The Bolgatanga Technical University in the Upper East Region has admitted 3,255 students for the 2024/2025 academic year. Out of this figure, 1,778 students have been admitted to pursue the Technical University’s regular programs across six schools including the School of Applied Science and Arts, School of Agricultural Science, School of Built Environment, School of Engineering, School of Business and Management Studies and the School of Graduate Studies.

The 1,477 students have been admitted into non-tertiary programs to acquire National Certificate 1 through the Ghana Jobs and Skills Apprenticeship Project (GJS-AP). This year’s admissions represent a 20% increase over the 2023/2024 figure of 1,486, with 1,500 students so far reporting. In his address to the matriculants, the Vice Chancellor of the Bolgatanga Technical University, Prof. Samuel Erasmus Alnaa reminded the fresh men and women that their admission into the university comes at a time when the institution is celebrating its 25th anniversary which was launched in 2024, marking a historic milestone. He urged the students to have a determined approach towards issues related to their academic progress as he further encouraged them to be active class participants and adopt a collaborative approach to learning. He advised that it is important to recognize that academic success requires a strategic approach and a determined mindset.

Beyond attending lectures and completing assignments, he urged them to develop good study habits. He added that time management is key and asked the students to prioritize their academic responsibilities, set clear goals, and make effective use of the resources available to them. Prof. Alnaa cautioned the students against drugs and substance abuse adding they must ensure that the investments by their parents do not go to waste. He commended parents, guardians, and sponsors who have made it possible for them to pursue their dream career at this university.

Curious Mind, an engaging educational program for children, airs every Saturday on GBC URA Radio. In a discussion segment, they explored the impact of social media on the youth in society. The guest speaker was Mr. Gideon Kwame Adu, an Engineer at GBC URA Radio Bolga, a technologist, and an IT expert.

In today’s digital era, technology and social media have revolutionized how young people interact, learn, and engage with the world. While these advancements offer numerous benefits, they also present challenges that must be carefully managed.

Technology, including social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and TikTok, provides young people with opportunities for connection, self-expression, and advocacy. Digital tools and apps have proven instrumental in supporting youth mental health, offering resources for emotional well-being, and creating safe online communities formarginalizedvoices.

Social media has also become a powerful tool for social justice, enabling young people to advocate for important causes and raise awareness on global issues. Exposure to diverse perspectives fosters empathy and social consciousness, empowering youth to drive positive change.

However, the digital world also has its downsides. The unrealistic beauty standards and materialistic ideals portrayed on social media contribute to self-esteem issues, anxiety, and depression among young people. Algorithm-driven content can create echo chambers, reinforcing existing beliefs and sometimes exposing users to radicalized content.

Mr. Gideon Kwame Adu, guest of the program emphasized the importance of responsible technology use. He stated:
“Parents should set healthy boundaries for the use of technology in the lives of their wards by purposefully choosing the age their wards can start using technology and social media, educating them about the responsible use of it, and also monitoring the child’s use of both technology and social media. This would go a very long way in reducing the negative impact that technology and social media can have on them, such as cyberbullying, eye problems due to too much screen time, low self-worth, depression, and fake lives.”

He further advised:
“Being content with what one has is very important, as it will prevent you from having unrealistic expectations about appearance and life achievements, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy when comparing oneself to idealized portrayals seen online.”

To address these challenges, young people, educators, and parents must work together to set healthy boundaries. Managing screen time, promoting digital literacy, and encouraging offline activities are crucial steps in creating a balanced digital life. Digital literacy is particularly important in helping youth critically evaluate online content and avoid misinformation.

While social media and technology offer incredible opportunities for growth, advocacy, and connection, maintaining a balance between the digital and real world is key to ensuring a healthy and fulfilling life for the younger generation. By adopting responsible technology habits, youth can harness its benefits while minimizing its negative effects.

The construction of the five kilometer Tindonmolgo-Sherigo road project has been going on steadily for sometime now. Three kilometers of the road is being constructed from the main Fountain Gate Church to link the main Tanzui-Sokabisi road at Sherigo whilst the remaining two kilometers of the project stretches from the Aningazanga Junior High School Junction through Zongo to link the main Bolgatanga-Navrongo Highway around the MTN office located at Zongo.

