Day: June 30, 2022

Accra, June 30, GNA-Zongovation Hub, a Non-Governmental-Organization (NGO) that provides skills training in Information Communication Technology (ICT) for the youth, has received financial support from Allied Consortiums, a South African based civil engineering company with branches in Ghana.

The Hub received a cash donation of GHC30,000 from the Consortiums to help in the training of young people in ICT in the country.

The NGO, formed in 2018, has trained over 500 young men and women in website development, mobile app development, digitised media, codding, data management and other ICT related activities.

Mr. Benjamin Kofi Quashie, Group Chairman of Allied Consortiums, said they were motivated to support the Hub because they understood its vision and mission.

He said the gesture was also part of efforts to support social development in the country.

Mr. Quashie said they would continue to support the activities of the Hub having opened a branch in Ghana.

Mr. Isaac Kwame Penni, Chief Executive Officer of Allied Consortiums, commended the Hub for building the capacity of young people in ICT and creating jobs for the youth.

Mrs. Nonkazimulo Quashie, Administrative Director of Allied Consortiums, who presented the Cheque to the NGO urged the youth to take advantage of training opportunities at the Hub to develop their skills.

She said that was important because the world was now driven by ICT.

Mr. Alhassan Khalid, Director of Finance and Administration, Zongovation, expressed appreciation to Allied Consortiums for the support.

He said with the support, the Hub could reach more young people and train them in ICT.

“… the funds will be put to judicious use as we seek to train more young men and women to be financially independent,” he assured.

Allied Consortiums operates in the area of civil engineering, construction, real estate, mining, ICT services, and oil and gas.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Kasapreko Company Limited has launched a National Consumer loyalty Promotion in a bid to garner support for Ghana’s senior national team, Black Stars, at this year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The promotion for the company dubbed “Storm Puma Awake Drinks World Cup Raffle draw “ is meant to reward loyal consumers as well as appreciate their key distributors.

The promotion set to begin on Monday, July 4, 2022, will reward three lucky winners in a monthly raffle draw selected from all corners of the country, with an all-expenses-paid trip to Qatar to enjoy the FIFA World Cup slated for November this year.

The monthly raffle to be held from July to October will be supervised by the National Lottery Authority (NLA) through Caritas Platform and Engboxx Limited.

Participants will stand the chance of winning instant prizes including electrical appliances, sound systems, and mobile phones, among other items.

Interested persons can text their unique four (4) digit code found on the Awake, Storm, and Puma Drinks bottle to the short code *780# option 2 to be eligible for the draw which comes along with other terms and conditions.

Mr. Gerald Bonsu, Commercial Director at Kasapreko Company Limited, in his address at the launch, said the raffle was their way of rallying support for the Black Stars ahead of the World Cup in Qatar and urged other brands and companies to do the same.

He reiterated that as one of the leading beverage manufacturers in sub-region and Africa, they have supported the senior national team with their Awake Purified Drinking Water Brand, which has been the official water sponsor for the Black Stars for a while now, and we’re excited to come up with this raffle to rally support for the Black Stars.

Mr. Benard Boamah, Marketing Manager at the NLA, hammered on the integrity and fairness of their Caritas platform where everyone who entered the draw had a chance of being selected.

He further commended Kasapreko for this initiative and encouraged people to partake in it.

Among the dignitaries who graced the launch of the raffle were former Black Stars International’s Nii Odartey Lamptey, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, and U-17 Star Awudu Isaaka.

Other musicians and celebrities who graced the event included Brand Ambassador for Awake Natural Mineral Water Diana Hamilton, KK Fosu, Sista Afia, Akuapem Polo, and Amanda Jissih.

Kasapreko Company Limited, established in 1989 by Dr. Kwabena Adjei, provides quality drinks at an affordable price to consumers and remains a pride of Ghana.

Source: Ghana Web

Accra, June 30, GNA – The Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture, in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the PANAFEST Foundation has launched this years Emancipation Day celebration in Accra.

The weeklong celebration, which is scheduled to commence from July 27 to August 1, in Accra and Cape Coast, would be on the theme “Emancipation, Our Heritage, Our Strength”.

Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, Deputy Minister for Tourism Arts and Culture said Ghana became the first African country to commemorate the anniversary of the abolition of African enslavement through the celebration of the Emancipation Day in 1998.

He said the day reunites the African Family and brings cherished memories of illustrious freedom fighters and emancipators, whose bravery and exemplary leadership continued to inspire courage and confidence to fight for the total emancipation of Africans.

The day, he said also reminds Africans of their common heritage and destiny and serves as a period to reflect on the horrors of the Transatlantic slave trade, as well as a springboard for action on slavery legacies, including the oppression of people of African descent across the globe.

“As we plan for our next Emancipation celebration, let us take the opportunity to remind ourselves that we are not fully emancipated if Africans are not economically independent and rekindle our commitment to Africa’s total emancipation and progress.

“It is important to forge special links with our siblings from the Diaspora and to constantly remind ourselves that we are one people whether as Africans in the Motherland or Africans living elsewhere with a common destiny to succeed.

“We are one big family united by culture and identity. There is no denying the fact that, Language divides us, places of settlements may separate us and even knowledge acquisition may change our narratives but lets us remember we are first Africans before we became anything else in this world. This should be our commitment to greater integration and creating prosperity for us all,” he said.

Madam Esi Sutherland-Addy, Chairperson, PANAFEST Foundation said emancipation was not a one-day event and would not be fully achieved unless Africans addressed the problems caused by their race and ethnicity as Africans and Black people.

She noted that the kind of emancipation Ghanaians needed presently “was not from the chains on their bodies but in their minds where they would move from being dependent on others and depend solely on themselves for their development.”

Madam Sutherland-Addy observed that Ghana was rich in natural mineral resources which were not utilized properly and urged Ghanaians to as part of emancipating themselves, protect and maintain those natural resources to benefit future generations.

Mr Ekow Sampson, Deputy Chief Executive Operations, GTA, said for the theme of this year’s Emancipation Day to be achieved, there was the need for sincere peace between all Africans.

He said retaliation, suspicion, blame, and mutual mistrust between the African Diaspora and those on the continent would serve to continue the exploitation of Black people, despite the terrible realities of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and its effects.

Mr Sampson emphasized the need to globalize Emancipation Day, and for Africans, home and abroad, to be motivated to understand the essence of the celebration.

He said the demonstration of a brotherly spirit, tenacity, purpose, and understanding of emancipation “paved the way for Ghanaians to come this far,” and encouraged Ghanaians “to let the sweat, blood, and tears continue to shape our lives as we prepare to face the challenges that lie ahead.”

Some activities lined up for the celebration include a wreath-laying ceremony at the George Padmore Library and W.E.B. Du Bois Centre, durbar of Chiefs and People and musical show at Assin Praso Heritage Village, Emancipation health walk at Elmina, masqueraders show at the Victoria Park, Cape Coast, Candlelight night, at Pikworo Slave Camp, Reverential night at the Cape Coast Castle, Emancipation Day at Reverential Gardens, Assin Manso and wreath laying at Pikworo Slave Camp.

Source: Ghana News Agency

MTN Employees shave been commended for volunteering time and resources to train the youth. As part of the 2022 edition of the 21 Days of Y’ello Care program, MTN staff and their partners organized a Youth Upskill Programme for job seekers, graduates, and undergraduates in Accra.

The event held at the Accra Technical University brought together private recruitment agencies, business partners, and other stakeholders to host CV clinics for the youth. The session also provided upskilling opportunities for people who had lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic by providing them with employable skills needed for the evolving job market. This year’s Y’ello Care was organized under the theme “Empowering communities to drive economic recovery”.

Through the organization of the Y’ello Market Gig, traders and market women at the Makola, Ho, and Kwesimintsim Markets were provided with financial literacy and digital skills training. The participants were also taken through basic mobile apps on budgeting, revenue, and expense tracking to enable them to be more efficient in running their businesses.

They were also introduced to apps that will help them reach more prospective buyers. Many of the beneficiaries commended MTN for spending time with them to share knowledge.

Commenting on the activities, the acting Chief Corporate Services Officer, Nana Kofi Asare said “I believe our activities for Y’ello Care are in the right direction. We believe that these initiatives will empower Ghanaians with skills that will enable them positively impact their communities after the distress suffered from the pandemic in the past two years”.

