Okyenehene supports CSR Foundation Ghana

Okyenehene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin has pledged to support the CSR Foundation Ghana (CSRFG) to promote the conservation of the environment and  sustain corporate social responsibility activities in the country.

This came to light when the foundation officially visited him at his palace in Accra to introduce themselves and the rationale behind the formation  of the foundation and to formally invite him to chair the CSRFG maiden annual national CSR conference to be held in November and December this year.

Okyenehene, with pleasure expressed interest in supporting the foundation to protect the environment and hold corporate individuals accountable for their activities in the country.

Osagyefuo Amoatia, who is an environmentalist complained, with passion about the way politicians personalised  developmental policies which was the key contributing factor to underdevelopment in the country.

Ms Fauziatu Adam, Programmes officer, CSRFG introducing herself to Okyenehene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin

Ms Fauziatu Adam in a handshake with Okyenehene

Members of CSRFG in a photograph with Okyenehene

He called on the government to decentralize public and socio economic activities to other regional capitals to decongest the capital city and help in the economic wealth of the other regions to accelerate the total development of the country. 

Osagyeufo Ofori Panin further stated that the recent floods that hit the nation's capital and parts of the country should not be described as a natural disaster but a man-made disaster created by numb public and government officials.
"It was now time individuals took responsibility in conserving their environment  and put in place the right structures to taking care of the community and the people as a whole," he added.

Okyenehene expressed his interest in the foundation and promised that his office would be readily available to promote CSR initiatives in the country.

Briefing the Okyenehene, Mr Joseph Emmanuel Allotey -Pappoe, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the foundation who led the delegation stressed the need for a partnership  of  business, civil society and government for the country to deepen the CSR culture and reap its full benefits.

"It was for this reason that the CSRFG had been set up with a vision  to create a society of CSR-committed and compliant corporate  citizens and individuals which would be pursued through advocacy, training, conferences, awards, research, publications and advisory services," he stated. 

Explaining more about the conference, Mr Allotey-Pappoe said that, it was aimed at initiating a platform for national deliberation on CSR in Ghana and to adopt the communiqués at the end of the conference to encourage action from government, corporate organisations, civil society organisations, communities and society to form partnerships for the sustainable development in the country.

" CSR Foundation Ghana’s Annual National CSR Conference is one of the vehicles to be used by the Foundation to initiate and promote deliberations on responsible corporate behaviour and to create a society of CSR committed and compliant corporate citizens and individuals in Ghana" he added.

He added that the first day of the conference would strategically focus on Ghana and the facilitators and presenters have been chosen from experts in the area of CSR in the country.

"The Speakers include Dr. Joyce Aryee, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Mines, Mr. Kweku Rockson ,a former acting rector of Ghana Institute of Journalism and a researcher in CSR and Professor Robert Hinson, Head of Marketing Department, University of Ghana Business School, both Board Members of CSR Foundation Ghana" he noted.

"Other speakers include, Mr. Kwamena Anaman, former corporate affairs director of Ashanti Goldfields Company, Mr. Bishop Akolgo Executive Director of Integrated Social Development Center, (ISODEC)", he said. 

"Some of the topics to be discussed are 'Corporate Social Responsibility: A Key Component for Sustainable Development through Partnership', 'Corporate Social Responsibility A Historical Overview', 'CSR in Ghana: The Case for Legislation and the Role of Government', 'CSR in Ghana: The Case for Voluntary Action and the Role of Corporations - The Corporate Credibility implications', 'The Role of Civil Society Organisations in the CSR Partnership Sustainable development', 'The scientific approach to ranking CSR Performance in Ghana-The CSR Foundation Ghana Methodology', he noted.

He added that the conference was expected to attract CEO’s and Corporate Affairs Directors from Ghana and beyond and will help deepen CSR practice, share knowledge as well provide critical information on global perspectives on CSR.

AGI TO PARTNER CSR FOUNDATION GHANA

CSR Foundation Ghana (CSRFG) and the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI)have agreed in principle to form a partnership to promote corporate social responsibility in Ghana.

Chairman of CSR Foundation Ghana, Mr Allotey-Pappoe presenting a copy of the CSR WAtch Magazine to Mr Seth Twum, Executive Director of AGI 

This is the outcome of discussions at a courtesy call by the board of trustees of CSRFG on the management of the AGI in Accra.

