This is according to Education Minister, Mathew Opoku Prempeh, who has said the government has identified about 8,000 basic schools that need urgent refurbishment.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, the Minister said the schools identified had structures that threatened the lives of pupils.

[contextly_sidebar id=”rYYf5LvNvnSGM7Y4Sy5hObCO2bHow7js”]“The ministry is aware of the deplorable state of a number of school buildings across the country. We have indented 8,208 schools that need intervention. The government is seeking funds to start a serious rehabilitation and renovation of these structures. We’ve done a comprehensive review of these structures and we need a massive injection of funds,” Matthew Opoku Premepeh said.

He noted that government was working assiduously to source the funds for work to commence immediately. He added that the government was working with the support of GETFund to undertake the project.

His comments were in response to a statement made on the floor of the house about a series of structural collapses of old basic schools in the country.

In April 2017, a six-unit pavilion of the Nkurankan Presby Primary School at Nkurankan in the Eastern Region collapsed, injuring five women.

The incident occurred after a downpour pulled down the 70-year old dilapidated school building.

A similar incident occurred in February when 6 pupils of Breman Gyamra Methodist Kindergarten School died after their dilapidated classroom collapsed.

‘GES to audit all school buildings’

Following the accidents, the Ghana Education Service ordered District Education Directors to audit all school buildings to gather information about their current states for the necessary action to be taken by the minister.

The Public Relations Officer of the GES, Reverend Jonathan Bettey, told Citi News his outfit will ensure all students learn in a safe environment.

“That was the order the Director-General of Ghana Education Service gave out to all the  District Directors and Regional Directors. He personally requested that they should liaise with the District Assemblies because education is a collective responsibility of all stakeholders not only Ghana Education Service. They should liaise with the District Assemblies, they have technical officers who are the planning officers who can help them get all the necessary information that we need to be communicated  to the Minister in charge for him to take an action on these issues.”

“In actual fact, all indications show that, according to the Minister, we are taking stock of all our buildings and statistics of all things to make sure that this does not happen to any community in the country.”

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By: Jonas Nyabor & Duke Mensah Opoku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post We need $200m to renovate ‘death trap’ schools – NAPO appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Answering questions posed by members of Parliament’s Appointments committee on Tuesday, January 24 in Parliament, Opoku-Prempeh said the NPP government will promote the teaching and learning of technical and vocational education in the country.

Below is an infographic with other key mentions he made at his vetting.

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By: Mawuli Tsikata/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @MawuliTsikata

The post Highlights of Matthew Opoku Prempeh’s vetting [Infographic] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Health Minister-nominee, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu; the Education Minister-nominee, Matthew Opoku Prempeh and the Agriculture Minister-nominee, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto appeared before the committee.

Matthew Opoku Prempeh was the first to be vetted, where he spoke on reforms at the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), including questioning whether WAEC had to be the sole examination body.

He also lamented that the education sector had focused on training students to pass exams, as he indicated that “we must look at the wholesomeness of our education focusing on other things besides passing exams, like morality.”

Mr. Agyemang-Manu, nomine for health,  was asked questions on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) during which he admitted  that, his New Patriotic Party’s claims that the previous government had collapsed the NHIS were exaggerated.

The Health Minister-nominee also spoke about funding for the ministry, where he noted that cutting down fraud in the Ministry will enable it get extra funding.

He confidently said, the very least he would do at the Health Ministry would be to improve their financial reporting system.

In line with his government’s agenda for jobs, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto said his government had put in place all arrangements to ensure that the Planting for Food and Jobs is done.

He urged prioritizing the agriculture sector to promote investment, as he stressed that no foreign investor will put money into agriculture, in areas where the needed benefits would not be achieved.

He further assured that his government was committed to ensuing public investment in agriculture.

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Photos: Godwin Allotey

By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Vetting Day 4: Opoku Prempeh, Agyemang-Manu, Akoto grilled [Photos] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

President Akufo-Addo made the announcement at the Flagstaff House today [Tuesday], where he announced 12 other minister designates, pending parliamentary approval.

Before his announcement, Nana Addo emphasized the need for free and quality education to be accessed by everyone, saying “Where we are and where we want to get to, is nothing more important than the quality of the educational system that we have… It is the responsibility of the state to make sure that every young person in this country has access to quality secondary education and so we want to make it free.

Nana Addo expressed the hope that although this would be Mr. Opoku Prempeh’s first ministerial appointment, the young medical doctor would work hard in the interest of the country.

“I believe it is an important developmental tool inasmuch as it also an issue of social justice that people of this country no matter their circumstances can have access to good schooling. It is important that we develop the human capital of our country. The policies that we have will make it possible,” the President added.

Free SHS policy has been one of the major campaign promises of the NPP since 2008.

The appointment also saw Yaw Osafo Marfo earmarked for Senior Minister position, and Alan Kyerematen appointed Minister designate for Trade and Industry, among others.

About Matthew Opoku Prempeh

Matthew Opoku Prempeh has been a Member of Parliament since 2008. He won the seat again in 2016, making him eligible to be MP for a second term.

Born on May 23,1968, Opoku Prempeh comes from Pakyi No. 2 in the Ashanti Region.

He holds MB CHB (KNUST),MSc (Chemical Epidemiology) Netherlands Institute for HealthScience, MRCS which he obtained in 1994; 1998 and 2002 respectively.

He is a Medical Doctor/Health Worker and was the Executive Chairman, Keyemap Services Limited before he became an MP.

Find the full list below:

Senior Minister – Yaw Osafo-Maafo

National Security Minister – Albert Kan Dapaah

Minister of Trade and Industry – Alan Kyeremanten

Minister of Finance – Ken Ofori-Atta

Minister of Agriculture – Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto

Minister of Energy – Boakye Agyarko

Minister of Defence – Dominic Nitiwul

Minister of Interior – Ambrose Dery

Minister of Foreign Affairs – Shirley Ayorkor Botchway

Attorney General  – Gloria Akuffo

Minister of Local Government – Hajia Alima Mahama

Minister of Education – Matthew Opoku Prempeh

Minister of Health – Kwaku Agyemang-Manu

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The post Matthew Opoku Prempeh is Minister designate for Education appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.