SARPONG'S BLOG

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) , which hitherto managed the SSNIT Students Loan Scheme set up to assist students in tertiary institutions to defray some personal and academic expenses while in school has said that as at the end of January 2014, about 58,557 students were still indebted to the Scheme. This represents 30% of 192,746 students who owed the Scheme before it was replaced by the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF)   in 2006. This was made public by   Mrs Evangeline Amegashie,   Corporate Affairs Manager of   the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) . In 2006, the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) was set up by the Government as a permanent body to replace the SSNIT Students Loans Scheme. This meant that new applicants to the scheme from 2006 were serviced by the SLTF, and not SSNIT.After the cessation of the SSNIT Students Loan Scheme, continuing students under the SSNIT Scheme however co...

Ten members of staff of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) have undergone a three-day intensive training in data journalism intended to build their capacity to bring innovative and investigative skills to bear on their reporting. The training formed part of the company's initiative to undertake a data journalism policy, strategy development and an implementation plan for its newsroom in order to build capacity in the use of techniques in data journalism. Administered by the International Institute for ICT Journalism - Penplusbytes, the training brought together 10 selected members of the Graphic team that comprised reporters, designers, and IT and online personnel. Participants were introduced to data journalism, the processes involved in data journalism,various sources of data and how to analyse data-driven stories. Officials from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) and a data expert took participants through statistics in general and ways of extracting d...

Consumers of the new Samsung Galaxy S5 will enjoy a worry free experience with this latest gadget. This new device which provides an apt protection in relevant matters such as mobile security, usage and durability, is also dust and water resistant and therefore protects your device from related damages. This feature means users can even clean their Galaxy S5 with water to rid it off germs without fear of damaging it.    It also offers a Finger Scanner, providing a secure, biometric screen locking feature and the ability for customers to make purchases with their mobile. The fingerprint sensor can register three separate fingerprints, and registration takes eight swipes. Users can unlock the phone using fingerprint recognition and also use it to authorize PayPal to make payments online for anything. This opens up a lot of mobile payments options for consumers who engage in online transactions. The finger swipe can also unlock Private Mode on the Galaxy S5, whic...

Global Media Alliance, (GMA) in partnership with the Ghana Anti Corruption Coalition, (GACC) and support from Star Ghana has launched the first ever short Code to report corruption in Ghana. The short code 1721 on all networks and 1821 on Airtel only, comes as a result of ‘Speak up’, a collaborative campaign developed by GMA and the GACC to educate Ghanaians on the anti-corruption laws of Ghana. The ‘Speak up’ project is an accountability Media watch initiative which has been designed to encourage Ghanaians to stand and speak against all sorts of corruption, particularly, in the education and health sectors in Ghana through its live on-air dialogues. Mr. Akwasi Agyeman, Managing Director of Global Media Alliance stated “As a broadcasting firm, it us our utmost responsibility to effect change in the community in which we operate. With the introduction of the new anti corruption short code, which happens to be the first in Ghana, the public can easily report through text messagi...

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong Samsung has launched its new ‘gifts-4-all-season’ promotion, to reward its valued customers with prizes. The buy-and-win promotion which starts on Monday Tuesday March 24, 2014 will instantly reward consumers with prizes whenever they purchase any of the selected range of Samsung products. The Samsung gifts-4-all-season promotion reward customers who purchase any of the new Samsung Triangle split Air-conditioner model. It comes with a free all-new sleek Samsung Chat222 Dual SIM phone. Customers who buy selected Samsung refrigerator models will also instantly win free Samsung Microwave Oven. Customers can also win amazing prizes when they buy Samsung range of Televisions which offer superior TV watching experience in full HD. The electronics company is giving away a free fully installed DStv explorer with free one month HD Premium subscription, to any customer who buys a 55-inch or 65-inch UHD TV (Ultra High Definition Television). The same priz...