KWAMI'S NEWSROOM

A Ghana Aids Commission report from 2022 estimated that 72,429 people in Ghana's Ashanti Region were living with HIV. However, only 26,006 of these individuals were receiving life-saving antiretroviral (ARV) treatment through local health facilities. This left 46,421 people who were either undiagnosed or had stopped treatment.  Mr. Dennis Bandoh, the Deputy Ashanti Regional Focal Person for HIV/AIDS, provided more recent data to the Ghana News Agency. He disclosed that in the first three quarters of 2023, the region saw 4,618 new HIV cases. This represented a concerning 2.1% rise from the previous year. HIV testing in Ashanti occurs through two main programs. One focuses on preventing mother-to-child transmission, targeting pregnant women. The other offers general testing for non-pregnant individuals. Under these initiatives, 681 pregnant women and 3,937 others tested HIV-positive. A major challenge, according to Mr. Bandoh, is that men rarely test voluntarily due to reluctance. So...

  CETAG, the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana, has expressed its disagreement with John Mahama's proposal to eliminate licensure exams for teacher trainees. CETAG asserts that these exams are essential for assessing the competence and quality of aspiring teachers, and therefore should not be abolished. During his 'Building Ghana Tour' in the Bono Region, John Mahama vowed to abolish licensure exams for teacher trainees, arguing that subjecting them to additional assessments is unnecessary for qualification. In contrast to Mahama's stance, CETAG firmly believes that licensure exams play a crucial role in evaluating the competency of teacher trainees and should not be eliminated. CETAG stresses the significance of licensure exams in upholding teaching standards and ensuring the proficiency of future educators. According to the association, these exams are a necessary measure to maintain quality in the teaching profession. President Himah urges the imple...

  The Africa Education Watch (EduWatch) has called for the reintroduction of entrance exams and interviews for individuals seeking admission into public Colleges of Education in Ghana. EduWatch argues that these measures serve as important quality filters during the selection process and should not have been abolished. Kofi Asare, the Executive Director of EduWatch, expressed this viewpoint in response to John Dramani Mahama's announcement that his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), plans to eliminate the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination (GTLE) if they come into power. Mahama believes that the GTLE is unnecessary since teachers already undergo exams at different stages of their training. He also promised automatic job placement for teacher trainee graduates, ensuring employment for all. However, EduWatch disagrees with Mahama and supports the licensing of teachers. Asare emphasizes that any approach to teacher training and licensing should prioritize the assurance of...

  The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has issued a warning against engaging with unapproved Money Transfer Organisations (MTOs) operating in the remittance and Ghana Forex Market.  The BoG specifically mentioned several organizations, including LEMFI, WISE, TRANSFER GO, XOOM-A PAYPAL SERVICE, SENDWALU, BOSS REVOLUTION, BTC-AZA FINANCE, and SUPERSONIC, that lack approval from the bank.  The public, banks, Dedicated Electronic Money Issuers (DEMI), and Enhanced Payment Service Providers (EPSP) are cautioned to refrain from dealing with these unapproved institutions.  The BoG emphasized the need for approved MTOs to conduct foreign exchange flows solely through their partner institutions and comply with all operational guidelines. Non-compliance may lead to severe sanctions, including license withdrawal for the breaching institution.

OccupyGhana and the Media Coalition Against Galamsey are urging Parliament to pass an Act that prohibits all mining activities in forest reserves and biodiversity areas in Ghana.  They believe that such legislation is necessary to protect these important national areas. The groups issued a statement following reports of mining rights being granted or recognized in the Kakum forest.  They call for the revocation of existing regulations that allow mining in forest reserves and suggest involving the Forestry Commission, Lands Commission, and public engagement in decisions regarding the cessation of forest reserves.  They also demand the cancellation of the Forests (Cessation of Forest Reserve) Instrument (EI 144 of 2022) that revoked the forest reserve status of the Achimota Forest.

  The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has recently released the provisional results for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) conducted in 2023, for both school and private candidates. These results are now available online for access. In Accra, Ghana, it has been reported that 312 school candidates and 3 private candidates have had their subject results cancelled. This action was taken due to their involvement in bringing foreign materials into the examination hall or colluding with other candidates. To access the results, school candidates will receive their individual results through their respective schools. This will be done through the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Directors of Education. On the other hand, private candidates can directly access their results on the official website of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) at www.waecgh.org. Additionally, school candidates also have the option to check their results online on the council's...

  The Ghana Education Service (GES) has introduced a groundbreaking initiative called the 'National Prospectus' for senior high and technical schools in the country. This harmonized prospectus aims to provide clarity and eliminate ambiguity regarding the requirements for incoming first-year students Under this new arrangement, all schools are expected to adhere strictly to the national prospectus without imposing any additional items beyond what has been officially prescribed. This means that parents will no longer have to wait until the rollout of the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) before shopping for their children's school supplies. The national prospectus is categorized into two main sections: basic needs and cleaning materials. The first category, 'Category A,' includes essential items such as a hard body suitcase or trunk, a chop box or hard plastic container, toiletries, beddings, school-specific footwear, undergarments, cutlery, a...

