Story:Michael Donkor
A TWO-DAY joint Military /Police exercise aimed at testing the preparedness of the security agencies to handle any election-related crises on December 7 began in Accra on Saturday night.
During the exercise, an imaginary scenario was created and staged at four polling stations at the North Kaneshie 1 and 2 Primary School area and Bubiashie Seventh Day Adventist Church.
It enacted a scene where some machomen seized ballot boxes from those polling stations and attempted to take them away after the electorate had finished casting their votes.
A joint Military/Police task force was called in and it immediately rushed to the scene, and prevented the machomen from taking the boxes away.
The machomen were subsequently over-powered and arrested.
In another scenario, the vehicle carrying the boxes broke down and a group of people pounced on the officials of the Electoral Commission, seized the boxes and were about to take them away when the task force was called in to arrest the situation.
After the exercise, the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP James Oppong Bonuah, described it as highly successful.
He said the public co-operated with the task force, which made its members to achieve the aim of the exercise.
He said all the scenario’s were executed smoothly without any problems or impediments.
Addressing security agents in the Ashanti Region, made up of the military, the police, the immigration, the prisons, the CEPS and the fire service, who took part in the joint operation, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Kwaku Ayensu Opare-Addo, noted that the security apparatus had the duty to prevent potential troublemakers from creating anarchy before, during and after the December election, reports George Ernest Asare.
He noted that they also had the responsibility to win the confidence of the electorate by defusing tension likely to cause fear.
"There is the need to exhibit the highest sense of professionalism and transparency in the discharge of our responsibility, as well as being fair and firm to enable the election to be held in an atmosphere of peace," he noted.
DCOP Opare-Addo said it was equally important for the security apparatus to be diligent in their operations, stressing, "if some people want to destroy the nation to achieve their selfish interest, it is our responsibility to fish them out and make them face the full rigours of the law without any fear or favour".
The Officer Commanding the 4BN, Major Richard Amponsem Boateng, said it was the duty of the military to join hands with the police and other security agencies to maintain internal peace at all times.
The Regional Electoral Officer, Mr Kofi Asomanin, urged the security apparatus to manage the electoral process in a way that would make the electorate elect their leaders legitimately.
He pointed out that by creating a peaceful environment, the electorate would be motivated to cast their votes in their numbers.
He said it was equally important for them to give the polling officers, as well as the ballot boxes and all materials needed for the conduct of the election, adequate security.
From Koforidua, Nana Konadu Agyeman reports that a number of security personnel drawn from the Eastern Region, as well as the First Battalion of Infantry, took part in the mock drill. The exercise, which would last 48 hours, is being led by DCOP George Anko-Bill, the Eastern Regional Police Commander.
The exercise, joined by the chairmen of the regional and district Task Force Committees, was undertaken at polling stations at Housing Corporation Polling Centre at Adweso, Legion Hall Polling Centre and a polling station at Koforidua Zongo.
It was used to demonstrate and test the preparedness of the security forces to curb any violence during the conduct of the elections in the Eastern Region.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Seminar, exhibition on Airwater opens,November 20, 2008 (inside page)
Story: Michael Donkor
A one-day seminar and exhibition on airwater making device has taken place in Accra.
The device condenses humidity through a unique stainless steel water tank, filters and purifies it and turns it into potable water and also for irrigation purposes.
The Airwater device is very convenient and safe, custom-made and mobile, as well as highly cost-effective. It is hoped its presence on the Ghanaian market will ensure sustainable water for all, especially in the northern part of the country.
Speaking at the seminar to introduce the machine, the Deputy Minister of Defence, Mr William Ofori Boafo, said considering the daunting challenges facing mankind with regard to water supply, the introduction of alternative sources of water production, such as the airwater making machine, was a welcome one.
He said anything to do with water was something that should concern all.
Mr Boafo said fresh, potable water was the most important natural resource on earth for which there was no substitute.
He said world-wide, over 1.1 billion people lacked access to safe drinking water, making it a precious commodity.
