Features Stories

Cancer Control Experts Meet

Mahmud — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 07:35:27 -0400

Cancer is considered one of the most potentially preventable and curable among the chronic and life threatening diseases. However it is still a major cause of deaths worldwide.

Cancer, which is one of the emerging diseases in Africa, according to experts, occurs in about 200 types of diseases making a complexity of the cancer story, especially in the developing world, accounting for at least 72 per cent of the approximately eight million deaths worldwide.

Experts say there are 11 million new cases each year and that cancer kills more than malaria, AIDS and tuberculosis. Records in Ghana are still scattered, according to official sources, as experts are feverishly building the database.

However, some of the well known reported cases include lung, prostate, cervical, breast, stomach, liver, oesophageal (oesophagus) and leukaemia - common among children, according to hospital sources.

These have wrecked the lives of the nation's important personalities over the years. For example, last year alone Ghana lost a prominent politician, a high profile personality in the judiciary, a student in the country's premier university and a cancer-free promoter who had established a foundation to promote cancer control in the country.

These deaths were the tip of the iceberg, due to the personalities involved, while majority of cases went unnoticed.

It is in the wake of this menace and the need to control those needless deaths that thousands of people made up of cancer and tobacco control experts, volunteers, cancer survivors, care givers and the media from all over the world including Ghana are meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, to strategise on the means of addressing the global cancer and tobacco burden and the projected increase in cancer deaths worldwide.

The meeting is being organised by the International Union against Cancer (UICC) under the theme: "True Cancer Control" with supporters, including the American Cancer Society and European School of Oncology Foundation.

The week-long programme for the World Cancer Congress, slated for August 27-31 will among other things discuss tobacco control and the attending cancer menace.

The congress which opened last Wednesday seeks to fraternised, governments,

health professionals and cancer NGOs in the creation of national cancer plans that would promote a worldwide comprehensive and anti-cancer strategy, share information, make commitments and serve as the launch point for worldwide action in transforming state of the science into state of practice based on the economic implications of application strategies among other issues.

It will also provide delegates with a milestone event promoting new data sharing and exchanging information in the global fight against cancer. The latest findings will be discussed as well as the challenges of implementing the knowledge in different resource settings.

Key components would be the role of nurses and patient advocacy, public health, prevention including tobacco control, supportive and palliative care.

The rest are cancer research and treatment and capacity building whilst the scientific session includes cancer prevention and control, tobacco control, supportive care and capacity building.

Addressing the opening ceremony last Wednesday, Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said cancer control should be made a development priority since it contributed to poverty and other financial constraints.

She said the disease had become a community problem because it brought a toll on the financial resources of affected people and their families.

"Unfortunately no country in the world is doing enough to control cancer," Dr Chan said adding that the worst hit were the developing countries which had come face-to-face with its attendant problems that should have been shared by the global world."

Franco Cavalli, UICC President also said cancer respected no borders and affected all directly or indirectly. Therefore the meeting had a key role in building partnerships across countries, organisations and disciplines and advancing the conquest of cancer in every country.

"Together we can move the global cancer agenda forward and bring hope to millions," adding that it was designed to embrace everyone involved in cancer control from research to treatment and cure and from prevention to palliative care.

"In the 75 years of UICC, the global cancer control community has grown dramatically and the UICC is proud to count among its members the world's leading cancer research institutions, treatment centres, voluntary cancer leagues and societies, patient-support networks and advocacy groups and some Ministries of Health in some countries."

The opening ceremony was also addressed by Dr Tabare Vazquez, President of Uruguay and Mr Pascal Couchepin, President of the Swiss Confederation. Side attractions include photo exhibitions of cancer care and medical advances in cancer research, management and treatment.

The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and the National Health Research Unit (HRU) of the Ghana Health Service are participating in the exhibition.

Dr Baffour Awuah, a specialist Radiation Oncologist at the KATH and Mrs Edith Wellington of the HRU are leading the Ghanaian teams.

Sources: GNA

Posted: 29/08/08

KNUST Pharmacy Students Launch National Safety Health Campaign In The Eastern Region

Mahmud — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:27:43 -0400

The indiscriminate sale, purchase and use of drugs, cosmetics and other potentially harmful products had been on the rise. This practice had led to many health’s related problems such as intolerance to certain medication, tropical and systematic disorders, and resistance to certain antibiotics and anti malarial and fatal adverse reactions. This can be attributed in part to the proliferation of media adverts about such products on the market despite the Food and Drugs Board’s (FDB) painstaking effort to stem out this canker.

