Expose pregnant B.E.C.E candidates

The Prestea Huni- Valley District Coordinator in charge of Girl Child Education, Mrs. Pearl Arkoh Alibanwe, has urged the media to continue exposing JHS students who get impregnated before sitting for their Basic Education Certificate  Examination.  

Mrs. Alibanwe believes the continuous reportage by the media on such cases will effect changes in the girls and help to curb this disturbing situation.

Ghana for some years now has been recording increasing numbers of pregnancy among the female candidates during B.E.C.E exams - whiles efforts taken by authorities to curb the situation has not been enough. It is in view of this that this advice has been given as part of the remedies to fight this situation.

This year’s B.E.C.E was no exception as reports all over the country revealed that several female candidates, with some under eighteen (18) years were reported to be pregnant and some others being nursing mothers.

Speaking to a Bogoso based radio station, Mrs. Alibanwe said, it seems the persistent advise her outfit and other colleagues have been given the girls in her district fall on deaf ears.

“I personally led a crusade throughout some Senior and Junior High Schools to advise the girls in particular as to what early pregnancy could bring them and how the society will see them, but it seems they never paid heed to me”, she said.

The Girl Child Education Coordinator said upon all her crusade which she was very optimistic that the Prestea Huni-Valley District in the Western Region, which is under her care, will not record any pregnancy case, the District recorded nine (9) pregnancy cases among this year's B.E.C.E. candidates.

When asked whether or not such media reports will not affect the morale of such candidates, Mrs. Alibanwe said it may, but to a large extent inform the larger society to desist from engaging in premarital sex which may lead to pregnancy before writing their B.E.C.E exams.

“Everything which is not good in a society should be exposed, so that parents would also know how to talk to their wards to refrain from premarital sex.” She added that there is time for everything, but getting pregnant between the ages of 14 and 17 is premature and may bring about many complications that come along with pregnancy at that level.

Commenting on the cause of these early pregnancies, Mrs. Alibanwe made it clear that, technology has over the years been the major contributing factor. She explained that the advent of technology has made pornographic materials now easily accessible to teenagers influencing them to indulge in premarital sex. 

She said, though the various religious bodies, traditional authorities and other stakeholders are doing their best to curb the situation, the question that should be asked is whether the unmarried youth in general are ready to listen to this advice.

She said the media is a strong force that can help in effecting changes in our society, and urged it to continue exposing the on-ending pregnancy cases among B.E.C.E candidates in the country.

Parents were also advised to accept the unfortunate situation where their female children get impregnated and take care of them till they deliver after which they can go back to school.

Teachers,2, arrested over examination malpractice

Two teachers in the Prestea Huni-Valley District of the Western Region have been arrested and arraigned before the Prestea Magistrate Court Monday 24th June, 2013 for their alleged involvement in examination malpractice.

The two (2) teachers, Francis Mensah 35, a teacher at Prestea Catholic Junior High School and Frank Ayensu Amezugbe 26, a teacher at Tarkwa Breman Junior High School were arrested for indulging in examination malpractices during the nationwide  Basic Examination Certificate Examination (B.E.C.E) which ends today.

Confirming the arrest to a radio station in Bogoso, the Prestea Huni- Valley District Police Commander,Superintendent Ben Wonkyi said, at about 11:45 am on Wednesday 19^th June, 2013 when the pupils were writing the Mathematics paper, Mr. Francis Mensah went to the Prestea Goldfields School Examination Centre where his pupils were writing their exams, and pretended to be checking on  on his pupils. 

On sensing that no official was looking in his direction, he was alleged to have thrown a folded paper with prepared mathematics answers from 1 to 40 objective questions into one of the rooms where his pupils were located ostensibly for the answers to aid them in writing their examination.

Unfortunately for him Superintendent Wonkyi said, the external invigilator from West African Examinations Council, Solomon Kwakofie, who was present suspected him and with the help of the security peronnel at the Centre arrested him.

