News
GNAT Executives hold bilateral discussions with NTC management
The 246,000 teachers across the country are expected to see an improvement in their working conditions and general wellbeing as projected by the new executives of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT).
The executives, among other things, intend to improve stakeholder engagement, good corporate governance, professional development and enhanced remuneration for teachers.
The acquistion of the Sweden Ghana Medical Centre by the association is also expected to be ease the financial burden associated with treatment of cancer and cancer related illnesses by members.
Reverend Isaac Owusu, the GNAT National President, made these remarks when the association paid a courtsey call on the Management of New Times Corporation (NTC) in Accra on Tuesday.
The visit was to officially introduce the newly elected national executives to the management of NTC and discuss possible areas of collaboration between the two entities.
The five newly elected national executives of GNAT who would serve a four-year term are: Reverend Isaac Owusu, National President, Mrs Lucy Amanda Asamoa, Vice President; Mr Ransford K.N Lolih, Treasurer; Mr John Owusu Mensah, 1st Trustee and Ms Mercy Nabia Sagbil as the 2nd Trustee.
Mr Daniel Affadu and Mr Kwame Dagbandow, Deputy Secretaries; and Mr Nicholas Taylor, Head of Administration and Organisation and other members of the association accompanied them.
Reverend Isaac Owusu gave the assurance that the new executives would build on the good works of its predecessors.
“The newly elected officers have a huge task but we would work in the interest of members to make GNAT continue to stay relevant”, he said.
Mrs Lucy Amanda Asamoa, said that the association had made some remarkable strides in the past 90 years and urged members to honour their monthly obligations to the Teachers’ Fund.
The Managing Director of New Times Corporation, Mr. Martin Adu-Owusu congratulated the new officers and assured them of the NTC’s unflinching support for the association.
“Gone were the days when the saying was that the teachers’ rewards were in heaven, the status quo does not hold today, I am urging you to work hard to ensure that welfare and wellbeing of teachers are enhanced,” he said.
Mr David Agbenu, Editor of the Ghanaian Times, urged GNAT to address any challenges that may disrupt academic work in future.
Mr Emmanuel Amponsah, Editor of The Spectator advised the executives to work assiduously for the interest of all its members and jealously guard the image of the association.
By Portia Hutton-Mills & Richael Ammah
News
Craze for x’mas shopping: Crowded markets, low patronage
Vendors of food and other wares associated with the Christmas celebration have expressed surprise at the low patronage despite the increased number of visitors to some of the major markets across the capital.
Four days to the celebration(Christmas), the markets are filled with various products ranging from food, clothing, livestock and many other stuff, but according to the vendors, patrons are doing more ‘window’ shopping.
The Spectator on visits to some of the markets in the capital, notably the Odawna, Makola, Accra Central Business District, New Town and others made similar observations as shoppers crowd them but did little in terms of purchases.
The paper also observed that majority of vendors, originally selling other wares have switched to product related to the festive season.
What it means is that there are a lot more clothes, food and vegetables, livestock and poultry, toys, firecrackers, drinks of different types and many others on display.
The markets have also stretched to the pedestrian pavement, leaving very narrow spaces for commuters to move about freely.
That, in addition to a few of the female vendors dressed in coloured attires to reflect the occasion, has heightened the euphoria, leaving the low sales as the only headache for the vendors.
Speaking with this paper, they sounded very optimistic, believing that sales would improve in the last few days to the yuletide.
According to them, there was the opportunity to sell beyond Christmas as the New Year celebration offers similar opportunity to trade the same wares.
They urged patrons to throng the markets to shop since prices were quite moderate and products affordable for all.
News
Retirement service for Elder John Ackom-Asante,3 others
Retired Deputy Editor of The Spectator, Elder John Ackom-Asante, was last Sunday honoured by the Church of Pentecost Windy Hills District in Kasoa in the Central Region, with a retirement thanksgiving service, after serving for 26 year as an Elder of the church.
He was honoured with a citation and certificate of service along with three other elders who served in the capacity for various years.
Elder Ackom-Asante was baptised at the Darkuman Central Assembly in 1979 and ordained as an Elder in 1997.
The citation read “Your selfless service, zeal, willingness to relate wholeheartedly and your desire to effect change has gone a long way to shape the lives of many people in the church and the nation over the 26 years of your dedication to the service of the Lord.”
Elder Ackom- Asante held many positions at the Darkuman Central Assembly, Obuasi in the Ashanti Region and Tema, serving in various capacities as youth and evangelism ministry leader and marriage counsellor.
He was the founding member of the Darkuman Christian Fellowship, a member of the Greater Accra Christian Fellowship; member of Bible Society of Ghana; founding member Obuasi Chapter Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International and founding member of New Times Corporation Christian Fellowship and Chaplain, Methodist University Tema Campus 2009- 2010.
As a professional journalist, Elder Ackom-Asante combined effectively and efficiently his duty as a member and elder of the church and the demands of his profession, with admiration from the church, kith and kin, till his retirement on December
From Alhaji Salifu Abdul-Rahaman, Kasoa
