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Foto4change presents camera, accessories to Savelugu Deaf School
Mr Buta teaching the students to operate the camera
Foto4change Foundation a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has presented a camera, speedlite, tripod, and other accessories to the Savelugu School for the Deaf in the Northern Region.
A multiple award-winning photojournalist, Mr. Geoffrey Buta, who led the team to present the items said, the goal was to support and educate students of Deaf schools in the country.
According to Mr Buta, another purpose was to provide the students with the tools they needed to inform the world how powerful visual storytelling was as a tool for self-expression against issues that affected them on a societal level.
“Students will be coached by some of the leading photo professionals in the country. They will receive training, inspirational lectures as well as have their portfolios reviewed in a group session,” he added.
Mr. Buta said the mentors will share practical advice as well as their thoughts and perspectives over trends and developments in the industry.
“Part of Foto4change’s goal is also to turn these special students into world-renowned professional visual storytellers to champion future visual storytelling by giving them the tools, knowledge and opportunity to advance their careers and build on their skills he said.
After the training, the schools will participate in a national photography competition and exhibition, with prizes given to the top students.
A female student, Aisha Yakubu, expressed her joy as she operated the camera for the first time.
“This is a dream come true, as I have been yearning to become a visual storyteller,” she said.
The Headmistress of the school, Ms. Nora Naaso, commended Mr. Buta and the team for their gesture, saying it will contribute to supporting individuals with special needs.
Ms. Danaa demanded increased funding for the arts so that the young ones could experience what they were learning in a real-world setting.
Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem has today revealed in Parliament that special audit has uncovered over payments for transportation of grains in respect of the dry spell expenditure.
According to the Deputy Minister, Under the Farmer Food Relief and Recovery Programme, a transportation company was contracted to transport 134,000 metric tonnes of maize and rice to farmers across the country at a contract sum of GH¢115.2 million.
Even though the company transported only 35,000 metric tonnes which should have costed GH¢30.9 million, the company was paid GH¢50 million.
In addition to this payment, the company was given 7,311 metric tonnes of rice equivalent to 14,622 bags of 50kg rice, which amounts to GH¢11.7 million in lieu of cash for no work done. This brings total payment to GH¢61.7 million.
As a result, the Auditor-General accordingly rejected an amount of GH¢65.2 million that was requested by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture as additional payment to the said transport company.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Ampem Nyarko, has revealed that thousands of tonnes of food supplied under government’s 2024 dry spell intervention cannot be accounted for after a special audit.
According to him, the audit found discrepancies in the supply of rice and maize purchased by the Government of Ghana to support farmers and vulnerable communities affected by the dry spell.
He explained that government paid for 34,000 metric tonnes of rice to help address the impact of the dry spell. However, records from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture show that only 24,000 metric tonnes were received and distributed.
He noted that about 10,000 metric tonnes of rice remain unaccounted for even though the full quantity had already been paid for by the state.
The deputy minister also disclosed that government had contracted a company to supply 100,000 metric tonnes of maize as part of the intervention.
He said the Ministry of Food and Agriculture submitted Stores Receipt Advice as proof that the full quantity of maize valued at GH¢771.2 million had been delivered. The document was presented to the Ministry of Finance to facilitate payment.
However, the audit revealed that only 11,900 metric tonnes of maize were actually supplied and distributed.
He further stated that the Stores Receipt Advice used to support the payment was accompanied by a checklist certified by the internal auditor of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
The findings form part of a special audit conducted to review government expenditure related to the dry spell response in 2024.
By Jacob Aggrey
