News
Take interest in science subjects — Mrs Phyllis Otu
Ghanaian students have been encouraged to take keen interest in the study of science subjects in order to help in the development of the country.
Mrs. Phyllis Otu, the Head of Department (HoD), Science Laboratory Technology Department (SLTD), Accra Technical University (ATU), was addressing 113 Junior High School students who received a day’s practical laboratory training at the university.
She said her presence and other females in science-related fields were enough proof to erase the erroneous opinion that science was difficult and, therefore, should be reserved for boys.
She said the programme was aimed at igniting in the youth the passion for science, adding that the department would in the future follow up to the schools to find out how the students fared in the practical training received, and identify some of their challenges.
Mrs Otu said the department offered all science courses in the university and asked the students to remain focused in their studies but eschew negative tendencies and over relying on social media to the detriment of making use of their precious time.
The programme under the auspices of Science Laboratory Technology Department (SLTD), of the Accra Technical University in collaboration with ignite Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics (iSTEM), a research group which assists students in research activities, drew students from Calvary Methodist JHS 1, Reverend Lartey Adotey Memorial School, both at Adabraka, and Labone SDA School, Accra..
The programme was under the theme “Contributing to the Scientific and Technological base of the Nation.”
The students who were divided into groups, were taught the components used in the preparation of alcohol, sanitizer, the extraction of DNA from banana and how to build a circuit to produce light.
Mr Bright Azumah, a lecturer in Biochemistry at ATU, and one of the facilitators who taught the students how to connect a battery to an L.E.D light source, use electrical energy to produce heat and mechanical energy among others, said the lessons learnt formed the foundation of building electrical devices including smart phones, building their own software and coming out with many inventions.
Mr Ayi Joshua Oku, the President of Science Laboratory Technology, ATU, reiterated the need for more students to study science and technology since it provided a lot of options and benefits to the nation.
Three participants, Alia Yusif and Nadia Ahmed both students of Labone SDA School and Barikisu Abubakar of Reverend Lartey Adotey Memorial School, were grateful for the hands-on-laboratory experience they received, adding that they had been inspired to pursue science at the higher level.
By Raymond Kyekye
News
Minister of Health appeals to Tamale Teaching Hospital striking doctors
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has appealed to the striking doctors at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) to calll off the suspension and come to the negotiation table.
However, he refused to apologise as demanded by the striking doctors.
The doctors after a meeting yesterday have withdrawn emergency services following the dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer of the hospital.
This follows an unannounced visit to the hospital by the Minister on Tuesday.
The Minister made the appeal when addressing the media in Accra on Today, April 24 2025.
According to him, dialogue is the only way out to resolve the issue, adding that he was ready collaborate with them.
“I am prepared for us to come around the table and discuss whatever we need to discuss,” Mr Akandoh said.
“My humble appeal to my wonderful medical doctors and health professionals at Tamale Teaching Hospital is that I am the first person to take care of your interests. Therefore, let’s call off the strike and let’s all regroup and strategise going forward,” he concluded.
News
Health Minister donates medical equipment to Tamale Teaching Hospital, pledges commitment to reforms
The Minister for Health Kwabena Miintah Akandoh has reiterated government’s commitment to address long-standing challenges in the health sector, describing the health system as one that requires urgent reform and collective responsibility.
He made these remarks during a donation of some essential medical equipment and supplies to the Tamale Teaching Hospital on behalf of the Ministry of Health.
The donation included a wide range of equipment such as ECG machines, ICU ventilators, cardiac monitors, anesthesia machines, infant incubators, and essential
Consumables amounting to about 35 items.
Among the items highlighted were
Emergency Health Equipment (EHE) sets, nebulizer sets, and medical-grade towels.
The Health Minister acknowledged the difficult working conditions health professionals continue to endure and emphasized that government efforts alone would not be enough to resolve systemic issues.
He called for unity across the health sector and urged all stakeholders, including medical doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, to work together to ensure that the country’s limited resources are used efficiently.
He noted that the wellbeing of the ordinary Ghanaian should be central to healthcare delivery, cautioning against practices that marginalize the underprivileged due to resource scarcity. According to him, every Ghanaian life is valuable, and the system must reflect that belief in both policy and practice.
Mr.Akandoh stressed that his leadership approach is rooted in humility, collaboration, and respect for all health workers. While acknowledging that change may come with challenges, he maintained that cooperation is key to achieving lasting improvements in the sector.
The Minister pleaded with health professionals in the Tamale Teaching Hospital to call off the strike and regroup to strategize on more effective ways to address their concerns through dialogue and collaboration with relevant authorities.
The donation to the Tamale Teaching Hospital forms part of a broader national initiative to modernize medical infrastructure and enhance service delivery in Ghana’s healthcare.
