Sunday, May 30, 2010

NHIA RECEIVES DRUGS (PAGE 18, MAY 29, 2010)

THE National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has received a consignment of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting medicines valued at about $3.3 million from the Peace and Love Hospital and Breast Care International (BCI) in Kumasi to be distributed free of charge to needy patients at various health facilities in the country.
The National Cancer Coalition based in Raleigh, USA, in partnership with AmeriCare also an NGO in USA, donated the drugs to Peace and Love Hospital and the BCI. In compliance with the wishes of the donors, the drugs were given to the NHIA at a brief ceremony last Friday.
Making the presentation, the President of BCI and Head of the Peace and Love Hospital, Dr (Mrs Beatrice Wiafe-Addai, noted that her outfit had arranged with its foreign partners to support needy cancer patients in the country with free drugs.
She said nausea and vomiting were the side effects of the application of the cancer drugs. Consequently, the drugs presented to the NHIA would help in combating the side affects.
She noted that cancer was now one of the leading causes of death worldwide and the irony of the situation was that, its treatment was very costly.
Dr Wiafe-Addai was convinced that involving the NHIA in the fight against cancer would help greatly in the fight against the disease.
She commended four people whose invaluable assistance ensured that the medicines arrived in Ghana.
They were Dr Oscar Debrah, Head of Eye Care Unit, Ghana Health Service, Professor Seth Wiafe of Lomalinda University, Carlifornia USA, Dr Boateng Wiafe of Operation Eye Sight International, and Mr Opuni Mensah of Watborg Eye Services.
Dr Wiafe-Addai called for proper records on the drugs to enable the BCI to give the donors the required data on the management of the medicines in Ghana.
Receiving the donation, the Director of Research and development at the NHIA, Mr O.B. Acheampong, said medicines accounted for 53 per cent of NHIA’s expenses and noted that the cost was going to rise as more people moved to access the facility.
He indicated that the specialist drugs donated to the NHIA were very expensive and commended the donors for the gesture.
“We recognise Dr Wiafe-Addai’s contribution as a true partner in giving care to cancer patients in Ghana, “ he added.
He called for more support for the NHIA to enable it perform its function of saving lives.
Mr said last year, there was a shortage of the drugs, which became a problem for the NHIA and patients.
In a related development, the Peace and Love Hospital and BCI presented prostate cancer drugs to the Sunyani Regional Hospital for free distribution to needy patients under a similar arrangement with the foreign donors.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

MEDIA MUST EXPOSE MISUSE OF AIDS FUND (PAGE 29, MAY 27, 2010)

THE Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has appealed to the media to help expose organisations that misapply funds meant for HIV/AIDS activities.
It warned that the commission would not take kindly to the misuse of such funds, and expressed the hope that the media would join the commission to bring any offending organisation to book.
Speaking at the opening of a three-day writing clinic on HIV/AIDS for media practitioners from the northern sector of the country at Ejisu near Kumasi yesterday, the Director-General of the GAC, Dr Angela El-Adas, said the CAG would not only stop offending institutions from being part of the commission’s programmes, but would also prosecute officials involved.
The alleged misapplication of GAC funds by some non-governmental organisations (NGO’s) has become a source of concern to many well-meaning Ghanaians who believe action needs to be taken to plug the loopholes in the system.
Last year, the GAC dispensed with the services of two organisations that misapplied funds released for HIV/AIDS activities.
Dr El-Adas said her outfit had adopted a new multi-faceted approach to the management of HIV/AIDS under which the media would play a key role.
The workshop, organised by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in collaboration with the GAC, was part of the programme on the broad theme, “Using the media to create greater awareness on HIV/AIDS.”
Dr El-Adas said even though some significant achievement had been made in the fight against the disease, there was more to do to reach the expected limit.
She said there was the need to develop innovative ways of dealing with the stigma attached to the disease.
A communications consultant and media educator, Dr Doris Yaa Darteh, observed that the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS could hardly be underestimated.
She said journalists did not only have a duty to report on the disease but also to be careful about their own lives.
She urged journalists to find out issues that were critical about health development of the nation to help improve the health of the people.
The Vice-President of the GJA, Mr Affail Monney, enumerated the benefits inherent in the GJA/GAC collaboration and expressed the hope that the co-operation would continue over a long period.
He spoke against the use of the media to promote pornography and called for an end to the practice, since it contributed to the spread of HIV/AIDS.

KOTOKO WON'T APPOINT CEO — K. K. SARPONG (PAGE 63, MAY 27, 2010)

THE newly-appointed Executive Chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Dr K.K. Sarpong, has stated that the board has not settled on anyone to head the management of the club.
He told the Daily Graphic yesterday that the board was working in accordance with laid down processes and that the appointment of the head of management was not part of the agenda at the moment.
He dismissed reports in a section of the media that the board had contacted Ashanti Gold CEO, Mr Kudjoe Fianoo, for a possible move to Kotoko.
“It cannot be true so the supporters should ignore it”, he stated emphatically.
Fianoo himself was on Angel FM, a Kumasi radio station, last Tuesday where he intimated that he had been contacted by officials of a club for a switch but failed to mention the club in question. 
Dr Sarpong indicated that the board was in the process of studying the state of affairs of the club.
“This will end before June 14, after which who becomes the head of management will be tackled”, he disclosed.
“Examining the state of affairs will let us know whether there is the need for a new management or a new coach,” the new chairman said.  
Dr Sarpong, however, indicated that as executive chairman, he would head both the board and management.
This means that the title of CEO would be out of the equation and replaced with head of management.
There had been arguments in Kumasi over the true position of Dr Sarpong as announced by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II last Monday.
Dr Sarpong said under the new system he would oversee the management of the club.
The club would also have line managers in its new managerial arrangement.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

POLICE DEFEND ARREST OF ADU-GYAMFI (MAY 26, 2010)

