The question usually comes to mind whether managers of education system had failed in their role of promoting a holistic education or the sector ministry is over playing politics with one of the most sensitive areas of human resource development in the country.

It is mostly said that agriculture is the bedrock of our economy but this saying may be *fading in the face of growing technological world*. I will without equivocation say that Education is now the *live wire of globalization* and the *grinding wheel* of every growing economy.
Agriculture certainly drives on the wheels of Education before it can make any significant impact on the economy of every country.

It’s becoming increasingly obvious that education *is being trodden upon* either *consciously* or there *is a missing link* which is eluding the greatest policy makers of our time. There is no clear cut *policy underpinning* our educational system. Each change of government comes with another *manipulation of the sector* leaving it bleeding with little or no direction.
Few examples may serve your memory of what had gone down the drain in the name of politics.
1. The *Middle School Leaving Certificate* which was *four years* was changed to *three years JHS* (now barely two and half years)
2. The *Five Year O Level* Senior Secondary course was changed to *Three Years* Senior High School and later reduced to *two and half years* and later *four years* and now *barely two and half years.*
3. The *two year* A Level course has been scrapped.

It is again clear on the face of these policy changes that successive government had sought to some way manipulate education to some extent to win political capital.
In the run up to the 2012 and 2016 elections, education became *another fertile ground* for politicians to hatch a new policy agenda as usual to manipulate the sector and to make it more vulnerable.
Free SHS was hammered on several occasions and debated back and forth.
Finally, we have arrived here with its implementation. And it is clear that this policy is riding on the wings of political whims and caprices.
The questions comes to mind whether *stakeholders of education* were duly consulted or were made *to make inputs* to the new policy. *That’s the missing link*.

Teachers are always at the receiving end. They don’t have any say. *They always swallow the bitter pill of political ideologies* which may not suffice the realities of modern school system. These so called policies seem to isolate or eliminate teachers in terms of *salary adjustment, allowances* or other equally important *incentives*.
It is a fact that teachers do not matter when it comes to educational policies being swung by politicians. One may say without fear that teachers have been taken *for granted* in this country and are not treated with the *expected honour they deserve.*

The big picture now comes to the play when we begin to contemplate on the actual role GES is playing in the midst of all these brouhaha. GES is the education management unit in Ghana but it *appears they are not managing anything*. Their hands are tied to an *invincible task master* who seems to dictating their pace. Management is the act or skill of controlling and making decision about a business or a department. GES is supposed to have a direct control of the education system in Ghana because they manage virtually every aspect of it. It is unclear as to what is preventing them from executing their role as a management unit. The common view of every teacher about GES is about their specialization in *witch hunting and frustrating teachers.* Matters of core academic work is missing on their list.

One may want to spare GES and rather direct his gun at *MOE* which oversees the sector as a whole. Successive governments in this country have failed to properly meet the needs of Education and ensuring an enduring policy which will have direct and long lasting effect on the sector. We wake up every morning with new pipeline policies being sprung on us one by one. The latest is the *closing time for basic schools*. Highly *inconsistent and incongruous* because the basic needs of primary education in Ghana is yet to be met.

I may not hesitate to allege that GES is struggling to manage the sector well and have failed on countless times in ensuring that the *blocks fit properly into their positions*. Likewise, the political hierarchy of the sector ministry makes it *weak and uncommitted* to enrolling a lasting policy direction for the sector.

It’s therefore of no surprise that education in these modern times have recorded falling standards and continue to suffer more as a result of *management failure and politically tainted sector*.

It’s the *responsibility of teacher unions* now to lead the fight to ensuring sanity or reverse gear in the wayward direction of education in our country. If the government is failing to give it a proper direction, we the major stakeholders at the receiving end *can resist any form of policy* that seems to jeopardize the future of education. This should not be done with *hollow rebuttals by unions leaders on radio and on TV,* but through an empirical research to help shape the system.
We are in a country where teacher unions barely contribute to policy direction of the sector due to either their *incompetence or mediocrity*.
They are more specialized in managing teachers’ dues and doling out insatiable loans to them. They have failed *to properly connect teachers* to the management unit and the sector ministry.

The future generation cannot be left in limbo in what seems *to be unstable education system* which point to virtually no destination.
The real stakeholders have been relegated to the background leaving the politicians *to craft a future of uncertainties.* Gradually the firm foundation of education propagated by afore leaders is being shaken and if nothing urgent is done about it, it could lead to its collapse. We cannot afford to reach that dead end.