It is against this backdrop that the Ghana Pharmaceutical Students’ Association (GPSA) and Ghana Herbal Medical students’ Association (GHEMSA) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have taken upon themselves as a social duty; to annually undertake health educational campaigns to address issues of drugs and health related problems peculiar to a particular region chosen by the association and its stakeholders.

Over the past thirty-four years, GPSA has embarked on such socially centered educational campaigns in various regions of Ghana with the last two editions taken place at the Northern and Central regions respectively. Eastern region won the bid for this year’s national drug safety and health campaign celebrations. To this effect, the Eastern Regional co-ordinating council organized a solemn occasion to welcome them into the region.

The Eastern Regional Minister, who was also the special guest for the occasion, hon. Kwadwo Affram Asiedu speaking on this years chosen theme: “Creating national wealth through life style and National drug use” said, the theme was very appropriate as it was tied in the development agenda of Government. He mentioned that, the three thematic areas of the current development agenda are human resource development, promotion of the private sector and good Governance, adding that, the health of citizens in the creation and utilization of national wealth was very crucial.

Hon. Affram Asiedu commended the Association but however, advised that these types of programmes should not end with the students’ completion of school, “when you have obtained the ultimate which is your degree, remember that, the job ahead is equally daunting and continue to carry the torch you have lit while in school. This is the only way society will benefit from this effort”, he stressed.

The Municipal Chief Executive of the New Juabeng Municipal Assembly, Hon. Nana Adjei Boateng said, environmental issues are included in the campaign to educate the public on the need to keep their environment clean. He said, if people were practicing preventive measures, most of the diseases reported in the hospitals could have been prevented. He therefore, appealed to the people of the Municipality to observe personal hygiene to keep the environment clean.

The President of the KNUST Ghana Pharmaceutical Students’ Association (GPSA), Cyprus Baidoo presenting the summary of the programme said, the programme would start off with postings of units of 10-15 students to each to the district of the region to embark on the campaign. He said, the campaign would start each day with visitation to schools in the mornings, workplaces in the afternoons and the communities in the evening. “Churches and Mosques will not be left out on weekends. Specials sections will be held for traditional and opinion leaders as well” he highlighted.

He said, the campaign would end with a mass health walk dubbed “walk for health” through the principal streets of Koforidua and a dinner at the regional administration to present findings and report made in the exercise. He said, 170 participants including 21 foreign students on exchange programme in the country from various Universities across Europe and North America were ready to go out on the exercise.

Cyprus Baidoo said sponsorship was a major challenge the programme faced in the planning stages. He therefore thanked all corporate bodies which contributed to see this year’s campaign come off and appealed to more company’s to come on board.

Source: ISD (Samuel Owusu-Yeboah)

Posted : 28/08/08

Maternal Mortality, An Issue Of Prevention

Nancy — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:15:24 -0400

The issue of maternal death in Ghana, is disheartening and needs pragmatic and concerted effort to contain the situation before it is too late. It is surprising that maternal death, though preventable, is still causing harm to women in the country. It is important to note that giving birth per se is not a bad thing but the inadequate preparation to that effect is what matters and ought to be properly considered in order to reverse the situation.

Maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and the site of pregnancy from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management.

It is intriguing but serious to note that some Ghanaians plan for expensive out-doorings whiles the person has not yet given birth. Forgetting that pregnancies have complications and until the person gives birth, one cannot predict the outcome of a pregnancy.

Maternal health is very crucial and ought to be taken seriously. Pregnant women should endeavour to plan adequately before, during and after pregnancies in order to avoid maternal death in the country. Effective planning is very important in all spheres of life and most importantly in pregnancy, child birth and postnatal care.

The attitude of not seeking the right information at the right time at the right place, limited access to education, economic opportunities, generally has contributed to the causes of maternal mortality in the country.

Regrettably, statistics shows that only four per cent of the women visit the hospitals after giving birth which is not the best. About 12 per cent of deaths are caused by anaemia, 17 per cent by bleeding and 19 per cent by hypertension.

Unsafe abortion also accounts for 11 per cent deaths, obstructed labour seven per cent, infections, 10 percent and other causes 24 per cent.

Maternal mortality in the country is estimated at 214 deaths per 100,000 live births and have accounted for an average of 10,000 deaths in the last 10 years. This is the situation when Ghana is hoping to achieve Millennium Development Goal five by 2015. With this situation, one may ask if it will be possible.

Health expects say if the trend continues till 2015, about 12,000 more deaths would occur with 1,000 more women and children suffering disabilities and
200,000 more infants losing their lives. Despicably, the economy would lose about 12 million US dollars from 2005 to 2015, as a result of the loss of these lives and its effects on productivity. However, the country could gain 140 million US dollars within the same period, if interventions are made.

