‘No Ghana card no pay’ order ‘preposterous’ – GNAT
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has said the directive by the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) that public sector workers will not be paid from December if they do not have a Ghana card as “preposterous”. In a statement, GNAT said: “We wish to state that the said public notice is not only unfortunate, but preposterous, egregious, and intimidating and that Ghanaian workers would not stand such knee-jerk approaches to solve someone else’s laissez-faire attitude towards resolving perceived shortcomings and lapses in the [payroll] system.” “We wish to emphasise that it is the onus of the NIA to ensure all workers secure the NIA cards, so the NIA should liaise with the CAGD, the employers, and the workers themselves to have the cards issued them (the workers) and save them (the workers) from being held hostage, by the CAGD. We are not happy that workers would be held to ransom and harassed, as a result of the operational lapses of both the NIA and the CAGD.” GNAT urged the CAGD to rather “help facilitate the process and stop intimidating and harassing workers.” Meanwhile, the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), the umbrella body of some workers in Ghana, has served notice that it will test the authority of the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department in tying the salaries of public sector workers to the Ghana card, in court. “We are going to test the authority of the Controller on the use of the Ghana Card as the sole form of identity for the payment of salaries in court”, General Secretary Abraham Koomson said on Thursday. The GFL wondered why the CAGD is rather not using the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) card of workers for that purpose. Mr Koomson said the federation is considering holding discussions with the leadership of some other public sector workers to test the authority of the Controller as far as the directive is concerned. “For the Controller to say it will not pay the salaries of workers who do not have Ghana card as a form of identity on their personal data is absurd”, Mr Koomson stressed. “As a federation, we will not sit down for our members to be mistreated by the Controller”, he warned. He urged the Controller to come clean on the directive before things get out of hand. Mr Koomson contended that some workers have registered for the Ghana card since last year but are yet to receive it from the National Identification Authority (NIA). “So why the hurry for the Controller to tie the payment of salaries of workers to the acquisition of the Ghana card?” he queried. He said it was high time the government took steps to ensure that all salary workers are registered before such fiats were issued. “If this action is targeted at people who are not working to stop receiving salaries, then it is good but for workers who have been validated to have worked, it’s problematic”, he observed in an interview with Neat FM. —classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
GNAT angered by Akufo-Addo’s perennial absence at best teacher awards ceremony
The National President of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has lashed out at President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for never attending any of the annual best teacher awards ceremonies since he took office in 2017. Phillipa Larsen said teachers are sad by this development and the earlier the president changes his posture the better. She was speaking to Media General‘s Paa Kwesi Larry Moses on the sidelines of the Ghana Teacher Prize Ceremony held on Tuesday, October 5 at Sunyani, the Bono Region capital. “Teachers are so sad because we love the president and we know our president also loves us,” Ms Larsen indicated. “But it must be shown not just by words. Your words can be given to anybody to present but seeing you is a different thing altogether.” The GNAT National President said the presence of the president at any event speaks volumes about the backing the country’s leadership gives to that programme and his absence also speaks volumes. “It is our prayer that next year God willing he is able to join us. I want to state that whatever programme that is scheduled for October 5 must be cancelled. This is not a national event, it is a global event and if our president is not with us, it means a different thing altogether.” This year’s celebration saw Winneba Senior High School’s Ebenezer Kojo Otoo emerge as the National Best Teacher, walking home with a three-bedroom house as his prize. Rev. Sister Jucinta Kwakyewaa of St Francis SHTS in the Eastern Region came second while Nelson Saviour Kwashie of Awutu Swinton SHS came third. 3news Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
A/R: Chief Accused Of ‘Banishing’ Teachers For Refusing To Help BECE Candidates With Exam Malpractices
Five basic school teachers of the Tebeso II, D/A Junior High School in the Bosome Freho district of the Ashanti Region are said to have been transferred out of the community under the orders of the community chief. Their crime, this portal has gathered is that they turned down a request by the chief and some opinion leaders of the area to assist the 2020 batch of the Basic Education Certificate Examination [BECE] candidates in the examination hall. The embattled teachers, names withheld disclosed that prior to the 2020 Basic Education Certificate Examination, the chief of Tebeso II, Nana Appiah and his entourage of sub-chiefs and opinion leaders visited the school and held a discussion with them [the teachers]. The chief requested at the said meeting that the teachers should assist the candidates in the examination hall. But the now ‘banish’ tutors stated that out of respect, and knowing very well that the chief’s request is against their code of conduct, did not give an