Plastic Menace: Public Urged to Embrace Biodegradable Alternatives

 GBCs Isaac Asare

An Assistant Programme Officer at the Eastern Regional Office of the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Michael Odame, has observed, that issues of plastic menace are major challenges confronting the world today, and would require comprehensive initiatives to manage. 

He said research shows that one fourth of plastics generated enter the oceans and about one fifth of plastics used by humans, enter their body system. 

Mr. Odame, said a minute aspect of what enters the human system known as micro-plastics, can be done away with through the change of mindset and behaviour of humans, noting that countries like Bangladesh, Rwanda and Kenya, have appreciated the extension of harmful and damaging effects of plastics to the environment, and have therefore banned its usage through stiffer measures. 

Speaking to GBC News, Mr. Odame, was hopeful that Ghana will gradually get to that awareness as the EPA and its partners are formulating policies and intensified citizens education to accept the best alternatives to plastics. 

Mr. Odame outlined the effort being put in place by the Environment Ministry to minimize the impact of plastics on the environment.

 He further noted that just as it took many years for people to get used to the usage of plastics, many years are needed through massive education drive for people to know the damage and harmful effects of plastics and to accept biodegradable alternative being campaigned for.

GBC

Govt asked to prioritize provision of Basic School Textbooks over free tablets for SHS students

 Story: GBCs Isaac Asare

Education Policy Analyst, Divine Kpe

An Education Policy Analyst, Divine Kpe has shot down government’s decision to supply tablets to students in Senior High School, describing it as a misplaced priority. 

He told inewsonlinegh.com that although the provision of the tablets which will be pre-loaded with textbooks and past examination questions is laudable, the timing is wrong, especially when students at the Basic Education Level are confronted with myriad of challenges. 

Government’s intention to distribute free electronic tablets to all Senior High Schools this year, was made known by the Vice-President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia at the opening of the 2023 Annual New Year School and Conference at the University of Ghana, Legon. 

Mr. Kpe, however, argues, that particular attention should rather be channeled to the basic level where only 30 percent of textbooks since December, last year have been supplied, four years into the introduction of the curriculum.

GBC

Debt Exchange Program: Pensioners Bondholders Forum Reiterate Calls for Outright Exemption

 

Dr Adu Anane Antwi in a tit-chat with journalists

The Convener for Pensioners Bondholders Forum, Dr. Adu Anane Antwi, is calling for an outright exemption of pensioners bondholders from the Debt Exchange Programme. 

He believes disagreements regarding the debt restructuring would not have gotten this far, if Government had earlier engaged key stakeholders to chart the way forward. 

All creditors, he stressed should have been consulted before roping them into the current negotiation. Speaking to GBC News, the immediate past Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, however proposed the establishment of a Local Creditors Committee, whose mandate will be to negotiate on behalf of all local bondholders including Retirees.

 Dr Antwi said pensioners deserve better condition of service and not to be subjected to actions that would worsen their plight.

GBCs Isaac Asare report

WAEC Refutes Media Report

 Story: GBCs Isaac Asare

The West African Examinations Council, WAEC is urging the public to disregard information circulating on social media, that results for the 2022 Basic Education Certificate Examination for school and Private candidates have been released. 

A statement by the Head of Legal at the Council, Reverend Victor Brew, refuted media reports on the matter, stating that the target date for the release of results for both school and Private Candidates is Wednesday January 25, 2023.

  It said having conducted the examination at two thousand and 23 centers and completed coordination and marketing exercises, the Council is far advanced with post-examination activities. 

The statement further said investigations into examination irregularities detected during and after the conduct of the exams, are ongoing. It said for quick resolution of examination malpractices, affected school authorities and candidates must respond with dispatch to its invitation. 

Consequently, the Council shall go ahead to make a final determination on the cases in question, if candidates refuse to honor such invitations. 

The statement urges parents and candidates to remain calm as WAEC works towards the release of the results to enable successful and qualified candidates, enter Senior High Schools and Technical Institutes at the beginning of the academic year.