These were disclosed by the Upper East Regional Director of the Department of Urban Roads, Eng. Peter Kwabena Amoako in an exclusive interview with GBC URA News in Bolgatanga, capital of the Upper East Region of Ghana. He stated that the over Twelve Million Ghana Cedi project involved the construction of drains, culverts, groundworks, surface dressings as well as sealings.

He said that the two year project which was awarded on contract in May 2020 and was expected to complete in May 2022 was delayed due to lack of stakeholder collaboration, encroachment challenges, the relocation of some water pipelines, relocation of some electrical polls and cutting down of some sacred trees to pave the way for the project execution. These compelled authorities to extend the completion date of the project delivery to December 2024.

According to Eng. Kwabena Amoako, the project was awarded to KATHAM 5 Company Limited under the Urban Roads Projects of the government of Ghana funded by Roads Fund.He praised the contractor saying it succeeded in lobbying for a lot of stakeholder collaboration which had broad the project this far.

He called on all stakeholders more especially beneficiary communities of the project to support the project execution by making available materials needed for the speedy completion of the project.

On his part the Assembly Member of Zongo-Nawooma Electoral Area Hon. Bawah Haruna stated that the project has been so dear to the hearts of people of his electoral area pledging his fullest support to ensure the project was executed on scheduled so as to open up the electoral area for development. He lamented that the lack of access road in Zongo over the years made access into the community extremely difficult by fire tenders during incidence of fire outbreaks as well as access by ambulances to carry out emergency cases for treatments at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital and other medical facilities outside of the region.

The Regional Chief Imam, Sheikh Alhaji Yussuf Umar Imam whom our team contacted later was so impressed about the project adding that talks about the project started wayback during his late father’s time in the 1970s.

He thanked Allah that the project had finally come to fruition. Whilst commending the contractor for its good works, the Chief Imam called on all residents of the Zongo Community to support the contractor to complete the project on scheduled.

Ghana Post in the Upper East Region has celebrated its world post day as part of its efforts to strengthen its operations. They held series of programmes including cook-A-thon and public sensitization on the service they offer. The world post day is celebrated to mark the Universal Postal Union (UPU) which was established in 1874 in the Swiss capital Bern.

The day was then declared world post day at the UPU congress held in Tokyo, Japan in 1969. The purpose of world post day is to raise awareness about the role of postal services in everyday’s life for individual and businesses, as well as its contribution to global societal and economic development. At a radio interview with GBC URA Radio, the District Manager for Ghana post, Mr. Daniel Janamah Duut highlighted the significance of postal system in our lives. He indicated that the postal system is much more than just a means of sending letters and packages.

Ghana Post Staff in the studios of URA Radio

It is a lifeline that bridges distances, facilitates, communication, and fosters connection among individuals, communities, and businesses. He further emphasized that Ghana post do not only deliver letters, but they connect people from all walks of life. Bringing together families, allows friends to stay in touch and enable businesses to reach their customers, no matter where they are. Mr. Daniel stated that in the near future they will introduce the postal service convenience for customers, improved mail delivery efficiency, enhanced security, support for E-commerce, community engagement, and facilitating Government services.

The Regional  marketing manager Mr. Abdul Majeed Yahaya Guun said they have also introduced Express Mail Service (EMS) in addition to the postal system to enable fast and convenient service to their customers.

The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in collaboration with the Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU) in the Upper East Region, on Friday, organized a programme, dubbed “2024 Statistical Data -Hackathon Competition”, at Sumbrungu, the main campus of the University.

As part of the event, some students of BTU were empowered on how to deploy the Ghana Statistical Service online databank to solve societal problems .

Based on the empowerment, the students who were put into groups namely team Lucky, Fishe, Golsa, Akukula and Jaguar to compete for the occasion, undertook research in the areas of Consumers Producers Index, Poverty Hotspots in the North, Neonatal Mortality, Drought in the North and Gender Equality, using the Ghana Statistical Service online databank. They showcased products during the competition session.

The occasion, under the theme “Unlocking Data Potential: Innovate for Impact”, also attracted Heads of Department , Lecturers,  Students , assembly members and  Chiefs and people of the area

Speaking at the event, the Regional focal person for the 2024 Hackathon, Dr Benjamin Apam, explained that , the purpose of the Hackathon is not just about competition but it is a platform for collaboration and learning where students have had the opportunity to engage deeply with the GSS StatsBank, the mentors, their colleague students in different fields as well as staff of the GSS.