GES should bounce back to performing their traditional roles as management whereas the politicians should desist from excessive manipulation of the system to satisfy their want. Teacher unions must be a unique link and common mouth piece in policy making, implementation and direction.

*Education will continue to remain the live wire and the engine of globalization and Ghana cannot afford to be disconnected*.

By *Isaac Ofori*

Powered by *All Teachers Alliance Ghana*(ATAG)
*atag.gh@gmail.com*
*(0249403277/0249893511)*

Source:EducationGhana.net

The Bureau of National Investigation and the Ghana Police Service are investigating two teachers who are alleged to have defrauded the state worth GH¢10,000.

The two teachers,Princess Simons and George Erzual  are believed to be paid such amount as salaries for no work done in respect of such amount.

The allegation was indicated in the Auditor-General’s report captured since 2015 ,of which the two teachers were still not apprehended.

Officials of the Ghana Education Service (GES) are also doing all they can to help apprehend the suspects.

The issue concerning corruption in the Ghana Education Service has been a matter of concern in recent times,with teachers been forced to pay certain illegal fees before their documents could be processed by people who were already paid by the state.

Source:EducationGhana.net

EducationGhana is reliably informed that trainees in the various Colleges of Education in the country are supposed to register with the Students Loan Trust Fund before the can have access to the restored allowances.

A directive from the Minister of Education,Dr.Mathew Opoku Prempeh ,through the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) has directed that all teacher trainees must register with the Students Loan Trust Fund.

This requirement is believed to be scheduled prior to the Payment of allowances in September this year.

According to the said directive,Students shall be paid their allowances ONLY through the Students Loan Trust Fund(SLTF).

Trainees are expected to Register with the Students Loan Trust Fund immediately in view of this directive.

Though it is not certained the role of The SLTF in relation to the Payment of allowances, It was still unclear the definition of the ‘Restoration of Allowances’ by government in its implementation process.

Earlier, government stated that trainees shall only be paid allowances while in School which was not inline with the previous procedure for payment of allowances which happened to be an annual payment.

Trainees are thereby adviced to contact their respective Colleges for confirmation to prevent them from not benefiting from the restored allowances.

Source:EducationGhana.net

The image validation of employees on the payroll of the Controller and Account General’s Department (CAGD) ,which has become a great concern to employees will have no effect on payment of salaries.

A reliable source explained to EducationGhana that the image validation though is necessary, CAGD hasn’t taken any decision regarding penalties for employees who could not get their images on the system.

The source  also disclosed, that it is a very good initiative to get the images of employees on their system and so employees could possibly do that,though one’s inability to do that wouldn’t have any effect on his or her salary.

Employees can follow the procedure below to get their images uploaded onto the system…..

† What is needed is *one passport picture* –

Employees whose pictures have been appearing on the epayslip website will have their image automatically displayed already on the image validation page at the e-spv website so there will be no need to scan/upload your passport picture but who knows, it will be wise to submit/carry your passport picture along.

Below is the procedure for the image validation:

If you are a validator – (or tell your validator to do it or collect the login details [ *username and password*] from your validator if he/she is far from you), and log on to www. gogspv. com at an internet cafe/photocopy shop or epayslip printing shop – or at your home/office if you have the necessary equipment (scanner, computer, internet connection and the skills to do it)

1. Enter the username ,password and the verification code displayed there and click login
.
2. When the page opens, just go to the  top right corner and click on Validate image
.
The *staff list* will pop up.
Every teacher on the page has ”validate” at the extreme right against his or her name. (Note: Missing staffs will not appear)
.
3. Just click on the validate and wait a while. That particular teacher’s name will appear with other details (an already displayed image or an option to upload an image)

If the teacher’s picture/image is already there ( those whose pictures have been appearing on the epayslip website will have their image automatically displayed already there) and you can recognize the face, just click on approve.
.
If the teacher’s picture/image is not there, ask that teacher to submit one of their passport pictures to you the validator ( or give that teacher the username and password to the website to do it by themselves if the teacher is far away) then the validator or the teacher must scan and crop the passport picture/image to fit below 2MB image size and upload the passport picture (at an internet cafe/photocopy shop or epayslip printing shop – the attendant can help you scan, crop to fit below 2MB image size and upload.

The validator or the teacher must make sure that is the real image of the teacher, and approve it.

