective Commonwealth institution.
“Based on a community-wide approach to comprehensive actions in these areas, we can transform the economies of the countries in the Commonwealth, enable inclusive development and climate resilience, and respond to the expectations of the hundreds of millions across the Commonwealth for the democratic dividend, consistent with an ambitious vision of our Commonwealth values,” she said at a lecture after the official announcement of her candidacy.


In a letter nominating Ms. Botchwey, President Akufo-Addo stated, “I have strong confidence in Foreign Minister Botchwey to lead our aspiration for renewal and for building future-looking resilient and thriving economies, through community cooperation and action, as underscored at Kigali, Rwanda, during the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.”


The Commonwealth is a diverse intergovernmental association headed by King Charles III.
It promotes, among other objectives, democratic governance among member states and cooperation in trade, education, climate advocacy, and transparency in financial systems.

The Intellect School Quiz Competition season two for basic schools launched

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Fourteen basic schools in the Tema Metropolis will be competing in the second season of the Intellect School Quiz competition (ISQ).

The quiz, which would take place between March 22 and July 5, 2024, would see the pupils competing in four categories.

Mr Bennett Emman Raymond, the Chief Executive Officer for the ISQ, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) during the launch of the competition that the quiz was aimed at inspiring and encouraging pupils from kindergarten through junior high school to go beyond their common knowledge.

Mr Raymond said the competition would also serve as a connection between theory and application of the principles they have learned and inculcate knowledge in future leaders.

“Quizzes are one of the instructions used to assess or evaluate the standard performance of learners and teachers as well,” he added.

He said it would also encourage fun learning methods and the enhancement of general knowledge among the participants.

He said the selected schools would have to present three candidates each for the competition, adding that the best teacher as well as the pupil who would emerge as the winner would each receive a certificate for participation, products from sponsors, a trophy, medals, a cash prize, and exercise books.

Madam Mabel Kyeraah Twum, a phonics teacher at Oninku Primary School, and the quiz mistress, said the kindergarten-level quiz would involve identification of sounds by actions, blending of three and four-letter words, including digraphs, and dictation for the first stage, which would then progress to the next stage with jolly phonics.

Madam Twum advised the schools to motivate all the KG contestants even when they get evicted from the competition.

GNA

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