On that same day, Superintendent Ben Wonkyi said, Mr. Solomon Kwakofie again caused the arrest of Frank Ayensu Amesugbe of Tarkwa Bremen Junior High School at St. Augustin Senior School Examination Centre. Mr Amesugbe was in possession in of a mobile phone with prepared answers for the Basic Designs and Technology which the pupils were writing at that time.

The prepared answers were said to be from 1 to 30 objective questions which he claimed he received as a text from a friend by name Badu.

The two were on 19^th June, 2013 detained by the Police and released on the June 20, 2013 and are appearing before the Prestea Magistrate Court today.

Supt. Wonkyi said investigations are underway to locate and find out from the said Mr. Badu, if he indeed sent the text.

The Basic Education Certificate Examination (B.E.C.E) is a requirement needed to enter a Senior High School. The pupils are examined to know whether they are ready to go to the higher level, therefore anything to mare or undermine the exercise should not be taken lightly by the West African Examination Council.

Golden Star Resources meets with the media

Mr. Jerry Agala,  General Manager, NCM, addressing the media 

Golden Star Resources Bogoso ,Prestea Limited (GSBPL) has met with a cross section of the members of the media in the Western Region.

The meeting  is said to be in line with the Company`s vision of growing a brand name gold mining company, and also served as a platform for the Company to reassure stakeholders of its social commitment, particularly to its host communities.

Presenting a synopsis of the “The Signed Negotiated Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS)  Agreements between GSBPL & Mine’s Local Communities (MLC’s)”, as the highlight of the media engagement, the Community Relations and Social Responsibility Manager of GSBPL, Mr. Robert Gyamfi, explained that the media engagement is expected to be a regular feature where various aspects of the Company’s community engagement programme would be presented and discussed with the Press.

The objective of the exercise would be to sustain and strengthen the trust and relationship that has been achieved between the Company and its communities in the last few years. It was also to solicit the support of the Media in educating, communicating and informing the public and the Company’s primary stakeholders on its development and operational policies.

As the second major engagement with the media since the  public/media forum in preparation towards the reopening of the New Century Mine (Prestea Underground Mine), the  General Manager of New Century Mine, Mr. Jerry Agala, expressed his profound appreciation on behalf of GSBPL  Management, for the support  and  collaboration  it  enjoyed during the reopening of the underground mine.

He stated that, the work of the media has gone a long way to objectively inform and managed the community and public expectations following the reopening of the mine.

A cross section of the media at the event

In response to a question on the status of Company’s Prestea South project, Mr Agala explained that the 21 days mandatory period for the announcement of the project have matured and is currently awaiting a scheduled date to be communicated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a Public Hearing on the project. He indicated that, in his capacity as General Manager, he is not permitted to make public pronouncements on the project till after the public hearing.

He however assured the members of the media of his readiness to meet with any interested persons seeking information and a proper understanding on any of the Company’s projects. He promised to on behalf of the Company support the development of the Media in the Region. 

The media encounter which took place at the Prestea-Huni Valley District was at the invitation of GSBPL.

Fire victims to receive support in the form of building materials

The Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Kojo Bonsu, has stated that the GH₵ 200,000.00 support package announced by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly to support the victims of the last Sunday inferno at the Central Market would be given to the traders in the form of building materials to support the temporary reconstruction of the market.

This pronouncement follows fears expressed by some of the affected traders that their leaders may not equally disburse whatever monetary package coming from the Assembly, hence should be given the monies directly.

The KMA boss visited the scene of the fire outbreak at the popular Kumasi Central Market, and as part of his visit conveyed the condolence of Government to the victims of the fire, and assured them of the Government’s commitment to support them in whatever way possible in the wake of this unfortunate incident.

He used the occasion to tour and acquaint himself with developments within the market together with the Metro City Engineer, Metro Waste Management Director among other officials from the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly.

