Week Review

This week has been very busy for me when it comes to university work and other errands. I managed to attend Board of Studies meeting (BOS) @ the university of Portsmouth virtual system with the university’s board management.

At the meeting, lots of issues were discussed which include students grade point, graduation procedures and how students outside UK could attend the coming graduation in summer. It was a good meeting as several issues were addressed which concerned students and with my role as a Course Representative, I had to make sure that other students concerns are addressed very well by the board management.

I have had much time for my final year report work this week and this saw me to successful completion of the report, which I am very happy about it. I can know focus on my two units coursework which need to be completed by 26th May 2009.And looking forward to their successful completion soon to see me through the graduation path .

TACCO,a partner of Africatrust Networks,UK is trying to file its annual returns form and the renewal of its social service certificate. I have been playing a leading role in this task which I am helping to achieve this soon with collaboration with David Boateng in the Netherlands.

Umm! I am looking forward to have a good weekend on a key note with lots of rest as I have sat behind the laptop the whole the week…haaaaahaaaa!

Routine

Umm! Since the beginning of this week life has been hectic and I have been managing it very well. I do wake up early in the morning to have my regular jogging to keep me in shape and also sharpen my brain to excel well in my studies...yeah it works lol!

I have loads of university work at hand, so I have been trying to play around with some of them in the morning.Currently, I have coursework in Advance networking and Pattern in Software Design and on top of them is my final year project report aaaah!! So actually, my hands are very full and everyone can see that…haaahaaa!!!

As I am jobless at the moment, I have to be checking few recruitment websites to know what is available and then try to script few letters around and still counting my luck hohohohohoho!! I know it gonna be fine, it just a matter of time. I have visited few companies in the city to drop applications and also talking to some of them to convince them to secure an internship deal but nothing good has crop up yet. At times, it looks frustrating and i just need to be strong in times like this.

I have been having nice lectures with my mates and lecturer Jane Chandler who are all scattered around the globe but we meet “virtually” for lectures which look very exciting and fun. My final year project report is going well and just doing some tidying up to it for a good output.Though,life doesn’t seems good for me due to my unemployment, I don’t feel down but rather tightening my belt and looking forward to the lucky day!

Uni Progress Work

First of all, my apologies for keeping mute for some time now without reporting about my course with the University of Portsmouth which through your enormous support I got enrol later part of 2007.Please; do accept my humble apologies for my actions!

The course have been going well since its commencement and I performed quite well in the previous examinations despite my inability to attain the required marks for one unit (that is Advance Networking).I may say that I really appreciated the fees ABC paid on my behalf to retake this unit again this year to enable me to complete the course with good grades.

I just started my last semester with the university which commenced on 9th February 2009, and I am taking two units which include Advance Networking (repeat unit) and Patterns in Software Design. These two units would last 12 weeks and the examination would commence between May -June this year. I would be doing coursework along side the final examinations to give me the final grade marks for the two units which I am confident to excel through my hardwork, dedication and commitment.

I have also been working on my final project work which started last year, and have been working on a piece of artefact dubbed “Database for Citrus Inspection”. The main objective of this project is to get a system in place to enhance good data capturing and storage for farmers and their farm produce.This is to enhancerural farmers to market their farm produce to the western world.

I have been conducting research and interviews with the stakeholders for this project to know their requirements to enables me to come out with good solutions to their needs. I started working on this late last year and I have made some major strides in terms of my final report writing and the development of the artefact to support the report. The main tool which I have been using for this project is Microsoft Access, which means I did not need any special software package to enhance my work.Currently; i am almost through with my final report and have left with three chapters which include evaluation, personal reflection and conclusion. I am also putting some finishing touches to the artefact which had some few defects, and the project is expected to be handed in on the 1st May 2009.



I have not had any permanent job since my former organization folded up but I had an internship job with a small firm which I worked in it for some weeks, and the project ended. At the moment, I am home concentrating more my studies as well as hunting for new job in the city which get frustrating all the time. Despite all these, I am very positive about myself and looks focus everyday which I believe there is more life ahead of me after nailing my university course with success.

I am looking forward to complete this course with success and hope to attend the graduation in July, and I would be doing my best to see this happen and not to disappoint anybody.

I have been enjoying good support from Africa Bridge Club in Wales and Africatrust,and they are keeping me on toes in life lol..I you all...

GHANAIANS HAVE SPOKEN

Last Sunday’s elections have produced dramatic results in the Ghanaian political history since independence. The two major political parties in the country failed to get the 50+ % to become the winner but the main opposition party that is the NDC won most of the parliamentary seats. And with this development it has make the game more exciting in a way that the opposition party might control the legislation in case the ruling party retains power.

