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St. Don Bosco Special School needs urgent help …as sick pupils are transported to hospital on motor bikes
● The school has 135 pupils with special need
Lack of transport at the St. Don Bosco Special School at Loho in the Nadowli-Kaleo District of the Upper West Region is making the work of teachers and school mothers difficult as they have to transport sick children to the hospital on motor bikes.
According to the Headmistress of the school, Ms Veronica Dong, some of the children always fell sick due to their disabilities and left the teachers with no option but to convey them on motorbikes and in severe cases, on commercial tricycles popularly called Mahama (can do) to the hospital for treatment.
Ms Dong who was speaking to journalists at the school’s premises on the challenges of the institution described the situation as worrying, given that some of the children were epileptic and had seizures often.
“You cannot imagine transporting an epileptic child on a motor bike to the health centre when the school could be provided with a means of transport to facilitate our movement”, she said.
The St Don Bosco Special School was opened in 2016 for children with special needs who were hitherto accommodated at the campus of the Wa School for the Deaf.
The school currently has 135 pupils with some of them living with epilepsy whilst others had Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorders.
Ms Dong said although the school had a clinic with a nurse, most of the conditions needed attention from a general hospital and would be grateful if means of transport was provided for the school to support them.
The headmistress stated that among the numerous challenges the school faced included inadequate number of mothers to help take care of the children coupled with staff accommodation at the campus.
“The mothers are people who have been employed to assist the children at school with bathing, washing, feeding, among others so you can imagine the stress four women go through with 135 children, most of whom need support”, she said.
She explained that the situation was compounded by the lack of staff accommodation on campus for teachers to support the mothers and said when the teachers left for their respective homes after school hours, burden was placed on the four school mothers.
She believed monitoring of the children and helping with their daily needs would be easier on the mothers if their number was increased or accommodation was provided for the teachers on campus and called on government to support the school in that regard.
She further made an appeal to benevolent bodies and organisations to support the school with food items as well as training facilities to help train the children in handiwork.
She pleaded with philanthropist to donate wheel chairs to the school to enable them admit children with movement challenges stating that a child was not admitted because she could not move at all.
“We need wheel chairs to be able to admit children with special needs who are unable to move about; in fact, our problems are really numerous so we are ready for whatever support we will find”, she added.
From Lydia Darlington Fordjour, Wa
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Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation –Pres.Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over the misuse of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) for personal financial gain by individuals in leadership positions.
Speaking during a meeting with Chief Executives of specified entities under the State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA) on Thursday, March 13, the President directly attributed the dire state of SOEs to their leadership, accusing chief executives, management teams, and governing boards of prioritising personal enrichment over organisational efficiency.
He pointed to bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures as factors draining public funds while SOEs continue to rely on government bailouts.
“Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation by appointees. The chief executives, management, and boards of these enterprises are responsible for this situation. Some SOEs have become perennial loss-makers, draining public funds with bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures while relying on government bailouts as if entitled to them. Many of these entities are at their lowest point in the entire history of the Fourth Republic,” he said.
President Mahama further noted that many SOEs have been plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and mismanagement, leading to consistent financial losses. He cited the 2023 State Ownership Report by the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), which highlighted systemic inefficiencies and wasteful expenditures within these entities.
He therefore reaffirmed his commitment to reforming under-performing SOEs and ensuring they serve national interests.
He warned that loss-making SOEs will no longer be tolerated and will either be merged, privatised, or closed.
“I will assess you based on your performance. If you do not align with the pace of the reset agenda, you may be asked to step aside. If that adds to the horror movie, so be it,” he added.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
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Prophet Courage Heavens set to launch ‘Predestination’ book on March 23
Prophet Courage A. Heavens is set to launch the much-awaited book titled ‘Predestination’ on Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 5:00PM.
The launch, which is expected to impact lives, will take place at Crossgates Ministries, Flattop, off N1 Highway, opposite Angel Hauz.
The book is aimed at addressing the way people struggle to understand how free will and destiny align.
It is also aimed at providing clarity on God’s sovereignty and one’s place in His divine plan.
The various chapters of the book address various issues through scriptures and personal stories.
Committed to impacting society, part of the proceeds from the book will go into Courage Heavens Education Legacy (CHEL), an educational foundation transforming lives.
CHEL is dedicated to providing financial support and mentorship to brilliant but needy students, ensuring they have access to quality education and opportunities for a better future.
Prophet Courage Heavens is a prolific writer and previously authored Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani, a powerful book that encourages unwavering faith in times of trials.
In addition, he has written seven more prophetic and life-changing books that are yet to be published.
He is dedicated to raising the next generation for impactful ministry. As the leader of Crossgates Ministries, he nurtures believers in faith and purpose.
