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The Central Region is the former government centre of the Gold Coast . Cape Coast was the seat of the British colonial administration up until 1877 . The coastline is famous for its ancient forts and castles built by early European traders , and three of them at Elmina , St . Jago and Cape Coast have been identified as World Heritage Monuments by the World heritage Foundation under UNESCO . The Region is also famous for its palm - fringed beaches , fascinating fishing villages and historic towns , and rich natural attractions . Kakum National Park , just 30km north of Cape Coast , is the foremost nature reserve in Southern Ghana and well worth a visit . Almost untouched virgin rainforest has been preserved as a habitat for birds , butterflies and rare local animals , and Kakum is most accessible , as it is very easy to reach from Accra . The Region ' s culture is depicted through its many exciting festivals which are held throughout the year . Some of the best known festivals are ' Bakatue ' , literally the opening up of Benya Lagoon into the sea , which symbolised the beginning of the fishing season for the people of Elmina ; ' Edina Buronya ' , a native version of Christmas celebrated by the people of Elmina on the first Thursday of the New Year ; ' Aboakyer ' or game hunting , one of the most famous festivals celebrated by the chiefs and people of Winneba on the first Saturday in May ; and ' Fetu Afahye ' celebrated with a durbar of chiefs by the people of Cape Coast on the first Saturday of September . Another famous festival is ' Odambea ' celebrated on the last Saturday in August in Saltpond Traditional Area , and reflecting a migration of the local people centuries ago . The historic towns in the region that deserve a visit include Winneba , traditionally known as ' Simpa ' Winneba ; Kromantsej Abanze , the site of Fort Amsterdam ; Duakwa and Mensa Krom , home of some of the Region ' s best woodcarvers ; Ajumako aware where the carvers specialise in royal regalia , stools , linguistic staffs and clan totems . Throughout the Central Region there are welcoming hotels and restaurants , all an easy drive from Accra . If you are seeking to discover the historical links between Africa and the Americas and Europe , or just wanting to explore a culture that has its roots in another era , or just wanting to relax on a sun - dappled beach , then the Central Region must not be missed . On this page , Go Directly to ..... Women in Ghana Historic Sites Cultural Events & The Arts Places of Interest Festivals and Events Beaches and Resorts Wildlife and Nature Reserves Castles and Forts Food Facts and History Health Entertainment Women in Ghana Women in Progress Box CC 890 Cape Coast , Ghana Tel : ( 0233 - 42 ) 36883 email : renae @ womeninprogress . org website : http : // www . womeninprogress . org Women in Progress works to achieve economic independence of women and alleviate poverty at a grassroots level in developing nations through the sustainable growth of small women - owned businesses and at the same time established mutual understanding among people of diverse cultures . Volunteer Abroad : As an international volunteer organization , Women in Progress helps people volunteer abroad . Our international volunteer programs focus on assisting women in Africa to grow their micro enterprises and become self sufficient through business and IT consulting and training . Progressive Women ' s Credit Union Box 1519 Cape Coast Ghana ( 0233 - 42 ) 30573 Contact Monica Aidoo . Started in 1994 by members of Women in Progress , the credit union has now over 600 members . The credit union mobilizes funds and enables women to receive affordable loans after a pattern of regular saving . Back to Top Historic Sites The Castles of Central Region The castles along the coast of the Central Region are among the best preserved in Ghana . ASSIN MANSO SLAVE MARKET The Assin Manso Slave Market site is a relic linked to the slave route and appeals to thousands of travellers who troop to the site . The tombstones of two enslaved Africans who lived in Jamaica and New York and were re - interred can also be found there . The Slave River ( the point where enslaved Africans had their bath before being sold to the slave traders ) is a place you need to see . Back to Top Cultural Events & The Arts One Stone Cultural Linkage One Stone is one of our featured artists located at the Elmina Motel Junction . They have contributed quite a bit to the community and welcome visitors en route to Elmina Resort . Also visit Elimax just next door for a cold drink and relaxing atomosphere ! Back to Top Places of Interest Traditional Fishing Villages Along the Coast of the Central Region are a succession of busy fishing villages and traditional market towns that reflect the distinct cultures of the district . Craft Villages The villagers of the Central Region are famed for their traditional crafts that are still worked as their forefathers have worked for generations . Bamboo Orchestra at Masomagor The youth at the village of Masomagor have revived a traditional art , by performing with Cape Coast Town To the west of Accra lies Cape Coast the Capital of Central Region . Cape Coast was the Capital of Gold Coast before it became Ghana , and was moved to Accra in 1877 . Winneba Winneba is an old coastal town on the " Gulf of Guinea " , located 35 miles west of Accra , the capital city of Ghana . In the early colonial history of Gold Coast , as Ghana OSTRICH FARM The Ostrich Farm is located at Efutu Mampong about 14km from Cape Coast on the KNP Road . The ostrich is the world ' s largest living bird belonging to the small order of birds known as Ratitae or running birds . The Ostrich can live up to between 30 - 70 years . Back to Top Festivals and Events Aboakye Festival This Festival is celebrated by the people of Simpa or Winneba in the Central Region of Ghana Masquerading Festival It started around the 1920 ' s and is celebrated on the 1st of January every year and draws large crowds from all over ... Edina Bronya This festival is a novel Christmas introduced to the people of Elmina during the Dutch era of the colonial period ... Edina Bakatue Festival Literally translated means " The opening of the Lagoon " or the Draining of the Lagoon " . It is celebrated ... Akwambo Festival The festival literally meaning " path - clearing " , is celebrated by the people of Agona in the Central Region . Panafest Pan - African Historic Festival is a major biennial event of cultural forum for Africans and people of African descent as well as friends of the .... continent committed to the noble Odwira Festival The Odwira Festival which is celebrated by the Denkyira people runs for weeks , beginning at Jukwa , the traditional capital , and ends at Dunkwa - on Offin , the administrative capital ... Fetu Afahye ( Carnival ) This festival is being celebrated by the people of Oguaa or Cape Coast Traditional Area in the Central Region . OKYIR Okyir is the major festival celebrated by the people of Anomabu . It is celebrated as a sign of cleansing or purification of the town from filth , evil spirits etc . Highlights of the festival include the following activities : ODUNKWAA FESTIVAL This is a week long festival which starts on Easter Monday . The festival has two venues : Abakrampa , the seat of the traditional area and Abura Dunkwa , the administrative capital . Rituals are performed near the state shrine . The festival is characterized by the fencing of the Odum Tree which is regarded as sacred , and believed to have protected the people from attacks during their wars . NYEYI AND TUAKRON The Komenda - Nyeyi festival is celebrated in honour of departed heroes and heroines for their great contribution to the various traditional areas and the " Tuakron " , meaning settling on new lands is celebrated by the people of Hemang . OGUAAAFAHYE Oguaa Fetu Afahye festival is held to purify the state . Celebrated by the people of Cape Coast in July / August . KAE ARKO This festival is celebrated by the people of Asebu Traditional Area . A mock warfare is re - enacted to instill the spirit of bravery in the people , and also to commemorate the heroic deeds of their ancestor Arko . This drama is performed after the paramount chief and his sub - chiefs have paraded through the town in their palanquins . The week - long festival is held in the third week of October . Back to Top Beaches and Resorts The Beaches of the Central Region Beach lovers will enjoy our palm fringed beaches , warmed by African sunshine White Sands Beach Resort Gomoa Fetteh , a town located off the Akotsi Junction on the Accra - Winneba highway , is generally known in local circles for the fishing and subsistence farming activities of its people . This quiet and peaceful community , which is near Senya Bereku and in the Gomoa District of the ... Back to Top Wildlife and Nature Reserves Kakum National Park A 357km2 national park comprising undisturbed virgin rainforest . Kakum Conservation Area Tree House This Conservation Area was formed in 1992 , consisting of the Kakum National Park and the nearby Assin Attandaso Resource Reserve . The Tree House and 2 - 3 hour hike make a unique camping / hiking experience . Kukum River National Park Several animal reserves are being developed in the Cape Coast area , and in particular , the Kukum River National Park , to the west of the city and the Assin - Attandanso Wildlife Reserve ... Coastal Ramsar Sites - Muni - Pomadze Ramsar Site The Muni - Pomadze Site encompasses an area of about 90 km2 comprising the water shed of the Muni Lagoon . However , the lagoon and flood plains is only 114ha . Eleven ... Back to Top Castles and Forts Elmina Castle The Portuguese founded Castle " Sao Jorge da Mina " in 1482 to protect the gold - rich lands discovered in 1471 . The castle was completed according to its original plan in 1486 and the town was raised to the status of a " city " . Fort William - Anomabu Anomabu became the focus of intense European trade rivalry in the 17th and 18th centuries , partly because of its easy access to a rich hinterland and partly because the local Anomabu were themselves powerful and astute traders . Fort Amsterdam ( Cormantin ) - Abandze History has it that , in 1631 , a renegade employee of the Dutch West Indian Company called Arent Groote , acting on behalf of the English Company of Adventurers Trading to Guynney and Binney , signed an agreement with the Chief of Cormantin by which a hill site near the village was ceded to the English company . Fort Good Hope - Senya Beraku Thanks to their establishment of a lodge at Senya Beraku in 1667 , the Dutch entered into a long - standing relationship with the Agona State . Its chief subsequently requested the Dutch to build a permanent fort at Beraku . Fort Patience - Apam In the late 17th century , the small state of Acron - sandwiched between the larger British allies of Agona and Fante sought to have a strong fort built on its territory to defend it in case of attack . The Dutch , while willing to erect a fort at Apam , were in no position to build a large one . Building of the fort commenced in 1697 on the summit of a promontory close to a sheltered beach and bay . Fort St . Jago ( Coenraadsburg ) - Elmina In 1503 , according to historical narration by the Portuguese Diego de Alvarenga , a Portuguese missionary converted and baptized the paramount chief of the Efutu Kingdom on the Mina coast together with 300 of his subjects . The chief permitted the Portuguese to build a church on the hill located opposite the Castle St . Jorge . The site was dedicated to the Portuguese saint , Jago . Cape Coast Castle The strategic location of Cape Coast having a sheltered beach in proximity to Elmina Castle made it a great attraction to the European nations . Back to Top Food Dishes of the Central Region The main dishes of the Central Region include fante dorkunu or kenkey with fish Back to Top Facts and History A Short History of Cape Coast ( Oguaa ) Royal Stool Succession to the Stool of Cape Coast was established in 1856 it was beign selected from male line , that is from father to son of a previous ruler and a change to female line was instituted . Donkor Nsuo ( The Slave River ) at Assin Manso A secrets place where the slave trade were chained to the tall stump before or after their last bath . Back to Top Health Medical Information A place where your health is more important Back to Top Entertainment NIGHT LIFE You would have the chance to be part of a wonderful disco session at Cape Coast Hotel , Elmina Beach Resort , Dans Paradise and Jet Night Club at Elmina and Cape Coast respectively . The Greenland Hotel at Agona Swedru also provides night per - formances to entertain visitors . Tourists would be amused by entertaining cultural performances by the Agoro Cultural Dancers on request . Toppyard Cinema and a host of others in Cape Coast , Swedru , Mankessim etc . also provide entertaining film shows to visitors . GUIDED TOURS Guided tours of Cape Coast and Elmina are available . Cultural and theatrical performances portraying the re - enactment of the horror of the slave trade and the solemn portrayal of the final journey of the Africans as they walked through the dungeons into the waiting ships that transported them to the Americas , are often staged at the two castles .

There has been a long - standing criticism from the Left of BWI SAPs as is proportionately hurting the poor : When the BWIs arrive in southern countries , corporate profits go up , but so do poverty and suffering . Decades of promises that just a little more " short - term " pain will bring long - term gain have exposed the BWIs as false prophets whose mission is to protect those who already control too much wealth and power . A report published by the World Development Movement ( WDM ) shows that the IMF s new Poverty Reduction Strategies are acting as barriers to policies benefiting the world s poorest peoples . Many developing countries suffered sustained increases in prosperity , accompanied by dramatic increases in inequality and child poverty under the auspices of the BWIs adjustment programmes . In country after country , SAPs have reversed the development successes of the 1960s and 1970s with . millions sliding into poverty every year . Even the World Bank has had to accept that SAPs have failed the poor , with a special burden falling on women and children . Yet together with the IMF it still demands that developing countries persist with SAPs . Easterly ( April 2001 ) examines the record of SAPs . He stresses the importance of distinguishing " structural adjustment lending " from " structural adjustment policies " . He notes the " considerable international evidence that structural adjustment policies , like macroeconomic stabilisation , financial development , openness to trade , and removal of price distortions , improve growth potential and thus strengthen poverty reduction " . For example , he cites Easterly and Levine ( 2001 ) , " Its Not Factor Accumulation : Stylized Facts and Growth Models " World Bank Economic Review , and providing a demonstration that good policies matter for growth ! He however points out that " the success of adjustment loans at changing polices is very mixed " . He avers to the general historical record that foreign aid and adjustment lending has not discriminated much between good and bad policies . Indeed in the World Bank ( 1998 ) Assessing Aid : What Works , What Doesn t and Why , OUP notes on pp . 48 that " there is a long legacy of failed adjustment lending where there was no strong domestic constituency for reform " . Easterly notes that the results may not be so surprising in view of the recent vintage of concern for poverty in BWI adjustment packages , well after the poverty spells of the last two decades . In other words , for most of the period , BWI " adjustment lending was not designed to reduce poverty directly and so it is not surprising they were not effective at doing so " . The results may well be confirming that adjustment loans are not a very effective vehicle for reducing poverty and the BWIs and governments " would do better by directing resources towards programs that directly target poverty income subsidies for the poor , infrastructure targeted towards poor areas , improved access to credit ( possibly through microcredit schemes ) , subsidies for inputs to subsistence production and improved access to market information ( such as through IT ) for the poor " . He laments that adjustment lending has been so continuous for some economies that it is hard to speak of it as purely a transitional phenomenon . This continual dependence on the IFIs , requiring in some cases relief from past IFI loans ( Ghana in 2001 is requesting through the HIPC Initiative relief from ERP loans ) , is itself cause for concern . If adjustment loans had to be repeated 10 times or more , this clearly does not speak well for the effectiveness of the treatment , he concludes . Furthermore , from a political economy point of view , the finding that AL lowers the sensitivity of poverty to the aggregate growth rate of the economy " could be dangerous " . This is " because it gives the poor less of a stake in overall good economic performance which might increase support of the poor for populist experiments at redistributing income " . Lipton and Ravallion ( 1995 ) " Poverty and Policy " in Jere Behrman and T . N . Srinvason ( editors ) , Handbook of Development Economics , Vol . 3B , Chapter 41 p . 2601 , stress that there is considerable heterogeneity within the urban informal sector , with an individual s poverty depending more on individual attributes like human capital than on any economy - wide labour market distortion leading to the creation of an informal sector . Other distortions may exclude the poor from taking advantage of reforms under SAP , like lack of access to credit . Van de Walle ( 2000 ) " Are Returns to Investment Lower for the Poor ? Human and Physical Capital Interactions in Rural Vietnam . " World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 2425 , shows evidence of lower returns to formal sector investments ( irrigation is her specific example ) for the less educated . Lundberg and Squire ( 2000 ) " The Simultaneous Evolution of Growth and Inequality " World Bank mimeo cited by Easterly find that the bottom quintile are the only quintile out to benefit from trade openness . The poor may be geographically isolated from the formal economy , which may be exacerbated by poor infrastructure . Whatever the distorting or initial endowment at work , the individuals who are poor may be ill - placed to take advantage of new opportunities created by SAPs , just as they may suffer less from the destruction of old opportunities enjoyed by protected sectors prior to SAP . The effects of BWI SAPs on policies , as mandated from the top , are usually limited to highly visible macroeconomic indicators the fiscal balance and devaluation ( expenditure - reducing and expenditure - switching policies ) . Again , these seem more likely to affect the formal rather than the informal sector in economies growing under homegrown reform programs , where government ownership create stronger motivation for genuine change . For example , China over the last two decades had only 3 ALs in the 80s and none in the 90s and is a good example of the type of homegrown reform that includes a more sweeping transformation of incentives affecting formal and informal sectors . Easterly s main finding is that BWIs AL lowers the growth elasticity of poverty , that is the amount of change in poverty rates for a given amount of growth . Economic expansions benefit the poor less under SAP , but at the same time economic contraction hurt the poor less . Possible explanations of this finding include : BWI conditionality may be less austere when lending occurs during an economic contraction , while conditionality may require more micro adjustment during an expansion . If macro adjustment disproportionately hurt the poor say because fiscal discipline , for example , is implemented through increasing regressive taxes like sales taxes or decreasing progressive spending like transfers then we get the result that AL lowers the elasticity of poverty . BWI conditionality may itself cause an expansion or contraction in aggregate output depending on the composition of the SAP but not affects the poor very much . For example , the poor may mainly derive their income from informal sector and subsistence activities , which are not affected much by fiscal policy changes or adjustments in other macro policies . SAP packages usually imply some previously favoured formal sector activities may contract while other formal sector activities newly formed can expand . The net effect may be overall contraction or expansion , depending on the initial sizes of the declining and expanding sectors and the specific policy measures in the SAP . However , if the poor are not tightly linked to either the expanding or contracting formal sector , the amount of parity change for a given amount of output change may not be very high under SAP . An expansion or contraction in the absence of AL , on the other hand , may reflect economy - wide factors that lift or sink all boats . Beyond the important distinction between structural adjustment policies ALs with their own special features which may or may not promote and which moreover , are found to lower the growth elasticity of poverty , there is the fact that growth and welfare are not the same thing . The main problems with economic growth as measure of welfare include the following : the empirically identifiable effect of policies at the rate of growth especially over short intervals could be different from their effects on levels of income ( see Easterly February 2001 ) ; levels of per capita income may not be good indicators of welfare because they do not capture the distribution of income or the levels of access to primary good and basic capabilities ; and high growth rates of the economy could be associated with suboptimally low levels of current consumption . As Rodrik cautions , the welfare implications of empirical results regarding the link between trade policy and growth be they positive or negative must be treated with great caution . Trade policies can be positive effects on welfare without affecting the rate of economic growth . Conversely , even if policies that restrict international trade were to reduce economic growth , it does not follow that they would necessarily reduce the level of welfare . Negative coefficients on policy variables in growth regressions ( leaving the mis - specification problems discussed in Easterly February 2001 aside ) are commonly interpreted as indicating that the policies in question are normatively undesirable . Strictly speaking , such inferences are invalid . Widening income gaps " are helping to feed a backlash against globalisation around the world " . These widening income gaps are particularly noticeable outside the United States where middle classes tend to be much smaller and where antimonopoly and other income - equalizing laws are less stringent . This is one of the central economic dilemmas of the globalisation system : the Golden Straightjacket , the Electronic Herd , free markets and free trade produce far greater ( world incomes ) . That is a fact . But that income is highly unequally distributed ( among countries and within countries ) and the whole let - her - rip capitalism that comes with it is enormously socially disruptive . Admittedly , this cannot be a good case to stick with a closed , regulated , bureaucratically run economy . In a globalised world economy , this would impoverish society as a whole which could be even more socially disruptive without generating any of the resources which could , at least in principle , be used to ameliorate the conditions of those left behind . There was indeed little in the way of income gaps in Fidel Castro s socialist Cuba in the 1990s ( when poverty was deepening in SAP economies ) . But " the society as a whole became so poor that Cuba in the mid - 1990s became the sex tourism capital of the western hemisphere as thousands of Cuban families had to assign a wife or daughter to take up prostitution to earn hard currency to survive ( Thomas Friedman . Lexus , p . 318 ) . In the long run , these income gaps , if they continue to widen , could turn out to be globalisation s Achilles heels . There is something inherently unstable about a world that is being knitted together tighter and tighter by technology , markets and telecommunication , while splitting apart wider and wider socially and economically , Friedman concludes . One of the most serious by - products of plugging into the globalisation system is clearly this phenomenon of increasing inequality . Friedman s Lexus provides evidence that the two decades of the 80s and 90s were not lost only to SAP countries as may be inferred from Easterly ( 2001 ) . Friedman observes that : during the 1980s and 1990s , as globalisation replaced the Cold War system , income gaps between the haves and have - nots with industrialised countries widened noticeably , after several decades in which that gap had remained relatively stable ( pp . 307 ) . Reasons typically given by economists for widening income gaps include : massive demographic shifts from rural to urban areas ; rapid technological changes that increasingly reward knowledge or skilled workers over the less skilled ; the decline of unions ; the shift in manufacturing from high to low wage location ; and rising immigration from less developed , low - wage economies . While all these factors matter , in the context of the globalised world economy of the 80s and 90s Friedman considers the phenomenon of " winner take all " to be most relevant and important . The phenomenon refers to the fact that " the winners in any field today can cash in because they can sell into this massive global marketplace , while those who are just a little less talented , or not skilled at all , are limited to selling in just their local market ( and even that cannot be taken for granted ) and therefore tend to make a lot , lot less " . He cites the book The Winner - Take - All Society in which the authors , economists Robert H . Frank and Philip J . Cook , point out that globalization " has played an important role in the expansion of inequality " by creating a winner - take - all market for the globe . And with trade barriers and tariffs being reduced or eliminated all over the earth , travel costs being slashed , internal markets being deregulated and information now being freely and cheaply disseminated across borders , a unified globe market is being created in many industries and professions . " In the global village " , write Frank and Cook , " the top players those who can deliver the best product can earn enormous profits " , while those with only marginally inferior skills will often do much less well , and those with low or no skills will do very poorly . Therefore the gap between first place and second place grows larger , and the gap between first place and last place becomes staggering . Those near the top get a disproportionate share . The more that different markets get globalised and become winner - take - all markets , the more inequality expands between countries as well as within countries . These inequalities are becoming the most disturbing social by - products of the system . According to the 1999 UN Human Development Report , the fifth of the world s people living in the highest - income countries has 86 % of world GDP , 82 % of world export markets , 68 % of FDI and 74 % of world telephone lines . The bottom fifth , in the poorest countries , has about 1 % in each of these sectors . Not surprisingly , the wealthiest fifth consume 45 % of all meat and fish , while the poorest fifth consume less than 5 % . And the gap has been widening . A host of consumption options have been opened for many consumers but many are left out in the cold through lack of income . And as pressures for competitive spending mount , " keeping up with the Jones " has shifted from striving to match the consumption of a next - door neighbour to pursuing the lifestyle of the rich and famous depicted in movies and television shows . Examples of wide income disparities abroad even in the developing world Brazil , Egypt where 500 , 000 live inside tombs in the " City of the Dead " : five square miles of cemeteries in the heart of the Egyptian capital . In contrast , ten miles away is the newest gated golf course community called Katamya Heights . Here , price per person for golf , including transfers to / from Katamya Heights golf course : $ 165 per capita annual income in Egypt in 1998 was $ 1410 good for about nine rounds of golf . Thailand is a country sharply split between an urbanised , export - oriented working and entrepreneurial class , living in the financial and manufacturing centre of the country and enjoying many benefits from globalisation ; and an impoverished , inward - looking rural sector which , though indirectly affected by globalization , has little understanding of it and sees little benefit from it . The Thai baht crash of 1997 brought home the stark lesson how this gap between the globalized and the non - globalized in a society , if untended , can widen to a point where people who speak the same language cannot understand each other anymore , let alone feel a common bond . Easterly ( February 2001 ) examined the phenomenon of developing countries stagnation in spite of the sea - change of policy reforms under the guidance and with massive resources from the BWIs . He noted that the improvements in policy variables in growth regressions marking the market - friendly economic policies by developing countries beginning around 1980 . Development consensus shifted away from state planning towards markets , away from import substitution towards outward orientation , away from state controls of prices and interest rates toward " getting the prices right " . The World Bank began " adjustment lending " in 1980 , which was lending conditional on implementing the new consensus on economic policies . The IMF expanded its portfolio of conditional lending at about the same time . The two institutions made 958 ALs to developing countries over 1980 98 . Reflecting poor growth performance despite policy instruments , Paul Krugman ( 1995 ) : " Dutch Tulips and Emerging Markets " Foreign Affairs , Vol . 744 , pp . 23 - 44 noted that " the real economic performance of countries that had adopted Washington consensus policies was distinctly disappointing " . Growth projections through the 1980 98 period under review , expectedly forecast a return to the halcyon days of the 1960s and 1970s . For example , the 1983 World Development Report of the World Bank projected a " central case " of 3 . 3 per cent annual per capita growth in the developing countries from 1982 to 1995 . The pessimistic scenario was a " low case " annual per capita growth rate of 2 . 7 per cent over 1982 95 . Growth regressions have had considerable success explaining cross - country variation in growth rates , " and thus might potentially be of use in explaining the cross - time variation as well " Easterly ( February 2001 ) emphasis added . The key right - hand side variables of choice include : initial income , primary and secondary enrollment , political instability , and deviations from PPP : Barro ( 1991 ) " Economic Growth in Cross Section of Countries " Quarterly Journal of Economics , Vol . 106 , 2 , pp . 407 443 . Fertility and life expectancy ( as additional initial conditions ) . Barro ( 1998 ) Determinants of Economic Growth : A Cross - Country Empirical Study . Cambridge MA : MIT Press . Macroeconomic variables like budget deficit , black market premium , and inflation rate . Fischer ( 1993 ) " The Role of Macroeconomic Factors in Growth " , Journal of Monetary Economics , Vol . XXXII , pp . 485 511 . Financial development ( measured typically by M2 / GDP ) Levine , Loayza , and Beck ( 1999 ) " Financial Intermediation and Growth : Causality and Causes " , World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 2059 . Real exchange rate overvaluation as proxy for outward orientation : Dollar ( 1992 ) " Outward - oriented Developing Economies Really Do Grow More Rapidly : Evidence from 95 LDCs , 1976 1985 " Economic Development and Cultural Change Vol . 40 , No . 3 , pp . 523 544 . Infrastructure development ( telephone lines per capita ) Easterly and Levine ( 1997 ) " Africa s Growth Tragedy : Policies and Ethnic Divisions " Quarterly Journal of Economics , November . Well developed institutions Knack and Keefer ( 1995 ) " Institutions and Economic Performance : Cross - Country Tests Using Alternative Institutional Measures " Economics and Policies , Vol . 7 , No . 3 , pp . 207 227 . Initial inequality Alesina and Rodrik ( 1994 ) " Distributive Politics and Economic Growth " Quarterly Journal of Economics , Vol . 109 , No . 2 , pp . 465 490 ; Forbes ( 2000 ) " A Reassessment of the Relationship Between Inequality and Growth " AER ; Deininger and Olinto ( 2000 ) , " Asset Distribution , Inequality and Growth " , World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No . 2375 . Dependence on natural resource exports a political economy variable said to deprive countries of the externalities to manufacturing activities and lead to a frenzy of rent seeking : Sachs and Warner ( 1995 ) " Natural Resource Abundance and Economic Growth " NBER Working Paper 5398 ; Gylfason ( 2000 ) , " Natural Resources , Education , and Economic Development " , Centre for Economic Policy Research Working Paper No . 2594 , October . Beano and Easterly ( 1998 ) " Inflation Crises and Long - run Growth " Journal of Monetary Economics 4 , pp . 3 - 26 found no robust evidence of a negative correlation between inflation and growth below 40 per cent per annum . In fact they found that the cross section relationship between growth and inflation is zero on average . They explained this by the pattern of sharp output declines associated with " inflation crises " with output reverting to trend after the end of the inflation crises . Barro ( 1998 ) finds a lower breakpoint of 15 per cent per annum , below which there is no significant correlation between growth and inflation . In the 1980 1998 period , the median per capita growth of developing countries in the Easterly study ( February 2001 ) , was 0 . 0 per cent . The median is chosen because it weights all countries equally , which is appropriate if we treat each country as an observation of a given set of country polices and characteristics . The median was 0 . 0 per cent for both the 80s and 90s taken separately . The weighted average growth rate showed less of a decline from the 1960 79 period , " because of accelerated growth in India and China in 1980 98 . It is also noted that the 1980 98 figures included the ex - Communist countries of Central Asia and Europe that had strong output declines . Excluding these countries , however , still leaves the median per capita growth for the 1980 98 period still at 0 . 3 per cent . The two " main possible logical explanations for the failure of growth regressions to explain the cross - decade slowdown " given by Easterly were : They are mis - specified , regressing stationary growth rates on non - stationary policies and initial conditions , along the lines of the Jones ( 1995 ) " Time Series Tests of Endogenons Growth Models " Quarterly Journal of Economics , Vol . 110 , pp . 495 - 525 critique : coefficients estimated on the basis of cross - section variation field time series properties of the linear combination of growth determinants that are incompatible with the stationarity of growth . While you may grow faster than your neighbour if your secondary enrollment is higher , your own growth does not necessarily increase as you ( and everyone else s ) secondary enrollment ratios rise . This first hypothesis , which Easterly could not rule out in his empirical study " calls into question many empirical studies of growth " . Some factor other than country characteristics led to the disappearance of growth . Easterly provides " suggestive evidence of another factor the not so surprising or unknown slowdown in growth in the industrial economies " . This slowdown may have had a big effect on growth in the developing world . A secondary factor also emanating from industrial countries was the rise in world interest rates that increased the debt burden of developing countries . Easterly , however , is " unable to demonstrate a clear mechanism " by which these external shocks translated into lower growth for the developing world . " A variable that interacts OECD growth with the share of OECD trade in the country is insignificant , for example " . The possible role of the industrial countries slowdown and of hikes in real world interest rates suggest that external factors need to be given more attention relative to national economic policies . Easterly , Kremer , Pritchett , and Summers ( 1993 ) , " Good Policy or Good Luck ? Country Growth Performance and Temporary Shocks " Journal of Monetary Economics 32 , December , pp . 459 483 , made an earlier argument for the importance of random shocks relative to national economic policies , based on the weak cross - period persistence of growth rater contrasted with the strong persistence of policies . Pritchett ( 1958 ) " Patterns of Economic Growth : Hills , Plateaus , Mountains , and Plains " Policy Research Working Paper , November 1947 also on " plains " , but again his emphasis is on cross - country variation rather than the aggregate performance of developing countries over time . Rodrik ( 1994 ) " Where Did All the Growth Go ? External Shocks , Social Conflict , and Growth Collapses " Journal of Economic Growth Vol . 4 . 4 , pp . 385 412 , examines the question " where did all the growth go ? " His findings are that : countries that lacked a social consensus ( proxied by ethrolinguistic fragmentation ) and had poor institutions ( which together with fragmentation he summarized as " social conflict " ) suffered a strong negative impact from TOT losses . It is important to note , however , that Rodrik s regression does not explain the mean growth itself since regressions explain variation around the mean rather than the mean itself . Even countries with zero social conflict on his measures had a significant decline in growth . Thus Easterly differs from Rodrik in his investigation of the mean cross - time pattern of growth as opposed to the cross - country variation of growth changes as emphasized by Rodrik . Poverty is multidimensional . A number of the right - hand side variables of growth regressions examined here are in themselves indicative of alleviation of poverty in dimensions other than income . Easterly s results can therefore be interpreted as affirmation that income poverty is neither necessary nor sufficient for other dimensions of poverty . Moreover , the various dimensions are not necessarily correlated . A fundamental economic assumption is that the satisfaction of individual preferences gives rise to individual well - being . Economists take this assumption as a matter of faith , and it underlies most if not all of economic theory . Politicians , and indeed the general public for that matter , routinely compare countries on the basis of GDP per capita and often evaluate our own economy and society on the basis of household disposable income and the distribution of income . However , many of the important aspects of well - being are left out by such simplifications . In fact , economists have long recognised that GDP per capita is not a reliable measure of either individual or social well - being , because market values do not encompass all the important economic values ( such as environmental protection ) and because market values that do exist might suffer from distortions that mask underlying economic values ( as in the exercise of monopoly power in the market ) . More generally , it is clear that many important aspects of well - being could be left out by a simple measure of welfare .

