ROB quizzes...
This issue has been a long standing bone of contention among grassroots and political scientists all over the world.
In Ghana especially, it is common to hear from constituents especially in the run-up to General elections, lamenting about their MPs not speaking on the floor of parliament, to register their concerns(MPs).
Furthermore, constituents, especially party apparatchiks mostly accuse the MPs of not serving the interests of their political parties in parliament.
Due the above, the issue of "How do constituents want their MPs to represent them?" remains a canker, thus should be dealt with...
Over the centuries, political scientists have proposed about three models, by which one is selected especially in parliamentary democracy.
First of all, constituents vote MPs not really based on their personal qualities but for the parties that those MPs represent (Mandate model).
This is very prevalent in Ghana especially in the Ashanti and Volta Regions. As a result of this, constituents expect their MPs to solely and at all times, vote or take decisions, which favour their Political party.
So they see their MP, as a "Political father" of the constituency, in the legislature.
Secondly, Constituents vote for MPs to be their Trustees.This means their MPs should only be exercising and expressing the minds and concerns of the people, even if they conflict with his personal beliefs.
It is the more reason why Constituents mostly arise to even accuse MPs of sleeping on the job, for not coming to the constituencies and not even representing them properly...
All the above ways or expectations from constituents, in one way or the other, are needed and expected of MPs in our parliamentary democracy though MPs are supposed to do more than them.
I will at this point quote the 18th century British renowned legislator and philosopher;Edmund Burke.
He said "MPs should not be beholden to their constituents wishes and be true to exercise their own judgement"
In the above, the scholar advocates a system where the MPs are seen as people with knowledge and experience and are allowed to exercise their own judgements on issues pertaining to development(how and where it should be done) even if it goes against those of their constituents.
Infact I'm totally in support of this model, which will make the people see their MPs as their delegate but not stooges.
Our voters need to vote based on personal traits, wisdom and knowledge of their aspiring MPs rather than on any other consideration because if MPs are able to exercise good judgements premised on experiences and science, it will further the gains of the constituents.
Once again, our NCCE and the relevant CSOs must rise up to help re-educate our people to be equipped with the requisite know-how on how their MPs represent them.
This will reduce the tension, brawls, accusations and mistrusts in our body politics...
NANA OSEI BOATENG
(POLITICAL SCIENTIST, WRITER, BROADCASTER AND EDUCATOR)
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Saturday, June 13, 2020
HOSTEL MANAGERS DEMANDING HOSTEL FEES FOR NON-UTILIZED PERIODS AMIDST PANDEMIC
OPEN
LETTER TO GNUTS
Covid-19
being declared as Pandemic has not only affected our way of life but has also affected
global economy; it is as a result that world economies are providing poverty
alleviation programs to support the system. It is evident that we are in hard
times; buying and selling is crippled, liquidity chain is dangling,
unemployment is rising, price of commodities is unstable yet some hostel managers
are demanding rent in this hard time.
It has
come to the table that some hostel managers are demanding rent with claims that
rooms were let with conditions privy to academic calendar. With or
without the pandemic, business must continue and we do by no means want to
interfere in their business but the ethics and the spells of the contractual
agreement make the claims fictitious— in a sense that the academic calendar has
been annulled following the closure of various campuses, and new timetable has
been drawn to extend the duration of the second semester, these make their
claims arguable because the academic year is not ended.
Going further to rebut their demands, it must
be noted that two semesters in an academic year sum up to 32 weeks, and a total
of 22 weeks was spent indicating that a maximum of 10 weeks multiplied by rent
per day should be credited as balance to students occupying their premises in
terms of abrogation.
In addition, I think it is judicious to give
students some ample time to prepare for next payment in this hard time or at
least halt the annual increment of rent. Government is doing necessary to ease
the load, we plead with our landlords to contribute to mitigating the hardship.
Associations
(GNUTS), and boards (Accredited Hostels Board chaired by the Dean of students)
that are the mouthpiece of students are called to mediate on our behalf.
In
conclusion, Covid-19 has dispose onto us hardship making things difficult for
guardians and students at large, demands for rent at this time increases
financial distress therefore landlords are admonished to liaise with the
Accredited Hostel Boards to review the conditions and find appropriate means to recoup their funds.
JESSIE ASANTE SASU
COMPUTER SCIENCE
KOFORIDUA TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
ROBBERY ON CAMPUS
LAME IN CAMPUS SECURITY, THE REASON FOR UPRISE IN HOSTEL ROBBERY
The
rising spade of robbery of students in various hostels has dangled the need to
sound a wake-up call to the SRC to take the security of students’ lives and
properties as important as the eagle’s eye. An eagle uses its incredibly strong
feet and sharp claws (talons) to defend its eaglet and inflict painful bites
with its strong beak on predators. The eagle seems to be over protective—perhaps
it values its eaglets so much. What about our leaders, I question?
