Category: Education

Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II, Omanhen of Oguaa Traditional Area, has expressed gratitude to the University of Cape Coast (UCC) for the conferment of a doctorate degree on him last Thursday in Cape Coast.

‘I thank the management of UCC for appreciating and recognizing my efforts and contributions to the University and humanity,’ he stated.

He expressed his appreciation at a short press conference at Emintsimadze Palace where he indicated that the award had encouraged him to do more for his people and the country at large.

The acknowledgment came after the University recognised him for his remarkable contributions to the development of society.

He was also honoured, particularly for his visionary leadership and distinguished service to the nation, the University, the global community and humanity in general.

He assured the University of his continued commitment to help resolve the challenges between the UCC and its neighbouring communities for conducive atmosphere for learning and teaching and social cohesion.

The Oguaamanhen expressed concern over the inability of many of its indigenes to access higher education and appealed to the University to adopt some basic schools in Cape Coast to help improve education in the area.

Osabarimba Kwesi Atta indicated that progress had been made in bringing on board professors and academia to help train the younger ones in the area, but much needed to be done to groom the younger generation.

‘It is very sad to see BECE results of some children in Cape Coast, this sends signals that education at the lower level is bad and need help,’ he added.

He added that Cape Coast had the best schools in the country and the young ones must take advantage for their self-advancement to be able to contribute their quota to the social and economic development of the country.

Osabarimba Kwesi Atta called on academia in and abroad to come on board to support the course to see the Cape Coast they all envisaged for the generation.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Peace Council (NPC) has organized a validation workshop on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to guide Mission Schools on religious tolerance.

The MoU aims to provide guidelines for Government Assisted Mission Schools/Private Schools to enable a safe learning environment, promotion of national peace and preventing discrimination on religious grounds to enhance greater social cohesion.

Participants at the workshop included representatives of the Conference of Managers of Education Units (COMEU), the Trustees of the Conference of Managers of Mission Education Units, the Ghana Education Service (GES), Directors of Mission Education Units, Heads of Schools and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

Mrs Joana Adzoa Opare, Member, NPC Governing Board and Chairperson of Complaints and Conflict Committee, in a statement read on her behalf by Mrs Magdalene Kannae, a member of the Governing Board of the NPC, said one thing that the Council had taken from the long period of
engagement with stakeholders on religious tolerance in schools was that, no pupil or student should be hindered by religion in their quest for academic laurels.

This, Mrs Opare said had been the primary principle upon which the process had thrived.

‘Collectively, we shall be making history and bring finality to a document that we have diligently put together, which will serve as a guide for your various Education Units and Schools and support management of students from diverse backgrounds to achieve their desires in the field of Education,’ she said.

She reiterated that the timing in any project or policy was critical to the means and the end.

‘This validation coming just few days after the Ramadan and Easter and few days to the traditional ban on drumming in Accra should give us a sense of diversity that rather unite us than divides us,’ she said.

‘Let us collectively uphold the principle and practice of togetherness, responsiveness to each other’s views, respect for the rights of others, and toleratio
n and tolerance of religious diversity in all institutions of learning.’

She said the Council had the conviction that the MoU would serve Ghanaians positively and bring sanity to every education Institutions that the document was developed for.

‘May we all be doers and not just listeners in the face of religious tolerance in our schools.’

Constitutionally, Ghana is a circular state, and all citizens have the freedom to practice and profess any religion of their choices, with their religious liberty protected.

Article 25 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana indicates that, all persons had the right to equal educational opportunities and facilities and with the view to achieving full realisation of that right.

According to the draft MoU the Mission Schools must emphasize a culture of tolerance, inclusivity and cooperation while maintaining the missions and visions of their parent religious bodies.