THE Ashanti Regional Police Command has stated that it acted within the ambit of the law in arresting Alexander Adu-Gyamfi, a teacher and an NPP activist, who described President John Evans Atta Mills as a chimpanzee.
The Regional Public Affairs Officer of the Command, Chief Inspector Yusif Mohammed Tanko told the Daily Graphic yesterday that the suspect acted in contravention of Section 207 of the Criminal Code by denigrating the President with that description.
He said the statement was an offensive conduct, which was prosecutable under the laws of the land.
According to him the Regional CID, which had taken over the case would put him before court.
Some people have criticised the police for the arrest of Adu-Gyamfi known in radio circles as the High Priest, a known defender of the NPP on radio programmes.
According to the critics, the police acted ultra vires, but the police disagree.
Chief Inspector Tanko said Adu-Gyamfi was released yesterday afternoon and was asked to report to the Police CID for further investigations today.
Adu-Gyamfi, 37, who is said to be a teacher at an Islamic school in Kumasi, described President Mills as a chimpanzee during the morning show on Fox FM in Kumasi.
Just after passing the comment, a crowd of NDC supporters massed up at the station’s premises calling for the blood of the suspect.
On receiving information about developments at the radio station, Police moved in quickly to save the situation by whisking Adu-Gyamfi away.
The Regional Command led by Regional Commander, DCOP Patrick Timbillah convened a meeting attended by various groups and the suspect and after evidence proved that the man made the disparaging comments against the President, the matter was referred to the CID for further investigations.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

REVISIT DREAM OF NKRUMAH (PAGE 18, MAY 25, 2010)

A PAN-Africanist, Dr Douglas Boateng, has stressed the need for the country, irrespective of which government is in power, to revisit the dream of Ghana's Founding President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, in building diversified public industrial conglomerates to catapult the nation’s industrial development.
Dr Boateng, who is the President of the Panavest Foundation of South Africa, said Dr Nkrumah’s vision, which centred on building diversified public industries for national development, was still relevant.
Speaking at a programme to launch the West Africa Institute for Supply Chain Leadership at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, he said the bane of the nation was the 1966 coup which jolted the country’s industrialisation process.
He explained that the small Ghanaian economy was fit for such industries and described Dr Nkrumah as a visionary leader whose vision for an industrialised nation led to the establishment of huge national industries, including the GIHOC Group.
He, however, expressed regret that almost all the industries established by the first President had been sold out by succeeding governments in the name of a “divestiture” which had little to show by way of result.
Dr Boateng called on Ghanaians not to delude themselves into thinking that the socio-economic transformation of the country was about the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), saying the issue of national development went far beyond the two political parties and, indeed, any other political party.
He indicated that no political party could put its ideas into fruition without the support of the people.
That, he said, was why Ghanaians should think about what they could do for their nation to rise, instead of putting so much emphasis on political parties.
He suggested that the term of the President be increased from four to seven years, so that a lot more time would be spent on the economy instead of politicking.
He explained that shorter presidential terms tended to work for developed economies and not economies that were struggling to come up.
He further said industrialisation, which the nation was yearning for, was a long-term initiative and so the four-year democratic cycle was not helping to translate the dream into reality.

DON'T BE BLACKMAILED INTO AGREEING TO DEMANDS...Urges Youth Wing of NDC (PAGE 13, MAY 25, 2010)

THE Youth Wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ashanti Region has asked government appointees, particularly Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), in the region not to allow themselves to be blackmailed into agreeing to the demands of any person or group of persons carrying themselves as members of the youth wing.
According to the youth wing, it had uncovered a plan by a group of party members masquerading as members of the youth wing to blackmail MMDCEs.
“They have succeeded in using it against some DCEs and recently, tried it unsuccessfully on the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Samuel Sarpong,” the Regional Youth Organiser, Mr Kwaku Boahen, told the Daily Graphic in Kumasi at the weekend.
Mr Boahen said the modus operandi of the group, numbering about four, was to go to a government appointee, demand money to either avoid exposing the person for some negative acts, or prevent party members from demonstrating against him or her.
He said immediately the appointee honoured the group’s demands, they would go and sit on radio to shower praises on the person.
Mr Boahen said the group is allegedly made up of some people who had been defending the party on radio in Kumasi.
“ I have warned them to desist from the act or I will expose them,” the youth organiser said.
He indicated that the practice was sowing seeds of confusion in the party and also casting a bad image for the party.
Mr Boahen said at a time that the NDC was making inroads in the region, the youth wing would not sit down for any party member to reverse the progress made.
Last week, a group of party members at Ejisu staged a demonstration calling for the removal of the DCE, Mr Mohammed Boakye Agyeman.
There is also tension in the party at Offinso where a group of members are threatening to stage a demonstration against the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Amponsah.
In Kumasi, a group of party people had started a campaign to get the MCE, Mr Sarpong, out of office.
Surprisingly, this comes at the time when Mr Sarpong’s performance had been described across the political divide as one of the best in the history of the metropolis.

Disparaging comments on President Mills... TEACHER FACES CHARGE OF OFFENSIVE CONDUCT (PAGE 3, MAY 25, 2010)

A Kumasi-based teacher, Emmanuel Adu-Gyamfi, will appear in court tomorrow for allegedly making a disparaging comment on the person of the President, Prof John Evans Atta Mills, on a radio station in Kumasi yesterday.
The police placed him in custody after initial investigations and he will be charged for offensive conduct before a court for allegedly equating the President to a chimpanzee.
Adu-Gyamfi, 35, popularly known in radio circles as ‘The High Priest’, was said to have made the comment during a discussion on Fox FM in Kumasi yesterday morning.
Panellists on the programme were discussing recent comments made by Mr Kwame Pianim on the flag bearer aspirants of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
His comment drew a large crowd of NDC supporters to the premises of the radio station and but for the timely arrival of the police, something nasty would have happened.
Earlier rumours that the host of the programme, known as Captain Smart, had also been picked up by the police turned out to be false.
According to the police, they had only invited Captain Smart and the other people to ascertain the facts of the matter.
The Ashanti Regional Police Public Affairs Officer, Chief Inspector Yusif Mohammed Tanko, told the Daily Graphic that the police had information in the morning that a large number of people had massed up on the premises of Fox FM, ready to attack a panellist for his disparaging comments against the President.
A number of policemen were dispatched to the scene and they managed to rescue Adu-Gyamfi, who was then holed up in the studios of the station.
Chief Inspector Tanko said the suspect was first taken to the nearby Zongo Police Station, and as the crowd followed up to the station, the police whisked him to the Ashanti Regional Police Headquarters for safety.
He stated that the Regional Police Commander, DCOP Patrick Timbillah, convened a meeting, which was attended by representatives of the radio station, including the host, the National Media Commission, the Ghana Journalists Association, the NPP and the NDC, to go into the authenticity of the allegation against the suspect.
At the meeting, the host of the morning show admitted that Adu-Gyamfi had made the statement and that he (the host) had even asked Adu-Gyamfi to retract it but he refused.
The PRO said when the suspect was asked to explain his action, he denied ever making the statement and so the police called for the recorded tape of the programme for verification.
He indicated that the tape confirmed that Adu-Gyamfi had made the comment and based on that the police arrested him and placed him in custody for further investigations.
He said DCOP Timbillah took a serious view of the way personal attacks were being made on radio in recent times and called for a stop to the practice.
Chief Inspector Tanko said the regional police chief was also not happy about the way the mob tried to visit their anger on the suspect and said in matters of that nature the law should be allowed to take its course.

