Lesotho Wire

Accra: Dr Lawrence Yao Addo, Civil Engineer, General Manager, Kodson Transport Company Limited, says alumni associations are key to breaking the gap between academia and industry and facilitating graduate employment.

He said alumni associations, if incorporated into the university administration, could share valuable insights about the demands of the industry with academia.

The academia, he stressed, would be well informed about the demands of the industry and would incorporate those demands into the course curricula to teach the students.

He said this in a keynote address during the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Accra Technical University Alumni Association (ATTUA), held at the auditorium of the University.

‘It is important that the course curriculum be industry-focused to get students who will finish and not become unemployed.

Most of the courses at the university seem outdated, and they need to be modified.

‘We are making a call that the alumni be incorporated into the leadership of the institut
ion to advise the university on tailored-made courses to meet the expectations of the industry.

‘The role of the alumni is to create a research portfolio that we can use to identify good and brilliant students that we can recommend to industry for employment,” he said.

Professor Amevi Acakpovi, the Acting Vice Chancellor of Accra Technical University, in an interview on the sidelines of the event, said that Universities could leverage the alumni association to bring industry closer.

‘Bridging the gap between academia and industry, taking a clue from examples at other places in the world, you see that the alumni association actually supports the university in bringing the industry closer.

Because they have acquired a lot of experience in the industry, they are able to bring those challenges from the industry and channel them through their universities and schools. It should be a partnership between the industry and the departments,’ he said.

He said the alumni association could play a major role in addre
ssing the infrastructure deficit at the University.

The Professor appealed to the alumni body to provide the necessary funds and support for the construction of a new hostel facility on the new campus.

Mr David Ayisala, Global President of ATUAA, said the alumni association of the university was keenly interested in assisting the school to construct a new hostel facility on the new campus.

ATUAA is an association of all past students of Accra Technical University that exists to foster a continuous link between the university and the past students.

The association also creates networking and systems and contributes to the university’s growth and expansion.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Victor Nuamah, a Psychiatric Nurse at the Obuasi Government Hospital, has expressed concern over the alarming rate of mental health cases in the municipality.

‘At least you will meet a mental health patient at every 100-meter walk. This is really worrying,’ he said at an annual health performance review meeting at Obuasi.

Although there is a lack of reliable data on the prevalence of mental and neurological disorders in the country, the World Health Organisation estimates that approximately 13 per cent of Ghanaians suffer from a mental disorder.

Out of that, three per cent suffer from a severe mental disorder and the other 10 per cent suffer from moderate to mild conditions.

Mr Nuamah said the number of schizophrenic, schizotypal and delusional disorder cases increased from 28 in 2022 to 30 in 2023, while issues of mental elusion due to alcohol, and psychoactive substance use increased from 28 in 2022 to 38 in 2023.

He called on stakeholders to collaborate to facilitate the discussion on mental health
issues and devise ways to reduce its incidence, especially regarding substance abuse.

Mr Martin Safo Osei, the Obuasi Municipal Director of Health Services, said contrary to the widely held view that the recent increase in the attrition rate of nurses had affected healthcare delivery in the country, available data confirmed that the situation had not directly affected the nurse-to-patient ratio in the municipality.

Ghana is now ranked among some 55 countries facing a serious shortage of health workers, according to the WHO.

That notwithstanding, Mr Osei said health facilities in the area were not affected by the number of health professionals, especially nurses leaving the country to seek greener pastures.

He commended the health workers for demonstrating high levels of commitment and dedication to improved quality healthcare delivery despite the challenges.

Madam Peace Mati, the Head of Administration at Obuasi Government Hospital, disclosed that the hospital had taken delivery of a dialysis machine, do
nated by the Asaase Foundation, which had so far been installed.

She said health professionals would undergo training on how to effectively operate the machine, while efforts were being made to procure consumables to ensure patients who needed dialysis were properly taken care of.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Big Heart Association, a coalition of Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs), has donated educational materials and sanitary pads to enhance teaching and learning at Ma-ahad Ta-ahilia Junior High School (JHS) in Tamale.

The items, valued at GHc10,000.00, included 1,000 exercise books, 400 pencils, 400 pens, 400 erasers, 400 long rules, 400 sharpeners, 900 pieces of heavy flow sanitary pads, and 144 packs for regular flow.

The supporting NGOs were Gabo, Hebod, Aidthem, Seats Global, and the Tee Charity, The Lady on the Move, Street Mother, and Destiny Charity foundations.

