Month: June 2023

The 2023 Ghana Internet Governance Forum, under the auspices of the Ministry of?Communications and Digitization, will focus on building an inclusive and safer internet in the?country’s digital transformation journey.

The Forum, organised by the Ghana Domain Name Registry and the Internet Society Ghana Chapter, will?start from July 6 to 7, at the Accra International Conference Centre, under the theme: ‘Building a Secure?and Sustainable Digital Future’.

The Forum will be a hybrid event, attracting over 600 participants to join both remotely and onsite to?engage in the discussions on how to maximise internet opportunities, and address risks and challenges in?the sector.

Mr Hisanobu Mochizuki, the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, would be the Guest Speaker for the event.

Nana Kofi Asafu-Aidoo, Chair, Steering Committee, Ghana Internet Governance Forum, speaking at the?launch of the event, said the theme reflected the urgent need to navigate the complexities of the country’s?rapidly evolving digital landscape.

The theme, he stressed, aligned with the Global Digital Compact, which sought to achieve an open, free,?and secure digital future for all.

‘As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, it is crucial to address the challenges and?opportunities that arise in the realm of cybersecurity, digital innovation, and sustainable development,’?he said.

He said it was imperative to establish a framework that promoted trust, cooperation, and responsible?behaviour in the digital space, adding that the forum was comprised of Ghana IGF School, Ghana Youth?IGF, and Ghana IGF.

The Ghana IGF School is a multistakeholder school that features interactive sessions and workshops aimed?at providing a foundational understanding of internet governance principles and policies.

The Ghana Youth IGF aimed at empowering young people with knowledge about internet governance?principles, policies, and practises, while the National IGF featured plenary sessions and parallel workshops?on topics such as internet governance frameworks, data protection, and access and affordability.

Mr Asafu-Aidoo said the Forum would develop recommendations to serve as a guiding document that?outlined principles, commitments, and actions to address the challenges and opportunities presented by?the evolving digital landscape.

Ms Barbara Antwi, from the Research and Innovation Unit, Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic?Communications, said the Fund was committed to facilitating the implementation of universal access to?electronic communication and the provision of internet points of presence in underserved and unserved?communities.

She said the Forum was to raise awareness and promote digital literacy among Ghanaians on internet?governance issues.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has condemned?pronouncements and commentaries that tend to intimidate, threaten, and attack the personality of?judges over their judgements and rulings.

It said such attacks were a direct affront on judicial independence and rule of law and must be denounced?unreservedly by all well-meaning Ghanaians.

Mr Yaw Acheampong Boafo, President of GBA, said this at the 41st Anniversary Remembrance Service?held for the three murdered High Court Judges at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Accra on Friday.

The three murdered judges are Justice Fred Poku Sarkodee, Mrs Justice Cecilia Koranteng-Addow and?Mr Justice Kwadwo Agyei Agyepong.

The judges and a Retired Army officer, Major Sam Acquah, were abducted on the night of curfew hours?of June 30, 1982, and were brutally and savagely murdered at Bundase Military Range in the Accra?Plains.

Mr Boafo described the attacks and threats as ‘ untidy, irresponsible, reprehensible’ and urged judges not to be deterred or be cowed by them.

He asked them to remain resolute and fearless in the discharge of their judicial oaths of doing justice to all?manner of persons without fear or favour or affection or ill-will, and with integrity and professionalism.

The President of GBA said the courts and judges gave decisions based on what the ‘law is and not based?on how a party or even some section of the people like it to be’ .

According to him, hiding behind political interest to only ridicule and politicise judgements not from?the angle of legal, scholarly, and constitutional appraisal, unfairly and inappropriately?lowered the dignity of the courts and hurt the rule of law.

He, therefore, chastised the leadership of the Minority in Parliament for launching an attack on former?Justice Anin Yeboah for allegedly presiding over ‘miscarriage of justice’ during his tenure.

He ssid the author of the accusations was unable to give particulars of the specific cases or decisions by?the former Chief Justice that occasioned the miscarriage of justice and what scientific tools he had used to?measure the level of miscarriage of justice. ?

‘I, therefore, urge people to be circumspect both in our actions and statements to ensure that no judge?in this country should ever suffer the tragedy and fate of the martyrs we celebrate today.’ ?

He said the judicial office ‘is and could be especially difficult and taxing one. One that involves?a lot of sacrifices. It is why it becomes a very difficult decision for some lawyers to leave the bar for the?bench. It can be a lonely place to be, too.’ ?