1 . Requirements for the Importation of Drugs , Cosmetics , Medical Devices and Household Chemical Substances ELIGIBILITY TO IMPORT Only corporate body duly registered by the Registrar - General ’ s department and duly licensed by the Food and Drugs Board shall be permitted to import food , drugs , cosmetics , devices and chemicals . Additionally only registered pharmaceutical industries , wholesale and retail pharmacies will be eligible to import . Retail pharmacies will be permitted to import quantities for retail in their shops only . Medical doctors , dentists and veterinary surgeons may be permitted to import reasonable quantities of these products for use in their clinics . Governmental , Quasi - governmental agencies , co - operate bodies and Non - Governmental Organizations ( NGO ’ s ) that run health programmes and facilities may also be permitted to import . This notwithstanding importation of samples for registration , medical promotion and / or clinical trials as well as importation of specific prescriptions for particular patients may be permitted . All products to be imported into the country must first be registered with the Food and Drugs Board under Sections 18 and 25 of the Food and Drugs Law , 1992 ( PNDCL 305B ) and Section 4 ( b ) of the Food and Drugs ( Amendment ) Act , 1996 ; Act 523 . PRODUCT IMPORT PERMIT The processing of an import permit shall take ten ( 10 ) working days An application for importation may be rejected for several reasons . This may include : When the product ( s ) to be imported is not registered with the Board . When the product ( s ) to be imported has potential for abuse . If it is a controlled drug , when the national quota for that particular drug is exhausted e . g . narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances . If the product ( s ) is found to be fake , substandard and / or adulterated . The following shall also apply to all permits : Permits issued for importation of products shall be presented to Customs , Excise & Preventive Service ( CEPS ) ONLY ONCE and shall not be re - presented for a second time in case goods are short landed . Permits issued shall be valid for ONE CALENDAR YEAR from the date of approval . A fee shall be charged for the processing of each permit submitted for importation . The level shall be determined by the Board from time to time . All import permits shall bear the full name and address of the exporter and importer , name / description of product , quantity , registration number of the product ( s ) manufacturer / country of origin , total CIF value , country of shipment , and port of entry . For drugs , the permit shall bear the full name of the superintendent pharmacist , his / her signature , registration number and date . For non - pharmaceutical companies , the permit shall be signed by the duly authorized person ( s ) . All applications for importation and accompanying proforma invoices shall be vetted before approval . Applications which are found to fall short of any of the requirements in bullet 4 above shall not be considered . Products imported shall be inspected by officials of the Food and Drugs Board at the port of entry before they are released to the importer . The above notwithstanding all other statutes governing importation procedures and tax liabilities in Ghana shall apply to imported products regulated by the Food and Drugs Board . All importers are to renew their company license with the FDB annually . ACTIONS ON NON COMPLIANCES The Food and Drugs Board may apply the following in case of the importation of unregistered , counterfeit , substandard , etc . products after detention and issuance of appropriate detention notice . RE - EXPORTATION The Board may order the re - export of the products at the cost of the importer . DESTRUCTION / CONFISCATION & PROSECUTION The Board may confiscate products that have not been registered under the law . These products may be destroyed and the importer prosecuted accordingly . The cost of destruction shall be borne by the importer . BRINGING INTO COMPLIANCE The Board , may permit an importer to bring an importation of a non compliant product into compliance with the law . Any sorting , processing , labeling / re - labeling or analysis shall be supervised by an officer of the Food and Drugs Board at the expense of the importer . Unregistered products shall be put through the registration process and the appropriate fees paid . The importer shall then pay a fine to be determined by the Board . DOCUMENTS REQUIRED When applying for a permit , the following documents shall be submitted : 1 . Three ( 3 ) copies of the supplier ’ s invoice . 2 . Three ( 3 ) copies of appropriately filled application forms . BANNED PRODUCTS The underlisted drugs are banned in Ghana and cannot be imported into the country . 1 . * Iodochlorhydroxyquinoline and its derivatives ( 0 . 1 - 0 . 5 % ) 2 . Methaqualone and its salts 3 . Phenylbutazone , its salts and derivatives 4 . Secobarbital ( Quinalbarbitone ) 5 . All Mercury Based products 6 . Plain Ephedrine tablets 7 . Hydroquinones ( > 2 % ) RESTRICTED DRUGS The importation of the finished products of the underlisted items is not permitted . Only raw materials could be imported for local manufacture . 1 . Capsules : Ampicillin , Chloramphenicol , Oxytetracycline , Chlordiazepoxide , Tetracycline and Indomethacin 2 . Syrups : Chloroquine and Paracetamol 3 . Tablets : Aspirin , Chloroquine , Diazepam , Paracetamol , Ephedrine , Phenobarbitone , Prednisolone Dexamethasone , Folic Acid , Vitamin B Complex , Paracetamol / Aspirin / Caffeine combinations , Aspirin / Caffeine combinations , Paracetamol / Caffeine combinations , and Paracetamol / Codeine combination . The FDB may grant permit for the importation of the above items should there be a shortage or in an emergency . 4 . Products containing steroids shall not be permitted to be imported as cosmetics . DEFINITION : “ PRODUCT ” - Any article that is regulated under the Food and Drugs Law 1992 ( PNDCL 305B ) and the Food and Drugs ( Amendment ) Act , 1996 ( Act 523 ) which include Food , Drugs , Cosmetics , Medical Devices and Chemicals or any articles that are used in the manufacture of these . * NB : Failure to comply with these requirements shall result in disqualification of the application or lead to considerable delays in the processing time . 2 . Requirements for the Registration of Herbal Medicines ADMINISTRATIVE STATUS Name of specialty . Name and address of the manufacturer and country of origin . Name and address of local agent if the medicine is imported . If medicine is imported , certificate of manufacture and product certificate from the appropriate regulatory authority of the exporting country shall be submitted . All documentation on the production , including label and leaflet insert must include English language and directed towards the consumer and practitioner where appropriate . The indicators for which the medicine is being presented for registration , must be unambiguously stated . Different dosage forms should be considered separately and registered as such . samples submitted for registration must be in the package ready for sale and use in the country . It shall be the duty of the applicant after registration of the medicine to keep accurate records of its distribution , and a copy of these records shall be available for inspection by appointed FDB Officials . PHARMACO TOXICOLOGICAL DATA This should be provided for all medicines . Collaborative opinion from local and international experts may be sought on herbal medicines . For locally manufactured products , pharmaco toxicological reports shall be requested for the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine , the Noguchi Institute for medical research , the Faculty of Pharmacy , Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology , Kumasi - Ghana or any other such Institution recognized by the Board . TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of the Food and Drugs Law PNDCL 305B , no person shall sell , expose for sale , advertise for sale or submit for trial any drugs for human and animal use unless such drugs have been registered with the Food and Drugs Board in accordance with regulations in Part II of the Food and Drugs Law PNDCL 305B , 1992 Application for registration of herbal medicines shall be made on prescribed form . The Scientific data shall include : Statement of the name under which it is proposed that the medicine will be sold . A description of the medicine or preparation and a statement of the botanical name of the plant ( s ) . A list of all the excipients of the product stated quantitatively , the specifications for the active ingredients , and when the Board so requires , the sources of the excipients . The method of manufacture and control processes used in manufacturing , and packaging of the medicine . Such details shall be treated with the strictest confidence and shall not be disclose to any other party without the expressed consent of the applicant . Test of finished medicine should be given . Reference standards and method of assay should be submitted . Detailed reports of the test carried out to establish the stability and safety of the medicine and its container under the conditions of use recommended . Where applicable , substantial evidence of the clinical effectiveness of the medicine for the indications recommended . A statement of all the representations to be made for the promotion of the medicine in respect of : the recommended route of administration the proposed dosage and frequency of administration the specific age group - children or adult the indication for use the contra - indications and side effects of the medicine antidote in respect of toxic reactions and hypersensitivity storage conditions date of manufacture and expiry date description of the dosage form packaging and labelling including special precautions , where applicable The applicant shall also be required to submit copies of the following requirements : a method of analysis of the preparation an acceptable certificate of analysis testifying that the medicine is of proven quality appropriate samples of the preparation in the package ready for sale any other documents to support the registration of the preparation Stability data should be submitted for all herbal medicines where applicable Precautions , interactions , treatment of overdose and use in pregnancy and lactation must be clearly stated . 3 . Requirements for Advertisements ( General ) These requirements apply to all advertisements on Drugs , Cosmetics , Household Chemicals , and Medical Devices ( referred to in this document as '' product '' ) imported or locally manufactured in Ghana . GENERAL REQUIREMENT No person shall advertise any product in Ghana unless the product has been registered by the Food and Drugs Board of Ghana . No person shall advertise any product in Ghana unless such person ( s ) has clearance certificate and approval from the Food and Drugs Board of Ghana . As such no media house shall carry out any advertisement in the print or electronic media unless prior approval has been granted by the Board . All advertisements shall be accurate , complete and clear and designed to promote credibility and trust by the general public . Statements or illustrations must not mislead directly or by implication Advertisement which contravene the ethical standards of the health and other professions shall be avoided . No advertisement shall bring the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry into disrepute , undermine confidence in advertising or prejudice public confidence in medicines ( herbal orthodox or homoeopathic ) , devices or household chemicals . No advertisement shall unfairly disparage any competitive company of its competitive or alternative products , either directly or by implication . No advertisement shall imitate the general layout , text , slogans or visual presentation or devices of the advertisement of other advertisements from other companies in a way likely to mislead or confuse the purchaser . No advertisement shall contain any competition or similar scheme . No advertisement shall be framed in such a manner as to exploit the superstitious belief and / or induce fear to people to purchase the article or service advertised . Materials for advertisement including at least two ( 2 ) packets of the pack sizes being advertised shall be submitted under confidential cover along with application to : The Chief Executive , Food and Drugs Board , P O Box CT 2783 , Cantonments - Accra , Ghana . The advertisement shall be received at least six ( 6 ) weeks prior to the scheduled publication month . When the advertisements are submitted through the regional offices , it should be noted that final written approval shall be obtained from the Chief Executive . The application , which shall be submitted by the sponsors of the advertisement , must contain the following information , where applicable : a ) The brand name of the product b ) Generic name of product if any c ) Dosage forms available d ) Whether the product is imported or locally manufactured e ) Name and Address of manufacture f ) Name and Address of local distributor g ) Name and Address of advertising company h ) Date of first introduction of product onto the Ghanaian market i ) Information about any previous advertisement of the product in Ghana j ) A copy of the old script k ) The proposed media for the new advertisement l ) A copy of the registration permit of the product and the premises of the sponsor m ) Justification for any special claims When advertisement films are made , the script and story sketch must be submitted along with the application . The effective duration approval of such advertisement will be one year from the date of approval . Any alterations in the format of the approval script , film or story sketch without express written permission of the Food and Drugs Board shall render the approval null and void . A processing fee shall be paid along with each application on each product . Advertisement considered unacceptable by the Board will be returned to the advertiser with the unacceptable information or illustration clearly identified and clarification on the ruling through correspondence . If approval of advertisement is withdrawn during the one year period of approval , an appeal may be directed to the Chief Executive of the Board in writing and accompanied by supportive information . Notice of such appeal may be lodged with the Chief Executive , within thirty ( 30 ) days of notification and supportive materials provided within sixty ( 60 ) days of notification . In the event of any publication of an advertisement not cleared and approved by the Board , the sponsor , the advertising agent and the advertising media organisation are jointly and severally liable to be prosecuted as laid down by the Food and Law PNDCL 305B . Drug General General advertising should reflect an overall attitude of the caution in respect of drug usage , with emphasis on rational drug therapy ; it should provide sufficient and balanced information to permit assessment of risk / benefit . No drug advertisement shall contain offers of gift or refund of money to dissatisfied users . No drug advertisement ( for both prescription and over - the - counter drugs ) shall state or imply in absolute terms or by quotations taken out of context , that any pharmaceutical product is '' safe '' , '' non - toxic '' , has '' guaranteed efficacy '' , etc . Statements claiming or implying a superlative functions ( e . g . '' the drug of choice '' , '' most frequently prescribed '' , '' the only drug for the purpose '' , etc . ) for a product should be avoided unless they can be adequately substantiated . No advertisement for any drug shall contain : a ) Any false misleading information b ) Half - truth , inadequate qualifications and limitations regarding safety or effectiveness of the drug c ) Vague , unsubstantiated statements or suggestions of superiority competing drugs . d ) Any false impression that the advertised product is panacea or even more effective or safer than is immediately justified . Prescription Drugs No person shall advertise any prescription drugs in the lay press . No person shall advertise any prescription drug in a health professional journal unless the drug itself is properly labelled , with the following information a ) Name of drug product - ( non - proprietary , brand name or chemical names ) b ) A quantitative listing of all the ingredients c ) Indication for which the drug is intended d ) An accurate statement of the dosage and strength ( per tablet , capsule or teaspoon ) e ) Daily dose f ) Frequency of administration g ) Preparation for use ( shaking , dilution , refrigeration , etc ) h ) Quantity of contents in metric units , where applicable i ) Expiry date , storage temperature requirement and lot or batch number j ) Route or method of administration k ) Adequate warning when necessary for the protection of the user as provided in the drug labelling regulations . l ) Name and address of manufacture . If imported drug , the name and address of local distributor must appear on the label in such a manner as to identify the connection between the distributor with such drug - such as manufactured for .... , distributed by ...... or any other wording that express the facts . Prescribing information must be legibly presented The indications for use of any therapeutic agent must conform to the accepted product monograph and approved label indications approved by the Board . All data illustrations presented in advertisements including charts , graphs , tablets etc . extracted form references studies or other sources or reproduced by artwork , must be accurate , complete and clear with the source specifically identified . Data illustrations which are misleading or ambiguous or which distort the original intended meaning or interpretation either directly or by implication will be considered a violation of the Food and Drugs Board Advertising Regulations . Advertisements for all drugs shall present information that is reasonably balanced between side effects and contra - indications and effectiveness and safety . Advertisements of all drugs for use during pregnancy shall state any known effects of the drug on the pregnant mother , foetus and lactation . Prescription drugs shall be advertised only for indications for which they are generally recognised as safe and effective and for which the drug has been registered by the Food and Drugs Board . Advertisements that contain specific therapeutic claims must contain within the application : a ) The brand name and non - proprietary or genetic names of the pharmaceutical product b ) Therapeutics classification of the pharmaceutical product c ) A quantitative list of the actual medicinal ingredients contained in each dose or unit d ) Indication for use e ) The recommended dosage , methods of use and routes of administration for all sated indications f ) A list of adverse reactions ( with some indications of expected incidence if known ) precautions to be taken by health professionals , consumer and the contraindications and warnings g ) A statement that the product monograph or full prescribing information is readily available from a stated official monograph h ) Full name and address of manufacturer and the distributor in Ghana Claims and quotations from the scientific literature concerning efficacy , safety , adverse reactions , use in a very young children , use in pregnancy etc . within the constraints of the product monograph , should contain mention or the scientific source ( s ) of information . Copies of all references cited should be provided to the Chief Executive for verification . Claims based on , or quotation that have been selected from a scientific article or series of articles and emphasise only positive features while ignoring negative findings , will not be accepted . Claims and quotations must be verify by the Chief Executive . Selected quotations should not be refer to another brand of the same pharmaceutical entity , or to a different formulation of the same active ingredients unless data of accepted methodology are available to warrant cross reference between products . Over the Counter Drugs ( OTC ' s ) In accordance with the provision of sections 15 of the Food and Drugs Law , PNDCL 305B , 1992 no person shall advertise to the general public in Ghana , any drug as a treatment , prevention or cure for any disease , disorders or abnormal physical states specified in schedule 2 of the Law . Over - the - counter drugs to be advertised in Ghana must be properly labelled with the following information included on the package label as required by section on OTC drug labelling regulations : a ) The name of the product ( proprietary name or genetic name , if applicable ) b ) A quantitative listing of the ingredients c ) The conditions or uses for which the drug is intended d ) An accurate statement of the dosage strength ( per tablet , capsule , teaspoon , etc . ) e ) Recommended daily dose f ) Frequency of administration g ) Route or method of administration h ) Preparation for use ( shaking , dilution , refrigeration , etc ) i ) The quantity or contents in metric units where applicable j ) Adequate warning , when necessary , for the protection of users k ) Name and address of manufacturers . if an imported drug , the name and address of the local distributor must appear on the label in such a manner as to identify the connection between the manufacturer and the distributor , e . g . '' distributed by ..... '' , or any other wording that expresses the facts . l ) Date of expiry , batch or lot number OTC drugs shall carry package leaflets with complete label information in addition to the contra - indications if not already stated on the immediate pack . The labelling must not contain any statement , which is false , misleading or exaggerated . If the bottle , jar or other '' immediate container '' has an outer wrapper or carton , the outer wrapper or jacket must also bear all the information required to appear on the label itself . All of the labelling information must be in English . In case of any other language , an English translation must be included . All advertisements should seek to advise the consumer to seek medical attention within 48 hours should symptoms persist . No OTC drug advertisement shall : a ) Contain words such as ' magic ' , ' miracle ' or ' mystical ' ; exotic descriptions such as ' super potency ' or such other words as to induce the daily and continuous use of the product . b ) Imply that the reader , viewer or listener is suffering , or without treatment may suffer or suffer more severely from any illness , ailment or disease . c ) Dramatise any symptoms by way of drawing a picture of pregnant woman , patient with backache , or use throbbing sound like heartbeats , coughing or agonising cries . d ) Denigrate or attach unfairly any competitive products , goods and services . DEFINITION Drug product '' is defined as a substances or mixture of substance manufactured , sold , or presented for in - vivo use in the diagnosis , treatment , mitigation or prevention of a disease disorder , abnormal physical state or the symptoms thereof ; or restoring , correcting or modifying organic function ( s ) in man , but excluding mechanical devices and cosmetics . Rational Drug Therapy '' is defined as appropriate therapy , recommended or prescribe which legally may be expected to remedy or ameliorate a disordered state of physical or mental health . Drugs may be logically employed for diagnostic and prophylactic purposes to prevent or lower the incidence of illness . Full Disclosure '' as used in this context is defined as adequate information concerning the accepted indications and appropriate use of the product , indicating warning precautions , contra - indications , adverse reactions , dosage forms and dosage regiments . The therapeutic , classification of pharmaceutical products is defined as either the accepted pharmacological classification ( anxiolytic , diuretic , analgesic , antibiotic ) or the identity of the purpose or purposes for which the pharmaceutical product ( as defined ) is intended ( migraine , hypertension ) or both . Advertising '' is the publicity of goods and descriptions of all products ; this includes any form of notices in circulars , handouts , labels , wrappers , catalogue and pricelists , newspaper , magazines and any other documents made orally or otherwise or by means of projected light and sound recording . Over - the - counter - drugs '' are those generally regarded as safe for the consumer for use by following the required label directions and warnings . They may be purchased without prescription . Label '' means a display of written printed or graphic matter upon the immediate drug container . Package Labelling '' includes the label on the immediate containers plus all other printed matter , such as wrapper , carton or leaflet associated with the package . Prescription Drugs '' means a drug which can only be made available to consumer through a written order signed by duly qualified and registered medical practitioner and disposed by a fully registered and licensed pharmacist . Such drugs shall not be made available or sold directly to the general public without the said written order . They are identified under the scientific or chemical names or their active ingredients as well as by the generic , or established names of the active ingredients . Appropriate Authority '' means the Chief Executive , Food and Drugs Board . Claims '' a claim is any representation , which states , suggest or implies that a drug has particular qualities relating to its origin properties , nature , processing , composition or any other quality . Manufacturer '' the maker or producer or product and materials for the purpose of selling to the consumer and incorporates the following processes . IMPORTANT NOTICE Under the Food and Drugs Law , 1992 P . N . D . C . L 305B , SCHEDULE II ( Section 15 ) , Diseases for which advertisement for treatment , prevention or cure are prohibited - ( i ) Sexually Transmitted Diseases ( STD ' s ) , other forms of genito - urinary diseases . Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome ( AIDS ) or diseases connected with the human reproductive functions . ( ii ) Any of the following - Amenorrhoea Arterio - Sclerosis Bladder Stones Blindness Cancer Deafness Diabetes Diphtheria Dropsy Epilepsy or fits Erysipelas Gallstones Goitre Heart Disease Hernia or Rupture Kidney Stones Leprosy Locomotortazy Lupus Nephritis or Bright ' s Disease Paralysis Pleurisy Pneumonia Poliomyelitis Scarlet Fever Septicaemia Smallpox Tetanus or Lock - jaw Trachoma Tuberculosis 4 . Requirements for Conducting Clinical Trials of Drugs in Ghana INTRODUCTION In line with section twenty - three ( 23 ) of the Food & Drugs Law 1992 , PNDC Law 305B and its amendment Act 523 , 1996 , no person shall in the course of business manufacture , sell , supply or distribute any drug or chemical substance for the purpose of clinical trial or drug test on animals or humans unless a Clinical Trial Certificate or Animal Trial Certificate has been issued by the Board . The aim of this guideline is to define the general norms and scientific principles for the conduct , performance and control of clinical trials particularly in the context of registration of drugs in Ghana . For the purpose of this guideline , clinical trials mean systematic studies in humans in order to discover or verify the pharmaco - dynamics , the therapeutic effects and / or adverse reactions of drugs , and studies of the absorption , distribution , metabolism and excretion of active substances ( pharmacokinetics ) . APPLICATION An application for the conduct of a Clinical Trial shall be made in writing to the Board in such form as may be prescribed from time to time . The application shall be accompanied by : Institutional Review Board / Independent Ethics Committee Approval Duly Signed Informed Consent Forms ( Where applicable ) Comprehensive Trial protocol CLASSIFICATION OF CLINICAL TRIALS Clinical trials are generally classified into four ( 4 ) phases . It is however , not possible to draw a distinct line between each phase and diverging opinions about details and methodology do exist . Brief definitions of the individual phases based on their purposes related to clinical development of the drugs are given as follows ; PHASE I : The first trials of a new drug in humans is often conducted in healthy volunteers . The volunteers must be of age and in good mental health . They must not have any illness which could affect the results of the trial , or which could create special conditions for unfavourable effects of the drug . The purpose is to establish a preliminary evaluation of safety , tolerance and a first outline of the pharmacokinetic / dynamic profile of the drug in humans . The number of volunteers participating in this phase of clinical trials should not be less than twenty - four ( 24 ) . PHASE II : Therapeutic Pilot studies This is usually an open trial in a small number of patients suffering from the disease for which the drug is intended . The purpose is to demonstrate activity and to assess short - term safety of the drug . This Phase also aims at the determination of appropriate dose ranges / regimens and possibly the classification of dose / response relationships , in order to provide an optimal background for the design of wider therapeutic trials . The trial is performed in a limited number of subjects and often at a later stage in a comparative ( e . g . placebo - controlled ) design . Chronic toxicity studies are also conducted in Laboratory animals at this stage and should not be done over a period less than 24 months . PHASE III Consists of wider trials to determine the therapeutic effects of the drug and Possibly the pattern and frequency of adverse reactions i . e . determine the short and long - term safety / efficacy balance of formulations of the drug , as well as to assess its overall and therapeutic value . A comparison with established methods of treatment or other control group procedures will be necessary . The pattern and profile of more frequent adverse reactions must be explored ( e . g . clinically relevant drug interactions factors leading to differences such as age , etc . ) The design of trials , should preferably , be randomized , double - blind and cross - over . Other designs may be acceptable for e . g . long - term safety studies . Generally the conditions of the trial should be as close as possible to normal . PHASE IV : Trails are based on approved indications after registration of the drug . These trials are carried out based on the instructions given in the marketing authorization ( minimum number of persons should not be less than 100 and the trial period not less than 14 days ) , including post - marketing surveillance , assessment of therapeutic value or strategies . The trial should also be comparative . QUALIFICATION OF INVESTIGATORS Sponsors who want to conduct a clinical trial must have the protection of health and the interests of the patients or the healthy volunteers as their primary concern . Therefore the principal investigator ( s ) directly in charge of a trial must be medically qualified and clinically competent , with sufficient experience in clinical evaluation of medicinal products and / or at least some expertise in the pathology and the clinical handling of the particular disease or condition under study . In effect the ethical standard and professional integrity of the investigators should be beyond reproach . Ethical Clearance shall be sought form the Institutional Review Board / Independent Ethics Committee of the proposed Institution / Center where the trial is to be conducted . This is to forestall any objections that may arise as to the justification of the trial , injury , permanent damage , or indemnity as the case may be . TRIAL PROTOCOL A well - designed trial must rely on a thoroughly considered well - structured and complete protocol . The protocol must as much as possible , contain the information given in the following list of items : - 1 . Aim of the trial and the reasons for its execution . 