Day: March 9, 2024

Mr Franklin Cudjoe, President, IMANI Africa, says the aspect of the anti-LGBTQI Bill seeking to imprison persons who engage in gay sex ‘does not make sense’.

He said there were parts of the Bill which were logical, but it may not be appropriate to sentence someone ‘simply because the person professes to be gay’.

Mr Cudjoe was making a contribution on Citi Fm’s ‘Big Issues’, on the legal and financial implications of the anti-LGBTQ Bill, which is yet to receive Presidential assent.

‘I don’t think it is sensible to imprison anyone who we believe is gay unless, of course, that person must have rapped or unduly influence other people especially minors and you’ve found them…

‘But how are you going to police people who are doing the act in their bedrooms? I think the law was limited in terms of sensible thinking and analysis in that regard,’ he stated.

The Promotion of Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill (anti-LGBTQ bill) was passed by Parliament on Wednesday, February 28, 2024. It prohibits, among othe
r things, LGBTQI activities and imposes a jail term of up to five years on offenders.

Some private citizens are, however, asking the Supreme Court to restrain President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo from assenting to the bill.

President Akufo-Addo, in a recent address, said the Bill was yet to arrive at his desk.

Mr Cudjoe, in his submission, agreed that some people were born feminine or masculine in nature and had been ‘tolerated’ over the years but kicked against the imposition of a jail term.

‘…So you say this person is engaged in homosexuality, and you paraded them through the courts and you sentence them to three, four, five years, and you think they will be reformed after they come out of jail? That is not a sensible law,’ he stated.

The IMANI Boss also disagreed with the supposed financial implications of the anti-LGBTQI bill suggested by the Ministry of Finance recently.

Economist, Dr Patrick Asuming, said the ‘financial threat’ from some members of the international community regarding the passag
e of the anti-LGBTQI Bill should ‘serve as warning’ to managers of the economy to be ‘less dependent’ on foreign financial support.

Touching on other aspects of the anti-LGBTQ Bill, Mr Alexander Abban, a Former Member of Parliament for Gomoa West, said lawmakers needed to restrict advocacy on LGBTQI activities as that may encourage other people to ‘experiment’ the unorthodox act.

He also believed the lawsuit seeking to prevent the President from assenting to the anti-LGBTQI Bill was ‘dead on arrival’.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has presented a cheque for GHS 43,000.00 to two sick members in the Builsa North Municipality and the Kassena-Nankana West District to support their medical bills.

The beneficiary members, one in the Sandema Hospital and the other in the Chiana Sub-district, each received GHS8,000.00 and GHS35,000.00 respectively.

Mr Desmond Yaani, the Upper East Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the GRNMA in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga, said the cheques were presented at brief separate meetings to assist the members settle their medical bills.

He explained that the support was offered to members from the Association’s Health Fund, and that the Fund was available to all members whose illnesses were not covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

At the Sandema Hospital, the cheque was presented to the member by Hajia Maria Fuseini, a Deputy Chief Nursing Officer (DCNO) of the hospital, on behalf of the Associati
on’s President, Mrs Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo in the presence of some Municipal GRNMA executives.

The PRO indicated that the member, after receiving the cheque, ‘Expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the generous donation. He said it will greatly contribute to his treatment recovery, for him to return to work.’

He said the member thanked Mrs Ofori-Ampofo and leadership of the Association for the ‘kindness and generosity’ and urged other nurses and midwives to join the GRNMA to make it more formidable to negotiate for better conditions of service for members.

The Municipal leadership of the GRNMA and the DCNO used the opportunity to visit the wards of the hospital to interact with nurses and midwives about the Association and the benefits, including free Personal Identification Number and Axillary Identification Number renewal, loans at 10 per cent among others they would gain, he said.

In the case of the Kassena-Nankana West District beneficiary, the PRO said the cheque was presented to the member by the Dis
trict Chairman of the GRNMA, Mr Simon Akenbono Ayidiya in the company of some District Executives.

