Training tools and equipment to be distributed to 500 apprentices at BA

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Government presents working tools to 500 apprentices in BA

Sunyani (B/A), Jan 30,  GNA – Five districts in the Brong-Ahafo Region were on Friday presented with training tools and equipment to be distributed to 500 apprentices in four trade areas under the National Apprenticeship Programme (NAP).

The tools were presented by Mr Samuel Thompson, Policy and Planning Co-odinator of the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET) and Schedule Officer for the NAP.

The items comprised of those for auto mechanics, cosmetology, garment (dressmaking) and electronics (radio/television) repairing.

They were received by Mr Eric Opoku, Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, who handed them over to Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Regional Minister and acting District Chief Executive (DCE) for Sunyani West, on behalf of the beneficiary districts.

The other districts are Tain, Tano South, Atebubu-Amanten and Asunafo South.

The NAP under the COTVET of the Ministry of Education (MoE), is designed by government as an intervention to reduce youth unemployment and improve the livelihood of early school leavers in various communities in the country.

It is also a pathway for the youth to engage in trade areas of their choice and to promote industrial villages in the country.

Mr Opoku said government, through the GETFund, had procured training tools worth more than GHC 2 million to train 5,000 apprentices in the four mentioned trades in 50 selected districts, including the five in Brong-Ahafo.

The Deputy Regional Minister explained that, other districts in the region would benefit from the project in the next phase scheduled to start in April this year “since this allocation is meant for the 2011 project”.

Mr Opoku disclosed that COTVET Informal Sector in collaboration with National Apprenticeship Committee (NAC) had already trained more than 1,200 master craft persons (MACs) in the four selected trade areas to train apprentices, under the NAP, in competency based training module.

He indicated that, the government through the GETFund, would also pay allowances of GHC150.00 per trainee per year to the MACs, who would train those apprentices, adding, the training tools would be given to the apprentices on completion of their training as start-up tools.

The Deputy Regional Minister asked DCEs of beneficiary districts to ensure effective monitoring and supervision of the programme for its success.

He urged the media to, in the course of monitoring and supervising the programme, ensures that the programme was being implemented by the district assemblies “in the best interest of the nation”.

Mr. Thompson earlier, indicated that the programme, which had been started on pilot basis, was in phases and had taken off already in the Upper East, Upper West, Northern, Ashanti, Volta and Central Regions.

He said this initiative covering 78 districts in the country “is a competency-based training programme, put together to reduce, if not eliminate the unemployment situation in the country”.

It formed part of recommendations of the Anamoah Mensah Committee set up in 2002 to review the nation’s educational system, Mr. Thompson added.

He said the items consisted of 100 pieces of electric sewing machines, 100 pieces of over-locking machines, 80 boxes of hair-dryers, curling thongs and straighters, 80 boxes of electronic training kits as well as 100 boxes of auto mechanic training kits.

Mr Bukari Zakaria Anaba, DCE for Tano South on behalf of his colleagues, expressed appreciation to COTVET and the Brong-Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) for the items, saying their presentation was significant because it marked a justification of the government’s policy of investing in the people.

He gave the assurance that as implementers of government policies at the local level, they would not just distribute the items to beneficiaries but would also ensure effective monitoring, supervision and evaluation of the programme to achieve the desired results for national socio-economic development.

HIV/AIDS Caregivers face isolation

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Ho, Jan 30, GNA – Mr Livinus Acquah-Jackson Executive Director, New Seed International has hinted that Caregivers of persons suffering from the Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) and the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are being shunned.

He gave the hint at a workshop organized in Ho by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), for Directors of NGOs in HIV/AIDS and Paralegals.

New Seed International based at Sokode near Ho, provides care for persons with HIV/AIDS and takes custody of orphans whose parents have died from the disease.

Mr Acquah-Jackson said once people got to know that you were into HIV/AIDS work they would not want to be associated with you lest they be suspected of being HIV positive.

Recounting his experience, Mr Acquah-Jackson said anytime he entered a house, people would want to know whether there was somebody with the disease in that house.

He said as a result people were reluctant to admit him in their homes.

Mr Acquah-Jackson said the situation could undermine the delivery of care to those with the virus as they would be reluctant to own up to their status.

Mr Acquah-Jackson therefore called for the intensification of HIV/AIDS education which he observed had gone down considerably.

He said it would be dangerous for the country to lower the intensity of the campaign against the disease because of the country’s reported low prevalence rate.