2 . The essentials of the problem and its background , general ethical consideration relating to the trial , informed consent or otherwise of the patients / volunteers . 3 . Description of the type of trial ( controlled , open ) trial design ( paralleled groups , crossover technique ) , blind technique ( double blind , simple blind ) , randomisation ( method and procedure ) . Specification of other bias reducing factors to be implemented . 4 . Adequate wash - out period should be predetermined . 5 . Number of patients expected to take part in the trial and the justification , ( e . g . based on statistical considerations ) . 6 . Route of administration , dosage and dosing schedules ( interval ) and treatment period for the drug being tested and the drug being used as control . 7 . Description of treatment applied to control group ( s ) or control period ( s ) ( placebo , other therapy , etc . ) and any other treatment that may be given concomitantly including measures to be implemented to ensure the safe handling of the products . 8 . Recording of effects . Procedures for handling and processing records of effects and adverse reactions to the product ( s ) under study . Records of times and periods of effects . Provisions for dealing with complications . 9 . Description of special analyses and / or tests to be carried out ( pharmacokinetic , clinical , laboratory radiological , etc ) . 10 . A meticulous and specified plan for the various steps and procedures in order to control and monitor the trial effectively . Specifications and instructions for anticipated deviations from the protocol ; procedure for keeping of special patient list and patient records for each individual taking part in the trial and measures to ensure the safe handling of drugs . 11 . An inclusion and exclusion criteria should be well defined as per HELSINKI DECLARATION . 12 . Evaluation of results , Description of statistical methodology and a specified account for how the response is to be evaluated , methods of computation and calculation of effects ( statistical units and level of significance ) . 13 . Reporting the outcome of a clinical trial must be agreed upon by all participants . After a report is sent to the Board a publication in scientific journal or elsewhere could be encouraged . Any serous and / or frequent adverse reaction to the product should immediately be reported to the Board . A formal report in all cases is required and this should include a short , comprehensive summary of the essential findings of the trial and of its methodology and course . If the trial does not begin , or is interrupted before its purpose is achieved , the reason should be conveyed in writing to the Board . This not withstanding , the Board reserves the right to audit and interrupt any trial for which authorization has been given as and when necessary . Generally the reporting of CLINICAL TRIALS shall conform to the consolidated system of reporting Trials . ( CONSORT ) All clinical and experimental data should be kept safely for a period of 3 – 5 years ( or more ) after completion of the trial . 14 . The types of clinical trials should be categorized as follows ; a ) Those that are initiated by the Food and Drugs Board . b ) Initiated by companies / agencies for newly developed substances and / or companies wanting local assessment to be made . In all cases the primary end - point of the trial should be clearly stated . 15 . In all cases , persons who undertake Clinical Trials are to obtain ethical approval from Ethical Committee of the Institution he / she belongs to or the National Ethical committee ( if it exists ) . This is to forestall any objections that may arise as to the justification of the trial , injury , permanent damage or indemnity to volunteers as the case may be . § Generally , the Board maintains that the trial protocol be based on the HELSINKI DECLARATION . Food and Drugs Board Clinical Trial Certificate Name of Product : Protocol Code No . : Study Title : Type of Study ( e . g . Single centre , open label , phase I ) : Name and Address of Sponsor : Name and Address of Principal Investigator : Name and Address of Study Centre : Expected Date of Commencement : Duration of Investigation : Please note that any amendments to the original protocol on which this certificate is being issued would render the certificate invalid . Adverse reactions observed during the study must be immediately reported to the Food and Drugs Board . 5 . Requirements for Conducting Bio - equivalence Studies Two pharmaceutical products are considered bio - equivalent if they are pharmaceutically equivalent and their bio - availabilities after administration of the same dose are similar to such a degree that their therapeutic effect can be expected to be essentially the same . Pharmaceutically equivalent products must be shown to be therapeutically equivalent in order to be considered interchangeable . Test methods used in assessing equivalency acceptable to the Food & Drugs Board include : Comparative bio - equivalence studies in which the active drug substance or one or more metabolites is measured in an accessible biological fluid such as plasma , blood or urine ( where applicable ) Comparative pharmaco - dynamic studies in humans Comparative Clinical Trials In - Vitro Bioequivalence Studies . Bio - equivalence studies shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions and pre - requisites for a clinical trial with strict adherence to Good Clinical practice ( GCP ) and Good Laboratory Practices ( GLP ) ( Refer to Helsinki Declaration ) IN VIVO BIO - EQUIVALENCE STUDIES For certain Drugs and Dosage forms , in - vivo documentation of equivalency , through either a bio - equivalence , a comparative Pharmaco - Dynamic study , or a comparative clinical trial shall be submitted . This shall include : Oral immediate release pharmaceutical products with systemic action when one or more of the following criteria apply . Indicated for a serious condition requiring assured therapeutic response Narrow therapeutic window / safety margin ; step dose - response curve . Pharmacokinetics complicated by variable or incomplete absorption or absorption window , nonlinear pharmacokinetics , presystemic elimination / high first pass metabolism > 70 % Unfavourable physico properties e . g . Low solubility , instability , poor permeability etc Documented evidence for bioavailability problems related to the drug or drugs similar in chemical structure or formulations Where a high ratio of excipients to active ingredients exists . Non - oral and non - parenteral pharmaceutical products designed to act by systemic absorption ( transdermal patches , suppositories etc ) Sustained or otherwise modified release pharmaceutical designed to act by systemic absorption . Fixed OTC combination products with systemic action . For non Solution pharmaceutical products which are for non systemic use a comparative clinical or pharmaco - dynamic study is required to prove equivalency . ( E . g .. Oral , nasal , Ocular , dermal , rectal , vaginal etc . application ) . This does not exclude the potential need for drug concentration measurements in order to assess unintended partial absorption . * The number of volunteers used for in - vivo bio - equivalence studies should not be less than 24 . INVITRO BIOEQUIVALENCE STUDIES In certain circumstances equivalence may be assessed by the use of in vitro dissolution testing . These include : Different strengths of a generic product , when the pharmaceutical products are manufactured by the same manufacturer at the same manufacturing site where ; The qualitative composition between the two strengths is essentially the same An appropriate equivalence study has been performed on at least one of the strengths of the formulation ( usually the highest strength unless a lower strength is chosen for reason of safety ) and the ratio of the strengths of excipients are the same . In cases of systemic availability pharmacokinetics have been shown to be linear over the therapeutic dose range The drug has a parameter for assessing bio - equivalence in an Official monograph recognized by the Board ( As listed as reference publications in Schedule I of the Food & Drugs Law PNDCL 305B ) INSTANCES WHERE BIO - EQUIVALENCE STUDIES ARE NOT REQUIRED When generic products are to be administered parenterally ( e . g . , intravenous , intramascular , subcutaneous , intrathecal administration ) as aqueous solutions and contain the same active substance ( s ) in the same concentration and the same excipients in comparable concentrations ; When generic products are solutions for oral use , contain the active substance in the same concentration , and do not contain an excipient that is known or suspected to affect gastro - intestinal transit or absorption of the active substance : When generic products are a gas ; When the generic products are powders for reconstitution as a solution and the solution meets either criterion ( a ) or criterion ( b ) above ; When generic products are otic ( ear ) or ophthalmic products ( eye ) prepared as aqueous solution and contain the same active substance ( s ) in the same concentration and essentially the same excipients in comparable concentrations ; When generic products are topical products prepared as aqueous solutions and contain the same active substance ( s ) in the same concentration and essentaially the same excipients in comparable concentrations ; When generic products are inhalation products or nasal sprays , tested to be administered with or without essentially the same device , prepared as aqueous solutions , and contain the same substance ( s ) in the same concentration and essentially the same excipients in comparable concentrations . Special in vitro testing should be required to document comparable device performance of the multisource inhalation product . For elements ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) and ( 7 ) above , it is incumbent upon the applicant to demonstrate that the excipients in the generic product are internationally acceptable and approved , and in comparable concentrations as those in the reference product ( Innovator ) / * Lead market brand . In the event that , this information about the reference product / Lead market brand cannot be provided by the applicant and the drug regulatory authority does not have access to these data , a full Clinical Trial ( Phase I - III ) studies shall be required . STUDY REPORT The study report to be submitted shall include the following ; 1 . Approval issued by an appropriate Independent Ethics Committee / Institutional Review Board . 2 . Signed informed consent forms from volunteers used for the Study 3 . Demography of volunteers used for the Study 4 . Bio - analytical Validation Results 5 . Results of Analysis · T otal Exposure or area under the concentration - time curve ( AUCt , AUC 0 - ¥ ) · Peak exposure ( C max ) · T ime to peak exposure ( Tmax ) · Lag Time ( T lag ) for modified release products if present · Terminal elimination half life · Other relevant pharmacokinetic parameters 6 . Conclusion Definition : Lead Market Brand : A lead market brand is a brand that shall be determined from time to time by Chief Executive of the Board . Pharmaceutically Equivalent Products : Products are pharmaceutically equivalent if they contain the same amount of active substances in the same dosage form ; meet the same comparable standards and are indicated to be administered by the same route . Pharmaceutical equivalence does not necessarily imply therapeutic equivalence as differences in the excipients and or the manufacturing process can lead to differences in product performance . NB : Failure to comply with these requirements shall result in disqualification of the application or lead to considerable delays in the processing time 6 . Requirements for the Registration of Drugs in Ghana IMPORTANT NOTICE No drug , cosmetic , medical device or household chemical substance manufactured , imported , exported , advertised , sold or distributed in Ghana unless it has been registered in accordance with section 18 of PNDCL 305B . Notwithstanding the provisions of this section 18 of PNDCL 305B , the Food and Drugs Board may grant a permit for the importation or manufacture of drugs , cosmetics , medical devices and chemical substances ( drug ) for the purpose of registration or clinical trial Application for the registration of drug shall : a ) be made in writing to the Board in such form the Board may prescribe b ) contain the particulars and description of the drug in respect of which the application is made c ) be accompanied by such fees as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time ADDITIONALLY The presentation of the product should not have any resemblance in spelling and pronunciation of name , or packaging to another product that has been previously registered by the Board For generics , evidence must be provided to the effect that the patent of the innovator company has expired If product is produced on contact manufacture , evidence of the contract must be produced and a Good Manufacturing Practice ( GMP ) certificate provided for manufacturing company from the regulatory authority . This must be clearly stated on the label , e . g . Manufactured by A for B All samples submitted should conform to labelling regulations in force in Ghana The use of International Non - proprietary Names ( INN ' s ) as brand names are not permitted . Although foreign clinical data is acceptable , the Board may request for local clinical trials based on the WHO guidelines for Good Clinical Practice ( GCP ) for Trials on Pharmaceutical Products at its own discretion especially for products meant for the treatment of tropical diseases . The cost shall be borne by the applicant . The Board in considering an application : may ask the applicant to supply such other information as may be required to enable it reach a decision on the application . shall satisfy itself that there is the need to have the drug registered in Ghana . may consult with other bodies and experts with knowledge in the drug A form submitted for the registration of drugs under these regulations shall have attached thereof : - samples of the drug as may be prescribed for locally manufactured drugs , the original certificate of analysis on the drug issued by the certified public analyst for imported drugs a certificate of manufacture and product issued in accordance with the WHO certification scheme on drugs moving in international commerce from the statutory body in charge in the country of origin the evidence of any special labelling claims of the character , quality and safety of the drug the agreement from the manufacture to register the drug in Ghana Any person given the power shall be required to satisfy the Board that he / she has the resources and facility to execute an effective recall of the product if the need arises . Where the Board is satisfied that there is the need to register the drug , it does so and issue to the applicant a certificate of registration , subject to such conditions as may be deemed necessary . The registration of a drug under these regulations , unless otherwise revoked , shall be valid for a period of 3 years and may be renewed . No persons shall disclose an information supplied to the the Board in pursuance of section 2 of these regulations except : - with the written consent of the persons who supplied the information , or in accordance with the directive of the Board ; or for the purpose of a legal process under the PNDCL 305B The Board may cancelled the registration of a drug if : - the registered drug is later found to be false or incomplete ; or the circumstances under which the drug was registered no longer exists ; or any of the provisions under which the drug was registered has been contravened ; or the standard of quality , safety and efficacy as prescribed in the documentation for registration is not being complied with ; or the premises in which the drug or part thereof is manufactured , assembled or stored by or on behalf of the holder of the certificate of registration are unsuitable for the manufacture , assembling or storage of the drug where the registration of the drug is suspended or cancelled , the Board shall cause the withdrawal from circulation of that drug and shall accordingly cause the suspension , cancellation or withdrawal to be published in the Gazette . 7 . Requirements for the Registration of Cosmetics , Household Chemical Substances and Medical Devices in Ghana The Food and Drugs Law ( PNDCL 305 ) Section 51 defines Cosmetics , Chemical Substances and Medical Devices as : - Cosmetics : - Includes any substance of mixture of substances manufactured , sold , or represented for use in cleansing , improving or altering the complexion , skin , hair , or teeth and includes deodorants and perfumes . Chemical Substance : - means any substance or mixture if substances prepared , sold or represented for use as : Germicide Antiseptic Disinfectant Pesticide Insecticide Vermicide Detergent or any other substance or mixture of substances which the Minister of Health may after consultation with the Board , declare to be a chemical substance . Medical Device : - means any instrument or apparatus including components , parts and accessories of if manufactured , sold or represented for use in the diagnosis , treatment , mitigation or prevention of disease , disorder or abnormal physical state , or the symptoms of it in man or animal No cosmetic , medical device or chemical substance ( called product under this context ) can be manufactured , imported , exported , advertised , sold or distributed in Ghana unless it has been registered in accordance with Section 18 of PNDCL 305B . Notwithstanding the provision of ( 1 ) above of this section , the Food and Drugs Board may grant permit for importation or manufacture of cosmetics , medical devices and chemical substances for the purpose of registration or clinical trial , where applicable . Application for the registration of a product shall : be made in writing to the Board in such a form the Board may prescribe . contain the particulars and description of product in respect of which the application is made . be accompanied by such fees as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time . ADDITIONALLY The presentation of the product should not have any resemblance in spelling and pronunciation of name , or packaging to another product that has been previously registered by the Board If product is produced on contact manufacture , evidence of the contract must be produced and a Good Manufacturing Practice ( GMP ) certificate provided for manufacturing company from the regulatory authority . This must be clearly stated on the label , e . g . Manufactured by A for B All samples submitted should conform to labelling regulations in force in Ghana Products that are cosmetics but which are intended to treat or prevent disease , or to affect the structure of functions of the human body must comply with both the drug and cosmetic provisions and regulations e . g . Fluoride toothpastes , acne preparations , antiperspirants and sunscreens . The Board in considering an application : may ask the applicant to supply such other information as may be required to enable it reach a decision on the application . shall satisfy itself that there is the need to have the drug registered in Ghana . may consult with other bodies and experts with knowledge in the drug A form submitted for the registration of drugs under these regulations shall have attached thereof : - samples of the product as may be prescribed for locally manufactured products , the original certificate of analysis on the product may be required , where applicable the evidence of any special labelling claims of the character , quality and safety of the product the agreement from the manufacture to register the product in Ghana Any person given the power shall be required to satisfy the Board that he / she has the resources and facility to execute an effective recall of the product if the need arises . Where the Board is satisfied that there is the need to register the product , it does so and issue to the applicant a certificate of registration , subject to such conditions as may be deemed necessary . The registration of a product under these regulations , unless otherwise revoked , shall be valid for a period of 3 years and may be renewed The Board shall from time to time publish a notice in the Gazette notifying the registration of products under these regulations No persons shall disclose an information supplied to the the Board in pursuance of section 2 of these regulations except : - with the written consent of the persons who supplied the information , or in accordance with the directive of the Board ; or for the purpose of a legal process under the PNDCL 305B The Board may cancel the registration of a product if : - the registered product is later found to be false or incomplete ; or the circumstances under which the product was registered no longer exists ; or any of the provisions under which the product was registered has been contravened ; or the standard of quality , safety and efficacy as prescribed in the documentation for registration is not being complied with ; or the premises in which the product or part thereof is manufactured , assembled or stored by or on behalf of the holder of the certificate of registration are unsuitable for the manufacture , assembling or storage of the product where the registration of the product is suspended or cancelled , the Board shall cause the withdrawal from circulation of that product and shall accordingly cause the suspension , cancellation or withdrawal to be published in the Gazette . 8 . Requirements for the Establishment of Industries for the Manufacture of Drugs , Cosmetics , Medical Devices and Household Chemical Substances APPLICATION All applications for the establishments of manufacturing industries shall be accompanied by a site plan , basic floor plan showing plant installation and an Environmental permit from Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) in Ghana . PERSONNEL Qualified persons and supervisory personnel in charge of release , production and quality control shall have suitable qualification , training and experience in the product to manufactured . PREMISES Manufacturing premises , among other Departments shall have Production and Quality Control Departments , which shall operate independently of each other The building within which the manufacturing activities are carried out shall be constructed , equipped and maintained for its purpose . EQUIPMENT Manufacturing equipment and utensils must be of such design , placed and maintained in such a way that is suitable for the purpose of manufacturing such products , ease of cleaning maintenance and use . SANITATION Appropriate sanitation practices shall be observed within the manufacturing premises to ensure the safety of product . Staff shall undergo periodic health checks to ensure that they are healthy at all times Staff shall be provided with appropriate protective clothing , which shall be worn at all times RECORD KEEPING Appropriate record of all raw materials shall be kept at any stage in the manufacturing process . all batch or serial record shall be kept for a minimum period of five years to meet future requirements . Separate samples taken from each batch or series in sufficient quantities shall be kept under suitable storage conditions and monitored until expiry . Adequate records shall be kept and maintained of all batches produced . Records of complaints on product quality and adverse reactions must be kept and investigated . The Food and Drugs shall be immediately informed of any such incident that may be hazardous to health . PRODUCT RECALL The industry shall have a well laid down and documented recall procedure to recall any product for which there shall be adverse findings , a copy of which shall be lodge with the Food and Drugs Board PREMISES RE - LOCATION In the case the production premises are moved out of their present building , the Board shall be informed in writing and all the requirements set out by this guideline shall be complied with . SITE MASTER FILE INFORMATION General Information Factory Location Exact location and bordering institutions and the effect of the operations of the institutions on the factory . Product List Personnel Organisational Chart Distribution of personnel as per Departments . Responsibilities of each Departments Key personnel and their responsibilities Health of personnel policy Protective clothing policy Premises Nature of building / structures General information about interior surfaces Drainage system and effluent discharges Plumbing work Electrical system and power source Ventilation Water system Equipment Type Maintenance / SOPs Quality control equipment validation and calibration Sanitation Approved and documented SOPs Fumigants , rodenticides and registered pest control operators Effluent discharge and treatment Documentation on Production Raw materials : type and sources , quality control etc In process quality control system Finished products : process validation Contract manufacture Distribution , complaints and product recall procedures Internal inspection procedures / mechanism Appendices Organisational Chart Ground plans indicating positions of various equipment and facilities Any other relevant information REQUIREMENTS FOR GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICE Systems of quality control and assurance Qualification of Personnel Design , Operation , and Maintenance of building equipment Procedures and records that permit tracing the lot history of the manufacture , packaging , and distribution of the product Handling and control of raw materials , process aids , intermediates and finished products Product containers , closures , and labelling Master manufacturing , batch production , packaging , and distribution records Laboratory and inspection controls , including the effect of process changes Product stability Systems for holding and disposing of returned materials and rejected products Procedures for investigating complaint and taking appropriate corrective actions STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES There should be a comprehensive system so designed , documented , implemented and controlled and so furnished with personnel , equipment and other resources as to provide assurance that products will be consistently produced of a quality appropriate for their intended use . In every process , no matter how inconsequential , there are steps to be followed . Each step taken should be outlined to give others the knowledge of how the operation is to be performed . verbal explanation can be misleading . The only method of instruction is a written standard procedure of operation . Standard Operating Procedures ( SOPs ) should be written in instructional form and in clear unambiguous language to give others the knowledge of how the operation is to be performed e . g . cleaning , clothing , sampling and equipment operation For consistency , a specific format for writing SOPs should be adopted . The most widely used format is one , which divides the procedure into five main parts . Objective Scope Responsibility Procedure Review and Retention Objective This section should explain the main purpose of the SOP i . e . defining whether it is to outline the method of operation , sanitation , maintenance or any other purpose for which it was written . Scope This section explains the limitations in the writer ' s mind i . e . does it apply to a specific piece of equipment or to all the equipment in the factory ? Responsibility In this section , responsibility is assigned to an individual or group to assure that the procedure is enforced and conducted as written . Procedure Step by step direction are given so as to be understood on the level of the operator to eliminate any possible misinterpretation . Review and Retention A statement of the policy regarding review should be made and a listing of any existing revisions , their dates and the purpose of such revision is given in this section . Each time a revision is made , it should include :

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The National Commission on Culture was established in 1990 by Provisional National Defense Council Law 238 to manage from a holistic perspective , the Cultural life of the country . In the execution of the aforementioned , the National Commission on Culture is enjoined , among other things , to promote the evolution of an integrated National Culture , supervise the implementation of programmes for the preservation , promotion and representation of Ghana tradition and values ; and perform such other functions as may be prescribed by government . The Cultural Policy Document This Cultural Policy Document is the result of many years of deliberation and discussion at several workshops and public forums . It is dedicated to the realization of the Vision of the people of Ghana to respect , preserve , harness and use their cultural heritage and resources to develop a united , vibrant and prosperous national community with a distinctive African identity and personality and a collective confidence and pride of place among the comity of Nations . Download the whole document by clicking on this link .... Cultural Policy NATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ARTS AND CULTURE - ( NAFAC ) The National Festival of Arts and Culture ( NAFAC 2005 ) would be celebrated in grand style in Wa , the Upper West regional capital from November 17 to 26 , 2006 , under the theme “ Culture – a vehicle for wealth creation ” Click photo to enlarge History : It has been established that the celebration of the National Festival of Arts and Culture ( NAFAC ) dates back to the 1960 ’ s , when the first organized festival was held in Kumasi . Read More ... KIDDAFEST 06 ! KIDDAFEST 06 !! KIDDAFEST 06 !!! Kiddafest ! Kiddafest !! Kiddafest !!! The Accra International Children ' s Arts festival bounces back big this year to put the smile on the faces of our children who are our future leaders . DATE : 15TH _17TH DECEMBER 2006 THEME : " SHAPING TOMORROW THROUGH THE ARTS " . TIME : 10 . 00 A . M - 6 : 00 P . M . DAILY VENUE : NATIONAL THEATRE OF GHANA Read More ... First Fontomfrom Festival The Eastern Regional Centre for National Culture organized the first Fontomfrom Festival this year . Many may keep wondering why Fontomfrom Festival . Fontomfrom is the only court music and dance that is yet to be polluted with foreign gestures . Though many a time , performers are seen in very inappropriate costumes due to one reason or the other .

The Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS ) was established on 28th May , 1975 , in Lagos , Nigeria . The idea for a West African Community goes back to President William Tubman of Liberia , who made the call in 1964 . An agreement was signed between Cote d ’ Ivoire , Guinea , Liberia and Sierra Leone in February , 1965 , but this came to nothing . In April , 1972 , General Gowon on Nigeria drew up proposals and toured 12 countries , soliciting their plan from July to August 1973 . A meeting was then called al Lome from 10 - 15 December , 1973 , which studied a draft treaty . This was further examined at a meeting of experts and jurists in Accra in January 1974 and by a Ministerial meeting in Monrovia in January , 1975 . Finally , 15 West African Countries signed the treaty for an Economic Community of West African States ( Treaty of Lagos ) on 28th May , 1975 . The Protocols launching ECOWAS were signed in Lome , Togo on 5th November , 1976 . In July , 1993 , a revised ECOWAS Treaty designed to accelerate economic integration and to increase political co - operation , was signed . ECOWAS has been designated one of the five regional pillars of the African Economic Community ( AEC ) . ECOWAS is composed of the following West African Countries : Benin Burkina Faso Cape Verde Cote d ’ Ivoire The Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea - Bissau Liberia Mali Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo The Headquarters is at Abuja , the Federal Republic of Nigeria . Objectives * To promote co - operation and integration leading to the establishment of an economic union in West Africa in order to raise the living standards of its peoples ; * To ensure economic growth ; * Foster relations among Member States and contribute to the progress and development of the African continent . Ecowas Fundamental Principles * Equality and interdependence of Member States ; * Inter - State co - operation ; * Solidarity and collective self - reliance ; * Harmonization of policies and integration programmes ; * Non - aggression between Member States ; * Maintenance of regional peace , stability and security ; * Peaceful settlement of disputes ; * Respect , promote and protection of human rights ; * Promotion and consolidation of democracy * Accountability , economic and social justice . HOW TO ACHIEVE OBJECTIVES * Harmonizing , co - ordinating national policies and promoting , integration programmes , projects and activities ; * Promoting the establishment of joint production and join venture enterprises ; * Establishing a common market ; * Establishing an Economic Union through adoption of common policies in the economic , financial , social and cultural sectors and the creation of a Single Monetary Zone ; * Strengthening relations and promoting the flow of information among civic society , organizations , media , workers , and trade unions . Institutions * The Authority of Heads of State and Government ; * The Council of Ministers ; * The Community Parliament ( Abuja ) ; * ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development ( EBID ) ( Lome ) ; * ECOWAS Regional Investment ; * West African Monetary Agency ( WAMA ) ( Sierra Leone ) ; * West African Monetary Institute ( WAMI ) ( Ghana ) ; * West African Health Organisation ( WAHO ) ( Burkina Faso ) ; * ECOWAS Gender Development Centre ; * The specialized Technical Commissions . Authority Of Heads Of State And Governement The Authority of Heads of State and Government of Member States is the Supreme institution of the Community and is composed of Heads of State and Government of Member States . The Authority is responsible for the general direction and control of the Community and takes all measures to ensure its progressive development and the realization of its objectives . It undertakes the under listed functions . * Determines , the general policy and major guidelines of the Community , gives directives ; * Harmonizes and co - ordinates the economic , scientific , technical , cultural and social polices of Member States ; * Oversees the functioning of Community institutions and follow - up implementation of Community objectives ; * Prepares and adopts its rules of procedure ; * Appoints the Executive Secretary in accordance with the provision of the Treaty ; * Appoints on the recommendations of Council , the External Auditor ; * Delegates to the Council , where necessary , the authority to take such decisions as stipulated in the Treaty ; * Refers where it deems necessary any mater to the Community Court of Justice when it confirms , that a Member State or Institution of the Community has failed to honour any of its authority or has abused the powers conferred on it by the provisions of the Treaty , by a decision of the Authority or a regulation of the Council ; * Requests the Community Court of Justice as , and when necessary , to give advisory opinion on legal questions ; * Exercises any other power conferred on it under the Treaty . The Authority meets at least once a year in Ordinary session . An extraordinary session may be convened by the Chairman of the Authority or at the request of a Member State provided that such a request is supported by a simple majority of the Member States . The Office of the Chairman is held every year by a member State elected by the Authority . Council Of Ministers The council comprises the Minister in - charge of ECOWAS Affairs and any other Minister of each Member State . The Council is responsible for the functioning and development of the Community . Its functions include the following : Make recommendations to the Authority on any action aimed at attaining the objectives of the Community ; * Appoint all statutory appointees other than the Executive Secretary ; * By the powers delegated to it by the Authority , issue directives on matters concerning co - ordination and harmonization of economic integration policies ; * Make recommendations to the Authority on the appointment of the External Auditors ; * Prepare and adopt its rules of procedure ; * Adopt the staff regulations and approve the organizational structure of the institutions of the Community ; * Approve the work programmes and budgets of the Community and its institutions ; * Request the Community Court of Justice , where necessary to give advisory opinion on any legal questions ; * Carry out all other functions assigned to it under the ECOWAS Treaty and exercise all powers delegated to it by the Authority . The Council meets at least twice a year in Ordinary Session . One of such sessions shall immediately precede the ordinary session of the Authority . An extraordinary session may be convened by the Chairman of the Council or at the request of a Member State provided that such request is supported by a simple majority of the Member States . The Office of Chairman of Council is held by the Minister responsible for ECOWAS Affairs of the Member State elected as Chairman of the Authority . Community Parliament The ECOWAS Parliament convened in May , 2002 , with 115 of Parliament representing all the Member States except Cote d ’ Ivoire . Togo , Liberia , Cape Verde , Guinea , Guinea Bissau , Republic of Benin , the Gambia and Sierra Leone have five ( 5 ) Parliamentarians each ; Burkina Faso , Mali , Niger and Senegal have six ( 6 ) Parliamentarians each ; Cote d ” Ivoire is entitled to seven ( 7 ) representatives ; Ghana has eight ( 8 ) and Nigeria has thirty - five ( 35 ) . Membership is constituted from the membership of the national parliaments of each member state , should a member lose his / her seat in the national parliament , they would lose their seats in the regional parliament . The ECOWAS Parliament is situated in Abuja , Nigeria and at present only acts in a consultative and advisory capacity . The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament , Professor Ali Nouhoum Diallo , has expressed the intention of the Parliament to acquire legislative powers in the future as well as to institute directly elected representatives . Community Court Of Justice In October , 1999 , ECOWAS decided to establish a Court of Justice following a two - day meeting of Ministers of Justice in Abuja . The Court addresses complaints from Member States and institutions of ECOWAS , as well as issues relating to defaulting nation . The Court is a permanent institution and has a President , Chief registrar and seven judges . Excutive Secretariat The Executive Secretary is elected for a four - year term , which may be renewed only . The current Executive is Dr . Mohammed Ibn Chambas of Ghana . Specialised Commissions The following Technical Commissions are established within the Economic Community of West African States : * Food and Agriculture ; * Industry , Science and Technology and Energy ; * Environment and Natural Resources ; * Transport , Communications and Tourism ; * Trade , Customs , Taxation , Statistics , Money Payments ; * Political , Judicial and Legal Affairs , Regional Security and Immigration ; * Human Resources , Information , Social and Cultural Affairs ; * Administration and Finance Commission . H . E . President Mamadou Tandja of Niger currently chairs ECOWAS . Some Achievements Made So Far Trade , Immigration And Customs * Creation of a Free Trade Area in progress * Elimination of customs duties and taxes of equivalent effect on goods and approved products ; * Removal of non - tariff barriers on trade of goods within Member States ; * Harmonization of trade liberalization scheme between ECOWAS and UEMOA ; * Establishment of the Automated Systems of Customs Data ( ASYCUDA ) * Implementation of Community levy . Trade Promotion * Organization of three Trade Fairs ( 1995 , 1999 and 2003 ) * Creation of Trade Opportunities Management Systems ( SIGOATOPS ) Free Movement Of Persons * Abolition of Visa * Right of residence and establishment * Removal of roadblocks and security checkpoints * Introduction of ECOWAS Passport * Harmonization of Customs documents , regulation and formalities . Tourism Development of hotel classification system for West Africa . Monetary And Financial Matters * Harmonization of economic and fiscal policies * Facilitation and liberalization of payments * Circulation of ECOWAS Travelers ’ Cheque * Establishment of ECOBANK * Establishment of the West African Monetary Institute ( WAMI ) Transport * Establishment of ECOMARINE * Construction of the trans - coastal ( from Lagos to Nouakchott ) and of the trans - sahelian highways ( from Dakar to N ’ Djamena ) , a total of 9000 km of road and 11000 km interconnecting roads to open up land - locked countries * Establishment of ECOWAS Brown Card insurance scheme * Standardization of transport legislation in Member States Agriculture * Establishment of seed production centers in nine Member States * Establishment of eight cattle breeding centers in three Member States * Control of animal diseases * Publication of “ pesticides Bulletin ” on the use of risk - free pestcides . * Publication of ECOWAS Transhumance Certificate Industry * ECOWAS Industrial Master Plan * 64 projects at the Investors ’ Forum , now being implemented Energy * Master plan for development of the means of energy production and interconnection of electricity grids * Adoption of an Energy Charter Treaty Environment * Ban on movement and deposit of toxic wastes within ECOWAS Member States * Control of the spread of floating weeds Youth , Sports , Culture And Social Affairs * Award of two ECOWAS Prizes of Excellence in African Pharmacopoeia ( 1997 ) and Literature ( 1999 ) * Creation of the Forum of Associations Recognized by ECOWAS ( FARE ) * Creation of socio - professional organisations ( women , youth , journalists , sports , economic operators , etc ) * Institutionalisation of the ECOWAS African Wrestling Tournaments Health And Drug Control * Creation of a single West African Health Organisation ( WAHO ) * Adoption of harmonized laws on drug control * Establishment of ECODRUG Fund Gender Issues * Creation of the West African Women ’ s Association * Adoption of an ECOWAS Gender Policy Education * Establishment of the Decade of Education in West Africa ( DEWA ) * Adoption of an ECOWAS Protocol on Education and Training . Telecommunications * Connection of West African capitals by automatic telephone , telex and telefax links through the Intelcom 1 Programme * Creation of the Lome telecommunications centre Peacekeeping And Good Governance * Adoption of the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention , Management and Resolution , Peace and Security * Adoption of the Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance * Creation of a West African peacekeeping force called ECOMOG - end of eight - year civil war and organisation of democratic elections in 1997 in Liberia * Restoration of peace and security in Sierra Leone * Contribution to the return of peace in Guinea Bissau and Cote D ’ Ivoire * Declaration of the Moratorium on the Importation , Exportation and Manufacture of Light weapons in West Africa * Destruction of weapons in Liberia , Sierra Leone , Mali , Niger and Nigeria – mutual assistance in criminal matters * Adoption of the Protocol on the Fight Against Corruption Fight Against Crime * Establishment of the Inter - Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering ( GIABA ) in Dakar Prospects * Institutionalising of ECOFEST ( ECOWAS Festival of Arts and Culture ) * Interconnection of railway lines * Harmonisation of ECOWAS maritime regulations * Harmonisation of telecommunications policies and establishment of regional regulatory body * Implementation of Intercom II Programme : digitalisation of inter – state link using new technologies and provision of new services * Energy distribution via the West African Power Pool * Construction of a gas pipeline from Nigeria to Ghana * Creation of a borderless zone * Harmonisation of economic and financial policies * Harmonisation of commercial laws * Extradition * Adoption of ECOWAS Convention on the Recognition of Equivalence of Degrees , Certificates and other Qualities * Introduction of a single tourist visa * Establishment of observatories on bad practices along West African corridors * Construction of joint border posts * Creation of an ECOWAS Radio / Television Station Chalenges * Consolidation of democracy and reinforcement of good governance * Consolidation of regional peace and security and sustainable economic development * Eradication of poverty * Greater involvement of the private sector in integration activities * Greater involvement of civil society and women in integration programmes * Industrialisation of the region * Protection of the environment * Ensuring food security in the sub - region Some Achievements Made By The ECOWAS Division In Ghana * Two hundred and twenty ( 220 ) Ghanaian companies and over three hundred ( 300 ) products have being admitted to the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme ( ETLS ) . * Half yearly luncheons for ECOWAS Ambassadors and High Commissioners have been instituted since 2001 . This offers an opportunity for the Ambassadors and High Commissioners to discuss trade and investment within the sub - region . * A Technical Committee on the Interstate Road Transit ( ISRT ) under the supervision of the National Guarantor ( SIC ) has been formed to oversee the launching and implementation of the ISRT Convention . * Bilateral Talks on Trade between Ghana and Burkina Faso and Cote D ’ Ivoire in 2003 were held to promote economic co - operation . * In the Ministry ’ s determination to get non - tariff barriers lowered or removed for Ghanaian exporters to the sub - region , it successfully organised an ECOWAS Exporters ’ Forum in Accra , in 2003 to identify the challenges to trade in ECOWAS sub - region . * The Ministry assisted Ghanaian Companies to participate in Trade Fairs in Burkina Faso and the ECOWAS Trade Fair in Lome . This was an avenue to showcase made in Ghana and some companies have testified about the demand for their products . * The Ministry is establishing a National Approval Committee to expedite review of applications of companies to be admitted under the ETLS . The period required for the registration of companies to the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme has been shortened from one - year period to three months . * The Ministry successfully hosted and participated in the under listed ECOWAS Statutory Meetings : * Regional Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper , 6 - 7 November , 2003 ; * Launch of SIGOA - TOPS Trade Opportunities Programme , 10th November , 2003 ; * Regional Transport Facilitation , 10 - 12 November , 2003 ; * ECOWAS Common External Tariff , 12 - 13 November , 2003 ; * Donors Co - ordination meeting on NEPAD , 14 - 15 November , 2003 ; * Ministers for Trade and Finance Forum , 17th November , 2003 ; * Energy Commission ( Science & Tech . ) , 21 - 22 November . 2003 ; * ECOSTAT Steering Committee ( Directors of Statistics and European Commission ) , 1 - 2 December , 2003 ; * Inaugural Meeting of ECOSTAT Project ( Harmonization of National Accounts ) and Price indices , 3 - 5 December , 2003 ; * Trade and Customs Commission , 4 - 6 December , 2003 ; * 28th Meeting of the Administration and Finance Commission , 8 - 13 December , 2003 ; * Technical , Monitoring Committee ( Monetary Co - operation ) , 14 - 15 December , 2003 ; * 51st Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers , 15 - 16 December , 2003 ; * Committee of Governors of the 2nd West Africa Monetary Zone , 16th December , 2003 ; * Meeting of the Convergence Council , 17th December , 2003 ; * Extraordinary Meeting of the Board of Governors of the EBID , 17th December , 2003 ; * 27th Summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government , 19th December , 2003 . * The Ministry has established an Inter - Ministerial Committee , under the Chairmanship of H . E . The Vice President of Ghana , to implement Bilateral Agreements reached between Ghana - Burkina Faso and Ghana - Cote d ’ Ivoire in October and September , 2003 respectively . * The Ministry has carried out sensitization programmes on the 2nd Monetary Zone ( WAMZ ) . In this connection , a public forum was organized at the University of Ghana and fifteen appearances were made on radio to educate the public on the introduction of the common currency ( ECO ) . For more information about ECOWAS , visit the following websites

Since 1998 , ISODEC has been working with the District Assemblies of Sekyere East , Asante Akim South , Ahafo - Ano North in the Ashanti Region and Jama and Asutifi in the Brong Ahafo Region , to develop and implement a three - year ( 1998 - 2001 ) Girl Child Education Project ( GCEP ) aimed specifically at promoting the access of the girl - child to good quality and enjoyable education , especially at the basic level after piloting the concept for six months . Both the pilot and the first phases of the project received financial support from the Netherlands Organization for International Development Corporation ( NOVIB ) . These were supplemented by contributions from the five participating districts assemblies . The Federation of Africa Women Educationists ( FAWE ) and Alliance also provided financial and skills development support to the project . The project was evaluated after two years of its implementation . The findings of the evaluation coupled with recommendations from post evaluation meetings ISODEC held with key stakeholders , including annual stakeholders review workshops provided inputs for formulating approaches for the second phase of the project ( 2001 - 2004 ) . Under the second phase , ISODEC proposed an expansion of the project to the Northern part of the country to include one district in the Northern Region and two districts in the Upper East Region . Impact of phase 1 Phase 1 of the project recorded a number of achievements some of which were acknowledged and recommended in its evaluation report . Two Girl - Child Project Units were set up in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions including the establishing of District Management Teams ( DMTs ) in the five participating districts . 3 , 800 needy but brilliant girls received scholarships between 1999 and 2001 . Out of this number 300 completed the Junior Secondary School ( JSS ) and 50 completed their Senior Secondary School ( SSS ) education . Many Study Tours and holiday classes were organized for a cross section of girls in the districts . After each tour , the participating girls organised public fora in their respective schools to share their experiences with their mates . These activities were highly patronized during the first phase and generated a healthy competition among the girls . A series of competitions including quizzes in Mathematics , English , Science , General Knowledge and Drama were organized for the schools . A research was conducted into existing laws and legislations that affect girl child education and how they could be rectified . ISODEC subsidised the supply of fuel for the Circuit Supervisors in the districts to enhance their supervisory work in the schools . TVs and video decks were acquired for all the districts for their community sensitization activities on girl - child education , entertainment and education of study club members . The district desk officers for Girl Child Education and the district planners were trained in basic computer skills . Refresher courses were also organized for both head masters and teachers , district guidance and counseling officers , house - mistresses of boarding houses and study club facilitators . Workshops on child rights and gender issues were organized for some selected stakeholders and girls . DMT members , study club facilitators were also trained to facilitate the participation of their constituencies . Radio talk shows on the education of the girl child were held on the various local radio stations . Presently a GCEP scholarship beneficiary parents association has been formed . To motivate girls to enjoy education , study clubs were organised for them to improve their performance in class . Currently there are ninety [ 90 } active clubs . The activities of these clubs are however closely monitored to achieve its intended purpose . Challenges The evaluation of the first phase of the project revealed that one of the greatest challenges of the project was mainstreaming the project activities into the core activities of the participating assemblies . This is because the sustenance of the project lies in the ability of the Assemblies to completely take over the project after ISODEC and Novib have withdrawn their support . The second challenge is increasing the tempo of civic education in the communities . The only way to hold the assemblies to their responsibilities is to have communities that are well informed on their basic human rights and responsibilities . Successes under phase 2 The reading and learning culture among children ( both boys and girls ) has greatly improved in communities that benefited from the library project . The libraries are over crowded especially at night . In most cases , arrangements are made to allow the children to read in the open , under supervision of parents who volunteer to assist the librarian . Children have been grouped into and zones that go to the library on rotational bases . It has also been observed that street walking in the night by the children in these communities has become a thing of the past . There are plans to construct larger libraries and levy parents to buy more books . Community involvement in the project has greatly improved as a result of the Community Management Team concept being piloted in these districts which allows communities to meet to discuss issues related to education . Decisions taken at these levels are related to the DMTs through the community representatives . The project has succeeded in getting the District Assemblies ( DAs ) to address issues of poor parents of girls on scholarship . This was made possible by the formation of Beneficiary Parents Associations who were trained to lobby the DAs to link them to the poverty alleviation schemes . In collaboration with the office of Ghana Education Service , data on Growth of Enrolment for both boys and girls was collected in Brong Ahafo and Ashanti Regions . The data covered the period between 1997 - 2002 and 1998 - 2001 for Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions respectively . On the whole the analysis shows that , there is a steady growth in enrolment figures for both boys and girls . In terms of percentage increment , the girls are slightly above the boys at all levels in the two districts . Endowment Fund In an opinion survey carried out by the subcommittee monitoring the project , the response by the 20 parents of beneficiaries interviewed revealed the following ; That 90 % are happy with the scholarship scheme since they have been ableo to save some money to expand their farms . The scholarship package has boosted the confidence to their children who are now , well dressed and attend school regularly . One positive development is that poor parents have seen the need to send children to school and are sending their girls to schools whiles some drop out girls have been encouraged to return to school . The phase II of the GCEP is in its final year of operation and it has become necessary to evaluate the impact of the project after six years of existence . Following this , the Sunyani office organised a workshop to discuss the impending withdrawal of ISODEC and NOVIB from the project at the end of the year . Key staff of the District Assemblies and District Directors of education participated in a rather interesting workshop however none of the District Chief Executives invited attended the workshop . The workshop highlighted the implementation gaps and way forward for sustainability of the project . Weaknesses and threats identified at the workshop included ; Inadequate counterpart funding by DAs Transportation difficulties for project activities Collapse of other intervention activities of the GCEP apart from scholarships due to lack of funds Large size of project area making monitoring difficult . Negative cultural practices Poor accessibility to remote areas eg . Afram plains . and the overseas areas . Frequent transfers of project staff Lack of interest by political leaders Way forward The fact still remains that funds from the District Assemblies alone cannot support the project activities . The District Assemblies are therefore prepared to collaborate with or partner with organisations , local or international to continue this good work . Critical areas of support and collaboration are : Continuation of the scholarship scheme for needy but brilliant girls Provision of financial support or micro credit facilities to Beneficiary Parents Association . Support to disabled children . Continued capacity building for the district assemblies and key stakeholders in education Tracking expenditure on educational budget allocation to the district assemblies . Research into private schools with regards to accessibility and the inequalities in education . Vigorous campaigns to sensitise rural communities on the right to educate their children and also on free education Success stories The cases below are stories of some girls who have benefited from the project from the various districts . Sekyere East District In 1998 / 99 , one of the girls who took part in our quiz competition for JSS girls in the Sekyere East District was adjourned one of the best and awarded the project scholarship . She completed JSS in the year 2000 . She was identified during a monitoring trip at Oguaa ( her community ) and was given a scholarship to attend a Senior Sec . School . She is presently at St Louis Training College in Kumasi and teaching in her community as a pupil teacher . Ahafo Ano North District One of our beneficiaries in this district Emefa Attipo was adjourned the best Science student girl at the JSS level in the Ashanti region . Though she could not make it at the national level , she was rewarded for making the project proud . She is being supported to further her education in science at the SSS if she performs very well at the Basic Education Certificate Examination . Emefa is currently studying at the Anglican Secondary School in Kumasi . Asante Akim South District In Ashanti Akim district a girl alleged to be a " witch " and driven out by her mother and step - father has completed the JSS education however not with good results . The DMT is making efforts to get her into a vocational training school whiles efforts are being made to reconcile her to her parents . Jaman District ( Case 1 : ) The parents of a brilliant girl at Our Lady of Providence Senior Secondary School at Drobo abandoned her and did not pay her school fees . The head mistress approached the DMT and they agreed to settle the fees . The DMT is making efforts to reconcile the girl and her parents . Case 2 : A sad story was told of Mavis Abubakar whose mother being the breadwinner for the family developed a mental problem and therefore could not cater for her three children . Mavis , the second child of her parents passed the BECE in the year 2002 with aggregate 20 . Considering the plight of her parents it was clear that there was no way she could continue her education . Mavis therefore boldly went to a radio FM station to solicit for financial assistance from the general public . A DMT member heard about the announcement and raised the issue at the bimonthly DMT meeting . It was agreed that Mavis should be enrolled onto the scholarship scheme . She is currently at OLP Girls Senior Secondary School at Drobo in the Jaman District . The scholarship is unable to cover the total cost of fees therefore the Benewa scholarship fund has been approached to pay part of her fees . The DMT is monitoring her performance . Asutifi District Salamatu Adamu was seen roaming in the community of Biaso during a monitoring visit to her community . She had completed JSS and passed with aggregate 13 in the BECE examination but was living with her poor mother and grandmother . The monitoring team took her profile to the DMT who arranged with the headmistress of OLA Girls Senior Secondary School in Kenyasi to admit her into SS1 . Salamatu is currently in the SS1 and doing very well . She is staying with one of the DMT members in Kenyasi till the next academic year when she moves into the boarding house . West Mamprusi District After a sensitisation meeting with potter girls or " Kayayea " in the local language , a documentary exposing the hazards of their activities was shown . A parent who attended the meeting later reported that his daughter , a scholarship beneficiary was planning to leave school to take up the ' Kayayo ' trade in Accra . The team then counselled her and she decided to continue her education . She is back in school and doing very well . Cedi Finance Foundation ( CFF ) Introduction Cedi Finance Foundation ( CFF ) has entered its fifth year of operation and is gradually working its way into being a main force in the micro finance industry . CFF , which is located in Kumasi provides financial services to small - scale entrepreneurs engaged in Processing , manufacturing , commerce and services . CFF operates in all the four sub - metros in Kumasi Metropolitan Area . Financial constraint however , has slowed down its growth . Clientele size CFF works with seventy - seven ( 77 ) organized groups with an average membership of sixteen and few individual clients . The total clientele size is 1 , 300 with eighty per cent being women . Most of these women are engaged in gari baking , palm - kernel oil extraction , Beads making , local soap making among others . Savings Savings is basic to every financial intermediation and for this reason , CFF facilitates the mobilization of savings . This provides an opportunity for those at the lowest end of the economic ladder to develop the culture of savings and build social and economic security . As at the end of December 31 , 2003 , CFF has facilitated savings mobilization of ¢ 300 million which is being held by standard Chartered Bank , Harper Road Branch . Clients within the period made savings withdrawal to the tune of ¢ 260 million . Loans granted By year ending December 31 , 2003 , CFF disbursed a total loan of ¢ 1 . 105billion to its clients . Fifty - nine per cent ( 59 % ) of the total was disbursed to women . Outstanding loan portfolio ( by year - end December 2003 ) -

