The Bolgatanga and Wa Polytechnics were the only two out of the ten polytechnics who could not be converted into technical universities due to their inability to meet the conversion criteria in 2016.

But speaking at the 6th congregation of the Bolgatanga Polytechnic last Saturday, Prof. Alnaa said, the institution was now ready for conversion.

“It is clear that Bolgatanga Polytechnic is more than ready for conversion into a technical university. We have addressed all the deficiencies that made us miss out in the first assessment in July 2015”.

“We are ready for the team to reassess the Polytechnic for conversion to a technical university, and wish the Minister for Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, could make a pronouncement when the institution will be converted into a technical university….We are therefore making a clarion call to get the Bolgatanga and Wa polytechnics converted into technical universities”, he said.

Prof. Alnaa added that, the school had procured and installed multi-media and engineering equipment and well as laboratory equipment to ensure quality hands-on technical university education.

He blamed the school’s low enrollment figures especially for this year, on the government’s inability to convert it to a technical university.

He appealed to the government to grant it clearance to recruit more teaching and non-teaching staff to replace those who are either dead or retired.

Paying Polytechnics and Technical universities’ electricity bills

The Chairman of the school’s governing council, Professor Francis Atindaana Abantanga, made a passionate appeal to the government to settle all indebtedness of Polytechnics and Technical Universities to the electricity companies to avert any possible disconnections.

“I am reliably informed that these bills are very huge, and ECG in particular, has disconnected Bolgatanga Polytechnic a number of times this year, and threatened to install prepaid meters on their two campuses.

“Settling our indebtedness in full will go a long way to improve the relationship between these institutions and companies, and also enhance teaching and learning in the Polytechnic” Prof. Abantanga stated.

In all, a total of 927 graduated in various disciplines of study from the 2016 and 2017 cohorts comprising 869  with Higher National Diploma and 58 with Bachelor of Technology degrees.

The school will also be introducing 10 new  Higher National Diploma and 5 Bachelor of Technology programmes for the 2018/2019 academic year.

–

By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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In his first interview since Sunday’s referendum, Carles Puigdemont said his government would “act at the end of this week or the beginning of next”.

Meanwhile, Spain’s King Felipe VI said organisers of the vote put themselves “outside the law”.

He said the situation in Spain was “extremely serious”, calling for unity.

Hundreds of thousands of people across Catalonia have been protesting over Spanish police violence during the vote, during which nearly 900 people were hurt.

During the vote, 33 police officers were also injured, local medical officials said.

In the BBC interview, Catalonia’s President Carles Puigdemont said his government would “act at the end of this week or the beginning of next”.

When asked what he would do if the Spanish government were to intervene and take control of Catalonia’s government, Mr Puigdemont said it would be “an error which changes everything”.

Mr Puigdemont said there was currently no contact between the government in Madrid and his devolved administration.

He disagreed with the European Commission’s statement on Monday that events in Catalonia were an internal issue for Spain.

He was speaking shortly before the king’s speech.

In his televised address to the nation, the king said the Catalan leaders who organised the referendum showed their “disrespect to the powers of the state”.

“They have broken the democratic principles of the rule of law.

“Today, the Catalan society is fractured,” the king said, warning that the poll could put at risk the economy of the wealthy north-eastern region and the whole of Spain.

But he stressed that Spain “will overcome difficult times”.

The central government has described the referendum as illegal.

Huge protest rallies have been taking place across Catalonia.

In Barcelona alone, 700,000 people took to the streets, city police were quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.

This has not been confirmed by the authorities in Madrid.

More than 50 roadblocks in the city caused big traffic jams. Barcelona’s metro traffic was cut to a 25% service during rush hour and no trains at all at other times.

Barcelona’s port was at a standstill, trade union sources said.

Top tourist attractions were also closed, including the city’s famous Sagrada Familia church.

Mercabarna – Barcelona’s massive wholesale market – was left deserted as some 770 food businesses closed for the day.

However, the city’s El Prat airport and its taxis are operating normally.

Many small businesses have shut for the day. Schools, universities and medical services were also closed or operating at a minimum level.

The strike was called in protest at “the grave violation of rights and freedoms” seen during the ballot.

