Story: Rose Hayford Darko and Dela Russel Ocloo, Tema
A 32-YEAR-OLD businessman who posed as an official of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and succeeded in defrauding three people of GH¢10,000 has been arrested by the Sakumono Police.
Yaw Apedor, who claimed to be stationed at the Castle, Osu, took the amount under the pretext of assisting the victims to buy cars from the Tema Port and a plot of land at East Legon.
The police arrested Apedor from his hideout at Adabraka in Accra.
Narrating the incident to the Daily Graphic, the Tema Police Regional Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Olivia Turkson, said Apedor approached two women and a man and introduced himself as an official of the BNI attached to the Castle and, therefore, influential.
She also claimed to know some big men at the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) who would help him buy cars at cheaper prices.
Chief Inspector Turkson said the victims expressed interest and accepted to pay for the cars.
She said the victims chose to buy a Kia Rio, a Hyundai Elantra and a Toyota Camry at GH¢2,700, GH¢2,700 and GH¢2,400, respectively.
She added that Apedor collected the money and promised to return with the documents on the vehicles but rather went into hiding.
Chief Inspector Turkson said for two months the victims could not trace the suspect and his mobile phone was off.
She said on Thursday, January 20, 2011, the victims got Apedor on the phone and feigned interest in buying a car from him.
She said they arranged to meet him at a place and on the following day, January 21, the suspect was arrested.
Chief Inspector Turkson said the police were investigating Apedor’s involvement in other fraudulent activities and after obtaining evidence would put him before court.
Friday, January 28, 2011
GPHA to expand container terminal... To accomodate larger vessels (Page 17, Jan 28)
Story: Rose Hayford Darko, Tema
THE Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) is to provide a bigger container terminal to accommodate new generation vessels which call at the Tema Port.
These vessels are huge and have large cargo-hold capacities capable of carrying large quantities of bulk cargo.
The Marketing and Customer Service Manager of the GPHA, Mrs Alice Torkornoo, said this when she presented a plaque on behalf of the authority to the Captain of the M/V Ten Yu Maru which arrived at the Tema Port on January 15, 2011 on its maiden voyage.
Mrs Torkornoo disclosed that from the last quarter of 2009 the number of vessels and the quantity of cargo arriving at the port had increased greatly, an indication that the global economy was improving.
She gave the assurance that the Tema Port had the ability and adequate equipment to attend to all sizes of vessels, adding, “The GPHA will continue to build good relations with all stakeholders to encourage them to operate from the port.”
She said the more cargo that came through the port, the better for the Ghanaian economy.
The Captain of the vessel, Virgilio S. Cruz, expressed the gratitude of the crew to the GPHA for displaying a gesture that would encourage them to come back.
He said the vessel, with a capacity of 58,110 metric tones, was built in China and launched on September 11, 2010 and presently had 23 crew members.
Capt Cruz said Ghana was the vessel’s first port of call after it was launched and congratulated the nation on its peace and stability which had encouraged vessels to dock at the Tema Port.
He said the vessel loaded 34,000 tonnes of rice at Kohsichang in Thailand originally for Cote d’Ivoire but was later directed by the charters to divert the cargo to Ghana because of the political instability in that country.
Captain Cruz said the vessel would be in Ghana until the first week of February when it would set sail for Lome in Togo.
The Managing Director of GETMA Ghana, the local agents of the vessel, Mr Christophe Monmarche, congratulated the GPHA on its efficiency and capabilities.
He appreciated the gesture displayed by the authority and gave the assurance that the company would entice more vessels to use the Tema Port.
THE Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) is to provide a bigger container terminal to accommodate new generation vessels which call at the Tema Port.
These vessels are huge and have large cargo-hold capacities capable of carrying large quantities of bulk cargo.
The Marketing and Customer Service Manager of the GPHA, Mrs Alice Torkornoo, said this when she presented a plaque on behalf of the authority to the Captain of the M/V Ten Yu Maru which arrived at the Tema Port on January 15, 2011 on its maiden voyage.