The key
players of our security are expected to know that, an environment like ours
inhibits the nectar that attracts unscrupulous persons (Robbers). The school
has recorded not less than single occurrence of theft case which should have
put the student Leadership and hostel managers on guard yet the vacuum has
still been left unpaced to the disposure of robbers to be devoured. It is
disheartening that the effort to protect the lives and properties of students
is rather recessive and retrogressive. Security on campus and outside campus is
rather manned to protect properties of the school and not the humans in it.
This is gross unfairness to humanity. The average student’s pocket money cannot
afford three meals a day let alone lose his/her belongings. When will the
plight of these vulnerable ones be satiated?
Not to
awaken the pains of students who have been victimised but to recall an event
that occurred in the sight of campus security personnel. One Obeng Felix of
Computer Networking accounts an inflicted agony on how the careless and
negligence of our security had him fill a bucket with tears. It was a fine
Monday morning, where as usual all academic activities have returned to its accustomed
duty. Obeng Felix had mid-semester exam to write—so he came to campus with his
laptop, pocket MI-FI, money and Identity cards (ID cards) to catch-up his
itinerary after the exams. Since his department do not accommodate foreign
materials in its laboratories, a shelf has been created to keep bags and other
prohibited belongings which is manned by a security at post. Just like the
activities of hackers, if you establish security and leave loopholes, they will
take advantage of the vulnerabilities and attack the system. Same
vulnerabilities in the security system established at the Computer Science
department got him robbed. The lame security has been a threat to the lives and
properties of students. Predicting unforeseen circumstances, I don’t think the
now campus security system is apt to combat and protect students. Attention
must be given to the properties of students too and not school’s property only.
Security at the hostels by measure is beyond poor and it is time for school
authorities to set security criteria for the hostels to meet before they are
certified and advertised on the official school’s website.
In my
opinion, every hostel must have security personnel linked to campus security
and the Community Police Post for effective communication and protection. There
should be a quick response system to enhance surveillance, routes to hostels
should be wide enough to have free space to stand against assailants, the SRC
should consistently advocate for the New Juaben Municipal Assembly (NJMA) to erect
street lights along routes leading to hostels, and proper lightening system
must be enhanced to enable clear sight from the required distance and diameters
by certifications.
This is
a wake-up call for School Authorities and the SRC to value the lives and
properties of students. There has been numerous occurrences of theft cases and
attack on students’ lives, yet little or no drastic measures have been taken to
prevent such events.
JESSIE
ASANTE
COMPUTER
SCIENCE
KOFORIDUA TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
Friday, April 3, 2020
Ghana Scholarship Secretariat (SCHOLSEC) Online Scholarship Application
Ghana scholarship secretariat (SCHOLSEC) operates under the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GET fund) set up by the Parliamentary ACT 2000. The Scholarships Secretariat was established in 1960, as an extra ministerial body under the office of the president.
Its core
mandate is to handle and award government scholarships for human resource
development and growth of the country. The SCHOLSEC which has been in existence
for 60 years migrated from the traditional mode of operation on Monday, 1
April, 2020 to online based application forum to widen its scope for the
purpose of reaching more beneficiaries.
ELIGIBILITY
FOR LOCAL AND FOREIGN TERTIARY SCHOLARSHIP
LOCAL
TERTIARY SCHOLARSHIPS
A.
Applicants are to take note of the following;
i. Should have gained admission into a
local tertiary institution
ii. Should have registered and enrolled to
undertake the course
iii.The Institution should be accredited by
the National Accreditation Board (NAB)
iv. Categories of Local Tertiary
Institutions (Private and Public)
v.
Nurses/Teacher Training Colleges
o Colleges of Agriculture
o
Polytechnics
o
Technical Universities
o
Universities
o
Certificate awarding tertiary
institutions
B. All applicants who wrote WASSCE in 2020 and have gained admission or have applied for admission into an accredited local institution are eligible to apply.
C.
Applicants will undertake an online aptitude test during the application
process.
D.
Appear before a panel for interviews in your selected district.
E.
The information of the applicant will be forwarded to the institutions of the
applicant for confirmation and validation.
F.
Electronic award letters will be issued to the successful applicants by the
Scholarships Secretariat.
G.
Payment of scholarship entitlements to respective institutions
FOREIGN
TERTIARY SCHOLARSHIPS
A.
Information for existing beneficiaries.
Existing foreign scholarship beneficiaries will be
given a portal to enable them renew their awards annually online.
B.
Bilateral Applications.
Prospective applicants for bilateral scholarship
awards will be required to complete the online application upon confirmation of
their awards by the awarding country.
