Day: August 17, 2021

Ghana has been drawn in Group C of the 2021 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament and will face the likes of Gabon, Comoros, and Morocco.

During the qualifiers, the Black Stars were pitted in Group C and finished as leaders in after competing against the likes of South Africa, Sudan, as well as Sao Tome and Principe.

At the end of the draw of the next AFCON tournament at the Yaounde Conference Centre in Cameroon today, Ghana has been drawn in a group that the Black Stars must be very cautious.

The West African side will take on Morocco, Gabon, as well as Comoros.

The 2021 AFCON will be staged in Cameroon and is scheduled to take place from 9 January to 6 February 2022

Source: Modern Ghana

Tema,- Birthright-GH, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), has donated classified items to support vulnerable teenage pregnant girls and teenage mothers in the Madina Market, and Abutia Agove Health Centre in the Greater Accra and Volta Regions respectively.

The items included; baby diapers, wipes, socks, baby harts, clothes, face shield, blankets among others.

As part of the initiative, Birthright-GH also sensitized students of some Junior High School in the two regions on effects of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) to bring positive change in their lives.

Mrs Doris Adom Asante, Executive Director, Birthright-GH speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Tema said the donation formed part of the organization’s 17th anniversary of making positive impact in the lives of needy teenage pregnant girls and mothers.

She said over 5,000 deprived mothers and pregnant girls in the country benefited from their outfit; as it had supported several institutions including; hospitals, educational institutions, and other social groupings.

The foundation has also supported teenage girls who had experience unplanned pregnancies and provided guidance and love for them.

Mrs Asante said through their “Hopeless to hopeful” programme, the organization provided intensive counselling for the teenage girls to access their situation and explore available alternatives to ignite hope and love into them.

She added that, the girls were then trained in entrepreneurial skills to equip them with significant employable skills to make them economic viable and supported in creating jobs for themselves.

Mrs Asante said, the beneficiaries who wanted to return to school were supported to further their education.

She said the organization was geared towards providing accurate information and knowledge that would empower pregnant girls and teenage mothers to make informed decisions about their lives and called on them to take advantage of their foundation to cater for themselves.

Mrs Asante said the foundation had set up a pregnancy resources centre where anyone concerned about unplanned or untimely pregnancy could find help saying that, “we provide confidential help to distressed teenage mothers, pregnancy assistance, provide babies and maternity clothes and a lot more”.

Birthright-GH in the past supported the Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital, with assorted items to assist the mission to provide medical and child healthcare, and nutrition services to newborn babies and their mothers.

Mrs Asante said Birthright-GH which worked under the general theme: “We love them both,” provides wide range of services to women facing unplanned pregnancies with pregnancy counselling, alternatives to abortion, and help create workable plans for the future.

She said “as an organisation we are against abortion and therefore ready to help abandoned babies by donating and paying their hospital bills”.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Yendi (NR)- The Yendi National Commission For Civic Education (NCCE) has intensified sensitization on preventing terrorism in Ghana and the Yendi municipality of Northern Region in particular.

Ghana’s Anti-Terrorism Law Act 762 of 2008 seeks to combat terrorism, support and detect acts of terrorism to protect the resources and financial services of Ghana from being used to commit terrorist acts and to protect the rights of people in Ghana to live in peace, freedom and security.

Mr. Osuman Kasim, the Yendi NCCE Director said this when they called on Ya-Na Abukari II the Overlord of Dagbon at the Gbewaa Palace to introduce the new Director and to inform him about the educational programme.

He said it was important for the public to report all people with questionable characters to the local law enforcement or security authorities for action and there was the need for them to be vigilant on their homes and report suspicious activities or crimes without fear of retribution.

Mr Kasim said a research carried out by NCCE revealed that violent and extremist were out to destroy some of West African Countries that had nothing to do with democracy as they were targeting Ghana through its borders with neighbouring countries of Burking Faso, Togo, Cote-d’IVoire amongst others.

He said sensitization programme would enable them to identify the extremists and the NCCE had selected seven districts in northern region; Tamale Metropolitan, Yendi Municipal Assembly, Nanumba North Municipal Assembly, Nanumba South District, Savelugu Municipal Assembly and Saboba District Assembly to carry out the sensitization in all the communities.

He said the exercise was sponsored by the European Union (EU) to help NCCE to carry out the sensitization of the public and appealed to Ya-Na to call on Civil Society Organizations, (CSOs), and politicians to support NCCE to carry out its constitutional mandate.

YA-Na Abukari II, advised the new officer to work hard in collaboration with the chiefs and called on government to ensure that all convicted criminals especially armed robbers were imprisoned to reduce the fear of terrorism.

He urged the NCCE to educate people along the country’s borders within their neighboring countries.

In related development the Kuga Na Abdulai Adam II at his palace reminded the officials of NCCE that their work was just like the chiefs who sensitized their people on programmes and policies of the Government when the need arises.

He said it was unfortunate that during the Population and Housing Census exercise the chiefs were not pre-informed to sensitize their people and chiefs adding it was important the information got to the chiefs before any exercise started.

Mr Kasim said the extremists used the unemployed youth to carry out their criminal activities and NCCE was working with chiefs, the opinion leaders and other security groups to sensitize the public.

He also met the military, the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) to brief them about the programme to be carried out in the area.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) is currently holding a ceremony for the draw of the Group Stage of the 2021 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.

The delayed tournament is set to be hosted in Cameroon in January 2022 with participation from 24 qualified national teams from various countries.

Today’s draw that has assembled football greats and accomplished officials from all over the continent is being held at Yaounde Conference Centre.