It is rather unfortunate that there is the risk of one death in every 35 live births in Ghana as compared to one in 1, 800 in develops economies. There
is therefore the urgent need for improved access to emergency obstetric care, skilled attendants, attitude and motivation of health workers, complication preparedness as well as media campaigns to reverse the trend.

In addition, there is the need for improved access to family planning to address the problem. It is only when a family plans for a baby that the news of pregnancy could be received with joy and the expectant mother would have the enabling environment to go through the period safely.

Looking at the maternal mortality situation in the country, it is indeed worrisome but there is hope for its prevention. The onus then lies on the government, stakeholders, opinion leaders as well as all Ghanaians to ensure that proper measures are put in place at homes and at the hospitals in order to curb the situation.

If Ghanaians change their attitude and behaviours for better and do the right thing at the right time, the issue of maternal death in Ghana would be a thing in the past.

Source: ISD (Zakari Musah)
Posted: 26/08/08

Fighting Domestic Violence- Any Meaningful Impact?

Abissath — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:12:57 -0400

By: Marmle Ramani

The World Book Dictionary defines violence as rough force or action; rough or harmful action or treatment meted out to someone. It is again defined elsewhere as unlawful use of physical force to injure or damage persons or property.

However, it is difficult to find a comprehensive definition of violence, because what constitutes “injury” may be varied and divers, depending on its perception, impact and consequences of the effects of the actions of violations.

November 25 is the International Day for the elimination of violence against women. The day is recognized by the general assemblies of the United Nations with a view to raising public awareness of violations of the rights of women. Why was this step deemed necessary?

In many cultures, women are viewed and treated as inferior and second class citizens. Gender-based violence in all its forms is an ongoing problem, even in the so called developed world. Prejudices against them are traditionally deep- rooted.

According to the former UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, “violence against women is global in reach and takes place in every part of the world, but the most common is violence against women and children who are known as domestic workers, house helps and even housewives. This is because they are the most vulnerable in society’’. Systematic documentation has shown that globally at least one woman in every three has been violated, beaten or coerced in sex or otherwise abused in her life time.

As a result, the World Health Organization (WHO) report of 2005 described violence against women and children as a public health issue.

In Ghana, the practice of domestic assistance has become extremely prevalent and problematic. Many young women are being called from down to dusk, to perform numerable and difficult household chores for little or no compensation. These domestic workers are generally from poverty- stricken families.

Usually, they migrates from rural areas of Ghana to the capital cities in search of greener pastures, but frequently find themselves living in similar or worse conditions. They are also denied basic human rights, working in unsafe conditions with no formal agreement concerning condition of work and neglect of a host of other basic rights.

Regrettably, aside the fact that they are denied basic human and neighbor rights, they are also abused through physical beatings, malnourishment, emotional trauma and sexual harassment and trafficking. They may also be denied access to education or right to rest and leisure, freedom of movement, cultural participation, family unity and personal identity, among others.

The saddest aspect of the whole situation is the fact that these domestic workers are unprotected because of cultural stereotypes, lack of specific remedies, little enforcement of existing guaranteed rights and the inherent invisibility of the work.

Domestic workers who live in their employers’ homes often suffer severe abuse rising in some cases to the level of torture. Moreover, women sometimes flee domestic violence only to suffer the same or worse violence in the homes of other employers.

Under the International Law, Ghana has an obligation to prevent, investigate and punish acts of domestic violence as numerous nations are working to end the trafficking of teenagers for economic exploitation.

Currently, Ghana has laws which protect female domestic workers and women generally from sexual harassment. While Ghana criminal code protects domestic workers from assault, the law should also provide more comprehensive protection such as the protection contained in the domestic violence law.

In an attempt to make the criminal justice system more responsive to the special needs of violence, the government in November 1998 established the Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU) of the Ghana Police Service. This unit was to deal exclusively with cases of violence against women and children. The establishment was based on a promise that issues of abuse of women and children are more efficiently dealt with under specialized institutional arrangements.

This concept was first instituted in the capital city (Accra, Ghana) and was replicated in Kumasi in the Ashanti in 1999. Interestingly, the Government is institutionalizing the concept nationwide and has changed the name of the unite to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) in 2007

The government, through its institutions like the Ghana Legal Board, Department of Social Welfare, Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit and others, has provided free legal service to persons who can genuinely not afford the haired services of a lawyer, provided security and judicial support for women and juveniles who suffer domestic violence.