Regarding fasting in schools, it indicated that students should be allowed to fast; however, parents/guardians f
rom school authorities must seek permission and requisite counseling given to students before fasting begins.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at the end of the validation workshop, Mrs Opare said following reports of a Muslim student at the Wesley Girls’ High School, Cape Coast, who was allegedly prevented from fasting during Ramadan in 2021, which was being observed by Muslims, the Peace Council in an efforts to help address the issue met with all the stakeholders involved to see what actually happened and how they could intervene to ensure that there was peace in the country’s educational institutions.

She said the Council met with all the stakeholders involved, which included the Ministry of Education, the Muslims Caucus in Parliament, the Wesley Girls Management, the Christian Council of Ghana, Methodist Church, Ghana, the girls, and parents to ascertain what happened.

‘In the process, we find out that there has been a drafted MoU that has never been assented to, when it comes to the legal issues. So
, we revisited this, and we called the stakeholders around the table and agreed that we needed to finalize this.’

Mrs Opare noted that the MoU would serve as a document that people could speak to when it comes to the issue of religious tolerance in the nation’s schools.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Children Believe, a child-focus Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), has commissioned a fully furnished Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre at Abulu, a community in the Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region.

The facility, intended to benefit children between four to five years, comprised teachers’ office, classrooms and lavatories and equipped with furniture, stationeries and a playground fitted with various types of play equipment.

The ECD centre was funded by Children Believe at an estimated cost of GHS650,000.00 and implemented by the Participatory Action for Rural Development Alternatives (PARDA), an NGO.

The centre is the sixth funded project by Child Believe in the Region and the 27th facility constructed in three years in all its operational areas.

Mrs Esenam Kavi De Souza, the Country Director, Children Believe, who commissioned the centre, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that it was intended to provide early learning opportunities for the children.

‘We reco
gnize that children need a conducive environment to learn, and early childhood education is one of the areas where government investment has been inadequate. That is why Children Believe, together with its partner, PARDA, decided to provide this Kindergarten (KG) facility,’ she said.

The facility would bridge the gap in early childhood education in the Abulu Community and its environs, Mrs De Souza said.

‘In all of the areas where we have provided these facilities, we have seen great improvement in the quality of education of children in Kindergarten. We have seen enrollment numbers doubling as the facilities are provided,’ she said.

Mrs De Souza called on the government to invest more in early childhood education, insisting that ‘until we get the foundation of our education right, every other investment we make as a nation will not yield the desired results, therefore, it is important that we start right.’

Dr Michael Wombeogo, the Executive Director of PARDA, said the motivation to undertake development
projects in the Kassena-Nankana West and Builsa North Municipal was based on the needs of the community members.

He recalled that apart from the newly furnished ECD centre, PARDA, with support from Child Believe, had constructed Child Welfare Centres, boreholes, furniture for basic schools and organized refresher training programmes for healthcare professionals and teachers in the two operational areas over the years.

‘We are continuing, as we get more funds, we will be able to support the needs of the people. We are supporting what the people want, that is the highest motivation and achievement for PARDA so far within the operational areas,’ he said.

Pastor Ebenezer Ayiwuuri, the Head teacher of the Abulu Primary School, said the newly constructed KG facility would be of great relief to the school as the pupils were accommodated in a mud structure constructed by the Parents Association.

He described the mud structure as a ‘death trap that could fall off at anytime.’

‘This forced us the teachers to put b
oth KG one and two in one classroom instead of the death trap in order to avoid any eventuality.’

Pastor Ayiwuuri said management of the school appealed to Children Believe through PARDA for the ECD centre, which stood as a testament to the power of collaboration, and the unwavering commitment to education.

‘We are deeply thankful to Children Believe for its dedication to our community and belief in the transformative power of education,’ he said.

This KG block represents more than just bricks and mortar; it symbolizes hope, opportunity and a brighter future for the young minds who will walk through its doors.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Aaron Kuwornu, the Northern Regional Director, Ghana Library Authority, has advised students to invest more time in reading resourceful materials to help build their leadership skills for national development.

He said reading was a crucial component of the overall development of students, which exposed them to knowledge acquisition and the ability to discover innovations and skills needed to improve the livelihoods of communities.