(If you have a scanner, computer, internet connection and the skills then you can do it yourself at your home or office)
After approving the image it means you have done the image validation successfully
.
Note If a teacher’s name is not on the management unit (Missing staffs) just contact your *C.S or District Education Directorate/ippd officer or go to controller to correct it,or visit Here for the procedure.

(the best option is to go to controller to correct it yourself because the officers at the district directorate can’t be trusted because they may not correct it or they might delay in correcting it which might affect the free flow of your salary)

Source:EducationGhana.net

The University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA) has unveiled the building names and busts made in honour of distinguished former faculty and staff. The buildings on campus and busts bear the names of former Directors, Chairmen, and Registrars’ of the University to commemorate their work and contributions to the school’s rich history.

From its inception as the Institute of Professional Studies in 1957 until the early 2000s, the campus was only comprised of two buildings. Thanks to the hard work of the University’s governing bodies and the  leadership of  the first Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joshua Alabi, the campus has quickly expanded over the last decade and now boasts of several buildings including a full-functioning medical clinic, various lecturing blocks, a central administration building, and a five-story library complex – the largest in all of Ghana.

At a ceremony today, 10 August 2017 to unveil the names and busts, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abednego F.O. Amartey stated that it was important for all the buildings on campus to be named after former faculty, not just because of their relationship to the University, but because of the example that it sets for all of Ghana to celebrate and show pride in its countrymen.

Prof. Amartey said the building names show that “it is possible to make it if you are Ghanaian. Students must see that they too can make it”.

Registrar Dr. Seidu Mustapha read the names of the honourees and led the program participants on a campus tour to show the busts and building names.

Several of the honourees and their family members were in attendance to give thanks for the commemoration and share about their time at UPSA.

Below are names of the honourees:

Busts                                                  

Nana J.K. Opoku Ampomah  –                        Founder and First Director of the Institute of Professional studies (IPS)

Ms Theresa Andah                  –                       First Director appointed by Government (1977-79)

Mr. J.B. Buamah                     –                       Director, IPS (1980-1993)

Mr. E.A.K. Arkorful               –                          Director, IPS (1993-2001)

Rev. Fr. J.J.M. Martey            –                        Director, IPS (2001-2003)  Rector, IPS (2003-2008)

Prof. Joshua Alabi                   –                       Rector, IPS (2009-2012)  First Vice-Chancellor, UPSA (2012-2016)

Building Names

NAME                                                                Position                                                                              Building

Nana J. K. Opoku Ampomah                      –    Founder (1967)                                                          – Central Administration Block

First Director (1977)

Mr. W.B. Dapaah                                      –    Lecturer, IPS (1986-87)                                              –  South Wing (Central Administration Block)

Executive Secretary, IPS (1988-2000)

First Registrar, IPS (2000-2010)

Mr. Ewun-Toma                                             – First Board Chairman,                                                 –    Clinic (Medication Centre)

Mr. Idris Egala                                            –  Chairman of Council (2001-2009)                               –     Graduate School

Rev. Fr. J.J.M. Martey                                 – Director, IPS  (2001-2008)                                           –  Academic Wing Complex

Mr. Justice Nii Aryeetey                              – Chairman of Council (2009-2016)                                 – Lecture Block Complex

Ms. Theresa Andah                                      – First Director appointed by     –                                   –  Club House

Government (1977-79)

Prof. Joshua Alabi                                         – Rector, IPS (2009-2012)                                          –  Library Complex

First Vice-Chancellor, UPSA (2012-2016)

Dr. Seidu M. Mustapha                                 –   Registrar (2010 to date)                                       -North Wing (Central Administration Block)

A group of Ghanaians comprising IT and health professionals have developed an Artificial intelligence (AI) healthcare system.

The system known as minoHealth is able to predict and diagnose medical conditions of patients.

MinoHealth is said to be able to outperform human doctors and predict accurately medical conditions.

Sample of how the system works

MinoHealth currently has three AI healthcare systems; the first system is said to be able to predict if a female patient would develop diabetes in the next 5 years or not.

The second and third systems are said to have the capacity to determine if a breast tumour is malignant or benign with two separate approaches.

The team say they are planning to work with epidemiologists in Ghana and Ministry of Health to develop lots of medical datasets to train others to cater to even more medical conditions and healthcare needs of Ghanaians.

The team is currently in talks with Ghanaian Hospitals encouraging them to adopt the system in diagnosing patients.