The institutions have also provided services such as counseling, shelter, medical services and referrals whilst others are involved in advocacy, research and public education.

The Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs has also established legislative mechanisms which provide the platform for actions towards elimination of all forms of violence from the society.

Although expressed in gender- neutral terms, the role of women’s groups in the drafting of the domestic violence bill and in the high powered, high- impact advocacy that led to the passage and signing of the bill, is evidence that women are the most affected in a legal regime that had no specific legislation on domestic violence.

According to the UN Human Development Report 2007, Domestic violence cases rose from 2002, peaked in 2004 and the sharply declined in 2005. The reason for the rise appears to be a greater willingness of affected persons to use the available institutional mechanism and improvements in data capture. The subsequent decline may be attributed to increased resources available to the institutions that deal with domestic violence.

It is for this reason that government is addressing this problem as an urgent priority. It also considers that the passage of the Labour Law with amendments will ensure that domestic workers are fully covered, especially, with regard to maximum hours and rest periods.

Moreover, education and sensitization campaigns are being organized by DOVVSU, the Social Welfare, the Childs Rights Organization and others with the aim of targeting employers and domestic workers so that both parties will be aware of their rights and responsibilities. In addition the ministry is sensitizing traditional and religious leaders to mobilize their communities to prevent girls from entering into categories of exploitative domestic work.

Domestic violence is a menace which calls for corporation of individuals, groups and government to eliminate it in our society.

Combating HIV and AIDS : The Role Of The Media

Abissath — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:58:09 -0400

Matilda Tettey

“When you are working to combat a disastrous and growing emergency, you should use every tool at your disposal. HIV/AIDS is the worst epidemic humanity has ever faced. It has spread further faster and more catastrophic long-term effects than any other disease. Its impact has become a devastating obstacle to development. Broadcast Media have tremendous reach and influence, particularly with young people, who represent the future and who are key to any successful fight against HIV/AIDS. We must seek to engage these powerful organizations as full partners in the fight to halt HIV/ AIDS through awareness, prevention and education….” Says Kofi Annan the Former Sec.Gen. and now Chancellor of the University of Ghana during his term of office in one of his speeches.

The media has time and time again been said to be the fourth realm of the estate and this is very much so considering the influence the media has in every nation, which can be used positively in the area of combating HIV and AIDS. This impact can deploy the competence of journalists or people with the mouthpiece and the power of the pen to take up the issue of HIV and AIDS as a mainstream sector
The epidemic increasingly poses difficult challenges for several countries. Ghana, for instance, has a prevalence rate of 1.9% as at 2007, the national HIV prevalence range around 1.7 to 2.2%
Meanwhile research has demonstrated that the majority of infections (nearly 90%) are clustered within the age group of 15- 49 years which constitutes the active work force of Ghanaians, 58% of the infected are women and girls. Also prevalence among female sex workers is 38% and men sleeping with men (MSM) is 25%. Thus the media, mainstreaming HIV and AIDS into national development processes remains a key approach to addressing the direct causes of the escalating epidemic.
The media should implement this in an effective and sustained manner, as they are regarded part of the development actors on the issue of HIV. There must be a critical examination, evaluation and reports on the relevance and impact of the pandemic on the process of development. The media need to give a fair and balanced reportage on such sensitive issue of HIV and AIDS.
Journalists, should as much as possible, avoid apportioning of blames and of leveling accusations on anybody or group of people. It is sad to note that most of our politicians, including our presidential aspirants, are distancing themselves from the issue of HIV and AIDS. It would be prudent for the media to mount platforms to tell the public how they would tackle the HIV pandemic when they assume power. The media must be passionate about HIV and AIDS; “ we must talk it, think it, drink it, and wear it.” This is what Mr. Kyeremeh Atuahene, the Ag. Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), termed as “wearing AIDS glasses.”
On the contrary this does not mean we should exaggerate, under -estimate or over- estimate issues when articulating HIV and AIDS. We should not forget that HIV and AIDS are human-centred and therefore journalists should be circumspect and sensitive when reporting or discussing HIV and AIDS.
Media must not forget their professional ethics, remembering to be professionals in articulating the truth about HIV epidemic and pandemic. We should aspire to be responsible and committed to the dignity of our subjects. It is expected that the story of HIV must be told by the media giving it a human face. Unfortunately, some colleagues in the media, especially, some television stations use old tapes of AIDS positive persons on hospital beds looking thin and frail, whenever they are discussing or reporting on the epidemic. This tends to rather stigmatize the situation scaring the public who form prejudiced perception on the virus and associate it with agony and death.
Some journalists/presenters call upon “social commentators” to discuss sensitive issues concerning the epidemic instead of engaging professionals from the GAC or the health sector specialists. Of course, it is sometimes difficult to get these professionals in such discussions, but these hosts/presenters must endeavour to get the professionals to enable them to give the public appropriate education and appreciate the issue of HIV and AIDS. The media should remember that they have a strong commitment and moral obligation for the populace, they should have respect for human rights, be sensitive, sympathetic and generate professional integrity especially when reporting on HIV and AIDS.