Kinka Blonya: Education of Children in Ga State My Priority -Ga Mantse

 

      By GBCs Isaac Asare 

Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II

The Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru, says education remains his topmost priority and he will, give prominence to the education of children. He said developing the child holistically through education is the best legacy he can bequeath children in the Ga state who are out of school. 

King Tackie Teiko Tsuru also encouraged parents who are not financially capable to reach out to his office for assistance. The Ga Mantse made the remarks at the Kinka Blonya of the Ga State in Accra. 

Kinka refers to the Dutch traders who established the Usher Fort. They were referred to as Kinka Blorfo, which literally means the Dutch White People. 

History has it that the Dutch used to organize Children’s Party in front of the Fort to usher in the New Year. 

This Party was taken over by King Tackie Tawia I, who made it an annual event for Children under the name "Kinka Blonya." After a long break in the Celebration, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II revived the event in 2018 and has since made it a yearly affair.  

The programme which covers children within the Ga Mashie area is to bring smiles on the faces of the Ga Children through games and merry making. The idea is to expose the Ga Children to their values and culture and to strengthen the relationship between the Ga Mantse and Children in the Ga state with the view to bringing them hope. 

Addressing the gathering, the Ga Mantse emphasized his resolve to rekindle the event and see to the education of out of school children in the area

Hundreds of children who thronged the Bukom Park were fete and thrilled with traditional music performances. 

The event was also spiced with drama and performances by Ghana’s highlife musician Amandzeba Nat Brew and Gospel Song Minister, Frank Nii Okai Tagoe, also known as Perez Music among a host of others.

EDUWATCH advocate for Scholarship System Responsive to the Needs of Tertiary Students

 

Kofi Asare, Exec Dir EDUWATCH

Tertiary education remains an unreachable right for many Ghanaian students due to financial constraints, and this is of particular concern to stakeholders such as Education Think Tank, Africa Education Watch EDUWATCH, which has described the issue as regrettable.

 It said that its office has for the past years, being inundated with requests from brilliant but needy students, most of whom have A1s in all subjects. 

Executive Director of EDUWATCH, Kofi Asare who disclosed this to Radio Ghana's Isaac Asare, said what is important is for the country to reset the scholarship scheme that identifies and support brilliant and needy students to pursue tertiary education.

He said a workable scholarship system is urgently required to help provide financial assistance to brilliant but needy students, many of whom attained A1 in all subjects. 

Mr Asare added that such category of students mainly from deprived communities often gets admission but there is no system to support them pursue tertiary education. 

He mentioned that aside from the scholarship secretariat, a deliberate scholarship system is required to facilitate disbursement of fund before admission rather than the normal procedure where beneficiaries are able to access the fund months after admission. 

Mr Asare again challenged government to reset the Student Loan Trust Fund and make it responsive to the needs of tertiary students

GBC

EDUWATCH takes on NUGS President over comments on Free SHS

Exec. Dir EDUWATCH, Kofi Asare

Executive Director of the Education Think Tank, Africa Education Watch, Kofi Asare, has debunked the assertion by the President of the National Union of Ghana Students, NUGS that giving parents the option to pay school fees for their wards under the Free Senior High School Programme will create classism in schools. 

The NUGS President, Dennis Appiah Larbi-Ampofo, has said that treatment of students will vary should government explore such an option. 

But in an interview with GBC's Isaac Asare, Executive Director of Eduwatch, Kofi Asare argued that allowing parents who are high income earners to contribute part of the cost of the flagship programme is the best way to support government meet 100 percent cost of the intervention. 

He said the outcome of free SHS is laudable, but management of the policy needs to be enhanced to achieve efficiency by allowing beneficiaries to part in the funding regime to sustain it. 

He hinted that for the past five years, government through the finance ministry has been able to provide a maximum of 60 percent of the funding required for the policy at the end of the year. 

The renowned educationist further revealed the average disbursement of funds for the free SHS including cost of feeding is between 60-65 percent, an indication that if government is able to get funding support of about 35-40 percent from other sources, challenges with the implementation of the flagship program will be resolved especially with food supply which covers over 70 percent the overall cost of the policy.

GBC