  The Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) has taken legal action against eight public institutions for their failure to deduct and remit loan repayments from the salaries of 98 employees who borrowed from the fund during their education. The defaulting employers have been warned by the police to either comply with these deductions or face court action. Sources have indicated that the institutions have already received police notices to address the issue before the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). Despite being served notice on three occasions, the affected institutions have yet to take action. Nana Kwaku Agyei Yeboah, the CEO of SLTF, emphasized the fund's commitment to recovering outstanding loans to ensure continued financial support for Ghanaian students seeking higher education. Rosemary Aryee, Deputy Director of Repayment and Resource Mobilization at SLTF, stressed that the failure of employers to comply with loan deductions has been a persistent issue hindering the fund...

  In the latest update, it has come to our attention that trainees who faced delays in receiving their allowances during the first semester due to uncertainties in their account details have been advised to visit their nearby banks or E-ZWICH vendors for a recheck. The Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) has initiated the process of disbursing funds to these rectified accounts. There is also speculation that the SLTF might include payments for the remaining two months' arrears of the 2022/2023 academic year in the same payment cycle, assuming all goes as planned. This news will undoubtedly be a relief to many trainees who have eagerly awaited their arrears, as it will provide the financial assistance needed to cover their living expenses. Sources report that the SLTF has been diligently working to resolve disbursement issues for both teacher and nursing trainees to ensure they receive their allowances promptly. We will continue to keep trainees informed of any further developments rega...

  The government is committed to providing ample funding to colleges of education to create an environment conducive to national and international development through research and innovative, high-quality teaching. This education will be ICT-driven. To this end, GH¢ 362,429,568.00 has been approved for the payment of book and research allowances to eligible senior members of public tertiary institutions nationwide. This funding commitment aims to create equal opportunities for staff to advance their careers and enable educational institutions to become self-sufficient in terms of human resources. This announcement was made by Prof. Yayra Dzakadzie, the Director of Tertiary Education at the Ministry of Education, during the 14th graduation ceremony of the Jasikan College of Education. The theme of the event was "Overcoming challenges of the teaching profession: the role of character, innovation, and creativity." Prof. Dzakadzie emphasized that the government is providing the n...

The University of Ghana (UG) has issued a notice that starting from the 2023/2024 academic year, students in the Colleges of Basic and Applied Sciences, Education, and Humanities, with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) below 1.00, will face withdrawal from the university. This decision is in accordance with Section 9.26 of the University Regulations for Junior Members (2017), which specifies that undergraduate students who fail to achieve the required minimum CGPA for progression to the next academic level will be subject to withdrawal. The Academic Affairs Directorate of UG has informed that current level 200 and level 300 students who have received their examination results for all registered courses in the 2022/2023 academic year and have obtained a CGPA below the approved minimum for their respective college should anticipate receiving official withdrawal letters from the University via their official UG email addresses shortly. For students who have already paid their tuitio...

  Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Minister of Education, stressed the need for Ghana's education system to shift away from relying on leadership produced through apprenticeship and instead focus on purposefully trained leaders who prioritize learning outcomes. He made these remarks during the launch of the National Education Leadership Institute (NELI) in Takoradi. Dr. Adutwum highlighted the results of a study conducted by the National Standardized Test in 2022, which assessed the reading abilities of Primary-2 students. The study revealed that 62 percent of primary-2 pupils were unable to read, a situation that had deteriorated since 2015. In 2015, only 2 percent of Primary-2 students were able to read, and despite efforts in 2022 to assess the reading skills of all Primary-2 students in the country, the results indicated that 38 percent of students could read, leaving 62 percent who still struggled with reading. Dr. Adutwum expressed his dissatisfaction with these statistics. To addre...

Peter Ani Partey, the Executive Director of the Institute for Education Studies, has expressed his concerns regarding the potential departure of teachers from Ghana to the United Kingdom, which has opened up recruitment opportunities for educators from African countries. He emphasized that this situation should be a cause for concern. The UK government's new recruitment policy targets teachers with qualifications equivalent to their British counterparts and a minimum of one year of teaching experience. According to the National Teaching Council (NTC) of Ghana, there are approximately 10,000 teachers in the country who meet these criteria and are certified to work abroad. The possible exodus of such a substantial number of teachers could have a significant impact on Ghana's educational system, potentially resulting in a severe shortage of qualified teaching staff within the country and affecting the overall quality of education. Mr. Partey highlighted the importance of r...

