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Ayariga challenges CHRAJ's figures |
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Tuesday, 13 December 2011 00:17 |
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 ...on school dropout rate
The Deputy Education Minister Mahama Ayariga is challenging figures from the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice which say parents are withdrawing their wards from school due to the paucity of the capitation grant.
Commissioner Lauretta Lamptey in highlighting research findings by the Commission noted the country is at the risk of collapsing its basic education.
She said, some parents, unable to pay extra fees due to the inadequacy of the capitation grant, have decided to withdraw their wards from school.
“The Commission commends the government for increasing the capitation grant to 4.50p per child in 2009. However in the view of the Commission, this rate is still too low. We therefore recommend that the capitation grant be increased to 7.00 per child in 2012,” she said.
Mrs Lamptey also called for the expansion of School Feeding Programme from its current one million children to 2 million by September 2012.
This she noted would encourage parents to keep their wards in school in order for them to acquire basic education as stipulated in the 1992 Constitution.
But Mahama Ayariga, in reacting to the Commissioner said: “I beg to differ that parents were withdrawing their wards from school” because the capitation grant was not enough.
On the contrary the deputy Minister said figures available to the Ministry show an increase in the enrolment of pupils into basic schools.
He said government’s interventions like free school uniforms, free supply of text books, increase in the capitation grant has led to an increase in enrolment.
“I do not have evidence to that effect and I don’t know where they [CHRAJ] are getting that from. The evidence rather is that there is so much enrolment in our schools and part of the reason why children are being enrolled by their parents is the fact that the state is expending so many other facilities that otherwise parents would have paid for,” he explained.
“…I do not have evidence to show that children are dropping out because some schools are asking parents to make some contributions. It may be happening but the question is what is the scale and whether, indeed, those schools need additional resources.
He called for more thorough investigations and research in order to come out with the actual figures of school enrolment at the basic level.
Ayariga conceded the amount of the grant may be low but said any such increase as was being recommended by CHRAJ would be an index of the amount of money available to government and how much of it is allotted to the education ministry.
He is convinced that government would always prioritize education and make the necessary expenses as and when it is needed.
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 13 December 2011 00:24 |
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Bawumia's resignation is surprising- Obetsebi Lamptey |
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Monday, 12 December 2011 23:26 |
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 The New Patriotic Party Chairman Jake Obetsebi Lamptey has expressed surprise about the resignation of Dr. Mahmoud Bawumia from his lucrative job as the country manager of the African Development Bank in Zimbabwe.
The 2008 vice presidential candidate of the NPP quit his job over the weekend ostensibly to lobby for another shot at the second most powerful position in Ghana’s politics.
His resignation comes at a time when the media has been busy speculating who the flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo could be picking for the 2012 General Elections.
Bawumia is perceived to be the choice for Nana Addo, but insiders are busy lobbying for the minority chief whip.
In reaction, the NPP Chair said the resignation, which he cannot independently confirm, came as surprise to him.
He debunked assertion the party may have played a role in forcing the technocrat to take that decision in order for him to have ample time to lobby party officials for the position.
He said "that will not be a noble thing to do."
He explained if Bawumia could resign from a job of that stature then it could mean he is serious and interested in the position as vice presidential candidate for the NPP.
He would not however say when the party would announce their Vice-presidential candidate or who the party considers as favorite for the job.
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 13 December 2011 00:16 |
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NDC Struggles to Find Owner For $20m Office |
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Monday, 12 December 2011 23:13 |
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 Information available to the New Statesman indicates that the ruling National Democratic Congress will this week find and announce the “owner” of the ‘$20 million NDC headquarters’, a property whose ownership has been the subject of denial and acceptance by the party.
Intelligence reports gathered by the paper was that Alfred Woyome was to be named as the owner of the building but the party decided against this course of action in light of the baggage Mr Woyome is carrying, the latest being the whopping $41 million judgement debt ruled in his favour.