OTUMFUO NAMES 12-MAN KOTOKO BOARD...K. K. Sarpong is chairman (PAGE 31, MAY 25, 2010)

THE Life Patron of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has with immediate effect appointed Dr K.K. Sarpong, former Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery, as Executive Chairman of the club.
In addition, the otumfuo appointed 11 others on a new board for the club.
At a meeting at the Manhyia Palace yesterday, the Asantehene named the other members of the board as Mr Kabral Blay-Amihere, chairman of the National Media Commission, Mr Paul Adu-Gyamfi , legal practitioner, Mr E.A. Owusu-Ansah, MP for Kwabre West and former Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Ricky Boakye Yiadom, Key Distributor of Guinness in Kumasi, Alhaji Ahmed Bando, Chief Executive of Bamed Travel and Tours, and Mr Mike Twum Barimah, business executive.
The rest are Alhaji Abu Lamin, business executive, Mrs Agnes Osei-Peters, business executive, Mr Kofi Duah Adonten legal practitioner, who is the secretary to the Board, and a representative each from the Old Players Association and the National Circles.
In a speech, the Asantehene expressed regret about the dwindling fortunes of the club in recent years and said that was not what Kotoko was known for.
He directed the Board to appoint a management team to run the day-to-day affairs of the club, and further charged the Board to do everything to lift up the club to its proper position as pace setters of Ghana football.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu also charged the Board to develop and implement a three-year strategic plan that would see the club organised within the ambit of the Ghana Companies Code.
He again asked the Board to ensure that the club won trophies instead of playing second fiddle to other clubs.
Otumfuo lamented the way Kotoko matters were discussed on radio without any recourse to laid down process and stressed the need for the new Board to halt the practice.
In his acceptance speech, Dr Sarpong thanked Otumfuo for the confidence reposed in them and promised that they would not fail.
He said the Board was made up of tried and tested people from various fields and said he had no doubt about their ability to deliver.

Monday, May 24, 2010

USAG CALLS FOR PROBE OF PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES (PAGE 11, MAY 24, 2010)

THE University Students’ Association of Ghana (USAG), a group within the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), has called for a presidential inquiry into the use of Internally Generated Funds (IGF) in public universities.
It said there was no doubt that public universities were generating so much from the IGF but how the money was used for the benefit of the universities, students and the nation remained unanswered.
At a news conference in Kumasi at the weekend to throw light on the state of the university students today, the USAG President, Mr Enoch Anhwere Afoakwah, said the judicious use of the IGF would relieve the government of some of the burden in running the universities.
He stressed the need for the judicious use of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and the proper disbursement of the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF).
Mr Afoakwah stated that the cardinal reason for instituting the SLTF had been defeated as students faced massive extortions from the disbursement in the name of “a protection scheme”.
The USAG President further expressed concern about the charging of exorbitant fees in the universities, which was depriving a number of students the access to university education.
He cautioned against any fee increment in the public universities for the next academic year saying, “We shall advise ourselves if any such increment happens”.
The USAG president expressed concern about the pain parents had to go through in meeting the financial demands of their children and called on the government to implement the provision of the 1992 Constitution which stated, “Higher education shall be made equally accessible to all, on the basis of capacity, by every appropriate means and in particular, by progressive introduction of free education”.
Mr Afoakwah spoke against the inability of the nation to develop a comprehensive youth policy after 16 years of trying to do so.
He said the first government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) used seven years to develop a youth policy, which received the government White Paper but was later reviewed and received Cabinet approval in December 2008.
The policy, he noted, has currently been subjected to another review and the belief is that it is at the Cabinet level.
He said failure to give the policy a clear focus had contributed in various negative acts including the seizure of state property, drug addiction, disrespect for authority and improper dressing among others on the part of the youth.
He also lamented the lack of part-time work for students during holidays.
“It is disturbing to see university students pregnant with knowledge, skills and energy, staying at home without the state utilising their potentials and giving them industrial and occupational experience but rather deterring them with the so-called ‘minimum working experience’ for a job after completion of school,” he said.
Mr Afoakwah noted that the practice of looking for work experience before employment was only meant to make fresh graduates jobless.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

PRUDENTIAL BAN OPENS BRANCH AT ATONSU (PAGE 15, GRAPHIC NSEMPA, MAY 24, 2010)

By Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi

PRUDENTIAL Bank has opened a new branch at Atonsu in Kumasi bringing the bank’s branches in the country to 27.
Management’s decision to open the branch was part of its efforts to send banking to the doorsteps of the people across the country.
At the inauguration ceremony last Tuesday, the Managing Director of the bank, Mr Stephen Sekyere-Abankwa, said the bank intended to open three branches additional in the country before the close of the year.
He urged the people to patronise the bank because of the immense benefits associated with doing business with it.
The Deputy Managing Director of the bank, Mr Joseph Okine Afranie, enumerated the bank’s tremendous services to the business community and said this had been recognised through various awards over the past years.
“Already a good number of businesses are our clients and we entreat more to come in,” he said.
Mr Sekyere-Abankwa said Prudential Bank had the lowest loan interest rate and explained that this was due to their avowed aim to support business development.
He said high interest rates could have dire consequences on business development. It was, therefore, important that people looked for banks with lower rates.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

PARTICIPAATE IN NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION EXERCISE (PAGE 42, MAY 20, 2010)

THE Reverend Minister in charge of the Methodist Church at Poano in the Obuasi Diocese, Rev. Samuel Adu Gyamfi, has stressed the need for Christians to participate fully in the ongoing national identification registration exercise.
  Making the call at the end of a four-day camp meeting of the church at Poano, Rev. Gyamfi said the exercise had many benefits to the individual and the nation so it must be taken seriously.
    He said as a church, it had a responsibility to ensure that all its members were registered in the exercise.
    Rev. Gyamfi further stated that the identification exercise would improve the electoral process and provide a reliable voters register to facilitate democratic development.
    He said his vision was to help raise the church at Poano by expanding its building and deepening the spiritual development of the congregation.
Rev. Gyamfi called on Christians to be one another’s keeper because Christ preached unity and support for one another.
   He also enjoined parents to invest in their children’s education to enable them to become useful citizens in future.