He said it was the lack of access to water and the threats posed by climate change on water bodies that made the machine welcome.
Mr Boafo said water was an essential component of existence and for that reason people should use it wisely.
“We must learn not only the methods and habits of sharing equitably but also the technologies and values of protecting the environment that makes fresh water available to us,” he said.
The Managing Director of CNFSK Consulting, the local agents of Airwater Making Machine Company, Mr Christian Kudonoo, said the machine could generate six gallons of water a day.
He said other machines which could generate more gallons would later be introduced onto the market.
Mr Kudonoo said Airwater machines came in a wide range of sizes and applications, explaining that
those varieties could be used at home, in the factory, at the hospital and building and construction sites.
The Deputy Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Frank Agyekum, expressed the hope that the prices of the machine would be affordable and that a factory would be established in the country to provide back ups.
A one-day seminar and exhibition on airwater making device has taken place in Accra.
The device condenses humidity through a unique stainless steel water tank, filters and purifies it and turns it into potable water and also for irrigation purposes.
The Airwater device is very convenient and safe, custom-made and mobile, as well as highly cost-effective. It is hoped its presence on the Ghanaian market will ensure sustainable water for all, especially in the northern part of the country.
Speaking at the seminar to introduce the machine, the Deputy Minister of Defence, Mr William Ofori Boafo, said considering the daunting challenges facing mankind with regard to water supply, the introduction of alternative sources of water production, such as the airwater making machine, was a welcome one.
He said anything to do with water was something that should concern all.
Mr Boafo said fresh, potable water was the most important natural resource on earth for which there was no substitute.
He said world-wide, over 1.1 billion people lacked access to safe drinking water, making it a precious commodity.
He said it was the lack of access to water and the threats posed by climate change on water bodies that made the machine welcome.
Mr Boafo said water was an essential component of existence and for that reason people should use it wisely.
“We must learn not only the methods and habits of sharing equitably but also the technologies and values of protecting the environment that makes fresh water available to us,” he said.
The Managing Director of CNFSK Consulting, the local agents of Airwater Making Machine Company, Mr Christian Kudonoo, said the machine could generate six gallons of water a day.
He said other machines which could generate more gallons would later be introduced onto the market.
Mr Kudonoo said Airwater machines came in a wide range of sizes and applications, explaining that
those varieties could be used at home, in the factory, at the hospital and building and construction sites.
The Deputy Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Frank Agyekum, expressed the hope that the prices of the machine would be affordable and that a factory would be established in the country to provide back ups.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Poor salaries will undermine new pension-Prof Nukunya (Page 14) November 10, 2008
Story: Michael Donkor
A former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof G.K. Nukunya, has observed that the proposed three-tier pension scheme will be of no benefit if salaries are not adjusted to reflect the realities on the ground.
He said basic salaries were too low, resulting in low pensions, and called for the situation to be looked at critically.
Prof Nukunya, who is also a Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, made the observation when he delivered a lecture as part of the activities marking the 60th anniversary of the University of Ghana, Legon, in Accra last Thursday.
He said retirement was a situation that brought considerable changes into the life of an individual, saying that it resulted, among others, in a reduction in income, loss of influence and power, loneliness, boredom and sometimes homelessness.
He said of these, the reduction in income appeared to be the most critical because it tended to increase the effects of the other conditions.
Prof Nukunya said despite some improvement in the income levels of university employees in recent years, the basic structure still left much to be desired, as in most cases the increases were in allowances, which were not added when pensions were calculated.
He said the basic pay of the highest paid university employee was about GH¢800 a month for a full professor and added that full professors were few, forming less than one per cent of the workforce.
Prof Nukunya said the bulk of the employees earned less than GH¢250 a month, while the lowest got less than GH¢100 a month.
He said it was, therefore, not surprising that the highest monthly pension for a university employee was just over GH¢400 and the lowest GH¢20, adding that as with the basic salary, the majority of the pensioners fell somewhere between the two extremes.
