ISD News File THURSDAY OCTOBER 7 2004

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA STARTS SKILLS DEVELOPMENT The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere, has announced the introduction of a compulsory course in Entrepreneurship Development as part of the curriculum of its bachelor's degree programmes.

This is part of initiatives to produce graduates who have the requisite skills and competencies for the job market. Consequently, all departments have been tasked to revise their curriculum to meet the current state of the subject and adopt problem-solving methods.

Professor Asenso-Okyere, who announced this at this year's matriculation at the weekend, said the introduction of the new subject was important because in the current economy, it was difficult for job seekers to gain employment if they did not possess the knowledge required.

Out of a total of 18,128 application received, the university offered admission to 11,057 candidates, out of which 8,044 registered.

Female enrolment increased from 38 per cent in 2003 to 41 per cent this year, while enrolment of graduate students rose from 456 in 2003 to 625 this year.

GHANA-FRANCE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FETES MEMBERS

The Ghana-France Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (GFCCIA), has held a reception for members of the Chamber in Accra.

The President of the Chamber, Mr. Chris Hesse-Tetteh, said the reception was aimed at improving their networking with the business community in the country, welcome new members into the Chamber also to enable the members to interact.

He called for more members to join the Chamber, which had so many opportunities to offer its members, adding that “this would not only help their business to grow but would bring more investment into the country and create more job opportunities for the unemployed”.

Mr. Hesse-Tetteh congratulated the French Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Jean-Michel Berrit, for the continuing support to the Chamber and the business community in the country as a whole.

JUDICIAL SERVICE INSTITUTES SCHEME TO ASSIST JUDGES

The Chief Justice, Mr. Justice George Kingsley Acquah, has announced the institution of a scheme to assist judges and staff of the Judicial Service to acquire personal houses before going on retirement.

To this end, it has requested ¢50 billion from the government as seed money for the operation of the scheme, which would be administered by a board to be appointed by the Chief Justice.

Mr. Acquah, who announced this in Accra when he launched the 2003/2004 Annual Report of the Judicial Service, said the scheme would take the form of loans to staff.

¢1 BILLION PROJECTS INAUGURATED IN SUHUM DISTRICT

The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr. Francis Osafo-Mensah, has inaugurated a number of project in the Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar District, estimated over ¢1 billion.

The projects, included classroom blocks at Kukua and Mfranor, nurses' quarters at Anum Apapam, a six-classroom block at Densuso and KVIP at Amanhyia.

In an inaugural speech, Dr. Osafo-Mensah, said the nation's development was paramount to the government, and would therefore, ensure the provision of schools throughout the country.

“The government will not renege on its development programmes. We promised you peace and development of this country and we are doing just”, he stated.

The District Chief Executive, Mr. Michael Kofi Mensah, who conducted the Regional Minister round the project sites, was satisfied with the number of projects the district had so far benefited under this government and urged the people to vote massively for the party in the forth coming elections.

ECOWAS MEMBERS TO CONTRIBUTE 6,500 TROOPS

ECOWAS member states have pledged to contribute units for the establishment of a 6,500 strong standby force that can respond rapidly to emergency conflict situation in the sub-region.

The pledges, which were made at the 10th session of the ECOWAS Defence and Security Commission in Accra, included infantry, artillery, engineering, transport, aviation, naval, medical, signal and military police units.

A communiqué issued on Thursday at the end of the two-day session, said the standby force which would comprise a rapid reaction component of 1,500 troops that could be deployed within 30 days, would enable the region to respond faster to crisis situations.

The specific pledges and contributions of the member states were not disclosed, however an ECOWAS donors conference would be held in Abuja in November where resources would be mobilized to finance and equip the standby force. Resources raised at the conference will enable ECOWAS to pursue a capacity building programme and training of the force up to United Nations standard.

The communiqué noted that the commission expressed satisfaction with the relative peace in the region following the efforts of regional leaders and the deployment of peacekeeping forces in crisis hit areas.