News
Scholarship scheme launched for pupils of La Dade-Kotopon constituency
The Member of Parliament (MP) for La Dade-Kotopon Constituency, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, has launched an educational scholarship scheme to reward best performing candidates in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the constituency.
Dubbed ‘Nye Awo Kpakpa Educational Scholarship Scheme’ it is aimed at inspiring academic excellence and also motivate students to strive for the best in life.
Under the scheme, male and female students with the best results from both public and private schools from the area will each receive an amount of GH¢ 5,000.00.
Launching the programme, Ms Sowah indicated that the scheme was to support parents in their preparations for their wards’ transition from Junior High School (JHS) to the Senior High School (SHS).
Ms Sowah said education has always been high on her developmental agenda and sees the opportunity to invest in the transition of a student from one academic level to the other as a way to encourage them to do more for themselves and the community.
According to the MP who is also the Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, “It is not true that free Senior High School has been cancelled by the current government.”
“Rather, private schools have been added to the initiative to enable more students to enjoy the policy.”
She urged parents and guardians to encourage their wards to pursue Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneur Teaching (TVET) training because it was the foundation of most career opportunities.
“TVET has the same potentials on the academic calendar like SHS, so stop branding it as the next level of education for those who did not perform well in the basic education level” Ms Sowah stressed.
As a sign of her commitment to the initiative, Ms Sowah presented four dummy cheques to the Municipal Education Director for LaDMA, Mrs Habiba Kotomah with a promise to hand over the original cheque or cash to the students when the winners were declared.
In her remarks, Mrs Kotomah welcomed the idea by the MP to support parents of pupils who show dedication and hard work towards their studies in the municipality.
She indicated that the scholarship scheme will bring a positive impact in the lives of the beneficiaries while motivating others to give out their best.
The event was witnessed by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for LaDMA, Mr Alfredos Nii Anyetei and other dignitaries.
By Victor A. Buxton
News
Court rejects Ofori-Atta’s challenge to arrest warrant — OSP
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) says the High Court has dismissed an application filed by former Finance Minister Kenneth Ofori-Atta to cancel a warrant for his arrest.
According to the OSP, Mr Ofori-Atta asked the court to strike out the arrest warrant and set aside all related steps taken by the OSP, including a request to Interpol for a Red Notice.
However, the OSP says the Criminal Division of the High Court ruled on Thursday that the application had no merit and dismissed it in full.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
GBC marks 90th anniversary celebrations with a public lecture at Broadcasting House
The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) has held a commemorative lecture at the Broadcasting House to mark its 90th anniversary celebrations.
The event, held under the theme “GBC: The First Chapter, the Making of a National Radio”, sought to chart a new path for the national broadcaster while reflecting on its journey and achievements since its inception.
In his opening address, the Director-General of GBC, Professor Amin Alhassan, said the Corporation had over the decades remained committed to its core mission of informing, educating, and entertaining Ghanaians in all parts of the country.
He noted that GBC had evolved through various names and formats but had always strived to reflect Ghana’s cultural diversity.
Prof. Alhassan described the history of Ghanaian radio as one that needed to be told in full, acknowledging that early broadcasts included local languages like Hausa and Mosi, which demonstrated the diverse roots of the station.
He used the metaphor of an eagle’s life cycle to describe the current state of GBC.
According to him, like the eagle at 40, GBC had reached a point where it needed to undergo a painful but necessary renewal process to remain strong and relevant.
“At 90, we must knock off the tired beak, pluck out old feathers, and grow new ones. This is the only way we can take flight again,” he said.
The Director-General said this transformation would involve the introduction of a new scheme of service and a strategic plan that would shift the mindset of staff from entitlement to performance.
“Change is not pleasant, but it is necessary,” he emphasized, calling for a collective effort to prepare GBC for the next 90 years.
He also highlighted the need for a media historian to help uncover and document the full story of GBC’s past, which he said was crucial for the institution’s rebirth and future planning.
Chairperson of the National Media Commission (NMC), Professor Akua Biritwum, added that GBC had come a long way and proven skeptics wrong by demonstrating that Ghanaians could run and sustain a public broadcaster.
She reminded GBC of its vital role in national development, saying it was not just a broadcaster but a guide in shaping public opinion and inspiring hope among citizens.
“You are the ones to point out where we are as a country and where we can go,” she noted.
Prof. Biritwum urged GBC to remain focused on producing content that reflected Ghanaian and African values while maintaining high standards and resisting the temptation of sensationalism.
She further emphasized the importance of creative collaborations with writers and artists to strengthen the Corporation’s cultural output.
The NMC Chairperson expressed confidence that GBC’s efforts to rejuvenate itself would bear fruit, and pledged the Commission’s support in helping the broadcaster stay independent, relevant, and credible.
The lecture, which forms part of activities lined up for the 90th anniversary, brought together former and current staff, media scholars, and industry stakeholders.
It was aimed at reflecting on the broadcaster’s legacy and setting the tone for its future direction.
GBC was established in 1935 and remains Ghana’s only public service broadcaster with a constitutional mandate to operate independently and serve the interests of all Ghanaians.
By Jacob Aggrey