According to him, through the Statistical Data -Hackathon Competition, the students have explored how integrated datasets can be leveraged to solve some of the most pressing challenges facing the nation and the world today. He expressed happiness about   the products the students developed and stressed that they have the potential of contributing to sustainable development.

The government statistician, Prof Samuel kobina Annim underscored the power of data and noted that  it can be used to misinform, disinform or inform people by the users .

He stated that he was so overwhelmed about how the students tapped into the  the GSS StatsBank  to come out with such innovations and  stressed the need for effective  collaboration between his outfit and Universities .

He explained that it is the intention of the GSS to equip students and lecturers in tertiary institution with skills on  how to deploy the various data apps developed by his outfit to help bring about positive economic, social and political change in the country.

He reiterated the need for stakeholders to collaborate with GSS to  tackle the issue of  accountability  noted that it  is very critical for the attainment of the  Sustainable Development Goals.

Prof Peter Boamah, the Pro-Vice Chancellor of BTU,   who chaired the occasion , said he  was very grateful for the collaboration and encouraged the students to continue in studying  data science with the same passion and enthusiasm that they have shown during the event.

He  added that the skills and knowledge gained by the students  will undoubtedly serve them well in their future endeavors and remarked that this is just the beginning of journey to make big difference with data , as the Hackathon is just more than a competition ,it celebrate, Innovate, collaborate and pursuit of knowledge.

The winners were Jaguar, for 2nd runner up, Akukula for the 1st runner up and Golsa as the winner .  The GSS gave them  certificates and ¢2,000 ,¢3,000 and ¢5,000  respectively and they will also represent the university at all the Technical Universities Hackathon at the  national level competition. Also in  an attendance were  the board chair of GSS, Dr Grace Badiako.

The Energy Commission of Ghana has organized a Townhall meeting with stakeholders in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region,to create more awareness of its activities as a regulator  especially with the energy efficiency electrical appliances new regulations law passed by parliament to provide the minimum energy performance standards for all electrical appliances in the country, which will go a long way to help consumers get durable and energy efficiency electrical appliances in the country to save some money in their pockets . Mr. Gyimah Mohammad of ministry of environment, science, technology and innovation, who started the conversation, said there’s a very big correlation between human activities and climate change such as  organic waste dumping, industrial plants emissions, bad farming practices and others which are negatively impactful on the climate change, resulting to a lot of health issues, agricultural problems, energy, and infrastructure damages. According to him those ‘vampire appliances’ as the call them, consumes up to 50%of our energy therefore putting more pressure on our energy generation plants to generate a double of that in other to meet their demand and in so doing the thermal plants produces more tonnes of Co2 to the atmosphere adding that, all these are a drain in government coffers and households disposable income and call for a change by buying energy efficient electrical appliances certified by energy commission .

Mr. Richard Donkor from the energy commission and the coordinator of the Townhall meeting who took the participants through energy efficiency, conservation and management, said going for the energy efficient electrical appliances is always the best despite the initial high cost, and with appreciate handling and routine maintenance, you will save a lot of money for other things. According to him all these will enhance national economy by reducing energy bills, lowering investments in energy infrastructure, enhancing consumers welfare and also meeting climate change goals and we must therefore think, act and save our resources and therefore advised individuals and institutions to establish energy efficiency Manager in their homes and workplaces to always monitor, control and save their energy consumption to also save them money.

The assistant manager of energy commission, Mr Hubert Nsoh Zan who talked about the existing energy regulation, achievements and challenges, said the initial laws, LI 1815(2005) as well  others were deficient in enforcing the current appliances because of technological advancement compared with the requirements in the old regulation. The new regulations will therefore focus electrical appliances meeting the minimum  energy performance standards (MEPS)  and also empowering the enforcement authorities  to do effective market surveillance . According to him this has enabled them to also installed cameras in the ports which resulted in a drastical reduction in the importation of uncertified energy efficiency electrical appliances to the country therefore saved the country about $1milion dollars in electricity bills from the year 2013 to 2020 and apart from that,their exchange of CFLs bulbs and old fridges for  LEDs bulbs and new fridges program has reduced those energy consuming appliances in the country which are monumental achievements. Mr. Zan however said unscrupulous people’s interference,inadequate collaboration, market surveillance and others are  the challenges facing their  operations and that has necessitated for the Townhall meetings with stakeholders to create awareness and effective collaboration. He said in all of this the regulation is seeking to protect ghanaians and called on them to look for energy efficiency labelled electrical appliances to buy and if in doubt,the should download the  GH appliances app or the QR code to use  to verify the labels and their slogan is NO LABEL NO GOOD and therefore  appealed to the media to help in the awareness advocacy. The officials of PURC who were one of the stakeholders as a  tariffs regulator,took the participants through the calculations of their tariffs and how to conserve energy and save money. The participants were drawn from the energy commission, ministry of environment, science technology and innovation, the security services, dealers and repairers of electrical appliances,PURC, media and others.

