Why should i regret as a teacher, When i have…. —Robert Ajene
One of the country’s finest educationists and statesmen Mr. Robert Ajene has said, he has no regret being a teacher for 36 years. Apexnewsgh.com report Speaking to Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen of Apexnewsgh.com on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, Mr. Ajene said, during his time as a teacher he was very concerned about his teaching and that keeps him focused on producing countless nationalists across the country which till date he is so proud of. Asking whether he regrets being a teacher? Mr. Ajene said: “I was concerned about my teaching and I produced so many nationalists. Late Aliu Mahama was my student, Edward Mahama and even the former President of the National House of Chief was my student. I produced so many Medical Doctors, if went to medical school, i should have been the only doctor. But I produced so many doctors, I produced so many statesmen, and I have touched the human resource elements of most Ghanaians anywhere in the country. So, why should I regret as a teacher”. Mr. Ajene asked “Today, when they enter into teaching, is just like going to a farm and say, if you have planted ten acres of maize, one acre will get you ten bags and you buy hundred empty bags waiting. That is not the type of teaching we want. They have just started and they haven’t seen anything, they should be patient enough. A teacher today wants a car and they compare themselves to others, don’t compare because someone’s problem would have liked to be a teacher. I have never and will never regret being a teacher”. He stressed “I am not a politician but I have touched the human development of this country more than most politicians, so what is my regret?. These politicians respect me. If I entered Ghanaian Parliament 20, 30 percent or maybe more than that will rise and say this is our teacher and I have been very significantly proud that am a teacher”. However, in 2021, the Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament Education Select Committee, Clement Apaak in a separate release said 44,000 teachers out of the 284,000 public basic school teachers left teaching profession in 2021. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
GES is not a mushroom agency–GES Director replies social media uniform critics
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF GES, PROF. AKWASI OPOKU AMANKWAA WRITES: “I have seen these pictures of some purported GES teachers in a prescribed uniform for work, circulating. GES is not a mushroom agency. It’s the largest Gov’t agency in Ghana. We employ more than half of all Gov’t employees. If we want to introduce uniforms for teachers, we won’t do that through social media and over the weekend. I guess it’s some group of teachers who’ve decided to have a uniform. Or it could even be photoshop. We may have to look for those in the pictures to first find out if indeed they’re teachers and if they’re what’s their motivation for the uniform. In this era of unionized labour GES cannot introduce a uniform for teachers without engaging the teacher unions. Issues relating to who pays, govt or individuals, the fabric, etc. would all have to be discussed. Any national project of this kind may have to be announced and possibly launched OFFICIALLY. Thank you!”. Apexnewsgh.com
Just In: Colleges of Education Non-Teaching Staff Association of Ghana to Start Strike on Monday
The Colleges of Education NON-TEACHING STAFF ASSOCIATION OF GHANA are set to embark on an indefinite strike starting from Monday, April 11, 2022, across all the forty-six(46) public colleges of Education in Ghana. Apexnewsgh.com report The President of the association at St. John Bosco’s College of Education Mr. Richard Ane announced the strike action to members of the Association on Friday, April 8, 2022. He said the Association has concluded to lay down its tools and not to report to work until further notice with the assurance that, members are protected since the strike is legal. According to Mr. Ane, the decision to embark on the strike came as a result of government’s continuous disregard for the following: -Wrong placement of first degree holders, non-payment of migration arrears, exclusion of generic allowances, partial payment of office holding allowances and non-payment of interim market premium arrears. Meanwhile, ApexNewsGh has learned that the decision to embark on this strike was served in January 2022, but could not be carried through due to the intervention of the national labor commission ((NLC). Unfortunately, for some time now, no commitment has been shown by the government as a solution to the concern raised. However, the National President of CENTSAG Frederick Forkuo Yaboah has said, with the exception of the school security, all Members of CENTSAG will from Monday, the 11th of April, 2022 stay away from duty until further notice. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Yagzore: The school still needs furniture, assembly only reduced the school burden