Credit: Citifmonline.com

Robert M. Hensel once said, “ I choose not to place ‘DIS’ in my ability. ”
Disability exists everywhere in the world, and comes in various forms; intellectual impairment, hearing impairment, visual impairment and physical impairment, among others.

It may be present from birth or acquired during a person’s lifetime. As true as the statement “the downfall of a man is not the end of his life,” so is disability not the end of a person’s capabilities. Thankfully, special need education was instituted to help the disabled in one way or the other, realise and use their talents conveniently.

Special need education is the practice of educating students with special educational needs in a way that addresses their individual differences and needs.
Special need schools are founded to help students with behavioural problems, learning impairments and physical impairments, to get quality education to make them beneficial and independent citizens.

Such schools create an environment where children with disability often socialise with a peer group with similar needs, so they don’t feel different and find it easier. Some mainstream schools include special unit, for children with disability.

Special needs schools have highly experienced teachers and carefully tailored curricula to address the needs of each child.

Progress is consciously monitored and there are strong links with parents to equip the child with greater independence skills, thus less intervention is required.

Deviant Perception about persons with disability.

Disability is viewed as a social construction, than a medical reality with inference from the attitudinal and physical barriers erected by society.

“About 10% of the general population is thought to have intellectual disability” Children’s hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute (2016).

Helen Adams Keller was an American author, activist and lecturer. She was the first deaf/blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.It is noteworthy that, she wasn’t born blind nor deaf.

According to Stella Young, “My disability exists not because I use a wheelchair, but because the broader environment isn’t accessible.”

* The way forward
“I have a strong sense that I have to educate people about disability” Oscar Pistorius

Persons with disability can contribute to development when they are free from physical, psychological, behavioural barriers and socio-economic threats.

Special schools shouldn’t be seen as cul-de-sac.

Children who are diagnosed with any form of disability should seek support at the appropriate institutions (Hospitals, Special schools and Special Units in mainstream schools, N.G.Os etc)

There should be a coordinated national approach to identifying areas of such needs, and comprehensive human rights to educate the public, creating awareness of the various institutions where such needs are catered for and provided with skills.

Funding should be made available to assist students with disability, special schools and other institutions where trainings and supports are provided .

Special education instructors and caregivers should be motivated in any form necessary.

To avoid the gulag perception about persons with disability, stories addressing such needs should be included in our English Language and Religious and Moral Education textbooks, especially from the basic school informing that, we are all vulnerable and persons with such impairments shouldn’t be disparaged or stigmatised.

I have started!

“Progress is impossible without change, & those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” George B. Shaw

Written by: Christian N.J
(Christiannj75@gmail.com/0547297308

Source:EducationGhana.net

The leadership of the Ashanti Regional Students Representative Council,during their 20th Annually Residential Congress held at Tepa Senior High School from July 30 to August 4,2017,have asked government to help clarify certain issues regarding the implantation of the Free SHS policy in September this year.

The Congress brought together one thousand, three hundred (1300) student leaders from all second cycle institutions within the Ashanti region and beyond to learn from celebrated and renowned resource persons, elect executives for the academic year ahead, deliberate on pressing student issues, reflect on previous year’s activities and plan for the year ahead.
The Educational, Constitutional and Social, Development and Strategic Committees were constituted to look at various issues of interest to students.

At the end of their deliberations, the following were the resolutions of student leaders across the region.
Considering the stance of student leaders on the imminent implementation of the Free SHS Policy;
Student leaders resolved that;
1. Delays could be dangerous: student leaders resolved that delays in the Release of Free SHS Funds would result in serious Administrative Challenges for schools and may result in closure of schools. Since all sources of internally generated funds (IGF) would be non-existent apart from PTA Funds, the running of schools will predominantly depend on government funds hence any delay in the releases of funds will have dire consequences for schools. The current delays in subventions is a typical example.
2. Clarify the begging questions: Student leaders call on government to clarify certain begging questions ahead of the implementation; What is the criteria for determining who will be admitted as boarders and day students, what’s the quota for protocol admission for schools, the mandate of the Free SHS Officers and their relationship with heads of institutions, will heads of institutions engage suppliers directly, are the current facilities of schools capable of handling the pressure that will result from the implementation of the policy e.g. will students (day and boarders) eat in batches?
3. Funding Challenges and Sustainability: The student leaders resolved that a more sustainable approach should be adopted in the funding of the policy. Government must explore other reliable funding alternatives to ensure sustainability.
4. Non-partisan/bi-partisan approach the way to go: Student leaders resolved that government should work to win the support and commitment of other political parties for the policy to avoid a situation where the policy hinges on the current government stay in power. A nationalistic approach will ensure that successive government will still pursue the policy in the interest of students.
5. Place the Teacher at the heart of the policy: Students resolved that, the Free SHS Policy can only thrive if the welfare of the teacher is made paramount.

