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GES Director calls for urgent steps to secure school lands at Nabdam


Madam Mary Magdalene Wompakeah, the Nabdam District Director of Education, has called on major stakeholders to work together to secure lands belonging to schools in the district.

She said most school lands in the district were being encroached upon and the Directorate was finding it difficult to handle such issues.

She appealed to the two paramount chiefs, sub-chiefs and the District Assembly to address the challenge.

‘I wish to make a special appeal to the two paramount chiefs in the district and the district chief executive to make frantic efforts to get all school lands demarcated and documented,’ she stated.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Madam Wompakeah said such a move would help the Directorate to have a better plan for the expansion of the schools in future, to provide access to the growing population.

She emphasised that the district was growing and some of the schools would have to be expanded to provide access to education, however, the encroachment would hinder the expansion and
progress of the schools if not tackled immediately.

The district had only one public senior high school, and given the growing number of students being produced at the basic school level every year, there was the need for an additional second-cycle institution in the form of a technical or vocational school to train the youth, the Director noted.

That would afford the youth the opportunity to acquire employable skills and contribute to national development while reducing social vices.

‘I want to again make a passionate appeal to the government to absorb the Sakoti Methodist Senior High Technical School and furnish it with the necessary logistics to put the building to proper use,’ she added.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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KIC signs on six more higher institutions on its entrepreneurship and agribusiness


?The Kosmos Innovation Centre (KIC), a non-profit organisation with a focus on powering innovation, transforming communities and impacting lives, today signed on six more tertiary institutions to promote youth entrepreneurship and agribusiness.

They are?Kwadaso, Ejura,?Ohawu?and Damongo Agriculture Colleges,?C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED).

The six join the existing 10 tertiary institutions, totalling 16, that have agreed to implement the KIC AgriTech Challenge Programme to train students and informal young farmers in agri-entrepreneurship and innovation.

Mr Benjamin Gyan-Kesse, the Executive Director of KIC, signed for his outfit while the Pro-Vice Chancellors and Principals initiated for their respective institutions in Accra.

The initiative forms part of the scaling up of KIC’s programmes under its multi-year partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, to create dignified
and fulfilling employment opportunities for young people.

Mr Gyan-Kesse emphasized KIC’s commitment to youth development, working in collaboration with its partners to provide practical business training for young agripreneurs along the entire agricultural value chain.?

‘It is our focus to empower young men and women to drive innovation in agriculture towards the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals.’ Mr Gyan-Kesse said.

He said some of the programmes that will be run within the two-year agreement include the AgriTech Challenge Classic, AgriTech Challenge Pro, and Young AgriPreneur Forum.?

Through the AgriTech Challenge Classic and Pro programmes, students receive mentorship, training, and networking opportunities to start and grow their businesses.?

Mr Gyan-Kesse stated that students who went through to the business incubation stage, received funding support from KIC together with its partners to?enable them to scale up their businesses and become investor-ready.

This year, he noted that KIC had
also introduced the Young Farmer Business Academy (YFBA) to nurture and support the next generation of commercial farmers, beginning with the six new universities and colleges.?

This model will focus on training young people in primary agricultural production, providing them with resources and financial support.?

The beneficiaries, the Executive Director of KIC said, would also receive capacity building on the adoption of good agricultural practices, as well as farm business management.

Mr Bright Akoto, the Principal of Ejura Agric College, said it would enhance and expand the institution’s mandate to train and equip middle-level manpower with the requisite skills and knowledge in modern agricultural practices and agribusiness skills to provide technical and advisory services to farmers.??

He said the skills and knowledge acquired would assist them to set up their own private agribusiness enterprises.

‘Under the partnership, we will train 50,000 youth to gain employable skills and we will ensure that it
will be delivered,’ he said.

Professor Samson Abah Abagale, the Acting Vice Chancellor of?CKT-UTAS,?said the ideals of KIC were in sync with the university’s goal of using science and technology to provide solutions including post-harvest losses in tomatoes.

The project, he said, would be extended to the youth interested in agriculture to address the old-age challenge of internal migration to the south for menial jobs.

