Media to help publicize NEW Year School Recommendations - IAE

Accra, March 26, GNA - The Institute of Adult Education (IAE) of the University of Ghana on Friday called on the media to partner the Institute to bring out the recommendations made at the Annual New Year School to be used for the benefit of the country.

Mrs Kate Adoo-Adeku, Director of the Institute, said Government, private institutions and agencies could use recommendations made at both the New Year School and Northern Easter School if they were widely publicized.

She was speaking at a press conference to highlight the recommendations made at the 55th Annual New Year School and announce the arrangements for the 2004 Northern Easter School to be held from April 2 to April 7 in Tamale under the theme: "A Decade of Constitutional Rule: Critical Issues Focus on Northern Ghana.

Mrs Adoo-Adeku said the 55th Annual New Year School deliberated on topical issues of both national and international concerns and included: "NEPAD: Prospects and Challenges"; "Food Security and Poverty Reduction"; "The President's Special Initiative (PSI) - An appraisal" and "Election 2004 - Expectations".

Other topics were the "National Health Insurance Scheme"; "Wage and Salary Structure for Workers in Ghana: Setting the Pace for a National Debate" and "HIV/AIDS Counselling and Prevention Strategies". On the Wage and Salary Structure, she said participants noted that the distortions in wages and salaries were based on factors such as demand and supply of a particular skill, the work environment and the ability to pay; union and government influence and the negotiation skills of the unions, employees, and government.

Mrs Adoo-Adeku said it was recommended that the Government must design and implement effective selection and recruitment practices in the workplace, while the tripartite committee moved from the concept of minimum wage to living wage.

On Education, she said the cost-sharing concept had not been fully understood by the general public adding that there was the need for an intensive education, and recommended that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) should be used to provide the basic infrastructure for all levels in the educational sector.

On the political front, participants said Ghanaians expected the elections to be free and fair devoid of hooliganism, violence and intimidation.

On Press Freedom, Mrs Adoo-Adeku said the School enjoined Journalists to ensure that media freedom enshrined in the Constitution was not abused and that there should be objectivity and open-mindedness in discussing issues to win the trust and confidence of the people.