Mr Acquah-Jackson observed that seeds of HIV, which had been sown at the peak of the disease in the country, could be maturing and more people could also be contracting the virus.

He said the social lives of people providing care to HIV/AIDS victims were also at risk of breaking down.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Informs Applicants

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Accra, Jan. 30, GNA –The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration on Monday requested applicants who submitted entry forms for the Ghana Foreign Service (Branch A) in response to the advert published in June 2011 to  report at the Human Resource Bureau of the Ministry from January 30 to February 10 to confirm  whether they had been shortlisted for a competitive entry examination.

A statement signed by Mrs Martha Pobee Director of Information and Public Affairs said the entry examination will take place on Friday  February17 at the West African Examination Council (WAEC) Hall near  the Tema Secondary School, community five.

The Examination is schedule to start at 0900 and candidates are expected to report at the center by 8:30am.

Tanzania Constitution Forum calls for amendments to review act

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Tanzania Constitutional Forum Chairman, Deus Kibamba

The Constitution Forum (Jukwaa la Katiba) has called for thorough amendments to the Constitutional Review Act, 2011. “We have come across a ‘Bill for an Act to amend the Constitutional Review Act, 2011’ which is due to be presented in the National Assembly.

“The bill touches on only two sections (6 and 18) ignoring the rest of the sections which need overhaul,” said the Forum’s Chairman, Mr Deus Kibamba. Mr Kibamba who was speaking in Dar es Salaam on Sunday noted that the Bill now intends to have political parties’ representatives in the Constitutional Review Commission contrary to the public outcry.

“Section 6 (5) of the Constitutional Review Act, 2011, indicates that political leaders will not feature in the constitutional review committee by virtue of their positions. “This section is good and should remain as it is, but the bill now proposes to have it the
other way round which is against the interests of the public,” he said.

According to him, there are about 10 sections in the Act which need to be amended and that moving a bill with only two sections was unfair. He said members of the forum met the Parliamentary Committee on Justice and Administration last Friday where they expressed their dissatisfaction over the bill.

“The Bill, for example in section 18 (6), demands that ‘the commission may allow organizations, associations or groups of persons to convene meetings in order to enable its members to air their views on the Draft Constitution and forward them to the commission’ “Giving the commission such powers is illogical,” he said.

Elaborating further, Mr Kibamba added that giving such powers to the commission would go against the constitution which gives freedom to seek and disseminate information. He said that the freedom to convene meetings and gather information from members of the public should be ultimate.

In another development, Mr Kibamba commended President Jakaya Kikwete for listening to the views of stakeholders on the need to amend the Act. Efforts to reach the Attorney General, Judge Frederick Werema, and the Minister for  constitutional and Legal Affairs, Ms Celina Kombani, proved futile as they did not pick up their phones.

By ABDULWAKIL SAIBOKO, Tanzania Daily News

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Samsung Inspires Fans to ‘Show Their Spirit’ for Africa’s biggest football tournament

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JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, January 30, 2012/ – Company creates spaces for fans to enjoy matches and share their passion for the game

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (http://www.samsung.com), a global leader in the consumer electronics industry – and long-time supporter of African football – is rallying fans across the continent to show their passion for the game, and has launched a series of interactive live and online events for fans to gather and share the excitement of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations Gabon-Equatorial Guinea 2012.

Samsung, an official sponsor of the competition, has launched its official fan page for the 2012 tournament, http://www.Getintothespirit.com, and is setting up ‘Samsung Pop-up Stadium’ at shopping malls in Angola, Ghana and Senegal. Each of the events is aimed at providing a space for football fans to enjoy the matches – inside and outside the stadiums – and to share their experiences and enthusiasm with other football supporters.

“Football is a passion we share with our customers in Africa, and so we’re pursuing ways to leverage our innovative technology to ensure fans get the best possible enjoyment of the tournament. We hope this will be a chance for African fans to show and share their passion towards football together,” said Mr. Sunny Hwang, Vice President and Head of Global Sports Marketing at Samsung.

Fans that visit www.getintothespirit.com, will be able to view the latest game schedule and results, upload photos of their tournament experience, download  the official http://www.Getintothespirit.com Wallpapers and Ringtones, and engage with other fans across the continent.

Fans will also have the opportunity to enter to win weekly prizes, including some of Samsung’s most popular products – such as the Samsung Galaxy Note, the Samsung Galaxy SII, the Samsung SmartTV and many other prizes.

