Lesotho Wire

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has commissioned a Digital Repository Centre for the Wesley Girls Senior High School in Cape Coast in memory of his late mother, Hajia Mariama Bawumia, a former student.

The facility, funded by the Vice President, would enable the school to retrieve its past and present records digitally with ease.

‘For an academic institution the size of Wesley Girls’ High School, and with its rich 187-year history, the repository will prove to be a worthy asset, as it will help past students, current students and staff retrieve important records of the school digitally and with ease,’ the Vice President said.

‘Following the passing of my mother, in 2021, I was touched by the visit of her classmates of the 1960-year group, to commiserate with me and the family. And I was privileged to be approached by the Old Girls’ Association on behalf of the school on the 1st Anniversary of her passing, to assist with the provision of a digital repository for the school, which I happily supported in h
onour of my late mother.’

‘As a result of the project, all student records have been digitised and can be easily accessed at the touch of a button.’

Dr Bawumia said he was honoured by the presence of three of his late mother’s classmates during the outdooring of the facility – Mrs Nancy Thompson, Dr Mrs Cecelia Bentsi, and Dr Mrs Matilda Papoe.

He was hopeful that all other educational institutions yet to have a digital repository would soon have them to digitise their precious records.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Professor John Ofosu-Anim, the Vice Chancellor of the Presbyterian University, Ghana (PUG), said university education is a holistic journey to self-discovery, which goes beyond attending classes and earning grades.

He said students must endeavour to seek their personal development and intellectual exploration aside the normal lecture routines to become well- grounded graduates.

Speaking at a matriculation ceremony for 1,042 fresh students at the Tema Campus of the PUG, Prof Ofosu-Anim urged the students to take advantage of the diverse academic programmes and the wealth of resources at their disposal to build their skills.

The students have been admitted to pursue various undergraduate programmes at the Tema and Akuapem campuses of the University.

He said matriculation was a symbolic rite of passage, signalling the official entry into the academic life of the University and urged them to abide by the rules and tenets of the institution to gain knowledge for their growth and development.

Some of the progr
ammes at the Akuapem Campus include BSc. International Development, BSc. Environmental and Natural Resources, and B.Ed. Social Studies.

The Tema Campus has BSc. Human Resource and Management, BSc. Marketing Management and BSc. Banking and Finance, among others.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Isaac Kodobisah, the Volta Regional Special Needs Coordinator, Ghana Education Service, has commended the New Horizon Foundation of the Blind (NHFB) for supporting inclusive education in the region.

The Foundation’s efforts to support inclusive education had given many children, particularly those with visual impairment, the chance to participate in mainstream schooling, he said.

Mr Kodobisah said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at a training session on the value of inclusive education organised by the Foundation for teachers at the Mawuli Senior School.

He said even though the inclusive education policy had been in place for a while, numerous obstacles hindering its full implementation must urgently be addressed.

Mr Kodobisah said the majority of intelligent but physically challenged children faced significant obstacles in their development, keeping them away from reaching their full potential due to societal constraints.

He encouraged the public to support persons with disability wit
h the tools and resources they needed to realise their aspirations, adding that most of them, given proper training, could become productive members of society.

Mr Eric Kwabla Ofori, the Director of NHFB, said the training formed part of the Foundation’s second cycle level advocacy project, which aimed to improve learning and social inclusion for persons with visual impairments.

He said because of the unfriendly environment in the current educational system, persons with disability were unable to reach their full potential.

Mr Ofori said teachers were responsible for implementing inclusive education in the various schools and, therefore, increasing their capacity was essential to guaranteeing best practices.

He said the world was drifting with technological advancement and it was critical that educators who worked with students with disability were assisted with the appropriate tools and resource materials for keeping up the pace.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The 1999-Year Group of the Old Achimotan Association (OAA) has urged all alumni to fund the Achimota School Endowment Trust (ASET) fund.

The ASET fund seeks to support the school’s long-term goal and create an indelible mark on future generations of students.

It also serves as a financial resource for the school, funding academic achievement, infrastructure development, and a variety of educational programmes.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Akwete Bortei-Doku, the President of the 1999-Year Group of the association said the fund aimed to create a legacy of empowerment and transformation to ensure a brighter future for generations of students at the school.

He said the major goal of championing the fund was to generate awareness to attract individuals and groups who support and believe in the school’s purpose.

‘It is to raise a generation of educated people, who will have an impact in this country and in the world,’ he added.

The press conference was part of the activities to mark the 97th Founder’s
Day celebration of the Achimota Senior High School.

Mr Bortei-Doku said that while the government was engaged in providing educational facilities, its resources were not always sufficient to fulfil the demands of the school; so, the OAA 99 Year supports the ASET Fund to bridge the gap.

He said the fund would be used to develop projects like dormitories, classroom blocks and science Laboratory as needed.

‘As the number of students increases every year in the school, there is the need for more boarding facilities to accommodate them, hence, the need for the 1999-Year Group to champion the ASET Fund to improve the developmental project of the school.

‘The money can be used to do all sorts of things; it can be used to build theatre rooms, basketball stadiums, build more boarding houses,’ he said.

Mr Bortei-Doku said OAA 99’s legacy project sought to generate $10 million by the time Achimota School celebrated its centennial in 2027, and urged other alumni, well-wishers, and the public to actively contribute t
o the fund’s growth.