Mrs Torkornoo disclosed that from the last quarter of 2009 the number of vessels and the quantity of cargo arriving at the port had increased greatly, an indication that the global economy was improving.
She gave the assurance that the Tema Port had the ability and adequate equipment to attend to all sizes of vessels, adding, “The GPHA will continue to build good relations with all stakeholders to encourage them to operate from the port.”
She said the more cargo that came through the port, the better for the Ghanaian economy.
The Captain of the vessel, Virgilio S. Cruz, expressed the gratitude of the crew to the GPHA for displaying a gesture that would encourage them to come back.
He said the vessel, with a capacity of 58,110 metric tones, was built in China and launched on September 11, 2010 and presently had 23 crew members.
Capt Cruz said Ghana was the vessel’s first port of call after it was launched and congratulated the nation on its peace and stability which had encouraged vessels to dock at the Tema Port.
He said the vessel loaded 34,000 tonnes of rice at Kohsichang in Thailand originally for Cote d’Ivoire but was later directed by the charters to divert the cargo to Ghana because of the political instability in that country.
Captain Cruz said the vessel would be in Ghana until the first week of February when it would set sail for Lome in Togo.
The Managing Director of GETMA Ghana, the local agents of the vessel, Mr Christophe Monmarche, congratulated the GPHA on its efficiency and capabilities.
He appreciated the gesture displayed by the authority and gave the assurance that the company would entice more vessels to use the Tema Port.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
KASSEH TO GET FIRE STATION (PAGE 23, JAN 27, 2011)
The Ghana National Fire Service(GNFS) is to establish a fire post at Kasseh Junction to ensure proper handling of accident victims as part of its efforts to reduce the rate of loss of life and property on the Tema –Aflao highway.
The Service is also seeking resources to open another post on the Spintex Road to respond on time to emergencies in the Tema Metropolis .
The Tema Regional Fire Commander, DO1 Gilford Tetteh Adams, who disclosed this in Tema, appealed to corporate bodies to support the effort to help ensure a more effective and better responsive Fire Service.
He also called on the government to quicken the pace of equipping the service to enable it to tackle challenges ahead .
DO1 Adams also called on officers to dedicate themselves to the call of saving lives and property in the year 2011.
He called on the public to promptly report all road crashes to the police and the service for immediate attention .
DO1 Adams disclosed that last year, the GNFS in Tema responded to 35 road collisions, which recorded 150 injuries and 41.
He said the service again responded to 214 fire outbreak which resulted in eight deaths and 10 injuries .
DO1 Adams noted that damage caused as a result of the fire outbreaks was estimated at GH¢1,430,605.00.
Taking stock of the past year, he said the service intensified community fire education in the various communities including Kpone and Tema New Town.
DO1 Adams said the personal contact and community form of education helped to reduce incidents of fire outbreaks in the Tema Metropolis.
He stated that the service was currently faced with new challenges of floods which had begun to inundate parts of the regions indicating that GNFS is rendered incapable due to lack of equipment .
The Tema regional fire commander has as a first step started training a team of divers and swimmers who will need to acquire skills before being deployed for the task .
He said the personnel would need public support in being equipped with life jackets outboard motors, boots among others.
DO1 Adams said another area of concern which posed a challenge to the region is the West African Pipe line which has a terminal in Tema.
He expressed the hope that the government would energise the service to enable it to handle any incident that may occur at the shorelines.
The Service is also seeking resources to open another post on the Spintex Road to respond on time to emergencies in the Tema Metropolis .
The Tema Regional Fire Commander, DO1 Gilford Tetteh Adams, who disclosed this in Tema, appealed to corporate bodies to support the effort to help ensure a more effective and better responsive Fire Service.
He also called on the government to quicken the pace of equipping the service to enable it to tackle challenges ahead .
DO1 Adams also called on officers to dedicate themselves to the call of saving lives and property in the year 2011.
He called on the public to promptly report all road crashes to the police and the service for immediate attention .
DO1 Adams disclosed that last year, the GNFS in Tema responded to 35 road collisions, which recorded 150 injuries and 41.