Yes, Talensi District Assembly has responded to the Yagzore Primary school furniture predicament by donating 115 pieces of furniture out of 209 dual desks needed. Apexnewsgh.com report However, the fact still remains that the school still needs 94 dual desks to settle the furniture deficit. Below are the authentic details regarding the school furniture issues, causing them to write whiles lying on the belle. Class 1 needed 28 furniture Class 2 needed 34 furniture Class 3 needed 38 furniture Class 4 needed 32 and out of the 32, only 6 are useful in the class remaining 26 Class 5 needed 42 and out of the 42, only 6 are useful in the class remaining 36 Class 6 needed 51 and out of the 51, only 4 are useful in the class remaining 47 So ideally, out of 209 dual desks needed to improve the learning standard of the pupils of Yagzore Primary of Talensi District in the Upper East Region, the assembly was able to only reduce the burden of the school by donating 115 dual desks. This simply means that the school furniture has only been reduced but not solved as some media platforms reported. Meanwhile, the predicament of these innocent pupils received some level of attention after the pictures were shared on various social media platforms seeking help from well-meaning Ghanaians and the people of Talensi. Please kindly contact this platform for any form of assistance on behalf of Yagzore Primary school and many more other schools in the Talensi district facing a similar challenge. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Don’t force us to relocate Bawku Presby Hospital and Nurses Training College to Bolgatanga –Presbyterian Moderator
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana the Rt. Rev. Prof Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante has lamented that the Presbyterian Church of Ghana may be forced to relocate both the Presbyterian Hospital and Nurses and Midwifery Training College in Bawku to Bolgatanga if the current ethnic conflict between the Kusasis and the Mamprusis persist for long. Apexnewsgh.com report The Moderator made pronouncement during a sermon of his eight days pastoral visit to the Upper Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. The Moderator also observed that the conflict was having a heavy toll on the operations of both the Hospital and Nurses and Midwifery Training College. He stated that all the current first-year students of the Nurses and Midwifery Training College have had to be moved to Bolgatanga and housed in a rented place to continue with academic work for their safety. The second and third-year students who were programmed to return to the school on March 15, 2022, have had to also be relocated to Bolgatanga to continue with their studies at a rented place as managers observed the conflict situation in the area. He, therefore, appealed to the people of Bawku to understand that meaningful development cannot be achieved in the midst of conflict and ethnic intolerance. He admonished the people of Bawku to see themselves as God’s children first and one people with a common destiny. It will be recalled that the eruption of ethnic violence in Bawku in the past few weeks has left some people dead and scores of others including personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces sent to ensure peace in the area seriously injured from gunshot wounds. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +2335555568093
We fully endorse 10 % rent deduction – GES
The management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has said it “fully endorses” the 10 per cent deduction from the basic salary of teachers for the payment of rent by those occupying government bungalows. The GES’ endorsement of the 10 per cent deduction comes on the back of calls by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) for the former to rescind its decision. The GES, in a statement issued on Wednesday, 16 March 2022 and signed by its Head, Public Relations Unit, Cassandra Twum Ampofo, said: “In the specific case of Western Region, one of the institutions was queried for charging inadequate rent on staff occupying government bungalows of the school.” It continued that the “auditors referred to the Ministry of Finance’s circular” dated 16 May 2006, which indicated that “occupants of government bungalows are required to pay “10 per cent of their basic salary as rent.” Management of the GES, therefore, noted that the “Western Regional Director’s letter on 11th March 2022, was based on the recommendations of the External Auditors and the directives of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, that GES should charge the appropriate rent on Staff occupying Government bungalows. “In order to avoid further audit queries which culminate in summons before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on the subject, the Director-General has directed all Cost Centre Managers of the Service to be guided by the Ministry of Finance’s Circular and charge the appropriate rent of 10percent on the basic salary of staff who occupy Government bungalows as official accommodation.” The statement reiterated that it is not the “GES which is imposing the rent or determining how much to be paid but purely being guided by the Ministry of Finance’s Circular and the admonitions of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament.” It added that management will hold a meeting with the leadership of unions on the concerns raised by GNAT on behalf of the pre-tertiary Education Unions. The deductions take effect from 1 March 2022. A letter dated 11 March 2022, circulated to metro, municipal and district directors of education and all heads of Senior High School noted that the move is in line with efforts to streamline rent payment anomalies Reacting to the directive via a statement issued on Tuesday, 15 March 2022 and signed by its General Secretary Thomas T Musah, GNAT said: “For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to remind the GES of Section 21(i) of the Collective Agreement, 2009 which deals with staff accommodation and states without equivocation that, headmasters, senior housemistresses, principal etc., shall be provided with free residential accommodation…” “Any attempt to implement this would be resisted fiercely, and the industrial peace we are enjoying on the educational front could be jeopardised,” the statement noted. GNAT said: “We are, therefore, by this write-up, demanding that the Ghana Education Service withdraw this action or move to ensure serene and conducive teaching and learning in the schools, for the collective benefits all”. “Anything short of this could be risky and we may not be able to contain it.” —classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +2335555568093
