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Low turn-out on 1st day as tertiary institutions re-open
Low turnout greeted the first day of re-opening for final year students of tertiary institutions which were compelled to shut down in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country.
Ghanaian Times reporters visited various campuses and observed that the University authorities have taken delivery of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including face or nose masks, liquid soaps, tissue papers and thermometer guns from the National Council of Tertiary Education (NCTE), which are to be used by lecturers and teachers to protect themselves.
Although some have maintained their virtual class work model through on-line learning and teaching during the three months absence of physical presence on campus, others have taken advantage of easing of the restrictions to recall students to campus to complete the academic calendar.
At the University of Ghana, Legon campus, some students were seen arriving at their various halls of residence to resume academic work.
As directed, hygiene protocols to help stop the spread of the virus had been put in place at the various lecture and residential halls.
While, the Central University College and the Ghana Telecom University College took advantage of the online learning and teaching to the extent of conducting examinations for their final year students the Methodist University College has however recalled the students to campus to use six weeks for assessment and examinations for both postgraduate and Level four students numbering about 1,200.
Professor Asabere Ameyaw, President of the Methodist University College, said enough measures to promote social distancing and personal hygiene had been instituted to check the spread of the disease campus.
He said students had been asked to bring their own food from home due to the closure of the canteen and were dissperse as soon as lectures or examinations were over adding that a COVID-19 response team was on stand-by to respond to any unforeseen circumstances that may come up.
At the Ghana Telecom University College, Vice President, Professor Isaac Abeku Blankson said as ICT oriented institution, they took advantage of the on-line platform to complete the academic calendar well ahead of time.
At the Central University College at Mataheko, the reporter was informed by the security personnel present that the students have completed their examinations,thus,there was no need for them to return to campus.
AMA TEKYIWAA AMPADU AGYEMAN, REPORTS that at the Koforidua Technical University(KTU), lectures started at about 7:00 AM with both lecturers and students wearing their nose masks.
Security personnel at entrance had the thermometer guns and were checking temperatures of all who entered the campus.
Veronica buckets were also placed at the entrance and vantage points of the university to promote proper and regular hand washing.
Registrar of KTU, Dr Nii Annang Mensah-Livingston explained that the university was expecting about 3, 600 final year students to return to complete the semester and write their examinations.
He said lecture halls had also been rearranged and their sizes reduced in line with the President’s directive, adding “number of students in our GETFund Hostels has also been reduced and our COVID-19 Response team had also interacted with private hostel owners to also observe the safety protocols.”
In case of emergencies, he noted that an isolation room had been made available while awaiting the Eastern Regional COVID-19 response team to pick them up for further health checks.
At the All Nations University, the Registrar, Reverend Adraina Ion said final year students would not be returning physically as they would be completing their courses online, adding that, safety protocol measures had been put in place at the University.
DAVID O. YARBOI-TETTEH REPORTS from the Winneba campus of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) that few students had reported to campus as of 11:00 AM yesterday.
Their temperatures were taken as some officials handed over to the students their face masks.
The Public Relations Officer of UEW, Ernest Azutiga, said the institution had received 38,000 facemasks and other essentials to be distributed to the students and lecturers in all the four campuses of UEW including Winneba, Ajumako, Kumasi and Ashanti Mampong.
He indicated that, management of UEW had also installed 137 automatic hand sanitisers at the various academic facilities and halls of residence on campus.
At the University of Cape Coast (UCC), arriving students underwent protocols including hand washing, use of sanitisers, temperatures taken and student’s identity checked before being allowed to enter the hall.
At the Cape Coast Technical University (CCTU), the atmosphere was calm with few of the students going through the registration process.
Some of the students who were staying outside campus, had also moved to take up residence on campus in order to protect themselves from contracting the virus.
Public Relations Officer of CCTU, Fred Opare Baako said the institution had taken delivery of over 5,000 face masks, thermometer guns, liquid soaps, Veronica buckets and tissue papers from the government.
The authorities, he said, had put in place measures to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
From Takoradi, Clement Adzei Boye, reports that the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) and Takoradi Technical University (TTU) had reopened to students for academic work to begin.
The Registrar of UMaT, Mr Matthew Kwabena Okrah indicated that, to safeguard the health and safety of the University community, the Security Unit would enforce the No Mask, No Entry directive.
He announced that students would report to the UMaT Clinic upon arrival, for screening from June 15 to 17.
Additionally, the Security Unit would further ensure that there would be no mass gatherings including church services or meetings, association meetings, or any form of gathering of students apart from lectures on campus.
The management assured students and parents that it was working to ensure the safety of all members of the university community.
