Category: General

There is need to speed up the implementation of cooperation projects with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), mainly in connection with the digitisation of some administrative services, said Employment and Vocational Training Minister Lotfi Dhieb. This was as he met Thursday with Workd Bank Country Manager for Tunisia Alexandre Arrobbio. The minister placed emphasis on the importance of digitising administrative services geared, in particular, to the needs of job seekers and enterprises under the GO4YOUTH project. This project is carried out in partnership with the European Union, the World Bank and the National Agency for Employment and Self-Employment (French: ANETI) with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of mediation services and better responding to the needs of enterprises, reads a ministry press release. Arrobbio said the bank wants scaled-up partnership with the ministry so as to improve the effectiveness of programmes intended to increase youth employability and promote entrepreneurship. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The College of Health, Yamfo (CoHY) in the Tano North Municipality of Ahafo Region has performed a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a hostel facility to meet the institution's rising demand for student accommodation. The two-storey hostel, estimated to cost about GhS19 million would comprise the ground, first and second floors of sixteen apartments each with washrooms and other auxiliary facilities. The building would also have communal spaces for studying, a games room, a guest lounge, a kitchen and laundry. The project expected to be completed in two years is being co-financed by the National Health Insurance Authority and College through its internally generated fund. The Hostel, when completed is projected to accommodate more than 200 students and not only would it alleviate the strain on existing accommodation options but would also provide students with the convenience of living on campus and encouraging active participation in campus activities. ? Later in an interview with the me dia, Dr. Mohammed M. Ibrahim, the Director said the primary challenge being faced by the institution was accommodation because of the rapid increase of the student population from 650 to 3,000 in just three years. ? He said students were forced to look for accommodation within the Yamfo community, leading to a saturation of available accommodations in Yamfo and its surrounding areas. Dr. Ibrahim stated the situation resulted in the scarcity of rental rooms, which caused prices to skyrocket, placing a heavy burden on students and their parents, and posing a concern for the College's authorities. ? He emphasized the need for more of such 'significant projects' that could provide proper care and support for the students to enable them to learn even more effectively than in their current circumstances. ? Dr. Ibrahim explained the College currently operated a system where first and second-year students resided on campus, while third and fourth-year students had to find accommodation within the community. ? He announced the College had recently introduced three new programmes which would further increase the size of the student population. ? Dr. Ibrahim expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Health for its support but appealed for additional infrastructure, teaching and learning materials and classrooms to ensure students had a conducive environment for studying and resting to produce high-quality health professionals to support the nation's health sector. ? Mr Jacob Twene, an Engineer at the Ministry of Health assured of the availability of reliable funding for the project and expressed optimism that with the support of the traditional authority, the community, and the contractor, the project would be completed on schedule.? ? Nana Ampem Darkowaa Kyerewaa II, the Paramount Queen mother of Yamfo Traditional Area appealed to the Ministry of Health for increased financial and logistical support to enable the College to produce greater number of graduates to boost the nation's existing pool of healthcare prof essionals. Source: Ghana News Agency

Professor Goski Alabi, President, African Council for Distance Education (ACDE), and other participants of the Second World Digital Education Conference (WDEC) held in Shanghai, China, have stressed the importance of embracing digital technologies to create innovative learning experiences and empowering learners in the digital age. A statement issued by Laweh University College, copied to the Ghana News Agency said to this end, they had called on countries to formulate national digital education policies that would help endow their citizens with knowledge and skills to meet their needs and challenges. It said the attendees, which included other educators, industry professionals, and thought leaders around the globe, also encouraged countries to make a conscious effort to build the capacity of their citizens in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its attendant Ethics of application. It stated that the two-day conference held from 30th to 31st January 2024, offered a platform for attendees to discuss and explo re the latest developments and trends in digital education, including the sharing of insights, exchanging ideas, and collaborating to shape the future of education in the digital age. Prof. Alabi, who is also the Consulting President of Laweh University College, Accra, spoke on the Role of Digital Education in Africa's Educational Agenda as the African Union has declared '2024 - Africa's Year of Education'. Other notable speakers included Dr Jane Thompson, a renowned educational psychologist, who discussed the Psychological Impact of Digital Education on Learners and Strategies for Ensuring their Well-being; Mr John Chen, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a leading EdTech company, who presented his vision for the Future of EdTech and Highlighting the Importance of Human-centred Technology in Education; and Prof Maria Lopez, an expert in AI-driven learning systems, who introduced a breakthrough AI platform Designed to Enhance Student Engagement and Adaptive Learning. Other key personalities who addressed the World confab included Mr Cai Dafeng, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China; Mr Huai Jinpeng, Minister for Education of China; Madam Simona Mirela Miculescu, President of the General Conference of UNESCO; Mr Rahamalla M. Osman, African Union Permanent Representative to China; Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister of Education Singapore; and several other Ministers and Ambassadors. The statement said the WDEC also saw the launching of the World Digital Education Alliance (WDEA), where the African Council for Distance Education (ACDE) and Laweh University College were invited to be members. It emphasised that in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), Digital Education was redefining education at all levels, and countries needed to take steps to plan for and prioritise digital education at these levels to enhance both quality and access. It said additionally, that the Conference called for the move from the 3Cs of digital education namely, Content, Connection and Cooperation to the 3Is: Intelligence, Integration, and Internationalization. Prof Alabi indicated that against the background of Africa's status, a fourth C, which she termed 'Capacity,' needed to be added to the 3Cs. To put Digital Education on a higher pedestal, UNESCO declared the 19 of March each year as World Digital Education Day, to raise awareness of the importance of the subject. And China, the host nation, disclosed that she would prioritise Africa for Digital Education. Participants also called for improvement in key areas such as Digital Transformation in Education; Online, Blended Learning and Mix-Mode; and International Collaborations and Partnerships. Source: Ghana News Agency