Briefing the executives of AGI, Mr Joseph Emmanuel Allotey Pappoe, chairman of the board of trustees of the foundation who led the delegation stressed the need for a partnership  of  business, civil society and government for the country to deepen the CSR culture and reap its full benefits.

 He said time has come for business to embrace CSR, not as a policy of tokenism and volunteerism, but as a business philosophy and a planned, systematic and ethical corporate behaviour that meets statutory and regulatory requirements beyond an organisation's mission statement , noting that it should also satisfy the needs of all stakeholders and social imperatives in a transparent and sustainable manner for development.

He stated that it is for this reason that the CSRFG has been set up with a vision  to create a society of CSR-committed and compliant corporate  citizens and individuals which would be pursued through advocacy, training, conferences, awards, research, publications and advisory services.

Mr. Allotey-Pappoe revealed that in addition to the publication by the Foundation of the maiden issue of CSR Watch magazine last month, the Foundation would shortly advertise the first annual national CSR conference to be held in Ghana at the end of November this year adding that he would look forward to  AG's massive participation.  

In his response,  Mr. Seth Twum Akwaboah,  Executive Director of AGI expressed the Association's appreciation for the visit, noting that the Council of AGI, after considering the profile of the Foundation and its plans, was sure that the Foundation had a mission worth supporting. He accordingly pledged the Association's support for the Foundation's projects and programmes.  

Mr. Allotey-Pappoe presented copies of the CSR Watch magazine to the AGI.

GIJ To Introduce Courses In Oil Industry

Story: Seth J. Bokpe & Fauziatu Adam

The Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) will, from next academic year, introduce courses in Petroleum and Environmental and Climate Change Reporting in response to the emergence of the oil industry in the country.

The initiative is to ensure that products of the school are abreast of issues concerning the industry.

The Rector of the GIJ, Mr David Newton, announced this at this year’s congregation of the institute, which was on the theme: “The Role of Communication in Ghana's emerging oil industry'.

He advised Ghanaians not only to think of the economic gains of the industry but also consider the impact of the oil on the environment, including oil spillage, and other concerns such as dangers of pollution and influx of illegal immigrants.

“It is our hope that as new comers in the oil industry, we shall be guided by the lessons and experiences of other countries which are forerunners in the industry,' he added.

The congregation, the second after the institute received its charter to award its own degrees, had 120 students graduating with Diploma in Communication Studies.

Miss Winnifred Ashong-Lamptey emerged as the Overall Best Student and received the Best Journalism Student Award.

The Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) sponsored her prize comprising a laptop , a set of books and a six-month internship with the GCGL.

Other award winners were Miss Abla Emefa Adjei ,the Best Professional Student; Mr Francis Kobina Abban, the Best Student in English Language; Miss Regina Asamoah, the Best in Public Relations , Advertising and Marketing.

Mr Newton added that the institute had introduced an exchange programme with both local and foreign universities and institutions to give the necessary exposure to students and lecturers of the school.

He explained that the initiative would lead to a cross-fertilisation of ideas on a wide range of academic activities.

'In order to reach this objective, the institute has established collaboration with UNESCO, the Open Society Initiative of Africa, Kwantlen University in Canada, Rhodes University in South Africa and other international research organisations.

Mr Newton further stated that the institute would, from the next academic year, launch its portal to ensure greater efficiency in checking examination results and online registration of prospective applicants and also improve upon and update the internal systems and the procedures in the institute.

He said as part of the expansion programme, the academic board had recommended the establishment of a social science faculty as a third faculty, adding that new courses such as Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Business and Management Studies would also be rolled out under a review exercise underway.

The Chief Director of the Ministry of Education, Major M. S. Tara (retd), in a speech read on behalf of the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, urged the institute to go beyond official government support and 'identify other sources of funding that will complement government’s efforts and accelerate the common agenda to enable it realise its full potential as the foremost centre of communication excellence in the country'.

'With the discovery of oil in the economy, GIJ will be expected to be in the vanguard of training more journalists who will be equipped with the tools and nuances of what the new industry brings,” he said.

He, therefore, advised the management of the institute to adopt new strategies and educate future journalists and public relations practitioners to become conversant with the demands of the oil industry and its communication imperatives.

Major Tara urged the graduates to imbibe the virtues of humility and professionalism and avoid the temptation of using short-cuts to riches and fame.

