Published in the Daily Graphic on 12/01/2010 , pg 24
Story Rebecca Quaicoe-Duho & Matilda Attram
THE National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) is implementing an exit plan to absorb more than 30,000 youths who are currently on the programme into formal employment.
The exit plan is to make room for a new set of youths to be employed under the programme, while the old set will be absorbed by their current employers or made to enter into a trading or vocational skills training to be introduced by the programme.
The National Co-ordinator of the NYEP, Mr Abuga Pele, who made this known at a press briefing in Accra yesterday, said a bill, the National Youth Employment Bill, would be laid before Parliament this year to help facilitate the activities of the programme.
The NYEP was introduced in the country by the former government in 2007 as a stop-gap measure to create employment for the youth and it is being financed with funds from the GETFund, the National Health Insurance Scheme, the Road Fund, the Communication Talk Time Tax and the District Assemblies Common Fund.
Mr Pele said under the exit plan, institutions such as the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Police Service and the Ministry of Education would provide top-up training programmes for personnel under their outfits so that they could be formally absorbed into the various professions.
Also, the NYEP would liaise with private security agencies so that personnel who were under the Community Police Programme but were not enlisted into the Police Service would be employed to ensure that they did not become a threat to society, he said.
According to him, personnel who had not been employed formally would be encouraged to enter into trading and vocational skills training that would help them to be self-employed.
He said although the exit plan was yet to be implemented, all personnel who had been under the programme for the past two years were expected to end their tenure last December.
On the issue of arrears owed personnel of the NYEP, Mr Pele said arrears for October 2009 would to be paid this week, while those of November and December 2009 would be paid by the end of January this year.
He, however, cautioned that those who had already exited from the programme but were still drawing salaries from it should desist from that act, since any such person found out would be dealt with according to law.
He stated that the NYEP did not have any hand in the removal of some personnel from their stations and called on regional and district co-ordinators to reinstate such personnel till they were recalled.
Mr Pele called on the public to stop reading partisan politics into the programme, saying “that will not augur well for the whole country”.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Latex Foam donates to Pamela Bridgewater Project
Published in the Daily Graphic on 16/01/2010, pg 11
Story: Matilda Attram
LATEX Foam Company Limited, Ghana has donated 30 pieces of mattresses which cost GH¢1,500 in support of the 'Pamela Bridgewater Children's Home Project' in Accra.
Making the presentation, the Public Relations Officer of the company Mr Isaac Fenning, said the donation was made in line with the company's social responsibility, stressing that the company was determined to support the project.
"We see the situation of our sisters on the streets as a disturbing factor that’s why we are making efforts to put smiles on their faces", he said.
The Project Director of 'Pamela Bridgewater Project', Mr Yahaya Alhassan, who received the items expressed gratitude to the company for their kind gesture and also appealed to other companies, organisations and individuals to emulate the example.
He indicated that Latex foam was the 8th Private company to have supported the project since its establishment two years ago.
The ‘Pamela Bridgewater Children’s Home Village Project’ was established by the former United States Ambassador to Ghana, Pamela Bridgewater in collaboration with a non-governmental organisation, the Kunata International Organisation, to assist female porters (kayayei).
Under the 10-year project, which commenced in 2008, a school complex is to be set up in the Northern Region to offer skills training to young girls to empower them economically.
It also seeks to support girl child education in the northern part of the country.
Story: Matilda Attram
LATEX Foam Company Limited, Ghana has donated 30 pieces of mattresses which cost GH¢1,500 in support of the 'Pamela Bridgewater Children's Home Project' in Accra.
Making the presentation, the Public Relations Officer of the company Mr Isaac Fenning, said the donation was made in line with the company's social responsibility, stressing that the company was determined to support the project.
"We see the situation of our sisters on the streets as a disturbing factor that’s why we are making efforts to put smiles on their faces", he said.
The Project Director of 'Pamela Bridgewater Project', Mr Yahaya Alhassan, who received the items expressed gratitude to the company for their kind gesture and also appealed to other companies, organisations and individuals to emulate the example.