immediate response but assured him that they will visit him at the palace with feedback. “it was last year that the town had a center. So, the chief and his entourage came around that we should help the kids when the time is due, so we couldn’t give him the response that very day, so we told him that he should go and that we will come to the palace and give him our response. When we were about to go to him at the palace, we called to find out if he was around and they said he wasn’t around so we couldn’t send our response to him and we left. So, when the exams started, he went to the center the very day the exam began and stated that we have disobeyed him and that he will make sure that we are transferred”. One of the now-transferred teachers said in a telephone interview. He added “when the examination was over, we had a call from our district directorate that our letters are ready. so, we got there, the content of the letters was that ‘you have requested for transfer’ so we ask who and who requested for transfer and the answer was non! so they took those letters back. We were there and another call came and when we went there, it was said that for the interest of the service you are thereby transferred”. This paper is told that after the transfer of the embattled teachers, a Parent-Teacher-Association [PTA] meeting was held at the premises of the school where newly posted teachers were warned to accept the request of the community elders to assist future Basic Education Certificate Examination Candidates or suffer the fate of the embattled transferred teachers. “Even after we were transferred, a PTA meeting was called and teachers were warned that if they want to have a nice stay in the community, they should help future Basic Education Certificate Examination candidates or suffer our fate”. One of the embattled teachers narrated. The controversial transfers came with a punch of outrage as some residents are said to have murmured in protest albeit with fear upon receipt of the news. Chief’s denial The embattled chief of Tebeso II who is at the center of the controversial mass transfers of the teachers, Nana Appiah have admitted going to the school, but insisted that his visit was to broker peace between the teachers and some students who were at a feud and not to request for the help of the teachers to assist the candidates in the examination hall as speculated. Born Kofi Appiah, the traditional ruler told Haruna Sumaila Abugri in a telephone interview that he was informed that some students of the school were at loggerheads with their tutors and as a traditional head, he sent the queen mother of the area to intervene, but the teachers, he claimed snubbed the queen mother hence his visit to the school. “I went to the school to broker peace between the teachers and some of the students. When I was informed that some students disrespected the teachers which led to a sour relationship between the duo, I sent the queen mother to go and plead on behalf of the erred students, but the offended teachers never appreciated and turned down the plea. So, I went there myself with my council of elders to sit with the teachers to see how we can resolve the fracas. We pleaded with them that they should forgive the erred students, but that did not yield the desired outcome”. He added that the refusal of the teachers to accept the plea of the traditional authorities led to the transfer of the teachers “if they say that they wouldn’t listen to us as chiefs and elders relative to the plea, then how can I work with them? Our visit had nothing to do with the Examination. That is all that I can say”. But the embattled teachers who say they are demanding for an-out-of-the-district transfers insisted that the chief and his entourage visited them with a sole request to help the then candidates who were going to undertake the examination in the virgin center. According to them, the issue of a feud between them [the teachers] and the students was long resolved and that couldn’t have been the basis of the chief’s visit. “that issue was long resolved. It was just one student who insulted us, but it was resolved amicably. The chief visited us with that specific demand ‘that we should help the candidates in the examination hall’. Director’s denial. Seth Boateng, the Bosome Freho district director of education told stated that the teachers were transferred in the interest of the service. He insisted that the teachers were transferred to schools that were lacking staff. “is it a practice to transfer teachers in the Ghana Education Service? They were transferred to where their services are needed. We don’t transfer teachers because they refused to assist
Stop asking married women to have children – Sociologist
A Sociologist has called on the public to stop putting undue pressure on women to have children, suggesting that such demands can force some women to do absurd things to satisfy society. Justice Siaw speaking on the Morning Starr on Monday said the case of the Takoradi woman who faked a pregnancy could have been due to societal pressure. “What I think this woman did was to carry this fake pregnancy for people in the community to see that she was pregnant so that those who saw her as barren will take their minds off her. “This woman could have been drawn to this problem by social pressure because in the Ghanaian community if you marry and you don’t have kids, it means you have an issue…I think our society should stop putting undue pressure on women to have children.” The Takoradi woman who confessed to faking her pregnancy and kidnapping will appear before a Takoradi Circuit court today. She was arrested on Friday after confessing to the crime following interrogation by police. She was discharged from the Effia-Nkwanta hospital before the arrest. Reports of her pregnancy and kidnapping have caught the attention of the nation for the past weeks. Earlier, a top police source told Empire News the suspect had asked for forgiveness from her husband Michael Simons who is deemed innocent. The victim, now a suspect, according to the police source, said she had not had sexual intercourse with her husband for the past three (3) to four (4) months claiming that she could lose her pregnancy if they got intimate. The couple had reportedly been looking for children. —Starrfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
