Hot!
Govt to invest in e-learning facilities for tertiary institutions
Government is introducing a learning management system to facilitate e-learning in all tertiary institutions across the country, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced at the Jubilee House in Accra yesterday.
The system, which is being introduced to enhance electronic interactions due to the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID 19), is expected to enable the government to have a better assessment of effectiveness of online interactions.
President Akufo-Addo announced this at the Jubilee House in Accra yesterday when he met with the vice chancellors of the various universities across the country to discuss some pertinent issues ahead of the reopening of the universities on Monday June 15.
The President pointed out that the system will not be used at the high school level, indicating that it will be difficult to deal with the imbalances in the instructions at that level.
“Part of the problem with the senior high school is that it is very difficult to know to what extent the instruction, first of all, is being paid attention to, if they are actually listening…” he said and added that the imbalances in the absorptive capacities of students at that level will be difficult to address if online learning is introduced in the high schools.
The learning management system for tertiary institutions, he said, will be critical for e-learning and indicated that the government will soon put the system in place.
President Akufo-Addo also pledged the government’s commitments to ensure that PPEs are available and the tertiary institutions are disinfected so that they can open to students, teaching and non-teaching staff on Monday.
Also, he said financial clearance has been given for the recruitment of over 6,000 staff to address capacity constraints in the universities.
In terms of modern learning, he said the idea of open universities has found favour with the government and indicated that active measures are being put in place to ensure that universities deliver quality distance learning that the open universities represent.
President Akufo-Addo was optimistic that the reopening of schools at the tertiary level in the wake of the COVID-19 menace will serve as a good example for the country.
“If it succeeds, then the country will be reassured that we can begin to step up with confidence to the future that comes ahead of us,” he said
The Minister of Education, Mathew Opoku Prempeh, said Ghana has done well in its management of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, noting that even though Ghana’s numbers are rising, most of the cases are normal people who have been infected and have not shown any signs of the disease.
The minister said there is the need to look at the COVID 19 data and resume life because the pandemic has been well controlled in the country.
However, he entreated the public to “act with safety precautions in mind”.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana and Chairman of the Vice Chancellors Ghana, Prof Ebenezer Oduro, commended the President for the great leadership he has shown since the outbreak of the pandemic.
He said contrary to media reports that some universities have decided not to open despite the government’s directives for them to open, all the universities are going to open on Monday.
By Yaw Kyei
Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Mahama, has made a generous donation to the country’s national female Under-17 and Under-20 teams – Black Maidens and Black Princesses- as they continue preparations for major international assignments.
The donation, made on Friday, May 22, was presented on behalf of the First Lady by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, at the GFA Technical Centre in Prampram.
The gesture forms part of efforts to motivate and support Ghana’s young female footballers as they prepare to represent the country on the international stage.
The donation included essential food items and toiletries aimed at supporting the welfare and well-being of the players and technical teams.
The donation included cartons of Milo, T-rolls, soft drinks, toiletries, and a range of essential supplies aimed at supporting the welfare of the players, enhancing camp conditions, and easing preparations ahead of their respective assignments.
The Black Maidens are currently engaged in preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and are set to take on Liberia women’s national under-17 football team in the second-leg encounter in Liberia this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Black Princesses have already secured qualification to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after overcoming Uganda in the qualifiers, extending Ghana’s remarkable record to eight consecutive appearances at the tournament.
The donation by the First Lady was expected to boost morale within both camps while reinforcing national support for the young female footballers who continue to make the country proud.
The prosecution has officially rested its case in The Republic v Solomon Asamoah & Another, the high-profile legal battle commonly referred to as the “Sky Train” case.
The Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai announced the development, praising the state’s team of hard-working prosecutors for successfully anchoring the state’s evidence before the High Court.
The criminal trial centers on the former Chief Executive Officer and the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
The duo stands accused of illegally authorizing and paying out US$2 million to a foreign company without obtaining board directives or other mandatory statutory approvals.
State investigators have confirmed that the disbursed millions cannot be found.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the accused persons moved the court for an opportunity to file a submission of no case.
The presiding judge granted the application, ordering the defense to submit their arguments by June 8.
The outcome of the June 8 filings will decide the fate of the trial:
With this, if the judge finds the defense’s submission convincing, the accused will be acquitted and discharged however, If the judge dismisses the submission, the court will order the accused officials to take the stand and explain why they should not face prison sentences.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