ATWIMA KWANWOOMA DEC VOWS TO OVERCOME DEV CHALLENGES (PAGE 35, MAY 20, 2010)

ATWIMA Kwanwoma, one of the new districts in the Ashanti Region is beset with a myriad of problems but the District Chief Executive Mr Tony Nyame,appears a very ambitious person,ready to lead the assembly to reverse the situation.
Taking over the administration of the district with problems, including a pending dispute over the siting of the district capital can easily kill the spirit of many a political leader but not Mr Nyame.
I had known Mr Nyame at Acherensua Senior High School where he was my senior. Modest and hardworking, I was not surprised when he told me recently that “I am aware of the many challenges facing me as a political head of the district but such a situation will allow me to prove a point”.
Yes, the situation in Atwima Kwanwoma is currently nothing to write home about, and it will demand extra work from the authorities and the
people to get things on the right footing.
I personally have part of my roots in Atwima Kwanwoma. Mr father comes from Yabi so I have affinity with the district.
The district, which was created out of the then Bosomtwe-Atwima Kwanwoma District, was born with the problem of where the capital should be sited. It was a battle between the towns of Foase and Twedie before eventually, the government chose Foase.
This however, did not go well with the chiefs and people of Twedie, who went to court to challenge the government’s decision.
It is not important to go into the legal intricacies of the dispute but suffice it to say that the situation has not helped the development of the district as it has led to a serious division between the two communities.
According to Mr Nyame,“The capital is in dispute and this has affected us in some ways but thank God, the people of the two communities are ready to support the assembly in many of our initiatives”.
The district has no assembly building to house decentralised departments and the DCE explained that “Had it not been the dispute, we would have put up an assembly block. If we build the office at Foase, Twedie will say we are sabotaging them”.
About three years ago, the erstwhile New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration created the district.
With virtually nothing to start with, the assembly has gone through terrible moments and today the situation is not any better.
The DCE, for instance, does not live at Foase, the district capital because there is no official accommodation there. He has to shuttle between his hometown, Hemang and Foase daily.
As a result of the difficulty in securing accommodation at Foase, almost all officers and staff of the decentralised departments live outside.
With the assembly having no permanent offices, it has been forced to rent some buildings, which is eating into its coffers. Even with that, some of the departments share one office.
In these days of increasing crime rate, it is regrettable that the entire district has only two police posts at Twedie and Hwidiem.
Even Foase, where the capital is now located has no police station and Mr Nyame believes it’s time to do something about the situation.
Atwima Kwanwoma has one public Senior High School (SHS) — Afia Kobi Girls’, a situation which threatened the development of education in the district.
However, the assembly is currently making efforts to convert the Atwima Community Senior High/Technical School to a public mixed school to help address lapses in the system.
The district has 56 communities, most of them with public basic schools but most school buildings are not in good state.
It would have been the wish of the assembly to get a permanent district office for the Ghana Education Service (GES) to enable it to operate without much difficulties but as a result of financial challenges, the offices are currently located in an abandoned cocoa shed which the assembly has rehabilitated for temporary use.
For a district part of which is peri-urban, it is regrettable that only two short stretches of tarred roads are available.
The wish of the assembly is for the district to see improved road network to facilitate the movement of people and the haulage of farm produce to and from Kumasi.
Good drinking water is essential for healthy living. It is in this light that the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are moving to the rural areas to improve their existing water situations.
The present water coverage at Atwima Kwanwoma, according to the DCE, could not be said to be up to expectation.
The DCE, however, thanked some NGOs that have come in to help address the shortfalls to an appreciable level. The NGOs have sunk boreholes that supply quality water for domestic use.
In spite of the challenges, Mr Nyame said the assembly was determined to make the best out of the circumstances so that life would be much better for the people.
He talked about revenue generation, which has not been good over the period and gave the assurance that the assembly had planned to develop the markets in the district to improve local revenue generation.
The DCE, however, appealed to the government for vehicles and improved roads so that the revenue staff could move to the communities to carry out their duties without much difficulty.
The assembly is also gearing up efforts to house some of the decentralised departments. Presently, one structure is ready for use by the Finance and Planning Departments.
Mr Nyame said the assembly also intended to create a district novel school to help bridge the disparity between the schools in the district and the urban centres.
He appealed to the citizens of the district to support the assembly in its development efforts, saying the era where they looked up to the government for the provision of all development projects was over.
Besides, NGOs should also come in to render a helping hand since they have become permanent development partners.

COLLEGE OF ART AND SOCIAL SCIENCES HONOURS 23 (PAGE 35, MAY 20, 2010)

THE College of Art and Social Sciences (CASS) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has honoured 23 hardworking and dedicated lecturers, staff, students, as well as corperate bodies who have supported the development of CASS over the past five years, at a special ceremony in Kumasi.
The awardees were given a plaque and a citation each in recognition of the various roles they had played towards the development of the college.
Among the recipients were Prof. Dr Dr Daniel Buor, the Provost of College of Art and Social Sciences, Rev. Dr Edem Kwaku Tettey, CASS Examinations Officer, Mr Charles Frimpong, Mrs Ulzen Appiah all of the college, Mr Coby Asmah, the Chief Executive Officer of Type Company Limited, Mr Joseph Antwi-Kusi, the best student for 2009-2010, among others.
The corperate bodies which were honoured included Ghana Association of Bankers, Ghana Commercial Bank, HFC Bank Limited and the Valco Trust Limited.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Coby Asmah, stressed the need for distance education to boost the development of the university.
He said the time had come for the university to change from the old method of teaching and extend its campus to the other regions to enable other applicants to have access to quality education.
The Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. W.O. Ellis reiterated the commitment of the university to train qualify human resource manpower to meet the industrial demand of the country.
He commended the college and the awards winners for their achievements and commitment towards the development of the college.
The awards ceremony coincided with the launching of a journal, which carried activities of the college.
The Dean of the Faculty of Fine Art, Prof. Daniel Ohene-Adu, who was the chairman of the awards committee, commended Prof. Dr Dr Buor for his support towards the awards.
He said although few people were honoured at the ceremony, that did not mean other staff of CASS were not hardworking.
Prof. Ohene-Adu, therefore, urged the others to continue to work hard to attract similar awards.