Mr Kuwornu said this whilst addressing students in Tamale during a debate organised for Junior High Schools in the Northern Region.

The event, dubbed: ‘Junior Debate Competition Championship 2024’, was organised by Glory Development Organization, an NGO, in partnership with the Northern Regional Office of the Ghana Library Authority.

Three schools: Sagnarigu Girls Model Junior High school, Glory Educational Complex, and Albarakat International School, were the competitors.

After the fiercely contested debate on child labour and its impact on children’s educational developmen
t, Albarakat International School was crowned winners.

Mr Kuwornu emphasised the need for parents and guardians to support their children to cultivate the culture of reading to develop their hidden potential.

‘Parents and guardians must learn to monitor the kind of information their children are consuming to ensure they don’t read materials that are detrimental to their holistic growth and development,’ he said.

Reverend Ebenezer Agyemang-Duah, Executive Director, Glory Development Organization, said the debate was to encourage students to research, learn and develop the skills to communicate effectively on issues affecting their development.

He emphasised the importance of motivating students to read, saying it afforded them the opportunity to be smarter and analytical in approaching the challenges confronting their communities.

‘If the children are the leaders of tomorrow, then we must invest in building their communication skills and competence in order to guarantee that future,’ he said.

Master Abdu
l-Mumeen Abdul-Waris, a student of Albarakat International, who participated in the competition, said it had boosted his confidence and ability to speak in public.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Kofi Asare, Executive Director, Africa Education Watch, has asked the youth to be citizen activists to contribute to the rapid socio-economic development of the country.

He asked them to speak up on issues affecting their development, careers, and promote accountable governance at all levels. 

He was speaking at a conference dubbed: ‘The National Conversation On Youth Democracy,’ in Accra. 

It was on the theme: ‘Rise Up and Speak Out: Building A Stronger Ghanaian Democracy Together.’ 

Mr Asare said the citizenry ought to know that democracy was a symbiotic system, therefore, governments had their responsibilities likewise the populace.

When the youth demand accountability, it sychronises with the power they have given to the government to be able to provide them with their needs to thrive in society. 

He advised the youth to participate in democracy but in a responsible way and not to use chaotic demonstrations and incite violence on social media platforms to create national problems. 

He said the y
outh must be abreast of the constitution to ensure responsible, honest and patriotic youthful conduct. 

He urged the youth to learn to speak up and not to expect any financial inducements from any government or policymakers in power. 

Mrs Sena Siaw-Boateng, Chief Director, Ministry of National Security said youth activism drove development which allowed young people to participate and demand accountability from government. 

She said youth all over the country must know who and where to channel their grievances to ensure effective governance for economic growth. 

She advised young people to actively engage in democratic dialogue’s rather than chaotic political demonstrations which would lead to violence, saying that ‘violence would rather slow down developmental progress.’ 

Speaking on what the youth post on social media, she said the youth must check facts before posting on social media platforms, since such posts could spark national chaos.  

Dr Stella Agyeman Duah, Research Scientist, Ghana Atomic Ene
rgy Commision, also called on government to provide policies and incentives like land, training, and grants to help push the youth and students into agriculture or agri-businesses.  

Source: Ghana News Agency

In dazzling glitz, pride, and bliss, the Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) College of Education in Cape Coast held a grand durbar to celebrate its historic 100th year milestone in the training of excellent women educators in Ghana.

The centennial celebration, interspersed with breath-taking musical and cultural performances, was also made special by the presence of countless renowned academics, political figures, the clergy, and traditional leaders.

It was held on the theme: ‘Hundred years of holistic teacher education: Retrospection and prospects.’

The OLA College of Education, the first women’s teachers’ college in Ghana and sub-Saharan Africa, was established in 1924 by catholic nuns at the Saint Mary’s Covent School in Cape Coast.

The college commenced with only six students and has since established itself as a prestigious training institution, feeding the country’s education system with thousands of female teachers over the decades.