Mr Yaani called on break-away nurses and midwives from the Association to return to the GRNMA.

Mr Lawal Alhassan, the Kassena-Nankana West District Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), expressed gratitude to leadership of the Association for the support to staff of the GHS who were members of the GRNMA.

He reaffirmed his trust in the Association’s generous acts, aimed at easing the financial burdens associated with healthcare expenses, and encouraged leadership to continue to support members in difficult times.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Our Lady of Mercy Community Services (OLAM), a Non-Governmental Organisation, says the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill into law will empower women towards inclusive and accelerated socioeconomic development.

Mr Emmanuel Atiiga, the Executive Director, OLAM, therefore, called on the government and leadership of Parliament to as matter of urgency expedite actions for the passage of the Bill, which has been in Parliament since 2011, into law.

He made the appeal when he spoke to journalists as part of the activities to mark this year’s International Women’s Day celebration in Navrongo, on the theme’, ‘Investing in women: Accelerate Progress’.

The Executive Director said that among the major tools that could be used to invest and empower women was the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill into Law and providing employable skills to women and young girls.

He was confident that the Bill when passed into law would help encourage efforts towards addressing socio-cultural, political, economic, and education
al gender imbalances in private and public sectors.

‘It is significant to note that among some of the measures that could be adopted and implemented to invest in women and ensure accelerated development, include the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill into law and empowering women, particularly young girls, with employable skills,’ he stressed.

He argued that research had shown that countries which had invested in women were developing at a faster pace and mentioned Rwanda, Iceland, Finland and Norway as some of the examples.

He said it was so sad that many civil society organisations, including OLAM and female aspirants for the local government elections over the years, had been pushing for the Affirmative Action Bill to be passed into law, yet nothing good seems to come out of their efforts, stressing ‘the gender gap has widened socioeconomic and political development.’

The Executive Director stated that providing employable skills to women, particularly the young ones was one of the surest means to
investing in women to accelerate progress.

He said over the years, OLAM and its development partners had implemented some major interventions, aimed at empowering women economically and socially.

He said OLAM’s funding support from the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), Senegal and the German Embassy in Ghana, had over the years empowered about 1000 young

girls in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality and Kassena-Nankana West District with employable skills.

These girls have established their own shops and were employing other young girls in the areas of smock weaving, beads making, batik, tie and dye making, dressmaking, hairdressing and Computing.

Some of these beneficiaries, who are widows, orphans and school drop-outs are now independent, taking good care of themselves and their families.

In addition to the skills training and entrepreneurship training, the beneficiaries received start-ups kits such as sewing machines, weaving equipment and cash of monies to facilitate the setting up of the
ir enterprises as well as certificates, he added.

He appealed to government to prioritise Technical and Vocational Education and encourage more females to join the training since it is very critical to addressing the unemployment challenges confronting the country.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Friday visited the home of John Ampontuah Kumah, the late Member of Parliament for Ejisu, to commiserate with the immediate family and sign the book of condolences.

Dr Bawumia was accompanied by the Chief of Staff, Frema Osei Opare, Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Stephen Ayensu Ntim, and some government and party officials.

The Vice President said he had the opportunity to work with the late legislator on several projects and was inspired by his enthusiasm and dedication.

‘Indeed, Ghana and the NPP have lost a hardworking son,’ he said.

‘My deepest condolences to Lilian and the children, his mother, the entire family, and all loved ones. John, Damirifa Due!’

Dr John Kumah, who has been the Member of Parliament for Ejisu in the Ashanti Region, is a lawyer and an entrepreneur with over 15 years experience in leadership, creativity, innovation and resourcefulness in creating jobs, and supporting youth development.

He was the f
irst CEO of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) where he successfully positioned the NEIP as the enabler of the Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in Ghana.

Prior to working for government, Dr Kumah was the founding member and Managing Partner of Aduaprokye Chambers, a law firm.

He also worked as the founder of Majak Associates Ltd, a building and construction company.