He indicated that Latex foam was the 8th Private company to have supported the project since its establishment two years ago.
The ‘Pamela Bridgewater Children’s Home Village Project’ was established by the former United States Ambassador to Ghana, Pamela Bridgewater in collaboration with a non-governmental organisation, the Kunata International Organisation, to assist female porters (kayayei).
Under the 10-year project, which commenced in 2008, a school complex is to be set up in the Northern Region to offer skills training to young girls to empower them economically.
It also seeks to support girl child education in the northern part of the country.
Poison mum's kids buried
Published in the Daily Graphic on 16/01/2010, front pg
Story: Henrietta Brocke & Matilda Attram
THE grief-stricken father of the children who were allegedly killed by their mother through poisoning broke into tears when the bodies of four of the five children were taken from the Police Hospital morgue for burial at Akwamu Pesse in the Eastern Region.
Relatives and sympathisers who stood by the father, Mr Christian Asante, were also thrown into a state of mourning.
Mr Asante, however, did not claim the body of Esi, the last-born of Georgina Pipson, because he claimed she was not his biological child.
The four whose bodies were claimed for burial were Kwaku Osae Asante, 11, Yaw Ofori Asante, 9, Angel Asante, 6, and Kofi Asante, 4.
Mr Asante, who managed to speak to the Daily Graphic, said he could not bury Georgina and her last-born, Esi, because his tradition did not allow him to do so without agreement from both families.
He explained that there had been no co-operation between his family and that of Georgina’s after their break-up about three years ago and even after the death of the children.
Mr Asante stated that he would have wished to bury Georgina and her five children together but he could not do so because of the lack of co-operation between the two families.
He, however, noted that there had once been a visit by a representative of Georgina’s family to present a bottle of Schnapps to his family on the account of the death of his children.
Present at the morgue were relatives, friends and sympathisers of the deceased family.
Residents of Gomoa Nyanyano in the Central Region woke up on Monday, January 4, 2010 to the tragic story of five children suspected to have been killed through poisoning by their mother, after which she also attempted suicide.
Georgina was found lying in an abandoned vehicle at a fitting shop near the Accra College of Education at Madina in Accra around 9 a.m. the next day, following a tip-off by a civilian to the Madina Police.
She was sent to the Police Hospital for medical attention, where she also passed away the next day.
Story: Henrietta Brocke & Matilda Attram
THE grief-stricken father of the children who were allegedly killed by their mother through poisoning broke into tears when the bodies of four of the five children were taken from the Police Hospital morgue for burial at Akwamu Pesse in the Eastern Region.
Relatives and sympathisers who stood by the father, Mr Christian Asante, were also thrown into a state of mourning.
Mr Asante, however, did not claim the body of Esi, the last-born of Georgina Pipson, because he claimed she was not his biological child.
The four whose bodies were claimed for burial were Kwaku Osae Asante, 11, Yaw Ofori Asante, 9, Angel Asante, 6, and Kofi Asante, 4.
Mr Asante, who managed to speak to the Daily Graphic, said he could not bury Georgina and her last-born, Esi, because his tradition did not allow him to do so without agreement from both families.
He explained that there had been no co-operation between his family and that of Georgina’s after their break-up about three years ago and even after the death of the children.
Mr Asante stated that he would have wished to bury Georgina and her five children together but he could not do so because of the lack of co-operation between the two families.
He, however, noted that there had once been a visit by a representative of Georgina’s family to present a bottle of Schnapps to his family on the account of the death of his children.
Present at the morgue were relatives, friends and sympathisers of the deceased family.
Residents of Gomoa Nyanyano in the Central Region woke up on Monday, January 4, 2010 to the tragic story of five children suspected to have been killed through poisoning by their mother, after which she also attempted suicide.
Georgina was found lying in an abandoned vehicle at a fitting shop near the Accra College of Education at Madina in Accra around 9 a.m. the next day, following a tip-off by a civilian to the Madina Police.
She was sent to the Police Hospital for medical attention, where she also passed away the next day.