FINALLY : Rasta student quits Achimota for GIS following AG’s appeal
Oheneba Nkrabea, one of the Rasta students has currently been enrolled at Ghana International School(GIS) in Accra. Kasapa News sources say the parents of the Rasta student moved their ward to the prestigious international school after they learned of the Attorney General’s decision to appeal against the High Court’s ruling that went in their favour earlier this year. The news about Oheneba’s move has been kept under wraps as the legal challenge to overturn a high court ruling travels its full throttle. Ghana International School (GIS) is one of Ghana’s leading international schools providing world-class holistic education to children between the ages of 3 years and 18 years. AG piling up pressure, emotional stress on Rasta KidS Meanwhile, the Lawyer for Rastafarian student, Oheneba Kwaku Nkrabea, Ras Wayoe Ghanamannti, has described as unfortunate the Attorney General’s appeal against the High Court’s ruling in the Rasta kids case. Speaking on GHOne TV Tuesday, the lead Counsel argued that the flagrant disrespect of the interest of these kids which is paramount per the principles of the law is problematic. He fears the children would be affected psychologically as the case has been advanced further at the Appeals court. “The psychological trauma, the instability, the emotional stress, and those ambits of it, is what is worrying us because these are children, these are young guys, and they’ve started going to school so at the end of the day any such decision will traumatize them. And we think that this is what the AG should have considered. Because if you look at our law – the Children’s Act, Section 2, on the very first principle, it’s clear that in everything that we seek to do the interest of the Child is paramount and even court of law and all other agents of security and all other persons would respect that principle that the interest of a child is paramount. “So we thought that considering this case and their interest in respect of education, the AG would have allowed this to pass and if there is any future advancing of the rules Achimota is using holistically to preserve and protect minority rights like these rights of the Rastas we are talking about it would be looked at but to bring this appeal on and to pile up pressure and emotional stress on the children is unfortunate.” The Achimota School board and the Attorney-General’s Department have filed an appeal to challenge the Human Rights High Court’s order for the school to admit the two dreadlock-wearing students. The Achimota School per the appeal said, the court among other things erred by indicating that the rules and regulations of Achimota School with regard to ensuring uniformity in appearance is unlawful and interferes with the manifestation of one’s religious rights. The school board has therefore filed the appeal to have the entire judgment set aside and the plaintiff ordered to comply with the school’s regulations if he (Tyrone Marhguy) chooses to be a student of the school. The AG’s office has also filed an appeal on the case, asking the court to uphold Achimota School’s arguments and rule in favor of the school. The notice of appeal said the judge who adjudicated that matter and gave victory to the two boys failed to get the plaintiffs to provide evidence of their claims. The AG’s office also said the judge erred in claiming that Achimota School had interfered with the right to the education of the boys. “The learned Judge erred when she held that the regulation of the 1st Respondent requiring that students keep their hair low amounted to an illegal and unconstitutional attempt to suspend the manifestation of the Applicant’s guaranteed freedom to practice and manifest his religion… Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
BREAKING NEWS: Security takes over KNUST campus
The police and the Operation Calm Life team which includes the military will take over the campus of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) from Saturday, September 18. Already, the police water canon has been detailed on campus. The University Relations Office tells TV3’s William Evans-Nkum the directive forms part of a recommendation made by a committee that investigated the July clashes between the University Hall and Unity during the SRC vetting. Students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have been warned not to remain on campus after midday on Saturday, September 18. Only foreign students and students permitted by management can stay, the regional minister has directed. According to the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC), it has picked intelligence that some “unruly” students are planning some disturbances on campus on Friday, the eve of vacation. In a press statement issued on Wednesday by the Head of REGSEC, Simon Osei-Mensah, who is also the Regional Minister, the campus is still a security zone as declared in 2018. “It is instructive to remind the student population that the declaration of the University Campus as a security zone in November 2018, is still in force and, therefore, it is an offence to demonstrate within the security zone,” he stated. He announced the deployment of security personnel on campus to “ensure peace and security and prevent any unruly behaviour by any group of students”. —3news Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Be wary of violent extremists in neighbouring countries – Talensi District Police Commander warns