A Quarterly Newsletter of the Ghana Question and Answer Service ( GAINS ) In this issue Master Plan for CSIR - INSTI Seminar for Female Scientists in Accra Guidelines to maintain quality during tomato post - harvest handling in Ghana Recipe for an Extension Officer Sweet potato biscuits Sweet potato pastry pies Pineapple Plantlets Project Resources available at GAINS Training programmes at CSIR - INSTI 2005 Master Plan for CSIR - INSTI In line with CSIR Strategic plan 2005 - 2010 , the Institute has developed a Master Plan with the following goal :  To strengthen INSTI to become a Centre of Excellence for Science and Technology Information ( STI ) services . Ultimately , it will seek to strengthen the capabilities of all the S & T information systems within the country , as envisaged under GHASTINET through the establishment of well - coordinated decentralized national network systems like GAINS using appropriate ICT tools to facilitate access to information resources to support R & D activities nation - wide . In the Master Plan strategies and activities have been developed to achieve the intended goal . Meanwhile , the intermediary purposes of the plan have been clearly outlined , and these require the Institute to : Develop and maintain a one stop portal that will provide access to STI resources . Operate as a clearinghouse for STI by setting agreed intellectual and technical standards for the operation of the network . Serve as the national focal point of requisite expertise that provides guidance on ICT and information management for the decentralized national information networks ( agriculture , industry and socio - economic ) as envisaged within the GHASTINET framework . Deliver real - time information and customized knowledge to improve public access to STI resources that will facilitate R & D activities as well as S & T decision - making ability to align S & T outputs with market demands and to increase productivity . Situation Analysis The Institute has embarked on a challenging restructuring programme of its human resources as part of CSIR - wide restructuring programme . In this regard , the Institutes has been addressing the size and quality of its workforce . The rationale is to achieve some fundamental changes in the behaviour and culture , structure and organization as well as systems and processes to enable the Institute to : Become more user - focused . Build a greater service - oriented culture . Increase revenue generation activities through the commercialization of its products and services . Be innovative , flexible , dynamic and relevant to current national development needs . As the leading player in the dissemination of STI in the country , CSIR - INSTI has been developing information access tools for several years and channeling them to meet the specific requirements of the scientific and academic communities . These include the development and updating of electronic database of reports , theses , indigenous research results , etc . It has also been involved in the development of websites for CSIR and GAINS and these have made it possible for the relevant news and databases to be made available on the WWW . Finally , the CSIR - INSTI staff as well as different categories of end - users have been trained to use the ICT tools . Interestingly , the Institute has developed an active partnership policy with the national and international scientific communities as well as various players in the STI markets over the years . For example , the Institute has consolidated its working relationship with the Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation ( CTA ) to operate the decentralized Question and Answer Service that makes available print and electronic information resources on demand using the AGORA and TEEAL databases . Again , the Institute has been making use of the bilateral agreement it has signed with the Royal Tropical Institute ( KIT ) of The Netherlands for document delivery services . Under the MOU , the two institutions have been exchanging publications and staff . Then under the Inter Library Lending and Document Delivery Service , DANIDA has been providing support through INASP to enable them to make available electronic journals online within the framework of the Programme for the Enhancement of Research Information ( PERI ) . Finally , with the support of the International Institute for Communication and Development the Institute has strengthened its back - office through the establishment of Local Area Network . This has allowed all the workstations to be connected to a server that allows for the sharing of printing facilities . The presence of GAINS on the web has also been duly established with the development of a website ( www . gains . org . gh ) . All these notwithstanding , the Institute has had to contend with several challenges that have confronted it , and these include : Lack of resources to acquire content . Problem with Internet Connectivity for end users who are in areas far removed from Accra and other major cities . High staff turnover that has resulted in the loss of skilled technical personnel due to low remuneration . Perceived competition for the same resources among CSIR institutes as well as total lack of commitment on the part of some partner institutions to provide relevant information for the updating of the databases . Seminar for Female Scientists in Accra , Ghana An analysis of the use of GAINS facilities over the past four years indicated that male scientists and researchers have more access to information for their research work than their female counterparts . To redress this anomaly , CSIR - INSTI organized a half - day seminar on 18th August 2004 to sensitize seventeen female scientists from seven research institutes on the products and services available at the Institute to facilitate their research activities . During discussions session , it was observed that the information available does not cover sufficiently the nutrition and food science field and suggestions were made to correct this . It was also indicated that the programme was useful and CSIR - INSTI should organize a follow - up for other scientists . The participants suggested the use of Women in Science and Technology ( WIST ) as a channel to spread the information to other female scientists . Guidelines to maintain quality during tomato post - harvest handling in Ghana Introduction The role of post - harvest technology is to devise methods by which deterioration of produce is restricted as much as possible during the period between harvest and end user . The causes of post - harvest losses in tomatoes can be classified into two main categories , physical and loss in quality . These are caused by : a . Harvesting too late in the maturation process ; b . Exposure of the produce to the direct sunlight resulting in high fruit temperatures ; c . Excessively large wooden boxes for packing and transporting produce d . Absence of shade at loading / unloading sites ; e . Overloading of boxes by traders since they buy according to volume ; f . Rough handling of boxes while loading into or unloading from vehicles , and g . Transporting vehicles with inadequate ventilation to dissipate fruit heat . 1 . Pre - Harvest Inspection a . Always carry out pre - harvest inspection of the whole farm to see the extent of maturity of the crop , the estimated quantities to be harvested and the labour requirements for the day s work . b . The planting of the correct cultivars that have firm fruits , do not crack easily , have relatively tough skin and are able to stand adverse field conditions should be practised by all farmers . Such fruits are able to withstand rough handling and have long shelf life . c . Adopt good cultural and husbandry practices that will reduce pests and diseases to prevent wrongful chemical usage . 2 . Harvest Maturity a . Do not pick over - ripe fruits getting to the end of their shelf life for sale b . Separate out differing stages of ripeness to improve handling , storage and marketing of the crop c . Select out diseased and particularly damaged fruit at this stage d . Harvest regularly to avoid wide range in colour in the field at a given time e . Harvest tomatoes at the orange colour stage to reduce most of the losses during the anticipated handling , and transport or storage f . The different colour stages should be packed into different boxes and at loading , boxes containing orange fruits stacked below 3 . Field Containers a . The field containers to collect produce from the plant to a central collection point should be shallow and small in size b . The fruits should be gently dropped from minimum heights into the containers and boxes , do not throw the fruits 4 . Field Harvesting of Crop a . As pickers are paid on a piece work basis , close supervision is essential to ensure that only sound produce at the correct stage of maturity or ripeness is harvested for market b . Pick fruits carefully , do not pull them off c . During the harvesting operation , a high standard of hygiene should be maintained . Produce unfit for marketing should be removed from the field . This could be done by either plucking from the plant at the time of harvest and placing on the ground for immediate collection subsequent to completion of overall harvest or leaving discarded fruit on the plant during the harvest and following this with tidy up operations . d . Under no circumstances should rejected produce be allowed to remain on the ground for any extended period of time as it becomes a source of infestation of pests and diseases to the other produce e . Preferably , disease infested material should be destroyed immediately after the harvesting operation is completed f . Gentle picking and handling of the fruit is required to minimize mechanical damage and invasion by disease - causing organisms g . Provision of shade for collected harvested produce prevents exposure to the direct sunlight as temperature is the most important factor governing the maintenance of quality as produce can overheat and rapidly deteriorate during temporary field storage h . Avoid unnecessary delays before delivery to the loading points or transporting to the market since fruits and vegetables are living biological systems and they continue to respire and so they will deteriorate after harvest i . It must be stressed that quality management starts in the field and continues until produce reaches the end - user . 5 . Time of Harvest Produce warms up during the day , so it is good practice to harvest produce when it is coolest early in the morning , or late in the evening , and keep shaded from sunlight so that fruits do not heat up after harvest . At higher temperatures of produce held in direct sunlight , respiration rates are extremely high . 6 . Sorting out , or grading of produce a . Sort and discard immature , over ripe , infected , blemished or otherwise damaged produce b . Grade fruits into differing colour stages before packing into boxes c . Never mix produce of mixed quality as that may affect the price adversely 7 . Field boxes or packing materials a . After harvesting , containers that give good protection to the produce , are easy to handle and have adequate ventilation should be used for packing b . Boxes should not be too large or deep to avoid squashing the bottom fruits c . Produce in large boxes is often damaged during handling and transport d . Use small sized boxes of between 25 - 30 kg to make handling easier and to minimize mechanical injury during loading and transportation e . Use uniform sized boxes for standardization f . It is d recommended that a thin layer of dried grass or straw is placed at the bottom of the boxes by the traders to minimize mechanical damage / injury 8 . Packing of fruits into boxes a . Damaged or broken boxes should not be used for packing fruits for the market b . They should either be repaired or discarded to prevent spillage and mechanical damage to fruits c . Clean old boxes before re - using for adequate sanitary measures and to prevent contamination d . Enough space should be left at the top of the boxes to prevent the top boxes sitting directly on top of the fruits during loading into the vehicles to cause crushing of fruits . For further information contact The Regional Director MOFA P . O . Box 86 , Sunyani , Brong Ahafo , Ghana Tel / Fax : 233 - 61 - 27194 Recipe for an Extension Officer Ingredients : Take 55 - 75 kg of professional agriculturist ( do not exceed this quantity as the end product will not be issued with a uniform larger than size 42 ) . Place in any village or district . Add : 1 enquiring mind A dash of adaptability 1 heaped teaspoon of knowledge A large packet of patience A huge sense of humour 2 kilos of team spirit A pinch of agricultural experience A dollop of stamina 2 packets of positive attitude 2 tubes of friendliness 10 kilos of common sense A sachet of assertiveness 999 grams of good grooming 5 kilos of kindness 500 grams of communication skills Method : Mix all the ingredients well and allow to stand in an orientation bowl for approximately 1 week . Allow to rise in a ward warmer until mixture rises over the top of the orientation bowl for approximately 1 month . Do not stir the mixture as it could cause the product to flop . Bake in a village health service oven at 35 oC until golden brown . Allow to cool off in the field . Serves many farmers and relatives and lasts very well particularly if served in the village of preference and if appreciated by management . Culled from : AGRI - OUTREACH , 6 ( 6 ) , May 2004 . Sweet Potato Recipe Corner We wish to bring to the attention of our readers the recipe for Sweet Potato Biscuits and Sweet Potato Pastry Pie by the kind courtesy of the Food Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research ( CSIR ) and the Root and Tuber Improvement Programme ( RTIP ) . Sweet Potato Biscuits Ingredients Standard Weight Standard Measure Wheat flour 150g 1¼ cup Baking powder 15g 1 tablespoon Salt 7g ½ teaspoon Grated nutmeg 4 g ¼ teaspoon Sugar 6g 2 teaspoons Shortening 70g 1 / 3 cup Egg 50g 1 egg Cooked and mashed sweet potato 100g ½ cup Diluted milk 15ml 1 tablespoon METHOD 1 . Sift flour , baking powder and salt . Mix in sugar and nutmeg 2 . Cut in shortening until mixture resample coarse bread crumbs or gari 3 . Blend together sweet potato , milk . Blend into mixture . Add nutmeg . 4 . Gather mixture into a ball and knead lightly on a floured surface 5 . Roll dough to ¼ inch thickness , cut into shapes with a floured cutter 6 . Bake on an ungreased , baking sheet in a moderately heated over ( 180oC or 350oF ) for 15 - 20 minutes or until golden brown . Yields 26 biscuits ( using 2½ inch cutter ) Note : If margarine is used as shortening , omit salt . Sweet Potato Pastry Pie Ingredients Standard Weight Standard Measure Wheat flour 230g 2 cups Salt 15g 1 teaspoon Fat 100g ½ cup Cooked mashed sweet potato 300g 1½ cups Cold water 30ml 2 tablespoons METHOD 1 . Sift flour and salt together 2 . Rub fat into flour with finger tips , lifting to incorporate air , until mixture resembles fine gari 3 . Add mashed sweet potato . Mix well and aerate as in step 2 4 . Sprinkle on enough cold water and gather dough to a firm ball 5 . Knead a little until firm 6 . Roll pastry to required thickness and cut into squares or rounds 7 . Put filling in the center of the cut pastry and brush edges of pastry with water , turn over and seal 8 . Brush top with milk or egg . Bake in a moderately hot oven ( 180oC 200oC or 375oF - 400oF ) . Reduce heat after 14 minutes of baking and bake for a further 15 minutes or until golden brown . 9 . Serve hot or cold Suggested filling ( ½ cup filling i . e . 1 teaspoon per pie ) 1 . Tuna flakes with onions , tomato and cooked sweet potato 2 . Cabbage / fish 3 . Cooked beans / fish / vegetables 4 . Cooked egg , tomato and onion Yields 20 pieces Pineapple Plantlet Project - Severious Kale Dery Dr . Elizabeth Acheampong , a Senior Lecturer at the Botany Department of the University of Ghana , Legon , has hailed the local production of the internationally accepted MD2 pineapple plantlets as a viable research feat that would boost production for export . She said the commercial cultivation of the plantlets was the only way to reverse the dwindling revenue of pineapple . Dr . Acheampong , who played a leading role in the research for the production of the extra sweet variety of pineapples , which has a greater advantage due to its unique colour and low acidity , was speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic . The technology , which involves the propagation and cultivation of high graded pineapple plantlets at a far cheaper rate than those imported from outside the country was the brainchild of a Tissue Culture Laboratory established by Bomart Farms Limited . The MD2 is preferable to the smooth cayenne , champaca and sugar loaf . Dr . Acheampong said the low capacity laboratory at the University could produce about 5 , 000 plantlets a week , which was far below the 22 , 000 plantlets expected by farmers per acre . She expressed satisfaction that the Tissue Culture Laboratory , which had employed about 70 staff from the Botany Department , could now produce about 10 , 000 plantlets a day . The laboratory is capable of breeding or cloning any variety of pineapples , adding that the establishment of the facility is a legacy for the whole country . Mr . Anthony Botchway , Managing Director of BOMART Farms shared the joy of Dr . Acheampong and disclosed that the technology could be used to multiply other plants for planting . He said the new technology could be used to solve the country s deforestation problem , adding that the technology would not only benefit his company , but it was an asset for the country . On the advantages of tissue culture suckers , Mr . Botchway said they were not contaminated and that they grew faster than the field suckers . With this technology , you can do flower induction after seven to ten months , depending on the sizes of the fruits desired . With the seven months , you can get the fruit sizes as big as 1 . 2 to 1 . 6 kg , while the ten months ones can produce two kg weight of fruit sizes . The new technology ensured that the tissue suckers could be rejuvenated very fast and produces lots of suckers once they were on the field . Culled from : Daily Graphic , Monday , November 1 , 2004 . Resources Available at GAINS The following resources are available for use at the GAINS Coordinating Center : 1 . CAB Abstracts , 1972 November 2004 CAB Abstracts is the most comprehensive bibliographic , abstracting and indexing database in its field . CAB Abstracts covers the applied life sciences , including agriculture , forestry , human nutrition , veterinary medicine and the environment . CAB Abstracts includes molecular biology , genetics , biotechnology , breeding , taxonomy , physiology and other aspects of pure science relating to organisms of agricultural , veterinary or environmental importance . 2 . TROPAG & RURAL , 1975 June 2004 TROPAG & RURAL , produced by the Information , Library and Documentation department of the Royal Tropical Institute , The Netherlands , are two databases containing full bibliographic references with abstracts to the worldwide literature on agriculture and economic and social development . All records stored in TROPAG are also available in hard - copy as the journal " Agriculture and Environment for Developing Regions " ( TROPAG ) . RURAL brings together abstracts from recent literature on economic and social development in developing countries . It focuses on a wide range of topics including development strategies , international cooperation , health development , agriculture , income generation , education , women and development and environmental issues . TROPAG covers literature on the cultivation of food crops and industrial crops , animal husbandry , forage and pastures , aquaculture , forestry , agroforestry , postharvest operations , farming systems and environmental management in tropical and subtropical regions . 3 . AGORA - Access to global online research in agriculture The AGORA site provides access to over 400 journals from major scientific publishers in the fields of food , agriculture , environmental science and related social sciences . AGORA is available to students and researchers in qualifying not - for - profit institutions in eligible developing countries . 4 . ScienceDirect It is now possible to access full text articles on the ScienceDirect database of Elsevier Science . This gives users 1 , 700 online journals . This service is free - of - charge to GAINS as a member of the Royal Tropical Institute ( KIT ) of the Netherlands IManagement community . 5 . The Essential Electronic Agricultural Library ( TEEAL ) TEEAL is a full - text and bibliographic CD - ROM library of over 140 of the world s most important scientific journals in the field of agriculture . This CD - ROM is updated annually and is essential to research and education in : agricultural economics , agricultural engineering , crop improvement , environmental and natural resources , food processing and nutrition , forestry , livestock production , plant protection , range management , rural development , soil and water management , sustainable agriculture and veterinary medicine . TEEAL includes the complete text and images from the 1993 - 2003 editions of the journals included in it over two million pages compressed onto 426 compact discs .  Document Supply Service of CAB International Training Programmes at CSIR - INSTI - 2005 The Institute for Scientific and Technological Information ( INSTI ) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research ( CSIR ) announces the following training programmes for the year for all interested people : SERIAL NO . COURSES TARGET GROUP 1 Computer Appreciation Research Scientists , Administrators , PRO s , IT Officers , Librarians and other information professionals 2 Presentation Techniques MS PowerPoint Research Scientists , Administrators , PRO s , IT Officers , Librarians and other information professionals 3 Electronic Information Resources Management Research Scientists , Administrators , PRO s , IT Officers , Librarians and other information professionals 4 Website Design and Management Research Scientists , Administrators , PRO s , IT Officers , Librarians and other information professionals 5 Database Management MS Access and CDS - ISIS Research Scientists , Administrators , PRO s , IT Officers , Librarians and other information professionals 6 Data Analysis SPSS Research Scientists , Administrators , PRO s , IT Officers , Librarians and other information professionals 7 Use of Internet Resources Research Scientists , Administrators , PRO s , IT Officers , Librarians and other information professionals 8 Records Management Research Scientists , Administrators , Secretarial and Records Personnel , Librarians and other information professionals For information regarding dates , duration and cost of each programme , please contact : The Director , CSIR - INSTI P . O . Box M . 32 , Accra , Ghana Phone : 233 - 21 - 764822 / 233 - 20 - 2019767 Fax : 233 - 21 - 763523 E - mail : cemensah @ hotmail . com GAINS Information Request Form The Question and Answer Service ( QAS ) of the GAINS has been set up by the CSIR - INSTI in collaboration with the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ( CAT ) to meet the demands for information by all stakeholders in agriculture and rural development . To help the QAS meet your demand please complete the form below and submit . Your request will be treated with the urgency it deserves . A : PARTICULARS OF REQUEST i . Description of request ....... ................. ................. ................. .................. . ................. ................. ................. ii . Please provide keywords / Terms relevant to your request . .. ........... iii . Limiting factors ( please specify any limitations or preference if any ) Geographic ( Place ) Time Scale ( Year ) ... .. iv . Reason ( s ) for request Personal Use Crop Production Animal Production Agro - Processing Marketing Information Policy development Community Education Lecture / Address Research B . PERSONAL INFORMATION This information is required to determine the type of user information is being supplied to : i . User Category Farmer University Lecture Teacher Consultant Extension Officer Policy maker Student Librarian / Archivist Other ( Please Specify ) ii . Gender Male Female iii . Type of organization you are affiliated with : Government Organization NGO University Research Institute Commercial company Farmer Co - op / Co - op / Association Private Person Other ( Please Specify ) iv . How can we get in touch with you ? Title Mr . Mrs . Ms . Dr . Prof . Name : Address : Tel . Fax . E - mail c . PLEASE RETURN COMPLETED FORM TO The Co - ordinator GAINS ( INSTI ) P . O . Box M32 , Accra . Ghana Tel . 233 - 21 - 763523 Fax233 - 21 - 779809 / 777655 / 763523 Email : jsam @ workmail . com FOR OFFICIAL USE Request ID No . Main Discipline Specialism Commodity Group Main Commodity Method of request Email Personal Visit ( Delivery ) By Post By Fax Date request received Sources used Forwarded to which Library Date forwarded Date returned Date response sent to user Compiled and Edited by Joel Sam For further information about GAINS , please contact : The GAINS Coordinator GAINS - INSTI P . O . Box M . 32 , Accra , Ghana Tel : 233 - 21 - 763523 / 233 - 20 - 2019766 Fax : 233 - 21 - 763523 / 779809