He said no one could live comfortably solely on this pension, adding that those forced to do so risked a big reduction in their standard of living.
Prof Nukunya, therefore, suggested that employees should be educated on how to prepare for retirement to avoid situations that could lead them to miserable lives when they were on retirement.
A former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof G.K. Nukunya, has observed that the proposed three-tier pension scheme will be of no benefit if salaries are not adjusted to reflect the realities on the ground.
He said basic salaries were too low, resulting in low pensions, and called for the situation to be looked at critically.
Prof Nukunya, who is also a Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, made the observation when he delivered a lecture as part of the activities marking the 60th anniversary of the University of Ghana, Legon, in Accra last Thursday.
He said retirement was a situation that brought considerable changes into the life of an individual, saying that it resulted, among others, in a reduction in income, loss of influence and power, loneliness, boredom and sometimes homelessness.
He said of these, the reduction in income appeared to be the most critical because it tended to increase the effects of the other conditions.
Prof Nukunya said despite some improvement in the income levels of university employees in recent years, the basic structure still left much to be desired, as in most cases the increases were in allowances, which were not added when pensions were calculated.
He said the basic pay of the highest paid university employee was about GH¢800 a month for a full professor and added that full professors were few, forming less than one per cent of the workforce.
Prof Nukunya said the bulk of the employees earned less than GH¢250 a month, while the lowest got less than GH¢100 a month.
He said it was, therefore, not surprising that the highest monthly pension for a university employee was just over GH¢400 and the lowest GH¢20, adding that as with the basic salary, the majority of the pensioners fell somewhere between the two extremes.
He said no one could live comfortably solely on this pension, adding that those forced to do so risked a big reduction in their standard of living.
Prof Nukunya, therefore, suggested that employees should be educated on how to prepare for retirement to avoid situations that could lead them to miserable lives when they were on retirement.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
AGI supports national security effort(back page) November 4, 2008
Story: Michael Donkor
THE Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has presented communication gadgets and security cameras worth GH¢45,200 to the Ministry of the Interior to enhance the operations of the national security apparatus.
The gadgets, including Motorola radio handsets, close-circuit cameras and monitors, were received by the sector minister at a ceremony in Accra yesterday.
Presenting the equipment, the President of the AGI, Mr Tony Oteng-Gyasi, said the move was in line with the association's objective to support the police to enable them to continue with the good job they were doing in the country.
He said the AGI was happy with the positive developments at the security front in the past few months, adding that
security had improved and wherever its members went they were greeted with that good news.
Mr Oteng-Gyasi expressed the hope that the security situation would continue to improve in the coming months for the country to have peaceful elections.
The Minister of the Interior, Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, expressed the government’s appreciation to the AGI for its support.
He said the government had put ample resources at the disposal of the police to enable them to work effectively but added that there was the need for public-spirited persons and institutions to support the police as well.
He said the police had taken their responsibilities very seriously in recent times and that had contributed to the decline in the crime rate.
He said crime in places such as the Kotoka International Airport had reduced drastically.
Dr Addo-Kufuor expressed the hope that other institutions would emulate the good example of the AGI.
The Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mrs Elizabeth Mills-Robertson, thanked the AGI for the gesture and gave the assurance that the equipment would be used for its intended purpose.
THE Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has presented communication gadgets and security cameras worth GH¢45,200 to the Ministry of the Interior to enhance the operations of the national security apparatus.
The gadgets, including Motorola radio handsets, close-circuit cameras and monitors, were received by the sector minister at a ceremony in Accra yesterday.
Presenting the equipment, the President of the AGI, Mr Tony Oteng-Gyasi, said the move was in line with the association's objective to support the police to enable them to continue with the good job they were doing in the country.
He said the AGI was happy with the positive developments at the security front in the past few months, adding that
security had improved and wherever its members went they were greeted with that good news.
Mr Oteng-Gyasi expressed the hope that the security situation would continue to improve in the coming months for the country to have peaceful elections.
The Minister of the Interior, Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, expressed the government’s appreciation to the AGI for its support.