Friday, January 8, 2010
'Poison' Mum dies
Published in the Daily Graphic on 08/01/2010 Front pg
Story: Henrietta Brocke & Matilda Attram
The woman who allegedly killed her five children through food poisoning died at the Police Hospital in Accra in the early hours of yesterday.
The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Godfred Asiamah, who confirmed this, said the cause of Georgina Pipson's death was yet to be established.
Pipson was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday, because of her condition after she was found lying semiconscious in a vehicle near the Accra College of Education at Madina in Accra.
Dr Asiamah said the police were to visit the Accra Psychiatric Hospital to investigate the history of the deceased, adding that "it’s unfortunate she passed away”.
The deceased was said to have not uttered a word to anyone since her admission to the hospital.
Residents of Gomoa Nyanyano in the Central Region woke up last Monday, January 4, 2010, to the tragic story of five children suspected to have been killed through poisoning by their mother.
The bodies of the five children — Kwaku Osae Asante, 11, Yaw Ofori Asante, 9, Angel Asante, 6, Kofi Asante, 4 and Esi, 1 — the only child she had with a different man, are now at the Police Hospital morgue pending autopsy.
Dr Asiamah said the autopsy on the children was still ongoing and expressed the hope that the results would be ready by next week.
Pipson was found in a skirt and blouse with a small purse. In the purse was a small diary, in which she had chronicled some interesting statements relating to her life.
Some of the statements read: ”I was born in December 1977”, “I am alone in this world, God why, God why”, “I don’t have a mother or father, who am I” and “Georgina with three boys and two girls.”
Others are “My People deserted me”, “God give me hope”, “forgive me and my children, Nana, Kwaku, Angel, Kofi, Esi”, “What a painful world; God have mercy on me and my children”, “Why, Kojo my husband”, and “Kojo, I do love you and will never forget you.”
Story: Henrietta Brocke & Matilda Attram
The woman who allegedly killed her five children through food poisoning died at the Police Hospital in Accra in the early hours of yesterday.
The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Godfred Asiamah, who confirmed this, said the cause of Georgina Pipson's death was yet to be established.
Pipson was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday, because of her condition after she was found lying semiconscious in a vehicle near the Accra College of Education at Madina in Accra.
Dr Asiamah said the police were to visit the Accra Psychiatric Hospital to investigate the history of the deceased, adding that "it’s unfortunate she passed away”.
The deceased was said to have not uttered a word to anyone since her admission to the hospital.
Residents of Gomoa Nyanyano in the Central Region woke up last Monday, January 4, 2010, to the tragic story of five children suspected to have been killed through poisoning by their mother.
The bodies of the five children — Kwaku Osae Asante, 11, Yaw Ofori Asante, 9, Angel Asante, 6, Kofi Asante, 4 and Esi, 1 — the only child she had with a different man, are now at the Police Hospital morgue pending autopsy.
Dr Asiamah said the autopsy on the children was still ongoing and expressed the hope that the results would be ready by next week.
Pipson was found in a skirt and blouse with a small purse. In the purse was a small diary, in which she had chronicled some interesting statements relating to her life.
Some of the statements read: ”I was born in December 1977”, “I am alone in this world, God why, God why”, “I don’t have a mother or father, who am I” and “Georgina with three boys and two girls.”
Others are “My People deserted me”, “God give me hope”, “forgive me and my children, Nana, Kwaku, Angel, Kofi, Esi”, “What a painful world; God have mercy on me and my children”, “Why, Kojo my husband”, and “Kojo, I do love you and will never forget you.”
'Poison' mum's Dairy Reveals-'My people deserted me'
Published in the Daily Graphic on 07/01/2010 Front pg
Story: Timothy Gobah & Matilda Attram
TIME finally caught up with the 33-year-old woman who is believed to have poisoned her five children at Nyanyano in the Central Region, when the police yesterday found her in an abandoned car in Accra.
Clutching a note book in which she had diligently scripted all her frustrations, Georgina Akweley Pipsi also provided an awful lot of clues to what she perceived as the demons tormenting her life.