Promiscuity associated with HIV and AIDS is what is mainly attracting stigmatization. The media must give opportunity to listeners or viewers to discuss what they know about the virus. In this direction problem of stigmatization which is still a canker on HIV and AIDS would be properly tackled. Thus communication processes can be used for behavioural change towards the HIV epidemic to help people to be more aware, get concerned, become knowledgeable and be motivated to bring change in their attitude towards the HIV positive and children who have been made vulnerable by the virus. TV3, an Accra electronic media, must be commended for their programme “Barrel of Hope” which discusses HIV and AIDS.

Unfortunately, on our radios, some presenters and disk jockeys use airtime opening phone lines for people to discuss other issues instead of educating people on health issues, especially HIV.
We should note that when our health problems are addressed, the economic, political, social problems, among others, would be addressed, not forgetting the saying that “a sound mind lives in a healthy body.”
Meanwhile, the media should note that we are a vital source in the communication process, therefore, we must be careful on how we arrive at an idea to be communicated, decide why it should be communicated and also decide on the intended impact we must ensure not to cause any one any harm by talking or keeping quiet.

Journalists must know who and where to go to get the story right. Again, the media must include also people living with HIV and AIDS and relatives supporting and caring for such people as well as those with the expert knowledge about the virus.
It is high time the media use airtime and space for a just cause, although the media is said to inform, educate and entertain, that does not mean anybody at all who has access to the medium can use it to his or her own advantage. If this can be done, then it is time for these professionals to sit up.

African Leaders Need Insight On Climate Change - DFID

Mahmud — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:30:56 -0400

An expert on climate change yesterday said even though climate change had grave implications for the cocoa, water, mining and food production sectors of African countries, African leaders were yet to fully grasp the phenomenon and its implications for the continent.

Mr. Sean Doolan, West African Regional Advisor on Climate Change at the United Kingdom Department For International Development (DFID) made the remark at a press conference on board the HMS Endurance Ship from the United Kingdom, which was on the 10 day visit to Ghana to raise awareness about climate change.

HMS Endurance is a sole Ice Patrol Ship of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom dedicated to assisting scientists and researchers with state of the art equipment to gather information on the seabed and also collect data that could be used to access climate change in the Antarctic and in Africa.

Whiles in Ghana, the crew on the ship would also offer training to the Ghanaian Navy on Marine Security and policing of the sea, donate to charity and also participate in the forthcoming UN Conference on Climate Change slated for August 21 - 27, 2008.

Mr Doolan expressed the hope that the conference would provide the opportunity for African leaders to get some technical insight into climate change.   He noted that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was drawing on research at the global to undertake some action to mitigate and adapt to climate change and its inevitable effects such as global warming, food shortage, drought and other undesirables.

"But we need a wider engagement of all sector ministries, civil society and indeed a complete national constituency to deal effectively with the effects of climate change," he said.

This he said, required a deeper understanding of the phenomenon and a better appreciations of its impact on Africa states, adding that African politicians and civil society organisations needed to avail themselves of that information in order to make meaningful contribution to the global debate on climate change.

"Africa needs a voice in international protocols on climate change and African leaders need to demonstrate a clear understanding of what Africa's stake is," he said.
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Ms Hannah Ryder, a member of the UK delegation to the forthcoming climate change conference said Africa was not required to set any binding targets but rather undertake voluntary actions to help address the effects of climate change.

"African countries would only be expected to come up with voluntary actions geared towards addressing the problem of climate change because Africa's contribution to the problem is highly insignificant," she said.

She noted that at this point Africa required an additional 70 per cent electricity to meet the needs of its citizens, saying that the continent needed to be encouraged to take measures to generate that energy but would be expected for instance, to opt for environmentally friendly sources of energy.

Ms Ryder also expressed the hope that the conference would emerge with a greater voice for Africa on the issue of climate change.

Ms Kirsty Lewis from the UK Metrological Department said even though climate change was a global phenomenon, its impact was more regional in nature, explaining that whereas the causal factors were dominant in the developed world, African countries faced the threat of being most hard hit.