In a noble move, the college marked its centenary with the launch of a jo
urnal to support an endowment fund offering scholarships for science and maths education students.

The anniversary also saw the college honour its past principals as well as teaching and non-teaching staff some of whom were honoured posthumously.

Mrs Samira Bawumia, the Second Lady, who graced the occasion, gorgeously donning the centenary cloth, observed that OLA had over the years been a beacon of hope for countless individuals, providing quality teacher training programmes that had produced exceptional educators.

‘It’s our hope that OLA continues to play practical role in the development of our dear nation to continue to produce hardworking and industrious women who will go on to contribute diligently to the development of this country just as they have been doing of the past years,’ she said.

Mrs Bawumia indicated that teacher education was the corner stone of any educational system because teachers shaped the future of society by nurturing the minds of future leaders and innovators.

She acknowledged
and endorsed the need for a holistic approach to teacher education, stressing that holistic education went beyond imparting knowledge to fostering critical thinking, empathy, creativity, and resilience in students.

The Second Lady maintained that it was crucial to invest in the education and the skills development of the youth, arguing that education was the quickest way for Ghana to develop.

‘That is why our government remains focused on its vision of ensuring that quality education becomes accessible to all children irrespective of their social and financial circumstances.

Mrs Bawumia extolled OLA College for its contributions to Ghana’s education and urged it to continue that path.

‘Women empowerment is possible with an educated girl. Therefore, let us continue to promote learning by motivating our students to learn and by developing knowledge, attitudes, and skills,’ she added.

Dr Regina Okyere-Dankwa, Principal, OLA College of Education, said the college remained steadfast in its commitment to foste
ring intellect, character, integrity and compassion in its products.

She noted that they had evolved with the changing times and reforms to ensure students received the finest holistic education characterised by compassion wisdom and service to humanity.

Dr Okyere-Dankwa indicated that it had always been her vision to elevate college to the pinnacle of educational excellence since assuming the role as the principal in 2021.

‘This vision, rooted in the principles of holistic education which aligns perfectly with our overarching goal of creating a unique centre of excellence for training teachers who are professionally driven and also imbued with a deep sense of inspiration and value orientation,’ she added.

She said the college was working to become a fully-fledged university and appealed to the Minister of Education to consider their request to transition into a university college for a start.

Dr Mrs Okyere-Dankwa also expressed the college’s dedication to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
(STEM) education and appealed to government and all stakeholders to help them create a supportive ecosystem with the relevant infrastructure and resources.

The principal further appealed to government to provide the college with buses and minivans for both students and faculty to facilitate their Supported Teaching in Schools (STS) experiences and supervision to fully realise the potential of the initiative.

The STS is a practical concept where students are given the opportunity to observe and engage in classroom instructions under the mentorship of experienced educators.

In addition, Dr Mrs Okyere-Dankwa expressed disquiet over the sorry state of the college’s internal roads and pleaded with government to construct and resurface the roads with asphalt and transform the campus into a safer and more conducive environment for learning.

She lamented that they were burdened with water crisis, infrastructural deficit and hefty electricity bills which threatened their capacity to maintain uninterrupted power su
pply.

She called all to all stakeholders including NGOs and philanthropical organisations to help the school invest in solar energy, infrastructure, and borehole construction.

Dr Okyere-Dankwa thanked all stakeholders for their respective roles in the advancement of the school on every front.

Prof. Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh, a former pro-vice chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) expressed the need to invest in the continuous professional development of teachers.

She said teachers needed to be abreast with current research in teacher education curricula, new methodologies, and new teaching philosophies.

‘It is only when the teachers develop themselves to meet 21st Century education needs that they can impart same to the young women here,’ she added.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU) is repositioning itself to become globally preferred centre for technical vocational training education and a relevant contributor to the socioeconomic growth of Ghana and beyond.

To this end, the University has introduced 17 more programmes at various levels including five Master of Science (MSc) programmes in Agriculture, its niche area, to empower students to find practical solutions to challenges of society, Professor Samuel Erasmus Alnaa, Vice Chancellor of the University, has said.

