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Dr. Prempeh: A trustworthy ‘servant’ of Manhyia South

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• The library is named after the late Ashanti Queen, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II

• The library is named after the late Ashanti Queen, Nana
Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II

At a time that some Members of Parliament (MPs) are going through a huge crisis because of the disconnect between them and their constituents, one MP who is enjoying a peaceful relationship and an unflinching support from his area is the MP for Manhyia South Constituency, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.

• The 200-seater edifice is stocked with books and computers for students and the public.jpg

There is a strong bond between the MP and the Manhyia Palace as well as the electorate because of his unique posture of seeing himself as the servant of the people as he consults and listens to them always.

Since 2009 that he first entered Parliament, Dr. Prempeh has been there for the good people of Manhyia South, and they have also been there for him.

Napo, as Dr. Prempeh is affectionately called, has delivered so well that it does not surprise the people of Manhyia South to wake up in the morning to see another development project commencing.

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The MP recently mesmerised the Manhyia Palace with an ultra-modern library located at Ashtown and named after the late Ashanti Queen, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II.

The 200-seater edifice boasts of free wifi, 36 computers and other modern amenities to promote easy learning by students and the public.

The one-storey library project has been stocked with some 10,000 books for its patrons, especially students, to study and acquire new knowledge.

The decision by Dr. Prempeh to honour the late Ashanti Queen posthumously was to appreciate the key roles she played in promoting education in the Ashanti Region and beyond during her reign.

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The MP, who is also a former education minister, during the commission of the project, said that he decided, together with the people of the area, to name the library after the late Queen to honour her for her good works for the country and also to motivate others to emulate her.

Napo, who is a royal from Apagyafie, entreated the youth of the area and Kumasi to constantly visit the library and add to their knowledge, adding it was only through education that the gap between the rich and the poor in society could be narrowed.

The land for the project was provided by the Asantehene. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who is the first born of the late Nana Afia Kobi Ampem II.

Traditional rulers who were present at the event at the behest of the Manhyia Palace were full of praises to Dr. Prempeh for his understanding of the importance of education and his readiness to promote same in the area.

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What is more striking is the fact that at no point did Dr. Prempeh mention the quantum of money spent on the project in honour of the late Ashanti Queen.

Mindful of the role of the youth in development, Dr. Prempeh, in June this year, rolled out a youth entrepreneurship empowerment project in the constituency to tackle youth unemployment by equipping them with the needed training skills to employ themselves and their families.

The project, dubbed “Reducing unemployment through skills training,’’ in partnership with the College of Beauty and Arts and Entrepreneurship (CBAE), started on June 27, this year.

Some 80 trainees selected from the six electoral areas within the Manhyia South Constituency have been equipped in Make-Up Artistry, Beauty Technology and Fashion Design Technology training for seven weeks.

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What is unique is that Dr. Prempeh took care of all the equipment needed for the seven weeks’ training programme and start-up equipment, as well.

The youth of Manhyia South who were enthused about the magnanimity of the MP have vowed to take advantage of the skills training agenda and start up their own businesses.

The Chief of Kokoso, in the Ashanti Region, Nana Kwaku Duah, who was at the launch of the programme, advised the youth to embrace the opportunity with a high sense of seriousness for the betterment of their future.

Nana Kwaku Duah would not stop praising Dr. Prempeh for empowering the youth of Manhyia South, saying: “The electorate will always remember him for his good works.”

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One thing that makes the people happy is the fact that their MP does not singlehandedly decide the kind of projects they should have, rather, he involves the people to take decisions on what would inure to their collective benefit.

Dr. Prempeh, who is the current energy minister, in his own way since becoming the MP for Manhyia South, has delivered beyond expectation and it is not out of nothing that the chiefs, opinion leaders, school children and the youth across the political divide see him as a trustworthy servant of the area.

By Godfred Opare Djan

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Ghana Post launches ‘Skool Box’ initiative

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Mrs Rita Sraha (fourth from left) together with Ghana Post regional MDs launching the SKOOLBOX initiative

Ghana Post on Tuesday launched the ‘Skool Box’ initiative, one aimed at supporting education and delivery services to students in Accra.

The initiative forms part of Ghana Post’s broader transformation agenda to diversify its services and provide innovative solutions to everyday challenges faced by Ghanaians.

Launching the initiative, the Managing Director of the company, Mrs Rita Sraha, said the idea was inspired by the practical difficulties students and parents often faced in transporting school items, particularly at the beginning of the academic term.

According to her, the increasing space constraints in schools also makes it difficult for students to carry large quantities of belongings with them, creating the need for parents to find alternative ways of sending additional items to their children.

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Mrs Sraha said the initiative aligns with the broader national agenda of using digital technology and innovation to expand opportunities, improve public services and strengthen Ghana’s economic capabilities.

The Managing Director however, stressed that the success of the initiative would depend on Ghana Post’s willingness to listen to users, learn from experience and continuously improve the service.

Mrs Sraha explained that Ghana Post was gradually expanding beyond its traditional postal operations through partnerships and services in areas including last-mile delivery, agency banking, logistics and insurance.

She said the School Box Service was another example of how the organisation was using its institutional capabilities to develop solutions to practical challenges within communities.

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The Acting Chief Commercial Officer of Ghana Post, Mr Benard Yaw Atta-Sonno, said the service was designed to provide convenient and reliable delivery of school-related items while creating new business opportunities within the education sector.

According to him, the company was also strengthening its focus on digitalisation, customer experience, strategic partnerships and data-driven commercial decision-making.

“Our objective is clear: to build multiple sustainable revenue streams around the assets and capabilities that Ghana Post already possesses, while developing new capabilities for emerging markets,” he said.

He explained that, in the short term, the initiatives were expected to increase transaction volumes, improve the digitalisation of the company’s network, attract new customer segments and generate additional revenue from services that complemented its traditional postal operations.

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He noted that the School Box, in particular, provided an opportunity for Ghana Post to develop recurring business around the annual school cycle, while creating opportunities to cross-sell other logistics and delivery services.

The launch forms part of Ghana Post’s wider efforts to modernise its operations and position the company as a diversified logistics and service provider beyond its traditional postal business.

By Linda Abrefi Wadie

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Don’t turn students away over trunks and chop boxes -GES

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Some students with their trunks

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has asked heads of schools not to turn away newly admitted students or refuse to accommodate them over metal trunks or wooden chop boxes.

“These practices may impose unnecessary financial burdens on parents and guardians who may be unable to afford alternative storage containers prescribed by individual schools,” the GES said in a statement.

“All students admitted to boarding accommodation should be treated fairly and accommodated without discrimination based on their economic circumstances or ability of their parents or guardians to purchase a particular brand or type of personal effects.”

The statement, signed by Professor Mrs Smile Dzisi, the Deputy GES Director-General, comes after Management of the Service received reports that some senior high schools and senior high technical schools (SHS/SHTS) were turning newly admitted students or refusing to accommodate them because they brought metal trunks, wooden chop boxes or other personal storage containers to school.

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Consequently, the GES has asked regional directors to inform all heads to desist from turning away or refusing admissions to duly admitted students solely on the basis of the type of trunk, chop box, or personal storage container they bought to school.

Provided the item was reasonably sized, safe and did not pose risk to the health, safety or welfare of other students, those students must not be refused accommodation, it added.

The statement said: “Any reported case of a duly admitted student being denied accommodation or turned away solely because of the type of trunk, chop box or personal storage container brought to school should be investigated and same reported to management.”

“Any head of SHS/SHSTS who flouts this directive shall be dealt with in accordance with the applicable standards, regulation and laws of the service.” –GNA

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