MARCH 5

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News
DAILY
Prez Akufo-Addo presents awards
to 2018 best BECE students
THE PRESIDENT of the Republic, Nana
Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has presented
awards to 24 students who emerged as the
overall best students in the 2018 Basic
Education Certificate Examination.
Presenting the awards to the students at
the ‘President’s Independence Day Awards’
ceremony, on Friday, March 1, 2019,
President Akufo-Addo noted that “they have
brought considerable joy and pride to their
families, schools, communities and to
themselves, and it is only appropriate that
they receive the plaudits of the nation.”
Addressing the event at the Accra
International Conference Centre, the
President noted he has been working, over
the course of the last two years, to ensure
that knowledge and skill become the
backbone of the Ghanaian economy.
“That is why I am delighted that two years
of Government’s hard work has ensured that
all of you, including your colleagues and
seniors in senior high schools across the
country, in SHS 1 and SHS 2, are
beneficiaries of the Free Senior High School
policy,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo reiterated the belief
of his Government to ensuring that free
education widens the gates of opportunities
to every child, especially those whose talents
are arrested because of poverty.
“At this point in our history, we are
determined to complete the transformation
of the country into a modern, 21st century
nation that remains distinctly and uniquely
Ghanaian. It is for this reason that
investments in our educational system are a
key priority for my government,” the
President added.
The investments being made, he explained,
also require the usage of a school curriculum
that provides students with an education to
make them competitive on both the national
and global stage.
A new standards-based curriculum is to be
rolled out from kindergarten to Class 6 in
primary schools, a curriculum which has
drawn upon best practices from across the
world, and will focus on making Ghanaian
students confident, innovative, creativethinking,
digitally-literate, well-rounded,
patriotic citizens. Mathematics, Science,
Reading, Writing and Creativity are at the
heart of this new curriculum.
In all of these, Government, according to
President Akufo-Addo, recognises the
important role of the teacher, and that is why
all Colleges of Education are being upgraded
to University colleges affiliated to five of the
nation’s public universities.
“In September last year, we
•The
introduced
cleared
a
site
4-year Bachelor of Education
proposed
(B.Ed) degree
for the
programme to replace the Diploma
SHS
in Basic
Education. Ultimately, this means that a first
degree will be the minimum requirement for
teaching at any level of our education system.
We have also conducted the maiden teacher
licensure examination, to ensure that potential
teachers acquire a professional license and
meet national teaching standards of
knowledge, skills, values and attitudes
required to deliver quality education in our
schools,” he added.
The President continued, “These policies
and programmes we are implementing today,
are geared towards the growth and
development of Ghana. We are preparing you
for the birth of a prosperous society – a
society which creates opportunities for all its
citizens, rewards creativity and enterprise,
honesty and hard work.”
He challenged the award winners to take
advantage of the wide-ranging opportunities
being afforded them in the years ahead,
imploring that “as you accept these awards, I
urge you to remain grounded, honest and
modest, as you strive for excellence. Let the
Almighty be your guide at all times.”
•Eric Nartey
Yeboah and Yussif
Ibrahim Bangsua
• President Nana Akufo-Addo presenting an award to one of the winners
THE BUSINESS
Executive, organisers
of the Ghana Trade
and Commerce Awards
conferred a lifetime
Achievement Award to
the Group Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of the
Angel Group of companies, Dr
Kwaku Oteng at the maiden edition
of the awards held at the Holiday
Inn Hotel in Accra last week Friday.
Dr Oteng was the only person
out of six awardees who received the
lifetime award for his commitment
to job creation, Ghanaian
entrepreneurship and exemplary
contribution to the evolution of
trade in Ghana.
The event which was under the
theme ‘Using Trade to promote
Economic Growth’ saw captains of
industry as well as various traditional
rulers and members of the
Diplomatic corps in attendance.
The plague noted that Dr Oteng
made his mark on Ghana in 2001
with the Angel Herbal Products
Industry which began a
transformational journey for Ghana’s
Herbal medicine terrain, noting the
significant contribution Dr Oteng
has made to Ghana over the past 18
years.
The Minister of Gender, Child
and Social Protection, Hon Cynthia
Morrison who was present at the
event speaking to the DAILY
HERITAGE, said her outfit was
interested in any programme which
would encourage hardworking
entrepreneurs to boost their work,
thus her presence.
She added that young
entrepreneurs should not be
perturbed by the hurdles that come
their way and that entrepreneurship
HERITAGE, TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019 WWW.DAILYHERITAGE.COM.GH
Dr Kwaku Oteng wins Lifetime
Achievement Award
• At Ghana Trade & Commerce Awards
BY RAMSON ACQUAH-HAYFORD
•Dr Kwaku Oteng
is for only the determined.
“I know that funding is a major
challenge for growing businesses but
if you have vision and passion you
will defy all odds.”
She then talked about some
projects her ministry is currently
undertaking, notable among them is
mobilising parents who are physically
challenged and setting them up with
small scale businesses.
The awards scheme is designed to
identify and publicly recognise
enterprises engaged in facilitating the
efficient process of getting products
successfully to consumers as well
adherence to regulations.