Read more about Mary Ackummey >> If we are meeting for the first time , my full name is Mary Afua Ackummey . I am a teacher by profession with 37 year teaching experience . I have taught at all levels of education and worked at the head quarters and regional offices of education . I have been an employee of the University of Education , Winneba since December 1993 . I worked first with the Institute of Education and Extension as action research co - ordinator . I am currently the Director of the Counseling Centre of the university and a senior lecturer . My favourite Web sites : An introduction to Ghana : www . interknowledge . com / ghana Education : www . ghana . edu . gh Education projects : ww . ghanaeducation . org Ghana : Education and Health : www . adventist . org ADZRAKU K . Z . ART EDUCATION kzadzraku * at * yahoo . com RESEARCH AREAS Colour and the Person Approaches to Picture making Sculpture in Modern Theatre Read more about Adzraku >> ABOUT HIM Born on June 7 , 1958 at Anloga in the Volta Region of Ghana to Newton Kwadzo Adzraku and Akuwor Dziekpor . He spent his early childhood at the port city of Takoradi . His refusal to go to school made the father to send him to the uncle Yao Gbeve Adzraku to be trained in farming . Realising that farming is difficult , and seeing the cousins go to school , he decided to go to school . Areas of Interest Colour and the Person Approaches to Picture making Sculpture in Modern Theatre AKEB AGYEMANG FRENCH EDUCATION RESEARCH AREAS French Language , Grammar & Dissertation Director of Research Work - Of International Standing - in : French , Black African Literature and Civilization Dept of French UEW P . O . Box 25 Winneba - Ghana Address in France 45 , rue Roger Salengro 21300 CHENOVE FRANCE Read more about Akeb Agyemang >> EDUCATION & CERTIFICATE 1990 - Doctorat d ' Etat or French Professor ' s qualifying Doctorat , University of Paul Valery , Montpellier , France . French Language , Literature and Francophone African Civilisation 1978 - Doctorat de 3e Cycle or French 3rd Cycle Doctorate French Literature / Francophone African Literature , University of Paul Valery , Montpellier , France . 1976 - Maitrise d ' Anglais , Master ' s degree in English , Anglo - American and African Literature , University of Paul Valery , Montpellier , France . 1972 - Maitrise d ' Ensignement , Lettres Modernes or Master ' s degree in Arts , Option : Literature Language , University of Paul Valery , Montpellier , France . 1971 - Licence d ' Enseignement or French University First degree in French Language and Literature 1969 - Bachelor of Arts , French , ( General Education ) University of Ghana / Legon / Cape Coast in French , English and Education 1962 - Post - Secondary Teacher ' s Certificate A . Presbyterian Teachers ' Training College , Akropong - Akwapong Areas of Interest French Language , Grammar & Dissertation Director of Research Work - Of International Standing - in : French , Black African Literature and Civilization AKROFI GODFRED ART EDUCATION akroficreation * at * yahoo . com Read more about Akrofi Godfred >> I am Godfred Akrofi , a Lecturer in Art Education of the Department of Art Education , University of Education , Winneba - Ghana . I am married with two young children , a boy and a girl . I teach Painting and Drawing in all classes of the department . An Artist ' s Way of Life I as an artist feel blessed simply , because every Artist has a unique way of doing things . Essentially , every artist loves nature so do I . I ABHOR WICKEDNESS BECAUSE IT IS INIMICAL TO GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT . I see EVIL IN ANY FORM AS A CALAMITOUS ACT . I love cool colours in my work I draw daily I allow criticism of my works I help my students at difficult times I give ideas to learners and also take from them for my creative work ALI MARK K . K . GHANAIAN LANGUAGE alikamark * at * yahoo . com or Unit Head Dagaare , Department of Ghanaian Languages , UEW , GHANA . Read more about ALIKANADA DAGAARE LITERATURE Ali is a lecturer in the Department of Ghanaian Languages Education , University of Education , Winneba , Ghana . He has taught in the erstwhile School of Ghanaian , Ajumako . For now Ali intends writing books , particularly in Dagaare , the language he teaches in the University . Dagaare is one of the eleven indigenous languages being taught to first degree level teachers . Teachers do not only need the language books to study but to teach after their course . There are a few books written by authors like Bodomo Adams , Kropp - Dakubu and Zakpãã but they are just inadequate for our purpose . The task of writing is therefore one that is dear to the heart of many speakers of the language , especially students of this university who are offering Dagaare as their major . Although other people may be highly motivated by the demand of these books by students , the reading population of the language in general is not promising . Writers find it difficult to publish because apparently no investors want to undertake this venture . There is however a move to pool resources for this task , one that we hope will bear fruits . A fund has been initiated by the Dagaare Language students whereby members have agreed to pay a yearly contribution of ¢ 50 , 000 per student . We have appealed to benevolent individuals and bodies for assistance and we welcome any such support from anyone who has not been formally contacted AMEKU FELIX K . B . SPECIAL EDUCATION felixameku * at * yahoo . co . uk Read more about Ameku Felix K . B . >> I am a Lecturer at the Department of Special Education , University of Education , Winneba . I specialized in the Education of the Visually Impaired and Multiply Handicapped Children AMMAH JONATHAN HEALTH , PHYSICAL EDU . , RECREATION , SPORTS osbyjay * at * hotmail . com RESEARCH AREAS Including individuals with disabilities in the general physical education class Supervision of preservice teachers Academic Learning Time in physical education Read more about Ammah Jonathan >> Welcome I was born on Tuesday , 30th July , 1957 in Accra . I attended Ebenezer Secondary School , Mamprobi . My initial Teacher Training education was at Akrokerri Teacher Training College , Akrokerri . Upon graduation , I taught for three years at the Dawa Presby Primary , and then proceeded on to further study at the then Specialist Training College where I obtained a Diploma in Physical Education . Since then I have had the opportunity to study abroad to earn my masters and doctorate degrees . I am glad to be back home to help strengthen my department and build my neophyte university . My area of specialty includes physical education and adapted physical education . Areas of Interest Including individuals with disabilities in the general physical education class Supervision of preservice teachers Academic Learning Time in physical education AMOAH EMMANUEL SOCIAL STUDIES eamoah * at * yahoo . com RESEARCH AREAS Traditional Socio - political Institutions of Ghana Curriculum Studies in Social Studies Education Government and Politics of Ghana Read more about Amoah Emmanuel >> Welcome I am a Lecturer at the Department of Social Studies Education in the University of Education , Winneba . Areas of Interest Traditional Socio - political Institutions of Ghana Curriculum Studies in Social Studies Education Government and Politics of Ghana CURRICULUM VITAE : Mr Emmanuel Amoah had his elementary education at the Agona Nyakrom Presbyterian Primary and Middle School from 1947 to 1957 . I attended St . Andrew ' s Teacher Training College at Ashanti Mampong and passed out as a 4 - Year Certificate ` A ` teacher in 1966 . In 1971 , I entered the University of Ghana , Legon where I obtained B . A . ( Hons ) degree in Political Science . Then in 1979 , I obtained a Post Graduate Certificate in Education . I finally read for M . Phil in Curriculum Studies at the University of Cape Coast . AMPPIAH M . E . MATHEMATICS EDUCATION meamppiah * at * uew . edu . gh Read more about Amppiah M . E . >> Hello , you are welcome to my home page . I have taught at all levels of the educational system in Ghana for the past 27 years . I have been teaching at the University of Education , Winneba for the past 7 years . In 2000 , I was a Fulbright student at Teachers College , Columbia University in the City of New York , USA . While there , I was actively involved in the Global Classroom activities organised by Metro International . My favourite web sites National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Columbia University in the City of New York Teachers College , Columbia University Institute of International Education , the organization mandated by the US Bureau of State to administer the Fulbright Fellowship program . Metro International , in charge of Global Classroom . The Global Classroom is an effort to send foreign students studying in New York City to schools to talk about their culture to students in NYC University of Nottingham For information on articles and publications from the Department of Mathematics Education , University of Education , Winneba , Ghana , visit http : // www . inasp . info / ajol ATTEH E . T . GHANAIAN LANGUAGE emmanuelatteh * at * yahoo . com Read more about Atteh E . T . >> ABOUT MYSELF I am Emmanuel Tetteh Atteh . I am a Dangme lecturer at the Department of Ghanaian Languages Education , University of Education , Winneba . I am married with five children , two boys and three girls . Besides teaching as my main profession , I also do business . I deal in stationery items . Tonny and Alhaji are my business partners . I first graduated from the erstwhile School of Ghana Languages Ajumako with diploma certificate Ghanaian Languages , Dangme in 1986 . I obtained my first degree in Ghanaian Languages and Special Education from the University College of Education , Winneba in 1994 . Currently I hold an M . Phil . degree in Curriculum Studies from the University of Cape Coast , Ghana . BOATENG - ENNIMFUL E . SCIENCE EDUCATION eboatengful * at * yahoo . com Children ' s Ideas Conceptual Approach to Teaching Science The Constructivist ' s View of Science Teaching Teacher ' s Views About the Nature of Science and the Impact on Classroom Practice Using the Discovery Approach to the Teaching of Selected Science Topics Read more about Boateng Ennimfule E . >> Welcome I am Rev . E . Boateng - Ennimful , a Lecturer at the Department of Science Education , UEW . My areas of specialization are Physics and Science Education . I am also the Chaplain of the University . AREAS OF INTEREST Children ' s Ideas Conceptual Approach to Teaching Science The Constructivist ' s View of Science Teaching Teacher ' s Views About the Nature of Science and the Impact on Classroom Practice Using the Discovery Approach to the Teaching of Selected Science Topics Bannerman Valentina ( Mrs ) Ag . Librarian M Phil ( Ed . Psy . ) ; Graduate Diploma in Library Studies ( G . D . L . S ) ; B . A ( Ed . ) Read more about Bannerman Valentina ( Mrs . ) >> Research Interests Information Literacy Knowledge Management Organisational Learning Publications The Impact of IFLA / DANIDA Project on UCEW Library . IFLA / DANIDA Newsletter , Vol . 5 no . 1 2002 , p . 3 - 4 Directory of African University Libraries and Professional Librarians in the West African Sub - Region , The Standing Conference of Africa University Libraries , Western Area ( SCAULWA ) , & International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications ( INASP ) , Kumasi , 2002 Report of The Standing Conference of Africa University Libraries , Western Area ( SCAULWA ) , 2001 Conference . SCAULWA Newsletter , Vol . 3 no . 1 January - June 2002 pp 4 - 7 Report on the Information Technology Workshop . Sabre Foundation Website www . sabre . org / lits / ucewreport . html April , 2001 Information Literacy in Academic Libraries Ghana Library Journal . Vol . 1 no . 3 2001 , pp 45 - 55 From Conventional Libraries to Electronic Libraries : The Role of the African University in the Transformation . AAU Newsletter Vol . 7 No . 1 2001 pp . 3 - 6 . Presented jointly with Helena Asamoah - Hassan ( Mrs . ) Quality Assurance in African University Libraries . Library Standards , Performance Measurement , Staff Appraisal . Proceedings of the Revival Meeting held at Mamphey Hall , GIMPA 22 - 27 November 1999 , The Standing Conference of Africa University Libraries , Western Area ( SCAULWA ) , 2000 pp39 - 59 Information Anxiety . What is it ? GEMTA Newsletter . Vol . 2 issue 1 January 1999 . DAKE G . Y . SOCIAL STUDIES dakegershon * at * yahoo . com Read more about Dake G . K . >> ABOUT MYSELF I am a young man who is lecturing at the Department of Social Studies Education , University of Education Winneba in Ghana . I am fully married and all my children are boys . I obtained both my first and second degrees in Economics from the University of Cape Coast . I hold a Diploma Certificate in Education ( UCC ) and in Ghanaian Language ( SGL ) Ajumako . As a trained teacher ( Cert . A P / S ) , I taught at all levels , namely the Middle School ( 3 years ) , the Secondary School ( several years ) and currently in the University . My main subject area is Economics . I am however particularly interested in Development Economics . My research interest is in Poverty , Industrialisation and the Emancipation of Women / Women and Empowerment . deGRAFT - YANKSON PATRIQUE ART EDUCATION patriqueee * at * wowmail . com Read more about deGraft Yankson Partrique >> YOU ' RE WELCOME Who is he ? Patrique deGraft Yankson is a Ghanaian born on the 1st of October , 1966 . He completed his elementary school education in 1982 , proceed to teachers training college and finally to the University of Education for his B . Ed . Degree in Art Education . He minored in Literature in English . Currently he is pursuing his Masters Degree in the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology . He is also a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Art Education , University of Education , Winneba . He gives practical tutorials to students in Computer Graphics and Digital Art . What he wants to be The aim of deGraft - Yankson is to spearhead the advocacy for the full integration of ICT tools in the teaching and learning of Art in Ghanaian Schools . This he has started with a research into the design of a basic handbook in ICT education for Art , which he is feverishly working on for his Masters Degree in Art Education . My Favorite Web sites www . wetcanvas . com www . photoshopuser . com www . iconadvertising . com deHeer - Amissah Adrian SCIENCE EDUCATION andamissah * at * uew . edu . gh Read more about deHeer - Amissah Adrian >> Academic / Research Interests Prof . deHeer - Amissah ’ s areas of interest are Physics of the Lower Atmosphere and Environmental Science . He has done extensive work on Transport Phenomena ( of Momentum , Sensible Heat and Water Vapour ) , and Energy Balance of the Earth / Atmosphere interface . He is a Fellow of Ghana Institution of Physicists ( GIPhy ) ; a member of the West African Science Association , and Ghana Science Association . He served as the President of GSA ( 1985 - 1987 ) . He was the Chairman of the Committee to review Pre - Tertiary Education Programme in Ghana ( 1984 ) . He also chaired a Committee appointed by the Ministry of Education to submit proposals for the establishment of a Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board ( JAMB ) for placement of candidates in tertiary institutions . After twenty - eight years of teaching in the University of Cape Coast , Prof . deHeer - Amissah was seconded to the National Council for Tertiary Education as the first Executive Secretary for four years . He has been on post - retirement contract with the University of Education since 1999 . His main pre - occupation in the University is developing a viable Post - Graduate School . He is the Director of a Carnegie Corporation Funded Project on Post - Graduate Studies with Women in Focus Selected Publications Deheer - Amissah , A . N . ( 1966 ) ; Possible Climatic Changes that may be caused by the Creation of the Volta Lake ; in E . Obeng ( ed ) , Man - Made Lakes ; Ghana Universities Press , pp . 73 – 82 . Deheer - Amissah , A . N . ( 1973 ) . Surface Energy Balance of Some Climatic Regimes in West Africa ; Ghana Journal of Science ; Vol . 13 , No . 2 . Deheer - Amissah , A . N . ( 1973 ) . Estimates of Evapotranspiration Rates by Penman and Thornthwaite Methods ; Ghana Journal of Science ; Vol 13 , No . 2 . Deheer - Amissah , A . N . , Hogstrom , U ; Smedman - Hogstrom , A . S . ( 1981 ) . Calculation of Sensible and Latent Heat Fluxes , and Surface Resistance from Profile Data . Boundary - Layer Met . , 20 , 35 – 49 . Deheer - Amissah , A . N . ( 1982 ) . Advection of Water Vapour Flux across the Guinea Coast ; Proceed . , 13th Bien . Conf . of Ghana Science Association ; Accra . Deheer - Amissah , A . N . ( 1984 ) . A Semi - Empirical Method for Estimating Latent Heat Flux from Routine Meteorological Data . Arch . Met . Geoph . Biocl . , Ser A33 , 187 – 197 . Deheer - Amissah , A . N . ( 1984 ) . Seasonal and Vertical Distribution of Water Vapour in West Africa ; Proceed . , 14th Bien . Conf . of Ghana Science Association , Kumasi . EMINAH JOHN SCIENCE EDUCATION johneminah * at * yahoo . com Read more about Eminah John >> Welcome I am a senior lecturer in science education at the University of Education , Winneba . I ' m married with five children . My research interests include gender , curriculum and philosophical issues in science education . I am currently working on the worldviews of science and non - science major students on HIV / AIDS . I hope to present my doctoral dissertation in science education to the Faculty of Education , University of Cape Coast by mid November 2003 . I have presented three papers on my findings at national and international conferences in Ghana and Finland . I am working on a fourth paper to be presented at the Annual Conference of the Ghana Chemical Society in December 2003 . One of my long - term projects involves the development of an instrument that can be used to read the thoughts / minds of individuals . Research Areas I have published ten research reports and articles on various educational issues - comprising gender , philosophical , curricular and cultural issues in science education . Following are the titles of some of my publications : Hindrances to Females ' Participation in Science in Tertiary Teacher Training Institutions in Ghana . The Under - Representation of Females in Science in Ghana : Some Unconsidered Factors and Possible Remediation Towards a Workable Language Policy for Primary Science Teaching in Ghana Proficiency in English Language and its Effect on Cognitive Achievement in Science Science Teaching and Learning in Linguistically Heterogeneous Primary Classes in Ghana Teacher - Verbal Interactions in Selected J . S . S . Science Classes HANSON RUBY SCIENCE EDUCATION maameruby * at * yahoo . com Read more about Hanson Ruby >> Welcome My name is Ruby . I however wish to be called Ruu by my friends . I am married with two boys aged 12 and 10 . The big boy will turn 13 on the 11th of December . The younger one turned 10 on the 17th of June . I have two other grown up kids . They are all real lovely and wonderful kids .. I teach at a University in Winneba while my husband works in a town called Akwatia . He is the head of an institution there . He is called Kofi Hanson . I teach Chemistry at the science department of the University . I majored in analytical chemistry in school . Research Interests I have been teaching in UEW for the past five years . My area of interest has been in Inorganic Chemistry . My research interest has been in looking at the effects of additives , pesticides and other environmental pollutants on living organisms . Specifically , I have looked at the effect of food additives , particularly , flavourings and essences on man , using white mice . It was observed that mice fed on additives either died off early , had aborted pregnancies , or no births at all . Others had low weight offspring . This research was carried out at a basic level where further tests such as instrumental analyses were not carried out . It is hoped that this research will be followed up with time . A second research was carried out based on the effect of smoke fumes and other obnoxious gas on the effect on school children . The research was carried out in areas where schools had their buildings sited near rubbish dumps . A higher and recent research has been carried out on the effect of pesticides ( Lindane , Pentachlorophenol , and Propoxur ) on three fresh water fish , namely Chrysicthys nigrodigitatus , Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias gariepinus species . Very interesting findings resulted from the work . I hope to carry out even further research on the findings made . HARUNA W . Z . SCIENCE EDUCATION wizigha * at * yahoo . com Read more about Haruna W . Z . >> Welcome I am William Zigunah Haruna . I come from Kaleo in the Upper West Region of Ghana and I am married with two sons , Fred and Frank and a daughter , Gifty . I am a Biology teacher in the Department of Science Education , University of Education , Winneba , Ghana . I am trained as a botanist with ecology bias . My research interest is in Conservation Biology . In recent times , I have been working on coastal wetlands , specifically on mangrove vegetation and hope to continue along this line . As a science educationist , however , I also plan to do some collaborative work with colleagues in the field of science education . JOHNSON A . K . ENGLISH EDUCATION Department of English , University of Education , P O Box 25 , Winneba , Ghana . kwam42 * at * yahoo . com Read more about Johnson A . K . >> Welcome My name is A . K . Johnson , a lecturer in the department of English Education , University of Education , Winneba . I have lived and studied outside Ghana . I taught in Swaziland and had my further education in South Africa . My interest in the area of English education is literature , particularly children ' s literature , and media education ; how we can relate the new modern technologies in the construction and interpretation of text . It is my philosophy to empower my students , to make them discover the talents they have and use it creatively in their teaching and research . My favorite web sites Tony ' s lectures on media education and the English curriculum Kwamlah ' s notes on children ' s literature Johnson ' s literature series KNIEL Adrian SPECIAL EDUCATION Department of Special Education , University of Education , P O Box 25 , Winneba , Ghana . Tel : + 233 24 729 723 akniel * at * yahoo . de , akniel * at * uew . edu . gh Read more about KNIEL Adrian >> Studied Sociology , Social Psychology and Education at the Universities Erlangen - Nürnberg , Berlin and Mannheim . MA in Sociology 1971 1971 - 1974 Research Assistant to the National German Committee on the Reform of Special Education 1974 to 1979 Teaching Assistant at the Department of Education Ruhr University Bochum PhD in Education 1977 , Master in Special Education 1980 1980 Lecturer at the Department of Special Education University of Cologne 1980 to 1987 Associate Professor for Special Education at the University of Kassel . Model Project and Research on the integration of handicapped children in Preschools for the German Youth Institute . 1987 to 1991 Founder and Headmaster of the first Schools for Mentally Retarded Children ( Envol ) in Togo Conferences on Special Education for the German Cultural Centres in Jordania , Syria , Algeria , Tunesia , Morocco , Senegal , Cameroon , Congo , Nigeria , Ghana and Togo 1985 - 1995 . Organised the first Workshop for representatives of schools for mentally retarded children from Central and West Africa 1989 . Developed the Curriculum for Schools for Mentally Retarded Children together with teachers from Ghana and Togo in 1990 . Evaluated and supported projects for handicapped children in India , Guinea and Ivory Coast . 1991 to 2001 Associate Professor for Special Education at the University of Kassel . Evaluation Research on Community based Rehabilitation for Persons with a Disability and People First groups of Mentally handicapped persons in Germany financed by the Ministry of Social Welfare and Ministry of Health . 2002 to the present , Professor at the department of Special Education University of Education , Winneba . Initiated unit for mentally retarded children in regular schools in Winneba and Swedru . Research Interests Standardisation of the Draw - a - Man - Test and Raven ’ s coloured progressive matrices for Ghana ( Data entry for Ghanaian normative sample in progress ) Development of an adaptive behaviour scale for Ghanaian children ( Data entry for Ghanaian normative sample in progress ) Development of a handbook to improve transition from school to work for adolescents in schools for the mentally retarded in Ghana . Go through my list of publications LUGOGYE R . B . GHANAIAN LANGUAGE rblugogye * at * yahoo . com Read more about Lugogye R . B . >> Welcome Lion Heart is fast acquiring the latest skills in the ICT business . As we enter the technological age , no one can afford to remain at the foot of the mountain . Whatever your social , economic , religious , political or educational background you need to be computer - literate to be able to rediscover yourself within the global context . I have been teaching Kasem in the Department of Ghanaian Languages for the past six years . With the skills I have acquired now , my work has been made easier . From now onwards my lectures will be delivered on - line so I urge my students to develop great interest in ICT so they can access the volumes of knowledge packed in the web . OFORI S . S . ART EDUCATION sazmo * at * hotmail . com Read more about Ofori S . S . >> Welcome My full name is Smiles Ofori . My field of specialization is Architectural Ceramics . I like to work on environmental scale and also share this knowledge with my students . I teach undergraduate ceramics at the Department of Art Education , of the University of Education , Winneba . I have been teaching since 1971 , but I have been into the teaching of Ceramics for twenty years . I also do collaboration with indigenous potters in rural communities in Ghana . Three years ago , I organized a clay exchange program for my undergraduate students to exchange expertise with traditional potters . It is an exciting experience , and I have planned to enlarge it to involve students from the junior secondary schools and secondary schools . TENTEH A . M . K . FRENCH EDUCATION tentehkweku * at * yahoo . co . uk Read more about Tenteh A . M . K . >> Welcome My full name is Anthony Martin Kweku Tenteh . I am fifty - seven and have been in Winneba since November 1987 . I taught French Language and Literature in the then Advanced Teacher Training College . With the inception of the University College of Education , I have been teaching French language and Linguistics . My research interest is in dialectology involving phonetic and lexical differences in local dialects . I am also interested in all kinds of family planning with emphasis on the use of natural methods . TURNER SANDRA V . MATHEMATICS EDUCATION sturner * at * uew . edu . gh Read more about Turner Sandra V . >> Welcome I am a Fulbright Professor for 2003 - 04 at the University of Education , Winneba . Although my husband and I have lived in Botswana and traveled widely in southern and eastern Africa , this is our first time in West Africa . We have two children and two grandchildren . My husband Jack is retired from his job as finance director at a seminary in Chicago . We like to travel , hike and bike . One summer we hiked 192 miles across England , coast to coast , in 14 days . We ve also climbed Kilimanjaro . I ' m from Ohio University in the USA , where I teach computer courses to teachers at the post - graduate level and advise doctoral students in their dissertation research related to computers in education . I ve been using computers for nearly 30 years and teaching with computers for 25 years . I ve learned , however , that no one is ever an expert . There are always new things to learn . In fact , I expect you will teach me something new . That s what I like about computing . My other web page is at http : // oak . cats . ohiou . edu / ~ turners My research interests include : Technology in K - 12 Schools Technology in Teacher Education Multimedia / Hypermedia Constructivist Learning Environments Peer Collaboration Gender Differences in Information Technology Web - Based Learning Lego Logo Robotics Teacher Professional Development International Education and Technology Technology and Math Education The web site for my NSF Research Grant : Getting the Media Message My Curriculum Vitae YIDANA ISSIFU MATHEMATICS EDUCATION iyidana * at * uew . edu . gh Read more about Yidana Issifu >> Welcome I am Issifu Yidana . I teach Mathematics and Information Technology at the University of Education , Winneba . I teach first , second and third year undergraduate courses . My academic interests include Numerical Analysis , Optimization Techniques , and Information Communications Technology in Education ( ICTE ) . For more information about me , click here !

Kwame went to pick up his fiancé from her work place . As she come out of the office , there were a number of her office colleagues at the premises and she went around hugging each one of them with some of them flaunting kisses on her cheek and forehead areas . Kwame got furious that she got too intimate with especially her male colleagues . She also insisted she was only being courteous with just another form of greeting . This degenerated into a very nasty argument between them . Some people believe that close hugging and kisses are alien to our culture and the fact is that we are not used to and most people are uncomfortable , unlike people from western cultures , with that kind of physical contact . Do you agree with this assertion ? Are close hugs and kisses not really in conformity with our culture and social setting ?

The Government of Ghana has placed a ban on an International Conference of Gays and Lesbians scheduled to take place in Ghana later this month . The Government made it clear that it shall not permit the proposed conference to take place anywhere in Ghana . The Government has even asked the Interior Minister to investigate and punish the officials who gave permission for a gays and Lesbian s conference at the International Conference Centre . It says homosexual relationships offend the culture and morality of the people There are some people , not necessarily gays or lesbians who are opposed to the government directive because they say it is against the constitutional right of freedom of association . They point that it is engaging in a homosexual act that is an offence in Ghana and not merely saying you are one . In other words , you cannot arrest someone because he / she says I am a thief without proof of an act being committed . They say the constitutional right of an individual should overcome any argument of culture and morality . There are others too who say regardless of rights or whatever , homosexuality should not have any place in our society and encourages the government to employ all the power at is disposal to deal with the perpetrators of the act . What is your candid opinion on this matter ?

