GES Promotion Interview Questions & Answers (All Areas) Part 5

QUESTION 1

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NATIONAL SERVICE AND NATIONAL YOUTH EMPLOYMENT?

National Service is a mandatory employment service restricted to leavers of tertiary institutions below the age of 40 years whereas National Youth Employment is voluntary and covers both tertiary and 2nd cycle school leavers. The age limit to NYE is 35years and its main objective is to groom the personnel for future development of their talents in the areas where they work.

National Service is to condition the service personnel to know the realities of live.

Certificate of National Service is a requirement for future employment in the public sector whereas that of NYE is not.

 

QUESTION 2

WHAT ARE THE THREE ARMS OF GOVERNANCE AND WHO ARE THEIR HEADS?

The three arms of governance are the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary with the heads respectively being the President, Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Justice.

 

QUESTION 3

WHAT IS GOOD GOVERNANCE AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE INGREDIENTS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE?

Good governance implies that there is rule of law at work, meaning that the three arms of governance, that is the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary are working independently without interference from the other.

The ingredients of good governance include:

1. Freedom of speech,

2. Freedom of press,

3. Freedom of association,

4. Freedom of justice,

5. Access to good education, health, food, shelter and security

6. Growing economy.

 

QUESTION 4

NAME FOUR COMMISSIONS WHICH EXIST IN THE COUNTRY AND THEIR FUNCTIONS.

1. National Labour Commission: Its function is to ensure industrial harmony and to address issues concerning labour disputes.
2. National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE): Its duty is to educate the people on their rights and responsibilities as citizens.
3. Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ). Its duties are to uphold the rights of individuals and rule of law, to sit on human right issues brought before it and adjudicate on misconduct of public officers.
4. Electoral Commission (EC): Its duties include:
5. 1. Registration of political parties,
   2. Compilation and keeping of the voters’ register,
   3. Conduct of public elections – presidential, parliamentary, district assembly and referendum, and declaration of results,
   4. Demarcation of electoral boundaries and creation of polling stations,
   5. Education of the general public on electoral issues.

Other Commissions are Public Services Commission, Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, Lands Commission and National Media Commission.

 

QUESTION 5

WHAT ARE THE MAIN FUNCTIONS OF THE NATIONAL ACCREDITATION BOARD?

The main functions of National Accreditation Board include:

1. Granting permission to tertiary institutions for organizing academic and professional courses of study.

2. Granting permission to bodies and associations to organize examinations,

3. Aligning foreign certificates/qualifications with that of local ones

4. Monitoring the operations of institutions to whom licences have been given.

 

QUESTION 6

WHAT ARE THE DUTIES OF THE COUNCIL OF STATE AND WHAT IS ITS COMPOSITION?

The core mandate of the Council of State is to counsel the President in the performance of his functions. In so doing the Council

1. Considers bills which have been published in the gazette or passed by Parliament as requested by the President.

2. Considers and advises the President on any appointment which is required by the constitution to be made in accordance with the advice of, or in consultation with the Council of state.

3. The Council of State may, upon request or on its own initiative, consider and make recommendation on any matter being considered or dealt with by the President, Minister of state, Parliament, or any other authority established by the constitution, except that such a recommendation is not binding on the authorities.

COMPOSITION: The Council of State consists of twenty-five (25) members currently, exclusive of membership from the six new regions:

1. Three persons appointed by the President in consultation with Parliament and they include:
   a) One person who has previously held the office of Chief Justice.
   b) One person who has previously held the office of Chief of Defence Staff of the Armed Forces of Ghana.
   c) One person who has previously held the office of Inspector-General of Police

2. The President of the National House of Chiefs.

3. One representative from each region of Ghana elected by an electoral college comprising two representatives from each of the districts in the regions nominated by the District Assemblies.

4. Eleven (11) other members appointed by the President.

The Council elects a chairman from among its members.

 

QUESTION 7

NAME FIVE GOALS THAT THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT TARGETED TO ACHIEVE BY THE YEAR 2015.