He said the service again responded to 214 fire outbreak which resulted in eight deaths and 10 injuries .
DO1 Adams noted that damage caused as a result of the fire outbreaks was estimated at GH¢1,430,605.00.
Taking stock of the past year, he said the service intensified community fire education in the various communities including Kpone and Tema New Town.
DO1 Adams said the personal contact and community form of education helped to reduce incidents of fire outbreaks in the Tema Metropolis.
He stated that the service was currently faced with new challenges of floods which had begun to inundate parts of the regions indicating that GNFS is rendered incapable due to lack of equipment .
The Tema regional fire commander has as a first step started training a team of divers and swimmers who will need to acquire skills before being deployed for the task .
He said the personnel would need public support in being equipped with life jackets outboard motors, boots among others.
DO1 Adams said another area of concern which posed a challenge to the region is the West African Pipe line which has a terminal in Tema.
He expressed the hope that the government would energise the service to enable it to handle any incident that may occur at the shorelines.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
2 ARRESTED FOR RE-BRANDING EXPIRED MILK (PAGE 3, JAN 25, 2011)
THE Tema Regional Police have arrested two persons who were caught re-labelling suspected expired milk at a hideout in Ashaiman.
The suspects, a man and a nursing mother whose names are being withheld for security reasons, were re-labelling the milk with Ideal Milk wrappers.
The Tema Regional Police Commander, ACP Augustine Gyening, who confirmed the arrest, said on Wednesday, January 19, 2011, the Police Buffalo Unit, while on its rounds, saw the two suspects re-labelling milk tins.
He said upon interrogation, it came out that they were agents who had been contracted to do the re-labelling.
ACP Gyening said although Nestle Ghana Limited had claimed ownership of the product, the police had not ascertained how it got out of Nestle’s premises and why it was not branded because it was supposed to be factory reject and not for sale.
He explained that the milk could have suffered some production defects in the production line and, therefore, was declared unfit for the market.
ACP Gyening said the identity of the suspects was being withheld to enable the police to conduct thorough investigations into the incident to protect consumers against unwholesome products.
The suspects, a man and a nursing mother whose names are being withheld for security reasons, were re-labelling the milk with Ideal Milk wrappers.
The Tema Regional Police Commander, ACP Augustine Gyening, who confirmed the arrest, said on Wednesday, January 19, 2011, the Police Buffalo Unit, while on its rounds, saw the two suspects re-labelling milk tins.
He said upon interrogation, it came out that they were agents who had been contracted to do the re-labelling.
ACP Gyening said although Nestle Ghana Limited had claimed ownership of the product, the police had not ascertained how it got out of Nestle’s premises and why it was not branded because it was supposed to be factory reject and not for sale.
He explained that the milk could have suffered some production defects in the production line and, therefore, was declared unfit for the market.
ACP Gyening said the identity of the suspects was being withheld to enable the police to conduct thorough investigations into the incident to protect consumers against unwholesome products.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
RESIDENTS OF KAKASUNANKA APPEAL TO TMA (PAGE 18, JAN 18, 2011)
Residents of Kakasunanka near Michel Camp in the Tema Metropolis have called on the Tema Metropolitan Assembly(TMA) to rescind it’s decision to demolish a 12-seater public place of convenience constructed in 2004 by the Assembly because of its location.
They have also appealed to the Ghana at 50 Commission to release the 22-seater Jubilee toilet facility which is 90 per cent complete and located at Kakasunanka, to serve the needs of the people including the disabled instead of placing a ban on it at the detriment of residents.
The Jubilee toilet facility has 22 seats with designs for the disabled and was started in 2007 but was closed down by the Ghana at 50 Commission of Enquiry to enable it investigate the Commission.
According to interviews conducted at Kakasunanka by the Daily Graphic, the community which has a large population does not have a single public toilet facility and therefore,the situation has created insanitary conditions in the community.
They claimed that the abandoned ten-seater facility which served the people was constructed in 2004 by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly but had to be abandoned on the instructions of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after a month use because it was wrongfully located .