At the end of his tour, the KMA Mayor acknowledged the congestion in the Central Market adding that his encounter to a large extent would aid the Assembly to come out appropriate measures on how to address the problems of the Market

In a related development local artisans and woodworkers are cashing in fast on the rebuilding of the shops and stalls at the site of the fire outbreak. As part of measures announced on Monday by the KMA, the affected traders have been given the go ahead to reconstruct their shops bearing in mind plans by the Assembly to permanently rebuild the Market in the not too distant-future.

This directive has been welcomed by the affected traders who have immediately engaged the services of local artisans to reconstruct their shops and stalls which were razed down by the fire. Almost a day after the green light was given, a visit to parts of the market shows a picture of erected skeletal structures which would once more accomodate the traders for trading activities.

Traders ‘tamper’ with evidence

It is feared that some volume of evidence which could possibly aid ongoing investigations into the Kumasi Central Market fire incident  which occurred last Sunday, might have been lost to the invasion of traders into the scene of investigations.

The National Chief Fire Officer, Br. John Bosco Guyiri, who did not find the behavior convenient appealed to the traumatized traders to exercise patience and allow investigations to ascertain the true cause of the fire.

He observed that very often, affected persons of fire disasters interfere one way or the other with evidence which could easily help the Fire Service to unravel the cause of such fires, and cautioned against the practice which he says hinders the investigations of fire officials.

Brigadier Guyiri disclosed that secluded areas at the scene of the fire incidence taped to enable the team of investigators to carry out investigations into the disaster have all been breached, with traders all over attempting to salvage the remainder of their half burnt wares. Other traders could visible be seen trying to clear the debris to speedily set up their stalls and shelters.

Meanwhile, a three member team of the US fire experts who have been called into the country to investigate the unending markets fire incidents have visited the scene at the Kumasi Central Market together with officials of Ghana National Fire Service.

Even though no official pronouncement were made at the time of the visit, executives of the various trading associations who members were affected by the fire are sending signals not to allow any takeover by city authorities since the area of the market they occupy does not belong to the Assembly.

However, Mr. Kofi Sarpong, National Chairman, Ghana Used Clothing Association have asked all affected traders to remain calm despite several calls to protest against any attempt to take over the market. He re -echoed the sentiments of the traders indicating that they would welcome the reconstruction of the whole market but however resist fiercely against any decision to them single out.

In a rather bizarre incident a trader exposed herself to officials who were touring the sections of the burnt market to demonstrate their threat to stage a ‘naked demo’ if any move is made to evict them.

Scenes from Kumasi Central Market...

traders invade scene of investigation

Commercialize the output of research works – Dr. Oteng Adjei tells CSIR-BRRI

The Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has been asked by the Sector Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Joe Oteng Adjei, to commercialize the output of it research works in order to generate money to make the Institute financially autonomous.

Dr. Oteng-Adjei maintains that by commercializing the output of the research works, the Institute stands to benefit financially from domestic and foreign businesses, and organizations which access the research findings for their operations.

He therefore further informed the BRRI of the willingness of the Ministry for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) to collaborate and work together to explore means by which this initiative could be made realized.

His pronouncement comes to reinforce the call on the BRRI earlier, to become ‘financially self-reliant’ within the next three years ahead.

The Minister said this at the inauguration of the National Artisan Training Centre, and the official opening of the maiden artisan training workshop at Fumesua in the Ejisu Juben Municipality of the Ashanti Region.

The Centre is intended be used for training builders in the use of local materials such as clay burnt bricks, compressed earth blocks and Pozzolana Cement for housing constructions among others.

At this Centre, contractors, built environment professionals, artisans, producers of local building materials among others would receive competence-based, cost-saving modern techniques and effective technologies developed by CSIR-BRRI to achieve better outputs in housing delivery.

The creation of the National Artisan Training Centre was made possible through the collaboration of the Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, and the CSIR-BRRI whose research findings is revealed to have identified local materials as alternative to imported building materials.

About 50 artisans are going to receive training free of charge. The Centre also plans to organize such training programmes quarterly on both sponsored and fee-paying basis with the view of helping to reduce the avoidable 15-20% wastage, and the poor workmanship associated with Ghanaian artisans.

