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 Levy 0.5% on diasporan remittances to fund Free SHS — NDC ProForum

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Mr Appiah
Mr Appiah

 The NDC ProFo­rum North Amer­ica, represented by dedicated profes­sionals and experts in the diaspora, has outlined a strategic framework to support the government’s agen­da in addressing the challenges of the Free Senior High School (SHS) system.

Consequently, the forum has recommended a 0.5 per cent levy on diaspora remittances to create a dedicated Senior High School (SHS) Trust Fund.

The diaspora community underlined what it described as “A comprehensive Framework to Enhance Ghana’s Education Sys­tem” for both short, medium and long-term measures to reform the education sector to respond to the dynamic needs of society, in state­ment signed by Arnold Appiah, NDC Professional Forum, USA, copied the Ghanaian Times.

“As a committed partner to na­tional development, the diaspora community is ready to contribute expertise, resources, and poli­cy-driven solutions to ensure Free SHS is sustainable, equitable, and of high quality.

Recognising the critical role of education in Ghana’s so­cio-economic transformation, the ProForum is proposing a set of sustainable financing mechanisms, infrastructure development strate­gies, teacher welfare reforms, and curriculum modernisation initia­tives to enhance the current NDC government’s efforts in building a robust and globally competitive education system,” the NDC Pro­Forum North America explained.

The group also proposed the reinstating road tolls, with 10 per cent allocated to SHS develop­ment, allocating 5 per cent of Ghana’s Oil & Gas revenue for sustained SHS financing, and leveraging public-private part­nerships to attract investments in school infrastructure and student support programmes.

Furthermore, they also touched on sustainable financing for Free SHS, forensic audit of SHS expenditures to ensure account­ability and efficiency in resource utilisation, abolition of the centralised buffer stock system, allowing school heads to manage procurement with school board and alumni oversight, as key areas for reforms in the SHS.

Other areas include expand­ing access to quality education, fast-track completion of E-Block school projects, increasing access to quality secondary education across all regions, deploy sat­ellite-based internet and digital learning platforms, enabling students in remote areas to par­ticipate in virtual STEM and AI classes.

The NDC ProForum expressed the need to upgrade school facilities, including classrooms, libraries, science laboratories, and teachers’ accommodations, pro­moting Self-Sufficiency in Schools, expand school farms, ensuring institutions produce at least 30 per cent of their food needs, and reducing the cost of the school feeding programme.

“We also suggest for con­sideration, the introduction of mechanised agricultural support for schools engaged in farming, strengthening Teacher Welfare & Learning Excellence, Implement salary reforms for teachers in rural areas, increase salaries by 30 per cent for teachers posted to deprived schools”

Besides, we urged the govern­ment to “provide housing and transportation incentives to attract and retain qualified educators in rural areas, fast-track teacher salary payments, ensuring newly recruited teachers are paid within two months of hiring, and mod­ernise the curriculum to incorpo­rate STEM, AI, coding, robotics, and vocational skills training,” they emphasised.

As a long-term measures, the group proposed the restructuring teacher training institutions to align with global education stan­dards and formulating Legislative and policy frameworks to sustain Free SHS financing and efficiency.

“The NDC ProForum North America urges the government, corporate stakeholders, the diaspora, and educational institu­tions to collaborate in building a sustainable and high-quality Free SHS system.

The diaspora is ready to mobilise expertise, financial resources, and global networks to complement the current NDC government’s agenda of delivering an improved, well-funded, and innovative education system,” the statement added.

Moreover, the statement stated that the “ProForum remains committed to partnering with the NDC government in ensuring Free SHS is not just free but truly effective, providing equal oppor­tunities for all Ghanaian students.

With well-planned reforms and strategic diaspora contributions, Ghana’s education system can become a model of excellence in Africa,” the statement indicated.

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 Heritage Month Ghana trends

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Since the institution of the Heri­tage Month celebration in Ghana, it has offered citizens opportuni­ties of a lifetime to learn about their cultures and lifestyles.

Ghana’s version is observed in the month of March, coinciding with the country’s Independence Day celebra­tions on March 6.

Heritage Month features festivals, food fairs, arts, crafts, and music events to highlight the economic and social value of preserving national heritage.

Though a brainchild of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), the celebra­tion has been driven to greater heights by local media with the organisation of several events to create the needed euphoria.

Among the events are the Heritage Caravan and Back To Your Village Food Bazaar pow­ered by Accra-based Citi FM and Citi TV, Wear Ghana Festival and the Gɔbɛ festival powered by 3News.