It was observed that people in the community have resorted to other means of attending to nature’s call because of lack of such amenities.
The Daily Graphic learnt that the Tema Metropolitan Assembly(TMA) had ordered the demolition of the facility which had for the past six years been abandoned in the bush.
According to the Assembly Member of the area, Mr Samuelson Allenge, the Ghana at 50 project was initiated through the Tema Metropolitan Assembly for the Metropolis in 2007 and was located at Kakasunanka because of the availability of land .
He said the 22-seater water closet facility had part of it designed for the disabled in the community and, therefore, could have benefited the capable and incapacitated persons living in the community .
Mr Allenge noted that because of its importance, the people appealed to the Ghana at 50 Commission to grant them the opportunity to complete the project which is left with only a few fittings.
He disclosed that water and light had been connected to the structures and it had doors, windows and seat pads well fitted .
Mr Allenge noted that request to complete the project was not met .
He said the people at Kakasunanka earlier in 2004 had access to the 12-seater toilet facility but were stopped from it’s use by the EPA which Mr Allenge stated was ‘uncalled for ’ because pipelines which serve the people of Tema were far from the facility.
Mr Allenge said the Kakasunanka community is one of the peri-urban areas in the Tema Metropolitan Area which has not seen much development and called on the TMA to extend its development activities to the area.
The Planning Officer of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly, Mr Kwaku Taylor Appiah, when contacted explained that the location of the facility should have been inspected and confirmed as favourable before the start of the project .
He said those who executed the project might not be available to explain the circumstances that led to the order from the EPA to lock up the facility.
They have also appealed to the Ghana at 50 Commission to release the 22-seater Jubilee toilet facility which is 90 per cent complete and located at Kakasunanka, to serve the needs of the people including the disabled instead of placing a ban on it at the detriment of residents.
The Jubilee toilet facility has 22 seats with designs for the disabled and was started in 2007 but was closed down by the Ghana at 50 Commission of Enquiry to enable it investigate the Commission.
According to interviews conducted at Kakasunanka by the Daily Graphic, the community which has a large population does not have a single public toilet facility and therefore,the situation has created insanitary conditions in the community.
They claimed that the abandoned ten-seater facility which served the people was constructed in 2004 by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly but had to be abandoned on the instructions of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after a month use because it was wrongfully located .
It was observed that people in the community have resorted to other means of attending to nature’s call because of lack of such amenities.
The Daily Graphic learnt that the Tema Metropolitan Assembly(TMA) had ordered the demolition of the facility which had for the past six years been abandoned in the bush.
According to the Assembly Member of the area, Mr Samuelson Allenge, the Ghana at 50 project was initiated through the Tema Metropolitan Assembly for the Metropolis in 2007 and was located at Kakasunanka because of the availability of land .
He said the 22-seater water closet facility had part of it designed for the disabled in the community and, therefore, could have benefited the capable and incapacitated persons living in the community .
Mr Allenge noted that because of its importance, the people appealed to the Ghana at 50 Commission to grant them the opportunity to complete the project which is left with only a few fittings.
He disclosed that water and light had been connected to the structures and it had doors, windows and seat pads well fitted .
Mr Allenge noted that request to complete the project was not met .
He said the people at Kakasunanka earlier in 2004 had access to the 12-seater toilet facility but were stopped from it’s use by the EPA which Mr Allenge stated was ‘uncalled for ’ because pipelines which serve the people of Tema were far from the facility.
Mr Allenge said the Kakasunanka community is one of the peri-urban areas in the Tema Metropolitan Area which has not seen much development and called on the TMA to extend its development activities to the area.
The Planning Officer of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly, Mr Kwaku Taylor Appiah, when contacted explained that the location of the facility should have been inspected and confirmed as favourable before the start of the project .
He said those who executed the project might not be available to explain the circumstances that led to the order from the EPA to lock up the facility.