The idea behind this move by the NDC was to mimic Hackman Owusu Agyemang’s donation and subsequent rental of a club house to the New Patriotic Party in 2008, at a time when he wanted to become the NPP’s 2008 presidential candidate. The NPP last year, through contributions from its MP’s acquired its own club house.
Interestingly, the civil engineer for this building project is Kojo Twum Boafo, whilst Steve Akufo, an NDC guru, doubles as the consultant who supervises the day-to-day construction of the building.
Many residents, onlookers and vendors around this edifice told the New Statesman of sightings they’ve had of the NDC party apparatchiks frequenting the building site.
“One of the Ahwoi’s, the one with silver hair and who limps as well has been coming here to oversee this building project. Alban Bagbin also comes here a lot,” Kwame a mobile phone units vendor told the paper.
Why the NDC decided to engage the Chinese in building this property, whereas there are equally capable construction firms to carry out this job and also provide jobs for Ghanaians has also been questioned.
Inside sources within the NDC, which the paper cannot independently verify, tell the paper that the construction work is allegedly a kickback gotten from the Chinese as a result of the NDC’s growing relationship with the Chinese.
The source indicates that aside the first oil shipment from the jubilee oil fields which was carried out by Ghana, the three subsequent oil shipments from the oil fields have been lifted by the Chinese.
Also, about 90% of the contracts for infrastructural development, the source says, have been carried out by foreign owned companies. Out of this number, 86% of these contracts are being carried out by the Chinese. The latest Chinese foray into Ghana is the construction of Ghana's first gas being undertaken by Sinopec, a Chinese company.
For a party that is very fast in churning out propaganda, the details about the ownership of this building has been met with varied responses from the NDC ranging from denials, counter denials and acceptance ownership.
It is recalled that the General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asideu Nketsiah, at this year’s Sunyani Congress stated categorically that a new office complex to serve as headquarters for the party was nearing completion. He also stated that the party had acquired land at Oyibi to build a leadership training institute for the party.
Yaw Boateng Gyan, national organiser of the party has stated that he is unaware that such a project [building of national headquarters] was going on.
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Mills bashes Konadu - 2,771 votes to 90 |
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Source: citifmonline
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Saturday, 09 July 2011 23:47 |
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 The Electoral Commission has declared Professor John Evans Atta Mills winner of the NDC historic elections.
The results show that President Mills polled a whopping 2,771 votes against Nana Agyemang Rawling's 90 votes.
President Mills took the lead in all ten regions of the country.
President Mill's vote represents 96.7% of the total votes cast, whilst Nana Konadu's votes represents a total of 3.14%.
Only five of the total 2866 votes were rejected.
By this, he will lead the NDC in the 2012 General Elections.
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Last Updated on Saturday, 09 July 2011 23:50 |
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NDC Delegates Jeer At Nana Konadu |
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Source: peacefmonline
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Saturday, 09 July 2011 18:48 |
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 Former First Lady and President Mills’ only challenger to his bid to lead the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for a second time, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, was virtually booed off-stage when she took her turn to address the delegates before voting commenced in the party’s primary to elect a flagbearer.
Speaking in a mixture of English and Twi amidst jeers and boos probably of disapproval, she reiterated her entry into the NDC flagbearer race which she explained was caused by party members crying out about the breakdown in party structures and the level of despondency that has hit the NDC.
She pointed out that "this has nothing to do with gender, but everything to do with commitment and dedication".
In a speech lasting a little over three minutes, perhaps because of the relatively muted response to her final appeal to delegates, as opposed to the loud cheers that greeted Prof Mills' declaration of his readiness to serve another term if given the chance, the former First Lady said she is here to bring the NDC back on track.
Nana Konadu who lost the right to exercise her franchise when she resigned as Vice Chairperson of the NDC on April 13, 2011, dared the delegates to “Be bold” and vote by their “conscience”.
“I thank and I know that your tongue will speak for you…Be bold because you believe in yourselves…Everybody should assess their living conditions and vote wisely…We must bring the NDC structures back on course. Be bold and let your thumbs vote your conscience” she challenged the delegates.
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Last Updated on Saturday, 09 July 2011 18:51 |
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