Some police officers were seen firing rubber bullets, storming into polling stations and pulling women by their hair.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has said the vote made a “mockery” of democracy.

Earlier on Tuesday, Spanish Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido said: “We see how day after day the government of Catalonia is pushing the population to the abyss and inciting rebellion in the streets.”

He also warned that the central government would take “all measures necessary to stop acts of harassment”.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría condemned the “mafia” behaviour of those protesters who had earlier gathered around hotels housing Spanish police officers and demanded that they leave.

On Sunday, more than 2.2 million people reportedly voted in the referendum. The Catalan government says the vote in support of independence was nearly 90%, but official results have not yet been released.

Turnout was relatively low at a reported 42%, potentially weakening the position of Mr Puigdemont.

Meanwhile, political leaders are trying to find a way forward.

Mr Puigdemont earlier said he wanted a new understanding with the government in Madrid, but the Spanish government has warned it could suspend autonomy of the region.

–

Source: BBC

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He said universities in Ghana and other African countries must be centres of excellence to research into socio-economic challenges and provide solutions.

“When politicians are groping in darkness looking for answers, we must be there to provide answers,” he stated.

He said tertiary institutions must be creators of ideas that would address developmental challenges, adding that until African universities leverage on that process, it would be difficult to solve the challenges confronting the continent.

Prof. Larbi made these remarks at the launch of the Africa Intellectual Database for Development and Excellence (AIDDE) project in Accra on Friday.

The project is a partnership between the Regent University Ghana and the Final Vision Technology of Canada, to expose students, lecturers and researchers to the available quality textbooks and journals which could be accessed electronically.

It would also help prepare students in Africa to enhance their intelligence, creativity and transform their innovative ideas through research into technological development that would solve economic problems on the continent.

Interested universities are required to pay a $ 500 dollars fees to join the platform which will enable their students and lecturers would have access to over 230,000 textbooks and journals published by African, European and American writers for their thesis and other research work.

Prof. Larbi said it was the desire of the University to become a leading educational institution that would bring answers to societal challenges through science and technology.

However, he said, one of the greatest challenges confronting the private universities was that the public universities were running programmes hitherto they wouldn’t like to undertake and, therefore, called for collaboration among private universities.

“The public universities are doing everything possible so that we don’t survive, now they are running programmes that in the years back they wouldn’t like to run including top-up programmes and organising extra classes for students that did not qualify to the universities for admissions,” he said.

He observed that these were the areas the private universities were profiting from, therefore, it was clear indication that the public universities want to swallow up the private ones hence the need for collaboration.

For his part, Prof Nicolas N. N. Nsowah-Nuamah, the President of the University, criticised the practice where students only learn from their lecture notes and therefore entreated them to undertake extensive research from other reference materials.

He charged students to be ambitious of building a holistic being instead of just learning to pass their examinations, saying: “Read from other textbooks written by other lecturers and writers so that you will be exposed to problem solving situations and not stereotyped to the knowledge from your lecturers’’.

Mr Anthony Kwame Ardiabah, an engineer and a lecturer at the Regent University Ghana, said it was the vision of the academic entity to build a solar plant factory that would help resolve the power crisis and, therefore, urged the government to partner it in realising the dream.

Mr Ardiabah, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Final Vision Technology in Canada, said the objective of the electronic platform was to bridge the gap between academic textbooks that were used in universities in advanced countries and that of African universities.

He said lecturers could upload their lecture notes onto the platform to aid students in their research work and other academic purposes.

–

Source: GNA

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Some traditional rulers in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions, as well as other stakeholders in education, have been calling for the conversion of the UDS Campuses in Nyankpala, Navrongo and Wa into separate universities, but Professor Teye says it would not be in the best interest of the school.

He said what was important for the people in the three regions of the North, was to advocate the establishment of new universities in addition to the UDS, but not to create autonomous universities out the existing campus.

Addressing the third UDS Alumni Association National Delegates Congress in Wa, Vice Chancellor Professor Teye said the UDS was surviving on the numerical strength of its students since government’s subvention was no more forthcoming.