C.
Non-Bilateral Scholarship Awards.
All applications for non-bilateral awards will be received
online when advertised.
HOW
TO APPLY FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP
Ø Click on the URL http://www.scholarshipgh.com to access the website
Ø Create an account to register
Ø Complete the application form and upload academic transcripts, admission letters and academic certificate.
Ø Complete an online aptitude test and be scheduled for a selection interview in your selected district.
KINDLY
CONTACT THE SECRETARIAT FOR MORE INFORMATION
Hotlines: 0302962928, 0302962929, 0302962930, and
0302962931
Email: info@ghanascholarshipsecretariat.com
Website: www.ghanascholarshipsecretariat.com
GPS Address: GA 028-20655Wednesday, April 1, 2020
KTU SRC MAKES A SWIFT VIRTUAL LEARNING MOVE TO BENEFIT STUDENTS
KTU SRC HANGS ON A MOVING TRAIN TO ENHANCE ACADEMICS
As part of the measures
taken by the government to fight the global pandemic, COVID-19 and limit its
spread in the country, institutions that socially gather more than 25 persons
were asked to close down by the President on authority which includes Tertiary
Institutions. This brought to halt educational activities and discrepancy in
the academic calendar. Due to this, the now Educational Minister in his
jurisdiction outlined instruments with the Tele Communications (Telcos) to
ensure effective flow of academics which has codified the appended signature of Vodafone-Ghana Telecom to offer subscribers free access to myriad educational websites and e-learning
platforms.
The KTU Students’
Representative Council; partially indebted to academics of students, has clinged
to “the moving train” that is serving all tertiary institutions and has beguile
the Vice Chancellor, Prof. David K. Essuman, to cogitate agglutinating the virtual
learning platform set by the Ministry.
In review of bridging
the distance between lecturers and students, it is prudent to ride on this technology
to ensure that teaching and learning runs smoothly. Conventional academic activities
are expected to be on track after the school’s management completes the
necessary protocols to partake in the initiative.
Students are buoyed up to prioritise and take
advantage of this as physical class sessions are barred from happening.
Students should therefore resist too much of comfort when studying from home
and forsake their beds for few hours each day to create good learning
environment for effective studies.
Jessie Asante (JAPK)
Computer Science
Source: http://www.ktusrc.org
Friday, February 28, 2020
KTU SOUVENIR SAGA (DEAL)
Some few weeks ago, an issue of
procurement deal busted on campus labelled as “Fact Sheets”, though it lacked facts, drew my attention to launch
interest in this current SRC Procurement deals. Investigations and reports from
credible sources have revealed fact findings from series of intriguing events
of the now SRC administration.
One of its kinds is a contract of
the previous administration which the latter had to suffice its conditions.
Reports indicate that, the school Managements which was in charge of
procurement for the past SRC abrogated a contract which was awarded to DELCARO ENT on the basis of delay in
supplying souvenirs to the SRC. The Offeree then considered it a breach and
threatened to sue the SRC against judgement debt, this propelled the now
students’ administration to make a swift move to pay the Offeree in order not
to cause financial loss.
Fast forward, the SRC commenced
another procurement process through the National Competitive Tendering in the
Daily Graphic on Tuesday 20 January,2020 to supply students with souvenirs and
the same DELCARO ENT has shown up by
letter claiming that the past SRC led by Raphael Elorm Dzivenu verbally awarded
it a contract to supply the school with clothing souvenirs to the tune of 7000
yards pegged at GHS 27.00 per yard which sum up to GHS 189,000.00. The company
has again written to the SRC demanding that they toss the coin in their favour
either than that they will place an injunction on the on-going procurement
process (The initial approach they used to scare the SRC to make the first
payment). Therefore, the SRC should halt the National Competitive Tendering and
the procurement process for the said company to preside over this contract too otherwise
they will be subpoenaed.
Report reaching my desk indicates
that, executives from the previous administration have stated clearly that they
have not signed any contractual agreement with DELCARO ENT to produce clothing souvenir
for Koforidua Technical University (KTU) for the year under review. Again, the document
which the company presented as proof was only an invitation to negotiation and
void of contractual agreement which serves as no means to make the company
eligible for the claims.
I therefore write to reiterate the
law that it is illicit for the SRC to compromise to the claims by DELCARO ENT and call on them to exhibit
due diligence, contrary to it will surmount to sole sourcing procurement deal
which is against the procurement laws of KTU. They should note also that every
contract awarded is expected to go through the competitive process to ensure
value for money. School Management has opened the platform for tendering and
bidding, we expect that the said company goes through the procedure. For the
sake of fairness, I call on the SRC President, the Procurement Officer, and the
Chief Justice to gist the students’ body on the matter and provide in-depth explanation. Thank you.