In November 2020, John Ampontuah Kumah received a Doctorate in Business Innovation from the Swiss Business School in Switzerland.

Before then, he had acquired a Masters in Applied Business Research, at the same Business School in 2019.

He had a rich educational background, which includes a Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Business Research in 2019 at Nobel International Business School (NIBS).

In 2009, he had an Executive Masters degree in Business Administration (Finance), from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

At the University of Ghana, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economi
cs with Philosophy, a Bachelor of Art Degree (Law) LLB in 2011 and a Professional Law Certificate from the Ghana School of Law in 2013. He was admitted to the Ghana Bar in 2013.

Dr John Kumah’s death was reported on Thursday, March 7, 2024. He was 45 years and left behind a wife and six children.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Abibinsroma Foundation, a Non- governmental Organization, has encouraged Ghanaian women to accept green technologies for a more fulfilling life.

The group said the irregular rainfall pattern, sea erosion and the excessive heat, amongst others, proved that humanity could no longer rely on fossil oils for power generation and other critical uses.

Addressing women on the International Women’s Day, Mr Robert Amiteye, Convenor, Abibinsroma Foundation, said women were the natural educators and nurturers of humanity and that they had a crucial role to play in reversing or adapting to climate change.

We at Abibinsroma Foundation are committed to developing the capacity of CSOs in Ghana to advocate for social-inclusive just transition from fossil to green and renewable energy initiatives using progressive rights-based tools, including campaigns, how-to-guides and fact sheets.

He urged women to resist false solutions, demand systems change and a progressive rights-based approach to energy transition.

Ms Indeye Sec
k, Girl Child Coordinator, Abibisroma Foundation, urged women to encourage girls to aspire to greatness and leadership roles in society.

She said when women become part of the decision-making process, they would be able to address their challenges by putting them at the heart of societal needs.

She said women’s needs were societal needs which must be addressed to make humanity strive.

Madam Celestina Obeng, Gender /Health Focal Person, urged women to regularly examine their breasts and other parts of their body and if they observed any changes, they should seek immediate medical help to avoid complications.

She said medicine had advanced lately but an ignored medical problem could be very difficult to be solved.

She asked women to drink water even when they were not thirsty to help nourish critical organs like the liver and kidneys.

Madam Agnes Amankwah, President of Adikanfo Eden Na Wo Beye Nnipa Society, Tema, commended the Abibinsroma Foundation for putting women and climate issues at the core of the
ir operations.

She said women needed more collaboration with worthy partners like Abibinsroma Foundation to address their challenges as well as put forward their thoughts for the good of society.

She lamented the low representation of women in Ghana’s Parliament and other critical areas of decision making.

She urged women to seek a generational change by nurturing girls and young women to seek more knowledge, skills and power.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Matthias Berthold of the European Eunion Ghana Agriculture Programme (EU-GAP) Coordinating Unit, has extolled women for the important role they play in agriculture development in Ghana.

He, however, believed that the real potential of female farmers in contributing to the agriculture sector was much larger if they had access to the needed resources and support.

Mr Berthold, the Project Manager for the Resilience Against Climate Change (REACH), was speaking at an event at Dapuoha community in the Wa Municipality to celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) on the theme: ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress’.

The German Cooperation for International Development (GIZ) organised the event under the EU-GAP, which brought together selected smallholder women farmers in the region and representatives of departments and agencies, including the Department of Agriculture among others.

He referenced a report on Ghana by the Food and Agriculture Organization, which said about 52 per cent of Ghana’s lab
our force was engaged in agriculture and about 39 per cent of the farm labour force was women.

He indicated that despite women’s active role in the agricultural sector, they still faced significant barriers in accessing and controlling vital agricultural resources such as land, which did not only hamper their progress but also undermined the productivity of the local communities.

He emphasised the need to prioritise women’s empowerment by ensuring that they had equitable access to resources, ‘whether through targeted investments or reallocating existing ones.’

‘… let us commit ourselves to the cause of investing in women, bridging the gender gap, encouraging men to support women in every way possible, and break down the barriers that hinder the full participation of women in agriculture,’ he said.