1. Eliminate extreme poverty and hunger.

2. Provide universal basic education.

3. Reduce in child mortality rate.

4. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.

5. Reduce maternal mortality rate.

6. Promote gender equality and empower women.

7. Ensure environmental sustainability.

 

QUESTION 8

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES FACING THE COUNTRY?

The environmental challenges facing the country include the following:

1. Land degradation resulting from activities of estate developers, farmers, chain saw operators, thus leading to the destruction of vegetative cover.

2. Illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, leading to destruction of farm lands, crops and water bodies.

3. Water pollution – discharge of waste into water bodies and activities of miners leading to high cost of providing portable water.

4. Waste management – high cost of clearing heaps of domestic and industrial waste in the big towns and industrial areas. Major effects are outbreak of malaria and cholera.

5. Destruction of coastal zones and marine resources as a result of dumping of industrial and human waste.

6. Rapid population growth in the cities leading to creation of slums as a result of rural-urban migration.

 

QUESTION 9

WHAT IS GLOBALIZATION?

It is the process of making the world look like a small village where advancement of technology (ICT) has made it possible for people, goods, services, and information to move freely across countries’ boarders with least hinderance.

 

QUESTION 10

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF HIV/AIDS? WHAT ARE THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF HIV/AIDS AND HOW CAN THE MENACE BE CONTROLLED?

HIV means Human Immune Deficiency Virus and AIDS means Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. HIV is a virus and it interferes with the body’s ability to fight infections. It eventually kills or damages the body’s immune system. AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV. AIDS therefore results from HIV.

The causes of HIV/AIDS include the following;

1. Unprotected sex with an infested person,

2. Blood transfusion,

3. Mother to child transfer during pregnancy

4. Sharing of contaminated materials like needle, blade or razor with an infested person.

The effects of HIV/AIDS include loss of human labour or able-bodied population, reduced productivity on the part of the infested person, increased government expenditure on health delivery, street children – children without parents to care for, social outcast and increased family responsibility.

HIV/AIDS can be controlled by applying the principle of ABC-abstinence from casual sex, being faithful to partner and use of condom.

Other measures are using separate injection needles for patients, screening blood before infusion, HIV/AIDS test before marriage and showing affection for HIV/AIDS patients.

 

QUESTION 11

WHAT IS DRUG ABUSE? WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE?

Generally, drug abuse is the indiscriminate use of drugs, without the advice of a qualified medical personnel, to the disadvantage of the user. In our society most people associate drug abuse with only the use of narcotic drugs but it goes beyond that and even alcoholism is also a form of drug abuse.

Drug abuse brings about damage to the brain, physical violence, aggressiveness, and disorganization.

 

QUESTION 12

WHAT IS TEENAGE PREGNANCY? WHAT ARE ITS CAUSES AND EFFECTS?

Teenage pregnancy is about an adolescent girl under the care of the parent getting pregnant when she is not prepared for it. Teenage pregnancy is prevalent among girls in the basic and second cycle schools.

The major factors which account for teenage pregnancy include the following:

1. Poor parental care for the girl-failure to provide her with basic needs like food, clothing, shelter and motherly love,

2. Broken home leading to uncontrolled movement of child between two homes,

3. Parents, especially mothers, pushing children for monetary gains,

4. Peer influence,

5. Viewing of pornographic films,

6. Curiosity on the part of the teenage girl,

7. Lack of communication between parent and girl child

8. Lack of sex education.

The effects of teenage pregnancy are:

1. Drop-outs in girl education,

2. Illegal abortion,

3. Accidental death resulting from abortion,

4. Financial hardship on the teenage couples,

5. Street children,

6. High population growth,

7. Children born with disabilities as a result of attempted abortions,

8. Heavy financial burden on the government in providing educational and health facilities

9. Child labour

 

QUESTION 13

WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE? WHAT BODY IS IN CHARGE OF PROTECTING THE CHILD SO FAR AS ABUSES ARE CONCERNED?