Mr Martin Kofi Nyame Junior, the Team Leader for the NGOs, at a handing over ceremony of the items to the schools, said the gesture formed part of the Association’s commitment to reaching out to the vulnerable and the less privileged in society.

He said education was the key to exposing the world of possibilities for learners adding providing them with the necessary learning materials was equally crucial to supporting children unlock t
heir potentials.

Mr Nyame Jnr. Said: ‘We are not just giving them books and supplies. We are giving them tools to dream, learn, and to build a better and prosperous future.’

He said it was heartbreaking to see young girls miss classes because they could not afford sanitary pads and that by the donation, ‘we’re not only providing them with the basic necessity but also empowering them to stay in school, pursue their dreams and break the cycle of poverty.’

Mr Adam Karim, the Head of Supervision, Tamale Metropolitan Directorate of Education, who received the items on behalf of the school, said quality education could be achieved if other stakeholders and NGOs complemented the efforts of the government.

Mr Ibrahim Dason, the Headmaster of the Ma-ahad Ta-ahilia JHS, appealed to other NGOs to support the school to get an Information and Communication Technology centre, furniture and renovate the deplorable classrooms.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra: Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulaih, Director General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), has urged stakeholders in the tertiary education space in West Africa to strive to make the subregion the most attractive for tertiary education.

‘To attain this, there is the need for a concerted effort from all stakeholders to collaborate, through regional integration and most importantly collaborative technology within its collaborative architect to advance this quality initiative,’ he said.

Prof. Jinapor said this at the Association of West African Universities’ 2024 Conference and 11th annual general meeting.

The three-day conference was on the theme ‘Promoting quality tertiary education in West Africa through collaboration, regional integration and technology’.

Some of the issues discussed were regional integration and educational curriculum, technology and educational transformation, partnerships, collaboration and inter-university linkages, regional integration and quality tertiary educ
ation, globalization and quality tertiary education, among others.

Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister for Education, in an address read on his behalf, urged all local and foreign stakeholders to continue to partner governments to get the best support in the areas of policy and other ways they could promote education development in their respective countries.

He urged the youth to strive to get the best education by choosing courses which had the potential towards the development of their countries and the rest of the world.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra: The Keta Senior High Technical School (KETASCO) Past Students Association (Dzolalians) have resolved to commit their resources to getting the school back into a Category ‘A’ status.

This was disclosed at the 71st Founders’ Day and Homecoming Durbar held at the school on the theme: ‘Alumni Communities and their Impact on their Alma Mater.’

It was within the sub-theme: ‘Taking Advantage of Modern Technology for Job Creation and Self-Employment in the Global Economy.’

Reverend Dr Sylvanus Amegashiti-Elorm, the Chief Executive Officer of Elorm Foundation, a Dzolalian, who chaired the function, said infrastructure deficit should not be the reason for the school to be downgraded to a Category ‘B’ status.

‘We’ll push the headmaster till we get back to Grade ‘A’. We’ll commit our resources to addressing the physical infrastructure challenges,’ he said.

‘It doesn’t make sense that we’re downgraded because our kitchen is not in good shape, dining hall not in good shape, we don’t have an assembly hall…
‘.

Earlier speakers had extended appreciation to benefactors of the school, especially the old students, for their eagerness and readiness to address its challenges and create a congenial teaching and learning atmosphere.

That had resulted in KETASCO’s longstanding and storied history of excellence in academics, sports and extra-curricular activities, he said, and called for more support.

Mr Innocent Augustt, the KETASCO Headmaster, said challenges faced by the school included inadequate security personnel to provide a 24-hour protection for the more than 4,600 student population.

He said the issues of inadequate furniture for classrooms, dormitories, beds, and dining hall spaces were impeding effective teaching and learning.

Miss Pearl Edem Apreku, the Senior School Prefect, sought help in procuring 25 PVC dustbins, two modern wheelchairs for the school’s clinic, student’s identity cards, two modern stretchers for use during sports and other emergencies, projectors and quiz bells, all estimated at
a cost of GHS41,000.00.

Dr Stanislaus Adiaba, the National President of the Dzolalians, assured the school of their willingness to support as an alumnus and passionate advocates for the school’s progress.

He said the 71st anniversary celebration was dedicated to refurbishing the kitchen, after which other projects would follow.

The day, which saw the 2014-year group inducted into the mother Association, had Mr Freeman Gobah, the National Vice President of the Dzolalians raise funds toward the kitchen project.

Some students who spoke to Ghana News Agency expressed gratitude to the past students for their love for the school and said they were challenged to emulate it.

Source: Ghana News Agency