Samsung will also be giving away a grand prize at the end of the competition, on the 29th of February, called the Samsung SmartLife! One lucky fan will win a Samsung all-in-one SmartLife package, which include a suite of products from Samsung’s Built for Africa line of great products designed for African consumers.. The prize includes the Samsung duracool refrigerator for example, which keeps food cool when the power goes out; the Samsung Triple Protector Air Conditioner, the only air conditioner built for Africa to endure African conditions; and the Samsung SurgeSafe TV, which includes built-in surge protection to ensure smooth viewing during power surges. Other prizes in this all-in-one package include a Samsung DeepFoam Washing Machine, Samsung Solar Panel Netbook, Samsung Home Theatre System, Samsung Blu-ray disc player, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and a Samsung Galaxy Note mobile phone.

The ‘Samsung Pop-up Stadium’ – viewing areas with large screens and tiered seating – will be established at malls in Angola, Ghana and Senegal and run from January 20 – February 27. They will offer fans entertainment and involvement throughout the day. Each match will be shown live, and in between there will be dance contests – a freestyle “dance battle” with fans competing for the most acrobatic movements – recordings of football techniques, and football board games.

Fans will also have the opportunity to experience Samsung’s latest products and engage with innovative technology to enhance the excitement of African football.

The ‘Pop-Up Stadium’ come in addition to fan activation programs that Samsung will run in the tournament’s host nation, Gabon, where the ‘Samsung Football Fest’ will be held. The ‘Samsung Football Fest’ will include public viewing of matches with large screens, entertainment, mini-football and a Samsung product exhibition with giveaways for the fans.

“It’s the excitement and passion of the fans that will make the ‘Pop-up Stadium’ the best party at the Orange Africa Cup of Nations 2012 tournament. We’ll be bringing our cutting-edge technology to the table to deliver a great experience for those fans,” said Mr. Sunny Hwang. “Samsung is thrilled to be a part of the energy and celebration of African football.”

Distributed by the African Press Organization for Samsung. 

Location: Accra, Ghana

Venue: Accra Mall

Operation Hours: Open: 10 a.m. / Close: last game of the day

Location: Dakar, Senegal

Venue: Sea Plaza Mall

Operation Hours: Open: 10 a.m. / Close: last game of the day

Location: Luanda, Angola

Venue: Belas Shopping Mall

Operation Hours: Open: 10 a.m. / Close: last game of the day

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (http://www.samsung.com) is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2010 consolidated sales of US$135.8 billion. Employing approximately 190,500 people in 206 offices across 68 countries, the company operates two separate organizations to coordinate its nine independent business units: Digital Media & Communications, comprising Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging; and Device Solutions, consisting of Memory, System LSI and LCD. Recognized for its industry-leading performance across a range of economic, environmental and social criteria, Samsung Electronics was named the world’s most sustainable technology company in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com

Ji-Kyung (Claire) Kim

Samsung Electronics

[email protected]

+82 31 277 8029

Kizito Lundu

Baird’s

[email protected]

+ 27 (0) 83 272 6403

SOURCE 

Samsung

Tanzania: Search on for new supplier of HIV test kits

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Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Ms Blandina Nyoni

The process to get a new supplier of HIV/Aids Rapid Test Kits in the country is undergoing requisite procedures, to make sure that only a reputable firm lands the tender, it has been said.

Speaking to the ‘Daily News’ over the weekend, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Ms Blandina Nyoni, said that Medical Stores Department (MSD) was carefully handling the matter before presenting recommendations to the Ministry for final decisions.

Ms Nyoni added that a number of pharmaceutical companies have so far shown the interest to circulate the kits countrywide, and her ministry would make sure that all firms that have applied for the tender are well scrutinized. “We want to make sure that the testing is done professionally, and to the government’s expectations,” she said.

The Permanent Secretary was reacting to allegations by some local pharmaceutical companies, that there were doubts on the criteria being used by the Ministry of Health and Social Services in identifying a suitable supplier to replace the withdrawn South Korean Bioline HIV 1/2 3.0 company.

Speaking to the ‘Daily News’ recently, some citybased pharmaceutical company representatives had alleged that some officials at the Ministry of Health and Social Services were colluding with a major pharmacy in Dar es Salaam (name withheld) to make sure that the tender goes to the company of their choice.