For his part, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) for TTU, Kow Richardson, explained that final years would spend four weeks for lectures in addition to the virtual lectures which took place during the close- down of school.
This, he said, would be followed by a two-week examination.
All students and lecturers, he noted, would be provided with the needed PPEs including hand sanitisers and nose masks with ‘no mask, not entry’ notices posted at all vantages points.
KINGSLEY E.HOPE in KUMASI reports from the Kumasi Campus of UEW that, there was low turnout at the time of visit by the Ghanaian Times as at 11:30 am.
The few students that had reported were given personal protection equipment by management of the institution as it was observed that Veronica buckets were strategically being fitted.
Some of the few students who were spotted on campus during the Ghanaian Times’ visit could not hide their joy for the reopening of lectures as they claimed staying home for long made them rusty.
Similarly at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), there was very low turnout at the campus on the first day of re-opening school although management had instituted safety protocols as directed.
At Christian Service University College, a private university, at Kwadaso in Kumasi, the institution was already two weeks into their take home virtual examination with one week to complete.
It was gathered that, the final year students were already done with their examination and working on their thesis as management of the institution was already preparing for the 2020/2021 academic year.
Source: Ghanaian Times
Troubled and anxious citizens in Damongo of the Savannah Region have expressed concerns about the number of young people, believed to be under the age of 18, involved in ‘shisha’ smoking in pubs and drinking spots within the township.
Eyewitnesses say the minors were seen patronising nightlife venues, where Shisha smoking happen in the open.
The situation has sparked renewed public concern over the enforcement of child protection laws and regulations governing the operations of entertainment centres in the municipality and country as a whole.
An eyewitness, who spoke to The Spectator on conditions of anonymity for security reasons, noted that the situation was becoming increasingly common.
“This is not a one-off incident. It is becoming very common, but residents like us cannot openly report or speak about it because our lives will be at risk,” he said.
Under Ghanaian law, minors were prohibited from patronising Shisha.
Public health experts have consistently warned that shisha use exposes users to harmful substances that can negatively affect brain development, respiratory health, and overall well-being, particularly among young people.
The residents believe the alleged incidents point to broader challenges relating to youth supervision, substance abuse, and weak enforcement of existing regulations and have called on municipal authorities, security agencies, and regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring of pubs and entertainment centres to ensure compliance with the law.
In an effort to address the menace, Mr Salisu Be-Awurbi, the Savannah Regional Minister, has led public education campaigns, engaged security agencies, and supported enforcement actions to address the rising use of illicit substances in the region.
Wura Kelly Seidu Boresah I, the Chief of Damongo, has also called on all stakeholders including parents, community leaders, institutions, and young people to actively support efforts to curb drug abuse, warning that the rising consumption of hard drugs poses a serious health threat to the future of the youth in the Savannah Region.
He also cautioned individuals involved in the sale and distribution of illicit drugs to immediately desist from the practice, stressing that offenders will face arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law.
From Geoffrey Buta, Damongo, Savannah Region
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Dr Theresa Baffour, an advocate for ending violence and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SAHM SAHW Foundation, has said that society plays a critical and pivotal role in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.
According to her, domestic violence is a major contributor of making women, who are mostly the victims, mentally derailed and unable to engage in economic activities.
She said this when the foundation called on the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to solicit support for the initiative by the “Strong and Healthy Minds, Strong and Healthy Women” (SAHM SAHW) to combat domestic violence within the Ga State.
The visit was occasioned by the fact that domestic violence cases have become quite prevalent in the Ga communities and is retarding growth.
According to her, the canker was an impediment to national development because the victims were usually tortured and would have to go through series of therapies to return to the right state of mind.
Dr Baffour mentioned that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) places a mental toll on women, and was, therefore, important to break the cycle through comprehensive mental health support, crisis intervention and empowerment programmes in communities with high rates of GBV.
This intervention, she underscored, would help in empowering the denigrated victim of domestic violence to soundly heal, build and thrive.
Dr Baffour added that the initiative would provide holistic, trauma-informed mental health care and advocacy for young women affected by domestic violence.
According to her, the above statement would create safe spaces for healing and equipping them with entrepreneurial skills for renewed hope and empowered life.
The Ga Mantse pledged his support for the laudable initiative to combat domestic violence and also acknowledged the need to address it in the Ga State.
Further endorsement came from Justice Julia Naa-Yarley Adjei Amoah, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Ga Mantse, as she commended the team of SAHM SAHW Foundation for taking a bold step to end the canker in the Greater Accra.
She added that it was a step in the right direction to save vulnerable women from torture, stress and emotional abuse.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
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