He said the module which the UDS had used to create campuses in the regions was now being duplicated nationally and internationally by other universities worldwide and that should serve as “food for thought” for stakeholders in education in the regions.

“The three regions of the North need new universities and not a piece of UDS. Having new universities will be more helpful than advocating the autonomy of the various campuses of the university”, he suggested.

Meanwhile, Professor Daniel A Bagah who shared a different opinion on the subject described the debate about the creating or not creating universities out of the campuses as “academic rationality as against political convenience”.

According to him, any contrary opinion would be subjected to political brushes, saying: “Political convenience is dominant”.

Professor Bagah, who was the guest speaker at the event, said the UDS would not die but would continue to exist if its campuses were converted into separate universities.

“Reflecting on UDS issues seriously, the autonomy of the UDS campuses as universities is a done deal”, he pointed.

Dr. Felix K. Abagale, UDS Alumni President, said the Association has assisted UDS in various forms including the extension of electricity to campuses, providing support for the establishment of clinics and contributing to the UDS policies to improve the image of the University.

He appealed to members of the association not be bystanders but be serious alumni helping to build the image of the University to provide quality academic performance and contributing its quota to national development.

“Let us be part of the University and participate actively on issues of the University to make it one of the best in Ghana and the world”.

Dr. Abagale urged authorities of the University to improve lecture halls, accommodation facilities, sanitation, general security and Information Communication and Technology among others in the University.

–

Source: GNA

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The eco-innovation in Africa will offer new business opportunities and sustainable, equitable growth, more efficient or responsible use of natural resources, a low carbon economy in all sectors and reduce impacts on the environment.

Professor Kirk Semple, Director of International Engagement, Lancaster Environment Centre speaking during the opening of a three-day collaborative research springboard said the idea was to link academia and industries.

The event was to co-create and co-design plans for transformational, research-led innovation with real impact in the “post-Paris world”.

The forum would build on a previous international event, where the University identified and considered some key challenges and potential partnership.

He said Lancaster University was working on mechanisms and others to enhance partnerships and potential collaborations to promote and bridge the gap between businesses and academia in West Africa.

“We have chosen to work with partners that we have in West Africa,” he added.

He said as part of the event, there would be an opportunity to consider potential strategic partnership and funding avenues.

Professor Nigel Paul, Director of Global Eco-Innovation, Lancaster University said there was €1.5 billion about to be disbursed from the British Government to support scientific research.

He said Lancaster University would launch an African model of the eco-innovation developed with the University of Benin, Nigeria.

He said it would to improve on research among Universities in West Africa and link it to businesses.

He said it was an opportunity for African countries to learn from their European counterparts and build the infrastructure to grow their economies.

–

Source: GNA

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He said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate had deceived constituents that he is a University graduate hence must be voted into power.

According to him, he [Vanderpuije] had records that showed Mr Bannerman’s highest level of education was Senior High School because he dropped out of a University.

He told Citi News, “Nii Lante Bannerman told all of us that he was a graduate and that he went to Cape Coast University and that he as a Banking and Finance but I have records that show that even the Senior High School, he didn’t even do well to qualify him into a University and there is no course in UCC called Banking and Finance. Then he said he went to Regent University, we saw that he tried doing some courses at Regent University but his first semester was a failure.”

He added that “I am going to spend time, if he makes himself available, I will sponsor him to school, get education so that he will stop insulting the elderly people and he will stop what he is not.”

Nii Lantey Vanderpuije said Nii Lante Bannerman stand no chance of winning in the Odododiodoo constituency since he lacked the capacity to unseat him.

“For now, I am giving him [Nii Lante Bannerman] 5 out of the 116 polling stations but even the 5 I am being very considerate, if he doesn’t change his attitude, I will take the five away from him.”

Meanwhile, Nii Lante Bannerman has described as “untruth” Mr Vanderpuije’s claims against him.

In a sharp rebuttal on Citi Prime News on Wednesday, Nii Lante Bannerman said he was an accomplished banker and did not need Nii Lante Vanderpuije to sponsor his tuition if he decides to pursue higher education.

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post I’m ready to sponsor my contender to school – Nii Lantey Vanderpuije appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The farmers also expressed their displeasure with the poor regulation of the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority in the region.