Talensi: A district swimming in gold but can’t afford furniture for innocent school children
Yagzore Primary School is one good example of schools in the Talensi District of Upper East Region battling for furniture to improve good quality learning. Apexnewsgh report The picture you see above is a fact, these are our futures of tomorrow. Talensi District is noted as one of the rich and blessed districts not only in Ghana but in West Africa due to their God-given resources. But the question is, whether these blessed resources reflect on the ordinary residents themselves, especially by way of having good drinking water, good hospital, good schools equipped with furniture and even good road? How do we, as responsible parents and leaders expect children lying down on their stomachs to understand their teachers? Unfortunately, well-to-do residents of the district who lived in both home and abroad seem comfortable with the trend of underdevelopment in the area. Sadly, Talensi a mineral resources hub for Upper East, Ghana and West Africa has become a place where the rich become richer while the poor continue to wallow in abject poverty. Somewhere last year November 2021, Apexnewsgh.com carried out an investigation on the state of Talensi district only to realize that: Talensi District Hospital is battling an infrastructure crisis, the District Hospital sadly operates from separate locations, female and male wards were together and the ward can only take 8 beds, Children Ward can take only 9 beds, especially with 5 beds and 4 cots when patients are 10, Talensi district hospital will be forced to discharge a patient on admission to pave way for others, The road leading to the hospital is bad, causing staff, patients to fall including pregnant women. These and more are still the regretful predicament of Talensi District as i write. As a District whose district hospital isn’t standard, one would have thought that the self-acclaimed big men in the area would have used their links to fight for the inclusion of Talensi to benefit from the government policy of the Agenda 111 hospital project in the region. But, the question is, do they even care about the welfare of the ordinary? Your guess is just as good as mine. Indeed, if things are done well, Talensi should have been a heaven on earth and but unfortunately, the evidence available in the public space shows the opposite in the area. If things are done well, furniture shouldn’t be a barrier to quality education for innocent children of Taleteng a good producing community. If things are done well, the youth of Taleteng must not travel to the South for unnecessary jobs such as plate and cloth washing down south. The innocent children captured lying on their stomachs writing have not committed any crime to merit such punishment from the leadership in charge of the area. The non-availability of furniture to innocent wards in a rich mining community can have several negative effects on their well-being, development, and overall quality of life. Some of the consequences include: 1 Poor living conditions: Without proper furniture, innocent wards may have to sleep on the floor or makeshift beds, leading to discomfort, sleep disturbances, and increased vulnerability to physical health problems. This lack of basic amenities significantly degrades their living conditions and can contribute to a sense of neglect and deprivation. 2 Impaired physical health: Inadequate furniture can adversely affect the physical health of innocent wards. Sitting or sleeping on hard surfaces for prolonged periods can lead to musculoskeletal pain, poor posture, and increased risk of injuries. In the long term, these conditions can impact their overall physical development and well-being. 3 Psychological impact: The absence of furniture can have substantial psychological consequences on innocent wards. It can generate feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, and a sense of being marginalized or forgotten. Living in environments with minimal or no furniture can also contribute to a lack of personal space and privacy, potentially affecting their mental and emotional health. 4 Educational setbacks: Without proper furniture, innocent wards may lack suitable spaces for studying or completing their schoolwork. Inadequate support for learning environments can hinder their educational progress and impede their ability to focus and concentrate. This, in turn, can limit their academic achievement and future opportunities. 