The programmes are MSc Crop Science, MSc Animal Science, MSc Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, MSc Postharvest Engineering, MSc Agriculture Farm Power and Machinery Engineering and MSc Procurement and Logistics Management.

The others are Bachelor of Science (BSc) Medical Laboratory Science, BTech Data Communication and Networking, BSc Applied Statistics and Computing, BSc Electrical and Electronics Engineering and HND Welding and Fabrication.

The rest are BSc Food Processing Te
chnology, BTech Mechanical Engineering, BSc Tourism Management, BSc Computerised Accounting, BSc Marketing and Communication Studies and BSc Management Studies.

The Vice Chancellor made this known at the 12th congregation of the University held at Sumbrungu, the University’s main campus, where 628 graduands, comprising 328 males and 300 females, were awarded various honours.

The Vice Chancellor noted that the University was considering extending Competency based training at all levels which had sponsorship from the GIZ and World Bank and urged the public to take advantage of the varied programmes to develop their competencies for job creation and poverty reduction.

‘We are rekindling our collaboration with the University of Ouagadougou. The collaboration was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This will see the exchange of staff and students from both universities.

‘We are also collaborating with Kosmos Innovation Centre, the Corporate Social Responsibility wing of Kosmos Energy, for training of young gra
duates in agribusiness. This programme is aimed at creating, training and empowering ‘Agripreneurs’ to innovate value addition in the agriculture value chain and create jobs. The programme is expected to run for three years and it is worth US$100,000.00 annually,’ he said.

Professor Alnaa appealed to the government to grant financial clearance for the University to recruit lecturers, adding ‘there is no commensurate increase in the teaching staff to train the students who get enrolled on the wide range of programmes.

‘We have to contend with the existing staff and part-time lecturers, who currently are overloaded with so many courses, to teach and this is very strenuous and negatively affecting the instructional delivery as well as assessment of students.’

The Vice Chancellor noted that the University was further confronted with infrastructure deficit and while management was doing everything possible to improvise decent places for students to have lectures, it behoves government to fast-track the request
of the University for Lecture Halls which had been on the drawing board since 2017.

Professor Francis Abantanga, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the University, said despite the challenges, the University since its humble beginning in 1999, had grown in the technology-based programmes which were impacting positively on the growth of the country and beyond.

Professor Abantanga advised the staff to undertake researches that aimed at mobilizing revenue for the University and the country as a whole, adding ‘research is key in the development of all economies and also plays key role in your progress as staff.’

Mr Stephen Yakubu, the Outgoing Upper East Regional Minister, said despite the many challenges, the University had contributed significantly to the growth of the economy by producing solution-oriented students and urged all stakeholders to play key roles in consolidating the gains of the University.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Professor Ahmed Abdulai Jinapor, Acting Director General, Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), says the Commission is urgently tackling the operations of satellite campuses in second cycle institutions and other unapproved venues by traditional universities to protect technical universities.

He said the operations and increasing number of the satellite campuses by the traditional universities in such unapproved areas were negatively affecting the growth and development of the technical universities in the country and the Commission had warned such universities to cease operations.

‘One of the biggest issues that we face and one that has affected technical universities negatively, has been the over proliferation of satellite campuses by most of the traditional universities.

‘It is of no surprise that at Bolgatanga Senior High School, you have about five institutions running what is termed as ‘distance education’ programmes and GTEC is tackling this issue and as part of the processes of working on it,
we have asked all these institutions to cease operations of satellite campuses,’ he said.

The Acting Director General, who made this disclosure at the 12th congregation of the Bolgatanga Technical University at Sumbrungu in the Upper East Region, said technical education was pivotal to the growth of the economy and GTEC was working to protect them and improve the quality of teaching and learning.

‘Indeed, I am happy to announce that the GTEC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with about six institutions to cease the admission of students into about 210 satellite campuses moving forward.