TEMA ASSEMBLY TO FIGHT INDISCIPLINE (PAGE 18, JAN 18, 2011)
The Tema Metropolitan Assembly has earmarked this year as an action year to fight indiscipline and to ensure that illegal structures such as kiosks, containers and second-hand electronic items sales points in the metropolis are cleared.
The exercise will extend from Tema Business District to the various communities including Sakumono, Lashibi and their environs.
In separate interviews with officials of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) and the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) Tema, they advised the owners of unapproved structures to start packing before the demolishing task force set out to demolish them.
Tema, otherwise known as the Harbour City is gradually becoming a slum because of the rapid growth in population and rural-urban migration, coupled with indiscriminate siting of wooden structures in unauthorised areas.
This situation has rendered the Metropolis prone to fire outbreaks and sanitation hazards .
Last year the Metropolis experienced some fire outbreaks which destroyed domestic and industrial properties.
The influx of migrants has also contributed to prostitution which has made the HIV /AIDs pandemic rate high in Tema.
Such indiscriminate sexual activities goes on in illegal structures which are located in areas with insanitary conditions.
The Tema Development Corporation which is the city planners has as a result decided to decongest the city starting from the business centre .
According to the Managing Director, Mr Joe Abbey, the TDC is determined to ensure that those who have taken advantage of public space and have, therefore, occupied them must start packing or will have themselves to blame.
He indicated that the situation was chaotic around the Meridian Enclave in the city centre where vendors of second hand items have taken over pavements and frontage of businesses.
Mr Abbey stated that some residential communities in Tema extending to Lashibi and it’s surrounding areas would be covered by the exercise.
He called on other stakeholders to co-operate to make the exercise a success and also asked owners of the illegally sited vending points to vacate before the exercise takes off.
The Public Relations Officer of the Tema Regional Fire Service, Mr Timothy Affum, explained that the decision to decongest the township was necessary because most fire outbreaks recorded in the Metropolis were from wooden structures which had illegal electrical connections.
He noted that illegal structures had been erected on hydrants and blocked routes which fire tenders used to enter areas wherever there was a fire outbreak.
Mr Affum was not happy with the authorities whose duty it was to ensure that structures were built at legally demarcated areas.
He disclosed that the fisher folks in Tema New Town who lived in structures along the seashore would be educated on precautionary measures to ensure safety of the West African Gas Pipeline which comes to shore through the area .
Mr Affum said with the harmattan wind blowing people should be cautious to put off all fires after cooking and warned smokers who carelessly throw away the pieces of cigarette with fire at their tip.
He said some people have tapped electricity from main lines with illegal wires which are not recommended for the purpose and, therefore, easily caused flashes which caused fires.
Mr Affum commended the Tema Metropolitan Assembly for engaging in some decongestion at the outskirts of the Tema Central Market and the Community Two satellite market .
Meanwhile, the Tema Development Corporation says dates given to people located in unauthorised areas had expired the decongestive exercise would start anytime from now.
The exercise will extend from Tema Business District to the various communities including Sakumono, Lashibi and their environs.
In separate interviews with officials of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) and the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) Tema, they advised the owners of unapproved structures to start packing before the demolishing task force set out to demolish them.
Tema, otherwise known as the Harbour City is gradually becoming a slum because of the rapid growth in population and rural-urban migration, coupled with indiscriminate siting of wooden structures in unauthorised areas.
This situation has rendered the Metropolis prone to fire outbreaks and sanitation hazards .
Last year the Metropolis experienced some fire outbreaks which destroyed domestic and industrial properties.
The influx of migrants has also contributed to prostitution which has made the HIV /AIDs pandemic rate high in Tema.
Such indiscriminate sexual activities goes on in illegal structures which are located in areas with insanitary conditions.
The Tema Development Corporation which is the city planners has as a result decided to decongest the city starting from the business centre .
According to the Managing Director, Mr Joe Abbey, the TDC is determined to ensure that those who have taken advantage of public space and have, therefore, occupied them must start packing or will have themselves to blame.
