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Hearing impaired student excels at TTU
The Disability Support and Services Unit (DSSU) at the Takoradi Technical University (TTU), has celebrated one of their products, Ms Ama Andowa Buabeng, for being the overall best deaf performing student at the 6th congregation of the university.
Ms Buabeng,24, last Saturday, graduated with Second Class Upper (Honours), Diploma in Graphic Design for the 2020/21 academic year.
The Spectator has been hinted that, Ms Buabeng, who would work as a national service person at Graphic Design Department, is on her way to achieve more feats, and that, there is an opportunity for her to become a Teaching Assistant and a lecturer in future.
“ Your outstanding learning ethics is evidenced in your sustained progression and eventual excellence. Your groundbreaking project work which mounted on the walkways of the University campus leaves a lasting memory of your contribution towards research and problem solving.” A citation in recognition of Ms Buabeng’s academic excellence stated.
The citation signed by Head, Disability Support and Services Unit, Mr Joseph Mensah Oti -Asirifi, the Registrar, Dr Moses Maclean Abnory and the Pro -Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victor K. Bondzie- Micah, noted that, Ms Buaben was a role model, with high moral principles, and, revered by everyone in the university.
It said, she successfully communicated and exemplified that disability was not inability or limitation.
“You epitomises the university motto’ adwen, Akoma, nsa ma mpuntu. The Disability Support and Service Unit is extremely proud of your monumental contribution in building a reputation for deaf students in particular, and students with disability in general.” it concluded.
Meanwhile, reacting to Ms Buabeng’s feat, Head, DSSU at TTU, Mr Joseph Mensah-Oti Asirifi, noted that, her performance was ample statement of what the unit had yearned for all these years, that disabled students would be appropriately recognised within the academic arena and society.
He argued that such students needed national recongnition and also given a proven career so that they did not populate the streets as beggars.
The media and societal mindset, Mr Oti-Asirifi said, must also be discarded that that such persons were not normal or nor knowledgeable, saying that “ we must work to encourage them to excel.”
‘Deaf is only limited by hearing, but, the other four senses are well activated. It’s TTU responsibility to work towards bringing out the potentials of these disabled for the benefit of the family and society,” he said.
Mr Oti-Asirifi said TTU believed that the situation where the hearing impaired class becomes an exclusive one must be broken for policy makers to ensure an integrated system whereby hearing impaired would sit in the same class with other students.
This, he told The Spectator, was to ensure inclusiveness within the academia and industry. Takoradi Technical University values and supports the principle of universal access to employment and education for all staff and students respectively, including those with a disability.
“The University shall be committed to the provision of a work and training environment in which staff and students shall not be subject to any discrimination or any form of bigotry because of a disability.” Mr Oti-Asirifi added.
From Clement Adzei Boye, Takoradi
Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, says more than 15,000 Ghanaian workers have lost their jobs following a directive issued by the Chief of Staff.
According to him, the dismissals affected not only people employed after the 2024 general elections, as stated in the directive, but also workers who had been lawfully employed as far back as 2017.
Raising the issue on the floor of Parliament, Mr. Afenyo-Markin said the Minority uncovered evidence showing serious excesses in the implementation of the directive.
“We became aware that although the letter was specific to those recruited after the 2024 elections, Ghanaian youth who were employed as far back as 2017 were all dismissed from their lawful employment,” he said.
He explained that the Minority filed a motion in Parliament to investigate the matter, which was admitted by the Speaker. However, the process has faced several delays.
According to him, the Majority Leader raised a preliminary objection to the motion, which was upheld by the First Deputy Speaker. The Minority later filed a motion for review under the rules of Parliament, which was also admitted.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin said the review motion was moved by him and seconded by the Member of Parliament for Ofoasi- Ayirebi, while the Majority Chief Whip, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor , began the debate on behalf of the Majority side.
He noted that the House was expected to continue the debate the following Tuesday to allow the Speaker to rule on the matter, but this has not happened due to other parliamentary business.
“Several times the motion appeared on the Order Paper, but we could not take it,” he stated.
The Minority Leader stressed that the delay is having serious consequences for affected workers and their families.
“This is a matter that affects the livelihood of Ghanaians. We have in excess of 15,000 Ghanaian youths affected by this directive, and they are still at home,” he said.
He added that the Minister for Employment has acknowledged receiving petitions on the issue and has initiated investigations, but said that should not stop Parliament from carrying out its own inquiry.
“These Ghanaian youths are sitting at home. Their wives, their extended families are all affected. It has been over a year, and they are not getting any justice,” he added.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin appealed to the Leader of Government Business to ensure that the motion is included in Parliament’s report and debated to allow the House to make a final decision on the matter.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Director of Communications for the United Party, Solomon Owusu, has expressed strong disappointment following the Supreme Court decision to quash the rerun of the Kpandai parliamentary election.
Mr Owusu made his views known while reacting to the ruling, stressing that he would feel deeply disappointed if he were in the position of Matthew Nyindam, the current Member of Parliament for Kpandai.
He explained that the High Court had earlier examined the case in detail and arrived at a clear determination on the matter.
According to him, the High Court found that the election was compromised and that rigging took place with the involvement of the Electoral Commission.
Mr Owusu pointed out that when the New Patriotic Party moved the case to the Supreme Court, it did not challenge the substance of the High Court findings.
He stated that the appeal was based purely on a point of law, arguing that the National Democratic Congress was time barred when it went to court, and not that the alleged rigging did not occur.
In his view, this means that Mr Nyindam remains in Parliament through an election process that did not reflect the true will of the people of Kpandai.
Mr Owusu noted that this was why he had expected a rerun of the election, to allow the MP to return to the constituency and properly establish his authority through the ballot.
He explained that a rerun would have given Mr Nyindam the opportunity to prove that he genuinely won the 2024 parliamentary election.
With the rerun now quashed, Mr Owusu questioned how the MP could celebrate or take pride in the court outcome.
He stressed that he would no longer take contributions made by Mr Nyindam in Parliament seriously, as the legitimacy of his mandate remains questionable in his view.
Mr Owusu further argued that the Supreme Court decision has shortchanged the people of Kpandai.
He described the ruling as unfair to voters who woke up early on election day, queued patiently, and voted for a candidate of their choice, only for their will to be undermined.
According to him, the outcome raises serious concerns about justice, electoral credibility, and respect for the democratic rights of the people.
By: Jacob Aggrey