‘The youth have energy and will but they lack the resources. Now we have a considerable amount and KIC will build technical competencies to start engaging them to stay and be productive,’ he said.???

The other 10 partnering universities already on the programme include the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Cape Coast, Bolgatanga Technical University, and Takoradi Technical University.

The rest are Ho Technical University, Koforidua Technical University, University of Development Studies, SD Dombo University of Business and ?Integrated D
evelopment Studies, and University of Energy and Natural Resource.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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African Games: NDC demands resignation of Sports Minister, LOC over poor preparations?


The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has asked the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Mustapha Ussif and the Local Organising Committee of the 13th African Games to step aside following Ghana’s unpreparedness to host the competition.?

The NDC accused the government of bringing?’the name of Ghana into disrepute after rendering the national economy bankrupt’.

In a statement issued by Mr. Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communications Officer of the NDC, copied to the Ghana News Agency, it said the party’s leadership was disappointed with the rate at which participating countries were opting out of the competition.

‘The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has just sighted media publications about South Africa’s decision to withdraw its men’s and women’s hockey teams from the ongoing African Games due to the substandard nature of Ghana’s Hockey Pitch.?

The other day, Ghana’s Cycling Champion, Michael Naaba had to withdraw from the ongoing cycling competition after his personal bicycle which he was using for the co
mpetition broke down shortly after the contest started.’

The statement added that Ghana’s Swimming Team also withdrew from the 4×100 relay final for undisclosed reasons.?

The NDC accused the government for supervising a competition which had yielded nothing but embarrassment and shame for the country.

It described the preparation process as ‘scandalous’ and would be revisited by the next NDC government.

‘With immediate effect, and in line with the spirit of probity and accountability that undergird the Constitution of Ghana, the NDC demands the??resignation or dismissal of the Minister of Youth and Sports for his gross incompetence which has occasioned this monumental embarrassment to the nation.

The dissolution of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the ongoing All

African Games. A forensic audit into the budget and expenditure for the preparation and organization of the games. A televised probe by Parliament into the expenditure and organisation of the games,’ it said.

Our coverage of the 13th A
frican Games is brought to you by Bethel Logistics Co. Ltd. Bethel Logistics, Experts in Shipping Logistics.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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FECAFOOT publishes final lists of players for 2024 Elite playoffsTheodosia Okoh hockey pitch safe for players – African Hockey President

534 Elite One players and 389 others from the Elite Two, have been retained for the 2024 MTN Elite playoffs.

The Cameroon Football Federation published the lists on March 18.

The FA noted that ‘players whose supporting documents were not admissible as well as those who did not submit to the justification procedure, have been provisionally suspended from the MTN Elite 2024 Playoffs pending clarification of their situation by the relevant authorities’.

A total of 104 team officials in the Elite One and 65 in the Elite Two were equally retained.

Based on article 53.5 of the Elite championship regulations, FECAFOOT pointed out that no further complaints on player eligibility will be accepted during the playoffs. The kick-off postponed from March 15, will take place on Friday, March 22, 2024.

Nathan Doualla of Victoria United, who was at the center of the double identity crisis investigated by FECAFOOT, will participate in the playoffs. His contested age, 17, was maintained.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Mr Seif El Dine Ahmed, President of the African Hockey Federation, says the Theodosia Okoh Hockey pitch is safe for participating countries for the 13th African Games being staged in Accra, Ghana.

South Africa withdrew from the hockey tournament at the ongoing African Games citing the unreadiness of the Theodosia Okoh hockey pitch.

According to South African Hockey officials, the pitch was unsuitable for international-standard competition, as they were compelled to pull out following advice from carpet-laying experts that the pitch could cause harm to their athletes.

Addressing the media in Accra, over South Africa’s withdrawal from the hockey competition, Mr. Ahmed admitted that they had challenges getting the venue ready for the competition on time due to delays by the contractor.

He said prior to the start of the hockey competition at the African Games, there were meetings by the participating federations to decide whether to play the games or not.

Mr Ahmed disclosed that all six competing federations
agreed to compete in the hockey event, with the South African hockey officials not raising any concerns about the suitability of the pitch.