The Director General of the National Communications Authority (NCA), Joe Anokye, has said that plans are far underway for Ghana to hook on to the 5G wireless data communication for mobile carriers.

“We have made sure that the spectrum required for five 5G is available, there are few policies that must be made as to exactly how spectrum will be made available.”

It is very complicated, because of the way the market is, we don’t want to proceed and only one entity will have the capability of acquiring the 5G”, he told participants at the 12th R.P Baffour memorial lectures organized by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi.

His topic was “KNUST, a history of remarkable growth in science and technology education, resilience and adaptability in the digital space.”

Mr Anokye in an answer to a question as to when Ghana would be connected to the 5G services however, stated that, it was important for the NCA to beef up local internet services for majority of the people to access the 5G services.

“We have to make sure Wi-Fi services at various places where people meet are provided, there is a fibre optic connection to central point to make your 5G come”, he stated.

He currently said all internet traffic in Ghana pass through the submarine cable landing, with 5.9 terabytes in total, but were very complicated.

“Every now and then a submarine cable will go down and when it does, it takes time. You have to send a ship in.

So, one of the things NCA is doing is to license additional submarine providers to help address these anomalies,” he said.

Touching on the KNUST technology infrastructure and communication evolution as well as the University in the liberalization era, he commended the institution for its resolve in advancing and catching up in technology advancement.

He pointed out that back in the early 1990’s before the era of liberalization, the KNUST faced numerous challenges in communication, and academically, struggle with outdated teaching materials, among others.

“The journey of KNUST over the past seven decades stands a testament to what vision, dedication, resilience, and corroborative spirit can achieve.

From its foundational years to alumni and success stories, the University had remained a beacon of knowledge in Ghana’s educational landscape,” he stated.

Mr Anokye said the age dominated by disruptive technologies, the role of educational institutions, particularly those with the legacy was increasingly critical.

According to him, Technology was reshaping the way people thought, worked, and created, adding that, while these changes had brought opportunities, they also presented formidable challenges.

credit: GNA

Glencore has signed up to provide a $400 million facility for Tullow Oil (LON:TLW), in addition to offtaking the operator’s oil cargoes in Ghana and Gabon.

Tullow can draw down on the funds for the next 18 months, while the facility from Glencore Energy UK will run for five years. Interest on the facility will be SOFR plus 10% on drawn amounts. SOFR is currently just over 5%.

Tullow intends to use the Glencore debt for “liability management” on its senior notes, which mature in March 2025.

The marketing and offtake contract covers Tullow’s oil from the Jubilee and TEN fields, in Ghana, and its Rabi Light crude in Gabon.

“Glencore’s $400 million facility commitment is a strong endorsement of our business plan and strategy,” said Tullow CEO Rahul Dhir.

“Today’s announcement demonstrates our ability to access long term capital from a variety of sources and this facility is a material step in our refinancing strategy, following the successful and equity accretive tender offer in June.”

Dhir said the Glencore debt and Tullow’s cash, in addition to $800mn of free cash flow from 2023 to 2025, would “allow us to fully address all outstanding 2025 notes”.

The financing also “positions [Tullow] for a successful refinancing of the 2026 notes”, he said.

Glencore’s oil CEO Alex Sanna welcomed the agreement with Tullow. “This facility is a strong endorsement of Tullow’s business plan and strategy, and demonstrates Glencore’s capability in structuring finance solutions across the oil and gas sector.”

Number crunching

In September, Tullow reported outstanding senior notes due in March 2025 had a $633mn nominal value. Total debt is $2.2 billion.