5 Social isolation: The lack of furniture could inhibit social interactions and activities among innocent wards. Inadequate seating or communal spaces may discourage gatherings and limit opportunities for socialization. As a result, they may feel isolated, lonely, and unable to engage in a meaningful community life. 6 Economic disadvantages: In rich mining communities, the non-availability of furniture may reflect an underlying socioeconomic disparity. The absence of basic amenities further perpetuates the disparity and creates an uneven playing field for innocent wards. It can exacerbate existing inequalities and hinder their ability to escape the cycle of poverty. In conclusion, the non-availability of furniture in a rich mining community negatively impacts innocent wards in various aspects of their lives, including physical health, mental well-being, educational opportunities, social interactions, and economic prospects. Efforts should be made to address this issue and ensure that all members of the community, especially the most vulnerable, have access to basic necessities and a dignified living environment. However, it is prudent to note that government cannot do everything for us as a people. We equally have a responsibility of making our district, constituency, region and country a comfortable place by contributing our quota. Mining companies, as part of their cooperate social responsibility must collaborate to assist government, community leaderships, Ghana Education Service (GES) in these areas to better the education of these innocent children in area. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen
Suspend strike and return to classroom-court ordered UTAG
The National Labour Commission (NLC) has finally succeeded in securing an injunction on the current strike action by the University Teachers Association of Ghana. The Labour Division of the Accra High Court today, Tuesday, 15 February 2022, granted the injunction application. Meanwhile, the court, which was presided by Justice Frank Aboadwe Rockson, stopped the ongoing strike. This according to the court simply means the lecturers must return to the lecture halls to continue their mandate. UTAG has been on strike demanding better conditions of service for over fifth weeks. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
UEW: Reinstate Avoke as V-C – High Court
The Winneba high court presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh J. has ordered the reinstatement of Professor Mawutor Avoke as substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education Winneba (UEW). Prof Avoke and some officers of the university are also to be paid all their salary arrears from the date they were unlawfully removed from their respective offices. Prof Avoke and the five principal officers were dismissed per a high court judgment in 2017, in a case brought before the court by one Supi Kofi Kwayera, who insisted that the Vice-Chancellor and the Finance Officer were operating under the institution’s defunct Governing Council. The university, through its lawyers, even before the substantive claims were looked into, applied to the court to dismiss the suit on the three counts. The court, however, dismissed their application. The high court, subsequently, found Professor Avoke and the school’s Finance Officer, Dr Theophilus Senyo Ackorlie, guilty of procurement and other financial irregularities. They were interdicted in July 2017 by the UEW Governing Council to allow for investigations after it emerged that some vital documents at some offices at the centre of an ongoing investigation, had gone missing. The Governing Council of the University appointed Rev. Fr. Professor Anthony Afful-Broni as the substantive Vice-Chancellor for a limited period of three years. –classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
University students march over UTAG strike tomorrow
The Coalition of Concerned University Students (CoCUS), made up of student activism groups across university campuses in Ghana, will on Thursday, 3 February 2022 embark on a peaceful demonstration to register their displeasure with the government’s inability to end the protracted strike by the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) . According to the Coalition, the protest, dubbed “#StudentsAreSufferingDemo!”, will begin at 6am from the University of Ghana, Legon campus through the Liberation road to the Jubilee House and end at the Parliament House. All protestors are expected to be clad in “Red or black attire”. A statement issued on Tuesday, 2 February 2022, signed by all conveners of the Coalition, urged all protesters to be law-abiding during the protest and to “avoid behaviours that contravene the laws such as open smoking of “indian hemp, indecent exposure in public, harassing of ladies and citizens, bumping of vehicles etc.” Meanwhile, UTAG has served notice that as an association, it remains resolute in its decision to strike over its members’ conditions of service until the government does the needful. “We’re calling on the government to do the needful by bringing some offers on the table for consideration,” the National Secretary of UTAG, Dr Asante Asare Annoh said. He made this demand in an interview with Kwame Obeng Sarkodie, host of Accra100.5FM’s morning show Ghana Yensom on Monday, January 31, 2022. According to him, UTAG has been considerate in helping the students, particularly the first-year students, to go through the processes for registration. He was of the view that the MoU signed with the government on the conditions of service for UTAG members elapsed last year. He revealed that when the leadership of the union met the sector minister on January 20, he indicated that he was only a minister and that he was going to table the grievances of UTAG before the appropriate bodies in government. He added that lecturers are impoverished, hence the insistence of the union on the government to make an interim payment of 115 per cent of their current rate. “It is not a situation of the association asking for salary increase but what has been long overdue,” he said. He noted: “It is problematic to hear the National Labour Commission going to court over the strike when it is supposed to be making offers for consideration.” —Classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093