The Talensi District Police Commander in the Upper East Region, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Mr Raymond Gai, has cautioned Ghanaians to be wary of the activities of violent extremists in neighbouring countries and take personal steps to safeguard the security of their respective communities. The Commander made the call at Tongo, the district capital in Talensi District of the Upper East Region during a community engagement organised by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) for youth leaders in the district aimed at curbing violent extremism and its related activities on Wednesday here. DSP Gai said the spate of violent extremisms which were recorded in the neighbouring countries was a threat to the peace and stability the country and, therefore, underscored the urgent need for all Ghanaians to be concerned in order to help maintain the peace of the country. The event themed, “Preventing electoral violence and providing security to the Northern border Regions of Ghana,” had funding support from the European Union (EU). The Police Commander decried the reluctance of some Ghanaians to question the presence of strangers in their various communities and report suspicious characters to the appropriate authorities for investigation. “People do see strange people in their communities and yet they do not try to find out who they are, where they come from and what they do. Sometimes they even offer them accommodation without doing any background checks,” he stressed. The Upper East Regional Director of NCCE, Mr Pontius Pilate Baba Apaabey, noted that the youth especially the elite were the most vulnerable and most of the time fell victim to the temptations of the influence of the violence extremists and the youth must be wary about it. The Regional Director who called on Ghanaians to value the culture diversity that existed in the country to ensure peaceful coexistence and sustainable development added that “the diversity among Ghanaians should be as a tool that could be harnessed for accelerated development and peaceful coexistence.” Mr Frederick Amenga-Etego, a Member of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocesan Mediation Network, urged the youth not to allow conflict to divide them but rather work collectively for the sustainable development of their respective communities. The Talensi District Director of the NCCE, Ms Dorcas Atia, explained that the engagement was part of activities being undertaken to create awareness among youth to be able to identify warning signals of violenT extremism and actions to be taken to curb such activities. She said the project was working towards fighting against transnational organiSed crime, whiles promoting respect for human rights and the rule of law and also to equip the youth on the relevant information on violent extremism and radicalism so that they guard against being recruited to cause violence. “The youth are our future leaders and there is the need for them to exhibit spirit of patriotism, civic responsibility and social cohesion in their communities that they find themselves and also improve their knowledge and attitude on the culture of tolerance and non-violence to become ambassadors for peace,” she said. —ghanaiantimes Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Education Ministry adds 139 Technical & Vocational Schools to Free SHS programme
The Ministry of Education has included 139 Technical and Vocational Schools into the Free Senior High School programme, in addition to the 47 already on it. This is aimed at expanding the scope of Technical and Vocational Training and making it more accessible for pupils to enrol. The National Coordinator for the Computerized School Selection Placement System, Mark Sasu Mensah, revealed this at a Pilot Training at Effiduase in the Eastern Region on the Computerized School Selection and Placement System, CSSPS for parents, teachers and pupils in the New Juaben North Municipality. He indicated that 10 districts have been selected in the country for the pilot training to help resolve some of the challenges that come with Senior High Schools Selection. The New Juaben North Municipal Education Director, Beverly Dansoa Bartels, was happy that the programme will enlighten the participants on how to select their SHS and advised parents to collaborate with the teachers of their children to know their capabilities before selecting schools. Some parents and pupils who participated in the training shared their views with GBC News, welcoming the opportunity offered them. In all, 35 schools in the Municipality participated in the programme. Statistics from WAEC show that 539,202 pupils from 18,000 and 13 schools have been registered to write this year’s BECE in November. —gbcghanaonline Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +2335555568093
Storekeeper in court over alleged foodstuff theft at Sekyedumase SHTS