Successive government have made lip service of teachers welfare over the years but the implementation of the Free SHS policy should be launching pad to raise the condition of service of teachers on whose shoulders the policy revolves.

Source:EducationGhana.net

Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies, Professor Gabriel Ayum Teye has warned continuing students to abstain from plagiarism when writing their dissertation or term paper.

He unequivocally served notice that the university would not hesitate to revoke the certificate of any students caught completely lifting academic materials for presentation as their theses.

“I am reliably informed that students simply download theses from the internet conducted in other jurisdictions and change names to reflect their location. There is no doubt that this is academic thievery and must be condemned in the strongest words possible.”

“Another more serious and condemnable act is that some other group of students’ contract professional theses writers for a fee and present such works as their products.”

Professor Gabriel Ayum Teye was addressing the 2017/18 matriculation ceremony for fresh Sandwich students at the Tamale City campus, Dungu.

He rebuked the phenomenon saying, “As you may have realized, these practices reflect in performances on the job after graduation and this explains why employers are now complaining about the quality of products from the universities and other training institutions.”

He therefore implored supervisors to give quality guidance to students assigned to them doing their project work.

According to him, the number of students who registered for various courses for the 2017/18 academic season was appreciable.

“The university started sandwich programmes with the aim of providing an opportunity for workers in particular to undertake further studies while at post since they find it difficult to join main stream university education due to work schedules.”

“It is therefore with delight that I announce the resolve of this university to constantly widen this window for the personal development of workers. I am also happy to state that UDS has increased the number of sandwich programmes on offer and plan to roll more.”

“The introduction of career oriented postgraduate programmes aimed at meeting the aspirations of people working in the field of development has been one of the driving forces in the significant growth in the numbers,” he observed.

Professor Gabriel Ayum Teye advised the students to serve as Ambassadors of change in their localities.

Credit: Citifmonline.com

A former Member of Parliament for North Dayi, George Loh has taken a swipe at government for re-introducing the quota system for nursing trainee institutions.

According to him, the reasons adduced by government for the re-introduction are wrong.

The Akufo-Addo government on Wednesday announced the re-introduction of the quota system which was scrapped by the Mahama government together with the trainee allowances.

According to government the quota system will help improve the quality of nurses churned out from the various training institutions in the country to meet the demands of the health sector, thus reducing unemployment.

But George Loh insisted that re-introducing the quota system is not the panacea for improving quality of nurses adding that “give people the opportunity to school.”

“I think that we are getting it all wrong in terms of policy. I thought that the government will say that let’s keep the numbers but improve quality but even as we go ahead we ensure that we are expanding facilities and we are ensuring that all facilities get the standard that will produce nurses. Let’s look at these things well when we talk about quality when you don’t have money to pay,” he said on The BigIssue on Saturday.

Nursing trainee quota system will create difficulties – Alex Segbefia

A former Health Minister, Alex Sebgefia has said the policy will create difficulties for government.

“I think that they [NPP government] are creating difficulties for themselves because the allowance is not something that should be brought back at this stage,” he said on Eyewitness News last Wednesday.

Credit: Citifmonline.com

President Nana Akufo-Addo has urged public universities to seek approval from the Finance Ministry and the Attorney General before getting any loan facilities.

Akufo-Addo said this at the graduation ceremony of some medical doctors at the University of Cape Coast on Saturday.

The directive comes after a long drawn dispute between the University of Ghana and some players in the banking sector over some loans that were contracted to undertake projects at the university.

“I think we should learn from previous and unfortunate bitter experience that such arrangement should not be done on the blind side of the government. I will strongly urge if you have not already done so, that you seek the blessing of the Ministry of Finance and the office of the Attorney General to the arrangement,” Nana Addo stated.

“There is currently a difficult situation at the University of Ghana that should serve as a useful lesson for all public tertiary institutions which seek to engage in such arrangements.”

CAL Bank hauled the Universitt of Ghana to court in 2015 over the non-payment of some money owed the bank.