“We are afraid that the whole process aimed at getting a new supplier of HIV/Aids rapid test kits in the country lacks transparency. We urge the ministry to follow the right tendering procedures,” said a city-based pharmacist who preferred anonymity.

Early this year, the Ministry of Health and Social Services announced the withdrawal of a South Korean HIV test kit from circulation, following warnings about its poor quality. In November last year, the UN World Health Organization removed the Standard Diagnostics Bioline® HIV 1/2 3.0 Rapid HIV Test Kit from its list of approved rapid test kits with immediate effect.

The alert was issued after Bioline failed quality assurance tests. Tanzania followed Kenya in issuing an immediate recall of all Bioline testing kits in the country.

By DEOGRATIAS MUSHI, Tanzania Daily News

Tanzania: Tourism promotion drive in full swing

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The minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Ezekiel Maige

Tanzania`s tourism policy is undergoing intensive review meant to help the country reap the most from its natural resources, a cabinet minister said in Morogoro on Saturday.

Natural Resources and Tourism minister Ezekiel Maige revealed to editors from various media outlets that “internal talks” were going on to transform the Tanzania Tourist Board into an autonomous and therefore self-financing agency similar to the Tanzania Forestry Service Agency.

He said the changes were necessary because it was simply impossible for the sector to register noticeable progress or growth without higher levels of patriotism, seriousness and public awareness as well as appropriate changes in the country’s laws and civil service procedures and regulations.

“Tanzania has excellent potential in tourism lying unexploited, and this has for long made us earn peanuts from the sector and fail to fully benefit from the abundance of forests and wild animals our country is blessed with,” said Maige.

He explained that the government has identified the major problems and challenges ailing the ministry and the agencies under it and has begun fighting to solve them by implementing a multi-pronged strategy.

He admitted, though, that the going is very tough “as some of the major investors and other players in the sector are wealthy and influential people and institutions mainly from outside our country”.

The minister gave the factors inhibiting the development of tourism in Tanzania as including high travel and other costs tourists have to incur, restrictive nature of tourist attractions particularly in urban areas, and restrictions on the building of hotels and lodges in national parks and game reserves.

Other hurdles cited are corruption and contravention of laws in areas such as allocation and use of hunting blocks, disheartenment by national park and game reserve employees resulting from lack of incentives, and the fact that some of Tanzania’s own media outlets sometimes portray the country as not a precious enough destination for foreign tourists.

“Unfortunately, contrary to what is going on in many countries with a highly developed tourism industry, Tanzania has been doing very little to promote and develop its tourist attractions. There are times our own media report sporadic cases of violence so sensationally that they frighten tourists,” he noted.

He said Tanzania’s tourism promotion budget was among the lowest in Africa while competition was intensifying, adding that this has made the government decide to lay emphasis on the promotion of mass tourism “because continuing to harp on traditional attractions such as Mount Kilimanjaro and Serengeti National Park won’t take us very far”.

Underlining the need for diversification in the tourism industry, Maige said it was wrong to assume that all tourists are filthy rich people and are interested in visiting world-famous landmarks.

He said he learnt important lessons from a recent World Tourism Organization meeting he attended in South Korea, elaborating: “Things like urban tourism can make a world of difference, but some parts of our cities and towns are endlessly dark and notoriously unsafe. Business is conducted only during daytime hours, which forces most foreign tourists visiting our urban areas to remain indoors most of the time instead of going out shopping for souvenirs.”

“The government is determined to reverse this trend, thus opening up business opportunities the Tanzanian private sector players could capitalize on. We are also determined to develop and promote our historical sites and beaches more vigorously,” he added.

However, he said he was saddened noting that the local hospitality industry was reluctant to support a planned tourism promotion fund.

He said it was strange that even putting up tourism promotional billboards at or near government-run facilities such as airports, “which clearly shows that even the public sector’s participation in the promotion of this crucial sector is abysmally low unlike in many other countries”.

The minister said it was important for Tanzanians to feel bad seeing that many foreign tourists enter the country aboard foreign flights, move around the country by foreign shuttle buses, stay in foreign-operated hotels and lodges and therefore spend relatively little money in Tanzania.

He called for closer cooperation between his ministry and the likes of TTB,Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa) and Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority in ensuring that the country’s wildlife and other natural resources become bigger money spinners contributing more handsomely to the country’s social and economic development.

Records show that Tanzania hosted some 295,000 foreign tourists in 1995, the number rising to more than 800,000 in 2009 and to over one million in 2010.