He said the government had put ample resources at the disposal of the police to enable them to work effectively but added that there was the need for public-spirited persons and institutions to support the police as well.
He said the police had taken their responsibilities very seriously in recent times and that had contributed to the decline in the crime rate.
He said crime in places such as the Kotoka International Airport had reduced drastically.
Dr Addo-Kufuor expressed the hope that other institutions would emulate the good example of the AGI.
The Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mrs Elizabeth Mills-Robertson, thanked the AGI for the gesture and gave the assurance that the equipment would be used for its intended purpose.
Six firms to print ballot papers(Front Page) November 5, 2008
Story: Michael Donkor
SIX local printing houses have been given the contract to print the ballot papers for the December 7 general election and release them to the Electoral Commission (EC) this week.
The Director of Elections at the EC, Mr Albert Kofi Arhin, announcing this when he addressed security chiefs within the southern command, named the six companies, which are all Accra-based, as the Buck Press, Innolink, Yarsarko, Fonstad, Act Commercial and Check Point.
The day-long meeting was to enable the security chiefs to appraise themselves of the electoral processes, engage in test operations for communication and mobility and plan joint practical exercises against any security challenges that the elections may pose.
Present at the meeting were the Inspector-General of Police, Mr P. K. Acheampong, the Chief of the Defence Staff, Lt Gen J. B. Danquah, and the Director of the Ghana Immigration Service, Ms Elizabeth Adjei.
Mr Arhin said the EC would require a 24-hour guard during the printing of the ballot papers and added that it would, therefore, need the support of the security agencies during the printing of the papers.
He noted that the EC had often borne the brunt of the elections as its staff were often intimidated and beaten up.
Mr Arhin said the commission appreciated the role of the security services in the success of the elections.
According to him, after the printing of the ballot papers, the EC would still need security assistance to escort the papers and other election materials to the regions on the eve of the elections for the allocation and distribution of the materials to the polling stations.
Mr Arhin said other areas the EC needed security presence and protection were the counting of votes, the carting of ballot boxes to the collation centres, the Operations Room of the EC, the premises of the EC itself, as well as the places where electronic scoreboards would be mounted throughout the country.
He explained that the stakes in this year’s elections were high but gave the assurance that the EC would do what it could to ensure peaceful elections and urged the security agencies to support it with the requisite security.
Mr Arhin told the security chiefs that the presiding officers would be in charge of the elections at the various centres and urged them to co-operate with the officers.
He said the EC was aware that the security personnel could not cover the entire length and breadth of the country and had, therefore, issued out the list of flash points to the security chiefs.
The National Security Co-ordinator, Dr Sam Amoo-Ghartey, said the commitment of the country’s security system to ensure a secure and peaceful environment for free and fair elections was on course.
“This joint police/military exercise constitutes a vital part of the preparations of the election task force to ensure a congenial and secure environment for the forthcoming elections,” he said.
He said the National Task Force had been decentralised and replicated in all the 10 regions and the 170 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies, with non-political appointees as chairpersons.
He said the goal of the joint exercise in the internal security areas of operations was to synchronise and rehearse operational plans and procedures.
Dr Amoo-Ghartey expressed the hope that by the end of the exercise the roles and functions of all agencies involved would have been synchronised and integrated into a seamless operation machine to achieve the ultimate goal of ensuring a secure and enabling environment for a free, fair and transparent electoral process.
“Lest we forget, we are a people who have gone through a lot in our young history: We have been freed, we have been liberated, redeemed, revolutionised and eventually we have achieved democratic dispensation. This, we are sure, we are all determined to keep,” he said.
The General Officer Commanding the Southern Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier-General Emmanuel Okyere, announced a nation-wide simulation exercise on November 16, 2008 to test the preparedness of the security services for the December 7 polls.
He said journalists would be embedded in the exercise to erase any doubts about it.
SIX local printing houses have been given the contract to print the ballot papers for the December 7 general election and release them to the Electoral Commission (EC) this week.