Mr Emmanuel Arthur, Programmes Officer from the EPA, said the EPA in collaboration with the UNDP had awarded contracts to civil society organisations in the country to undertake education programmes at the local level on climate change and how to mitigate and adapt to its effects.

He said the focus of the programme would be on the areas of health, agriculture, mining and aforestations. Touching on how Ghana was preparing for the onslaught of the effects of climate change, he said Ghana's participation in the West African Gas Pipeline Project and the President's Special Initiative on forestation were all designed to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Source: GNA
Posted: 20/08/08

Upper East Holds Exhibition Of Made In Africa Products

David — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 07:30:21 -0400

A five-day exhibition of made-in-Africa products and cultural awareness creation is underway in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.

It seeks to showcase potentials of the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions and provide avenue for Africans in the Diaspora to easily trace their roots and invest in Ghana.

The event is being organised by Star Black Foundation International (SBFI), a youth-oriented Pan African Organisation, based in Twifo Hemang in the Central Region and supported by Africans in the Diaspora.

Mr Alhassan Samari, Upper East Regional Minister, in a speech read on his behalf, said the Regional Co-ordinating Council would assist in the promotion of culture and made in-Africa-goods, especially basket and smock abound in the area.

He said this formed part of government policy to equip the youth with skills to enable them to undertake profitable economic ventures to earn a living.

Mr Samari said since the youth constituted the bulk of the country's workforce they needed the necessary training to enable them to contribute significantly to national development.

He said government introduced the Capitation Grant, School Feeding Programme and expansion of school infrastructure among other initiatives to help develop the country's human resource base.

Mr Samari said the culture of the people in the region was unique, adding that basket and smock production would be improved to create employment for the people.

Mr Jomo Hutaa, founder of SBFI, said the organisation aimed at uniting all people of African descent.

He said the group would help the youth to acquire skills to enable them to harness their talents, train and involve them in rural development, and educate the people on their civic rights and responsibilities.

Mr Hutaa said that Africans in the Diaspora were ready to promote made in Africa goods and culture and appealed to Africans to patronise their products.

Source: GNA
Posted: 19/08/08

Government Defends New Educational Reforms

Mahmud — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 06:21:21 -0400

The government over the weekend defended the New Educational Reformed in spite of the teething administrative, and logistical challenges that has bedevil its implementation.

Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister for Education, Science and Sports (MESS) said in spite of the challenges, the reforms sought to provide a guarantee for creating a well-balanced school leavers equipped with intellectual, spiritual, emotional and physical knowledge, skills, values and aptitudes for self- actualisation.

Prof. Fobih stated in a speech read on his behalf at the commissioning of an ultra modern school complex, Vilac International School at Accra. The school combines both the Ghanaian educational system and the British educational programme to give foreign students access to international programmes while residing in Ghana.

It also seeks to equip Ghanaian students who would want to pursue further studies outside the country to have a glimpse of learning abroad and to learn from their foreign counterparts.

The Minister said the educational reform is a necessary measure for reorienting the content of the educational enterprise to meet the developmental goals of every nation. He said the reform is also structured to provide a strong foundation to form the fundamental transformation of the education system through which children acquire basic literacy, numeracy and problem solving skills as well as skills for creativity and healthy living.

He said the current reform lays emphasis on the role of science and information technology as a step towards equipping Ghanaian graduates with the tools to compete on the global market.

It also aimed at increasing the percentage of students going into science related disciplines and alter the number of years spent by students at the pre-university level.

Other areas includes, citizenship education, creative arts and information communication and technology to make students appreciate the basic concepts and values that underlie a democratic political community and a constitutional order to enable them uphold the constitution of Ghana at all times.

"Creative arts seek to help the children develop critical thinking and imagination and the spirit of innovation, creativity and resourcefulness, while information communication and technology is to place the children well in the world of knowledge base revolution," Prof Fobih stated.

Prof Fobih said the reform would also promote the inter-connectivity of the different levels of education to ensure that children have a strong foundation and are adequately prepared for further academic work and acquisition of technical and vocational skills.
Mrs. Victoria Mensah, Executive Director said the mission of the school is to provide every child with excellent and wholesome education through a highly experienced staff, comfortable, safe and stimulating learning environment with wide variety of co-curricular activities to develop the students social skills and awareness of God.

Mrs Mensah said Vilan International School will provide the best academically, morally, emotionally and physically -"to nurture a complete personality." She said although the world is at a stage where the focus of education is towards the demands of the global market, countries like Ghana should rather be looking at what makes a school product a reliable and valuable soldier for local community productivity, sustainability and or an expert of the immediate environment.