Now it’s certain that Ghanaian will go in for a run off within three weeks from today, and it’s going to be very tight and hot for the two main candidates that’s Prof. John Evans Atta-Mill of NDC and Nana Akuffo Addo of NPP.Though there were pockets of violence around certain corners, the whole process was very peaceful and calm and Ghanaian have shown maturity in democracy.

Ghana elections attracted lots of observer missions around into the country and they have all praised the conduct and free, fair and peaceful process of the whole elections around the country.

The question most people are asking is that despite the good policies, good governance and good rule of law which are being claimed by the ruling party, why is it difficult for them to clinch the 50+% mark?.

The interesting part of this year’s elections is that the electorates have shown their power to the politicians in the country because they have taken the electorates for granted for a long time. Most big shot parliamentarians have been washed away by the electorates across the country and its has become a major lesson to all the politicians despite their big campaigns and rallies couple with expensive spending whiles the people at the bottom are suffering.

The percentages obtained by the main front runners of this year’s elections are as follows: NDC 47.92% and NPP 49.13%.The date for the run off is 28th December 2008..and everyone is looking forward to it...

GHANA DECIDES

Umm! Many! Ghanaians are anxiously waiting for the Election Day which is exactly a week today to elect a new president and various parliamentarians in their constituencies around the country. This elections have been tagged “ a crucial one” which seems to be a straight fight between the ruling party NPP (New Patriotic Part) and the major opposition party NDC (National Democratic Congress) but CPP (Convention Peoples Party) which is another opposition party might pose a threat to the election by causing its to a run off which very likely.

This years elections has been a source of concern to many in the country being it religious leaders, international diplomats have been preaching peace to the masses in the country because of pockets of violence that have cropped up in the past months around the country. Everybody is praying for peace during and after this year’s elections, nobody wants war in this country.

Most Ghanaians are looking for very free and fair elections next week Sunday and may the best candidate win to become the next president of our dear country Ghana.

WORLD OF WORK

I have been having some challenges since mid April when I became jobless due to redundancy exercise carried out by my employer Church World Service (United States Refugees Resettlement Program).

I started working with this organisation as an intern February 2004 and I was later hired as a full time employee in April 2004.I worked on several projects whiles working with them such as cropping, renaming of refugees pictures into a large database called WRAPS (World Wide Refugees Admission Processing System), I also helped in maintaining the computers and network systems of the organisation.

I have an enermous experience in volunteer’s management; I work as part time General Manager for a UK organisation called Africatrust Networks. Organising projects for volunteers, monthly evaluation of volunteers, coordination of volunteers and also meetings with the Vice Consul at the British High Commission in Ghana are some of the major duties that I have been handling.

I have a deep passion for this role due to different volunteers I do meet each year coming from different countries with diverse behaviours; it tends to be a learning environment for me as well as good working experience with human nature. I am looking forward to complete my education with University of Portsmouth, UK which would open up more opportunities in the world of work.

UNIVERSITY WORK @ PORTSMOUTH

Well, well! I am having lots of work @ the University of Portsmouth and carrying out loads of student’s responsibilities as I am the student rep for the Computing and Information Systems department.

My study @ University of Portsmouth is top up Bsc programme after completing my professional course in Information Systems Management with IMIS, UK.I am done with semester 1 and preparing for the semester which starts next year February, and would be taking Patterns in Software Development and Advanced Networking. Both units are challenging and need extra work and dedication.

I am also doing my final year project work in Database development to capture information of rural farmers in West Africa. It’s one interesting piece of work which involves frequent interactions with stakeholders like the monitoring and evaluation unit, farmers, surveyors’ etc.I have to involve all these people to enhance the systems requirement gathering to make the project successful and I am really grateful to have a wonderful supervisor called Mrs Penny Hart. So far she has been helpful and supportive throughout my project plan development, information gathering and other necessary information that would enhance my work.

I meet with Penny Hart once every week for discussion and also catching up with any lost items in the past weeks. Our meeting is 100% virtual (I mean online), using a system called victory which unique to University of Portsmouth staff and students. We all use the system (victory) for every activity being it lectures, board of studies meeting, chatroom session etc.

Infact, my university experience with Portsmouth is very fantastic, I have been learning a lot and also meeting well experienced course mates from all over the world. But I am very close to one man called Michael Cheuk; he’s a British and works with British Telecom.

So far university work has been wonderful and for now I am doing much work on my project work with the help of Penny Hart my supervisor. It’s lot of work but I know I will catch up pretty soon and it’s keeping my busy as I am in the house currently without any job.