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.

AAU TO BIDGE INFORMATION GAP WITHIN MEMBER UNIVERSITIES

Story: Fauziatu Adam

The Association of African Universities has established an Open Access Institutional Repository (database) (OAIR) to harness and disseminate research information within member universities for the development of Knowledge based economies in Africa.

A two day advocacy workshop organised by AAU and collaborated by the Research Libraries in Ghana (CARLIGH) and the Royal Tropical Institute of the Netherlands seeks to critically discuss and develop all technical issues, including copyright and the use of standard software in creating such a gigantic repository.

" The Rationale behind this workshop is to afford an opportunity for government officials, the academic and research communities, institutions and organisations to learn about the potential benefits of open access, to share ideas with colleagues and to inspire wider participation of the project" said secretary General, AAU, Professor Olugbemiro Jegede.

Participants from the universities across the continent are expected to acquire requisite knowledge to engage in advocacy for the creation of these repositories in their various institutions and the countries as well.

Deputy Minister of Education, Mr Mahama Ayariga in a speech read on his behalf  was of the view that national repository centres in Africa should act on a national scale, to serve all libraries in the country.

" Other roles that these centres should have are a national collection policies which would assist libraries in national inter-lending and  act as legal deposit and engage in co-operative cataloging to union databases" he said.

The challenges facing the African scholarly publishing and dissemination, he observed,  included the fact that universities, research bodies, research NGOs produce a large amount of knowledge, but do not always disseminate it widely.

" Apart from the lack of investment to do research, and to disseminate and publish research findings, the human resources capacity with the requisite publishing skills are not always readily available" he added.

He expressed his hope that the advocacy workshop would enable participants bring out policies which would act as guidelines for the establishment and smooth running of institutional repository centres which would enhance the production and dissemination of knowledge as a priority.

AAU is an international non- governmental organisation set up by universities in Africa to promote cooperation among themselves and with the international academic community.

The organisation was established in 1967 under the initiative of El Nazeer Dafaala, Director of the University of Rabat, Morocco at a founding conference in Rabat attended by representatives of 34 universities who adopted the constitutions of the organisation.

Headquartered in Accra, the organisation is the principal forum for consultation, exchange of information  cooperation  among universities  in Africa and operates in 3 official languages including English, French and Arabic.

Membership is opened to universities and other institutions of higher education in Africa as well as organisations and networks whose members are universities or engage in supporting universities.

Kenyasi Visit- Fun side...

Working for a new foundation has not been easy, albeit, I had fun. Apart from visiting the beautiful city of Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana to do a special report for Newmont Gold Ghana Limited, Ahafo mine, I did not miss that opportunity to make the most out of it by having so much fun. I hope you would enjoy the pictures. Have fun guys!

I thought of pursuing another profession, that is teaching. I felt good being around these kids in Kenyasi

I wonder what I was even asking the CEO of CSRF Ghana, Byron Nana Taylor

After the launch of the Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation (NADef), the CSRF team engage Dr. Toni Aubyn, CEO of Ghana Chamber of Mines

In a tete a tete with the Regional Vice President, Environment and Social Responsibility of NGGl, Mr Randy Barnes 

Exploring the Ahafo site

TRADERS COMPLAIN OF LOW PATRONAGE... Despite reduction in prices of goods!

By: Fauzia Adam

The drizzles at the central business district could not deter motorist, shoppers and hawkers from causing traffic and pedestrian jam.

Even the presence of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) task force known as ‘Abaaye’ was not a hindrance for hawkers to go about their everyday business.

With the Eid-ul-Fitr celebration just a day away, all roads leading to the Makola, Kantamanto, Cocoa Marketing Board (CMB) and the Agbogbloshie markets were choked with vehicular and human traffic.

Interestingly, most of the traders who sold foodstuffs lamented of low patronage of their items while second-hand clothes and shoes dealers were satisfied with their sales.

One Akwasi who deals in ladies shoes told Fauzy about the satisfaction of his business so far. Akwasi who claimed to be selling ‘first class store reject’ shoes said the shoes ranged from GHC 7 to GHC40.

“I have sold plenty shoes since Saturday. Business has been good so far and I know more women would come in for the shoes. We know their types of shoes. They like open toe, wedge, and so on,” Akwasi told Fauzy.

Fauzy interviewed a shopper who expressed his preference for slightly used clothes to new ones. He complained of the high cost of new clothes and shoes hence his preference for second- hand goods.

One Mariama Adamu who sells food spices complained of low patronage of her items but expressed the hope that things would be better by the end of Tuesday (tomorrow).

“Last year was better than this year. This time people do not buy things at all which affect our business drastically,” she said.

Other traders who complained of low patronage were chicken sellers in Kantamanto.

One Bozie who sells chicken in the Belly of Kantamanto said he is expecting a high patronage of the chicken by tomorrow.

 “People do not buy chicken a week before the celebration for the fear that the chickens would grow lean before the day. That is why I just sold only two chickens today” he added.

Compared to the previous months when a basket of tomato was sold for GHC6, the same basket now sells at GHC2 per basket likewise onions, tubers of yam.

 “This is the season for foodstuffs so the prices have gone down drastically” said one of the traders.

Among the goods in high demand were food items such as rice, oil, confectioneries, as well as clothes, especially women and children’s wear and shoes.

Africa Muslim Agency Donates to 70,000 Muslims

Story: Fauziatu Adam
Seventy thousand poor Muslims across the country would enjoy this year's Ramadan following the donation of food items by the African Muslim Agency (AMA) in Accra today.
The GHC115,400 food item basket include rice, beans, a tinned tomato, cooking oil and a bag of dates for each family.
AMA is a humanitarian organisation which started its operations in Ghana in 1990. It can boast of four centres which can be located in Accra, Cape Coast, Kumasi and Tamale housing over 800 orphans across the country.

The organisation however started its works since 1981 as a voluntarily non-governmental institution interested in the development in the neediest places in Africa.
The Kuwait based agency mainly targets orphans, single mothers and people with special needs especially in remote areas and dispatches its aid items to these individuals.
The agency, seeking leadership, was one of the first charity societies in the Islamic World that revived the traditional acts of the prophet Peace Be upon Him in constructing the small endowment projects in remote areas.
Moreover, the organisation has sponsored over 100 Muslims and non Muslims brilliant but needy  students across the universities in the country to promote education and sponsors 10 Muslims to go for Hajj every year.
The institution’s activities targets development projects in poor African communities. Under the slogan “Every Child in Africa has the Right to Education,” Direct Aid has been mainly focusing on education as a basic means to make a difference in poor African communities.