In a speech read on his behalf, the Chairman of GIJ Governing Council, Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini, made a passionate appeal to all the alumni of the institute to come together and contribute their quota towards the development of the institute.

He observed that the institute had the potential and capacity to turn around its fortunes.

HIV menace on the rise

Story: Fauziatu Adam
Current estimates indicate that 267,000 Ghanaians, including 25,000, children are living with HIV/AIDS, according to the International Health Care Centre (IHCC).
What is even frightening is that 2,500 Ghanaians are infected with the virus and 2,000 deaths are recorded annually.
Dr Naa Ashiley Vanderpuije, a health expert at the IHCC which manages AIDS cases, made this known at a workshop organised on HIV/AIDS for opinion leaders in Muslim communities in Accra.
The workshop was funded by the African Women's Fund and initiated by Yada da Allah, a Muslim women’s outreach organisation, and the Muslim Women and AIDS Association of Ghana.
The estimates are consistent with projections by the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) from 2009 to 2015.
In its National HIV Prevalence and AIDS Estimates 2009-2015 Report, the NACP projected that the country's HIV prevalence was expected to rise gradually from 267,069 in 2009 to 280,219 in 2011.
That is due to the combined effects of population growth and an increasing number of HIV-infected persons who are living on anti-retroviral therapy (ART).
According to the report, 22,177 new infections were registered in 2009, while 20,313 AIDS deaths were recorded, with 26,150 new infections and 17,046 deaths being projected for 2011.
Addressing the workshop, Dr  Vanderpuije said people living with the virus could also play an important role in limiting its spread and, therefore, stigmatising them would not help them progress in society.
"They can help prevent further infections and improve the quality of their own lives through positive behavioural change. People who have HIV but who are not yet ill can live full and productive lives. People living with HIV/AIDs should not be stigmatised or discriminated against. Rather, they deserve our compassion, care and support," she added.
She called on leaders in all sectors to do their part to limit the spread of HIV.
"If our leaders — political, religious, business, non-governmental, community, district and all others — individually and collectively do their part, I am convinced that we can change the course of this epidemic and limit its impact on the development effort in Ghana," she noted.
The President of Yada da Allah, Mrs Mariam Yussif, said the main aim of the workshop for opinion leaders in the Muslim community was to sensitise them to the virus and what they could do to prevent it.

She added that stigmatisation of HIV/AIDs patients was very rampant in communities, hence the need to reach out to the leaders of the communities to enable them to disseminate the message to the people.

A Poly Inaugurates Competency-Based Resource Centre

Story: Fauziatu Adam

Accra Polytechnic has inaugurated a GH¢35,000 Competency Based Training (CBT) resource centre to enhance the training of middle-level, career-focused students who are equipped with skills and competence for the work environment.

The centre was financed by the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA), an independent government agency in Japan that provides technical co-operation and other forms of aid to developing countries.

The CBT, which promotes practical training instead of theoretical learning, ensures that all learners gain the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes or values to be successful in the learning environment and the workplace, particularly in the industrial sector.

An important characteristic of CBT is that it is focused not only on the actual jobs that are required in the workplace, but also the ability to transfer and apply skills, knowledge and attitudes to new situations and environments.

The assessment of competency of a learner under CBT is not about passing or failing someone, but the assessor's role is to work with the individual to ensure that sufficient evidence is collected to establish competence that meets the required standard.

Inaugurating the centre, the Director of the school, Dr Festus Addo-Yobo, said the school needed more committed and motivated staff with the needed competence to teach, using examples and relating theory to practice.

He said another major challenge was developing skills in the use of equipment or technique that requires the students to have access to the equipment and resources needed by polytechnics to provide the equipment for students to practice their skills before they are identified as competent.

He acknowledged the support of JICA which donated a Robust Photocopier Machine, a Camcorder, set of office furniture, Hydraulic Simulator, among others for the school.

He assured JICA that the institute would continue to ensure the efficient training of middle-level, career-focused and hands-on skilled power.

The Chief Representative of JICA Ghana, Jiro Inamura, expressed her appreciation to members of staff and students of the school for their support to the Japanese disaster-hit victims.

She expressed optimism that the centre would be used to disseminate the CBT methods to other vocational training institutions in a sustainable manner.