He indicated that the situation was chaotic around the Meridian Enclave in the city centre where vendors of second hand items have taken over pavements and frontage of businesses.
Mr Abbey stated that some residential communities in Tema extending to Lashibi and it’s surrounding areas would be covered by the exercise.
He called on other stakeholders to co-operate to make the exercise a success and also asked owners of the illegally sited vending points to vacate before the exercise takes off.
The Public Relations Officer of the Tema Regional Fire Service, Mr Timothy Affum, explained that the decision to decongest the township was necessary because most fire outbreaks recorded in the Metropolis were from wooden structures which had illegal electrical connections.
He noted that illegal structures had been erected on hydrants and blocked routes which fire tenders used to enter areas wherever there was a fire outbreak.
Mr Affum was not happy with the authorities whose duty it was to ensure that structures were built at legally demarcated areas.
He disclosed that the fisher folks in Tema New Town who lived in structures along the seashore would be educated on precautionary measures to ensure safety of the West African Gas Pipeline which comes to shore through the area .
Mr Affum said with the harmattan wind blowing people should be cautious to put off all fires after cooking and warned smokers who carelessly throw away the pieces of cigarette with fire at their tip.
He said some people have tapped electricity from main lines with illegal wires which are not recommended for the purpose and, therefore, easily caused flashes which caused fires.
Mr Affum commended the Tema Metropolitan Assembly for engaging in some decongestion at the outskirts of the Tema Central Market and the Community Two satellite market .
Meanwhile, the Tema Development Corporation says dates given to people located in unauthorised areas had expired the decongestive exercise would start anytime from now.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
NARH-BITA COLLEGE HOLDS MATRICULATION (PAGE 18,, JAN 11, 2011)
THE Narh-Bita College of Nursing, in the port city of Tema, has held its seventh joint matriculation and graduation ceremony with a renewed pledge by the College Board to make the institution a centre of excellence in West Africa for the training of nurses.
The college was the first private nursing training institution in Ghana to be accredited by the National Accreditation Board.
It runs the three-year Registered General Nursing Diploma, the Health Assistants Clinical certificate and the Medical Laboratory Technicians certificate programmes.
The college is engaged in tropical nursing research collaboration and student and staff exchange programmes with Crest University, Pennsylvania, USA, Teesside University, Middlesborough, UK, Harstead University in Norway and the Metropolitan University College, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Students of the college have access to practical training in government hospitals but the Narh-Bita Hospital, which provides services to over 80,000 patients in the Tema metropolis annually and which serves more than 60 corporate clients in the port city, provides additional excellent facilities for the practical training of students of the college.
The hospital also runs the only private neurosurgical centre in the country, where spine and brain surgery are performed in addition to diagnosis, treatment and research into neurotic diseases.
In recognition of its performance, the medical facility received accreditation from the West Africa College of Physicians in 1998, making it the first private hospital in Ghana to provide postgraduate training for doctors in Family Practice.
Several rural communities have benefited from the annual Students and Staff Medical Outreach Programme of the Narh-Bita College of Nursing. Communities which benefit from medical aid under the college’s outreach programme are typically poor communities lacking basic amenities such as schools, potable water supply and health facilities.
Under the programme, teams of medical staff and students from the school treat the people of such communities for malaria, anaemia, bilharzia, scabies, intestinal worm infestations, eye diseases and other medical conditions prevalent in rural communities. Cases requiring specialist consultations are referred to hospitals.
The hospital is affiliated to several local and international organisations in a bid to keep abreast of the current and emerging trends in medical practice. These have impacted positively on the quality of training students of the nursing college receive.
The college has a well-stocked library with titles covering subjects like anatomy, physiology, medical and surgical nursing, with supplementary teaching and learning materials in the form of CD-ROMS and video tapes. All computers of the college are connected to the Internet.
At the joint ceremony last week, 68 students graduated and 230 students were matriculated.
Miss Victoria Nartey received three awards for excellence — the overall best Medical Laboratory Technician student award and an award each for being the best student in Haematology and Clinical Chemistry respectively during the academic year.