In what looked like a collection of poems, Georgina wrote in her note book: ”I was born in December 1977.” “I am alone in this world, God why, God why.” “I don’t have a mother or father, who am I.” “Georgina with three boys and two girls.”
In her self-confined solitude when the police found her in the abandoned vehicle at a fitting shop near the Accra Teacher Training College (ATTC) at Madina, Georgina was semi-conscious when she was sent to the Police Hospital for medical treatment at about 9a.m.
She wore a skirt and blouse, had a small lady’s purse and a pocket diary, in which she had chronicled the things that summed up her emotions and happenings in her mind.
“My people deserted me,” “God give me hope,” “forgive me and my children, Nana, Kwaku, Angel, Kofi, Esi.” “What a painful world. God have mercy on me and my children”, “Why, Kojo my husband,” “Kojo, I do love you and will never forget you.”
Also in the purse was a piece of paper supposed to be an inscription given to her to purchase some two drugs at a pharmacy at Agirigano near a school.
DSP Ebenezer Boryor, the Madina District Crime Officer, told the Daily Graphic at the Police Hospital that the police were informed that there was a lady lying in an abandoned vehicle at a fitting shop at the ATTC.
He said the police, who suspected it might be the lady in question, called for the publication in yesterday’s edition of the Daily Graphic and found the picture to be that of the suspect.
He said the woman — who looked helpless, dull, and could not talk — was conveyed to the hospital to be attended to.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in charge of Outpatients Department (OPD) at the hospital, Dr Harold Agbenu, said the suspect was brought to the hospital weak and was examined.
He said although she was in a stable condition, her blood pressure was a bit high, adding that “she just refused to talk”.
He said the hospital had a report that the suspect had a history of mental ailment and when the police hospital had done its bit, she would be referred to the psychiatric hospital for further examination.
Story: Timothy Gobah & Matilda Attram
TIME finally caught up with the 33-year-old woman who is believed to have poisoned her five children at Nyanyano in the Central Region, when the police yesterday found her in an abandoned car in Accra.
Clutching a note book in which she had diligently scripted all her frustrations, Georgina Akweley Pipsi also provided an awful lot of clues to what she perceived as the demons tormenting her life.
In what looked like a collection of poems, Georgina wrote in her note book: ”I was born in December 1977.” “I am alone in this world, God why, God why.” “I don’t have a mother or father, who am I.” “Georgina with three boys and two girls.”
In her self-confined solitude when the police found her in the abandoned vehicle at a fitting shop near the Accra Teacher Training College (ATTC) at Madina, Georgina was semi-conscious when she was sent to the Police Hospital for medical treatment at about 9a.m.
She wore a skirt and blouse, had a small lady’s purse and a pocket diary, in which she had chronicled the things that summed up her emotions and happenings in her mind.
“My people deserted me,” “God give me hope,” “forgive me and my children, Nana, Kwaku, Angel, Kofi, Esi.” “What a painful world. God have mercy on me and my children”, “Why, Kojo my husband,” “Kojo, I do love you and will never forget you.”
Also in the purse was a piece of paper supposed to be an inscription given to her to purchase some two drugs at a pharmacy at Agirigano near a school.
DSP Ebenezer Boryor, the Madina District Crime Officer, told the Daily Graphic at the Police Hospital that the police were informed that there was a lady lying in an abandoned vehicle at a fitting shop at the ATTC.
He said the police, who suspected it might be the lady in question, called for the publication in yesterday’s edition of the Daily Graphic and found the picture to be that of the suspect.
He said the woman — who looked helpless, dull, and could not talk — was conveyed to the hospital to be attended to.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in charge of Outpatients Department (OPD) at the hospital, Dr Harold Agbenu, said the suspect was brought to the hospital weak and was examined.
He said although she was in a stable condition, her blood pressure was a bit high, adding that “she just refused to talk”.
He said the hospital had a report that the suspect had a history of mental ailment and when the police hospital had done its bit, she would be referred to the psychiatric hospital for further examination.