Child abuse is any act that infringes on the right of the child. Such infringements include assault on the child, child labour, failure to provide the child with education, food, health needs, clothing, shelter and general security, female genital mutilation and sexual abuse.

The body which handles child abuse among other forms of domestic violence is the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service.

 

QUESTION 14

WHAT IS CHILD LABOUR?

Child labour is any use of the child for an activity which is dangerous to his life, below his age capacity or secks to generate some income at the expense of his education. Such activities include using the child for fishing and mining activities, giving out the child as house help and taking money, using the child for trading or farming activities instead of allowing him to be at school and engaging a child below fifteen years in employment.

 

QUESTION 15

WHAT IS NHIS? HOW IS IT FUNDED AND WHAT ARE THE MAIN CHALLENGES TO THE SCHEME?

NHIS means National Health Insurance Scheme. It is a health delivery system introduced by the government to reduce the negative effects of the cash and carry system of health delivery (payment before attendance even in emergency cases). The law backing the scheme requires every Ghanaian to join a health insurance scheme in order to benefit from it.

The sources of funding of the NHIS are:

1. 3% VAT on goods and services (subject to change)
2. Premium paid by registered persons
3. Renewal fees.

The main challenges to the scheme are:

1. Inadequate inflow of the statutory funds to meet demands of service providers thus leading to temporary withdrawal of services

2. Collusion between staff of the scheme and service providers leading to inflated bills.

 

QUESTION 16

WHAT PENSION SCHEME CURRENTLY EXISTS FOR SALARY WORKERS AND THE SELF-EMPLOYED IN THE COUNTRY? HOW IS IT FUNDED?

The Pension scheme currently in operation in the country for salary workers and the self-employed is the three-tier pension scheme consisting of

1. A mandatory basic national social security scheme.

2. A mandatory fully funded and privately managed occupational pension scheme.

3. A voluntary fully funded and privately managed provident fund and personal pension scheme.

The funding of the first and second tier pension schemes is the joint responsibility of the employee and the employer. The employer is under obligation to deduct 5½ of the employee’s monthly gross salary and also contribute 13% of the worker’s monthly gross salary to the funding of the scheme. Out of the total contribution of the 18½ gross salary of the employee the employer within fourteen (14) days from the end of each month transfers on behalf of each employee 13½ to the first-tier mandatory basic social security scheme and 5% to the second-tier mandatory occupational pension scheme. (subject to change).

The contribution and payment are applicable to the self-employed persons who opt to join the first and second tier pension schemes.

A person to whom the 1s and 2 tier mandatory pension schemes apply may in addition to the total contributions being made by the employee and employer make voluntary contributions to a scheme under the 3rd tier of the scheme. The contribution could be from the employee, the employer or both.

In addition to the three-tier pension scheme some group of government employees enjoy pension under the CAP 30 and typical example is the Audit Service staff.

 

QUESTION 17

AT WHAT AGE CAN A PERSON JOIN THE SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME?

The minimum age at which a person can join the Social Security Scheme is fifteen (15) years and the maximum age is forty-five (45) years.

 

QUESTION 18

WHO QUALIFIES FOR SUPERANNUATION PENSION?

A member of the Social Security Scheme who retires on attaining the compulsory retiring

age of sixty years or retires voluntarily on attaining the age of forty-five (45) years and has contributed to the Social Security Fund for a period not less than fifteen years in the aggregate or aggregate of one hundred and eighty (180) months is entitled to a superannuation pension.

 

QUESTION 19

WHAT IS AN APPROPRIATION BILL?

It is a bill passed by Parliament to authorize the Ministry of Finance to make payments from the consolidated fund. It is only after passing of the appropriation bill that the Ministry of Finance can issue warrants to the ministries through the Controller and Accountant-General.

 

QUESTION 20

WHAT IS THE CONSOLIDATED FUND AND WHAT ARE THE SOURCES OF FUNDING TO THE CONSOLIDATED FUND?

The consolidated fund is a central fund held by the Bank of Ghana (The Central Bank) from which all government activities are sourced or funded.