AKUFO-ADDO MAKES IN-ROADS IN KUMASI (PGE 13, MAY 120, 2010)

THE environs of the Kumasi Central Market were thrown into a joyous mood when Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, one of the presidential aspirants of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), visited the market as part of his tour of the Ashanti Region.
The aspirant is touring all the 39 constituencies in the region to solicit votes from NPP delegates towards the party’s presidential primary scheduled for August 7, 2010.
When news went round that Nana Akufo-Addo was in town, there was spontaneous response, with people moving from all corners of Kumasi to the forecourt of the market to catch a glimpse of the aspirant.
Some of the market folk, mainly staunch supporters of the NPP, who spoke to this reporter expressed their desire for Nana Akufo-Addo to win the flagbearership because, according to them, he was the one best fit for that role.
It was as if Kumasi was under siege last Monday, as several hundreds of party supporters, including market women, took over the entire central part of the city.
The situation brought commercial activities to a virtual standstill, as shop owners and traders joined in the euphoria.
Traffic also came to a standstill when Nana Akufo-Addo’s motorcade moved slowly through the thick crowd.
The aspirant, who was overwhelmed by the reception, came down from his vehicle and walked through the crowd to respond to the cheers.
Later, he addressed delegates of the party from the Suame Constituency, calling on them to have confidence in him to lead the party to wrest power from the NDC in 2012.
He said the massive reception he had received from delegates and non-delegates alike had reinforced his conviction that he would be chosen to lead the party in the 2012 elections.
Watching the crowd which had come out to root for him in the metropolis, the flag-bearer aspirant was convinced that he was in the race to win the flag-bearer slot to wrest power from the NDC.
Nana Akufo-Addo called on the party members to maintain the unity of the party, saying the battle for the flag-bearer slot was not a war in the party, saying that the real battle was against the mis-government of the NDC.
He stated that the NDC government had reversed the economic progress made by the Kufuor administration and that it was important that the people vote it out of power in 2012.
“But to achieve that, the NPP needs a person with the best chance to win the elections and that person is me,” Nana Akufo-Addo said.

KOTOKO MANAGEMENT TO STAY ON (PAGE 63, MAY 20, 2010)

SPECULATIONS that the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, would dissolve the Alhaji Inje-led management of Kumasi Asante Kotoko last Monday failed to materialise.
At a meeting with the management at the Manhyia Palace, Otumfuo asked them to continue in office until further notice.
The meeting was held behind closed doors, but a source told the Daily Graphic that the Asantehene did not give any indications of dissolving the management.
However, the Life Patron of the club indicated that the board would be put in place soon to direct the way forward for the club. Mr K.K. Sarpong is to be introduced formally as the board chairman next week.
The Kotoko management had had to deal with external pressures and internal wrangling for some time.
Some of the supporters are not happy about the performance of the club in the just-ended league and have called for changes to position the club for the next season.
Internally, a management member, Rev. Osei Kofi, had also muddied the waters with the allegation that the management spent about GH¢90,000 on ways and means for the football season.
Rev. Osei Kofi promised to prove the allegation at the meeting with Otumfuo but my source said the matter was not discussed.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

FOUR HELD FOR RITUAL MURDER (BACK PAGE, MAY 19, 2010)

THE police in Goaso are holding four people, including a cocoa purchasing clerk, over a case in which the headless body of a middle-aged farm labourer was found on a cocoa farm at Sakyikrom, near Asumura in the Asunafo North municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region.
The four, who are suspected to have murdered Yaw Peter in what appears a ritual murder, are Jacob Atia, alias Paa Kojo, the purchasing clerk of a private cocoa buying company; Dery Donkor, alias Bula; Kofi Nsiah and Kwame Ketewa.
The police have mounted a search to retrieve the severed head of the deceased, which was said to have been sold for GH¢20,000 to a buyer in a village near Mim.
The incident sent shock waves through the area, as the deceased was said to have gone to the farm on that fateful day with the suspects for a group farming activity known in Akan as “nnoboa”.
The Goaso Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent Twumasi Ankrah, told the Daily Graphic that one of the suspects, Dery, had admitted taking part in the heinous crime and had, indeed, mentioned Atia as the one who masterminded the crime.
Dery allegedly told police investigators that the purchasing clerk, who hatched the plot, claimed he had someone who would buy the head for GH¢10,000, while Nsiah also claimed he had someone who was ready to offer GH¢20,000 for the head.
Consequently, just after Peter had been killed, his severed head was given to Nsiah, who sent it to Nsuta, a village near Mim, for sale.
Giving further details, Supt Ankrah said the deceased lived in a cottage near Sakyikrom with his wife.
On May 11, 2010, he joined the suspects for the “nnoboa” activity on a farm but did not return. His wife, unable to establish what had happened to the husband, rushed to Sakyikrom in search of him.
Members of the community organised a search party in the night but Peter could not be found.
On May 14, 2010, a farmer in the area went to his cocoa farm where he was met by an offensive odour and flies from a distance.
Curiosity drove him to the spot where he found Peter’s remains covered with cocoa leaves, with the head missing.
He consequently informed the Unit Committee of the area, which followed it up with a report to the police.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

ANOTHER BA TEAM FOR PREMIER LEAGUE (GRAPHIC SPORTS, PAGE 11, MAY 18, 2010)