MrJoseph Tettey, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kpone-Katamanso Constituency, has called for the upgrading of the status of the municipal into metropolitan Mr Tettey said the municipality has a total population of 417,000, therefore it met the criteria for a metropolitan status, adding that a metropolitan status would attract more resources to the area for development. He made the call during the Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Assembly's (KKMA) inauguration, stating that 'our area deserves upliftment to metropolitan status.' The KKMA was carved from the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) in 2012 as a district with the promulgation of the Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2031 and was elevated to a municipality in 2018. Addressing the assembly members, he urged them and stakeholders to put aside their political affiliations and bring their skills and ideas on board for the area's development. He mentioned that the framers of the constitution had reasons for making district-level elections non-partisan, therefore , the need for them to work without political coloration for the development of the country. The MP added that unity was a tool that could not be left behind in the quest to upgrade the municipality, and the country. Source: Ghana News Agency

AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine, has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to investing in the youth of Obuasi and its operational areas by enrolling another batch of 140 youth into its Youth Apprenticeship Programme. This time, the beneficiaries were selected from Obuasi (100) and Iduapriem (40) in the Western Region as part of efforts to develop the skills of the youth to be well-conditioned for the job market. The training will be sponsored by AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi and the Iduapriem Mines. Under its 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) launch in 2022, AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine made a firm commitment to equip the youth from its operational areas with employable skills, every year. Mr Awie Frey, the Acting Managing Director of the Mine, addressing a gathering to unveil the newly admitted youth into the programme, said the Youth Apprenticeship Programme intended to give hands-on experience to the Youth in Obuasi as a way of contributing to diversifying and sustaining the local economy of Obuasi. Driven by the need to address the skill deficiency level in the then Ashanti Goldfields Corporation's engineering department, the Engineering Training Centre was set up in 1987 to provide on-the-job training for the workers. The company in 2022 decided to revamp the facility by partnering with an Obuasi-based engineering firm, Mac Mining and Construction Partners Limited, to train the youth in its host communities in mining-related disciplines. Mr. Frey said the partnership was a game changer in the mining industry, providing invaluable opportunities for aspiring engineers and leaders in the field. Mr Seth Quaye, the Managing Director of Mac Mining and Construction Partners Limited, hailed the partnership with AngloGold Ashanti to train youth from their host communities, saying that, beneficiaries of the training served as a talent pool for AngloGold Ashanti, and other mining companies, while others were able to set up their businesses. The trainees will go through a year of rigorous training in welding and fabrication, electrical engineering, and electronic and mechanical engineering. Mr Edmund Oduro Agyei, the Community Relations Manager of AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine, said the programme was carefully structured to equip the beneficiaries with employable skills to have sustainable livelihoods. On the mode of selection, Mr Agyei said the local communities were given three slots with the nominees going through competitive recruitment processes before the final selection. Nana Kwamoa Bosompim, Odumase Bekumhene who represented the Adansihene, applauded AngloGold Ashanti for the impact of the Youth Apprenticeship Programme, saying that it had given opportunity for the youth who aspired to work in the mining sector to have practical experiences in real work environments. He said the programme had equipped beneficiaries with technical abilities and industry-specific knowledge which would serve them well in their future careers. Source: Ghana News Agency