Welcome to the University of Ghana , Legon . We hope that your stay at the University will be pleasant , fruitful and very rewarding . The Dean and the staff of the International Programmes Office look forward to meeting you and we wish you every success . We are delighted that you have chosen the University of Ghana for your studies . Whether you are here for one or two semesters of study abroad or a full degree programme at the undergraduate or graduate level , we trust that your studies at the University of Ghana will be intellectually challenging , culturally stimulating and personally rewarding . This handbook provides a brief description of the University of Ghana and some useful information to help you settle in . The handbook is designed to address frequently asked questions . While all your questions may not be answered , services and people who may provide more information on life at Legon are identified . Please contact the International Programmes Office if you have any specific questions relating to International Programmes and International Student Exchange or if you have any suggestions for improvements in this handbook . It is my pleasure to welcome you to the University of Ghana . Professor Eric Danquah / Dean , International Programmes / Office Location / Contact Information The Office of the Dean is located in the K . A . B . Jones - Quartey Building First right after the Main Entrance near the Faculty of Law First floor , Right Wing , Room 5 ( Building # 4 on the Campus map ) Telephone : 021 - 518067 Legon Exchange : 021 - 500381 Ext . 2112 ( General Office ) Ext . 2069 ( Asst . Registrar ) Fax : 021 - 507147 E - mail : inep @ ug . edu . gh The University of Ghana THE UNIVERSITY S MISSION The Mission Statement of the University of Ghana defines the business scope and unique competencies that determine why the University will be successful as a tertiary institution and its approach to realizing its goals . It aims to encompass all the critical activities and capabilities of the University and covers the entire span of its endeavours . Finally , it captures the prioritisation given to each sphere of activity based on the contribution to be made toward the achievement of the University s long - term objectives . Our Mission is to develop World - class human resources and capabilities to meet national development needs and global challenges through quality teaching , learning , research and knowledge dissemination . We will build on our core strength as a centre of excellence for high quality teaching and research , relevant Institutions and good infrastructure and our unique competencies in the sciences , medicine , humanities , law , business , cultural studies , information technology and other emerging disciplines , to secure and sustain world - class competitive advantage in a stable democratic environment . We will build deeper awareness of the needs of our consumers , especially students , the private and public sectors , government and the world community and re - orient our teaching , research and extension activities and harmonize synergies between disciplines to achieve operational excellence . We will promote innovative , relevant and cutting - edge technology , leadership development and an enterprise culture , to enhance the delivery of value to our consumers and stakeholders . The University of Ghana s operations are governed by the highest level of integrity , ethical standards , openness and fairness and are underpinned by a performance driven reward recognition system . Brief Introduction Founded in 1948 as the University College of the Gold Coast , for the purpose of providing and promoting university education , learning and research , it became the University College of Ghana on the attainment of Ghana s independence in March 1957 . During the initial years it enjoyed a special relationship with the University of London , which supervised its academic programmes and awarded University of London external degrees to successful students . By an act of Parliament in 1961 , the University College of Ghana attained sovereign university status with authority to award its own degrees and thus the University of Ghana was established . It is the oldest and largest of the five universities in Ghana . Governing Body The University s governing body is the University Council whose membership includes representation from Government , Alumni , Students , Staff and University Teachers . Precincts The campus of the University of Ghana is situated about 13 kilometres north - east of Ghana s capital - Accra , at an altitude of between 300 and 400 feet . University Avenue extends 1 km . from the main University gate at the Accra - Dodowa Road to Commonwealth Hall on Legon Hill . Along this avenue are grouped other Halls of Residence , Departments , lecture rooms and laboratories . Mid - way , the University Square , an open space with an ornamental pool is overlooked by the University s main library , the Balme Library ( named after the first principal of the University College , David Mowbray Balme ) . The Commercial precinct where banks and the post office may be found is located here . Across from University Square are sports fields , a central cafeteria and halls of residence . Built into the slope of Legon Hill behind Commonwealth Hall an open - air theatre with a Grecian style auditorium is located . On the summit of Legon Hill is the Convocation group of buildings housing the University s administration offices , the Great Hall , with a seating capacity of 1 , 500 and a Tower , donated by the Government of Ghana in 1959 to commemorate Ghana s Independence . The south side of the campus contains residential accommodations for senior members , the University Primary School , the Manciple s Organisation , the International Students Hostel and the Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medical Research . On the northern side are teaching departments , lecture halls and laboratories . Across the Accra - Dodowa road from the main University gate is the Legon Police Station and located behind it are the University Hospital and residential accommodation for other staff of the University ( see Campus Map ) . Departments and Faculties Academic life of the University of Ghana is centred on Faculties , Schools , Institutes and Centres . The main Faculties are Arts , Social Studies , Agriculture , Law , and Science . The College of Health Sciences is made up of a Medical School , Dental School , School of Nursing , School of Public Health and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research . Other academic units are the School of Administration , School of Communication Studies , Institute of African Studies , Institute of Adult Education , Institute of Statistical , Social and Economic Research , Regional Institute for Population Studies , the School of Performing Arts , the Legon Centre for International Affairs ( LECIA ) , the International Centre for African Music and Dance , the Language Centre , and the Centre for Tropical Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics . The University has three agricultural research stations located off campus . Academic Programmes There are three levels of academic programmes : ( i ) sub - degree courses ; ( ii ) Bachelor s degree courses ; and , ( iii ) Master s and Doctoral degree programmes . Almost all academic departments offer Master s and Ph . D . programmes . Library Facilities The Balme Library holds more than 300 , 000 volumes and over 5 , 000 periodicals . These holdings are supplemented by Departmental and Hall libraries . Residential Facilities The University is largely residential with 3 co - ed Halls of Residence ( Legon Hall , Akuafo Hall , Mensah Sarbah Hall ) and 2 single sex Halls of residence ( Volta Hall for females and Commonwealth Hall for males ) . In addition , there is a 100 - room co - ed Graduate Hostel and a 217 - bed co - ed International Students Hostel . Other residential facilities include the Jubilee Hostel and the SSNIT Hostel , both co - ed . International Co - operation The University of Ghana envisions university - wide integrated programmes in teaching , research , and service with a strong international dimension . All international programmes are intended to enable members of the university community to benefit from trans - cultural knowledge that may be applied to a range of critical issues . This vision will enhance the university s advancement as a world - class teaching and research institution . In order to accord proper attention to its international programmes and students , the University established an office of International Programmes , headed by a Dean . The University of Ghana has both formal and informal links with several . Institutions worldwide and is a member of the International Association of African Universities ( IAAU ) , the Association of Commonwealth Universities ( ACU ) , the Association of African Universities as well as a member of the League of World Universities ( comprised of 47 renowned research Universities around the world ) . The University has also established academic and research links with several Universities and Research Institutions worldwide . Additionally , the University is linked , among others , to the Norwegian Universities Committee for Development Research and Education ( NUFU ) , the Council for International Education Exchange ( CIEE ) based in New York , International Students Exchange Programme ( ISEP ) , and the Commonwealth Universities Study Abroad Consortium ( CUSAC ) . The majority of participating students in these programmes come from the United States , Canada , Asia , the United Kingdom and Europe . The University of Ghana also provides an opportunity for some Ghanaian students to broaden their knowledge and experience by studying for one or two semesters at an International Institution while pursuing their degree at the University of Ghana . The International Programmes Office : This office was established to promote and co - ordinate all the University s external relations , including International Students , Visiting Scholars , staff on exchange , external staff training programmes and research collaboration . The Office of International Programmes offers a variety of services to international students and scholars . It also processes special admission student applications for international students and co - ordinates their accommodation in University of Ghana residential facilities . Recognizing that international students add to the cultural enrichment of the social , as well as academic , setting of the Legon campus , the Office is dedicated to fostering global understanding and goodwill and assisting all international students to reap maximum benefit from their stay in Ghana . All international students must report to the Office of International Programmes upon their arrival to complete registration formalities . Meet the Staff Dean Assistant Registrar Senior Administrative Assistant Principal Accountant Administrative Assistant Driver Shuttle Bus Driver Messenger / Cleaner Training Manager ( International Students Hostel ) Chief Porter ( International Students Hostel ) Prof . Chris Gordon Miss Lydia Nyako Vacant Ms Helen Asare Mrs . Victoria Baku - Atiboly Mr . Ernest Frimpong Mr . Emmanuel Attu Mr . David Opare Mr . Daniel Azumah Mr . Dominic Mintah Office Location The Office of International Programmes is located on the First Floor , Right Wing of the K . A . B . Jones - Quartey Building , ( near the Faculty of Law ) close to the main entrance of the University of Ghana . We can be reached by : Tel / Fax : 021 - 507147 ( direct line Tel : 021 - 500381 Ext . 2112 ( through the University switchboard ) E - mail : dip @ ug . edu . gh The mailing address is : International Programmes Office University of Ghana P . O . Box LG 586 Legon , Ghana , West Africa . Services for International Students The Office provides the following services : Reception and Orientation Airport pick - up . Given adequate information on the travelling arrangements of in - bound students ( name , airline , flight number , arrival time ) , the International Programmes Office arranges pick - up from Kotoka International Airport and transport to University of Ghana Hostels for students who do not have transport arranged by their home programme . Those meeting you will be waiting immediately outside the cordoned off area when you leave the airport building ( you exit by going down an internal ramp that takes you under the road ) . Residential Accommodation Assistance is provided to all international students on their arrival to ensure that they acquire residential accommodation at the International Students Hostel and / or another Hall of Residence . Registration All international students must report at the Office of International Programmes to complete the registration process . Internet Access Our students have access to computers available in our conference room to connect to the internet . Immigration In any new country your passport is your most valuable document . You must keep your passport in a safe place . Students are advised to make photocopies of the most important pages in their passports and store them in a different secure place . On arrival in Ghana , all international students must register with their respective High Commissions / Embassies at their earliest convenience . Should you lose your passport , you must IMMEDIATELY report the loss to the police , then to your country s high commission , embassy , or consulate and also to the Ghana Immigration Service . The Office of International Programmes is responsible for acting as the intermediary between the University of Ghana , the international student , and various outside organisations , most importantly the Ghana Immigration Service . Assistance is provided to international students to enable them to regularise their stay . Academic and Adjustment Assistance The Office of International Programmes offers advice to assist with any adjustment problems and is available to explain University policy as well as some aspects of Ghanaian culture . The goal of the Office is to help make the transitional process of every international student as easy and smooth as possible . Student Welfare The Dean and staff of the International Programmes Office are committed to maintaining a vigilant concern for the welfare of all international students . Every effort is made to ensure that , both academically and socially , the period of stay of all international students both on campus and in Ghana as a whole is an enjoyable and rewarding one . Peer Partner Programme The Office of International Programmes in conjunction with the Student Representative Council ( SRC ) is initiating a programme designed to introduce each new student to a continuing Legon student who will assist the new student to adjust to life at Legon . Such assistance may include : help in opening bank accounts ; introduction to the various services available to students on campus ; and , general familiarisation with the campus itself . The International Students ' Hostel The International Students Hostel is located on the southern part of the campus , off the road leading to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research . This Hostel ( commissioned June 18th , 1999 ) was purpose built to cater for the increasing numbers of international students at the University of Ghana opened for students of the 2000 / 2001 academic year . To ensure that our international students have as much contact with their Ghanaian peers as possible and to foster close socio - cultural interaction with our international students , a number of Ghanaian students are resident in the hostel . The International Hostel is made up of 4 floors with a total of 128 rooms of single and double occupancy . Each floor has a laundry , 2 kitchenettes and a T . V . lounge . In addition the ground floor has two Reading Rooms . To further ensure the safety of our students , every evening from 7 : 00 11 : 00 p . m . , a free Shuttle Service is run to and from the hostel connecting to other points on the campus , including the Balme Library , the Central Cafeteria and the main University Gate . Students are advised to bring along or acquire on arrival basic toiletries and other basic essentials to outfit their rooms . Telephone facilities ( intercom , local and IDD ) are available ( per student ) in each room at the hostel . This service has been disrupted due to a technical problem . Every effort is being made to restore the serivce . Some Comments from International Students about the University of Ghana My experience in Ghana was definitely life changing . Attending the University enabled me to really learn about the Ghanaian Culture . Spending the semester learning the Twi l anguage , traditional African dance and Drama and interacting with the students made my stay an incredible one . Kimberly Kingsley Council The University of Ghana provides great opportunities for foreign students . The classes offer students the chance to study unique subjects , from traditional African dance to the History of West African religions in a setting much different from what we are accustomed to . Personally I found this experience to be the most amazing of my life . Corey Bodoh - Creed Suny / Brockport The University of Ghana has provided me with a challenging and thought - provoking academic experiences . The University caters very well to the needs of International Students , helping us to integrate into the community while supporting our special needs . My semester at the University of Ghana was a great cultural experience . I could not have asked for a better place to study . Matthew Bailey Joyce Suny / Brockport The University of Ghana has provided me with a unique educational experience . By participating in a combination of academics , sports and social life , I was able to become part of the Campus Community . While it wasn t always easy , I recommend to students to stay for a whole year because it is only then that you get a taste of what it s really like in Ghana . I thought a year will be a long time , but I realized how short it really was . It has changed my life and it is bound to change yours . So if you are sitting there and drinking your cup of coffee and contemplating it -- challenge yourself ! Leave your comfort zone and experience University of Ghana . Georgia Gould ISEP THE GHANAIAN LEGAL SYSTEM The Legal system in Ghana is based primarily on the British Common Law and Customary Law . The three fundamental principles are that : everyone is equal under the Law ; an accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty ; and , ignorance is no excuse for breaking the Law . As an international student , you have the full protection of Ghanaian laws . The third principle is especially important to international students : Please note that if you break the laws of the land , you cannot get away with it on the grounds that you did not know that what you did was wrong . All international students are to note that the Laws of Ghana prohibit the use of narcotics and restricted drugs , such as heroin , cocaine and marijuana . Students caught using or dealing in such drugs will be prosecuted and , if found guilty , could be sentenced to several years imprisonment . All students are strongly advised to stay away from drugs . GHANA NATIONAL HOLIDAYS National holidays are observed in Ghana on the dates listed below . Dates not indicated vary from year to year . Students should note that on such days all government offices , banks and most stores are closed . Public Holidays New Year s Day Eid al - Adha Independence Day Good Friday Easter Monday May Day African Union Day Republic Day Eid al - Fitr Farmers Day Christmas Day Boxing Day January 1st Variable ( in January ) March 6th Variable Variable May 1st May 25th July 1st Variable ( in November ) 1st Friday in December December 25th December 26th SAFETY AND SECURITY The University of Ghana and its environs are a relatively safe place to live and study . However it is always important to be on your guard . Please take all possible precautions for your safety especially after dark . Kindly be guided by the following safety tips . DON T as far as possible , go unaccompanied after dark , there is safety in numbers , so always go places with a friend ( s ) . DO keep your room locked even if you are leaving it for only a few seconds . DO be careful as to whom you give your name or address to or allow into your room . DO travel light and try not to flaunt expensive jewellery , gadgets , clothes or flash cash . DON T accept lifts from strangers . DO , if possible , ensure that others know of your whereabouts . DO plan the safest route to your destination and use it , keeping to well lit areas . DON T wander into unknown areas find out how safe they are first . DO keep valuable property e . g . your Passport , Laptops etc . , under lock and key . DO on trips off campus , keep a vigilant eye on your bags and other property . DO avoid hitchhiking , bearing in mind the dangers involved . DO as much as possible avoid the company of certain shady characters ( mostly male ) who will try to entice you and take advantage of you . DO trust your instincts ! If you feel uncomfortable in any place or situation , leave it . See also Security Policy and Procedures SOME SERVICES PROVIDED ON CAMPUS HEALTH SERVICES The University of Ghana runs a 64 - bed hospital ( including 13 maternity beds ) open 24 hours daily . It consists of an outpatient Department , a minor Operating Theatre , a Pharmacy , an X - Ray Department , a Dental Section and a Laboratory . The hospital is headed by a Director of University Health Services and supported by a team of medical officers , pharmacists , qualified nurses and other health officials . The hospital provides free medical attention to all members of the university community , namely , students , staff and staff dependants . In addition the University Hospital runs a clinic for students on the ground floor of the Central Cafeteria Building . This is open between 6 . 30 a . m . to 11 . 00 a . m . each working day . If you should become sick or injured on campus , you should report at the University Hospital for medical attention . Other private hospitals where students can attend , if they choose , are the Trust Hospital at Osu , and the Nyaho Clinic at the Airport Residential Area . Information on malaria COUNSELLING SERVICE The University of Ghana has a Counselling and Placement Centre purposely set up to supplement other facilities at the University for the promotion of welfare and development of students located next to the Sociology Department at the Commonwealth Hall end of campus . Competent Specialists are available free of charge to assist students with diverse problems including emotional , psychological and educational problems . As this is a walk - in clinic , appointments are not necessary . Current information on the Counsellors follows : Counsellors Dr . Rose Schroeder Counselling Psychologist , Lecturer Department of Psychology , University of Ghana , Legon Time : Mondays 3 : 00 5 : 00 p . m . Dr . Samuel Ohene Psychiatrist , Lecturer , University of Ghana Medical School Time : Tuesdays 4 : 00 6 : 00 p . m . Dr . ( Mrs ) Araba Sefa - Dedeh Clinical Psychologist , Lecturer , University of Ghana Medical School Time : Wednesdays 3 : 30 6 : 00 p . m . Dr . J . J . Lamptey Psychiatrist - in - charge , Valley View Clinic and Part - time Lecturer , University of Ghana Medical School Time : Thursdays 4 : 30 6 : 00 p . m . Mr . John Gordon Egyir - Croffet Full - time Counsellor / Ag . Director Counselling & Placement Centre Ms . Sarah Mary Addo Full - time Counsellor , Counselling & Placement Centre Time : Monday / Wednesday 9 - 11 a . m . / 2 - 4 : 30 p . m . Tuesday / Thursday / Friday 9 : 00 a . m . 4 : 30 p . m Speciality Assists students with personal problems including emotional and psychological problems ; tension , heaviness - in - the - head ; sleeplessness ; anxiety ; dependence on drugs , alcohol and other substances ; phobia ; stammering . Assists students with personal problems including emotional and psychological problems ; anxiety ; tension ; sleeplessness ; phobia ; stammering ; etc . Assists students with personal problems including emotional and psychological problems ; depression ; tension ; heaviness in - the - head ; sleeplessness ; anxiety ; dependence on drugs , alcohol and other substances ; phobias ; etc . Assists students with educational problems ; poor performance ; study skills ; general adjustment ; personal problems including social relationship , family , friends , etc . ; and , career planning , etc . BANKING SERVICES One of the first things students are advised to do on arrival is to put their money in a bank , as it is not wise to carry a lot of cash about . Opening a Bank Account in Ghana To open a bank account , you have to provide photocopies of the following documents : 1 . Student identification card 2 . Admission letter 3 . Passport 4 . Two passport sized pictures 5 . Letter from the Dean of your hall of residence Standard Chartered Bank and Barclays Bank have branches on the University campus ( located near University square , 300m from the University s main enterance ) . The Ghana Commercial Bank is located across from the main University entrance . Banks operate between the hours of 8 . 30 a . m . and 3 . 00 p . m . Monday - Friday and provide several services . Traveller ' s Cheques may be cashed but you will need your passport and the maximum allowed at any one transaction is $ 200 . 00 US . American Express has only one agent in Accra - Scantravel . Located in Enterprise House on High Street , Ussher Town , Scantravel is open from 8 : 00 a . m . to 5 p . m . Monday to Friday . The Banks operate Automated Teller Machines ( ATMs ) available 24 hours a day . Barclays and Standard Chartered ATMs accept international transactions using a Visa / Mastercard / Debit / Credit card ( there is usually a maximum number of times you may use a credit card for cash withdrawals per week - check with your credit card company before leaving home ) . Your account is billed with the dollar equivalent of money withdrawn and there ' s a small fee . Bank cards affiliated with VISA are most widely accepted . The " Cirrus " or " Plus " signs on the back of your bank card are also accepted . ATMs operation is dependent on telephone lines so when the lines are down , communication with the ' Bank master ' that facilitates the ATM transactions is lost . When that happens ( not infrequently ) you will get a message saying that the " ATM is temporarily out of order " or " We regret we cannot offer cash at this moment " . When this happens , keep trying at intervals to see if service has been restored . Western Union services are available from the Post Office on campus for transfer of money to Ghana . While most Standard Chartered Banks do have Western Union service , the campus branch does not . Transfering Money to Ghana You can receive an inward transfer of any amount through the bank even without an account . You will need your passport and some proof of residence . Transfers may be paid in the original currency transferred at a fee of 5 % of amount received . Transfers may be sent to Ghana using WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER or SWIFT ( for Standard Chartered Bank ) . To receive money through SWIFT at a Standard Chartered Bank ( which takes 72 hours ) you will need the following information : SWIFT CODE : SCBL GH AC BANK : STANDARD CHARTERED BANK LTD . ACCT # : NAME : BRANCH : LEGON ADDRESS : P . O . BOX LG 16 , LEGON ACCRA GHANA . currency converter PLACES OF WORSHIP The constitution of Ghana guarantees freedom of religion . The University has diverse religious groups some meeting places are listed below : GROUP Catholic Baptist Anglican Methodist - Presbyterian Union Legon Interdenominational Church Legon Pentecostals Union Campus Christian Family Pentecost Students and Associates Assemblies of God Campus Ministries Jehovah s Witnesses Legon Mosque Seventh Day Adventist Church Deeper Life Ministries Lighthouse Chapel Int . PLACE OF WORSHIP Mensah Sarbah Hall Chapel Commonwealth Hall Chapel Behind the Nursing Dept . Central Cafeteria Behind the Nursing Dept . N - 2 Lecture Room , N - Block Legon Hall Dining Hall Nursing Dept . Auditorium Volta Hall Dining Hall Legon Hall Long Room Off the Noguchi / I . S . H . Road Akuafo Hall Chapel Legon Hall Chapel Legon Hall Dining Hall There is a Buddhist place of worship at the Temple at the Dansoman Estates , behind Club 250 Hotel , in Accra . COMMUNICATION Postal Service The Ghana Post has a branch on the campus . The Legon Post Office is located in the commercial area of the university ( opposite Legon Hall ) , sells stamps , air letter cards , registers letters and accepts mail to be posted to all parts of the world . It also sells greeting cards and other stationery . Letters / parcels from home should be addressed to : Student ' s Name International Students ' Hostel Room Number University of Ghana P . O . Box LG 586 Legon , Accra Ghana , West Africa Letters arrive in ISH and are placed in your cubby hole at the Porter ' s Desk . When a parcel arrives , you will find a notification card in your cubby hole telling you which Post Office is holding the parcel ( usually , Accra North [ Nkrumah Circle ] - which is a fair distance away from the University ) . You will need photo ID to claim your parcel and there is a charge . Although the charge is fixed , the charge seems to vary with what the worker seems to think they can get away with charging and may also depend upon whether the person receiving the parcel is perceived as polite . Telephone Service Ghana Telecom has placed a number of public phone booths at various vantage points on the Legon Campus . Phone cards are easily available for purchase . Toll free directory assistance for land - line phones dial 160 or 105 . Telephone facilities are available in all rooms at the International Students Hostel . Students may sign on for the use of this facility . The Internet Café at the International Students ' Hostel has local / international calling services . Many people have cell phones . It is free to receive calls on cell phones ( even international calls ) . It is one of the few ways you can be reached by your parents in case of emergency . You may purchase a cell phone ( called mobile in Ghana ) in Accra ( e . g . Spacefon on Oxford Street in Osu ) but they don ' t take credit cards . Some people share a phone to cut costs . Many phones from back home work in Ghana , you just need to purchase a new SIM / " SNAP " card in Ghana for about $ 15 . 