The Heritage Caravan is a road trip which takes patrons across more than half of Ghana’s regions to offer a distinctive road trip that allows participants to explore the various re­gions of Ghana, providing an up-close encounter with the country’s histori­cal and cultural heritage.

In addition to these roles played by the media, news anchors and other presenters appear on screens immac­ulately garbed in locally made outfits, bringing out the beauty of our tradi­tions.

Today, The Spectator news­paper selected a few of the media personalities that are working to give the cel­ebration a global dimension to project the country.  

 By Andrew Nortey

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 MoMo vendor 24 murdered at Kwadaso

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• Mobile money shop
• Mobile money shop

 A disturbing crime has shaken the Kwadaso Onion market communi­ty in Kumasi, leaving family and friends grieving the loss of a young life.

Identified only as Junior, a 24-year-old mobile money vendor, was found murdered in his room on Saturday, March 8, 2025.

According to eyewitnesses, Junior had returned home the previous day with a substantial amount of money, over Gh¢20,000.

It was suspected that the killers might have been motivated by the large sum of money in Junior’s posses­sion.

A police source that confirmed this to The Spectator, said investigation has been launched into Junior’s mur­der, but so far, no arrests have been made.

The Kwadaso community is reeling in shock, calling for justice and an end to the atrocity that has claimed the life of a young and promising individ­ual.

Junior, is believed to be a native of Ejisu Onwe, and was known to his col­leagues and friends as a hardworking and diligent individual who worked at the Kumasi Race Course.

His tragic death serves as a stark reminder of the risks and challenges mobile money vendors faced.

The incident comes barely a month after Patricia Nimako, a 27-year-old Mobile Money (MoMo) vendor, was shot and killed at Krofrom, Kumasi in the Ashanti region by an unknown assail­ants.

The suspected armed robbers fled with the deceased cell phones and an amount of GH¢10,000 on Thursday, February 13, at approximately 3:00 p.m.

The two armed robbers reportedly stormed the kiosk where the deceased was operating and without any provo­cation shot her dead.

There has not been any arrest yet by the police.

 From Kingsley E. Hope , Kumasi

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 Learn how to prepare local dishes…Queen mothers urge young women

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• Some local dishes

 In a heartwarming display of inter­generational wisdom, queen moth­ers from local communities in the Obuasi enclave shared their expertise on how to prepare local diets with young ladies on the International Women’s Day event, courtesy of An­gloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine.

Beyond the fanfare, these revered women leaders took centre stage to impart a vital life skill: traditional cooking as they guided eager students and other young ladies through the art of preparing local delicacies.

In fact, the aroma of ‘Abunabunu’, ‘Aprapransa’, ‘Enuhu’, ‘Akaw’, ‘Tuo Zafi’ (TZ), among others, wafted through the air to the extent it could attract people from a distance, as the queen mothers entertained the young women with tales of resilience, entrepreneurship, and community building.

This year’s International Wom­en’s Day Celebration was under the theme: ‘Accelerate Action for Wom­en’s Equity.’

As the event drew to a close, the queen mothers gave words of wisdom upon their young guests.

From Nana Amoanima Dede, Queen mother of Adansi she stated that: “Never forget your roots, and always remember that the kitchen is not just a place for cooking, but for building connections and forging communi­ties.”

Nana Akua Dwum II, Queen moth­er of Edubiase, on her part urged the young ladies to learn how to prepare traditional dishes in order to preserve cultural heritage of the nation.

Earlier, the Managing Director of the mining company, Samuel Boakye Pobee, mentioned their readiness to roll out an “All-Women Apprentice­ship Programme, aimed at empow­ering young women in the Obuasi communities in entrepreneurship.”

He said the project would include women in basic technical skills and their capacity building to boost their employability to reshape perceptions of women’s roles in traditionally male-dominated industries.

According to the Managing Director, the mining company’s commitment “is to empower young people with specialised skills, and progressive knowledge to make them financially independent.”

The company, he indicated, was accelerating action towards wom­en’s equality at the Obuasi Mine and within host communities with the aim to build a foundation to create an inclusive and supportive business culture.

Mr Pobee expressed the need for innovative approaches and dedicated efforts to encourage and invest in women’s participation in all fields, including all levels of technical and operational areas and must be inten­tional and deliberate.”

 From Kingsley E. Hope, Obuasi

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