News
Universities, Zoomlion launch nationwide disinfection exercise
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu has announced plans by the university to invest in e-learning to be able to admit more free senior high school graduates.
He said it was imperative to consider online as a useful tool to addressing accommodation challenges that confronted most tertiary institutions in Ghana.
Prof. Owusu was speaking at the launch of a nationwide disinfection of all tertiary institutions by Zoomlion Ghana Limited at the University of Ghana yesterday.
The Vice Chancellor noted that the use of online in the wake of the outbreak of coronavirus disease in Ghana for teaching and learning activities had yielded positive result and asked other universities to utilise it.
It is recalled that teaching and learning activities came to a halt in March, 2020 following the outbreak of the disease also known as (COVID-19).
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo subsequently lockdown Accra, Kumasi and Tamale as part of efforts to contain the virus.
Few weeks ago, the President eased restrictions on the mitigation factors including the order for final year university students to return to school.
Learning does not only take place in a physical space, Prof. Owusu observed and stated that Ghana needed to adopt strategic measures if it was to catch up with the rest of the world.
Importantly, Prof. Owusu who is the chairman of Vice Chancellors Ghana, said students should observe social distancing protocols, use alcohol-based hand sanitisers, use face masks and regularly wash hands with soap under running water.
Prof. Owusu appealed to the Minister of Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh to organise fumigation of students’ hostels to rid them of bed bugs.
For his part, Dr Prempeh said the disinfection would take place at public and private tertiary institutions including basic schools.
Responding to the request for fumigation, Dr Prempeh said he would help in that regard.
While thanking Zoomlion Ghana Limited for its tremendous support towards the promotion of good hygienic practices, he urged them to continue to provide quality services.
Mrs Florence Larbi, the Managing Director of Zoomlion said the company had deployed motorised boom sprayers and knapsack to rid viruses, fungi, bacteria and other vector causing diseases.
She said Zoomlion offered its disinfection/ fumigation exercise at a 50 per cent discount and urged individuals and organisation to take advantage of that.
Zoomlion Ghana Limited had earlier this year, carried out disinfection of markets, lorry stations, drains, schools including specialised facilities such as the Akropong School for the Blind, universities, technical institutions and many others.
The company was executing the project under the auspices of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
Last month, Zoomlion fumigated/disinfected more than 4,000 police facilities nationwide.
BY MALIK SULLEMANA
News
National Service Authority gets new Director-General
The National Service Authority (NSA) has officially welcomed a new Director-General, Ms. Ruth Dela Seddoh, following a brief handing-over ceremony at its headquarters on Tuesday.
The event marked the formal transfer of leadership from the outgoing Director-General, Mr. Felix Gyamfi, to Ms. Seddoh. Management and staff of the Authority attended the ceremony.
Mr. Gyamfi used the occasion to thank staff for their support during his tenure.
He encouraged them to give the same cooperation to Ms. Seddoh to ensure the continued growth and impact of the Authority.
Ms. Seddoh expressed appreciation to government for the confidence placed in her.
She promised to build on the achievements of her predecessor and called for teamwork, dedication and innovation to help the NSA deliver on its mandate to support national development.
Management of the Authority pledged their full support to the new leadership as the organisation enters its next phase.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
NSA board sets up committee to supervise digital reforms
The Governing Board of the National Service Authority (NSA) has announced the inauguration of a Transition and Implementation Steering Committee (TISC) to oversee the Authority’s digital transformation agenda.
According to the Board, the move follows a letter dated 17 June 2025 from the Office of the President to the Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment directing the suspension of the existing deployment system, calling for an audit of its operations and instructing the design and deployment of a new digital platform.
The Board explained that the audit had been completed and had found the existing system unsatisfactory.
It indicated that the Minister had written to the Board to begin the necessary legal processes to ensure the contract for the audited system, which expired in August 2025, would not be renewed, and to take further steps toward designing and deploying a new digital platform that would guarantee transparency, security and real-time verification of service personnel postings.
It stressed that the TISC had been established to ensure a smooth and orderly transition from the current National Service Scheme digital platform to a new ICT-led system aimed at improving efficiency, transparency and service delivery.
The Authority outlined the Committee’s mandate as overseeing the phased migration from the legacy system, directing the design and deployment of a modern digital platform, and supervising its operationalisation across core functions including personnel enrolment, postings, payroll, allowances and scheme administration.
It further noted that acting under the directives of the Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment and deriving authority from the NSA Board, the TISC has the power to issue instructions to NSA departments and engage external partners necessary to achieve its mandate through the Governing Board.
The Authority named Dr. Wisdom Atiwoto, a member of the NSA Board and Director of Research, Statistics and Information Management at the Ministry of Health, as chair of the Committee.
Other members include Ms. Ruth Dela Seddoh, Mr. Shadrack Mensah, Ms. Elorm Goh, Mr. Benjamin Freeman Kusi, Ms. Jennifer Opong, Dr. Stephan Nwolley, Mr. Koku Abotsi, Mr. Japhet Kuntu, Mr. Nabil Abubakar Hussayn and Ms. Regina Obenewa Penrose as Secretary.
The NSA Board assured the public and stakeholders of its commitment to innovation, accountability and excellence in service delivery.
It emphasised that there would be no disruption in the fulfilment of its obligations to national service personnel as outlined in the National Service Act, Act 1119 (2024), and indicated that updates on the Committee’s progress would be communicated in due course.
With the collective expertise of its members, the TISC is expected to deliver a robust and future-ready platform that will anchor the next phase of the National Service Scheme’s operations.
By: Jacob Aggrey