After a press conference on Thursday in Tumu, the Secretary of the Rural Farmers Association, Adam Yakubu, told Citi News that the removal of subsidies on fertilizers and other farm implements had resulted in a reduction in the rate of production from the farmers.

The outgoing Upper West regional minister had earlier stated that the government was no longer going to subsidize fertilizers and farm implements in the region.

Adamu Yakubu said that the farmers are unable to afford the fertilizers and tractors they need and as such, have been unable to maintain crop yields.

He also bemoaned the poor regulation of the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) in the Upper East Region saying that “the activities of the Authority had not been marshalled.”

Mr. Yakubu appealed to the government to continue subsidizing fertilizers and farm implements in the region and called for a better regulation of the activities of SADA.

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Peasant farmers in U/W cry foul over government neglect appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Recently, a bag of cement was sold between 28 and 30 cedis in Tamale Township.

Despite the upward adjustment in the prices, there was even shortage of supply of cement products which slowed down infrastructural development at all levels in the Tamale Metropolis.

Citi Business News on Wednesday June, 4, 2014 visited some of the major cement retailing centres including Aspet, Fudan Ghana and Yaamusah Company Limited.

Certainly, the prices have been stabilized across board with a bag of cement now selling at GHC28 cedis.

Currently, the product is in abundance but the imported Chinese cement is dominating the supply chain.

By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Cement prices stabilize in Northern Region appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Signing a bond of good behaviour, they resolved to end the conflict and co-exist peacefully for meaningful development to triumph in their deprived communities.

The peace pact was signed at the end of a meeting between leaders of the two feuding factions and the seven member committee set up by the Northern Regional Security Council (RECSEC) to resolve the impasse between the two clans whose recent clash caused the death of four whiles several households were completely burnt.

The meeting was held behind closed doors in the office of the Gushiegu District Chief Executive and chaired by Chairman of the RECSEC investigative committee, Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini who doubles as Deputy Northern Regional Minister.

He commended them for smoking the peace pipe with the anticipation that the conflict will never resurrect.

Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini reiterated the need for them to engage in productive ventures to uplift the image of their communities.

He also encouraged parents to invest in their children’s education to enable them become responsible citizens.

The Sagnarigu constituency Legislator advised the mass media to be circumspect in their reportage on conflict situations especially in the Northern Region.

On behalf of government, Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini donated relief items to both sides of the chieftaincy divide for the upkeep of the surviving residents who have been rendered homeless.

Assemblyman for Katani electoral area where the two communities are located, Ngmariba Ibrahim praised his people for the ceasefire.

He made a passionate appeal to the only four teachers who fled the community during the renewed clash to return to the classroom.

Member of Parliament for Gushiegu, Hon. Thomas Nassah pleaded with his kinsmen to re-channel their resources into their children’s education and stop what he described as the unwarranted conflict.

Leaders of the two feuding factions attributed the cause of the conflict to disputed farmlands but Citi News external sources revealed that the dispute was chieftaincy related which started in 2012.

The troubled Biriyamba and Yiyamba Konkomba communities lack basic amenities such as clean drinking water, electricity, telecommunication networks, roads and school infrastructure.

By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Gushiegu factions sign peace pact appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The seven member committee chaired by Deputy Northern Regional Minister, A.B.A Fuseini will meet with representatives of the two factions at the Gushiegu District Assembly.

Citi News gathered that the two Konkomba clans at Yiyamba and Biriyamba recently clashed over a pending chieftaincy dispute contrary to earlier media reports that they fought over a parcel of farmland.

The said lingering chieftaincy dispute erupted between the two clans prior to the 2012 general elections.

Combatants from both sides of the chieftaincy divide have been re-strategizing to launch an attack in case of the slightest provocation, hence the recent hostilities.

This signifies that the seven member committee will have to tackle the conflict as such.

Three persons were reported dead whilst several households were torched during the recent clash.

Preliminary reports indicated that the combatants engaged in a fearless gun battle over a parcel of farmland.

By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citiffmonline.com/Ghana

The post REGSEC to meet Gushiegu feuding factions today appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.