He said, ‘inasmuch as the GBA will continue to advocate and defend the integrity, dignity and?independence of the judiciary, we implore our judges to endeavour to eschew all acts of impropriety,?biases, improper influences and work in fidelity to the judicial oath.’

Mr Boafo said the judiciary remained the country’s ‘succor and hope’ when there were excesses on the?part of the two arms of government.

‘When it is looked at carefully, it will be seen that the judiciary is and remains the most veritable?guardian of our constitutional rights irrespective of the social, political, and religious divides we belong?to. The better choice is, therefore, for all of us to help to improve it and to better serve us; and not to?attack and tear it down.’

The GBA President appealed to all to resolve to pursue and sustain the path of peace, love for?one another and eschew all acts of violence and lawlessness. ?

Source: Ghana News Agency

Christian men have been called upon to ensure their families possessed the holiness of Jesus Christ.

Right Rev. Samuel Dzomeku, Moderator of the Global Evangelical Church who made the call, said men, as heads of home, should take up the responsibilities of shaping up to withstand the threat of chaos hovering over humanity in present times.

He was delivering a sermon to climax the 2023 Men’s Ministry Week celebration of the Church and said holiness should be established in the home and not be a virtue confined only to the church and the pulpit.

‘Christian men should seek to ensure their families were holy. So much evil is going on in our churches, congregations and our communities, and we must take it upon ourselves to be holy and extend it into our communities,’ the Moderator stated.

Dwelling on the persistence and perseverance of the biblical Job, he said, ‘holy living should not end with the individual.

‘Our children, and future generations should catch the holy living. We should intercede for them. We should do whatever we can to shape our homes so that holiness would be a hallmark.’

Rt. Rev. Dzomeku noted also how the neglect of home by fathers affected the development of children and thus the nation’s future, and said children were consuming materials and influences that turned them into violence and other social vices.

He asked men to emulate Christ from whom the Church emanated, and to seek sanctification through the word and not totems and objects that has characterised the present Church.

‘Churches have used oil but still there is chaos in our lives. The world is threading on slippery grounds. The world is so polluted and is threading chaos. We should therefore commit ourselves to both the written and the spoken word, we should give ourselves a new lifestyle – a lifestyle of living in the word of God.’

The Moderator added that an upright generation of men would transform the fortunes of the nation as the gender dominated leadership and challenged them to reconsider their role.

‘Ghana needs peace. She needs people who will be agents of his holiness. Men are dominating politics in the country and should take up holy living to transform the nation.

Rt. Rev. Dzomeku asked men to not allow wealth and power to dim their holiness and integrity.

Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister who was special guest of honour, also said the dominance of men in the world of work placed on them a greater responsibility of integrity that would define the nation’s growth.

‘If we men can live lives of integrity, Ghana would be a better place. If we men who oversee the money of this nation can live lives of integrity, Ghana would be a better place for all of us,’ he stated, asking the Church to always remember the nation in prayers.

The convention was attended by men’s ministries of the Church from the 15 presbyteries in Ghana, and prayers were offered for the nation and its leadership.

Rev Gilbert Gbotsu, National Coordinator of the Men’s Ministry said to the GNA that the Ministry had undertaken water and other projects in various communities, and had a five-year strategic plan that would soon be rolled out?

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr John Kwabena Oti Bless, the Member of Parliament for Nkwanta North constituency, has donated a pulpit to the Moslems community in the Constituency during the Eid Al Adha celebration.

The MP has therefore redeemed his promise made to the Muslim community at last year’s Eid celebration to help solve their problem of using wooden and blocks as elevator (pulpit) for public programmes.

Mr Isaiah Kwadjo Dordoe, Nkwanta North Constituency chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and a section of the Constituency executives on behalf of the MP presented the item to the Moslems.

Alhaji Abubakari Gawo the chief Imam, received the donation on behalf of the celebrants and took the opportunity to pray for the legislator for fulfilling his promise made to Allah

He again thanked him for not reneging on his promise noting that ‘he who promises Allah and fails to fulfill it incurs the wrath of Allah’ he intimated.

The chief Iman thanked the zongo caucus coordinator, Mr Abubakar Alhassan for being a good agent between the Moslems community and the NDC Nkwanta North.

He reminded all to emulate the kind gesture of the MP and always give out their arms to the poor since, there was more blessing in giving than receiving.

The Chief Iman assured the MP’s delegation that the said pulpit would be used for its intended purpose.

Source: Ghana News Agency