The Director of Elections at the EC, Mr Albert Kofi Arhin, announcing this when he addressed security chiefs within the southern command, named the six companies, which are all Accra-based, as the Buck Press, Innolink, Yarsarko, Fonstad, Act Commercial and Check Point.
The day-long meeting was to enable the security chiefs to appraise themselves of the electoral processes, engage in test operations for communication and mobility and plan joint practical exercises against any security challenges that the elections may pose.
Present at the meeting were the Inspector-General of Police, Mr P. K. Acheampong, the Chief of the Defence Staff, Lt Gen J. B. Danquah, and the Director of the Ghana Immigration Service, Ms Elizabeth Adjei.
Mr Arhin said the EC would require a 24-hour guard during the printing of the ballot papers and added that it would, therefore, need the support of the security agencies during the printing of the papers.
He noted that the EC had often borne the brunt of the elections as its staff were often intimidated and beaten up.
Mr Arhin said the commission appreciated the role of the security services in the success of the elections.
According to him, after the printing of the ballot papers, the EC would still need security assistance to escort the papers and other election materials to the regions on the eve of the elections for the allocation and distribution of the materials to the polling stations.
Mr Arhin said other areas the EC needed security presence and protection were the counting of votes, the carting of ballot boxes to the collation centres, the Operations Room of the EC, the premises of the EC itself, as well as the places where electronic scoreboards would be mounted throughout the country.
He explained that the stakes in this year’s elections were high but gave the assurance that the EC would do what it could to ensure peaceful elections and urged the security agencies to support it with the requisite security.
Mr Arhin told the security chiefs that the presiding officers would be in charge of the elections at the various centres and urged them to co-operate with the officers.
He said the EC was aware that the security personnel could not cover the entire length and breadth of the country and had, therefore, issued out the list of flash points to the security chiefs.
The National Security Co-ordinator, Dr Sam Amoo-Ghartey, said the commitment of the country’s security system to ensure a secure and peaceful environment for free and fair elections was on course.
“This joint police/military exercise constitutes a vital part of the preparations of the election task force to ensure a congenial and secure environment for the forthcoming elections,” he said.
He said the National Task Force had been decentralised and replicated in all the 10 regions and the 170 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies, with non-political appointees as chairpersons.
He said the goal of the joint exercise in the internal security areas of operations was to synchronise and rehearse operational plans and procedures.
Dr Amoo-Ghartey expressed the hope that by the end of the exercise the roles and functions of all agencies involved would have been synchronised and integrated into a seamless operation machine to achieve the ultimate goal of ensuring a secure and enabling environment for a free, fair and transparent electoral process.
“Lest we forget, we are a people who have gone through a lot in our young history: We have been freed, we have been liberated, redeemed, revolutionised and eventually we have achieved democratic dispensation. This, we are sure, we are all determined to keep,” he said.
The General Officer Commanding the Southern Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier-General Emmanuel Okyere, announced a nation-wide simulation exercise on November 16, 2008 to test the preparedness of the security services for the December 7 polls.
He said journalists would be embedded in the exercise to erase any doubts about it.
Preparation Towards December 7 Elections; Crucial Meeting Tomorrow, All security chiefs to meet in Accra(Front Page) November 3, 2008
Story:Michael Donkor
REGIONAL commanders and security chiefs from the police, military and allied agencies will assemble in Accra tomorrow for the final phase of the national programme aimed at harmonising the operations of all security agencies during the December elections.
It will also involve all task forces established for the maintenance of law and order during the December elections.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra at the weekend, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, said resource persons from the Electoral Commission (EC) would be in attendance to educate the security operatives on the electoral process.
Mr Acheampong said the move was aimed at building the capacity of the security agencies to get them to work as a team in order to take measures to prevent any activity which had the potential for disturbing the electoral process.
Mr Acheampong, who is also the Chairman of the National Security Task Force, said that the present phase of the exercise would be replicated in the regions, and would be followed by a national mock exercise on November 16 and 17.