It was also made public that, the national housing deficit is presently estimated to be over 1,500,000 units and increasing annually. This huge deficit is said to be posing serious social and environmental problems to the country. However, it is anticipated the utilization of local materials for mass production of affordable housing units can mitigate these problems.

According to Dr. Oteng-Adjei , the Government spends about $250 million annually to import construction materials into the country. However, with the findings of the CSIR-BRRI about the effectiveness of local materials as alternative to the foreign imports, the Government has come out with a policy for the construction industry to utilize 60% of local materials by the year 2020.

The Government thus by this initiative have affirmed its trust in the CSIR-BRRI hoping that the Institute could provide the building and construction industry with cost effective and affordable housing delivery.

The Industry is said to contribute approximately 12% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), making it the second highest contributor. The contributions of the Industry is believed to have significantly aided Government in alleviating poverty, as it’s provides both skilled and unskilled jobs for the youth and other professional builders. 

3, 133 candidates writes B.E.C.E. in Prestea-Huni Valley District

A total of 3,133 students are said to be writing this year’s Basic Examination Certificate Exams in the Prestea-Huni Valley District of the Western Region.

Mr. Stephen Dagadu, the Prestea Huni-Valley District Examination Co-ordinator who made this disclosure also expressed the readiness of his outfit to ensure an incident free examination this year.

He gave indications that all is set for the smooth conduct of the B.E.C.E an exam which starts nationwide on Monday, June 17.
 

According to Mr. Dagadu, out of the total candidates of 3,133 taking the exams, 3,045 of the figure are directly from the District, of which 1620 are males and the remaining 1,425 being females. The extra 88 candidates from two Junior High Schools from Ellembele District, who due to the proximity of their schools to the Prestea Huni- Valley District, would also be writing in the Prestea Huni-Valley District.

Mr. Dagadu further said, the examination will take place in 6 centers in the district namely, Prestea Goldfeilds A and B- Prestea, St. Augustines Senior High School- Bogoso, Methodist Basic School- Bogoso, Huni- Valley Senior High School- Huni-Valley and Aboso Methodist Basic School-Aboso.

These centers he said would each be manned by one Senior Supervisor, two Assistant supervisors and one Internal Invigilator. He added that those in charge would ensure the examination is devoid of malpractices.

Prestea Huni-Valley District for the past years has not been able to come first in the Western Region in terms of the B.E.C.E, but have recorded some significant feat which makes the District branch of GES hopeful that this year's exams would go well for the District.

In 2011, the District placed 5^th with 65% but fell to 7^th position last year with 60.2%. Sources indicate that, last year's position has propelled the District Branch of the Ghana Education Service to conduct several mock examinations for the Junior High Schools to aid them write the papers successfully this year.

The candidates were rigorously examined in series of mathematics and science papers as the two subjects tend to put fear in most candidates during exams.

Mr. Stephen Dagadu ending advised candidates to desist from sending foreign materials into the examination halls, especially mobile phones as those can lead to cancellation of their examinations papers.

Touching on the presence of the Police, Mr. Dagadu asked candidates not to be frightened as they are just there to maintain peace during the examination.

On the other hand, candidates starting their exams on Monday have expressed their readiness to put up their best in writing the papers next week. In an interview with some of them in the Prestea Huni- Valley District, they said with the concluding of the syllabi and several mocks they have had, the road is clear for them to come out successfully

Apex Bank to commence branchless banking soon

The ARB Apex Bank Limited is said to soon roll out an alternative form of banking to the conventional branch-based banking which allows financial institutions and other commercial actors to offer financial services outside the traditional bank premises with the acquisition of the Temenos Arc Mobile Platform.

This latest initiative, known as branchless banking (BB), is considered to represent a significantly cheaper alternative to the conventional branch-based banking, - and forms crucial part of the Bank’s primary responsibility to develop products for rural banks.