Mr Isaac Asiamah was presented with an award for being the overall best student of the academic year and a second award for being the best student in Clinical Anatomy.
In his address at the ceremony, the President of the college, Dr Edward A. Narh, called for a radical review of the programme for the practical training of students of private nursing training institutions in the country.
Under the prevailing system for the practical training of students of private nurses training institutions, the students are charged fees for their practical attachment in public hospitals.
Dr Narh said the Ministry of Health needed to support the practical training of students from private nurses training institutions by cancelling the payment of fees by the students on practical attachment in public medical facilities.
He noted that during their practical attachment, nursing students from private training institutions contributed significantly to the provision of medical care and it was therefore unfair to charge them training fees.
“Nursing students already pay high fees for their training in private institutions and to charge them fees for their practical attachment in public hospitals is a financial burden on the students,” Dr Narh said.
He said since most products of private nursing training institutions in the country ended up working in the public hospitals, the Ministry of Health should have an interest in their training.
The President of the college said since the public health delivery system benefited immensely from the training of nurses by private training institutions, the government also needed, as a matter of urgency, to find a way of assisting the private training institutions to access funding from financial and other institutions for the development of infrastructure and the provision of adequate equipment and materials for the training of nurses .
Students of the Adom Medical Laboratory Technicians Training School in Tema, which is one of the training institutions under the Narh-Bita Group of training institutions, also needed to benefit from fee-free practical training programmes in government hospitals, Dr Narh said.
He said the government could contribute further towards the training of highly qualified nurses for the country’s hospitals and clinics by supporting programmes for the further training of the graduates of private nursing training institutions up to the Master’s degree level.
Present at the ceremony were Mr Rojo Mettle-Nunoo, Deputy Minister of Health, the Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Krakue II, Professor Korsah and Professor Afari, both members of the College Council, and Dr Appiah Denkyira, Director of Health Services.
The college was the first private nursing training institution in Ghana to be accredited by the National Accreditation Board.
It runs the three-year Registered General Nursing Diploma, the Health Assistants Clinical certificate and the Medical Laboratory Technicians certificate programmes.
The college is engaged in tropical nursing research collaboration and student and staff exchange programmes with Crest University, Pennsylvania, USA, Teesside University, Middlesborough, UK, Harstead University in Norway and the Metropolitan University College, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Students of the college have access to practical training in government hospitals but the Narh-Bita Hospital, which provides services to over 80,000 patients in the Tema metropolis annually and which serves more than 60 corporate clients in the port city, provides additional excellent facilities for the practical training of students of the college.
The hospital also runs the only private neurosurgical centre in the country, where spine and brain surgery are performed in addition to diagnosis, treatment and research into neurotic diseases.
In recognition of its performance, the medical facility received accreditation from the West Africa College of Physicians in 1998, making it the first private hospital in Ghana to provide postgraduate training for doctors in Family Practice.
Several rural communities have benefited from the annual Students and Staff Medical Outreach Programme of the Narh-Bita College of Nursing. Communities which benefit from medical aid under the college’s outreach programme are typically poor communities lacking basic amenities such as schools, potable water supply and health facilities.
Under the programme, teams of medical staff and students from the school treat the people of such communities for malaria, anaemia, bilharzia, scabies, intestinal worm infestations, eye diseases and other medical conditions prevalent in rural communities. Cases requiring specialist consultations are referred to hospitals.
The hospital is affiliated to several local and international organisations in a bid to keep abreast of the current and emerging trends in medical practice. These have impacted positively on the quality of training students of the nursing college receive.
The college has a well-stocked library with titles covering subjects like anatomy, physiology, medical and surgical nursing, with supplementary teaching and learning materials in the form of CD-ROMS and video tapes. All computers of the college are connected to the Internet.
At the joint ceremony last week, 68 students graduated and 230 students were matriculated.
Miss Victoria Nartey received three awards for excellence — the overall best Medical Laboratory Technician student award and an award each for being the best student in Haematology and Clinical Chemistry respectively during the academic year.