He explained that stakeholders and other task forces in the regions would be taken through what would be taught in Accra.
Mr Acheampong said during the programme, a rehearsal of all potential situations would be held.
He, therefore, appealed to the general public to co-operate with the security agencies during the mock exercises to make the programme successful.
The objective of the security operations, he maintained, was to ensure the integrity of the elections and to ensure that the electorate exercised their franchise in a peaceful environment.
He, therefore, appealed to the electorate not to be apprehensive or alarmed by the presence of security persons during the mock exercise which would be held in all the regions.
He said on the day of the election, security persons would be required to be punctual, alert, exhibit fairness, be open and honest team players, and where the need arose, would be required to use minimum force.
Mr Acheampong challenged all regional commanders to ensure that their subordinates approached their work in a non-partisan manner to instil confidence in the electorate before, during and after the elections.
He also appealed to them to ensure good coverage of the elections to further uplift their image before the citizens of the country and the international community as a whole.
Series of programmes have been organised to improve the strategic operation and tactical levels of the security agencies as well as education programmes for the national election task force.
violence
REGIONAL commanders and security chiefs from the police, military and allied agencies will assemble in Accra tomorrow for the final phase of the national programme aimed at harmonising the operations of all security agencies during the December elections.
It will also involve all task forces established for the maintenance of law and order during the December elections.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra at the weekend, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, said resource persons from the Electoral Commission (EC) would be in attendance to educate the security operatives on the electoral process.
Mr Acheampong said the move was aimed at building the capacity of the security agencies to get them to work as a team in order to take measures to prevent any activity which had the potential for disturbing the electoral process.
Mr Acheampong, who is also the Chairman of the National Security Task Force, said that the present phase of the exercise would be replicated in the regions, and would be followed by a national mock exercise on November 16 and 17.
He explained that stakeholders and other task forces in the regions would be taken through what would be taught in Accra.
Mr Acheampong said during the programme, a rehearsal of all potential situations would be held.
He, therefore, appealed to the general public to co-operate with the security agencies during the mock exercises to make the programme successful.
The objective of the security operations, he maintained, was to ensure the integrity of the elections and to ensure that the electorate exercised their franchise in a peaceful environment.
He, therefore, appealed to the electorate not to be apprehensive or alarmed by the presence of security persons during the mock exercise which would be held in all the regions.
He said on the day of the election, security persons would be required to be punctual, alert, exhibit fairness, be open and honest team players, and where the need arose, would be required to use minimum force.
Mr Acheampong challenged all regional commanders to ensure that their subordinates approached their work in a non-partisan manner to instil confidence in the electorate before, during and after the elections.
He also appealed to them to ensure good coverage of the elections to further uplift their image before the citizens of the country and the international community as a whole.
Series of programmes have been organised to improve the strategic operation and tactical levels of the security agencies as well as education programmes for the national election task force.
violence
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Appoint Competent persons to Boards-Pianim(Centre Spread) October 23, 2008
Story: Michael Donkor
AN economic consultant, Mr Kwame Pianim, has called on the government to ensure that persons appointed to chair the boards of state enterprises are competent and have the requisite expertise for such positions.
He said most board chairmen lacked adequate managerial skills, resulting in the poor performance of state enterprises.
Mr Pianim, who made the call when he delivered the 10th anniversary lecture of the Central University College in Accra last Tuesday, said “until the government learns to put round pegs in round holes”, state enterprises would continue to perform below expectation.
He was speaking on the topic, “Training Transformational Leaders: Paradigm shift in tertiary education; developments in the national economy; implications for tertiary education”.
He said the country lacked persons with the requisite skills for the transformation of the economy from an agriculture- dominated and raw material and commodity exporting nation into a modern and diversified economy capable of improving living standards.
He said the recent discovery of oil had exposed the gap in human resource development and added that that needed to be filled.
“We need the skills required to shift the centre of gravity of our economy from agriculture to non-agricultural activities,” he added.