According to the bank at the time, the decision was due to the delay in the repayment of the loan facility that the bank granted the institution towards the provision of about 7000 bed capacity hostel facilities.

At the time, the MD of the bank had said that government was not committed to the repayment process.

“We did have significant real estate exposure three years back and three years on we still have some exposure. The significant portion of it is being paid or it is still current, but we still have a situation with UGEL, the hostels the situation there is that the hostel is occupied and the students pay the residential user fees but the University does not service the facility.”

“There have been several meetings on it and government has decided to take over and settle the six banks involved, we haven’t seen the government, seen the steps as expected in settling that debt so we have taken the decision to go to court so very soon CAL bank will own 12,500 beds,” he said.

Credit: Citifmonline.com

The leadership of the Ashanti Regional Students Representative Council,during their 20th Annually Residential Congress held at Tepa Senior High School from July 30 to August 4,2017,has come out with known causes of Students Unrests in the Senior High School level and how the can be curtailed.
The Educational, Constitutional and Social, Development and Strategic Committees were constituted to look at various issues of interest to students.

Considering the stance of student leaders on causes and ways to curb student’s unrests and demonstrations in schools,
1. Student leaders identified some of the causes of student’s unrests as;

lack of effective communication between school administration and students in schools, weak SRCs, weak student leadership, weak security systems in schools, lack of engagement between school administration and students etc.

2. Student leaders resolved that proper engagement between student leaders and authorities, strengthening the local SRCs, recognition for the rights of students, proper intelligence and security structures, friendly all-welcoming leadership styles are some of the measures that can curb student’s unrest in schools.
Considering the stance of student leaders on the judicious use of social media and the menace of leaked videos among the youth in Ghana, student leaders resolved that
1. As much as we recognize the importance of technology in our era, students or the youth of today will always take advantage of any opportunity to use phones in schools and eventually abuse it. We therefore call for strict enforcement of the ban on usage of phones in public schools will be very instrumental in checking unauthorized or accidental recordings
2. The youth should be educated more on the judicious use of social media and its dangers if it is abused. Many youth are drawn into the social media craze without knowing the full benefit or dangers therein. Proper education by appropriate quarters on how to maximize the benefits from social media and an expose on the dangers involved if abused will be very helpful.

Source:EducationGhana.net

The University of Processional Studies Accra (UPSA) at its 9^th Congregation on Saturday 12^th of August conferred 3 honorary doctorate degrees on the following people:

Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Doctor of Laws

Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu is an Urban Planner by training, and a politician. He is presently the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Suame Constituency. He has been a Member of Parliament since 1997. Since he assumed the leadership role of his party (New patriotic party) in Parliament, he has endeared himself to many Ghanaians many have wondered if he is a lawyer. Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has successfully attained this recognition as a result of his grasp and in-depth knowledge about parliamentary affairs and his ability to communicate effectively. He is the chairman of the following committees in Parliament: Special Budget Committee, House Committee, and Business Committee.

Hon Alban Kingsford Sumani Bagbin, Doctor of laws

Hon Alban Kingsford Sumani Bagbin is a lawyer and a Politician. He is a presently the Second Deputy Speaker Parliament and Member of Parliament for Nadowli West Constituency. Hon Bagbin is also the chairperson of the following committees in Parliament: Members Holding Offices of Profit Committee, Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee. Hon Bagbin is currently the oldest serving Member of Parliament. He was a member of the first parliament under the fourth republican constitution. He also served as the Minister of Health and Water Resources, Works, and Housing under the Mills administration.

Dr. Nii Kotei Dzani, Doctor of Business

Dr. Nii Kotei Dzani is an astute Banker, Financial Advisor, Marketer, Economist, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist and the President of Groupe Ideal.  He is also the Board Chair of TV Africa, owner of eight companies, and presently the elected representative of the Greater Accra region on the Council of State. He is also a recipient of the covetous 2015 Banking & Finance Entrepreneur. Dr. Dzani was also adjudged the Overall Best Entrepreneur of the year 2016 for his exceptional contributions towards the country’s socio-economic development at the Seventh Ghana Entrepreneur and Corporate Executive Awards 2017.The companies that form this spectrum include Ideal Finance, First Trust Savings and Loans, Ideal Capital partners, Ideal Asset Solutions, Ideal Trade, TV Africa, Ideal Pension Trust, Ideal Insurance brokers, Tsaste Foundation, a CSR wing of the Groupe Ideal Financial Holdings Force 64 Security and Westfield Offshore Consult. Groupe Ideal currently operates in the areas of Investment Banking, Business Finance, Trade, Asset Management, Mining and Offshore Consultancy Services, Media and Security Services.