The consolidated fund is built from all revenues or other monies raised or received on behalf of the government as well as monies raised or received in trust for/on behalf of the government. Revenues or monies payable to statutory funds established for specific purposes do not form part of the consolidated fund.

 

QUESTION 21

WHAT ARE THE SOURCES OF FUNDING IN THE GHANA EDUCATION SERVICE?

The sources of funding in the Ghana Education Service include the following:

1. Government grants in the form of monthly / quarterly releases for the payment of Employee Compensation, Goods and Services and Assets / Investments

2. Government releases in the form of termly subsidy to second cycle institutions,

3. Government releases in the form of Capitation Grant to the basic schools through the District Offices,

4. School fees (which is now absorbed under the free SHS programme),

5. Support from Donor Agencies / Development Partners,

6. Parent Teacher Association contributions,

7. Donations from other stakeholders like Old Students Associations, NGOs, etc.

8. Other internally generated funds like rent of premises during vacation periods and sales from income generating ventures like the school farm and workshops.

 

QUESTION 22

WHAT IS GETFUND?

GETFUND means Ghana Education Trust Fund. It is a fund established by the government to supplement its effort to provide quality education for all. The source of funding is a 4% component on VAT charges on goods and services and donations and grants from Development Partners.

 

QUESTION 23

WHAT CONTRIBUTIONS DOES GETFUND MAKE TO SUPPLEMENT GOVERNMENT EFFORTS TO PROVIDE QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL?

1. GETFUND provides infrastructure in the form of lecture halls and classroom blocks, science blocks, dormitories and hostels, staff bungalows, administration blocks, dining halls and furniture for government tertiary, second cycle and basic institutions.

2. It provides vehicles of all forms to the 2nd Cycle and Tertiary Institutions.

3. It provides teaching and learning materials in the form of science equipment, library books, textbooks and exercise books, chalk and class registers and computers. These provisions cover the public institutions in general and the private tertiary institutions.

4. It offers scholarships for some selected programmes of study outside the country.

5. It funds the Students Loan Trust.

6. It also provides support to other agencies under the Ministry of Education like Ghana Library Board, National Accreditation Board, and Scholarships Secretariat.

 

QUESTION 24

WHAT ARE THE MAIN OBSTACLES TO GETFUND IN THE DELIVERY OF ITS SUPPORT SERVICES?

1. Inflow of funds is the main obstacle. The 4% VAT component which is the main source of funding hardly goes in as expected.

2. GETFUND does not award contracts for projects and supply of goods and services and therefore has no control over their execution and timely delivery. Contracts are awarded by the Ministry of Education, Regional Ministers or Heads of the Tertiary Institutions.

3. Because of political influence there is possible misapplication of funds.

 

QUESTION 25

WHAT ARE THE MAIN ADVANTAGES OF COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM OF RECORD KEEPING?

The advantages associated with computerized system of record keeping include the following:

1. More accurate, efficient, and faster processing of information.

2. Easy storage and retrieval of information.

3. Easy communication-global world.

4. The use of a buck-up system prevents loss of information.

5. Security or protection of information through the use of password.

 

QUESTION 26

NAME SOME LAWS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE GHANA EDUCATION SERVICE..

1. Public Financial Management Act 2016, Act 921.

2. Public Finance Management (General) Regulations, S1135 of 2019.

3. Internal Audit Agency Act 2003, Act 658.

4. Public Procurement Act 2003, Act 663 914

5. Internal Revenue Act 2000, Act 595.

6. Audit Service Act 2000, Act 584.

7. Income Tax (Amendment) Act, 2016, Act 907.

CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING PARTS
GES Promotion Interview Questions & Answers PART 1
GES Promotion Interview Questions & Answers (All Areas) PART 2
GES Promotion Interview Questions & Answers (All Areas) PART 3
GES Promotion Interview Questions & Answers (All Areas) PART 4
GES Promotion Interview Questions & Answers (All Areas) PART 5