According to Mr. Kwadwo Aye Kusi, Managing Director, ARB Apex Bank Limited, ‘one of the primary impediments to providing financial services to the poor through branches and other bank – based delivery channels is the high costs inherent in these traditional banking methods.’

‘’The amount of money expended by financial service providers to serve their customers with small balances and conducting small transactions is too great to make such accounts viable. In addition, when financial service providers do not have branches that are close to the customer, the customer is less likely to use and transact with their service,” he further added. 

It is believed that, it’s in line with some of the aforementioned hurdles that this latest innovation in rural banking is being introduced.

The operation of the branchless banking (BB) would be made possible through the use of delivery channels like retail agents, mobile phones among others, and is believed can substantially be used to increase the financial services outreach to the un-banked communities.

This pronouncement was made during the 29^th Annual General Meeting of shareholders of the Amenfiman Rural Bank at Wassa Akropong in the Western Region.

Speaking on risk management and internal controls, Mr. Aye Kusi once again noted the present competitiveness of the banking business and its associated risk and challenges. He observed that, to minimize the risk, there is the need for effective risk management at all levels of corporate governance, and urged boards of rural banks to institute such policies to identify, assess, monitor and control operational and credit risks among others.

He announced that, an ICT security policy will soon be instituted to ensure that risk associated with the implementation of ICT products are reduced to the minimum. Some experts are said to have been engaged already to begin work in Information Security for the RCB network.

He also reminded rural banks to strengthen their internal control mechanisms to ensure that adequate and effective measures are initiated to enhance standards and improve performance, for the attainment of their overall objectives.

The microfinance enterprise which has gained a lot of interest, particularly in some urban and rural communities in the country presently, has long been part of the numerous products of RCBs. However, this area of the finance and banking industry has witnessed a keen competition with the increasing establishment of microfinance firms all over in the country over the past decade.

Mr. Aye Kusi believes that RCBs can take more advantage of this enterprise by developing and creating a unique marketing niche to strengthen their microfinance businesses considering the vast potential of rural banks in this area. He therefore ‘sounded a wakeup call’ for RCBs to re-think microfinance given the proliferation of microfinance institutions all over, and promote it to sustain their operations.

The ARB Apex Bank with the assistance of DANIDA is also said to have instituted a merger fund to assist RCBs intending to merge with paid for consultancy services.  

Swift Trust Microfinance comes under attack

Tens of frustrated customers of Swift Trust Microfinance on Thursday besieged the office of the Kumasi branch in demand of their contributions made to the Company over the past years.

According to an aggrieved customer who spoke on condition of anonymity, allegedly the Company was folding up and therefore has not been able to grant them the opportunity to withdraw from their savings for quite some time now.

However upon honoring a request for them to come for their contributions on Thursday, they were once more informed to return later for the money since the money in the coffers of the firm was not enough to settle all the customers. This however did not go down well with the customers who held up the officials of the firm for hours to demand immediate refund of their savings. Some of the customers who could not any longer put up with the frustrations threatened to report the matter to the police.

The charged atmosphere at the scene of the office, located behind COCOBOD house, nearly turned chaotic but was however brought under control by some slight showers which forced the customers to disperse in anger.

An official of Swift Trust Microfinance explained, they experienced some few challenges which led to a halt of the ‘susu’ collection briefly. However, some of their customers who perceive this break as a collapse of the firm have been demanding for a refund of their savings for which reason some monies went sent from Accra to settle them off.

 Unfortunately however, the money sent from Accra was not enough to cater for all the customers who had gathered at the premises of the office, at the time of picking this report, to withdraw their savings.

The official, whose name has been withheld, indicates the firm is currently serving close to 200 customers within Kumasi, for which reason this situation could dent the reputation of the firm.

Swift Trust Microfinance, formally known as Set Goals Microfinance with branches in some parts of the country, has been operating a ‘susu’ collection scheme with majority of its clientele being petty traders and small business operators.

The current situation adds up to numerous instances in the Ashanti Region alone in which huge sums monies belonging to customers of savings and loans firms have been engulfed in such controversies.