The 21 Days of Y’ello Care Challenge is an annual employee volunteer initiative launched by MTN Group in 2007 to encourage MTN staff to commit their time and resources to community services for 21 days in June. The “21 Days of Y’ello Care” is a competition amongst MTN operations to secure the highest number of staff involved in volunteerism and initiating projects with remarkable impact. The country with the highest staff participation wins prize money of $100,000 to be re-invested in community projects.

Since its inception in 2007, MTN Ghana has won the 2008 WECA (West and Central Africa) Regional award and overall Y’ello Care Challenge winners for the years 2010 & 2011. Additionally, MTN Ghana won the Y’ello Care ICT Project for 2013, Y’ello Care Innovation Project award for 2014, and Y’ello Care Integrity Award for 2015.

Source: Ghana Web

Accra, June 30, GNA-Mr Roland Affail Monney, outgoing President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), has charged media practitioners to be bold and courageous in the discharge of their mandate.

He said it was unfortunate that culture of silence was creeping back into the Ghanaian media space despite the current liberal environment that existed.

Speaking at the launch of a media programme which seeks to celebrate and reward outstanding media practitioners and friends of the media for their contributions to the profession, in Accra, the outgoing President of the GJA, said journalists must reignite the spirit of crusading-journalism and hold authorities to accountability without fear.

The programme dubbed: “Media in Ghana: The Bold, Beautiful, Ugly and the Mavericks (Media BBUM)” seeks to confer public recognition on persons who have made significant sacrifices and contributions to media development, including excellence in the practice of journalism.

It also seeks to infuse a culture of boldness and journalism-crusading in Ghanaian media practice and prepare Ghanaian journalists for the next phase of media freedoms following the passage of the Right to Information law.

It is organised by the Centre for Communication and Culture in partnership with the GJA, Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association and the Sports Writers Association of Ghana.

Other partners are; Private Newspaper Printers Association of Ghana, International Public Relations and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.

Mr Monney said even though the present environment could not be compared to what existed in the early days of the profession, journalists were timid in voicing out their opinion on issues of national concern.

“The present environment cannot compare to what we inherited in those early days when the media were kept on a tight leash, when the media were shackled by all kinds of obnoxious…….., when the entire nation was enveloped in a culture of silence.

“But it boggles the mind that even in this liberal environment, some journalists allow themselves to be constricted by fear and this affects their output,” he said.

He added that: “Please note that journalism is not for timid, timorous souls. Journalism is not for lily-livered people. It is for those who are brave to tell truth to power and hold people in positions of power and accountability to account.”

He said this must give journalists the courage to critically scrutinise authorities and speak truth to power without fear or favour.

Commenting on the Centre for the Media BBUM initiative, Mr Monney said recognising and promoting the country’s legend journalists would bring about a qualitative improvement in Ghana’s media landscape.

The programme was launched on the theme: “Our 4th Estate, Past and Present: The Pillars to Remember.”

In all, 13 outstanding media practitioners and friends of the media would be awarded in the maiden edition of the programme which starts in July this year.

These are; Kofi Badu, Cameron Duodu, Elizabeth Ohene, Adjoa Yeboah-Afari, Kwesi Pratt, Kabral Blay-Amihere and Kweku Sakyi Addo.

The rest include; Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, Nana Kofi Coomson, Professor Kwame Karikari, Kwame Osei Bonsu, Anthony Akoto Ampaw and Godwin Avenorgbo.

Mr Enimil Ashon, Executive Director, Centre for Communication and Culture, said journalists needed special post qualification training to embolden them to fearlessly confront impunity and expose wrongs, and corruption.

“Ghana still has crusading journalists, but the crusade is now against corruption, graft, arbitrariness, impunity and physical assault on journalists,”

He said a post qualification improvement training was required to empower them to hold authorities to accountability.

Outlining the programme for the Media BBUM, Mr Ashon said, from July 2022, there would be an interview with selected celebrants to be broadcast on GBC, to share their stories with the public.

He added that, in September this year, the selected journalists would be rewarded at a ceremony to be held in Accra, adding that 30-minute composite documentaries would be aired on various TV channels.

Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Board of the Centre for Communication and Culture, said the individuals who were being celebrated are being celebrated for human values and culture lessons which were fast vanishing from the continent and entreated journalists to discharge their duties without fear for the country to realise its development agenda.

Professor Amin Alhassan, Director-General, GBC, assured that the organisation would do its best to ensure that the programme was a success.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ghanaian gospel crooner Mrs Esther Asideu, known publicly as Piesie Esther, has disclosed that sometimes being famous and respected by many can make one disrespect her husband if care is not taken.

She stressed that the music industry players, especially the musicians, may go overboard after meeting great and wealthy individuals who give them much attention and respect.

“In this business, if God doesn’t give you the wisdom and a mindset of Christ, you would go overboard with many things because we meet many people. You will meet prominent and wealthy men.

“So you may feel your husband is inferior to the ones who pay attention to you. And so why should you submit and obey him? If you are not careful, you will become proud and arrogant because you are more famous than your husband.”

The Ziba-Bia Beko hitmaker revealed once more that such an attitude by female gospel musicians could be the beginning of their predicaments.

According to her, the only thing that can save her colleagues and herself is God’s intervention.

“You begin to think that even if your husband leaves, someone ‘better’ would come along. So if God doesn’t help you with pure thoughts, you will fall for these temptations,” she stated.

Her revelation seems to hit a very crucial point as many female celebs worldwide normally divorce their husbands or have problems with them over very tiny issues.

Source: Modern Ghana

Ho, June 30, GNA- The newly elected Executive members of the Volta branch of the Ghana Journalists Association have been sworn into office to steer the affairs of the Association for the next three years.

The executives, Mr. Emmanuel Agbaxode, Chairman; Mr Kafui Gati, Vice Chairman, Mr Fred Duodu, Secretary; and Ms Ewoenam Kpodo, Treasurer, took the oath of office and the oath of secrecy.

Mr George Buadi, Supervising High Court Judge in Ho, who administered the oath congratulated the executives and wished them success.

He urged journalists to be professional in the discharge of their duties and avoid being influenced by political parties, tribes or religion.

The judge asked journalists not to allow themselves to be compromised saying, “we are not moving forward so much as compared to other jurisdictions because professionals become compromised.

“You are protected by the constitution and other international treaties the country?ratified,” he said, and urged journalists to abide by the law and carry out their mandate within the confines of the law.”

Mr Fred Duodu, on behalf of his colleagues, pledged to uphold the ethics of the profession, abide by the law of Land and work closely with the judiciary.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Kaakyire Kwame Fosu, better known in Showbiz as KK Fosu, has revealed his political ambitions after his soon-to-come retirement from music.

He made this revelation in a radio conversation on the Accra-based Hitz FM with Andy Dosty, monitored by this portal.

Though he kept his political affiliation secret in this particular interview, he revealed that his political longing started three years ago because of his quest to help the poor.

“I want to assist my nation. My political ambition began three years ago, and I believe the voters will support me,” he revealed.

The “Anadwo ye de” and “Suudwe” highlife hitmaker further asserted that he would like to serve in the legislative arm of government as Member of Parliament.

“After my singing career, I’d want to serve in the legislature. I would not want to be performing at age 60. I must advocate for the disadvantaged.

“Given that I consider them, why wouldn’t they vote for me? I want to attend the legislature. I am not playing,” he explained.

Speaking in a similar interview on the Accra-based CTV monitored by this portal, he highlighted his policies and finally revealed that he would not be affiliated with any political party as he intends to go as an independent candidate for the Akuapem North constituency.

According to him, his main policy will be to prioritise youths in agriculture.

“Let’s go back to agriculture. I always want to advocate when it comes to agriculture. I want us to go back to agriculture and create more jobs there for the youth. I want us to build agriculture for it to become attractive for the youth.

“I’m going as an independent candidate. You see, I’m a person who is loved by everyone. Whether it’s the NDC, NPP, CPP, you name it; everyone loves me,” he stated.

He added that: “The other thing with such established parties is that you’d need to join them and serve for a while before you can contest and they’d even tell you there’s a long line of possible candidates to be considered before you. I’m not ready for that.”

Source: Modern Ghana