Mr Isaac Asiamah was presented with an award for being the overall best student of the academic year and a second award for being the best student in Clinical Anatomy.
In his address at the ceremony, the President of the college, Dr Edward A. Narh, called for a radical review of the programme for the practical training of students of private nursing training institutions in the country.
Under the prevailing system for the practical training of students of private nurses training institutions, the students are charged fees for their practical attachment in public hospitals.
Dr Narh said the Ministry of Health needed to support the practical training of students from private nurses training institutions by cancelling the payment of fees by the students on practical attachment in public medical facilities.
He noted that during their practical attachment, nursing students from private training institutions contributed significantly to the provision of medical care and it was therefore unfair to charge them training fees.
“Nursing students already pay high fees for their training in private institutions and to charge them fees for their practical attachment in public hospitals is a financial burden on the students,” Dr Narh said.
He said since most products of private nursing training institutions in the country ended up working in the public hospitals, the Ministry of Health should have an interest in their training.
The President of the college said since the public health delivery system benefited immensely from the training of nurses by private training institutions, the government also needed, as a matter of urgency, to find a way of assisting the private training institutions to access funding from financial and other institutions for the development of infrastructure and the provision of adequate equipment and materials for the training of nurses .
Students of the Adom Medical Laboratory Technicians Training School in Tema, which is one of the training institutions under the Narh-Bita Group of training institutions, also needed to benefit from fee-free practical training programmes in government hospitals, Dr Narh said.
He said the government could contribute further towards the training of highly qualified nurses for the country’s hospitals and clinics by supporting programmes for the further training of the graduates of private nursing training institutions up to the Master’s degree level.
Present at the ceremony were Mr Rojo Mettle-Nunoo, Deputy Minister of Health, the Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Krakue II, Professor Korsah and Professor Afari, both members of the College Council, and Dr Appiah Denkyira, Director of Health Services.
TMA OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS TO NEEDY PUPILS (SPREAD, JAN 11, 2011)
THE Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) has awarded three years’ scholarships worth GH¢67,240.00 to 50 students to attend senior high schools of their choice across the country.
The TMA has since 1996 awarded scholarships to 200 needy students to attend various second-cycle schools in the country.
According to the officer incharge of education at the TMA, Mr Sevlo Adjei, the students had the option to choose to become either day or boarding students.
He made this known when the selected 50 students received their scholarship packages for the 2009 and 2010 academic years at a presentation ceremony.
Mr Adjei said the selected 50 beneficiaries were made up of 30 boarding students who received a package of scholarships worth GH¢1,521 for three years each and 15 day students who had a package of GH¢630.00 each for three years.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive of Tema, Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, who presented the scholarships to the beneficiaries, assured the students of the assembly’s support but advised them to learn hard to retain the scholarship.
He said they must justify the expenditure the government was making on them from the taxpayer’s toil, adding that the package would be withdrawn if they failed to perform well by producing good results.
The Metropolitan Director of Education, Mr Kwesi Hutchful, expressed the gratitude of the Ghana Education Service (GES) for the assembly’s support for the students.
The TMA has since 1996 awarded scholarships to 200 needy students to attend various second-cycle schools in the country.
According to the officer incharge of education at the TMA, Mr Sevlo Adjei, the students had the option to choose to become either day or boarding students.
He made this known when the selected 50 students received their scholarship packages for the 2009 and 2010 academic years at a presentation ceremony.
Mr Adjei said the selected 50 beneficiaries were made up of 30 boarding students who received a package of scholarships worth GH¢1,521 for three years each and 15 day students who had a package of GH¢630.00 each for three years.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive of Tema, Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, who presented the scholarships to the beneficiaries, assured the students of the assembly’s support but advised them to learn hard to retain the scholarship.
He said they must justify the expenditure the government was making on them from the taxpayer’s toil, adding that the package would be withdrawn if they failed to perform well by producing good results.
The Metropolitan Director of Education, Mr Kwesi Hutchful, expressed the gratitude of the Ghana Education Service (GES) for the assembly’s support for the students.
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