An overwhelming 76 per cent of these are said to have learnt about the country through on-line and TV advertisements or from previous visitors, and only 24 per cent from brochures found at Tanzania’s pavilions at international trade fairs.

Source Tanzania Daily News

Tanzania: Cement firms told to review profit margins

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Heidelberg Cement board chairman Dr Bernard Scheifele

Cement industries have been urged to review their profit margins so that they could make the product affordable to more people, thus increase the per capital consumption.

At the moment the price of a 50 kg sachet at the sales outlets in Dar es Salaam ranges between 14500/- and 15000/- up from between 13,000/- and  13500/- three week ago.

The challenge was thrown in the city at the weekend by Industry and Trade ministry permanent secretary Joyce Mapunjo at a dinner party organised by Tanzania Portland Cement (TPCC) board. The company manufactures various brands of twiga cement.

She said Tanzania’s cement consumption is lower compared to her neighbours, a situation she noted was not healthy for the economy.

The people’s low purchasing power is another major concern, leading to the low per capital consumption of cement, she said.

Tanzania’s cement consumption per capital is 40 kg per annum compared to 56kg for Kenya and 400kg for South Africa, she noted.

“I would like to register that local consumers are bitterly complaining on the the high prices of cement products,” she said.

The PS proposed a joint meeting between the government and stakeholders to see how the problem can be addressed.

According to her the cement industry also faces various challenges which need collaborative efforts to be alleviated.

The major constraint in Tanzania’s competitive platform has been on how to ensure the provision of cheap and reliable energy which is a vital input in manufacturing especially in cement industry.

Congratulating efforts taken by the company in finding out the alternative source of energy from Songo Songo to Wazo Hill, she said, the flow of natural gas is a tremendous intervention in an effort to substitute expensive Heavy Furnace Oil (HFO) and indeed a turnaround of the prospects of the company.

Another challenge is the distribution cost, which results from poor roads, traffic jams, lack of railway wagons and locomotives and high transport cost arising from high fuel costs.

She assured investors that the government is endeavouring to address the problems.

In the five year plan 2011-2016 launched by President Jakaya Kikwete in June last year, he put infrastructure and manufacturing sectors as among the top three priorities.

Implementation of the plan will provide permanent solution to the challenges and also improve income of the people so as to increase their purchasing power and therefore expand local markets.

For his prty TPCC board chairman Dr Bernard Scheifele, said the company is ready to make further investment and contribute to infrastructure construction.

Dr Scheifele revealed that a delegation of German investors is due to visit Tanzania next month to look for areas of investment.

Source The Guardian

Shiboli sinks Mtibwa Sugar

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Ali Ahmed Shiboli

Visiting Coastal Union handed Mtibwa Sugar their second back to back defeat since the second half of the season kicked off as they cruised into a lone goal victory at the Manungu Stadium in Morogoro yesterday. It was former Simba striker Ali Ahmed Shiboli who sent shivers into the home side five minutes to half time.

The goal that earlier looked not to trouble the home side proved decisive as the visitors stood firm to defend their lead.

This is Mtibwa’s second loss after Oljoro JKT also notched similar margin of victory last week when the Mainland premiership resumed.

It was the only premiership match of the 15th round played yesterday as a match between Azam and Moro United has been rescheduled for today at the Chamazi Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

OUT, Dar firm sign 20-year contract

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OUT Vice Chancellor Prof Tolly Mbwette

The Open University of Tanzania (OUT) has signed a 20-year contract with a Dar es Salaam–based firm, Regional Transport Company Limited (RTC), aimed at increasing the facility’s capacity.

Speaking to reporters in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, OUT Vice Chancellor Prof Tolly Mbwette said the move aimed at broadening the university’s capacity for more improvements and modernisation.

He said under the signed contract, the OUT would start using Dar es Salaam–based Biafra Secondary School buildings and other facilities on hire effective from February 1 to make necessary modifications.

Prof Mbwette said the buildings and space availed by the RTC would also enable the OUT to have Kinondoni as the regional centre in addition to remaining the OUT’s interim headquarters as construction of its permanent headquarters in Bungo area in Coast region 40 kilometres on the Dar es Salaam-Mbeya High Way was still in progress.

The signature between OUT and the RTC was signed by RTC director Samuel Mwaliweuli and Prof Mbwette.

By Michael Haonga, The Guardian

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