‘We believe this will give the technical universities the opportunities to also attract these students that mostly would have been in these satellite campuses,’ he added.

As part of protecting technical universities across the country, GTEC had established a Policy Advisory Committee tasked with the mandate of ensuring that all new applications for programmes by universities were within the niche areas of the s
aid universities and did not also feed into the already saturated Ghanaian economy.

‘This is important because often times, we find these well-endowed traditional universities operating and veering into programmes that naturally would not have been within their mandate…GTEC is very committed to ensuring that if technical education as being professed to be the engine for socioeconomic development of this country, then it is important for all technical universities in this country to be protected,’ he said.

On improving quality of tertiary education, he indicated, GTEC this year, would organise the first of its kind Tertiary Education Conference for major stakeholders to brainstorm on strategies to address challenges facing tertiary education.

Professor Samuel Erasmus Alnaa, Vice Chancellor of the University, said the University was repositioning itself to become globally preferred centre for technical vocational and training education and relevant contributor to the socioeconomic growth of Ghana and beyond.

As result, he said, the University had introduced 17 more programmes at various levels including five Master of Science (MSc) programmes in Agriculture, its niche area, to empower students to find practical solutions to challenges of society.

‘We are rekindling our collaboration with the University of Ouagadougou. The collaboration was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This will see the exchange of staff and students from both universities.

‘We are also collaborating with Cosmos Innovation Centre, the Corporate Social Responsibility wing of Cosmos Energy, for training of young graduates in agribusiness. This programme is aimed at creating, training and empowering ‘Agripreneurs’ to innovate value addition in the agriculture value chain and create jobs. The programme is expected to run for three years, and it is worth US$100,000.00 annually,’ he said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Qatar Charity, a non-governmental organization, education stakeholders, Chiefs, the envoy of Qatar, and members of Qatar Charity, have inaugurated a new Hayaat Senior High School in the Oyibi Saasabi Akuapem Obosomasi area.

The school , ‘Hayaat Senior High School,’ boasts of 10 classrooms, a library, three offices, 24 washrooms, 5 (one-bedroom units), 2 (two-bedroom units), and a borehole with 5000 litres overhead tanks.

A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency on Sunday in Accra said the school compound included a newly built mosque accommodating approximately 240 worshippers.

It said the event was presided over by Shaik Yushau Tahir Kuta, who, expressed joy at the completion and inauguration of the project and extended gratitude to all , including the Chiefs of Oyibi and residents of the Sasaabi area, during the commissioning ceremony.

Speaking on behalf of the Municipal Director of Education Mr. Francis Mishiami, urged all stakeholders to continue their support for the school emphasizing its signifi
cance in their development.

He Mishiami emphasized the importance of ensuring that all students passing through Hayaat Senior High School were resourced to thrive academically and realize their full potential.

Dr. Naseeba Swallah Tahir, the Director of Hayaat Senior High School, highlighted the institution’s core mission of nurturing responsible individuals through education.

She emphasized the crucial role of education in combating societal issues such as corruption, stressing the school’s commitment to producing morally upright leaders who would resist corrupt practices and contribute to community development.

Nana Donkor Manianor (II), the Mankrado of Akewpim Obusomasi, who facilitated the construction by providing the land, expressed gratitude to Qatar Charity for their contribution to the development of the area.

He reaffirmed his commitment to local development initiatives and urged the school management to prioritize maintenance efforts, citing a need for improved maintenance culture.

Addressing
the audience, Mr. Hassan Owda, Director of Qatar Charity, accompanied by Hamad El-Sweidi, Deputy Ambassador of Qatar, outlined the organization’s objective of fostering the education of future professionals crucial for community development.

He underscored the pivotal role of education in societal progress and development.

In his closing remarks, Shaik Tahir Uttah offered extensive prayers for Qatar Charity, commending its significant contributions to humanity.

