News
Ga Central Municipal Education Directorate holds reading festival
The Ga Central Municipal Education Directorate has held the second Municipal Reading Festival at Odorgonnor Secondary School in Accra with a call on stakeholders to make reading a regular feature of everyday academic life of pupils.
It was also observed that, it was very critical to inculcate reading in beginners because research has shown that daily reading time creates the consistency and sense of stability that children need.
The festival featured a competition between Ablekuma Circuit, Anyaa Circuit and Chantan Circuit with children competing in spelling in Ga and Twi, charade, news reading, and reading, among others.
The Director of Education for Ga Central Municipal Assembly, Madam Adisa Tassa who made the call said the Directorate was dedicated to improving education in the municipality and would continue to be a beacon of inspiration for both educators and learners.
She said the festival was a momentous occasion which highlights the remarkable progress the Directorate made over the period.
Citing some challenges faced by the Directorate, she mentioned the cost of transportation which remains a significant obstacle for many officers, affecting their ability to effectively monitor schools and provide timely report.
Furthermore, she said there was a pressing need for more infrastructure to accommodate the growing number of learners in the schools.
In a welcome address, Madam Sandra O. Acheampong, Head of Monitoring and Supervision at the Ga Central Municipal Education Directorate said reading exposes the children to critical thinking and vocabulary acquisition necessary for their academic development.
The overall winners of the competition were Chantan Circuit, followed by Anyaa Circuit as runners up and Ablekuma Circuit.
In a closing remark, Naa Dawa I, New Gbawe Manye commended the Directorate and teachers for the programme, hoping that it would be bigger next year.
By Francis Kwabena Cofie
News
National Service Authority goes cashless
The National Service Authority (NSA) has announced a mandatory transition to a cashless payment system.
This initiative aligns with the government’s drive to modernize revenue collection.
In a statement, NSA noted that effective immediately, all user agencies and stakeholders are directed to make all payments,
including the 20% and 10% administrative service charges, through the GHANA.GOV platform.
This shift to digital payments offers greater transparency, convenience and accessibility for those working with the NSA.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Read the full statement below
News
Greater Accra Regional Minister calls on traders to operate within designated spaces to ease congestion
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, has called on traders in the city to operate within designated spaces to ease congestion and maintain cleanliness in market centres.
Speaking with traders at the Kaneshie Market on February 4, 2025, during a tour of selected market centres to assess sanitation challenges, reinforce government commitment to address indiscriminate refuse disposal, and improve market conditions, the minister called for collaboration between traders and local authorities to address sanitation and maintain order.
She assured the new government’s commitment to addressing urban challenges and improving market conditions in Accra as part of its broader agenda for a cleaner city.
“We are here to engage you in a conversation about our mission to improve cleanliness in Greater Accra. We are taking into account the conditions of the roads, your problems, and your suggestions. Most walkways have been taken over by traders instead of serving their original purpose, which leads to traffic congestion. We want to understand your challenges so that we can find the best way to assist you,” the Minister stated.
The Minister who was accompanied by officials from the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council ( GARCC) led by the Chief Director of the GARCC, Mrs. Lilian Baeka, some staff from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly(AMA) and other sister assemblies in the Region used the opportunity to enquire about the state of waste disposal within the market and the efficiency of refuse collection by the assemblies.
“Does it take long for the refuse to be collected after it is gathered? These are some of the issues we want to address,” she added, inviting traders to share their thoughts.
The President of the Greater Accra Markets Association, Mrs. Mercy Naa Afrowa Needjan who welcomed the minister, expressed gratitude for the visit and assured traders commitment to rally support behind her as a woman in leadership.
”In the market, we face numerous challenges we wish to discuss. There are various groups of traders with some selling at the top, others beneath, while some can be relocated, others should be removed. However, we must follow due process to ensure that people’s livelihoods are not affected. She cannot do it alone, and we are ready to support her efforts,” she stated.
She noted that efforts to regulate trading activities, especially on the Kaneshie overhead footbridge, had proven difficult despite continuous engagements with the police.
Madam Mercy Naa Afrowa Needjan identified street trading as a major concern, explaining that it had significantly affected business inside the main markets.
“Our major problem is those selling outside. Because of them, the market is now dry. Almost everyone has moved onto the streets. They are our brothers and sisters, and we want them inside the market. There are a lot of vacant spaces they can occupy,” she said.
On sanitation, she remarked that significant progress had been made, stressing that previously, the Kaneshie market was associated with rubbish, but the story had changed for good.