The company bought back $167mn of its notes in June for $100mn. While the move was advantageous for Tullow, its bond analysts saw the move less favourably.

S&P was concerned that Tullow would buyback more of its debt at below par value. The agency also expressed the view that Tullow required favourable financial markets to refinance.

The 2025 notes have a 7% rate, while the 2026 notes have 10.2%.

“This is a sensible move, and while the cost is higher, it does extend the maturity of [Tullow’s] debt, and takes pressure off in the near-term,” said Ashley Kelty of Panmure Gordon.

www.energyvoice.com

In a recent interview on GTV’s breakfast show, he shed light on the alarming risks associated with the use of free online browsing tools such as VPNs, edoztunnels, http injectors, and the widely popular wire-turn.

Mr. Gyedu highlighted a major concern that these browsers often switch servers across different countries, posing a significant challenge to users’ data security.

Specifically addressing the wire-turn browser, he warned that upon signing up, users unwittingly expose themselves to potential threats as the server can scan and obtain all IP addresses connected to it.

Despite the allure of free data, the cyber security expert emphasised that users remain oblivious to the potential risks they expose themselves to when joining such networks, as the server gains control over their activities.

He underscored the rising concerns around data protection and privacy, emphasising that one’s data is a valuable asset.

Gyedu cautioned against the illusion of “free” browsing, revealing the darker side where hackers intentionally set up free Wi-Fi networks to harvest users data.

“You can enjoy the free browsing, but you are doing more harm to yourself. These hackers intentionally open free Wi-Fi just to harvest data,” he said.

Highlighting the malicious intent behind data harvesting, Gyedu warned against the grave consequences, including identity theft, fraud, extortion, and sextortion.

“For identity theft, frauding, extortion and sextortion, that is why data protection and  data privacy has become a great concern to everyone today because your data is you,” he added.

He further underscored the growing importance of prioritising data protection in today’s digital landscape, reminding the audience that their data is an integral part of their identity.

Acknowledging the challenges of expensive data and economic hardships, Gyedu proposed a practical solution of unsubscribing from unnecessary services and being vigilant about automatic app updates that consume data.

The CEO emphasised that these precautions are far more beneficial “than looking for these free online browsers that cause yourself so much harm; one day you will have all your data and private stuff out there”.

Mr. Gyedu therefore urged individuals to weigh the true cost of free online browsing, emphasising the potential long-term consequences of compromising data privacy and security.

Source: www.gbcghanaonline.com

Jean-Noel Barrot said Apple would deliver a software update for users in the country in the coming days.

Sales of iPhone 12 were halted in France after a regulator detected too much electromagnetic radiation. Apple was told to fix the issue.

The firm said the new update would only apply to users in France, where it said a specific testing protocol existed.

The American tech giant suggested the radiation findings were a result of that testing regime, and that it was “not a safety concern”.

The planned update raises questions over Apple’s plans for iPhone 12, which was released just three years ago, in other countries.

Mr Barrot said that the radio frequency regulator (ANFR) would test the new update to check its compliance before iPhone 12 is allowed back on sale in the country.

The World Health Organization has previously sought to allay fears about radiation emitted by mobile phones.

It says on its website there is no evidence to conclude that exposure to low level electromagnetic fields is harmful to humans.

In a statement sent to AFP news agency, Apple said the radiation finding in France was “related to a specific testing protocol used by French regulators and not a safety concern”.

It said the iPhone 12 complied with emissions rules worldwide, but it would “issue a software update for users in France to accommodate the protocol used by French regulators”.

The ANFR previously told Apple that if it could not resolve the issue via a software update, it would have to recall every iPhone 12 sold in the country.

The regulator found iPhone 12’s Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) to be above what is legally allowed in France.

The iPhone 12 smartphone was first released in September 2020 and it is still sold worldwide.

Apple told BBC News earlier this week it was contesting the ANFR’s review.

It said it had provided the regulator with lab results from both itself and third parties, which it said showed the device was compliant with all the relevant rules.

But Mr Barrot gave Apple a two-week deadline, and said he believed there could be “a snowball effect” as France shared its findings with other regulators across the European Union (EU).

Regulators from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany said on Thursday they were now also looking into the issue.

Germany’s BNetzA network agency told the BBC the French investigation could lead to measures that would apply to all EU members states.

The UK and US have not announced any action following the French ban.

Source : adomonline