She said, "the values of a society are a crucial aspects of its people's self-conception of what they want to become. In order to build communities that we all feel proud to belong to, our values for education should be taken from our African philosophies, cultural values, which enshrine the principle of living for the community."

"We have to reshape our values to the idea that we have the responsibility for building happier communities and the central goal of education should reflect in building in the kid values for the future."

She said teachers of Vilac International School would instill in the students the values of respect, responsibility and the transformation of local community productive capacity, through deeper study and understanding of society' environment and the creative pursuit of optimising the benefit of local resources.

She expressed regret that the values of honesty and service for the good
Of the community are nowhere demonstrated and effectively taught in schools currently.

Awulae Agyemfi Kwame II, Omanhene of Nsein Traditional Area, supported by other dignitaries who graced the occasion jointly inaugurated the school.

Source: GNA

Posted: 18/08/08

Journalism Made Simpler By Internet?

Nancy — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 06:49:46 -0400

The usage of Internet keeps soaring with opinions split on the exact effects and benefits of the technology that has brought so much to the fore in all areas of life. Today, the Internet is seen as a vital ingredient of the everyday activity of professionals and non-professionals, the journalist inclusive.

It is not just by chance that one can no longer claim ownership of any piece of information as long as it can be located on the Internet - something that could make anyone say journalism could have been made simpler by this great technology.

In the life of the Ghanaian Sports journalist today, knowing less about the usage of Internet means resigning oneself to the noticeable truth that others would forever break the news whiles you continually stay in their shadows.

For the sports journalist, whether it is the search for a new coach or past record of an athlete, all one must do is to enter the particular item in the commonest search engine, "google," and one can bet enriching facts will pop up to drive a story.

   It cannot be accidental that radio stations often mimic each other because they source their information from the same Internet portal. The noticeable difference in what they churn out is perhaps their presentation.

Recently when the search for a replacement of Black Stars Claude Le Roy began after the French had left Ghana in the cold citing personal reasons, the consistency with which the media named prospective successors via the power of Internet brought to the fore the fact that reliance on this grand technology in the day to day activity of the journalist is a growing trend.

Through it all, one is tempted to ask if the Internet has positively or otherwise affected the work of the journalist and reduced one to a desk reporter in this noble art of news dissemination.

Long gone are the days where local stories remained dominant in both newspapers and on radio. The craze for foreign information for sports has grown overboard; little wonder that one can sit through an entire Television or Radio programme and can barely count the number of issues that are local.

Amazingly, an entire programme is sometimes dedicated to Internet-related stories with phone lines opened for the public to air their views with passion and vigour. It has become common occurrence for the journalist today to depend on internet stories instead of the usual hard work injected into moving through the various associations in search of scoops to produce stories that seek to build on the development of the discipline.

Information gathering may have been made simpler, but the effect it has registered on the journalist cannot be underemphasised. Hard work has been diluted in every sense of the word and it is partly the reason why many sporting disciplines are marking time instead of catching up with the passion of the nation - soccer.

A whole newspaper can afford to fill space with information on foreign footballers or stars and their wives, girlfriends, mansions, wealth, lifestyle etc and one can bet sales will soar.

Be as it may, the allure of sales is a big draw but how often have we been truthful enough to ask ourselves what we have done as journalists to ensure that people are held accountable for their failure to promote their various disciplines instead of continually finding excuses as to why discipline cannot be represented at a continental or global event?

The painful truth is many media personnel believe it is enough to once in a while chip in a story or two on the so called less-endowed sports whiles the greater part of space and time is dedicated to internet-searched stories.

Ghana presented the smallest contingent ever (six boxers and three athletes) at the Beijing Olympic Games underway in China partly because whilst the media stayed busy furnishing the public with internet made stories, most of the associations and the men at the helm of affairs lost sight of their duty to ensure that their disciplines were given the maximum attention to produce the right athletes to represent the nation.

We must be seen, as taking major interest in issues that will bring holistic development into sports instead of hiding behind an invented "passion of the nation" that realistically is producing results only at the senior level.

It is easier to advance the argument that the masses are offered what they want, but isn't it a truism that until something was offered, one could not even tell what recipients wanted anyway.?

It is natural to want to stay glued to one's comfort zone, but not when you have a glaring responsibility to inform, educate, entertain and develop! The Internet stories we duel on today, is a fine product of someone's decision to travel the extra mile to bring to the forefront issues that have only been developed through hard work, dedication and the will to make a difference.