‘We had challenges to finish the turf in time; it was out of our hands at the African Hockey Federation and LOC. I would like to thank the LOC for trying to bring the best of hockey to Africa, and we consider the safety of all players very important.

‘It is true the rules of the Federation of International Hockey say the pitch has to be certified, but that is for a qualifying event, and we all know the African Games hockey competition is not a qualifying tournament.

‘With our experience, we can decide whether it was dangerous to play on the turf or not, and already six matches have been played on the turf with no major issues, and the players are enjoying the matches,’ he said.

He also noted that in the whole of Africa, it was only South Africa that had international-certified turf, and they are working vigorously as a federation to get more certified hockey turf on t
he continent.

Meanwhile, the hockey competition at the 13th African Games has entered the semi-final stage with Ghana’s men’s and women’s hockey teams in full contention to grab medals.

Our coverage of the 13th African Games is brought to you by Bethel Logistics Co. Ltd. Bethel Logistics, Experts in Shipping Logistics.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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MTN FA Cup Quarterfinals: Bechem United play Legon Cities, defending champions Dreams FC face Soccer Intellectuals


The 2023/24 MTN FA Cup is set to deliver one of its best quarterfinal games as eight teams have been paired ahead of the round.

Six premier league sides, together with two division one league clubs would fight for the coveted title after battling a tough round of 16 clash.

Defending champions, Dreams FC, who are currently on the continent chasing the CAF Confederations title would take on Soccer Intellectuals at Dawu Park.

The ‘Still Believe’ boys are confident of winning the MTN FA Cup for the second consecutive time.

Last season’s quarter-finalists, Legon Cities would host red-hot Bechem United in an all-premier league affair at the WAFA Park while Karela United would also face Nsoatreman FC.

Division one league side and last season’s semi-finalists Skyy FC would play as visitors against Sunyani’s Bofoakwa Tano at the Coronation Park.

Mr. Germain Naatey, Senior Manager, Brands and Communication at MTN Ghana speaking during the short event expressed the Group’s willingness to help the development of sp
orts in Ghana, most especially football.

He said the last eight teams in the competition had the potential to deliver a promising and competitive quarterfinal experience.

The Senior Manager said MTN, together with the Ghana Football Association were putting measures in place to increase the awareness of the competition.

‘We are hoping these activities will keep the FA Cup tournament on the minds of fans and even generate higher fan bases for the competition and Ghana football as a whole,’ he added.

The total sponsorship for the amounts for the best name of this agreement stands at ghc1,500.000.

Mr Naatey appealed to the GFA to consider gender inclusivity in its officiating to help grow the interest of females always.

He wished participating teams well in their chase for the coveted title.

Mr. Wilson Arthur, Chairman, MTN FA Cup committee revealed that all eight teams were poised and ready to deliver an exciting quarter-final round.

He said it was necessary to engage the next generation of young player
s and females who would show much interest in the competition.

Mr Arthur wished all clubs well ahead of the tournament.

Below is the list for the quarterfinals:

Nsoatreman FC vs Karela United

Legon Cities vs Bechem United

Bofoakwa Tano FC vs Skyy FC

Dreams FC vs Soccer Intellectuals

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Ghana Armed Forces, Police to explore avenues to ensure continuous peace


The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Lieutenant General Thomas Oppong-Peprah Monday called on the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare at the Police Headquarters in Accra.

The visit was to enhance collaboration between the Police and the Ghana Armed Forces and explore avenues to ensure the continuous peace and security of the country.

A statement issued in Accra said it was the maiden official visit by Lt. Gen. Oppong-Peprah to the Police Headquarters since assuming the highest Military Office.

The CDS assured the Police leadership of maintaining the strong working relationship between the two institutions for the betterment of Ghana, building upon the legacies of his predecessors.

Dr. Akuffo Dampare congratulated the CDS on his appointment and expressed gratitude for the visit and also assured him of the commitment of the Police Administration to continuously work with the Ghana Armed Forces and all the sister security agencies in the country.

Source: Ghana News Agency