After a two year drought of elite football in Sunyani, B.A Stars became the last team to qualify from the national middle league after a 1-1 draw Zone One final match at the Baba Yara Stadium last Sunday.
United, who were six points before the match, needed a draw to qualify while, Bechem United on four points, were looking for a win to make it to the elite division.
And when Bechem United, playing with 10 men, took the lead on the 55th minute, it appeared they were in to cause an upset until the equaliser came with just five minutes to end the game.
It was all joy for the hundreds of fans who travelled from Sunyani to watch their team qualify for the Premier League next season.
From club president, Tony Bennet to management member, George Arthur, down to the ordinary supporter, the qualification of B.A. Star was perhaps one of the best things have happened to the Sunyani municipality in recent times.
But it was a difficult match for B.A Stars as Bechem United took the game to them for the greater part of the proceedings.
Disaster however, struck Bechem United just before half time when their hardworking Nigerian midfielder, Ukpajo Ijimola was shown the red card by referee Cecil Fletcher for a savage tackle on an opponent.
That never troubled his side who dug deep into their reserves to clinch the leader after 55 minutes.
B. A stars however, pulled the equaliser on the 85th minute through a penalty converted by Ishmeal Adams.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

KOTOKO SHOW OLY NO MERCY (BACK PAGE, MAY 13, 2010)

KUMASI Asante Kotoko consigned Accra Great Olympics back to division one with a 5-1 drubbing in the last league game at the Baba Yara Stadium yesterday.
But there were no celebrations in Kumasi as the Kotoko fans who had one of their ears cupped in the direction of Berekum, in anticipation of victory for Ashantigold, were disappointed with the outcome of that game.
The big victory notwithstanding, Kotoko walked out of the stadium having completed one of their unimpressive seasons.
Edward Affum and Daniel Nii Adjei fetched a brace each while Abdul Samad Oppong added the fifth.
Olympics never showed signs of a team ready to avoid relegation as their forwards notably Daniel Asamoah wasted the chances that fell their way in the early minutes.
Kotoko punished them on the 11th minute when Ganiyu Haruna fed Affum in the box to connect past keeper Alex Agyapong. Affum added another on the 43rd minute, sweeping the ball home from inside the six-yard box.
Daniel Asamoah who was the Olympics’ main man upfront, was sent off by referee William Agbovi after 62 minutes for a second yellow card but they mustered courage and reduced the deficit on the 73rd minute through Emmanuel Lartey.
Two goals from Nii Adjei on the 75th and 80th minutes killed any hopes the visitors had, and when Samad Oppong added to the score inside injury time, the die was cast for the Dade Boys.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

7 TO PROBE AGOGO DISTURBANCES (PAGE 51, MAY 12, 2010)

THE Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku-Manu, has inaugurated a seven-member committee of inquiry to investigate the recent disturbances at Agogo in which a number of people were injured and property destroyed.
The committee, set up by the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), comprises the regional lands officer as chairman, representatives of the immigration service, Attorney General’s Department, Bureau of National Investigations and the Asante Akim North Municipal Assembly, and the Municipal Co-ordinating Director.
Among the terms of reference, the committee is to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the disturbances, circumstances leading to the shooting and wounding of some citizens and to identify those who fired the gunshots, and circumstances that led to the mob attack on the Agogo Police Station.
Other areas to be tackled by the committee include related matters of significance to the committee’s work, and to make recommendations to forestall any future occurrence.
On May 1, this year, about seven people were injured and massive destruction caused to property when a section of the youth of Agogo clashed with Fulani herdsmen.
The local people accused the Fulani herdsmen of destroying their farms, raping women and creating fear in the communities.
In his inaugural address, Mr Opoku-Manu noted that disturbances like the one that occurred at Agogo sent wrong signals to the outside world and had the potential to disorganise the development of the community.
“It is, therefore, important that we always adopt the right approaches and use appropriate channels in seeking redress to whatever grievances we have,” he said.
The minister stated that the security situation in the region had generally been calm so far, and, therefore, any acts that would disturb the situation would not be tolerated.
Peace, he noted, was crucial to the development of the region and added that “any act or omission that tends to compromise the security of the region is regrettable”.
He said the REGSEC was determined to adopt measures that would prevent the recurrence of such incident.

KNUST TO BEGIN MSC IN POLYMER SCIENCE (PAGE 11, MAY 12, 2010)

THE Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Ms Sherry Ayittey, has stressed the need for the expansion of the polymer industry in Ghana to take advantage of the downstream processes of the oil industry.
In a speech read on her behalf at the opening of a stakeholders workshop on a Masters programme in polymer science, which is due to begin at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) next academic year, the minister said the polymer industry, which is currently based on the processing of primary polymeric products, should be expanded to include "the synthesis of polymers”.
Polymers are among the major downstream products of the oil industry and with the country due to begin commercial production of oil in the last quarter of the year, the minister was optimistic that the expansion of the polymer industry would have a significant role to play in expanding the benefits of the oil industry.
Many oil producing countries have developed large polymer industries, which formed part of their huge chemical industries.
Saudi Arabia, for example, has one of the leading chemical companies in the world today- Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) – which deals a lot in polymers.
The KNUST had developed the MSc Programme in collaboration with the School of Chemistry of the University of Manchester, the Development Partnership for Higher Education (DELPHE) and the UK’s Department of International Development (DFID).
The aim of the programme is to provide graduate students of different specialities the opportunity to gain multifaceted education and training in polymer science and technology, leading to professional careers in academia, industry, public institutions and self-employment.
Apart from the advantages of polymers, it also come along with negative environmental consequences since the high volume of polymers such as plastics and rubbers are bio non-degradable.
In Ghana, this is a major problem as gutters have been choked with plastic materials.
Ms Ayittey said the government’s “Better Ghana” agenda took great interest in environmental sanity and pledged the government’s support to the KNUST to continue to train the needed manpower for national development.
She also called on the university authorities to work with companies that littered the environment with their by-products to ensure that the nation remained on course to achieving a clean environment by 2015.
The minister further called for a comprehensive programme that would ensure that companies that recycled plastic materials could collect and recycle the materials with efficiency.
“I also challenge the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to improve their approach to waste collection,” she added.
The Pro Vice Chancellor of KNUST, Prof. E.O. Ellis, stressed the tremendous impact chemistry had had on mankind but said the negative consequences could not be downplayed.
The Provost of the College of Science of KNUST, Prof. Aboagye Menyeh, said the university needed to invite stakeholders in shaping the syllabus for the programme because eventually, it was the society that would benefit from the products of the new programme.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