Mr Berthold explained that through the Market-Oriented Agriculture Programme (MOAP-NW) and the REACH Project, they were providing women farmers with business development services to enhance their income of agro-
processors.

He added that they also provided access to finance, training, and information and leveraged innovative digital platforms to improve their farming activities.

He said they were also working with about 600 Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA) groups to enhance the women’s access to finance, training and capacity building.

Madam Benedette Naab, the Woman in Agricultural Development (WIAD) Officer at the Wa Municipal Agricultural Directorate, observed that investing in women was not just a moral obligation, but a strategic means of accelerating progress and creating a more inclusive world for all.

She said women faced many barriers, including limited access to resources, land ownership, education, and decision- making power, which needed to be addressed to ensure inclusiveness.

Madam Emilia Nimbebiir, a farmer from Ketuo community in the Nandom Municipality, called on the government to support women farmers since it could improve their economic status.

According to her, the agricultural
equipment, including rippers and the roller planters, made available to women farmers by the EU-GAP was impacting on her farming activities positively.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Stephen Kojo Sackey, United Nations (UN) Peace Ambassador, has called for gender inclusiveness and investment in women as well as supporting the girl-child for their progress in all their endeavours.

Mr Sackey, also Africa’s Focal Person to the UN International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA), made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, as the Association joined thousands of women, globally, to celebrate the International Women’s Day.

The theme for the year: ‘Inspire Inclusion’ served as a powerful call to action to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive world for all.

He congratulated all women for their hard work, recounting the achievements and the great strides they had made towards peace and security, fundamental human rights, social protection, economic freedom and development across the world.

He advocated more investments in women, individually and collectively, to build sound and conducive socio-economic structures globally.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Upper West Regional office of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has engaged radio station managers in the region on its guidelines and the provision of the Public Health Act 2012 (Act 851) on advertisement of regulated products.

Per section 114 (1) of the Public Health Act: ‘a person shall not advertise a drug, a herbal medical product, cosmetic, medical device or household chemical substance to the public as treatment, preventive or cure for a disease, disorder or an abnormal physical state unless the advertisement has been approved by the Authority.’

Also, subsection (2) says: ‘Despite subsection (1), a person shall not advertise a drug, a herbal medical product, medical device or cosmetic for the treatment or cure for diseases specified in the Fifth Schedule.’

The diseases specified in the Fifth Schedule included: hypertension, diabetes and AIDS, among others.

Also, the FDA guidelines provided that advertisement of alcoholic beverages must be done after 2000 hours and before 0600 hours.

Mr Kelvin
Dafaari Sunkpal, the Acting Upper West Regional Head of the FDA, said any radio station that violated those provisions and guidelines would be punished according to the law.

He also entreated the radio station managers to ensure that any advertisement of products, including food, medicines, cosmetics and alcoholic beverages, among others, was approved by the FDA.

‘Anyone who comes to your radio station to advertise any FDA-regulated product, please ask for the FDA approval letter before going ahead to advertise.

‘If you do any advertisement for any FDA regulated products, be it medicine, food or drink which the FDA has not approved, you will face the consequences,’ Mr Sunkpal advised.

He said though the various radio stations in the region had been supporting the FDA with airtime to do public education, the issue of flouting the regulations on advertisement of FDA-regulated products in the region was worrying.

He also said it was illegal to advertise alcoholic beverages on a billboard less than 200 meter
s from a second cycle or basic school.

He, thus, appealed to the media to help the FDA in the region to clamp down on that by reporting such adverts to the authority for the necessary actions to be taken.

Mr Sunkpal also urged the media to collaborate with the FDA to educate the public on the dangers of drug abuse in the region.

Mr Christopher Asiedu, the Acting Upper West Regional Manager of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, suggested that the FDA should make copies of the regulations and provisions of the Public Health Act on advertisement of FDA-regulated products available to the various radio stations to serve as reminders to them.

Source: Ghana News Agency