Mum,33,Poisons five kids
Published in the Daily Graphic on 06/01/2010 , pg20
Story: Henrietta Brocke & Matilda Attram
THE tragic story of five children, suspected to have been killed through poisoning by their own mother, yesterday sent hundreds of residents of Nyanyano in the Central Region guessing what could have triggered such cruelty.
The bodies of the five children, Kwaku Osae Asante, 11, Yaw Ofori Asante 9, Angel Asante, 6, Kofi Asante, 4 and Esi, 1, the only child she had with a different man, are now at the Police Hospital morgue in Accra.
Briefing the Daily Graphic at his Sowutuom residence, the father of the children, Mr Christian Asante, disclosed that 33-year-old Georgina Pipsi, who is the mother of the children, visited them (children) at his residence in Sowutuom last Sunday morning to spend some time with them.
He said Georgina stayed with the children till about 5pm when he received some visitors and realised that they (mother and children) were nowhere to be found.
He then traced one Tawiah Pipsi, a sister of Georgina, to enquire about his children but was told she did know their whereabouts.
"They were not back by 7p.m. so I had to call other relatives to find out whether they had visited," he said.
According to him, all efforts to get in touch with the children, who were supposed to resume school yesterday, proved futile.
Mr Asante said four of the children were his children with Georgina and that Esi was not his biological daughter and he knew nothing about her background.
He told the Daily Graphic that Georgina developed a mental problem about three years ago before their break-up, adding that "it was for this reason I decided to take care of the children but allowed her to visit them anytime she chose to".
When the Daily Graphic contacted the Gomoa Nyanyano Police Station, the Assistant Station Officer, Inspector Samuel Anobi, confirmed the report.
He said the bodies were transported to the Police Hospital in Accra for autopsy to facilitate investigations into the case. He said the police were also looking for the suspect.
Story: Henrietta Brocke & Matilda Attram
THE tragic story of five children, suspected to have been killed through poisoning by their own mother, yesterday sent hundreds of residents of Nyanyano in the Central Region guessing what could have triggered such cruelty.
The bodies of the five children, Kwaku Osae Asante, 11, Yaw Ofori Asante 9, Angel Asante, 6, Kofi Asante, 4 and Esi, 1, the only child she had with a different man, are now at the Police Hospital morgue in Accra.
Briefing the Daily Graphic at his Sowutuom residence, the father of the children, Mr Christian Asante, disclosed that 33-year-old Georgina Pipsi, who is the mother of the children, visited them (children) at his residence in Sowutuom last Sunday morning to spend some time with them.
He said Georgina stayed with the children till about 5pm when he received some visitors and realised that they (mother and children) were nowhere to be found.
He then traced one Tawiah Pipsi, a sister of Georgina, to enquire about his children but was told she did know their whereabouts.
"They were not back by 7p.m. so I had to call other relatives to find out whether they had visited," he said.
According to him, all efforts to get in touch with the children, who were supposed to resume school yesterday, proved futile.
Mr Asante said four of the children were his children with Georgina and that Esi was not his biological daughter and he knew nothing about her background.
He told the Daily Graphic that Georgina developed a mental problem about three years ago before their break-up, adding that "it was for this reason I decided to take care of the children but allowed her to visit them anytime she chose to".
When the Daily Graphic contacted the Gomoa Nyanyano Police Station, the Assistant Station Officer, Inspector Samuel Anobi, confirmed the report.
He said the bodies were transported to the Police Hospital in Accra for autopsy to facilitate investigations into the case. He said the police were also looking for the suspect.
Pamela 'Bridgewater Project' on course
Published in the Daily Graphic on 5/01/2010, pg 17
Story: Matilda Attram
THE ‘Pamela Bridgewater Children’s Home Village Project’ established by the former United States Ambassador to Ghana, Pamela Bridgewater in collaboration with a non-governmental organisation, the Kunata International Organisation, to assist female porters (kayayei) in on course.
Under the project dubbed the, a school complex is to be set up in the Northern Region to train young girls to enable them earn a living.