He lauded Qatar as a nation emerging as a global leader in humanitarian efforts and peace negotiations in the Middle East, invoking blessings upon its people.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Child Rights International (CRI), a creative human rights organisation with a focus on children’s rights, has called for prioritisation of juvenile justice following an alleged staged kidnapping incident in Accra.

A statement issued by Mr Bright Appiah, the Executive Director of CRI, copied to the Ghana News Agency, commended the Police for a swift intervention in this matter, effectively managing the situation and preserving the privacy of the juveniles involved in their official releases.

The publication by the Police showed that the alleged staged kidnapping incident, involving four juveniles of Presbyterian Boys Senior High School, Legon, and two adults, was an attempt to extort money for travel purposes.

It said as the investigation progressed, it was crucial to emphasise that any legal proceedings must adhere strictly to the Juvenile Justice Act, 2003 (Act 653).

The statement said it was imperative that all talks concerning juveniles be conducted within the juvenile justice system, ensuring that due
process and fairness are upheld.

It noted that furthermore, it was essential to note that the custody and detainment of the juveniles must comply with the provisions outlined in Section 15(1) of the Act, ‘The police shall make arrangements to detain the juvenile in a part of a police station special designated for juveniles or in a part of a police station which is separate from the area where persons other than juveniles are detained,’ Mandating the segregation of juvenile detainees from adult facilities.

It said also, throughout the judicial process, the utmost respect for the dignity and privacy of the juveniles must be maintained in accordance with Section 3(1): ‘A juvenile has the right to Privacy during arrest, the investigation of an offence , at the trial of the offence, and at any other stage of the cause or matter.’ Section 3(2): ‘A person shail not, in the course of arrest, investigation, or trial of an offence connected with a juvenile, or at any stage of the cause or matter, release any informa
tion for publication that may lead to the identification of the juvenile.’

The statement urged all parties involved, including institutions, organisations, and media entities, to act in accordance with the law when reporting on this case, refraining from actions that could compromise the rights of the juveniles in order to make the rehabilitation before and after the trial effective.

It said the custody, the detention, and the trial of the children should strictly comply with the Juvenile Justice Act (653) Section 1(2): ‘A juvenile shall be dealt with in a manner which is different from an adult, except under exceptional circumstances under Section 17.’

It said the detention of the four children should be separated from adults.

It said regardless of the outcome of the investigation that would lead to the legal proceedings, whether the juveniles were found culpable or not, it was imperative that their rehabilitation be prioritised in line with Section 2 of the Act, which underscores the paramount importanc
e of the best interests of the juvenile.

It said the CRI acknowledged the Significant public interest surrounding this case, as it presented an opportunity for constructive dialogue aimed at reassessing our societal priorities concerning the upbringing and socialisation of children.

The statement said it was crucial to recognise that children were a reflection of their environments, and collective efforts required to foster a conducive and supportive society for their development.

It reiterated that in all matters, the interests of the child should be paramount.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Nduom School of Business and Technology (NSBT) has graduated its first two batches of students who completed in the years 2021 and 2022 at the school’s maiden congregation and third matriculation ceremony.

The school churned out a total of 25 graduates who pursued various degree and diploma programmes in the two years, eight of whom completed in 2021 and 17 in 2022.

Two of the graduands completed with first class, 12 with second class upper, nine with second class lower and two with third class.

At the same time, the school officially admitted 90 new students to pursue various programmes.

The degree programmes included Bsc. Banking and Finance, BSc Information and Communication Technology, and BSc. Information Technology Management for Business.

The diploma programmes are Management Studies, Accounting, Information Technology, and Banking and Finance.

Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, founder of the school and Chairman of the Governing Board, gifted a cash of $1,000 as capital to each of the first eight students
with whom the school started in 2018 in fulfilment of a promise he made.

He urged them to invest the money in productive ventures and not waste it.

Dr Nduom averred that the first graduation of NSBT marked a significant milestone of the institution’s resolve to deliver quality education in business and technology and said they were on course with their vision to make the school the best in business and technology.