MAKING THE BEST OF SHANGAI EXPO (PAGE 10, MAY 11, 2010)

I HAVE decided to go to town (apologies to the late Prof P.A.V. Ansah) and African governments are my targets.
As one of the 24 African journalists who covered the opening of the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China, I was ashamed to learn that only four African countries were able to provide the funds to put up their own pavilions.
Apart from Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia, no other Africa country was able to raise the capital to establish its own pavilion.
They had to live on the generosity of the Chinese government, which put up the huge Africa pavilion in which individual African countries, including Ghana, operated.
“Oh! Africa”, was how a colleague African journalist exclaimed as he shook his head in disbelief.
All this happened at a time when some African leaders lived ostentatious lives at the expense of a programme like the Shanghai Expo, which brings the world together to find solutions to problems with the view to changing the lives of their people for the better.
When at all will African leaders live up to their responsibilities and stop disgracing their countries before the eyes of the international community?
Let me pause here before I deviate from the significance of the Expo and the great efforts put up by the Chinese government to welcome the world for the grand event.
Clearly, the World Expo in Shanghai could not have chosen a better theme than ”Better City, Better Life”.
Why? Humanity is at a turning point as majority of the world’s population currently live in urban communities, a situation that has made sustainable urban development a top global priority.
Visitors to the Expo are being introduced to the latest green technologies for urban life, which the world has developed.
It is refreshing that Ghana is participating in the event and it is expected that the nation will come out of the half-year Expo better placed to change the state of its cities for the better.
The theme for the Expo reflects the common aspiration of mankind for improved lives in the cities through strategic policy initiatives, and the Chinese government must be congratulated for making the Expo a top priority, right from the first day of preparations making it the biggest World Expo ever in the 156 year old history of the global event.
As I watched Chinese President, Hu Jintao, open the curtains for the Expo on April 30, I could not but agree with the European Union(EU) President, Jose Manuel Barusso, that “the Expo is a symbol of the rise of the East.”
Mr Barusso, who was among the 19 world leaders who took part in the glittering opening ceremony of the mega-event was overwhelmed by the level of inputs into the organisation of the Expo, the first to be held by a developing nation and said it demonstrates the growing influence of China in world affairs.
Chinese government sources say about $6 billion was spent on the organisation of the event but a section of the media put the figure at a staggering $54 billion.
It is the first time that the EU, which is China’s biggest trade partner, is participating in the global event outside a European country and according to the EU ambassador to China, Mr Sege Abou,”The presence of Barusso at the event is a signal that the EU is optimistic and confident about Sino-EU relations as well as the development of China and Shanghai.”
China expects to exceed the estimated 70 million visitors at the Expo.
Long queues, way beyond the expectation of organisers, continue to form at the gates to the site as of May 5, and people had to wait for hours before securing tickets.
The EU and other world economies are learning useful lessons but it is uncertain whether Africa in general and Ghana in particular are in the same position.
Some 192 nations and 56 international organisations and people across the world are in Shanghai to discuss cultural development, address concepts in the area of housing, living and work environment, and showcase significant examples of sustainable and societal growth.
Officials at some of the pavilions are inviting visitors to interact with them on how cities will be like in the not too distant future.
Through movies and other educational materials, the Pavilion of Future,
for instance, is proposing possibilities of factors that drive human development in the cities.
The China pavilion, the most visited so far, takes visitors on a journey through the Chinese wisdom in the evolution of cities.
Beginning with the unprecedented urban development China has experienced in the past 30 years, their exhibitions throw light on the path they took to reach that height.
The visitor is then made to look into the future to predict what the future will be for the Chinese urbanisation programme.
Surely, these are clear demonstrations of the high value China puts on urbanisation. Today, China’s cities are one of the best managed in the world.
From Beijing to Shanghai, Nanjing, Chongging, Wenjiang and Zhenjiang among many others, China has built magnificent cities with highly effective municipal administrations.
Ghana is participating in the event under questionable preparations and the question remains whether the nation can come out any better as expected.
For instance, I did not see the importance of displaying the huge picture of President Mills at the event when none of the countries has the picture of their presidents at their various pavilions.
Against the background of the leadership qualities of the President, I think he will not like the idea of placing his picture at the main entrance to the pavilion.
Only the pictures of Michael Essien and Dominic Adiyiah are attracting some attention at the Ghanaian pavilion and I suggested to an official at the pavilion, Mr Ben Heh, to discuss with his bosses and do something about the situation.
Either President Mills or his vice will visit the Expo to celebrate Ghana Day on July 8, but what is very important is for our cities to reap maximum benefits from the Expo.
Why are the metropolises not represented at the Expo when the focus of the event is on cities?
Ghanaian cities, particularly Kumasi and Accra, are facing serious challenges with respect to their development initiatives.
Sanitation, traffic management, environment, haphazard development and noise making are but a few of the problems in the cities in Ghana today.
There are public toilets in Chinese cities and they are well managed to the extent that the first visitor can hardly notice any of the facilities without the signpost.
This is the direct opposite in our cities. Apart from the unhygienic environment at the public toilets, their management has been politicised, bringing along attendant problems.
As a nation, we have to learn something good from the Shanghai Expo so that the rot in our system can be eliminated to enable the people enjoy better lives in the cities.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

MPS EDUCATION FUND REALISES GH¢200,000 (PAGE 14, MAY , 2010)

AN Education Fund instituted by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, about a year ago, has realised about GH¢200,000.
The fund, which solicits support from public and private institutions and individuals, is aimed at supporting the development of educational infrastructure in the constituency.
Dr Akoto disclosed this at the inauguration of two schools, which were financed from the fund at GH¢ 60,000 at Ohwimase and Nyankyerenease, both in the constituency last week.
The projects included a three-classroom block for the Anglican Primary School at Ohwimase, which cost GH¢40,000, and a two-unit classroom block for the Nyankyerenease Methodist Kindergarten, which cost GH¢20,000.
Furniture was provided for all the three classrooms in the Ohwimase project.
Dr Akoto underscored the importance of education in the development of the nation and gave the assurance that he would do everything possible to sustain the fund so that more projects would be undertaken in the constituency.
The MP stated that the shift system operating in the school as a result of inadequate classrooms was expected to end with the completion of the project.
He said while on the campaign trail for the 2008 election, he made a promise to undertake various educational projects if he was elected, and gave the assurance that he would never renege on his promise.
He stated that this year, six projects would be completed for various schools in the constituency.
He further promised to establish a computer centre for schools in the constituency next year.
The MP assured all the 14 communities in the constituency that each of them would have something to show from his education fund.
He urged parents to take keen interest in the education of their children because the children were the future leaders of the nation.
Dr Akoto emphasised that politics without development was of no use so he was determined to use his energy and resources to help in shaping the development of the constituency.
Dr Akoto commended the Ghana Education Trust Fund, LLL Timber Company and the BLLC Timber Company for the various supporting roles they played in bringing the project to fruition.
The Chief of Ohwim, Nana Appiah Kubi, commended the MP for his initiatives and said, “This is what every MP should be doing”.
He told the schoolchildren to take their studies seriously so that they could advance in their education.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