The event was attended by a number of distinguished guests including Members of Parliament, Traditional Leaders of local Chieftaincy, and distinguished faculty from UPSA and other universities.

In his first time presiding over the Congregation Ceremony, Vice Chancellor Abednego F.O. Amartey gave remarks recounting the history of the school which started with 5 students in its first graduating class as the then Institute of Professional Studies to now 4000 graduates in its ninth class as UPSA.

The Bank of Ghana has approved a Purchase and Assumption transaction with GCB Bank Ltd that transfers all deposits and selected assets of UT Bank Ltd and Capital Bank Ltd to GCB Bank Ltd.

The Bank of Ghana has revoked the Licences of UT Bank Ltd and Capital Bank Ltd.

This action has become necessary due to severe impairment of their capital. The remaining assets and liabilities will be realised and settled respectively through a receivership process to be undertaken by Messers Vish Ashiagbor and Eric Nana Nipah of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

The main offices and branches of UT Bank and Capital Bank will be under the control of GCB bank and will be opened at 1pm today for normal business transactions.

Customers of UT Bank and Capital Bank are now customers of GCB bank. All deposit customers will continue to have access to their funds.

UT Bank and Capital Bank branches and ATMs will continue to operate as normal as GCB bank branches and ATMs.

All staff in the interim will become staff of GCB bank and GCB Bank will negotiate the terms of their contract.

GCB was selected amongst 3 others on the basis of purchase price, cost of funding, branches to be retained, staff to be employed and impact on the acquiring bank’s capital adequacy ratio.

The Bank of Ghana assures the public that all customers can continue normal banking business at all UT Bank and Capital Bank facilities which are now branches of GCB bank.

The approval by the Bank of Ghana of this transaction is to strengthen Ghana’s banking sector, ensure financial stability and protect depositors’ funds.

The Bank of Ghana reassures customers of UT Bank and Capital Bank that their money is safe and they can continue to do business at their respective branches which are now the branches of GCB Bank.
For Further Information
Contact
Bank of Ghana’s Public Information Centre on +233 (0) 302 611711 or +233 (0) 302 611733 or www.bog.gov.gh

The Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) has with effect from Monday, August 14, 2017 suspended the listing status of UT Bank Limited indefinitely.

UT Bank has failed to publish its financial results since the end of its financial year December 31, 2015. The non-publication is in breach of the continuing listing obligations under the GSE Listing Rules. The GSE has collaborated closely with Bank of Ghana (BoG), the regulator for banks on this matter.

The suspension has also become necessary due to the revocation of the licence of UT Bank by BoG effective Monday, August 14, 2017 in a letter to the Exchange dated August 11, 2017. In the said BoG letter, the BoG has approved a purchase and assumption agreement by GCB Bank Limited to acquire the total deposit liabilities and some selected good assets of UT Bank.

The GSE will continue to collaborate closely with BoG and the Securities and Exchange Commission to ensure that the interest of shareholders of UT Bank are protected in accordance with the GSE Rules and any guidelines or notices that may be issued by BoG.

Issued in Accra, this 14th day of August, 2017.

Colleges of Education  have released their admission list for the 2017/18 Academic year.

Successful applicants shall  receive Text Messages from their respective Colleges of Choice to print their admission letters.

The successful applicants shall receive their Application Numbers as well as personal Identification Numbers to be able to access their admission letters.

Applicants who could not receive their messages can still visit the notice board of their Colleges of Choice to check their names on the board.

Such applicants after finding their names on the board should contact the College Administration for further information regarding their Admission.

Source:EducationGhana.net

The National Teachers Council (NTC) of the Ministry of Education has announced that teachers will now have to pass a special examination before being granted the licence to teach.

The move, according to the NTC, is to enforce discipline and eliminate non-performing teachers from the system, in accordance with the new Teachers Licencing Policy under the Education Act 778 (2008).

Dr. Augustine Tawiah, Executive Secretary-designate of the National Teaching Council of the Ministry of Education, disclosed this in Accra last week at the closing ceremony of a five-day intensive in-service training workshop for teachers in the Greater Accra Region.