He said the school was dedicated to helping students meet their life goals through a unique practical and positive learning experience.

‘Groupe Nduom (GN) itself is growing stronger, which means our students will get opportunity to gain practical experience while here in the fields of insurance, investment, manufacturing, media, hospitality, banking and others,’noted.

He said they were working to ensure that all the 25 graduates were gainfully employed.

‘As the first batch of alumni, we are asking you to keep us close because we will work with you to make sure that you move on to productive em
ployment and a great life experience,’ he assured.

He added that they had set up a scholarship fund to continue offering financial assistance to their students and entreated the graduands never to give up no matter the odds but persevere with their talents, truth and discipline to achieve success.

He recalled that NSBT’s beginning coincided with the devastating COVID-19 pandemic and some Groupe Nduom challenges, but they managed to sail through with determination.

Citing the school’s motto; ‘Mpanyindzi, Adom Akyedze, Kandzea’ meaning, ‘leadership, talent, light’, he urged them to be leaders and not followers and also nurture their talents to make them useful in society.

Rev Prof Daniel Adjepong Nyarko, the Rector of NSBT, said the school was establishing collaborative partnership with universities abroad, especially in the USA, in the spirit of nurturing students to acquire the relevant knowledge and skills essential to national development and economic growth.

He noted that the school had a collaboratio
n agreement with the Ivorian Ministry of Technical and Vocational Education and Training under which they had so far trained 197 Ivorian students in English language proficiency.

He said the School placed so much premium on such partnerships and announced plans to create an office of international relations to coordinate all such activities in the next quarter.

He advised the graduands to be honest and committed in all their actions and urged them to return to the school to give back when they became successful.

Dr Emmanuel Newman, Director for Policy, Planning and Research at the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), urged them to make use of their training and never stay home unemployed.

He said staying unemployed was a betrayal of their education and urged them to leverage the experiences acquired in school to get themselves employed by solving problems in the society.

‘It doesn’t matter what you read; if you read history, you can start a farm. With your skills, you can bring people together to
do the farming; it doesn’t mean you will do the farming yourself,’ he said.

Dr Newman announced that NSBT would soon charter and become a fully-fledged university, explaining that the school had all the facilities and the resources to operate as a university.

‘That means that we are sure that the graduates can perform at the same level as any graduate any where in the world,’ he added.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Nene Tetteh Osabutey Lanuer Okumo IV, the Divisional Chief of the Dangmebiawer Clan of the Ada Traditional Area, said some students of the Ada Senior High School (ADASCO) sneak out to town at night due to the lack of funds to complete the school fence.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview, he said the school authorities notified him of the activities of some commercial motor riders (okada boys) who used to pick up some of the students, especially the females, to town at night.

‘I remember when the old students were completing the fence-wall, some okada guys came in trying to stop them, but it took the intervention of the police to stop the okada guys. Later, they came to pull down a portion of the wall, but the old students were also very resilient, and so they were able to continue to a portion,’ the Chief said.

Nene Okumo advised the students against the act because such behaviours could have negative effects on their future and cautioned the okada riders to desist from the unlawful practice
.

He appealed to organisations and old students to support the project to get the school walled to enhance discipline and security as well as prevent encroachers from taking over portions of the land.

Nene Okumo said the school land was under his clan and he would support the fencing project with some cement to speed up its completion.

Mr Carlos Ackwer, the Chairman, ADASCO Old Students Association (Nimeli), said the old students single-handedly embarked on the walling project since 2018 upon advice from a headmaster.

One of the old students, Dr. Nii Kotei Djanie, a former Council of State member, helped to push the project as well as support from the PTA.

The fencing has become even more important following a recent incident of two of the students sneaking out and getting drowned in an attempt to fetch water.

Meanwhile, a visit by the GNA to the school saw portions of the land already encroached on by some private developers.

The southern part of the school has a dwarf wall, which aids the students to
sneak out to town.

Source: Ghana News Agency