00 USD . Business and Communication Centres A number of businesses and communication centres are located within the university campus . Services provided include local , trunk and international telephone calls , faxes , typing , printing , photocopying and binding services for a fee . Some centres are : The Legon Business Centre O . T . Business Centre Key Pubcom Business Centre Media Designs The S . R . C . Business Centre Maranatha Business Centre Dixwell Communication Centre Bubbles Geo Support Legon Hall Commonwealth Hall Mensah Sarbah Hall Central Cafeteria KAB Jones - QuarteyBuilding KAB Jones - QuarteyBuilding KAB Jones - QuarteyBuilding Mensah - Sarbah Hall Annexe B Akuafo Hall ( above Tacobell ) Cyber Cafés Several Cyber Cafés are located on campus and offer Internet services for a fee to students between the hours of 8 . 30 a . m . and 9 . 00 p . m . daily . The fee is about 5 , 000 cedi or . 50 cents UDS per hour ) . These may be found at : The University Guest Centre Reception S . R . C . Computer Laboratory , - Akuafo Hall African Virtual University , - on top of the University Bookshop Balme Library Legon Hall ( 24h broad band operations Above Tyme Out ) . Benx Zola Computer Services Akuafo Hall Annexe B The Speedster Cyber Café SRC Union Building Queens Cyber Café - International Students ' Hostel and Legon Hall Where to Eat Most of the residential Halls on campus have dining halls serving lunch and dinner . Some of the , mainly local , dishes served include : Rice and meat / fish sauce Rice and beans ( Waakye ) Fried ripe plantain and beans ( Red - Red ) Rice spiced with pepper sauce and chicken ( Jollof ) Fufu ( Pounded cassava and plantain meal ) with meat / fish soup . Ampesi ( Boiled yam ) and sauce Banku ( Cornmeal ) with soup or sauce Kenkey and fish with pepper sauce Tuo zaafi ( a type of corn porridge ) The International Students Hostel has kitchens and other facilities for cooking and residents may prepare their own meals if they so choose . In addition to the meals provided by the dining halls , other eateries located on campus also serve local and continental dishes for breakfast , lunch and dinner . Some of these places are : Tacobell Tyme - Out Wiltex Food Designs The Roof Top Tasty Treats El Gringo Cindyiks Central Cuisiné The Basement Quest Café School of Performing Arts The University Guest Centre On the Run Akuafo Hall Legon Hall Volta Hall Computer Science Department Jubilee Hall Estates Department International Students Hostel Legon Central Cafeteria Legon Central Cafeteria KAB Jones - Quartey Building Restaurant Restaurant Mobil Station , Legon ( off campus ) Other places to eat include Hajia ' s Special at the Bush Canteen ( the Legon Social Market ) and the Shangri - La market , behind the School of Nursing . Shopping and Market Centres Several shopping and market centres are located on the campus and its environs . These include general grocery shops , card and gift shops , bookshops , pharmacies and hair salons and barber s shops . General grocery shops include : The Central Cafeteria : Nabbot Ventures ( behind the Central Cafeteria ) and Partners B / c Services ( inside the Central Cafeteria ) The Manciple s Shop near the University Primary School The Legon Social Market ( Bush Canteen ) The Night Market ( near the Manciple s shop ) Legon Mobil Mart , off campus ( near the Main Gate ) Legon Shell Shop , off campus ( South Legon ) Total Shop ( near the Main Gate ) Unipetrol Shop , off campus ( near ECG , Legon ) Card and Gift Shops / Bookshops include : Cud n Cuddles ( Commonwealth Hall ) The Legon Bookshop The Legon Bookshop Annexe ( at the Jones - Quartey Building ) The Volta Hall Gift Shop ( Volta Hall ) Bubbles ( Mensah - Sarbah Annexe B ) Pharmacy Shops include : Pfago Pharmacy ( Legon Hall Annexe B ) Pills & Tabs Pharmacy ( located beside On the Run , across the main road from the University ) tel : 0244 - 252851 Salons and Barber s Shops include : Swanky Modes Salon ( Legon Hall ) Volta Hall Salon Hair Sense Barbering Shop ( Mensah Sarbah Hall ) Mensah Sarbah Hall Salon Mensah Sarbah Hall Annexe A Salon Bush Canteen Salons and Barbers Shops Shopping is also available at : Madina , a suburb of Accra close to Legon Osu ( an eastern suburb of Acca ) noted for its commercial activities , notably grocery shops , fast food joints and brisk nightlife Central Accra Bookshops Books for Less ( Oxford Street , Osu ) second - hand bookshop dealing in English language books and paperbacks at reasonable rates ( in the building housing the Woodin Fabric store round the corner from the front entrance ) . There is a cluster of bookshops and stalls on and around Pagan Road selling second - hand books . Riya ' s Bookstore ( 18th Lane , Osu ) new books priced in the range you would pay at home . Supermarkets Maxmart ( Liberation Road opposite the Golden Tulip Hotel ) Koala Supermarket ( Osu ) Sotrec Groceries ( Osu ) Ghana Supermarket ( Osu ) Tip Top In Town ( Osu ) Multistores ( High Street ) Vegetarian Products Relish Health Foods ( corner of 11th Lane and 6th Street , Osu ) Crafts and Curios Cultural Centre ( on the seafront at 28th February Road ) Makola Market ( city centre ) Kaneshie Market ( Winneba Road ) Trade Fair Centre ( opposite La Palm Hotel ) The Loom Art Gallery ( Nkruma Avenue in Adabraka between Terra Nova Bar and Wok Inn Restaurant ) Step In Gallery ( near The Loom ) Craft Stalls at Tetteh Quarshie Circle ( close to campus ) Recreational Facilities The University of Ghana , through the Amalgamated Sport Clubs , offers students a wide variety of campus recreational activities . The following are some of the team sports offered : Basketball Badminton Volleyball Handball Hockey Athletics Football Rugby Lawn Tennis Students may also register with swimming clubs that make use of the facilities at some of the hotels close to the university . Some of these hotels are Hotel Shangri - La , Golden Tulip Hotel , Miklin Hotel , and Nogahil Hotel . There are also some private gymnasiums where students may register and go for regular workouts Entertainment Centres Various entertainment spots are located within the university campus where students may meet for entertainment programmes such as film shows , dance clubs as well as indoor games . Some places providing such services include : Tyme Out ( Legon Hall ) Pub , music and dance , and indoor games . Desperados ( Commonwealth Hall ) Pub , cinema and barbecue nights ( Friday evenings ) Efua Sutherland Drama Studio Drama and Theatre Productions and cinema Tacobell ( Akuafo Hall ) - Bar and Restaurant Other Services Other campus based services include laundry facilities , and are provided at various locations on campus including : Legon Hall Commonwealth Hall Mensah Sarbah Hall Central Cafeteria Wiseway Cleaners ( near the main university entrance ) Getting Around The University of Ghana is a very short travelling distance from Accra , the capital city . The Legon Police Station , the Junior Staff Village and the University Hospital are located in close proximity to the Legon campus and all are accessible by foot . To get into town from Legon , intra - city buses , tro - tros or local mini - buses as well as taxis are widely available both within campus and at the Main Gate . A free shuttle bus links the International Students Hostel and the other parts of the campus every evening from 7 p . m . till 11 . 00 p . m . Students are advised to avail themselves of this service as much as possible . Students wanting to travel outside Accra are advised to use the services of S . T . C . , located on the Ring Road West , near the Obetsebi - Lamptey Circle as much as possible . It provides inter - city buses linking Accra and most Regional Capitals like Kumasi , Ho , Cape - Coast , Takoradi , Tamale and Bolgatanga . Inter - City Road Distances More Information on customs and regulations in Ghana DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN GHANA International Organisations A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A Algeria , Embassy of The Democratic People s Republic of 87 Tito Avenue P O Box 2747 ... 776719 Austrian Consulate 45 Water Road , North Ridge P O Box 564 .. 225719 B Belgium Consulate 2 Mankata Ave . Box C706 . . 23321 . 773378 / 774957 Benin , Embassy of Republic of 80 Volta Street 2nd Close Airport P O Box 7871 , Accra - North . 774860 Brazilian Embassy 5 Volta Street Airport Residential Area P O Box 2918 .. 774921 / 774908 Fax . 773572 British High Commission , Embassy of The United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland 1 Osu Link , P O Box 296 221665 / 221715 / 667657 & 669585 Bulgaria , Embassy of The People ' s Republic of 3 - 5 Kakramadu Road East Cantonments P O Box 3193 . 772404 / 777004 / 774231 Burkina Faso , Embassy of 772 / 3 Asylum Down , P O Box 651 , .. ... 221988 & 221936 C Canadian High Commission 42 Independence Avenue , Accra , Ghana P O Box 1639 Tel : .. .. 228555 / 228566 Fax : 773792 China , Embassy of The People ' s Republic of 6 Agostino Neto Road , Airport Residential Area , P O Box 3356 .. .. 777073 Cote d Ivoire , Embassy of The Republic of F . 710 / 2 18 Lane Off Cantonments Road , Osu , P O Box 3445 . 774611 & 774612 Cuba , Embassy of The Republic of No . 20 Amical Cabral Airport P O Box 9163 . .. 775868 Ambassador Office : GLB 006 Airport Residential Area . .. 774998 Czech , Embassy of The Czech Republic Kanda Highway 2 C2660 / 5 P O Box 5226 , Accra - North 223540 / 225337 D Denmark , Royal Danish Embassy 67 Dr . Isert Road North Ridge P O Box C596 , Cantonments 229830 / 226972 & 301861 Fax . .. 228061 E Egypt , Embassy of The Arab Republic of 27 Noi Fetreke Street P O Box 2508 . 776854 Ethiopia , Embassy of The Federal Democratic Republic of 2 Milne Close off Dr . Amicadi Cabral Road Airport Residential Area P O Box 1646 . 775928 & 776807 F Finland Consulate 7 , 3rd Rangoon Close , Box M262 .. 776307 / 774513 France , Embassy of The Republic of 12th Liberation Avenue P O Box 187 228571 / 228504 .. . 774469 .. ... Fax 778321 Consular And Chancery Section ..... 774480 Cultural Section ... 778322 G Germany , Federal Republic of 6 Ridge Street , North Ridge P O Box 1757 . 221311 & 221326 Guinea , Embassy of The Republic of 161a , 4th Norla Street Labone P O Box 5497 , Accra - North Tel : .... 777921 Fax . 760961 H Holy See Apostlic Nuciature in Ghana , Embassy of The 8 Drake Avenue , P O Box 9675 Airport 777759 & 774019 Hungarian Consulate C97 / 2 Ayikuma Avenue , Adabraka P O Box 11738 , Accra - North .. 223313 I India , High Commission of . 775601 / 775602 9 , Ridge Road , Roman Ridge , P O Box 3040 . . 772176 Iran , Embassy of the Islamic Republic of 12 Sir Arku Korsah Street , Roman Ridge P . O . Box 12673 .. 777043 / 774474 Ireland Consulate C / o ECG Project Office , Ring Road West , Box 521 . 22185 x 225 Italy , Embassy of The Republic of Switchback Crescent , Off Jawaharlal Nehru Rd . Box C885 , Cantonment 775622 & 775621 Visa Section ... .. 775536 J Japan , Embassy Of 8 Josif Broz Tito Ave . Off Jawaharlal Nehru Avenue , Box 1637 , 775615 & 775616 Tel : ... 775879 & 777519 Fax . 775951 K Korea , Embassy of The Republic of 3rd Abokobi Road , East Cantonments P O Box 13700 ... 776157 & 777533 Korea , Embassy of The Democratic Peoples Republic of C81 Abelenkpe P O Box 13874 .... 760205 L Lebanon , Embassy of The Republic of F 864 / 1 Cantonments , Road Osu P O Box 562 .. . 776727 & 776745 Liberia , Embassy of The Republic of 10 Odoi Kwao Street , Airport Residential Area , P O Box 895 Tel : .. . 775641 & 775987 Libya , People ' s Bureau of The Socialist People s Libyan Arab Jamahiryal 47 Liberation Road , Airport Residential Area , P O Box 9685 , Airport Tel : 774819 & 774820 M Mali , Embassy of The Republic of 8 Agostino Neto Road , Airport P O Box 1121 775160 N Netherlands , The Royal Netherlands Embassy 89 , Liberation Road , Thomas Sankara Circle , P O Box 3248 ... . 231991 / 231992 / 773644 & 773655 Niger , Embassy of The Republic of E104 / 3 Independence Avenue P O Box2685 ... 224962 & 229011 ... .. 777950 / 774521 / 774723 Nigeria , Office of The High Commission of The Federal Republic of 5 Josif Tito Avenue off Jawahalal Nehru Rd P O Box 1548 . 776158 & 776159 P Pakistan , High Commission of Plot 11 , Ring Road , East Danquah Circle P O Box 1114 ... 775910 Palestine , Embassy of The State of State House , J . 3 Ghana Airways Avenue , Airport Residential Area P O Box 01728 , Osu .. 231362 / 231363 / 778736 / 778737 / 772529 R Romania , Embassy of The Socialist Republic of 16 Nme Lane Airport Residential Area , P O Box M112 . .. 774281 & 772554 Russia , Embassy Of The Russian Federation F . 586 / 1 Ring Road East , P O Box 1634 . . 775611 S Saudi Arabia , Royal Embassy of 10 Noi Fetreke Street , Roman Ridge Ambassadorial Estate Extension Airport Residential Area , P O Box 670 Tel : .. 774311 & 776651 South Africa High Commission Plot 12 Airport Residential Area P O Box 298 , Trade Fair Tel : . 776651 / 762380 / 773880 Fax ... 774311 / 762381 Spain , Embassy of The Kingdom of Lamptey Avenue Extension , Airport Residential Area , P O Box 1218 .. 774004 Switzerland , Embassy of 9 Water Road , North Ridge P O Box 359 , ... 228185 & 228125 Attaché , 2nd Circular Road , 777386 Fax . 223583 T Togo , Embassy of The Republic of Cantonment Circle , P O Box C120 Cantonments ... 777950 & 774521 Residents : Ambassador . .. 774723 U United States of America , Embassy of The Ring Road , East Near Danquah Circle , Osu , P O Box 194 775348 Fax 776008 Consular Section , 10th Lane 3rd Ring Road , East Near Danquah Circle Osu , P O Box 194 775348 ... . Fax 775747 Y Yugoslavia , Embassy of The Socialist Federal Republic of 47 Senchi Street Airport Residential Area , P O Box 1629 .. . 775761 International Organisations European Union , Delegation of The European Commission in Ghana 81 Cantonments Road , P O Box 9505 Airport 774202 / 774094 / 774236 / 774201 ... . Fax 774154 Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Maxwell Road P O Box 1628 666851 - 4 International Monetary Fund Ministry of Finance Building P O Box M40 . 666031 United Nations Children ' s Fund ( Unicef ) 772527 / 777972 / 772524 / 773583 4 - 8th Rangoon Close , P O Box 5051 Accra - North 773584 / 776353 & 773147 United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Regional Institute for Population Studies at University of Ghana RIPS , PO Box 96 , Legon . Tel 501070 Fax 772829 United Nations Fund For Population Activities ( UNFPA ) . 773890 - 6 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Branch Office in Ghana 25 , Sir Arku Korsah Road , Airport Residential Area , PMB Airport Tel : . 777419 / 772638 , 772635 Fax .. . 773158 United Nations Information Centre Fao Building , Junction of Liberia Road and Gamel Abdel Nasar Road P O Box 2339 ... 666651 - 4 Tel : 665511 Fax . 665578 Office of the Resident Coordinator & Representative of the United Nations Development Programme P O Box 1423 ... 773890 - 6 United Nations Resident Coordinator & UNDP Resident 777831 UNDP Deputy Resident Representative .. 775207 UNDP , Operations Manager 775539 UNIDO Country Director 773898 W . F . P . Country Director .. 772830 W . F . P . 773540 United Nations University Private Mail Bag Airport , Main Line .. 500396 Direct .. 500791 Fax 500792 United States Information Services 64 Independence Avenue and Sudan Road , P O Box 2288 .. . 229179 / 229829 / 230571 / 230572 . 231218 & 229882 United States of America , Agency for International Development Mission to Ghana ( USAID ) E . 45 / 3 Independence Avenue , P O Box 1630 , ... 228440 / 231942 / 228467 / 231939 . 225087 / 225326 / 231938 World Bank 69 , 8th Avenue Extension , North Ridge , P O Box M27 .. 229681 Fax 227887 World Health Organisation 13 Kanda Highway , P O Box M142 .. . . 225676 / 232502 .. . 228397 / 228367 20 Water Road 225276 Handbook for International Students / International Programmes / Created : 2004 / 11 / 22 / Last Updated : 2005 / 03 / 03 . Page maintained by

2nd Annual TTB Media Night / Best Worker Award for 2005 Date : 09 May 2006 Address by Mr . Isaac Owusu - Hemeng , Managing Director of The Trust Bank at the 2nd Annual TTB - Mdia Night / Best Worker Award held on march 17 , 2006 at the rooftop of the bank s head office . Management and Staff of TTB Media Men & Women present Ladies and Gentlemen , It is exactly one week ago since we met to formally inaugurate the 13th branch of the bank located at Sakumono , here in Accra . As per the maiden event organized in December 2004 , this evening s ceremony marks the second ANNUAL TTB - MEDIA NIGHT / BEST WORKER AWARD . As was established at the maiden event , this ceremony will afford the management of the bank the opportunity to interact with business journalists as a way of strengthening the already existing relationship as we prepare to do more business in 2006 . As you would agree with me , the undue delay in organising this ceremony has , fortunately , made it possible for me to share information with you on the bank s performance as well as other developments taking place recently . As I promised you last week , preparations are underway for a more formal meeting with the core of the business journalist for exhaustive deliberations . Our meeting this evening is an informal one and we are expected to freely interact and share notes on anything bordering our minds concerning TTB . I believe that my colleagues on the management team are readily available to you . Kindly feel free and enjoy the evening . Performance in brief : The year 2005 marked the second year in the implementation of the bank s 3year business plan . The year ended with a net profit of ¢ 45 . 3 billion representing 22 % growth over the previous year . This translated in a return on equity of 52 % and a 9 % growth in assets to ¢ 982 billion . The bank also recorded total income of ¢ 154 . 2 billion with net loans and advances growing by 102 % . Other developments Ladies and Gentlemen , we will in due course be announcing to you massive changes in the structure of TTB . Suffice it to mention that TTB for the first time has a black Ghanaian serving as Managing Director . LEADERSHIP , BUILDING BLOCK OF OUR FUTURE HUMAN RESOURCE . One of the important challenges for management has been the continuous motivation of our staff as a vital and necessary complement to our effort at creating a performance based culture at TTB . As you may be aware , this requires strong leadership on the part of all managers of the bank , who are expected to work as leaders to their individual teams . As leaders , we must know our people and be able to conduct fair performance appraisals and determine what motivates them and at the same time recognize the need to constantly improve motivational packages over time to meet the changing needs of staff . The support of our Human Resource Department to this effect has been crucial as they are responsible for achieving the three fold task of : Creating the framework within which colleagues can work and be adequately compensated by way of salaries and other incentives , including career development opportunities Ensuring that the right people are at the right places in terms of job mobility , and Regularly measuring staff satisfaction through periodic surveys to help evaluate the performance of management from the viewpoint of staff , which affords us the opportunity to determine areas that we do well and the areas that require improvement Job mobility is regarded as a critical element of our new HR policy . We live in a world where it is not longer possible to exercise the same job from inception way up to retirement . We have therefore built a dynamic organisation where the productive assets , as in staff , are recognized and rewarded accordingly . This has helped in drastically reducing all levels of despondency among our staff . Last but very critical also is the institution of a strategic remuneration framework , which aims at attracting , retaining and motivating the required competencies in an increasingly competitive market . It is based on this that management proactively introduced a sound Performance Appraisal & Reward - system in the year 2004 which for the first time took into account the responsibilities and value of jobs ( as opposed to the previous grade rankings ) . The Annual Best Worker Award was instituted in the same year to complement the outlined packages . As you would remember , the maiden event took place at the Regency Hotel in December 2004 and this evening s ceremony marks the second of its kind in the life of the bank . In coming to a decision regarding the winners , a vigorous appraisal methodology was followed to ensure transparency , objectivity and fairness . I believe the Head Of HR will make a brief presentation on the process adopted in determining the award winners . Management and the HR will continue to demonstrate strong leadership skills so as to inspire and empower all colleagues . Conclusion As I mentioned last week , the bank continues to place People first in all its activities . We are Passionate about our work , Passionate for customers and Passionate for results . We believe in Professionalism and ensure sound corporate governance practices and ethical conduct in all our operations . Our idea of Performance is about revenue growth but also about cost control and sound credit risk management . The satisfaction of our customers remains our most important asset , and we shall forever seek to protect this with the greatest passion . We thank you all for making time to honour our invitation to attend this evening s function .

ADDRESS BY H . E . ALHAJI ALIU MAHAMA , VICE - PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA AT FIRST EVER W / R HOMECOMING SUMMIT MONDAY 9TH AUGUST 2004 Hon . Members of the Council of State ; Hon . Ministers of State Hon . Members of Parliament ; Your Excellencies , Members of the Diplomatic Corps ; The President of National House of Chiefs ; The President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs ; Metropolitan / District Chief Executives ; Distinguished Invited Guests ; Members of the Media ; Ladies and Gentlemen : I am delighted for this opportunity to address the sons and daughters of the Western Region at the opening of this first Western Region Homecoming Summit . It takes time , energy and ideas to orgnaize an important and laudable event such as this . I therefore , wish to commend the Regional Minister , District Chief Executives and the Chiefs and people of the Western Region for making this event a reality . It is indeed good to be back home . In the first place , the homecoming of brothers and sisters after a period of absence brings about a euphoria that is refreshing . Indeed , it helps to vent out emotions and the renewal of relationships . I am happy that you are now enjoying the type of euphoria I am talking about . The homecoming summit can also foster unity amongst the chiefs and people of this region . The huge attendance at this durbar , the joy and the display of culture at its best indicate clearly that you are one poeple with a common destiny . It is also an opportunity for you to showcase the existing trade and investment potentials and opportunities in order to attract both local and foreign investors to locate in the region . I am certain that you will also want development partners , friends of the Westion Region and Non - Governmental Organizations to turn their attention to this part of the country . Nananom , Ladies and Gentlemen , the Western region is endowed with enormous human and natural resources . The region accounts for close to 60 percent of the nation ' s direct output of cocoa . It is also the leading producer of all other major cash crops , oil palm , coconuts and rubber . The region has the richest mineral resource base in the country . It is second in the production of gold and the only region producing bauxite and manganese . There are also large deposits of diamond that are yet to be exploited . The Western region is also fortunate to have several tourist attractions . For example , Ankasa - Eco Tourism , Monkey Hill Eco tourism , Domana Rock Shrine etc . The region has virtually all the components making up Ghana ' s tourist products ; Cultural heritage , historical heritage , beaches and recreation centers , conferences and conservation tourism . Despite these natural endowments , the situation of the Western Region is paradoxically one of poverty and deprivation in the midst of plenty . The physical infrastructure of roads were neglected for several years . Social services of health and educational facilitities are also not in the best of shapes . llliteracy rate is still high and many communities do not have access to health care and sanitation . Nananom , Ladies and Gentlemen , this situation is unacceptable . Government is committed to its promise of developing this country into a middle - income economy . This will require a level of development of all parts of the country . In pursuit of this , government has decided to concentrate on five priority areas to accelerate development . Infrastructure development and enhanced social services delivery , especially in education and health form part of the programme . In this light , government ' s educational programme has sought to increase enrolment at all levels of education , build some new school blocks and improve facilities of some existing institutions . Happily there are several ongoing constructional activitie sin all the districts of this region under the District Assemblies Common Fund and the HIPC disbursements . The Western Region has not been left out in the area of infrastructural development . As a Government , we are convinced that the development of infrastructure is the way to transform the economy . This agenda is being faithfully and systematically executed through the reconstruction , rehabilitation and maintenance of town roads , trunk roads and feeder roads to open up the countryside to enhance accelerated economic activities , employment generation , wealth creation , reduction of poverty levels and assurance of better living standards for the people of this region . Nananom , Ladies and Gentlemen , the pace of implementation of government ' s development programmes is , however , hampeed by resource constraints . We need therefore to come to the realization that the central government alone cannot take on the burden of single handedly developing all our towns and villages . It has now become a common practice in Ghana , for citizens of the vairous towns and villages resident elsewhere to come together with the sole aim of seeing to the development of their areas . Many communities have improved their conditions of living through the initiative and efforts of their citizens living outside their home regions and districts . Nananom , I believe that this homecoming summit has a great opportunity to affect the destiny of the Western Region . Those of you seated here are the brains and the strength of the the region . Looking around this durbar ground , I see great and knwledgeable chiefs , queenmothers , emn and women with vast and varied experiences capable of turning things around . This homecoming summit should afford you the opportunity to discuss and seek workable solutions that will make things better for the people of this region . I will encourage you to examine the challenges and difficulties that hamper development and devise strategies and programmes for promoting the accelerated development o the region . I also would urge you to organize development associations wherever you are to raise funds for projects in the villages and towns in this region . The development associations should also establish contacts and networking with brothers and sisters resident outside Ghana to bring home assistance in the form of books , computers , hospital equipment etc . to help improve the living conditions of the people . Nananom , Ladies and Gentlemen , this homecoming event is taking palce at the most opportune time . As you are aware , we have envisioned the creation of the Golden Age of Business in Ghana . Government has therefore declared 2004 as the " Business friendly year . " We have fashioned policies to create a more conducive business friendly environment to enable the private sector to become the real engine of growth and prosperity . I wish to urge you to encourage your brothers and sisters residing outside Ghana to come home and site agro - processing industries in the region to expand the market for locally produced agricultural products and also create job opportunities . In this eyar ' s budget , Government has granted zero tax rates for such companies established outside regional capitals . All those interested in agro - processing should take advantage of these measures to help create jobs and wealth in our rural communities . It is my prayer that you will not use the time at this forum to talk politics but that you would discuss issues pertaining to the overall development of this potentially prosperous region . Nananom , Ladies and Gentlemen , the people of this region cannot derive the full benefits of the outcome of this summit if there is no peace in our towns and villages . I wish to use this occasion to drawn your attention to the disturbing chieftaincy disputes in some traditional areas in the Western Region . The government is deeply concerned that a noble institution , so much respected is unfortunately plagued by numerous disputes , some of which very often result in violent clashes leading to loos of lives and properties . These disputes have had not only adverse affects on the peace , stability and security of the region , but also on its development and progress . Such a situation no doubt drives awayt prospective investors and leaves the reigon the poorer . It also results in dividing communities into antagonistic factions . Such communities are often denied the benefits of leadership and mobilization for development . I wish to appeal to the chiefs and people in all communities in the Western Region who are involved in chieftaincy and land disputes to use the appropriate institutional arrangements to resolve their disagreements and not to take the law into their own hands . Nananom , Ladies and Gentlemen , I wish to end my address by reminding you that we are about to enter the period of active political campaigning . We wish to assure you that everything is being done to ensure that we have the most peaceful , free and fair elections in Ghana , come December 2004 . I wish to appeal to you all especially the youth not to allow yourselves to be used to cause trouble before , during and after the elections . The NPP is convinced that we have delivered on our promises . We have placed this country on the right direction towards progress . And the good people of Ghana will vote massively for our human centered polices . Nananom , Your Excellencies , Ladies and Gentlemen , " The best , indeed , comes from the West . " The Chiefs and the people of the Western Region are at your best today . It is my hope that what we are witnessing today ; the sense of unity , excitement and enthusiasm will be reflected in the implementation of the outcome of this summit . And I will recommend that every village town , district , region in Ghana should organize such Homecoming activities at lease once in every two years . I wish you successful deliberations at this summit . It is now my pelasure to declare the 1st ever Western Region Homecoming Summit " Nkabom Afahye " duly open . Thank you and may Allah bestow His blessings on you all .