According to the Service, such reports are “unfortunate” and must be disregarded.

[contextly_sidebar id=”uT0VglHTX3rQRuNOdekEKpHwT8rfi62H”]Barely 24 hours after the gas explosion, there have been reports suggesting that a Khebab seller, who lit a flame while the gas was being off-loaded is responsible for the explosion.

In a viral video report that sought to present a so-called chronology of events, that occurred before and during the explosion, broadcaster and Morning Show Host of Accra-based Joy FM, Kojo Yankson, explained that a khebab seller located 10 meters away from the gas station, lit a match while there was a gas escape in the process of discharge of gas from a tanker to the gas company’s reservoir hence the explosion.

But according to the Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Fire Service, Prince Billy Anaglate, that analysis is false.

He told Citi News in an interview that several factors must be considered before an accurate report can be given of the actual cause of the explosion.

“It is unfortunate for anybody to quickly come out with a conclusion of the investigation when there are several possible causes. Certain activities around the gas filling station might be responsible for the cause of a gas fire on a gas facility, but if you are talking about a khebab seller, you need to determine the distance of the khebab seller to the gas station,” he said.

“You need to determine and assess certain factors to find out that even if there is a leakage of gas that might have caused it, know the velocity and direction for the wind to dissipate the constitution of the gas before making such conclusions. That assertion by somebody is just an unfortunate one,” he added.

Many people have taken to social media to rubbish the account of the broadcaster as images from the explosion scene suggested that the accused khebab seller, who is yet to be identified, had not started operation moments before the explosion.

Meanwhile, the Ghana National Fire Service is still conducting its investigations into the matter and will soon release its report.

The explosion on Saturday, has killed seven people so far, with nearly 132 injured. Some of the injured have been treated and discharged, whereas those with severe injuries are still on admission at the 37 Military, Ridge and Legon Hospitals.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post It’s unfortunate to blame Atomic explosion on ‘chinchinga’ man – GNFS appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This came to light when the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Nii Armah Ashitey recently paid a working visit to some renowned vocational and training institutions in the United States of America at the invitation of U.S. Department of Labor for a programme on Child Labor.

The Institutions the Minister visited included; Genesee Valley Educational Partnership in Mount Morris, SUNY Geneseo, American Rock Salt, Once Again Nut Butter and Noyes Health.

He also visited the renowned Edison Tech and Munroe Community College respectively.

Mr. Armah Ashitey said he is hopeful that the American institutions would share ideas with their Ghanaian counterparts on how to develop workforce infrastructure in Ghana, adding that, possible partnerships will be the way to go.

“It is amazing when you come to realize what goes on between industry and education,” he said. “If education is the key to [economic] development, then technical and vocational training is a must to develop in the world of the workforce.”

He noted that vocational and technical training “can open a lot more doors than just education. There is a mismatch between academics and the world of work that has to be breach.”

According to the sector Minister, the President, John Mahama is seeking to reposition the country’s economy to one with a strong manufacturing base that sells value-added products abroad and to also create its own demand for made-in-Ghana products.

This is to reduce imports and provide more jobs, especially for youth adding that, it is therefore imperative to place high premium on vocational and technical training.

Mr. Ashitey said the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations is pushing for a strong partnership between Edison Tech, which is a highly respected technical and Training Institution and local institutions such as the NVTI, Integrated Community Centre for Employable Skills (ICCESS) and Opportunities Industrialization Centers Ghana OIC Ghana.

The Minister is also advocating for a partnership between the Accra Polytechnic and Suny Geneseo where ideas on manufacturing and other technical issues could be shared and transferred.

Other career focused areas at the heart of the partnership include, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Automotive Technology, Computer Technology, Construction/Carpentry, Culinary Arts/Restaurant Management Services, Engineering and Design, Graphic Communication Technologies and Health Science.

Such partnership will also include drawing up a curriculum for special education that will ensure the disabled and other disadvantaged people fit in society and not live their lives on the streets.

By: Afiba Anyanzua Anyanzu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ghana to partner US in vocational and technical training appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.