Mr Joel Nettey, President of OAA, stated that the Fund’s objective was to reposition and restructure the school using the cash raised to contribute to its future by providing more facilities and improving teaching and delivery.

He stated that, just like an endowment fund, contributions would be invested, and the interest earned would be used to develop the school to global standards.

The said the fund would represent a remarkable milestone in the Group’s dedication to supporting education and fostering opportunities for generations to come.

The Achimota School is planning for its 97th Founder’s Day celebration, which will take place from March 1 to March 3, 2024. The 97th Founder’s Day will be organised by the school’s 1974, 1984, and 1999-Year Groups.

This year’s commemoration, three years before the School’s Centenary, is themed ‘Nurturing the Present, Restoring the Legacy.’ The main events will include a bonfire and torchlight procession, a cadet parade, the Founders Day Grand Dur
bar, and a Thanksgiving service.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), in partnership with UNESCO, have launched the Junior High School Debate Championship in Accra to foster reading habits and test students’ analytical skills.

The inter-school debate, which begins on March 14, 2024, would involve 16 Junior High Schools in the Accra Metropolis demonstrating their analytical skills about the Accra World Book Capital programme.

The debates form part of a series of activities to mark the end of the Accra World Book Capital 2023 programme on April 23, 2024.

Mr. Moses J. Y. Gemeh, Principal Programme Officer, in charge of Education, Ghana Commission for UNESCO, said the debate was to encourage children to embrace reading in totality.

‘We are having a series of activities to culminate the yearlong event before Ghana hands over the title to the next country, so the objective is to allow the students to have a session where they could bring on board things that they have read and to encourage them to go further and read more, think critically a
nd learn how to communicate their ideas as well,’ he stated.

Madam Elizabeth Sackey, Chief Executive of the AMA, who launched the championship debate, said it was necessary to continue empowering the youth to cultivate the habit of reading and lifelong learning, as well as providing opportunities to nurture skills and dreams through programmes such as the Junior High School debate.

She said education had always been the cornerstone of the country’s progress, and the Accra World Book Capital 2023 event reflected the commitment to fostering intellectual growth and critical thinking among the youth.

She advised the students to make reading and learning a lifelong habit.

The world book capital programme of UNESCO aims at promoting reading among children of school going age.

Mr. Steven Abanfo, Greater Accra Regional Director of Education, emphasized that the event would motivate residents to explore literature, broaden their minds, promote learning and the use of books, and impart morality and good judgment t
o maintain a peaceful society.

He acknowledged the work of teachers in preparing the competitors for the debate, adding, ‘This will go a long way to improve literacy among learners and help build the analytical minds of the youth to make them responsible adults.’

Mr. Abanfo praised UNESCO for its laudable goal of encouraging critical thinking, reading, and research among young learners, and advised students to use available books and internet resources to broaden their horizons for the sake of society.

Mrs. Melody Boateng, UNESCO Representative, Accra office, encouraged the debaters to put aside their differences and support one another.

‘As you engage in these intellectual battles, let solidarity guide you. Support your fellow debaters, whether they are your teammates or opponents. Encourage each other to do your best because, in this arena of ideas, every voice matters,’ she stated.

Some of the competitors expressed their happiness to be part of the competition.

According to them, the debate would off
er them an opportunity to gain exposure, share ideas, and boost their confidence while preparing them for the future.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Cape Coast Technical University (CCTU) has launched its 40th anniversary celebration with a pledge to become a centre for renewable energy, education and research for sustainable development.

It said 40 years of quality entrepreneurial-oriented technical and vocational education, marked the beginning of production of not just skilled graduates, but innovative entrepreneurs to shape Ghana and beyond.

Professor Harold Amonoo-Kuofi, CCTU’s Governing Council Chairman, said the University had contributed immensely to the country’s renewable energy drive.

He indicated that in championing the government’s 21-century Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) approach, it had remained relevant to the needs of its surroundings and would continue to serve the interest of all as far as technical education was concerned.

Launching the anniversary, Prof Amonoo-Kuofi applauded the University for its growth and commitment to producing entrepreneurial graduates as part of efforts to reduce the unemployment r
ate among students.

He reminded them to take the opportunity of the celebration as a springboard for future achievements and promised a brighter more sustainable tomorrow.

The celebration will be on the theme: ‘CCTU:40 years of quality Entrepreneurial-Oriented Technical and Vocational Education: Expanding the Frontiers of Renewable Energy.’

The occasion was also used to launch the anniversary logo which portrayed the various schools of the University, their core values and mandate and renewable energy as a niche area of the University.

Prof Kwaku Adutwum Ayim Boakye, Vice Chancellor of the University, noted that the theme encapsulated the essence of the school since its inception, not only quality education but the provision of sustainable solutions for industries in the country and the sub-region.

CCTU had nurtured entrepreneurial spirit, and equipped graduates with the skills needed to excel in the technical and vocal domain for growth and development.

According to the VC, the institution believes tha
t innovation in the field holds the key to a brighter future through which the country could secure energy independence, protect the environment and create sustainable livelihoods.

On the activities of the anniversary, Prof Kwamina Bamfo-Adjei, Chairman of the planning committee, said there would be an inaugural lecture, health screening for students and sporting activities.

Others are an exhibition of manufactured products by various departments, donations to neighbouring communities, a lecture to honour Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II, Oguaamanhen, alumni and staff awards and a conference.

Source: Ghana News Agency