Nursing trainees tasked to make positive impact on the field
A total of 492 students who recently graduated from four different health training institutions in Accra have been tasked to apply their knowledge and make valuable contributions in their respective fields.
They were asked, among other things, to ensure the safety of patients and adopt effective communication skills at their workplace .
The trainees were from the Ophthalmic Nursing School, School of Peri-Operative and Critical Care Nursing, Public Health Nurses School, all at Korle Bu, and the School of Anaesthesia and Critical Care (Ridge).
Dr. Asante-Krobea, Principal of the School of Peri-Operative and Critical Care Nursing, speaking at the ceremony, said the granduands must strive to make “a good impression on the professional front.”
Speaking on the theme “COVID-19: The Role of the Professional Nurse,” he stressed the need for government to “strengthen and invest” in specialised nursing education.
He said the COVID-19 pandemic had reinforced the need to train and increase the number of health professionals available in the country, adding that nurses and midwives must be empowered to help achieve global health coverage and other national health goals.
“It is the responsibility of government to strengthen and invest in Specialised Nursing Education for the critical workforce to have a triple impact of promoting health, advancing gender parity and strengthening local economies.
“A long-term goal is to raise the profile of nursing and midwifery globally and any such positive action from government will engender public confidence in the slowly dying health system,” he noted.
Dr. Asante-Krobea further called for more collaboration from stakeholders to help the institution attain its vision of becoming a centre of excellence for health skill training and consultancy.
Mrs. Stella Antwi Boasiako, Principal of the School of Ophthalmic Nursing, also appealed for more classroom and hostel facilities to help the school increase enrolment while Mrs. Martin Agbemabiese- Danoo, Principal, Public Health Nurses’ School, expressed confidence in the ability of trainees in serving the public with dignity and respect.
Dr. Evans Atito-Narh, Ag. Director, School of Anaesthesia (Ridge) expressed appreciation to institutions and individuals who had contributed to the growth of the school, adding that it would soon introduce a Master of Philosophy in Anaesthesia.
Chief Programme Officer at the Ministry of Health (MOH), Dr BaffourAwuah, delivering a speech on behalf of the sector Minister, Mr. Kwaku Agyemang-Manu said government was committed to investing in human resource training to ensure quality health service delivery.
Students who excelled in their respective programmes were recognised.
By Lizzy Okai
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced the commencement of enforcement of the National Identity Register (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2523), warning institutions that fail to comply with the new requirements of possible fines of up to 2,000 penalty units.
The Authority says it will deploy a Biometric Verification Implementation Task Force to inspect institutions and ensure they comply with the regulations, following the expiration of a three-month grace period granted to businesses and public institutions.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, November 2, 2026, the NIA’s Corporate Affairs representative, William Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas, said the Authority had completed its public education and stakeholder engagement activities and was now moving into the enforcement and compliance monitoring phase.
He explained that the regulations require institutions that verify the identities of customers or applicants as part of their operations to use the NIA’s approved biometric verification platform instead of relying solely on visual inspection of the Ghana Card.
Under the new rules, institutions are prohibited from photocopying, scanning or keeping copies of the Ghana Card for identity verification purposes.
Mr Darlas stressed that simply collecting a customer’s Ghana Card, looking at the photograph and comparing it with the person presenting it would no longer be accepted as a valid method of identity verification.
He, however, clarified that the Ghana Card remains the country’s official national identity document and that citizens are not required to register for a new card or capture their biometrics again under the new regulations.
He said the new system is intended to reduce identity fraud, impersonation and other crimes by ensuring that the person presenting the Ghana Card is the actual owner.
According to him, the biometric verification process will rely on information already captured during Ghana Card registration, including fingerprints, iris details and facial features stored in the card’s chip.
Mr Darlas warned institutions against using third-party companies or individuals to access the NIA’s identity verification platform, insisting that the Authority does not work with intermediaries.
He said institutions seeking access to the National Identity Register must deal directly with the NIA and complete its official onboarding process.
The process requires institutions to prove that they are legally registered companies in Ghana, obtain certification from the Data Protection Commission and work with the NIA’s technical team to establish the necessary connection to its platform.
He further cautioned institutions already connected to the platform against subletting their access to other businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.
He disclosed that the Authority had received reports of some institutions providing their verification services to other businesses without the NIA’s approval and warned that those involved would face legal action.
Mr Darlas said organisations that fail to comply with L.I. 2523 could face fines ranging from 500 to 2,000 penalty units, depending on the nature of the offence.
He explained that the NIA does not have the authority to impose the fines directly but would take offenders to court for the appropriate punishment.
He indicated that Institutions found guilty could also face additional administrative measures, including being barred from accessing the NIA’s verification platform in the future.
The NIA representative further clarified that the new regulations do not prohibit all institutions from physically using the Ghana Card during transactions.
The Managing Director of the Ghana Publishing Company Limited, Nana Kwesi Boatey, has revealed how he transformed a major overstaffing challenge into a success story through the government’s 24-Hour Economy initiative.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, November 2, Mr. Boatey disclosed that when he assumed office in February 2025, and inherited a bloated workforce of 250 employees doing work that could be efficiently handled by 150 people, a situation that created serious liquidity challenges for the state-owned company.
Instead of resorting to downsizing, he adopted an innovative approach by instituting a 24-hour operational system.
Under the new system, staff were redistributed across three shifts: 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., and 10 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.
This not only ensured optimal use of labour but also maximized machine utilization and improved overall output.
According to him, the single move redefined the productivity culture within the company, reinforcing discipline, accountability, and efficiency.
The Ghana Publishing Company’s turnaround is being cited as a practical example of how the 24-Hour Economy policy can drive growth without job losses.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
