ROB Quizzes

ROB quizzes...
WHAT IS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OF GHANA'S PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY?-THE NATIONAL INTEREST VRS POLITICAL PARTY CONSIDERATION.
In dispensing their parliamentary duties, MPs, who are the representatives of their constituents;who are voted mostly on the tickets of political parties, always get to an important crossroad in their parliamentary decision making.

Thus whether to go the way of the party or the Nation.

One may argue that the party is in the Nation, so there isn't any difference, but as a political scientist, I know that a political party is just a single unit of the Nation.

As far back as in the 500 BCs, the "Assembly" which is known today as parliament, was introduced in the Ancient Greece. This "Assembly" allowed all male adults of the Nation, to take part in decision making for the entire populace.

This was the direct representation of the people. With time, as a result of the increasing population pressures, coupled with feminists challenges and a host of issues, the peoples "Assembly" evolved.

Today, we have an indirect representation, where the people give their mandate to another person to represent them in parliament.

Since we embraced full constitutional democracy in Ghana in 1992, electorates have voted people they trusted, to the parliament house to represent their interests.

One major major issue that has come to the fore since then,  is "whether MPs serve the political party interest or that of the Nation?"

It is a fact that most MPs are elected by their people on the tickets of political parties but once in parliament, they do various duties to promote the nation's interests and agenda.

Notwithstanding, party interests always conflict with National interest in their duties.

Most MPs only see themselves as representing the party people who voted for them in their constituencies. Thus, they advance only the interests of such people to the detriment of the general populace in their constituencies.

Also, decision making on the floor of parliament, specifically debating and voting on issues, put MPs in very difficult positions; torn between what favours the party versus those of the Nation.

It is true that the above is an international phenomena but it is sad to note that in Ghana, since 1992, party interests have mostly and always allegedly thrived over national interests in these processes.

Through the work of party whips, party discipline is most of the time enforced to the core, which curtails and limits MPs in their broad thinking.
Thus, always falling in the party lines. Developed Countries like the UK and US. also have such creations but my worry is that ours' is nearing extremism.

Specifically, in  the recent vote in parliament of Ghana, on the referendum for political party participation in district level elections, Mr Ras Mubarak, MP for Kunbungu,is on record to have come public to declare an opposing stance to his party's decision. His party prior to his action, had issued a one-line whip, which threatened him and his position.

As a result, he backtracked and appologised to his party. This is extreme partisanship.

Similarly, I'm sure most majority NPP MPs might have had issues with the "YES" vote by their party, yet they couldn't voice out.

Why are we treating our MPs this way?

It is a fact that our parliaments, since 1992, have mostly and always, carried out solely government business.

Elsewhere, MPs, CSOs,the media and even individual citizens are encouraged to push in "Private and Public member bills" to address key concerns of constituents or minority groups.
Can we say so of our parliamentary democracy?

Finally, our legislature is such that, it is difficult to find a majority MP, rise to oppose governments' business and bills laid before them through the minister of government business.

In America, we' ve heard of legislators from the  president's party, rise to disagree with him and consequently voting against his bills with boldness, caring less about what would happen to them.

Do you know that almost all bills of governments are passed by majority approval from their sides, because rulling parties in Ghana, have always obtained majority seats in parliament?.

So I ask myself, "How will a government  run its  business in Ghana,  if it unfortunately wins minority seats in parliament?".

We pray that this does not happen because if it does, we will really pluck the fruits of our seeds of partisanship sown in our legislature.

We cannot continue this way, something must be done.
We need to encourage more qualified people to go independent when contesting parliamentary seats, because such people, per their stance, may in a way, be trusted to remain nationalistic in decision making.

Moreover, this issue can be dealt with completely by a constitutional creation.

As a nation, we ought to consider a second chamber, which is by its creation, neutral and non-partisan, to deal with this albatross.

Finally, CSOs, the media and individuals can put pressure on individual parliamentarians so they uphold their nationalistic 'conscience' .

CSOs and the media must step in, to support MPs who are victimized or punished as a result of contravening party stance or positions.

Our parliamentary democracy has persisted. However  it is not immuned from disaster or crisis.

Let us think about our future representatives.

Let us do away with all impediments in the way of our representative democracy.

NANA OSEI BOATENG
(POLITICAL SCIENTIST, BROADCASTER, WRITER, EDUCATOR)

HOW DO CONSTITUENTS WANT THEIR MPs TO REPRESENT THEM...

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)

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

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

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 028-20655

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

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

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

TRUTH OF THE FACTS SHEET

30/01/2020

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