Mr Pianim called for the institution of credible measures to meet the manpower needs of the new oil industry in the form of engineers, ICT and accounting personnel.
He said there was the need to develop managerial competence to manage economic affairs in such a way that the oil industry would not crowd out the non-oil sectors but rather become the generator of resources for transforming the economy into a technology-intensive, modern, resilient and agile economy capable of delivering improved living standards and protecting them from future external shocks.
Mr Pianim said the country needed the skills and tools of the emerging knowledge economy if it intended to participate fully and effectively in a digitally driven world economy.
He stressed the need for biotechnology research to be included in the curriculum of tertiary education.
He said participation in that strategic area was of critical importance for the economic and social progress of the nation and the development of the Savannah belt in particular.
AN economic consultant, Mr Kwame Pianim, has called on the government to ensure that persons appointed to chair the boards of state enterprises are competent and have the requisite expertise for such positions.
He said most board chairmen lacked adequate managerial skills, resulting in the poor performance of state enterprises.
Mr Pianim, who made the call when he delivered the 10th anniversary lecture of the Central University College in Accra last Tuesday, said “until the government learns to put round pegs in round holes”, state enterprises would continue to perform below expectation.
He was speaking on the topic, “Training Transformational Leaders: Paradigm shift in tertiary education; developments in the national economy; implications for tertiary education”.
He said the country lacked persons with the requisite skills for the transformation of the economy from an agriculture- dominated and raw material and commodity exporting nation into a modern and diversified economy capable of improving living standards.
He said the recent discovery of oil had exposed the gap in human resource development and added that that needed to be filled.
“We need the skills required to shift the centre of gravity of our economy from agriculture to non-agricultural activities,” he added.
Mr Pianim called for the institution of credible measures to meet the manpower needs of the new oil industry in the form of engineers, ICT and accounting personnel.
He said there was the need to develop managerial competence to manage economic affairs in such a way that the oil industry would not crowd out the non-oil sectors but rather become the generator of resources for transforming the economy into a technology-intensive, modern, resilient and agile economy capable of delivering improved living standards and protecting them from future external shocks.
Mr Pianim said the country needed the skills and tools of the emerging knowledge economy if it intended to participate fully and effectively in a digitally driven world economy.
He stressed the need for biotechnology research to be included in the curriculum of tertiary education.
He said participation in that strategic area was of critical importance for the economic and social progress of the nation and the development of the Savannah belt in particular.
Medical Station reconstructed at 66th Artillery Regiment(inside page)
Story: Michael Donkor, Ho
THE Medical Station of the 66th Artillery Regiment in Ho has been reconstructed at a cost of €187,257.
Apart from providing readily accessible health care for the soldiers, their spouses and the civilian employees of the regiment, the station is also expected to further deepen civil-military relations in the Ho municipality and the Volta Region as a whole.
The reconstruction was carried out by the government, with support from the government of Germany.
The station will be open to all in the Ho municipality in an effort to accelerate the delivery of medical care to the people of the area in the bid to promote good relations with the civilian population.
The Minister of Defence, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, said the station was reconstructed with the initiative of the German government, under the supervision of the German Military Advisory Team in Ghana.
New facilities have been added to the station, including a new theatre with fully installed equipment, a new dental unit, a fully equipped X-ray unit, as well as an electro-cardiogram (ECG) unit.
Other facilities are a fully equipped laboratory, the renovation of the admission wards and toilets, as well as the provision of a medical store and a dispensary.
According to Mr Kan-Dapaah, the second phase of the project, scheduled to start soon, will include the rehabilitation of the maternity blocks, the medical officer's residence, the principal nursing officer's quarters and a 14-unit nurses' transit quarters.
He announced that the Ministry of Defence had plans to relocate the Ghana Armed Forces Recruit Training School to the Akoefe Barracks near Ho, adding that the medical station would serve as the main hospital for the school.
The German Military Advisory Team, he said, had already trained personnel to man all the new equipment and facilities installed at the station.