JESSIE ASANTE
COMPUTER SCIENCE
Friday, February 21, 2020
ESSENCE OF COMPUTER LITERACY ON THE JOB MARKET
21/02/2020
Computer
as an electronic device is designed to make work easier and faster. Its
relevance has hugely facilitated development and has now become impossible to
live without. Virtually, its evolution has solved lots of problems which were
traditionally or manually dealt with spanning from E-Commerce; Online shopping,
ordering food online, online delivery services, the use of automated machines
at the bank to the usage of programs; MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS
Access, SPSS, and Adobe Photoshop etc. Advanced countries like China,
Germany, Singapore and many more developed through the use of computer
technology
in developing multinational companies which generated huge income that enlarged
their economy.
Competition on the job
market has made numerous companies resort to the use of computers and robots to
matchup the rising standard. Hence, Human Resource Managers now short-list
applicants based on pre-requisite knowledge in operating the computer and
application softwares in relation to the job description. Below are topical
discussions on some softwares used in various firms which is necessary to
possess basic knowledge in manipulating to get employment opportunities.
MS-Word is a widely
used product package from Microsoft created purposely for drafting and
preparing Newsletters, Journals, Letters, Reports, Budgetary, Projects and many
more. It comes with a user friendly interface, easily located buttons and
toolbars, and makes readily available tools for editing, formatting and saving.
Its unique features make it a preferable mode of documentation by most
companies to paper based documentation. This is highly recommended for
Secretary Ship and Management related jobs.
Another most used
programs in the field of Statistics, Finance and Marketing etc. are SPSS and
MS- EXCEL. These programs specifically aids; organizing financial data,
collating of statistical data, keeping sales records, calculating inventories,
and preparation of numerical based reports. It is embedded with statistical
tools like; histogram, bar chart, pie chart as well as predefined formulae
known as functions. Its worksheet is designed with adjustable rows and columns
and capable of receiving data such as labels and values.
PowerPoint software is
used in presentation of projects, marketing products for auctioneering, health
and safety sensitization, tendering for a contract etc. Its features use
animations, images (audio-visual mode of communication) in presenting. It is a
required tool for Marketers to help reach clients by reviewing detailed
information of stocks on sale.
Lastly, Adobe
Photoshop, aids commercialism for the Fashion Designers. It has varying
designing tools that gives pleasing effects to images of Models, it is used in
designing; model magazines, social media fly outs, designing of brands etc.
Owing to its usage, knowledge in manipulating the program will help fashion
designers to put on more value for commercialism.
In conclusion, computer literacy in relation to various
fields of work must be considered vital because, skills in operating and using
the computer gives an advantage over the layperson, know your job market, know
the skill required to enter and pursue. In view of this we will be
treating the various softwares into details in our subsequent articles.
ASANTE JESSIE SASU
COMPUTER SCIENCE
Friday, February 7, 2020
TRUTH OF THE FACTS SHEET
Whistle-blowers are relevant in our new political administration to inform
concerned citizens and to expose atrocities of people occupying political
offices who want to embezzle funds to enrich themselves, notwithstanding, such
a system can be corrupted by the whistle-blowers if the concerned don’t demand
accuracy in the report they produce. Lots of concerns were raised when the
Procurement Officer of the Koforidua Technical University (KTU) Mr. Godwin Elorm Ahiaku was charged as corrupt with a baseless “Facts Sheet” which
is as insipid as rancid butter. Stakeholders probed into the sour story and
found evidence in the “Daily Graphic” proving that the so-called “Facts Sheet”
is a material of character assassination. (See attachment below for proof).
Page ’41 of the Daily Graphic
published on 28 January 2020 shows advertisement for National Competitive
Tendering (NCT) signed by the Registrar indicating that; the procurement
process has not gotten to the stage where the “Facts Sheet” points out, the
Procurement Officer does not have utmost control over the process, therefore,
he’s not the pilot of procurement deal, no company has been given the contract
yet hence “Suppliers and VENMARK CO. LTD” are misplaced dictions, price
per souvenir has not been bargained, and no deal of whooping 30K ensued.
Formulating hypothesis, making of
analysis, and drawing inference logically uncover the sore of the anonymous. It
shows that the whisper from the corridors is defamation on the part of the Noble Godwin Elorm Ahiaku and must be considered as null and void.
I commend my fellow writers
especially Odihene Martin Otchere and Victor Togoh who joined to
channel grievances and called for sanity into our system by challenging the
rosily concocted fairytale. It’s preposterous that the Facts Sheet is bereft of
facts, therefore, needs not to be applauded.
JESSIE ASANTE SASU
COMPUTER SCIENCE
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