The workshop which was attended by 297 subject teachers in the Primary, Junior and Senior High Schools was organised by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) with support from the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF).

According to Dr. Tawiah, all formalities for the full implementation of the Act had been finalised and a secretariat to issue the licence had been established.

He disclosed that beginning next January, the ministry would undertake re-registration of all teachers in the country to facilitate the issuance of the licences.

He said, no teacher could teach in any school in the country without the Teacher’s Licence from next year.

Dr. Tawiah explained that renewal of the licence would be based on professional competence and development of teachers, stressing that, all teachers would be expected to renew their licence within three to five years.

“There are some teachers who, right after graduation from the training colleges, do not upgrade their knowledge in their subject areas and also do not upgrade their teaching skills and methodology. Teachers who would apply for renewal of licence must prove they have personally undertaken some professional upgrading of knowledge and skills” he said.

Dr. Tawiah mentioned that teachers who teach students to fail continuously in examinations like the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and other local and national examinations would not get their licences renewed.

He emphasised that the licence was to get rid of lazy and non-performing teachers in the educational sector, adding that it would require teachers to prove their competence and achieve results, in their areas of specialisations.

Dr. Tawiah noted that new teachers would receive their licences after graduation next year, but those already in the system must provide evidence and prove to the ministry of their achievements in the teaching profession to renew their licence.

He disclosed that, the ministry and the National Teaching Council (NTC) would soon embark on public education and deepen consultations on the new Teacher’s Licensing Policy to ensure a smooth take-off next year.

The National President of GNAT, Paul Agyei Boakye disclosed that, the in-service training for teachers in the Greater Accra Region was the third and last training workshop for teachers this year after a similar one in the Western and Central Regions.

He encouraged participants to let what they had learnt at the workshop reflect in their teaching when they return to their respective schools.

He also advised the participants and teachers in general, to be punctual at school and avoid absenteeism.

Mr. Boakye expressed gratitude to the CTF delegation to Ghana for the collaboration in the in-service training workshop for teachers in the country.

Mr. Lyle Watling, Team Leader of CTF, disclosed that GNAT and CTF collaboration dated back some 20 years ago.

According to him, the collaboration had been mutually beneficial and reiterated their commitment to support Ghanaian teachers.

The Deputy General Secretary of GNAT in-charge of Education and Professional Development, Mr. Thomas Baafi, disclosed that two new components of training were added to this year’s workshop.

These are the New Entrant Programme to help newly trained teachers to integrate smoothly into the teaching profession, and the “Nkabom Project” to assist teachers in deprived communities with professional training and teaching materials.

Credit: The Ghanaian Times

Ghanaian students benefiting from a Hungarian government scholarship have been compelled to call on the government for support to cater for their basic needs because their stipends are inadequate.

The students, numbering over 40, are beneficiaries of the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship for 2016/2017.

The beneficiaries currently receive monthly stipends of 40,460 HUF (Hungarian Forint) for Undergraduate and Masters students and 140,000 HUF for doctorate students from the Hungarian government.

But in a letter sighted by Citi News from the students to the Scholarship Secretariat, the students decried this amount as insufficient given the high cost of living in Hungary.

“It is sad that our situation keeps worsening day by day and we are therefore pleading with you, to use your high office to call on our government to come to our aid,” the students implored the Scholarship Secretariat. It is undoubtedly highly difficult to put a 3-square meal on our tables, not to talk of other expenses such as transportation, books and clothing. To mention a few, an average meal cost 1,500 HUF, a proper winter cloth sells between 20,000-30,000 HUF, a pair of shoes 20,000-35,000 HUF and a t-shirt averagely 4,000 HUF.”

“Our health insurance only covers consultation fees and excluding medications. Currently, a majority of us are forced to use part of the stipends to supplement our accommodation allowance to hire apartments since there are limited hostel facilities on most of the various campuses.”

As it stands now, the students also fear they will not be able to afford return tickets back home to Ghana.

Their situation is seemingly made harder by the fact fellow students from around the globe on the same scholarship get adequate support from their governments and can focus on their studies.

The students say colleagues from other countries benefiting from the scholarship are given support from their governments.

Nigerian students, for instance, are supported with $300 to $500 dollars a month from their government, according to the Ghanaian students.

“We are faced with a very tough reality of competing with our colleague students from across the globe, who unlike us have sound minds to concentrate on their studies because they receive additional support from their respective governments.”