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UGMS 1997 year group hands over refurbished hostel to alma mater
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The 1997 year group of the University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS) has renovated and handed over a hostel facility at Danfa in the Greater Accra Region to the school.
The project which cost GH¢182,000 was completed within two months.
It was fitted with 45 durable metal beds with mattresses, 15 sets of tables and chairs, curtains, plumbing and retiling of the washrooms and two sets of ironing boards and irons.
It was in response to the school’s call on alumni to support in the provision of infrastructure to enhance effective teaching, learning and research.
Additionally, the group donated GH¢5,000 worth of medical supplies to the Danfa Clinic.
A member of the year group, Dr Angela El-Adas, said it was important to renovate the hostel to make it more comfortable for students to have the peace of mind to learn.
She mentioned that “along the line, we received some challenges the school was facing and decided as a year group to renovate it to give the students sound mind and a conducive ambience to aid their studies.
She said some of her colleagues have specialised in public and community health owing it to their stay and study at the Danfa Community and Health Centre.
After a tour of some facilities such as hostels and the Basic Sciences building at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Dr El-Adas said there was a need for continuous support for the school, adding that “these facilities at Korle-Bu needed some investment.”
The Acting Dean of UGMS, Prof. Yvonne Dei Adomako, said the year group has demonstrated love to the school that nurtured them by giving the hostel at Danfa a facelift.
She said the facility was used by the school for its district rotation by the level 500 students as part of their community health rotation.
She said the hostel for several years had not seen any facelift, stating that it had deteriorated with the beds and mattresses needing replacement while the washrooms required refurbishment.
Due to the poor state of the hostel, some students, she said finds accommodation elsewhere when they are asked to come for rotation.
“We called on the alumni to help with various projects and this was one of the projects and the 1997 year group decided to take it on,” she said.
She called on other alumni to come together and support the school in order to attract students in and out of the country.
The outgoing president of the year group, Dr Kojo Cobba Essel urged other year groups to emulate the example by responding to the school’s distress call.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
The New Times Corporation (NTC) on Monday held its annual thanksgiving service, bringing together staff and management to reflect on the past year, express gratitude, and renew their commitment to the organisation’s growth.
At the service, the Deputy Chairperson of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) and a Board Member of the New Times Corporation (NTC), Madam Charity Binka, called for strong and intentional collaboration among staff, emphasising that unity and teamwork were crucial to transforming the corporation during its challenging times.
“This is a time to break silos, share ideas and work together as one team with a shared vision,” she said, adding that innovation and digital transformation must be embraced to secure NTC’s future.
Madam Binka expressed gratitude to God for sustaining the corporation and its employees despite financial and operational difficulties.
“Though the journey has not been smooth, God has sustained us. We are here today because of His grace,” she indicated, acknowledging the resilience and dedication of staff who have kept The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator among the country’s most respected newspapers.
Quoting Jeremiah 29:11, she encouraged staff to remain hopeful and confident that brighter days lie ahead.
Delivering the sermon, Rev. John Akorli of Word Divine International Ministry at Sukura, Accra, cautioned staff against excessive talking and gossip, warning that careless speech could create unnecessary problems.
Rev. Akorli further reminded staff that their identity should not be defined by past mistakes, family background, or negative labels.
He encouraged them to live confidently, depend on God’s guidance, and remain focused on their responsibilities, noting that spiritual awareness and discipline were essential to personal and organisational growth.
The service ended with prayers for unity, renewal, and a prosperous new chapter for the New Times Corporation.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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The Catholic Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese, Bishop Joseph Afrifa Agyekum, has expressed concern over the rising rate of divorce in the country, attributing the trend largely to inadequate knowledge about marriage and misplaced expectations of couples.
He said many marriages were collapsing because couples entered into the union without a clear understanding of the responsibilities, sacrifices and commitments that marriage demands.
The Bishop raised the concern while addressing congregants at the 50th anniversary of the Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church at Madina on Sunday.
According to him, marriage was increasingly being viewed through unrealistic lenses shaped by social media, peer pressure and material expectations, rather than mutual respect, patience and shared values.
“Many people go into marriage with expectations that are not grounded in reality. When those expectations are not met, conflict sets in and eventually leads to separation or divorce,” he observed.
The Bishop noted that some couples lacked proper preparation before marriage, adding that pre-marital counselling was often treated as a formality rather than an opportunity to gain deeper insight into marital life.
He stressed the need for churches, families and society to intensify education on marriage, particularly among the youth, to help them make informed decisions before entering into marital unions.
The Bishop also urged married couples to embrace dialogue, forgiveness and understanding, saying disagreements were inevitable but could be resolved through patience and commitment.
He urged couples experiencing challenges to seek counselling instead of resorting to separation, emphasising that strong families remained the foundation of a stable and progressive society.
By Kennedy Afedzi
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