The storekeeper Eric Twumasi Kwaakye and his wife Akua Anima are facing criminal charges A storekeeper and his wife are facing the Ejura District Court in the Ashanti Region after being accused of stealing foodstuffs meant for students at the Sekyedumase Senior High Technical School. The couple, Eric Twumasi Kwaakye and Akua Anima were arrested late last month by police at Sekyedumase following a report filed by security operatives, court documents show. Items retrieved from the suspects include; boxes of sardines, pieces of mackerel, twenty-five litres of cooking oil, quantity of beans, gari, rice, tissue paper among others. The items were being transported to Offinso through Anyinasu, it is reported. On August 17, 2021, Eric and his wife were arraigned before the Ejura District Court presided over by H/W Divine Ahiadu (Esq). They pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to committing crime and stealing. They were however admitted to bail to the sum of ¢4,000 with two sureties after their lawyer, Stanley Tweneboah Kodua Gyamfi (Esq), pushed for their release. The case was adjourned to September 16, as sources in the school who are familiar to the development say the Ghana Education Service (GES) is also investigating the case. This development comes amid concerns of widespread food shortages in various second cycle schools across the country. The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) for example, raised an alarm and gave the government an ultimatum to address the situation. The Ministry of Education denied shortage saying its checks reveal schools have enough food. A Director-General of the GES, Prof. Kwesi Opoku-Amankwa also says he felt the reports were exaggerated. “As far as our records go, there is nothing like that”, Opoku-Amankwa told Citi FM. “We have officially not received complaints from any of the schools over the issue.” —Dailymail Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +2335555568093
Just In: GES Circuit Supervisor accused of allegedly raping 16 year old minor in Navrongo
Apexnewsgh.com has intercepted a recorded audio version of an alleged raped victim of a 16-year-old minor in the Navrongo Municipal of the Upper East Region of Ghana. According to the Kasenna-Nankana Police commander, DSP Francis Oppong Agyare who confirmed the incident in an interview with Apexnews Gh said unfortunately, the family delayed reporting the alleged rape incident as soon as possible, stressing it was reported to his office 2 weeks later. Even though the alleged rapist has denied the rape allegation, the 16-year-old girl victim still maintained her stance of being raped by the circuit supervisor. “We have put him before the court and as it stands now, he has been remanded. How potent the medical result will be is another matter, but we are doing our best” DSP Oppong told Apexnews Gh. The 16-year-old victim in an audiotape in possession with Apexnews Gh narrated how she was forced and allegedly raped by the accused GES Circuit Supervisor. “My mother wants to beat me and I run away that am going to my auntie’s house at Punyoro. So, once I was on my way, I lost and went Nayagenia. One man saw me and asked, where am I going? And I said I lost and the man said, I should follow him to his house. So, when we get there, the man called his wife and narrated everything to her and the wife gave me dry clothing to wear and asked me to go and sleep with the daughter. The following morning, the man’s wife asked me if I have my mom’s number and I said yes, she collected my mom’s number but she didn’t call her early. Evening time, the man’s wife called my mom and she said, she wasn’t at home so I should come back. And I left the place, as I was on the way, I lost again and one man saw me and asked, where am I going? And said I lost. The man said I should follow him to his landlord’s house and when we get there, the landlord asked where I came from? And said from Pungu Bavugunia, he said which house? And I said Mokologu’s house, he said he didn’t know the house but he knows one man by name Isaac Amuriyaga he will call him to come and help me home. He called Isaac Amuriyaga, when he came, the landlord narrated everything to him and Isaac Amuriyaga said no problem he will take me home. As he took me, he passed through a market and asked me what food do I want so that he will buy for me and I said I don’t want any food and he says indomie, I said no, he say drink and i said no and he turned his motor and I said time is gone so he will take me to his home and I will sleep there so that in the morning he will take me to my parent and I didn’t even say anything, then he took me along with him to a big house and say I should enter and I was still standing and he said I should enter because he is also my father he is not going to do anything, so I should enter and I entered. He gave me one room and say I should sleep with a matt and said, if anyone asked me to open the door, I shouldn’t open it and I said okay and he left. When is about 12 am going to 1 am, he came again and knocked on the door, that I should open the door for him and I pretended I didn’t hear him and he passed through the window and shouted that I should open the door for him to bring his motor inside and I opened the door for him. As he brought his motor inside, he removed all his clothes and left with only pants and he came and sleep with me. He picked his hand and put it on my chest and I said he should remove his hands. When I was sleeping he picked his dick and put on my hands and he removed my pant and I was struggling with him and he said, if I didn’t shut up my mouth he will kill me and I was struggling he forced and used his penis into my vagina then when he finished, I was crying and he said I should keep quiet and I was still crying. He gave me Ghc 101.00 to buy anything I want and I didn’t collect the money and he threw it on the matt and asked me to take it, that he is going to drop his children at school when he returns he will come and pick me home and he left. He went and fetch water and bath and also fetch some for me, as i finished bathing, I picked the money from the matt and went back to the landlord and the landlord wasn’t there and I explained everything to his brother and so as he returned, the brother explained everything to the landlord. It was also around evening time, the landlord said, I should go and sleep with the daughter so that, the following morning he will call his people to come and take me to the chief palace. They came and took me to the chief palace and the chief asked me what happened, and I narrated everything to the chief”. The 16-year-old victim narrated. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +2335555568093