Mr Kan-Dapaah expressed gratitude to the German team, under the command of Lt Col Kunz, for the effort put into the reconstruction of the station in a relatively short period of five months.
He catalogued a number of projects undertaken for the GAF through the support of the German government and added that those efforts would further improve the good relations that existed between Ghana and Germany.
For his part, the German Ambassador to Ghana, Dr Marius Haas, praised the excellent state of relations between Germany and Ghana, adding that the Government of Germany had so far expended €2 million on projects in Ghana.
He pledged that the Military advisory team in Ghana would remain unchanged and co-operate with the GAF to enhance relations between the two countries.
Dr Haas said the completion of the station would curtail the situation where personnel in need of critical medical attention had to be rushed to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra.
According to him, a good medical facility for servicemen when they returned from operations abroad would serve as a great morale booster, saying that the medical needs of troops had been underestimated in the past, a situation he described as unfortunate.
The Commanding Officer of the 66th Artillery Regiment, Lt Col Kotia, expressed the hope that as part of the second phase the German Government would assist with the provision of ophthalmologist equipment and also equip a room for a physiotherapy department to raise the status of the station to a full hospital.
"The upgraded medical station will go a long way to further enhance the desire of the regiment to promote civil-military relations in the Ho municipality and the region as a whole," he added.
THE Medical Station of the 66th Artillery Regiment in Ho has been reconstructed at a cost of €187,257.
Apart from providing readily accessible health care for the soldiers, their spouses and the civilian employees of the regiment, the station is also expected to further deepen civil-military relations in the Ho municipality and the Volta Region as a whole.
The reconstruction was carried out by the government, with support from the government of Germany.
The station will be open to all in the Ho municipality in an effort to accelerate the delivery of medical care to the people of the area in the bid to promote good relations with the civilian population.
The Minister of Defence, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, said the station was reconstructed with the initiative of the German government, under the supervision of the German Military Advisory Team in Ghana.
New facilities have been added to the station, including a new theatre with fully installed equipment, a new dental unit, a fully equipped X-ray unit, as well as an electro-cardiogram (ECG) unit.
Other facilities are a fully equipped laboratory, the renovation of the admission wards and toilets, as well as the provision of a medical store and a dispensary.
According to Mr Kan-Dapaah, the second phase of the project, scheduled to start soon, will include the rehabilitation of the maternity blocks, the medical officer's residence, the principal nursing officer's quarters and a 14-unit nurses' transit quarters.
He announced that the Ministry of Defence had plans to relocate the Ghana Armed Forces Recruit Training School to the Akoefe Barracks near Ho, adding that the medical station would serve as the main hospital for the school.
The German Military Advisory Team, he said, had already trained personnel to man all the new equipment and facilities installed at the station.
Mr Kan-Dapaah expressed gratitude to the German team, under the command of Lt Col Kunz, for the effort put into the reconstruction of the station in a relatively short period of five months.
He catalogued a number of projects undertaken for the GAF through the support of the German government and added that those efforts would further improve the good relations that existed between Ghana and Germany.
For his part, the German Ambassador to Ghana, Dr Marius Haas, praised the excellent state of relations between Germany and Ghana, adding that the Government of Germany had so far expended €2 million on projects in Ghana.
He pledged that the Military advisory team in Ghana would remain unchanged and co-operate with the GAF to enhance relations between the two countries.
Dr Haas said the completion of the station would curtail the situation where personnel in need of critical medical attention had to be rushed to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra.
According to him, a good medical facility for servicemen when they returned from operations abroad would serve as a great morale booster, saying that the medical needs of troops had been underestimated in the past, a situation he described as unfortunate.
The Commanding Officer of the 66th Artillery Regiment, Lt Col Kotia, expressed the hope that as part of the second phase the German Government would assist with the provision of ophthalmologist equipment and also equip a room for a physiotherapy department to raise the status of the station to a full hospital.
"The upgraded medical station will go a long way to further enhance the desire of the regiment to promote civil-military relations in the Ho municipality and the region as a whole," he added.
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