List of winners:
Human Resource business-
Jobberman
Best in wholesale business-
Nungua Warehouse
Best New Retail brand-Blue Skies
Best in marketing and PR
strategy-Adonko bitters
Best in CSR-Samatex Timber and
Plywood
Product of the year-Givers P
Capsules
Start Up business-Bliss Fares
Hospitality of the year- Accra
City Hotel
Online company of the year-
Supabet
Manufacturing company-
Unilever
Trade Insurance company-
Edwards Mensah Woods and
Associate
Best in Warehousing- Nungua
Warehouse
Best Road Construction company
- Allswell Investment
Best in Electronics and Computer
Solutions - Mericom Solutions GH
Ltd
Best in inventory management-
ECG
Outstanding customer service-
Vaniado
Building construction-Berock
ventures
Best Independent Retailer-Marina
Mall
Best in Sales strategies- Times
Herbal Mixture
Tourism business-Holy Trinity
Medical Centre
Small scale business- Elseana
Auto Fix
Best in value chain management-
ECG
Entrepreneur of the year -
Maxwell Kofi Jumah
About the Business Executive
The Business Executive Limited
is a pan West African media,
communications and events
Management Company
headquartered in Accra.
The company’s activities are
driven by their desire to support the
fulfillment of the long-held dream of
an economically integrated West
Africa that boast of a more than
300million strong single market; and
generating wealth for its citizens
across 16 countries through the
identification and exploitation of
business opportunities all around the
sub-region.
St Joseph R/C Basic School wins maiden debate competition
BY BENJAMIN TANDOH
AS PART of measures to improve
public speaking among Ghanaians,
Community Focus Foundation Ghana
(CFFG), a non-governmental
organization, in partnership with Young
Visionary Leaders Ghana (YVLG), has
held an inter-schools debate
competition for selected schools in the
Ga West Municipality in Accra.
The schools, Sacred Heart Anglican
School, Amasaman M/A Basic School,
St Joseph R/C Basic School, and
Fomwag Islamic Basic School,
participated in the first phase of the
competition and debated on the topic
‘Sex Education is causing more harm
than good to the Ghanaian Student’.
Speaking to the DAILY
HERITAGE at the side line of the
event, Mr Richard Kasu, Executive
Director, CFFG, explained that it was
time for the older generation to raise
and train responsible leaders for the
future, hence the programme.
He added that, the vision of his
outfit is to contribute to the attainment
of the Sustainable Development Goal
four, which talks about quality
education for all.
Mr Kasu further stated that “We
want to focus on the public speaking
educational improvement project and
measure the impact and be able to raise
some leaders.”
He mentioned that the debate was
the first step in developing a good
leaders, adding that, the platform will
shape them to become good leaders.
“We trying to raise leaders through
public speaking and this innovative
program that we’ve designed together
with our partners will help these pupils
to become responsible leaders in the
society,” he told the paper.
On his part, Bishop Nathaniel
Rudolph, Director of Administration,
Ghana United Nations Association,
indicated that the inability to train
people to speak up in our societies has
led to the high rate of corruption cases
on the African continent.
According to Bishop Rudolph, most
Africans have become timid due to
their upbringing; a situation he
•Mr Richard Kasu (Middle), Executive Director, CFFG with
partners and some students at the event
explained has limited more individuals
to speak against corruption in the
society.
He added that, children should be
given the opportunity to express
themselves and speak out against issues,
but insisted that there should be
guidelines and coaching in order not to
make them go to the extreme.
“Somebody’s gift might be speaking
in public. The moment the child starts
to grow that gifts grows and he or she
will start to go towards that time.
“What we [parents] have to do is to
manage the excesses. If someone asks
questions or talk we should allow him
or her but we should try and control
the excesses,” he said.
Also speaking to the paper, Mr
Joseph Afangbe, Executive Director,
YVLG, said the project is meant to
produce quality students with
leadership skills in public speaking
annually in line with their project goal.
“The project objective is to coach
and mentor pupils/students to develop
strong communication skills to become
dynamic, incisive and assertive leaders
in society,” he said.
Some of the partners include
Kamal Educational Centre, Scaleup
Future, and the Community Connect
Network, and was attended by the Mr
Clement Lamphey Wilkinson,
Municipal Chief Executive, Ga West
Municipal Assembly.
•Dr Kwasi Aning
Ashanti Region
entry point for
guns – Aning
BY KOBINA WELSING
A RENOWNED Security
Analyst, Dr Kwesi Aning,
has revealed that the Ashanti
Region has become the
entry and distribution point
for guns in the country and
the sub-region.
Dr Aning made the
comments when he
appeared before the Emile
Short led commission of
Inquiry, probing the
Ayawaso-West-Wuguon byelection
violence.
According to the
Director at the Faculty of
Academic Affairs &
Research with the Kofi
Annan International
Peacekeeping Training
Centre, the trend is
worrying, and one that could
destabilise the region.
“The level of collusion
between those who smuggle
guns into this country and
those who ought to be
preventing or protecting us
is immense. Guns have been
found in this country to
have emanated as far as
from DR Congo.
“French Second War
stocks have been found in
this country, the Ashanti
Region has become the
entry point for the entry and
distribution of guns in this
sub-region.”
He added that during the
Ayawaso by-election, he was
outside of the country but
noted the level of
embarrassment the incident
caused the nation
internationally.
Yesterday was the ninth
day since the commission
began its public hearing and
it has requested members of
the public wishing to submit
information, statements, or
other relevant materials to
do so through their
secretariat.
It has former Dean of
the Faculty of Law of
GIMPA and private legal
practitioner, Mr Ernest Kofi
Abotsi as its Secretary.
Henrietta Mensah Bonsu
and Patrick K. Acheampong
were also appointed as
members of the
Commission.
The commission has
been given one month to
complete its work.