The 10-year project commenced in 2008 with the aim of serving the needs of needy persons in society, especially, kayayei. It also seeks to support girl child education in the northern part of the country.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Project Director, Mr Yahaya Alhassan, stated that while serving her four-year term as the US Ambassador to Ghana, Pamela Bridgewater had the desire to promote girl child education.
“In honouring the legacy she left behind, the Kunata Voluntary Organisation had the aim of fulfilling the dreams of our young girls”, he said.
He said the project was to lead a national crusade to assist young girls who risked their lives on the streets of urban areas to earn a living.
Mr Alhassan stated that the condition of ‘kayayei’ in the cities was disturbing which gave rise to the establishment of the project to help curb the phenomenon.
“It is sad to see most of our sisters sleeping on the streets of Accra and other areas, risking their lives for a living”, he stated.
According to Mr Alhassan more than 500 girls had already benefited from the project and out of the number, five were expected to be trained in beauty therapy by the FC Beauty Clinic adding that “We also organise programmes such as free health services and counselling among others to educate these girls on the dangers of migration”.
He said the organisation had already visited some governmental agencies including the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Co-ordinating Council of the Greater Accra Region and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to raise awareness on the phenomenon.
The Assistant Project Director of the organisation, Mr Alhassan Abdallah Musah, pointed out that the problem of young girls moving from the north to the south was due to lack of employment opportunities in the area.
He said the issue of ‘kayayei’ in the country was a problem with rural-urban migration from the north to the south involving young men and women motivated by the need of items in setting up a home.
He mentioned lack of funds and the lack of recognition of the initiators of the project as the major challenges facing the organisation in achieving its aim.
Mr Musah called on Members of Parliament (MPs), District Chief Executives (DCEs), and Chiefs of the three northern regions to engage the youth in community planning and building.
He also appealed to the government and other organisations to support the project to change the plight of ‘kayayei’ in the country.
Story: Matilda Attram
THE ‘Pamela Bridgewater Children’s Home Village Project’ established by the former United States Ambassador to Ghana, Pamela Bridgewater in collaboration with a non-governmental organisation, the Kunata International Organisation, to assist female porters (kayayei) in on course.
Under the project dubbed the, a school complex is to be set up in the Northern Region to train young girls to enable them earn a living.
The 10-year project commenced in 2008 with the aim of serving the needs of needy persons in society, especially, kayayei. It also seeks to support girl child education in the northern part of the country.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Project Director, Mr Yahaya Alhassan, stated that while serving her four-year term as the US Ambassador to Ghana, Pamela Bridgewater had the desire to promote girl child education.
“In honouring the legacy she left behind, the Kunata Voluntary Organisation had the aim of fulfilling the dreams of our young girls”, he said.
He said the project was to lead a national crusade to assist young girls who risked their lives on the streets of urban areas to earn a living.
Mr Alhassan stated that the condition of ‘kayayei’ in the cities was disturbing which gave rise to the establishment of the project to help curb the phenomenon.
“It is sad to see most of our sisters sleeping on the streets of Accra and other areas, risking their lives for a living”, he stated.
According to Mr Alhassan more than 500 girls had already benefited from the project and out of the number, five were expected to be trained in beauty therapy by the FC Beauty Clinic adding that “We also organise programmes such as free health services and counselling among others to educate these girls on the dangers of migration”.
He said the organisation had already visited some governmental agencies including the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Co-ordinating Council of the Greater Accra Region and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to raise awareness on the phenomenon.
The Assistant Project Director of the organisation, Mr Alhassan Abdallah Musah, pointed out that the problem of young girls moving from the north to the south was due to lack of employment opportunities in the area.
He said the issue of ‘kayayei’ in the country was a problem with rural-urban migration from the north to the south involving young men and women motivated by the need of items in setting up a home.
He mentioned lack of funds and the lack of recognition of the initiators of the project as the major challenges facing the organisation in achieving its aim.
Mr Musah called on Members of Parliament (MPs), District Chief Executives (DCEs), and Chiefs of the three northern regions to engage the youth in community planning and building.
He also appealed to the government and other organisations to support the project to change the plight of ‘kayayei’ in the country.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