CHINESE EXPORTS NOT INFERIOR (PAGE 3, MAY 5, 2010)

THE Chinese Government has dismissed assertions that the country exports inferior products to Africa.
It said the products the country exported to African countries were of various ranges from which importers could choose and that the assertion that the country exported only inferior goods could only be a figment of people’s imagination.
The Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister in charge of African Affairs, Mr Zhai Jun, said what one paid determined the quality of goods he or she received.
“All our products are of high quality and that is why we are the world’s biggest exporter and we are determined to maintain that position as we continue to dominate the market with our brand of quality goods,” he said at a meeting with African journalists covering the World Expo Shanghai 2010.
“Some products are made according to the price offered and if one offers the lowest price, one gets poor products,” he said.
In Ghana, some consumers have expressed worry over the quality of some Chinese products but the Asian giant says it cannot produce goods of inferior quality and maintain a leading role as the biggest exporter to the Africa market.
“Ghana is one of our main markets and we assure Ghanaians that we will meet their taste,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ghana is preparing feverishly to host its day at the expo on July 8, 2010.
A Deputy Director at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr Ben Heh, told the Daily Graphic that President Mills had been invited to attend the event.
He said the Ghana Pavilion had received its full complement of items and that all was set for the country to showcase what it had for the world.
Only four Africa countries — Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria — are to put up their own pavilions.
The Chinese Government had to dole out millions of yuans to put up a giant Africa pavilion at the expo site for the other Africa nations.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

MICHAEL ESSIEN, ADIYIAH THRILL AT CHINA EXPO (GRAPHIC SPORTS, BACK PAGE, `MAY 4, 2010)

HUGE photographs of Michael Essien and Dominic Adiyiah were the major attractions at the Ghana Pavilion when the World Exposition in Shanghai, China, dubbed World Expo Shanghai 2010, opened last weekend.
 The Ghanaian authorities at the half-year long Expo which opened last Saturday decided to use the two footballers to sell the nation, and it appeared to have started well on the first day of the opening of the exhibition at the magnificent Expo grounds located along the Huangpu River in the Chinese financial capital of Shanghai.
Hundreds of people, most of them the youth, stood close to the photographs of the two players to take pictures for their albums.
Essien appears to be a household name in China even though Chinese are not so obsessed with football.
To some of the hundreds who went to the Ghana pavilion, Essien was one of the best things to happen to Ghana because it was through the footballer that they got to hear of the name Ghana.
Mr Ben Heh, a Deputy Director of Ghana’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, who was in charge of the Ghana pavilion, told me that the decision to use the two players was carefully thought out.
“Essien is a super star whose image if well harnessed, can tell positively on the nation’s development,” he said.
On Adiyiah, Mr Heh said the young player just emerged the best youth player in the world after that stupendous performance in the World Youth Championship in Egypt, and it was necessary to tap his popularity to the nation’s advantage.
One young Chinese of about 20 years said of Adiyiah that, “I wish he played his football in China.”
Another nation that is using its footballers to sell itself at the Expo is Cameroun. The country’s representatives at the Expo have placed pictures of Samuel Eto’o and other great players from the country at their pavilion, which also attracted people at the Expo.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

2010 WORLD EXPO OPENS IN CHINA (PAGE2, MAY 1, 2010)

CHINA has hailed Ghana for her democratic credentials and promised to support the country to build on what has been achieved so far.
The Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs in-charge of Africa Affairs, Mr Zhai Jun, told the Daily Graphic in an interview in the Chinese capital of Beijing last Thursday that, Ghana’s record in the rule of law was a shining example for the rest of Africa and that the Chinese government would continue to provide the necessary assistance to advance the process.
He said it was worth recognising that said since 1992, Ghana had been the torchbearer of Africa’s democracy having changed governments three times through various successful elections.
Mr Zhai who was speaking after a meeting with a group of Africa journalists covering the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai which opend yesterday said it was for this and other reasons that the Chinese government had invited President John Evans Atta Mills for a state visit to China this year.
He indicated that the government of the People’s Republic of China was in discussion with its Ghanaian counterparts to get a date fixed for the visit.
He used the opportunity to commend President Mills for his efforts to bring the people together to develop their nation and expressed the hope that the Ghanaian people would continue to join hands with the government to build their country.
At the meeting with the African journalists, the vice minister noted that China and African countries had a common goal of development, which is based on a win-win situation.
He, however, noted that as the strongest developing nation in the world, China had every reason to support the weaker ones to come up in their development strides.
He indicated that strengthening diplomatic relations with Africa is very important to China “and we shall not deviate from that.”
He acknowledged the growing media exchanges between China and Africa countries stressing that the two sides needed journalists to serve as a bridge between their quests to learn more from each other.
“The media exchanges between the two sides are becoming much stronger,” he said and disclosed that currently, four media organisations in Africa had permanent representatives in China who are operating with all the freedom at their disposal.
He, therefore, expressed the hope that other Africa media organizations would establish their presence in China.
Mr Zhai noted that the growth of Sino-Africa media relations was necessary because of the way the western media perceive things differently in the developing world.
“The practice where African media use the western media as a tool for advancing their course must change because it has not helped the continent,” he stressed.
He said the Chinese government was offering scholarships to more than 5000 people from Africa each year to study in Chinese educational institutions.
He further told the meeting that the Chinese government had established 20 ICT institutions in various Africa countries where the study of the Chinese language was being given attention.