At the end of the ceremony, the 24 qualified teams will be divided into six groups of four teams each.

Stream the draw in the attachment below sources from CAF:

Source: Modern Ghana

 The Reverend Father Balthazar Obeng Larbi, the Chaplain and Lawyer of the St. Monica’s College of Education, Asante Mampong, observed kissing some students at a Church service, has been relieved of his post pending investigations. Venerable Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah, the Executive Director to the Metropolitan Archbishop of Ghana, told the Ghana News Agency that it was necessary to relieve the priest of his duties of teaching the gospel pending investigations.

“He has been relieved of his duty …the right administrative action to take,” he stated.

Dr. Ahmoah said the Church would deal with the issue in accordance with the norms and values of the Anglican communion, where morality was extremely revered in the Church.

He said while investigations were ongoing, efforts were also being made to engage the students involved through counselling sessions to avert psychological issues.

The Chaplain was seen in a viral video, fully dressed in his green cassock and kissing three female students on the lips, one after the other, in the presence of a cheering congregation.

The Church has set up a five-member committee to investigate the conduct of Rev Larbi.

Some members of the College community expressed worry about the viral video, which they said portrayed the priest in a negative light.

The incident has since attracted widespread condemnation from some members of the public and civil society groups.

However, some members of Asante Mampong Diocese have said Rev. Larbi was a disciplinarian who did not condone irresponsible behavior.

Earlier in a statement, the Church said it was saddened by the incident and would thus initiate thorough investigations immediately into the action of the priest.

The statement requested that anyone seeking further clarifications on the matter should contact the Executive Director to the Metroploitan Archbishop of Ghana, Venerable Dr George Dawson-Ahmoah on 0244 351338.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra,- Mrs Nana Ama Obuobi-Donkor, Assistant Regional Population Officer, has called for more support and funding from government and donor agencies to enhance reproductive health education in the country.

Mrs Obuobi-Donkor said an enhanced reproductive health practice was important in regulating population growth and improving on the quality of life of the citizenry.

The Assistant Regional Population Officer made the remarks at the commemoration of the 2021 National Population Day held at the Weija-Gbawe Municipality in Accra.

The programme was on the theme “Prioritising reproductive health is the answer to rights and choices.”

The theme emphasised the rights and choices of an individual to access reproductive health practices without any hindrance.

The day is observed to monitor the country’s population demographics and its relation on social, economic and national development.

Mrs Obuobi-Donkor explained that reproductive health was a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being of the reproductive system and its functions.

She said reproductive health had implications on economic development as it regulated population growth and fertility control.

“With fewer births each year, a country’s working-age population grows larger relative to the young dependent population thus with more people in the labour force and fewer children to support, a country has a window of opportunity for economic growth,” she added.

She said to overcome the challenge of overpopulation; we should focus on population management to ensure growth of existing resources.

She called for strengthened integration of reproductive health service into the country’s national health care service.

Dr Abena Okoh, Weija-Gbawe Municipal Health Director, called for increased education and empowerment for women on the benefits of family planning systems towards national development.

“We need to educate our women, families and communities on the importance of family to their lives and national development,” she said.

She said family planning was integral in achieving less child mortality, and improving the well-being of children.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra,- A 32-year-old Estate Developer, accused of swindling his own church member over a Malawian visa and air ticket, has appeared before an Adentan Circuit Court charged with fraud.

Selwyn Kove has however denied the charge.

He has however refunded GH¢5,000.00 out of the GH¢13,750.00 he collected from his church member and complainant.

The Court presided over by Sedinam Balokah has admitted Kove to bail in the sum of GH¢50,000.00 with three sureties to reappear on August 30.

Narrating the facts of the case, Chief Inspector Maxwell Lanyon said the complainant Theodora Odai, was a banker residing at Nungua while accused resided at Adenta.

Chief Inspector Lanyo said both accused and the complainant were church members of Enlightened Christian Gathering Church, Adabraka branch founded by a Malawian.

Prosecution said the Church normally organised weekly conferences in Malawi for members and non-members across the globe.

On February 11, this year, the complainant expressed interest in the conference and a pastor of the church introduced accused to the complainant.

In the same year, Chief Inspector Lanyo said Kove demanded and collected GH¢13,750.00 from the complainant under the pretext of securing her a Malawian visa and plane ticket.

Prosecution said as soon as the accused collected the money, he failed to honour his promise and went into hiding.

The Prosecutor said Kove was however arrested and he pleaded through his lawyer to refund the money in a month’s time but he had since refunded GH¢5,000.00.

Source: Ghana News Agency

New Edubiase (Ash),– As part of efforts to promote inter-religious harmony and peace in the Adansi South District, the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA) and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission have held a joint church service at New Edubiase.

The service brought together the worshippers from the Ahmadiyya and the Adventist faith to share the word of God who is the creator of mankind.

Pastor S.K Yeboah, New Edubiase District Pastor of the SDA church told the Ghana News Agency after the service that it was important for Christians and Muslims to have good relationships in their communities.

He said though they had different beliefs, Christians and Muslims had a common goal, which was to have a peaceful rest with their creator one day.

Pastor Yeboah said to make the occasion memorable, all the Adventists wore Muslim attire while the Muslims were given copies of the Holy Bible.

Sheik Ishak Agyir, Leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission at New Edubiase, recounted how members of the SDA church had been generous to Muslims in the community.

He said members of the church had been visiting them during Salahs and other Muslim festivities and pledged to work together to promote peace and harmony among members of the two religions in the area.

Source: Ghana News Agency