  Mr. Benjamin Semenyo Lifeson, a dedicated educator at the Presbyterian College of Education in Akuapim North, Eastern Region, has received well-deserved recognition for his exceptional contributions to the field of education. At the prestigious 2023 Ghana Teacher Prize ceremony held in Takoradi on October 5th, Mr. Lifeson was honored with the title of "Most Outstanding College Tutor." His selection was the result of a rigorous process, and it reflects his unwavering commitment to teaching and the profound impact he has had on his students. Mr. Lifeson has been a cornerstone of the Presbyterian College of Education for several years, consistently leaving a positive mark on the lives of his students. Beyond his teaching responsibilities, he actively engages in "community projects" designed to enhance education within the college and the broader region. As a mentor, he has been instrumental in guiding countless young individuals, inspiring them to pursue their aspira...

  A tragic incident occurred when a junior high school teacher lost his life in a motorbike accident on the Agona Nkwanta-Takoradi Highway in the Western Region. The grieving wife, Eunice Ntonah, shared her heart-wrenching story, stating, "We were both residing in the same community, but we returned to our hometown for the holiday. He had decided to report to school today and later come to pick me up to join him, but to my disbelief, the heart-wrenching news of his untimely death was delivered to me. On the morning of Tuesday, October 3, while reporting to school on the first day of reopening, he was tragically struck by a speeding Sprinter bus from the opposite direction, resulting in his instant demise. His body has been transferred to a private morgue at Apimanim, pending further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident. Eunice Ntonah, grieving her husband's loss, recounted their love story and expressed her deep sorrow, saying, "This December woul...

  Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Minister of Education, has unveiled plans for 12 Senior High Schools to introduce aviation and aerospace engineering courses in collaboration with universities in the upcoming academic year. Additionally, 30 schools will receive online learning management systems loaded onto tablets. This initiative is a crucial component of the government's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) transformation agenda. It will enable students who enroll and graduate from these programs to complete one year of college work and subsequently spend three years in university, rather than the traditional four-year duration. Addressing the 2nd STEM Promotion Roadshow at the Abomosu STEM Model School in the Eastern Region, Dr. Adutwum emphasized the significance of education in driving the country's economic transformation. He stated, "Twelve schools in our country are going to offer aviation and aerospace engineering. We are collaborating with univers...

  "The National Teaching Council (NTC) has officially communicated the full implementation of fees and charges for teaching licenses, set to take effect starting in 2023. In a letter dated September 26, 2023, addressed to the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), the NTC notified teachers nationwide of this important policy change. This decision aligns with a directive from the Parliament of Ghana, emphasizing the need to standardize the licensing process for educators throughout the country. Outlined below are the fees and charges associated with teaching licenses, as per the NTC's announcement: 1. License Cards: GH¢ 200 will now be required for the issuance of teaching license cards. 2. License Renewal: Teachers seeking to renew their teaching licenses will need to pay a fee of GH¢ 100. 3. Registration: The initial registration fee with the NTC has been established at GH¢ 50. The NTC's announcement reflects its ongoing commitment to enhancing the quality...

  Former Ghanaian First Lady, Theresa Kufuor, Passes Away at 87 Theresa Kufuor, the beloved wife of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, peacefully passed away at her residence in Peduase on Sunday, October 1, at the age of 87, surrounded by her family. President Nana Akufo-Addo expressed his condolences and visited the former President's home to offer his support. Born on October 25, 1935, Theresa Kufuor was not only the wife of the second President of Ghana's Fourth Republic but also served as the country's former First Lady. She had a distinguished career as a retired nurse and midwife. Mrs. Kufuor began her educational journey at the Catholic Convent, OLA, in Keta, Volta Region, Ghana. Later, she pursued nursing studies in London, becoming a Registered General Nurse in the Southern Hospital Group of Nursing, Edinburgh, Scotland. Further studies at the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford and Paddington General Hospital in London earned her the title of State Certified Midwife...

  The Ghana Education Service (GES) has officially opened positions for current Basic School teachers who aspire to teach in Senior High Schools. This announcement was communicated through a statement issued by GES on September 28, 2023. Prospective candidates are encouraged to submit their applications to the Ashanti Regional Director of Education by no later than October 3, 2023. As the application deadline is approaching swiftly, interested individuals are advised to promptly take advantage of this opportunity to advance their careers and make a positive contribution to the education of upcoming generations.

  Following their 27th General Assembly held in Ejisu-Abankro, the Teacher Trainees' Association of Ghana (TTAG) has issued a resolution, drawing attention to the critical issue of infrastructure development in colleges of education and calling for a substantial shift in approach. The Teacher Trainees' Association of Ghana (TTAG) is calling for the implementation of day and boarding status in all Colleges of Education. This proposal, coined as the "in-in-out-out, in-out-out-in" system, aims to address the significant infrastructure challenges that these colleges currently face. TTAG emphasizes that many colleges of education in Ghana struggle with inadequate infrastructure, which hinders the effective training of future educators. By adopting day and boarding status, students would have the flexibility to alternate between residing on-campus and commuting from home. The primary goal of this proposal is to mitigate the existing infrastructure deficit and create a more ...