It is imperative that as journalists we set a proper agenda for our target listeners and readers alike. That role is a tough one but it is a contract we signed with those who consume our produce the day we chose this profession and is about time we abide by our side of the agreement.

Source: GNA

Posted: 15/08/ 08

The 21st Century Belongs To China

Abissath — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:20:28 -0400

By Boakye-Dankwa Boadi

"The 21st Century belongs to China," one of the officials, who received a group of Journalists from Africa visiting China on the sidelines of the Beijing Olympics Games, said with pride.

Indeed from all indications China, the Star of the East, has risen and there is no going back. This Writer, who was among the 34 African Journalists, could not but agree with the Official from what he saw.

The Chinese have been able to weave a tapestry of thousands of years of history, cultural heritage, social cohesion, economic development, scientific advancement and cutting-edge technology that is resplendent.

It is said "travel and see" and indeed this Writer travelled and saw.    Before leaving Ghana, this Writer had been made to have a certain picture about Beijing and China as a whole.First Beijing was portrayed as unhealthy because of ever-present smog; that the Chinese did not respect human rights and that the Chinese were xenophobic.

Apart from the smog, which was evident even before Flight ET 604 from Addis Ababa touched down at the Beijing Airport on August 5, 2008, the other two did not have any basis. The Chinese had been able to adopt measures to reduce drastically the intensity of the smog by closing down some factories before the opening of the Games.

The Good Lord also caused rain to fall on the third day to clear the smog. On the aspect of human rights, one can say without the fear of contradiction that the Chinese society is disciplined. It is a society, in which everything is done with the interest of the State in mind.

The Chinese society is based on the principle of collective well-being, instead of individual greed. Unlike in the Western society where individual freedom is extended to the level of absurdity by allowing men to marry men and women to marry women, the Chinese society ensures that human beings behave as such and not as animals.

If this is what others see as human right abuse, then so be it. No society has the right to impose its values on another. This must be made clear. Every society must have the right to organise the social order the way it deemed fit.

During interactions with the ordinary people, it came out clearly that the Chinese society was contented. Each had specific task to accomplish and went about it with diligence. The Guides performed their duties with a level of diligence that should be the envy of other countries.

They were punctual and always had to wait for members of the Group to assemble before beginning the day's programme. They were very courteous but firm. They would not bend the rules but they did it in such a way not to hurt any feelings. From the interactions with the ordinary people, it came out clearly that virtually none of the 1.3 billion Chinese ever went to bed hungry. The State catered for the basic needs of its citizens.

At the Tiananmen Square in Beijing, the ordinary Chinese, who have been portrayed as being xenophobic, begged the Journalists to allow them to take pictures with them. Anytime the Journalists obliged they became very happy, beaming with smiles.

At the Silk Market, sellers would approach customers, who came from all over the world, with persuasive words. Some went to the extent of putting their hands on the shoulders of customers. Their behaviour was so natural. It was not different from what traders at Makola Market in Accra and Kejetia in Kumasi do.

At the Forbidden City, the palace of Ancient Chinese Emperors, the over 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation comes to life. The Guides give a rendition of Chinese history that makes one to live in the past and the present at the same time.

Needless to say the Great Wall of China showed what a determined people could do. It is a wonder that without modern day machinery, a civilisation could erect such an edifice on precipitous edges of mountains. Of modern architecture, the less said about it the better. One could say with certainty that Beijing is the most beautiful city on earth. A member of the Group, who had been staying in New York, summed it all up when he said, "Beijing is the modern side of New York".

The towering glass and steel skyscrapers, the manicured flower beds, trimmed hedges and clean streets are a marvel. A computer simulated tour of Beijing at the City Hall showed how advanced the Chinese are technologically. It brought home forcefully what The Bible said about the Devil taking Jesus Christ to a tower and showing him the beauty of Jerusalem.

One could see three-dimensional objects that gave the feel of reality, even though one was watching a film with special goggles. Many of the world's giant supermarkets have opened branches in Beijing - Wal-Mart of USA; Ito-Yokado of Tokyo, Carrefour of France, and others.

Apart from the Central Business District of Beijing, where the streets were at the same level, and therefore, traffic had to be controlled, all other roads are dual carriage and at different levels so there is no question of head-on collision of vehicles.

Everything about China to the outsider is excellent. The Chinese have taken the world by storms and there is no indication that the storm would ever abate. Indeed the 21st Century belongs to the "Land of the Three Emperors Deity" - God The Father, God The Son and God The Holy Ghost" - China.

Source: GNA
Posted: 14/08/08